ISSUE 171 | FEBRUARY 2019
Unromantic Novels
e r u t u F e Th od of Fo
New Year, s n o i t a n o D w e N
y r a s r e v i n n A 15th t u o l l u P l a i Spec
Sitco Odd m’s Cou ples
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contributors designers
Matt Lewis Bethany Griffiths Poppy Jennings Mel Lynch Max Modell Mike O’Brien Vittoria Zerbini Sam Saunders Emilia Jansson Hannah Stait Elin Cain Megan Tomos Josh Ong Alex Payne Caterina Dassie Hayat Goraine Katie Waits Abi Dudbridge Indigo Jones Emilie Bowen Martha Hughes Molly Geddes Emily Stanton Sam Cotter Izzy Boulton Sophie Coombs Katherine Waldock Josie Von Jascheroff Katie May Huxtable Angharad May Molly Govus Manavi Mehrotra Amberley Steenhangen Zhaang Mengyang-Eva Sophie Topley Harry Dixon John Jones Isobel Roach Sarah Belger Martina Merenda Anthony Stonestreet Jacob Lewis Andrea Drobna Danny Brown Tomos Rhys Jones Orlagh Turner Shagun Sharma Lida Kritikou
Abi Dudbridge Alessio Grain Andrea Gaini Ashley Boyle Ilona Cabral Indigo Jones Izzy Boulton Katie May Huxtable Lottie Ennis Orlagh Turner Steph Rowe Ula Rodakowska
Illustrations by: Izzy Wright Front cover / back cover Hikaru Ushima rawpixel.comstars illustrations macrovector space illustrations
a letter from the editor As the timid lights of the early morning shine through the windows, a strong aroma of coffee fills every square metre of every office in the Student’s Union, the crunch of breakfast pastries and the smooth, clean feeling on the skin, highlight the prospect of another day starting. A day just like any others, that flows by, almost without being noticed. With its ups and its downs, time flies, for everyone, for Quench too, even though I sometimes wish it didn’t. 15 years ago, the chair I like to spin around while in the office, might not even have been there. My backpack looked a lot different together with the books inside, and my beard, well, that wasn’t even planning to grow yet… Quench, however, was already in its first year of life. Time flies… that is why sometimes we just have to stop, drop all the bags we jealousy carry into the future, and look back. Look back to all we have accomplished and appreciate ourselves and our history. Our history, Quench’s history, is made of ideas, great ones I’d say, as well as time, passion, emotions, and a whole bunch of crazy people who created and still create a magical universe where we can all lose ourselves. We’ve gone for a space theme to represent this beautiful, sparkly, Quench universe that we want to celebrate with you all. Flipping through this magazine, I hope, will be like flipping through the history of our favourite student publication. Articles include a variety of old and new pitch ideas. Some of these are in fact a revival of old article ideas found in previous issues of Quench, that our editors have avidly explored to pick the best of their sections. The golden seal embossed over some designs signals that you are in the presence of an old pitch idea taken from the archive and re-written for this issue. It also tells you the year and issue number it was taken from if you ever fancy coming into the office and read the original piece… At the heart of issue 171 you will find a special pull-out carrying some more insights to the history of the magazine, such as a note from the very first editor of Quench, Tristan Thomas. Producing this issue has probably been the hardest so far- I must admit. We have gone through a lot of hard work and difficulties. Battling through Christmas and exams has been a tough one for all of us at Quench but helping one another and sticking together has been our greatest strength and I am so proud of this. Let us celebrate now these freaking fantastic 15 years of Quench! Enjoy! xxx
Andrea
editor-in-chief P.S. I am so proud to announce that Quench has been crowned, for the second time in a row, Best Student Publication in Wales for 2018. Congratulations to our previous Editor-in-chief Rachel Jefferies and the editorial teams 2017/18 and 2018/19 for earning every bit of this award. I wish to thank all the members of my beautiful Quench family, for working so hard on this issue and always lending a hand when needed. Thank you, Katie, and Orlagh who’s work in this issue has been invaluable, and for the endless days spent in the office designing, proofreading, and making this dream of an issue come true. Thank you to Izzy, for illustrating our beautiful front cover and making the universe of Quench become real. Finally, thank you to my great friend Nadine, who’s had to resign from her position of deputy editor for her own wellbeing. I know it was not an easy decision, but you have done what is best for yourself and that is all that matters, plus you know this by now, Quench is always here for you, I love you.
a note from the deputy It’s the fireworks that do it for me at the start of each new year. Pulling my friends in close as we watch the flashes of coloured light against the silhouetted night sky. The clock striking midnight on December 31st has always, for me, been the ultimate signal of new beginnings. The unknown potential of a new year always fills me with anticipation, despite being fully aware I’ll have disregarded my resolutions by 6pm on January 1st as I dial the number of the nearby Chinese Takeaway. However 2019 really has been full of new opportunities – and the fact that I’m sat here writing this editor’s note really is the biggest of the lot. Behind the magazine that you’re reading, is a team of hardworking, bright minded and bloody wonderful people who put their all into making Quench the best it can be. As we celebrate Quench’s fifteenth year, being afforded the chance to play an even greater role in this team as the new Deputy Editor is truly the biggest and most unexpected privilege. I hope I can give Quench the same love it’s been shown during these past fifteen years. Obviously, I need to shout a few people’s praises – starting with the other team in my life: Bethan, Nadia & Claudia. I couldn’t wish for better gal pals, and I’ll always owe you one for making me order at Wetherspoons, so I could “get over my fear of talking to strangers and become editor of a magazine one day” (look at me now)! Thank you to my wonderful Andrea, for giving me this chance and for constantly having me in fits of giggles! And finally, to my right arm Orlagh Turner – to whom I could dedicate a whole page, but you know my reasons (yeet). xxx
Katie May deputy editor
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Meet the team eam ia t
ef n-Chi
Editor-i
We asked the team what name their planet would have... Social Med
Editor-In-Chief Andrea Gaini Eira Blaned
Social Media Manager & Social Media Assistants Benjamin Cresswell & Abi Dudbridge, Molly Govus and Emily Stanton The Taf - Benjamin Planet Abilicious - Abi The Mess - Molly Planet Em - Emily
eH ad of Ph
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Deputy Editor Katie May Huxtable
graphy
r Edito
D ep u t y
Kate Britain
Head of Photography Luisa De La Concha Montez TacoLand
eH ad of ill
Head of Design Ashley Boyle
ustration
Design
Head of
Barafundle
Head of Illustration Izzy Wright The Computer
Deputy Designers Orlagh Turner & Urszula Rodakowska IKEA - Orlagh Second Chance - Urszula
id tors
C op y E
ne Desig rs
D ep u t y
Copy Editors Sofia Brizio, Harry Dixon, Nidhi Pattni, Angharad May and Lauren Ryan Planet Unicorn - Sofia Qwert - Harry Donut - Nidhi Vim - Angharad Planet Pink - Lauren
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Cult
u re
Fe at u
r es
umn
Col
Columnist Matthew Lewis
Features Editors Bethany Griffiths & Poppy Jennings
Culture Editors Mel Lynch & Ilona Cabral
Earth 2.0
The New Pluto - Bethany Herland - Poppy
Hot Mess - Mel Utopia 13 - Ilona
Tr a
v el
F o od +
Drink
b ar
Cle
Clebar Editor Megan Tomos
Food & Drink Editors Caterina Dassiè & Josh Ong
Travel Editors Martha Hughes & Molly Geddes
Forbidden Planet
Bob - Caterina Magrathea - Josh
- Martha Paradise Planet - Molly
Film
eauty
+ TV
Fashion
+B
sic
Mu
Music Editors Dylan Graham, Camille Stanley & Max Modell
Fashion & Beauty Editors Maddy Steele, Rimante Bivainyt & Katie May Huxtable
Film & TV Editors Hannah Ryan & John Jones
Planet Gerdyl - Dylan Chameleon - Camille James Taylor - Max
- Maddy Green - Rimante
Trash - Hannah Consultio/Consultius - John
Ag o n y
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Q
A u nt
ology
Te c h n
Technology Editor Mike O’Brien
Agony Aunt Hannah Stait
Q3 Editor & Deputy Editor Lucy Aprahmian & Sam Harford
Dream Land 64
Pax
Utopia - Lucy Minerva - Sam
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CONTENTS Column
Travel
8. The Perfect House Party
45. Without Borders 46. The Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back... Literally: The Problem With Animal Experiences 48. The Armchair Traveller 50. Romantic Getaways
Features 10. Waste and Climate ChangeWhat’s Changed in the Past Ten Years 12. New Year New Donation 14. ‘S’ is for Suicide 16. CoppaFeel
Culture 17. The Top 5 Welsh Comedians 18. Unromantic Reads 20. Graffitti- The Big Debate 22. Fried Egg Kind of Morning 23. Photography Competition
Clebar 24. Chwe Gwlad 2019- Yr Hyn Sydd I’w Ddisgwyl 26. Bonjour Ffrainc! Pfofiad Elin Cain ar ei Tymor Dramor 28. Dydd Miwsig Cymru 2019
Food and Drink 29. Anglicisation or Abomination 30. Food Fight 32. The Cardiff Vegan Scene 34. The Future of Food 36. Our Taste Geography Why Do We Have Different Tastes
Celebrating Fifteen Years of Quench Pullout 37-44.
Music 52. Dusty Fingers Records Interview 54. Are Local Music Scenes Dying? 55. Once to Watch 2019 56. Interview with Dessa 58. Revisiting Riot Grrrl Movement
Fashion 59. Q&A with James Gould 60. One Size Fits All 62. Going Bare Faced for a Week 64. Fashion & Music Photoshoot
Film and TV 66. Films That Show How Love Sucks 68. Sitcome’s Greatest Odd Couples 69. Rules of Spoilers 70. One to Watch 71. Iconography- Quentin Tarantino
Technology 72. Cupid’s Cursor or Black Mirror? 73. The IPhone 74. 15 Years of Quench: The 7th Generation 75. Planned Obsolescence: Do Tech Companies Decide When Your Devices Live or Die?
Agony Aunt 78. Retreat Yourself 79. Your Questions Answered
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The Perfect The Perfect House Party House Party WORDS BY: MATT LEWIS
ILLUSTRATION BY: IZZY WRIGHT
DESIGN BY: KATIE MAY HUXTABLE
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A
s I began to go through the unnatural enjoyment of the yet painstaking process of getting ready to go back to uni, one major thought was whirling around my holiday-set brain mode, and it surprisingly wasn’t what I was going to eat for the next nine months. Nor were my thoughts anywhere near to addressing the issue of uni work, budgeting, or actually packing and getting myself ready. In fact, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only second year student with the same idea, it was the pure excitement of the thousands of big, huge, gigantic house parties that every single young person in a ten mile radius would be attending. I won’t lie to you, I was expecting to be part of the film Project X 2. As you have probably gathered from my previous columns, and even maybe just from these first 100 or so words, I tend to exaggerate slightly, and I also get horrifically over excited about anything relating to anything, so of course I knew deep down I probably wouldn’t be part of destroying any buildings whilst grooving the night away, however I had high hopes for the year to come. Two months went by at the speed of light though, and I was bitterly disappointed at the standard of parties I’d ended up at. Don’t get me wrong, I was extremely grateful to all invitations, as any location with decent tunes I can bust some shapes out to, and that isn’t called Pryzm, is fun enough for me. However, they all just had something missing. Maybe I just didn’t get intoxicated enough, maybe it was the opposite. Probably the opposite if anything. Or, maybe the films, the previous second years, and my mum were all just doing a ‘me’ and over-exaggerating for no obvious reason at all. All I did know was that when it eventually came to our turn to host, we had all never been so determined to put on a big one. Forget A levels, forget driving tests, forget degrees; this was the big one, the mammoth, the Empire State Building, the creme de la creme. We HAD to nail it... We nailed it. Yep, me and my six fellow legends went down in history, in my head anyway, by pulling off the party of the year. And yet, I still don’t really have a clue what made it so incredible. Obviously, I know what you’re thinking, my opinion is rather biased, and you would be completely correct in thinking so because I rule, meaning our party ruled and no one else can say anything different that would change my mind. Despite this though, I swear on my both my feets life (I tend to need them when dancing) we had complements coming left, right and centre, and diagonally and from within (from myself). So what could possibly make the perfect house party? Well, to start with you need a little bit of dosh and little bit of willingness to spend some of said dosh. I’m mainly referring
to the tight buggers who had the cheekiness to invite me to a party on a Tuesday night, all the way to the other side of Cathays, and not even go to the effort of hiring a decent sound system, instead opting to use a pair of music players that could barely be described as being portable speakers. This created a horrific situation that I’m sure everyone out there has been unlucky enough to experience, and then been haunted by in their nightmares for months to come, which is when you’re dancing next to your mates or by some lucky girl or guy, depending on which way you’re inclined, but then realise you can actually have a casual conversation with those people, meaning you end up in a weird equilibrium of grooving and socialising. This is never a good collision of social situations; everyone knows the dance floor is for busting moves and the smoking area is for chewing people’s ears off. I have to say, however Simon Cowell this sounds, it wasn’t a great performance from those hosts. We on the other hand, splashed out on hiring a PA system meant for the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury, capable of bouncing an averagely-sized male such as me up and down like a trampoline, adding to our lazers, disco light bulbs and gazebo. Coming from someone who is scarily deep into the dark pit that is an overdraft, we were not holding back on money. Something I thought that made our party whizz by faster than any other, and of course we all know time flies when you’re having fun, was the ability to explore various rooms in a mysterious and exciting environment. I have lived in the house, and a pretty boring one at that, for three months now and even for me the time spent slowly creeping around the corridors under the red lighting (yes, we bought red light bulbs as well, from room to room was time bloody well spent. We even had activities in the different rooms, including a more alternative choice of music with its own scatty lazers to go with the equally as scatty music, and a chill room with a funky blow up beach sofa chair thingy and some smooth jazz blasting out live from Alexa. As expected, the relaxing ambience of the chill room was far more popular than the hell hole, but we felt we catered for all kinds of party goers, whether we had a clue who they were or not. My final advice to any potential party organisers that think they might be able to replicate our genius is that you HAVE to invite me and my house mates, and failing that just me, because lets be honest, nothing can really be a party without me. Good luck and I’ll see you there.
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Waste and Climate Change Whats changed in the past 10 years?
Back in 2009 the Features section spoke of a relatively new craze: freeganism. The term, a combination of the words ‘free’ and ‘vegan’, is used to describe a means of living by rejecting consumerism, arguing that capitalism and mass-production serves to harm animals, humans and the environment at all levels of production. The article focused too on how, back in 2019, tonnes of food waste ended up on landfill, with freegans arguing that they could find £20 worth of supermarket goodies in the bin for free! It was further claimed that 109 square miles were being used for landfill and suggested that this space would run out by 2016. Here we are 10 years later asking what has really changed? Since the article was published our landfill usage has steadily increased. In 2017 it was argued that England only has 6.8 years left of non-hazardous landfill capacity. Lately, we have seen growing concerns regarding the environment, with viral videos being shared constantly, highlighting the plight our sea creatures and rainforests are facing with the growing demands for goods. Palm oil and plastics have captivated our social media attention for the last few years, with Sir David’s Attenborough’s Blue Planet II causing a public outcry for a change in our plastic usage. In 2018, the world’s leading climate scientists also shocked the world by claiming that we only have 12 years left till the effects of climate change are irreversible. In order to try and combat the sheer amount of food waste being produced in England, in 2009 food waste caddies were introduced in order to stop food waste ending up on landfill, but not everyone uses them. There has also been an increase in recycling initiative with households being issued with their own recycling bags and boxes. Despite these changes, recent studies have suggested that recycled products may actually just end up on landfill anyway, with much of the UK’s recycled waste being send abroad to end up on landfill sites that are out of sight and of mind. It has further been revealed that our household recycling rates are only at 44% and we are unlikely to hit our national target of 50% by 2020. Companies have made some attempts to cut down on wastage, but these are arguably minimal. Although we have witnessed a growing outcry against climate damage over the last few years, it can be argued that this is only ever witnessed online. Conversations are rarely happening in the public domain that offer any practical solutions to climate change. Today we live in a throwaway world where it’s easy to throw things into the general waste, and even the recycling bin, and not think too much about where it will end up. Once we’ve dumped the rubbish it’s easy to think that it’s now somebody else’s responsibility and that somebody else will deal with it, but it’s not as simple as that. It is true that somebody else will deal with it, but it may not be in the way that you might imagine or wish for. As mentioned, the government has come under fire for not considering what happens to our recyclables after they leave the UK, with most of it ending up on landfills abroad. Just because we can’t see our rubbish; just because we don’t live in a country where landfill encroaches on our everyday life, it doesn’t mean that it’s no longer our problem.
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Change needs to happen now. We complain about our plastic usage and what this means for the planet, but we need to do more. We cannot wait another 10 years from when this article was written to make a change, for nothing has really progressed since 2009, and if we do climate experts have already warned that it will be too late. Our online campaigns have successfully allowed for a decrease in the sale of straws around the globe, but now we need to take the plight further. Corporations will not change their ways unless their profits are affected. By relying on somebody else to fix the problem of climate change we are just putting our fate in the hands of people who do not care. Before Christmas, Iceland was praised for raising awareness of rainforest destruction through the cultivation of palm oil. Although most palm oil production is harmful to the environment, it is true that by rejecting the use of palm oil companies will resort to other products, such as coconut oil which is arguably just as harmful to the environment. Instead, we should be telling businesses to use sustainable means for obtaining products like palm oil, rather than displacing the problem elsewhere. What is more, despite leading the campaign against palm oil, Iceland seems to have forgotten one of the other main causes of climate change: animal agriculture. According to Cowspiracy, 1-2 acres of rainforest are every second cleared to make room for animal agriculture, and it is responsible for up to 91% of Amazon destruction. It is clear that it is not only palm oil that contributes to rainforest destruction, and we need to do more to decrease our global meat intake. As mentioned, climate change will not come from viral videos: we need to encourage change in our own communities and beyond. We need to reject corporations who will not listen to our demands. It is clear that since 2009 barely anything has changed in terms of the way we live our lives and the affect that this has on the planet. This is incredibly alarming when you consider that we have only been given 12 years to change our ways before the effects of climate change are irreversible. We need to think more about the consequences of our waste, it is useless throwing products away and not really thinking about the next step. We need to stop assuming that if we ignore the problem it will just go away. There are so many little ways that we can adopt to try and solve the global problem of climate change. To start, try reducing your meat and dairy intake – even cutting down on having meat in every meal will help, and it will benefit you health in the long run – and cut down on your own plastic waste. In Cardiff we now have our very own zero waste store, Ripple Living, where you can take your own containers and refill them with as little or as much as you need for a low price! You could even write to your councillors and MPs and ask them what they’re doing about climate change and put pressure on them to help making changes in your local environment. Let’s not just sit back and allow other people to make decision about our world on our behalf, let’s make a real change before it’s too late!
words by: Bethany Griffiths DESIGN BY: Abi dudbridge
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NEW YEAR NEW DONATION Manavi’s recommendation: THE TREVOR PROJECT
Akancha’s recommendation: PERIODS IN POVERTY
Angharad’s recommendation: BEAT
There are many of us who are anxiously tapping their feet and incessantly biting their nails at the thought of confronting their families at Christmas. These could be people who still haven’t come to terms with their sexuality and gender-identity or feel unaccepted because of it. This often snowballs into malicious, unhealthy thoughts of self-hate and suicide. At a time when people can express hatred so easily, the Trevor Project sprinkles the LGBTQ+ community with positivity and support (and glitter, duh). Their 24/7 LifeLine and International online services give support in a judgementfree environment and invite them to the warmth and comfort of the LGBTQ+ community. Donating to the Trevor Project can make their mission statement an international possibility, saving the lives of many young, beautiful individuals.
Let’s talk about period poverty.
From first-hand experience, I am acutely aware that eating disorders are massively misunderstood and horribly stigmatised illnesses. Accessing support, especially in Wales, is a minefield, but the UK’s eating disorders charity, Beat, is often a first port-ofcall in the search for support or information. Beat runs phone and email helplines 365 days a year, online support groups, and a HelpFinder for treatments and providing awareness training that promotes early intervention.
Try the Suicide prevention hotline 0800 068 41 41 or head over to TrevorSpace. org to seek support from an online LGBTQ+ community.
Let’s talk about how 1 in 10 girls in the UK can’t afford menstruation products, or about how 42% have used toilet paper instead, or about how 49% miss school because they can’t access appropriate menstruation products. In 2018, period poverty is still a prevalent issue which ‘Periods in Poverty’ attempts to tackle. Led by Cardiff University student volunteers, this charity distributes menstrual products donated by the public (collected at donation points across Cardiff, both fundraised for and installed by the charity) to local homeless shelters, victims of domestic violence, and to refugees. These volunteers campaign to break the stigma around periods, which creates a damaging environment of shame, silencing the experiences of people in hardship and their lack of accessibility to clean, safe sanitary products. Help break this silence by volunteering your time or by donating to the charity’s GoFundMe page. Let’s talk. Period.
Although Beat does not receive funding from central government, it is still able to offer help and hope to people affected by eating disorders, whether a sufferer or loved one, so that no one feels they have to struggle alone. One of my recovery goals is to do a skydive to raise money for Beat. You can support Beat too by visiting their website and getting involved.
WORDS BY: POPPY JENNINGS DESIGN BY: STEPH ROWE Mia’s recommendation: CARE AND REPAIR Care & Repair provide a lifeline to vulnerable older people across Wales by carrying out vital work that makes sure that they are safe, warm and can live independently in their own homes. They work to reduce excess premature deaths which are a result of poorly heated, cold and damp housing, particularly in the cold winter months, and which could be prevented. A donation means you can help Care & Repair help more older people to stay safe by preventing falls, hospital admission and fight fuel poverty. They offer a kind and friendly service that is tailored and appropriate to the individual’s needs, be it fitting grab rails to reduce falls, installing efficient heating, carrying out essential home repairs or helping to apply for essential benefits they’re entitled to. Their local agencies across Wales are there to support older people in any way they can.
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We’ve come together to highlight some of our favourite charity organisations this new year. These charities are a great opportunity for you to show some support and set up something new this year, do something caring and memorable as part of your new year’s resolutions in 2019. Here’s what we love about these organisations:
Martha’s recommendation: LLAMAU
Mike’s recommendation: Games Done Quick
Rhianna’s recommendation: WAR CHILD UK
Yasmin’s recommendation: BAWSO
Even if you’re not into video games, Games Done Quick is a fantastic semi-annual charity event that anyone can enjoy. The format is simple: it’s a speed-running marathon, one where highly skilled and disciplined players try to break world records by completing video games as quickly as possible. An incredible demonstration of technical skill and knowledge, these players often have to perform dozens of inputs at any given moment, many of which have windows as tight as 1/60th of a second. It’s fascinating to watch someone play so quickly and break the boundaries of possibility in your favourite games - someone once beat the entirety of Super Mario Bros in under six minutes! Everything from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time to Portal to Getting Over It is streamed, so there’s something of interest for everyone!
“We were like flowers or roses pulled from their place and thrown into the desert”– Fatima, 17.
BAWSO stands for Black Association of Women Step Out and it’s been active for some time providing specialist services. It’s an all-Wales charity providing information, advice and support for black and minority ethnic people in Wales. The support is around topics like forced marriage, female genital mutilation, human trafficking and more. I support their work because there’s a desperate need for a service like this to exist. I believe it’s fundamentally the right thing to do for us as a society to work towards the elimination of violence against women and girls but also domestic violence overall. I urge people to donate and support the work of BAWSO, who support people from all different walks of life and aid people in recovering from human trafficking, domestic violence and trauma (and more).
The best part is that all donations to Games Done Quick go to charities like Prevent Cancer Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, and many others. On top of that, by spectating and donating, you’re not only fighting cancer but supporting the passionate subculture of speed- running and its endeavour to enrich our understanding of the games we love and how far they can go!
The war in Syria is about to enter its 8th year. The Council on Foreign Regulations currently estimates 1.9 million people have been internally displaced from Iraq since 2014. Nearly 15,000 US troops remain in Afghanistan. Millions of children around the world have lost their homes, families, education or been forced into roles as child soldiers. War Child UK was founded in 1993 and remains one of the only charities devoted to standing up to the rights of young people involved in war. Their work revolves around four main principles: protection, education, livelihood and advocacy. Supported by huge music icons like Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, David Bowie and Stevie Wonder since their first 1995 charity album ‘HELP’, War Child have provided unwavering commitment to their belief that children should remain at the heart of all responses to war. Every donation made will be matchfunded by the UK government and any further information can be found on their website.
BAWSO run safe houses around the country, provide interpreters and are groundbreaking leaders in their field.
Founded 30 years ago, Llamau is a local Welsh charity that specifically work to protect the most vulnerable homeless young people and women around the Cardiff area. They focus on supporting these people in various aspects of their lives, helping them to build a future. Not only do they aim to find shelter for the homeless, they also provide services for mental health and victims of abuse as well as giving these people the opportunity to develop skills essential for employment. My preference is to always donate/ raise money for smaller, local charities such as LLamau carry out vital work in our communities. I feel it’s important that we are aware of the social issues that are prevalent in our own hometowns, remembering to support these important charities when we are able to. Particularly around Christmas time, young homeless people suffer greatly with loneliness and poor weather conditions can make life even tougher. Donating even a small amount to Llamau can make a big difference to a young person’s life right here in Cardiff.
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‘S’ is for suicide WORDS BY: POPPY JENNINGS DESIGN BY: KATIE MAY HUXTABLE
When it comes to suicide, it’s hard to know what to say. I didn’t want to kick off this article with a bunch of facts because it’s likely you’d lose focus and stop reading before the end. I know that most people have thought about it, and even now I’m finding it difficult to re-write the word, because once feels like enough. As a society, I think we shy away from talking about it because we’re afraid of what it’ll do. It’s one of those stigmas that people find difficult to face, most probably because considering it is painful. We don’t want to think about the amount of people that lose their battle with depression or trauma because then we have to think about why no one, or ourselves, could help them. Selfishly, but not unreasonably, our thoughts about a suicide become internal; could I have helped? What would it take for me to do that? Would I ask for help? Would it matter? Depression is so prevalent in our society today, but it’s also becoming more and more talked about, and this means more people are able to get help, and more people who don’t experience it are able to sympathise and help in ways they might not have been able to before. 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem like anxiety or depression every year. Mental illness is a major cause of suicide, depression being one of the most common, and a lot of people still feel shameful even mentioning that they struggle. It’s that social stigma again – mental health is a personal weakness and you have to deal with it alone. If you’ve ever suffered with depression or suicidal thoughts then you’ll know how hard it is to even consider telling someone what you’re going through. Sometimes you don’t even realise you’re depressed, even when you’re struggling to leave the house, because you’re so busy not thinking about it. I think it’s likely that most people have thought about that question – ‘what would it take for me to do that?’ especially in those moments of depression that we pretend don’t happen. It’s important not to pretend that depression and suicidal thoughts don’t happen, as much as it’s important not to pretend that suicide doesn’t happen. I think the people that can suffer with this the most are men. *Stigma alert* ‘Men aren’t supposed to express their feelings.’ Did you know that over 70% of suicides are male? And the leading cause is from ignoring depression or trauma. Toxic masculinity is a problem I think everyone is aware of. Whether or not we discuss it or approach it enough is another issue. Internalising your pain because you don’t think it’s manly or appropriate to express it only worsens it, deepens it, and separates you from the people you love. Male suicide in the past year has been the lowest recorded number in
30 years in England and Wales, but it still takes up ¾ of all suicides in the UK, with unfortunate increases in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In that overload of statistics I hope you took away the important point – the way we think about men in society really needs to change if people are going to feel comfortable enough to open up to loved ones about how they feel. Stop telling your mates to man up, stop listening to your dad when he tells you boys don’t cry, stop telling guys you’re only attracted to big, strong lads who can take care of you. Toxic masculinity doesn’t just manifest with guys, it comes from women too, and we need to recognise that. In order to tackle toxic masculinity and the terrifying suicide rates that come with it, we all need to stop stigmatising men and their emotions. Trauma can also be a huge impact on mental health, and, unfortunately, a lot of people don’t get the therapy or help that they need after suffering something traumatic. Post-traumatic stress, domestic violence, abuse, rape, and childhood traumas are all distressing circumstances that lead to damaging mental health conditions and, more often than not, suicidal thoughts and attempts. Unfortunately, counselling doesn’t always go hand in hand with traumatic experiences, which means we all need to try our best to make sure people know help is out there. I hope you know that help is out there, however small or big you think your worry is, if it’s causing you pain, it’s valid. It’s always valid.
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FEATURES
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o t t e g r o F t n’
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WORDS BY: BETHANY GRIFFITHS DESIGN BY: ASHLEY BOYLE
coppafeel regularly a
CoppaFeel! was founded by Kris Hallenga in 2009 following her diagnosis with secondary breast cancer at the age of 23. She believed that there just wasn’t enough information out there for young people regarding breast cancer and how to spot the signs, and so CoppaFeel! was born! They are the first breast cancer charity in the UK that is focused on raising awareness of breast cancer amongst young people, stressing the importance of checking your boobs and pecks, and instilling the knowledge of what to look out for. 1 in 8 women will experience breast cancer in their lifetime, and 400 men a year are diagnosed with breast cancer. 27% of breast cancer cases are preventable in the UK. Through education and reminders, CoppaFeel! aim to give young people the knowledge of how to check your boobs and what to look out for, empowering you to seek advice from a doctor if something doesn’t feel quite right. Here in Cardiff we have our very own CoppaFeel!: Uni Boob Team - helping to raise awareness of CoppaFeel!’s mission in our own community. So far this academic year they have already hosted a tonne of great events, ranging from nightclub takeovers at the Student’s Union and beyond (with more to come, so keep an eye out!), a very special Bingo Lingo event, and boob-themed quizzes! The Uni Boob Team has also collaborated with a variety of other societies in Cardiff; with the ladies’ rugby team even releasing a naked calendar earlier this academic year to raise awareness of CoppaFeel!’s mission - it has been a huge success! Be sure to follow them on Twitter and Instagram @ubtcardiff or find them on Facebook to keep up to date with all their events and get involved!
coppafeel regularly and
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women
the symptoms belo
400 men will experience breast cancer in their lifetime
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breast cancer
CoppaFeel!’s mission is to give everyone the best possible chance of surviving breast cancer by encouraging them to check their boobs and pecks at least once a month, ensuring that anything unusual is looked at by a doctor straight away. Although their focus is primarily on breast cancer awareness, CoppaFeel! have also began the #RETHINKCANCER Campaign, suggesting that young people should be taught about all cancers as cancer doesn’t just affect people over 50. Aside from hosting an array of social events in order to raise awareness of CoppaFeel!’s mission, the Uni Boob Team also have their very own text-reminder service to ensure that everyone remembers to check their boobs and pecks once a month! To sign up for free* monthly reminders simply text UBT CARDIFF to 70500 – you even get a lovely little poem sent to your inbox each month to remind you! In the meantime, remember to keep on checking your boobs and pecks – here’s a handy diagram of what to look out for!
if in doubt, get it checked out. * Standard network rates apply for the first text you send to sign up. Everything after is free.
if in doubt, get it checked out.
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WORDS BY: MEL LYNCH DESIGN BY: ILONA CABRAL
Ruth Jones
Rob Brydon
Rob Brydon owes his success in part to Ruth Jones. Jones went to school with Rob
Rob Brydon is best known for his role of Bryn in the hilarious TV series Gavin
Brydon, and was the writer, with James Corden, of Gavin and Stacey. The show has won
and Stacey. He made his debut with the Marion and Geoff series in 2000. This
multiple awards throughout its time on TV. Ruth Jones has received lots of recognition
awarded him Best Newcomer at the British Comedy Awards. The series catapulted
for her work as a fantastic comedian. In 2007 she won ‘Best Female Comedy Newcomer’
the Port Talbot born comedian into the public eye. Brydon has links with Cardiff-
at the British Comedy Awards for her work with Gavin and Stacey, and in 2009 she won
he studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in the city. Since his
the ‘Ultimate Funny Woman’ award at the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women of the Year
success with Gavin and Stacey, it has only been up for Brydon. In 2018 alone he
Awards. Since Gavin and Stacey she hasn’t stopped. In 2018 she starred in the play, The
has had two major comedies out: Swimming With Men and Holmes and Watson.
Nightingales, in Cardiff ’s very own ‘New Theatre’.
In 2019 he has three upcoming stand-up shows in Cardiff.
Rhod Gilbert
Max Boyce
Rhod Gilbert is considered ‘one of the best comedians anywhere in the world’ according
Max Boyce is a multi-talented Welsh comedian. His fame began in the 1970s,
to Time Out. His success began after his girlfriend encouraged him to take part in
with comedy albums that sold millions of copies. His second comedy album,
‘the Amused Moose Stand Up and Deliver’ course. In 2005 he was nominated for the
We All Had Doctor’s Papers, reached number one in the UK Albums Chart in
Perrier Newcomer award for his Edinburgh Fringe show, 1984. He has since been very
November 1975. He has had success in Television as well, filming two series
successful. In 2009 he hosted Live at the Apollo, a major comedic show on the BBC. In
about cowboys in the 1980s, and has participated in theatre, coming to Cardiff
2014, Gilbert became the host of the BBC’s popular series Never Mind the Buzzcocks. In
in 1990 to play the titular role of Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk. Boyce has
2019 Gilbert has four upcoming tour dates in Cardiff after tickets sold out for three of
strong links with the Rugby Union of Wales, as his comedic albums came to
them, it is clear to see that he is popular, not only across the country, but especially in
reflect the success of the Welsh Rugby team in Five Nations in the 1970s.
our city!
Sir Harry Secombe Perhaps the most famous of all, Sir Harry Secombe is a Swansea comedian who passed at the age of 79 in 2001. He fought in the Second World War, and whilst he was in North Africa he met Spike Milligan; the co-writer of the massive radio comedy The Goon Show, from 1951 to 1960. He first came into the public eye as a comedian in the radio series Welsh Rarebit, a radio series that lasted from 1940 to 1952. In 951, The Goon Show began, which allowed Secombe to have a career in both comedy, and music. …. He has also appeared in films, such as Jet Storm, in 1958, and starred in a film called Davy. In 1968 Secombe gained his very own sketch comedy series, The Harry Secombe Show, which lasted until 1973. The legendary Welsh comic was knighted in 1981, and often jokingly referred to himself as ‘Sir Cumference’ a testament to his everlasting humour.
CULTURE
THE TOP 5 WELSH COMEDIANS
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Unromantic e a d s
DESIGN BY: ORLAGH TURNER
M isery- Stephen Ki ng Words by Max Modell
Containing no super-natural elements, “Misery” hardly resembles any of Steven King’s other novels. It is, instead, an intense contained thriller set in the real world. This does not mean that it is any less terrifying though! The lack of the supernatural elements in the novel makes the events within entirely plausible and even more potent as nightmare fuel. This book is not romantic in any sense and is impossible to put down - even when every fibre in your body is dreading what is on the next page. The book follows Paul Shelton, a writer of romantic fiction who has an unfortunate encounter with his “biggest fan”, leading to Paul falling into a twisted nightmare. As Paul begins to lose his sanity, he deteriorates physically and emotionally; deprived of his freedom and the basic resources he needs to survive he desperately seeks an escape. If you are looking to escape the sickly-sweet nature of Valentine’s Day this year this intense thriller is the book for you. And if you thought the hobbling scene in the movie was gruesome and cringe inducing, then you are barely scraping the surface of the true horrors of the novel - that scene replaced one from the book which was so horrific that studios refused to fund the film because of its inclusion.
List of the Lost- Morrissey Words by Mike O’Brien He’s often found brandishing flowers and warbling about love and loss, so you might expect Morrissey - former frontman of The Smiths - to be eloquent in the art of romance. But expect the unexpected, because his debut novel - List of the Lost - is the most excruciating depiction of romance, physical or otherwise, that may ever exist. List of the Lost is about a relay team in Boston who accidentally murder a demon. Littered with syntactic errors of all sorts, each character speaks in such a disjointed and selfindulgently verbose fashion that, instead of visualising actual human beings, one can’t help but picture Morrissey messing around with hand puppets with slightly different voices. This disturbing visualisation grows even more so when it comes to List of the Lost’s repulsive sex scenes. Bear in mind that the following is not only a direct excerpt from the novel, but it’s also all one sentence. “At this, Eliza and Ezra rolled together into the one giggling snowball of full-figured copulation, screaming and shouting as they playfully bit and pulled at each other in a dangerous and clamorous rollercoaster coil of sexually violent rotation with Eliza’s breasts barrel-rolled across Ezra’s howling mouth and the pained frenzy of his bulbous salutation extenuating his excitement as it whacked and smacked its way into every muscle of Eliza’s body except for the otherwise central zone.” Back in the eighties, Moz used to preach the word of celibacy - but it wasn’t until the twenty-first century that he would publish this masterpiece in abstinence advocacy. List of the Lost is a series of politically charged nonsensical rambles of value to no one but the most self-loathing of literary masochists, and it certainly does not appear to be written by anyone whose hands have felt mammary glands.
19 CULTURE
LOLITA - VLADIMIR NABOKOV Words by Vittoria Zerbini There have been instances in the past where Lolita has been romanticised – not the story, but Lolita (born Dolores Haze) herself. She became the seductress, the young child who bore a sexuality of which she was not really aware but, which she knew how to usew to lure older men into her arms. Her name is used by our society to identify a girl who uses youth as a sexual tool. Lolita is not just a novel, or even a character anymore; society has taken her name and used it to strip her of her identity: like Humbert does on their long American road trip together. Through this novel, Dolores becomes Lolita: Humbert’s sexual photograph, a product of his mind without any feelings or thoughts and someone whose only purpose is to satisfy his needs. Through the narrative, Nabokov explores Humbert’s psychotic and perverted nature: when he notices Dolores’s tears he finds a way to put them aside. In his eyes, she is his doll to play with, regardless of how it affects her life, or robs her of her childhood. An innocent who he masterfully lures into his trap. This book cannot be confused for a romantic novel, it is a masterpiece in its own right which will both chill and thrill your senses.
A Game of Thrones- George R.R. Martin Words by Sam Saunders I can think of few novels that could be described as more unromantic than A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (or any of the series to be honest). If you’re seeking to get away from the lovey-dovey stuff this Valentine’s Day then look no further than this book; it’s got all you could ever want to distract yourself. Beheadings, incest, political intrigue, a eunuch, threats of a mystical invasion, one boar gouging, attempted child murder and several grisly deaths will have you forgetting the flowers, chocolates and stuffed bears in no time. A lot of the narrative occurs in snowy climes as well, so it’s the perfect read for a winter’s day, which we are right in the middle of. Sure, there are some sex scenes in the book, but in all honesty they’re more likely to make you swear off any sexual activities than get envious of anyone who’s doing it. There’s also very little in the way of romance during the story, as only one loving couple are mentioned and most of the other couples either have long standing resentments or get killed before anything serious can happen. Finally, as with most epic fantasies, it’s perfect for getting lost in, which is an activity you can do all by yourself. Enjoy!
Factfulness- Hans Rosling Words by Emilia Jansson When the late Swedish physician Hans Rosling realised how little people really knew about the world, he decided to inform and educate people. Despite all the talks he made worldwide, he felt as if he was not getting his point across and wondered what he could do about it. The product of his thoughts is the book ‘Factfulness – Ten Reasons Why We’re Wrong about the World and Why Things Are Better Than You Think’. Rosling aims to tackle the biggest misconceptions of the world, providing an alternative view using statistics and data. Every chapter in the book discusses a human instinct and why it makes us look at the world from a distorted view. The book provides discussions on why the terms “developing” or “developed” countries are outdated and useless, why chimpanzees understand the world better than humans, and why the world is a better place than people think. The data and analysis is presented in a simple and straightforward way, ensuring that every reader will understand the concepts explained. Although the book provides a hopeful view on the world, it is also realistic and acknowledges the improvements that are still needed in the world. ’Factfulness’ is a thought-provoking book that will challenge your norms and views of the world in a fun and simple way.
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GraffitI THE BIG DEBATE DESIGN BY: ASHLEY BOYLE
Graffiti is undeniably a contentious topic across the globe. For some, it’s a form of revolutionary expression for those who can’t command spaces in established galleries. Where street art injects vibrancy into forgotten areas and works towards starting important conversations. For others, it’s a criminal plague to our communities, reducing the value of housing areas and costing the tax payer for it’s inevitable removal. Art is, of course incredibly subjective, nevertheless the debate is certainly one still worth having.
FOR Graffiti over the years has been handicapped by a stigma attached to it from those who confuse this art form with gang violence and vandalism. Yet the real crime in this situation is the association graffiti has with the promotion of gangs, who establish themselves through a motion known as tagging. Tagging is where names of gangs are spray painted across their ‘territory’. However, the creation of graffiti is far from this, there is a considerable difference between graffiti art and these taggers who vandalise community spaces. Graffiti not only transforms the tiresome, dreary buildings that consume cities into wonderfully vibrant art forms; it can advertise political messages, providing a distraction for people from their bustling days. In addition to this, it develops a community of like-minded people, where they can express themselves. Bristol is a honeypot for graffiti artists, Banksy has paved the way for graffiti artists alike, popularising this medium of art. His work has sold for over millions, with his latest Girl With Balloon piece hitting headlines, selling for an incredible amount of $1,135,219. He has attempted to release graffiti from its stigmatised shackles and introduced it into the domestic environment through his iconic humorous take on graffiti. In fact, not only has Banksy inspired other street artists, he has encouraged tourism in Bristol and exponentially improved the properties where his art work is featured, with one house going for over £100,000 the asking price due to his tag. In 2015 he opened ‘Dismaland’, a one-time theme park, reflecting the success of his work and the interest graffiti has developed. This has indefinitely left an impressionable mark on aspiring artistes; yet with the voices of people who do not understand the art form, it is a real shame that those who just want to express their artistic flair is crippled. Cardiff has been incredibly encouraging with the promotion of street art; providing opportunities for local artists to show case their work on legal walls located in Maitland Park, Maindy or Millennium Walkway. In Maitland Park, there is only one legal wall, already smothered in graffiti art. Nevertheless, the lack of space on the wall does not deter other artists from graffitiing over the preexisting work, with one well known stipulation- that the new creation must be better than the last. This not only provides healthy competition between artists, but also integrates the art form into a family friendly area, showing that not all graffiti is ‘damaging’. Millennium Walkway is another success in harmonising graffiti with our city; this wall is suffocated in graffiti art, advocating artists work appearing encouraging for other artists that opportunities like this are available. However, in 2017 the wall was taken down for the Seven Nations, which caused controversy, outraging a multitude of people. Since then, their voices have been heard and the wall is back and better than ever. Kieron Jones, owner of Oner Signs, has been sensational in the promotion of graffiti in the city. Jones not only encouraged the Millennium Walkway project, but his company also run workshops for beginner graffiti artists, providing them with correct technique and materials, whilst selling correct equipment. These highly positive movements for graffiti in Cardiff is slowly diminishing the stigma that so often demeans such an incredible and diverse art form.
BY ORLAGH TURNER
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AGAINST
CULTURE
? L U F E T S A T R O H S TRASH O TRA R TA
STEFUL
A key strand to the debate that argues graffiti should not be classified as art is the fact that fundamentally, it is an illegal activity. Graffiti encourages self expression and ownership of spaces that quite simply aren’t yours to claim. Tagging has caused a number of issues in communities, in a number of cases the act has been used as an excuse to spread racial hatred through symbolic swastikas and prejudicial slurs. In addition to this, painting on some else’s public property is illegal and arguably unethical. Looking at graffiti used in cases of political dissent, it has caused thousands upon thousands worth of damage to priceless architecture. Take for instance the graffiti damage done within Cardiff University main building earlier this year by environmental campaign group People & Planet. Known to many as the epicenter of U.K. street art and the city from which Banksy hails, Bristol has secured its reputation for featuring some of the worlds most celebrated graffiti. However, what most aren’t aware of is the true price the city has to pay for this status. Bristol Council revealed in 2017 they spent a staggering quarter of a million pounds scrubbing graffiti off of its buildings each and every year. In a recent qualitative survey by YouGov looking into opinion on graffiti within communities, one person noted “It (graffiti) invariably costs people, private companies and local authorities’ money to remove”. Another, exclaimed that graffiti “costs taxpayers’ money to clear and gives a bad image to places. Usually the person causing the graffiti is not a tax payer so they contribute nothing!”. One can’t help but wonder if the costs of graffiti removal weren’t so prominent, could this money have proved better use to our communities? Art is of course a matter of taste in many respects, and in deciding you dislike a piece of art it does not automatically infer that art is not ‘good’. However, art is arguably defined by skill and collective opinion as to whether it should be displayed. An argument against graffiti could be street artists are bypassing the known process of selection and artwork presentation, through forcing their personal taste upon the public without it’s consent. If everyone decided to display what they consider art in public, the streets would be overrun with a bricolage of tastes mashed together and resulting a lack of collective voice or meaning to any of the art displayed. Arguably, tagging has a similar effect on communal spaces. Due to the highly visual and accessible nature of graffiti, vandalism through shoddy and thoughtless tagging can lead to once welcoming community spaces look untidy and uncared for. Perhaps what is needed is specific spaces in which self expression through street art can be done legally and safely.
H C N E U Q
BY MEL LYNCH
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Fried egg kind of morning
“How many eggs do you want Em love?” “Dad, don’t worry about breakfast this morning…” My words were coaxed cautiously out of my lips by the burning need to stay awake. My wrists were achingly sore and my eyes fluttered as I gripped the kitchen worktop. I looked at the clock on the wall to my left. The minutes ticked by and I continued to stare, too scared to blink for the chance that I wouldn’t open them again. Dad walked around the kitchen and grabbed a tin of crushed tomatoes from the maroon painted cupboard next to the clock. “Don’t be silly Emily, you’ve always got time for breakfast.” The tomatoes sloshed into the saucepan and the liquid splashed all over his hands and shirt, making him swear under his breath as his skin stained red. As he left to change I stared at the eggs, watch the blistering oil burn the flesh of the egg whites, small moments of oil bursting from different sides of the pan, sizzling against the burning heat of the metal pan. I stood, trying not to make a sound, feeling dizzy and unable to stand up straight. I walked towards the cooker in a daze, lost to the room around me, consumed by the sound and smells radiating from the pan. I lifted my hand, stretching out towards the pan, needing to feel something. “Emily? What you doing?” His tone was cold and calculating as he moved to stand behind me as I turned my head slightly, and I could see that he had taken his shirt off, the vest underneath was still marked in red. Red. The colour of love. The colour of… “No!” My hand steadies and I pick up the handle of the frying pan, swinging it round in force, boiling oil shooting across the room and onto his vest, causing him to scream out as it landed all over his chest, burning through the thick material of his top and searing his skin. He stared for a moment as the frying pan missed him and flew across the room, landing with a bang on the kitchen floor. He continue to stare even as I moved my hands to cover my face, sobbing as I realised what I had done. “M’n’m… that was really naughty.” His voice was a hiss, his hands clenching at his sides. He lunged at me, pushing into me with such force that my head knocked against the wall before I was pushed down to the cold, red splattered floor. A blow was landed to my face, blood spilling into my mouth as I kicked against the floor, winding myself into a ball as blows were landed on my body. Suddenly it stopped. I waited for a few minutes before the sound of sizzling made me freeze. I lifted my head and there he was, stood at the oven, frying eggs. I lifted myself, broken and bleeding from the floor as Dad started to hum to himself, walking to the red painted cupboard and getting a tin of tomatoes. I looked around the kitchen, at everything painted red. The walls, spattered with red. The floors. The padlocked door. The ceiling. My mum. Bobby. His little five year old frame in the corner, painted red. Gone. I took in a withered shaking breath and moved to the counter, sitting. My dad turns to face me, a smile on his face and a dazed empty look in his eyes. “How many eggs do you want m’n’m?” I looked to the clock on the wall to my left. The minutes ticked by to four a.m and I continued to stare, too scared to blink for the chance that I wouldn’t open them again. WORDS BY: HANNAH STAIT DESIGN BY:ORLAGH TURNER
DESIGN BY: ORLAGH TURNER
Our Winner
Quench photography competition
CULTURE/ CREATIVE
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Photography By: Allison Renker
Photography By: Allison Renker
Our Runners up
Photography By: Max Modell
Photography By: Sumaiya Quraishi
Photography By: Izzy Boulton
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Chwe Gwlad 2019 Yr hyn sydd i’w ddisgwyl
Mae’r flwyddyn newydd wedi cyrraedd o’r diwedd, a golygai hyn mai ond un peth sydd ar feddyliau’r Cymry, mae holl gyffro a bwrlwm pencampwriaeth y Chwe Gwlad ond mis i ffwrdd! Felly, mewn llai na mis, bydd llifogydd o grysau coch ar strydoedd y Brifddinas, a’r gwefannau cymdeithasol yn orlawn gyda holl newyddion a thrafodaeth y tîm cenedlaethol. Roedd pencampwriaeth y llynedd yn un allweddol oherwydd hon oedd y drydedd bencampwriaeth yn olynol lle’r oedd safleoedd y pencampwyr a’r Llwy Bren wedi’u penderfynu cyn rownd terfynol y gemau. Mae’r bencampwriaeth llawer yn fwy cystadleuol y dyddiau hyn, wrth i’r Alban brofi eu gwelliant sylweddol o
GEIRIAU GAN: TOMOS RHYS JONES
dan reolaeth Gregor Townsend gan orffen yn y drydydd safle o dan Gymru a’r pencampwyr Iwerddon. Felly, mae’n rhaid dweud fod hi’n angenrheidiol i ambell dîm brofi eu gwerth a dangos eu doniau ym mhencampwriaeth eleni. Hefyd, fydd perfformiadau’r timoedd yma yn ystod Gemau Prawf yr Hydref yn destun trafod, gyda hyn yn amlwg ar gyfer tîmoedd megis Cymru ac Iwerddon wrth iddynt berfformio’n rhagorol. Ond, does dim dwywaith y bydd cefnogwyr brwd y bêl hirgron yn cwestiynu os fydd carfan pŵerus Lloegr yn gallu gwella ar eu perfformiad annisgwyl llynedd a chyflawni eu potensial fel un o goreuon y Byd? Pwy a ŵyr, ond dyma sut wyf yn rhagweld fydd y bencampwriaeth yn mynd eleni.
LLUN GAN: ASHLEY BOYLE
1af - iwerddon Ar ôl ennill pencampwriaeth y llynedd, ond gwella y mae’r Gwyddelod wedi gwneud ac felly, maent yn un o’r ceffylau blaen ar gyfer ennill y Chwe Gwlad a Chwpan y Byd eleni! Mae’r flwyddyn ddiwethaf wedi bod yn un arbennig iddynt wrth i’w rheolwr, Joe Schmidt, ennill gwobr Rheolwr y Flwyddyn, a’r maswr, Jonny Sexton, yn ennill gwobr Chwaraewr y Flwyddyn yn ddiweddar, heb sôn am ennill yn erbyn y Crysau Duon eleni eto. Mae ganddynt garfan cryf sy’n cynnwys chwaraewyr megis Jacob Stockdale, prif sgoriwr ceisiau y Chwe Gwlad yn 2018, a’r wythwr CJ Stander, a byddant yn edrych i ddefnyddio pŵer Bundee Aki yng nghanol y cae. Mae hi’n anodd i weld unrhyw un
arall yn ennill y Chwe Gwlad a’r Goron Driphlyg eleni, ond mae’n sicr fydd hi’n agos tu hwnt! Felly, mae llai ‘na mis i fynd nes yr holl fwrlwm a chyffro, ond fydd yr holl chwaraewyr yn eisiau gwneud argraff sylweddol ar eu rheolwyr cyn Cwpan y Byd eleni. Ond a fydd Cymru’n llwyddiannus? Neu a fydd Iwerddon yn dod i’r brig unwaith eto eleni? Pwy fydd yn cipio’r Goron Driphlyg? Pwy fydd yn cael yr anffawd o dderbyn y Llwy Bren wrth i’r bencampwriaeth ddod i ben ar yr 16eg o Fawrth? Un peth sy’n sicr ar hyn o bryd, gallwch ddisgwyl twrnamaint arbennig unwaith eto eleni!
2il Safle - Cymru Gyda Warren Gatland wrth y llyw ar gyfer ei dwrnamaint Chwe Gwlad olaf fel rheolwr Cymru, fydd y gŵr o Seland Newydd yn barod i orffen gyda ffrwydrad o lwyddiant. Yn yr Hydref, enillodd Cymru bob un o’u Gemau Prawf am y tro cyntaf erioed, felly mae gan y cefnogwyr yr hawl i fod yn gyffrous ar gyfer yr hyn sydd i’w ddod. Hon yw carfan gryfa’ Cymru ers blynyddoedd, ac mae sawl chwaraewr yn cystadlu’n frwd ar gyfer amryw o safleoedd o fewn y tîm. Ac unwaith yn rhagor, mae’r gystadleuaeth fwyaf yn bodoli ymysg chwaraewyr y rheng ôl, er
fod chwaraewyr allweddol megis Aaron Shingler a James Davies wedi’u anafu. Ond, am y tro cyntaf ers blynyddoedd, mae ‘na gystadleuaeth sylweddol ar gyfer safle maswr Cymru, safle sydd wedi gweld chwaraewyr megis Phil Bennett, Barry John, Jonathan Davies a Stephen Jones yn serennu dros y blynyddoedd. Felly, gyda chwaraewyr megis Justin Tipuric, Alun Wyn Jones a George North ymysg y garfan, a fydd y tlws yn dod i Gaerdydd? Cawn weld, ond mae’n sicr fydd ddigon o sŵn yn y Brifddinas pan ddaw Iwerddon a Lloegr i’r Principality!
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3ydd Safle - lloegr Mae’r flwyddyn ddiwethaf wedi bod ychydig yn drychinebus ar gyfer y Saeson (ond ddwywaith yn fwy pleserus i’r Cymry!) ac mae’n amlwg fod llawer o waith gan Eddie Jones i’w wneud i sbarduno’r tîm i wella ar orffen yn 5ed y llynedd. Mae gan Loegr ddyfnder arswydus o fewn eu carfan, sydd yn ei gwneud hi’n anodd datrys yn union beth sydd wedi mynd o’i le iddynt dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Ar eu dydd, mae’r Saeson yn un o dimoedd gorau’r Byd,
wrth iddynt feddu ar wasanaethau’r maswr ffyrnig Owen Farrell, y brodyr Vunipola, ac yn amlwg y cawr Maro Itoje. Ond, ai craidd y broblem yw sut mae’r rheolwr yn dewis ei gefnwyr efallai? A oes angen defnyddio canolwr sydd yn fwy o rif 12 hen ffasiwn yn hytrach nag un sydd yn fwy crefftus? Pwy a ŵyr! Ond, os fydd Jones yn datrys ei broblem, fydd Lloegr yn ymgeiswyr cystadleuol tu hwnt ar gyfer y Bencampwriaeth.
4ydd Safle – Yr Alban Tîm arall sydd wedi gwella’n sylweddol ers Cwpan y Byd yn 2015 yw’r Alban, ac o dan reolaeth Gregor Townsend, maent yn chwarae rygbi cyffrous gan drafod y bêl yn effeithiol er mwyn ymosod yn llydan. Mae gan yr Albanwyr garfan gref a fydd yn sicr yn gystadleuol tu hwnt yng Nghwpan y Byd flwyddyn nesaf, ac yn amlwg yn y Chwe
Gwlad eleni. Ond er mwyn sicrhau hyn, fydd yn rhaid i chwaraewyr profiadol megis Jonny Gray, Huw Jones a’r cefnwr Stuart Hogg gynnig arweinyddiaeth i genhedlaeth nesaf y garfan, sef Adam Hastings. Felly, bydd yr Albanwyr yn gorfod brwydro i amddiffyn yn gryf ym Murrayfield er mwyn sicrhau perfformiad da eleni.
5ed Safle – Ffrainc Yn hanesyddol, mae Ffrainc wedi bod yn anghyson yn y gystadleuaeth, oherwydd does dim dal pa Ffrainc fydd yn chwarae ar y diwrnod. Ai’r Ffrainc sydd â’r gallu i sgorio ceisiau o unrhyw fan ar y cae gan chwarae rygbi crefftus, neu’r Ffrainc sydd â’r sail gref ymysg y blaenwyr, ond yn methu clicio er mwyn cadw’r sgorfwrdd i droi? Pwy a ŵyr! Ond mae’n sicr y bydd carfan Jacques Brunel, fel yr Eidalwyr,
yn barod i achosi problemau ymhob gêm. Bydd y Ffrancwyr yn gobeithio y bydd Teddy Thomas a Maxime Machenaud yn gallu creu ambell gais, tra fod Wenceslas Lauret a Bernard le Roux yn y rheng ôl yn gallu sicrhau meddiant iddynt. Fel wnes i sôn yn gynharach, mae gan y Ffrancwyr ddigon o botensial i gystadlu am y Pencampwriaeth, ond mae’n rhaid sicrhau cysondeb er mwyn gwneud hynny.
6ed Safle – Yr Eidal Mae’r dyddiau lle yr oedd gêm yn erbyn yr Eidal yn cael ei ystyried fel buddugoliaeth haws wedi hen ddiflannu, ac er fy mod yn credu y byddant yn gorffen gyda’r Llwy Bren eleni eto, bydd yr Eidal yn peri problemau sylweddol ar gyfer sawl tîm yn y bencampwriaeth. Bydd y capten profiadol Sergio Parisse a’r maswr talentog Tommaso Allan yn sicr yn barod i brofi’r cyhoedd yn anghywir, gan eu bod nhw’n chwaraewyr a
all greu rhywbeth allan o nunlle’! Hefyd bydd y cefnwr chwim Matteo Minozzi yn benderfynol o ailadrodd ei berfformiadau ardderchog o’r llynedd, wrth iddo sgorio bedair cais. Ond, yn anffodus, gwendid mawr yr Eidal yw’r ffaith allai’r tîm gael trafferth mawr os fydd nifer o anafiadau yn bwrw’r garfan, felly 6ed agos fydd hi i’r Eidalwyr sydd yn gwella gyda phob twrnamaint.
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Bonjour Ffrainc! Profiad Elin Cain ar ei thymor dramor WORDS BY: ELIN CAIN DESIGN BY: STEPH ROWE
Mae treulio ychydig o fisoedd mewn gwlad dramor yn agoriad llygaid, a mae’n gyfle anhygoel i ddysgu sut i fyw yn annibynnol, sut I fyw yng nghanol diwylliant newydd a dysgu iaith yn well. Dwi wedi bod yn siarad Ffrangeg ers bron i unarddeg mlynedd erbyn hyn, felly y cam nesaf i fi oedd mynd i fyw yno am gyfnod. Yng Nghaerdydd, dwi’n astudio Ffrangeg a Sbaeneg, ac mae blwyddyn dramor yn orfodol efo’r cwrs, felly dwi wedi bod yn Ffrainc am dymor, a mae gen i chwe mis arall i ddod yn Barcelona, Catalonia. Dwi newydd ddod yn ôl o dreulio fy nhymor cyntaf yn Nantes, yng Ngogledd Ffrainc a roedd o’n brofiad byddaf yn cofio am byth. Mae dinasoedd Ffrainc yn llawn traddodiadau a diwylliannau gwahanol, ac mae pob tref a dinas yn hollol unigryw, felly mae rhywbeth yno i bawb. Er fod Paris wedi denu fy sylw, wnes i benderfynu dewis rhywle fymryn yn llai nad o’n i’n gwybod llawer amdano. Nantes ydi’r bumed ddinas fwyaf yn Ffrainc, ac mae’n sicr yn ddinas sydd yn datblygu i fod yn rywle cyffrous, modern a chelfyddydol, a dwi’n falch iawn o fod wedi cael y cyfle i fyw yno. Roeddwn i wedi bod yn lwcus i gael lle mewn llety. Mae’n eithaf anodd disgrifio be mae’r llety fel yn Ffrainc; wna i ddeud bod o’n hollol wahanol i be rydym ni wedi’i arfer efo yng Nghaerdydd. Roeddwn i wedi gobeithio cael byw mewn fflat tebyg i Senghennydd, ond roedd y realiti yn hollol wahanol oherywdd roedd y myfyrwyr Ffrangeg i gyd yn mynd adref ar y penwythnosau, felly ges i ddim y cyfle i ddod i’w nabod nhw. Un peth positif oedd bod fy ystafell yn eithaf neis ac yn costio llai na €280 y mis. Roeddwn i hefyd yn cael y CAF sef budd-dal i helpu myfyrwyr efo costau byw. Mi wnaeth o helpu i wneud llety rhad yn rhatach! Er hynny, dwi erioed wedi bod yn unrhywle efo archfarchnadoedd mor ddrud – dydy o ddim y lle mwyaf addas i fyfyrwyr! Roeddwn i’n lwcus iawn bod y llety yn agos i’r brifysgol, ond roedd o’n ugain munud ar y tram i ganol y ddinas. Doedd y tram ddim yn rhad, ond doedd yna prin neb yn edrych ar docynnau, felly geshi ddigon o deithiau am ddim (er fy mod wedi dod yn agos i gael ddirwy mwy nac unwaith)! Roedd y tram yn mynd i bob cornel o’r ddinas, felly roedd o i’r dim i fyfyriwr tramor oedd eisiau darganfod y lle. Yr unig beth oedd ychydig yn flinderus oedd eu bod nhw’n stopio am hanner nos, felly roedd o bron yn amhosib ffeindio ffordd adref ar ôl noson allan, heblaw fy mod i eisiau talu €30 am dacsi! Mae Nantes yn ddinas unigryw ac mae’n dod yn fwy ac fwy poblogaidd, yn enwedig oherwydd y gweithgareddau sydd ar gael i ymwelwyr a myfyrwyr ifanc sy’n newydd i’r ddinas. Un o’r pethau gorau wnes i yn yr wythnosau cyntaf ar ôl cyrraedd oedd dilyn y ‘Ligne vert’, sef llinell werdd rydech chi’n gallu ei ddilyn o gwmpas prif atyniadau y ddinas – ffordd dda o beidio mynd ar goll hefyd! Ma yna rywbeth eithaf hap am Nantes; heibio pob cornel, mae rhyw fath o osodiad celf unigryw, fel tâp mesur anferth sydd wedi ei osod ar ochr adeilad y coleg pensaerniaeth. Os ydech chi yn siarad efo rhywun sydd wedi bod yn Nantes, byddent yn sicr yn dweud wrthych am y Ile de Nantes; nid yn unig y prif le i fynd i glybio, ond hefyd cartref yr eliffant fecanyddol sydd yn 12 metr o uchder ac yn cario ymwelwyr tra’n cerdded yr ynys. Yma hefyd, mae grwp o bobl yn cyfarfod i gael gwersi ffitrwydd am ddim bob dydd, bum gwaith y dydd! Er fy mod i wedi ei gweld hi’n anodd i wneud ffrindiau yn fy llety, ges i’r cyfle i gyfarfod pobl o bob man o’r byd. Y peth anoddaf wnes i ffeindio dros y cyfnod oedd trio gwneud ffrindiau efo’r Ffrancwyr; nid oherwydd eu bod nhw’n anghroesawgar, ond achos eu bod nhw wedi setlo yn eu criw o ffrindiau ac roedd ganddyn nhw eu harferion eu hunain, felly nid oeddent yn yr un sefyllfa â fi i fod angen gwneud ffrindiau newydd. Roeddwn i’n lwcus iawn i gael dod i nabod ffrindiau drwy’r ESN, sef rhwydwaith o fyfyrwyr rhyngwladol dros y byd sy’n trefnu digwyddiadau i fyfyrwyr Erasmus ym mhob prifysgol. Gwîn, gwîn a mwy o wîn…dyna’r unig alcohol wnes i yfed tra roeddwn i yna – roedd pob dim arall yn rhy ddrud! Roedd gan Nantes fwy o pub life. Roedd yna rywbeth eithaf neis am hynny, oherwydd roedd o’n gyfle i gyfarfod Ffrancwyr go iawn a chael siarad Ffrangeg. Un o fy hoff lefydd yn Nantes oedd bar o’r enw Le Nid, sef ‘Y Nyth’. Roedd y bar wedi’i leoli ar adeilad uchaf y ddinas, ac roedd o wedi’i addurno fel nyth. Dyna oedd cartref club night gorau Nantes hefyd, hefo cerddoriaeth da a golygfeydd hyd yn oed gwell o’r ddinas yn y nos. Os oeddwn i’n teimlo’n hiraethus, fy hoff le i fynd oedd bar Gwyddelig o’r enw John McByrne. Mae hwn yn un o dafarndai mwyaf enwog Nantes, ac mae’r staff yn rhai o’r bobl mwyaf caredig dwi erioed wedi eu cyfarfod. Gyda Paris yn ddim ond dwy awr i ffwrdd ar y trên, wnes i allu treulio dipyn o amser yn darganfod y ddinas enwog, a ges i hyd yn oed fynd i weld Gruff Rhys yn chwarae yn y Badaboum. Mae un o fy hoff artistiad Ffrangeg yn dod o Nantes sef Christine and the Queens, ac roedd ei gig yn arena y ddinas yn un o’r gigs gorau dwi erioed wedi ei weld! Mae teithio yn rhan bwysig o’r profiad, ac mae maes awyr Nantes yn cynnig teithiau rhad a chyflym i ddinasoedd mwyaf Ffrainc. Y ddinas gorau wnes i ymweld oedd Geneva. Er ei fod o’n ddrud, mae’n un o’r llefydd mwyaf hyfryd dwi erioed wedi bod. Tra reoddwn i yno, ges i hefyd ymweld ag adeilad y Cenhedloedd Unedig, profiad bythgofiadwy. Dwi yn edrych ymlaen i fynd i Barcelona; dwi’n gwybod fydd o’n hollol wahanol i Nantes. Mae’n gwneud i mi deimlo mor drist i feddwl na fydd myfyrwyr yn y dyfydol ddim yn cael y cylfe i fynd ar flwyddyn dramor oherwydd y sefyllfa wleidyddol bresennol. Os ydech chi byth yn cael y cyfle i fynd, ewch amdani.
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CELEBAR
28
Dydd Miwsig Cymru 2019 GEIRIAU GAN: MEGAN TOMOS DYLUNIAD GAN: ANDREA GAINI
Ar yr 8fed o Chwefror fyddym ni’n croesawu Dydd Miwsig Cymru yn ol i’n strydoedd am y bedwerydd flwyddyn er mwyn dathlu gwerth a phwysigrwydd cynnyrch cerddoriaeth yng Nghymru! Ar ol llwyddiant ysgubol llynedd, mae Caerdydd gyfan yn edrych ymlaen i ddathlu Cymreictod mewn amrhywiaeth o gigs, cyngherddau a thalent tu hwnt! Pe bai chi’n hoff o gerddoriaeth indi, roc, pync, ffync, gwerin, electronica, hip hop neu unrhyw beth arall, mae Dydd Miwsig Cymru yn sicrhau gewchi flas ar bob agwedd o gerddoriaeth! Drwy dathlu pob math o fiwsig yn ein gwlad, cawn uno yn ein iaith a’n cenhedlaetholdeb – ac yn sicr, does unman yn well na Gaerdydd i wneud hynny! Felly pwy fydd o dan sylw yn ystod Dydd Miwsig Cymru? Yn sicr, wedi llwyddiant mawr Alffa dros y flwyddyn dwythaf fydd pennau yn troi atyn nhw heb os! Mae’r band yn cynnig roc a blues i’r sin a bellach wedi profi eu hunain i fod yn fand mwyaf adnabyddus y Gymraeg, gyda dros miliwn o wrandawyr ar draws y byd! Yn debyg, fydd Boy Azooga yn sicr yn enw mawr yn ystod yr wyl wedi iddynt nhw ennill y Wobr Gerddoriaeth Cymraeg cyn y Nadolig! Fydd amrywiaeth helaeth o dalent cerddorol ar draws yr wyl ac ar draws lleoliadau mwyaf gwerthfawr a cwl y ddinas. Fydd Clwb Ifor Bach yn cynnal noson Twrw yn ystod yn wyl gyda pherfformiadau arbennig gan Gwilym, Chroma, Ani Glass a mwy! Mae Dydd Miwsig Cymru yn gyfle i ddod i adnabod bandiau mwyaf newydd y sin, gyda digwyddiadau rhad ac am ddim i fynychwyr gigiau, rhieni a phlant, pobl ifanc, myfyrwyr a busnesau yn cael eu cynnal ym mhob rhan o’r wlad. Am flas o’r hyn sydd i’w ddisgwl, ewch draw at Spotify Dydd Miwsig Cymru am sawl rhestr chwarae i’ch rhoi chi yn ysbryd yr wyl! Mae’r wyl yn gaddo i fod yr un mor arbennig ac y llynedd ac yn sicr ddim am siomi! Felly dewch yn lly i ddigwyddiadau’r ddinas ar yr 8fed o fis Chwefror i ddathlu wir bwrpas ein cenhedlaetholdeb! Ymunwch gyda’r sgwrs drwy’r hashnod #dyddmiwsigcymru a gadewch i dîm Quench wbod pwy rydych chi’n edrych ymlaen i weld fwyaf!
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ABOMINATION WORDS BY: JOSH ONG DESIGN BY: ANDREA GAINI
When it comes to taking things for its own, Britain has quite the dicey historical reputation, and food lies as no exception to this. Arguably, Britain’s culinary scene is one of the most diverse in the whole world. With regard to choice of what to eat, as a country, we are so very fortunate. However, the joys and advantages that multiculturalism within food has brought to the table has equally brought out Britain’s bad side. Notably, where the nation falls down is in British interpretations of classic dishes from across the world. From my experience, these attempted homages are often pale attempts to replicate the heart of another nation, and are almost always lacking. There are naturally exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, they end up falling short of the mark and therefore, by default, end up giving the original dish a bad reputation too. Join me in exploring some of the cases in which the country may need a helping hand. Let’s start with Wagamama; the classic shopping centre food-court choice for middle class families who want something a little ‘different’ that day. There used to be a time during which Wagamama did bring something new, innovative and vibrant to the table, but sadly, those days have long since passed. Being of Asian descent myself, naturally this was a go-to spot for the family to eat as there did not, and still does not lie, any other major restaurants with similar output of such a cuisine. As a child, I remember loving the place, but as time has gone on, my visits during my adult years just do not quite hit the same spot anymore. Perhaps I was blinded by the joyful nostalgia of childhood or maybe the quality of food being produced has drastically deteriorated; I am willing to throw my eggs into the second basket. The last few times I have visited, all of the food has been totally devoid of love and soul, something which should ultimately stand at the heart of all cooking. You can tell when a dish is not receiving enough love, and I do not think it could have been any more obvious from the ‘Pad Thai’ I was supposedly
served. If you had shown it to any southeast Asian chef and told them it was Pad Thai, I am sure they would be quick to tell you that if their grandmother had wheels, she would have been a bike, in their own respective language. As a high street food enterprise, naturally there are always going to be compromises when it comes to full quality control. However, there does remain a limit on how much any restaurant should be willing to sacrifice in the name of profit margins and business advancement. If they are attempting to mimic the foods of another nation, then they should at least have the decency to make it moderately authentic. I do, however, understand the argument that authenticity can be expensive; there are certain ingredients that you simply cannot access in some areas of the world in high volume. However, if you are charging upwards of £10 for a plate of noodles, you would certainly hope the chefs had at least tried their hardest to replicate the real deal. Some of the best Thai food outside of Thailand I have ever eaten came from a small greasy-spoon looking cafe in Ealing, London. Whilst Asian food is my particular area of specialty, sadly Britain’s poor colonial-culinary reputation does not stop there. How many burrito joints have you seen dotted around the UK, claiming to be serving Mexican food? There lies a sad conflation between Mexican and Tex-Mex which is the result of another anglicised mistake. Equally, it is impossible to forget about the UK’s general lazy attitude towards the wonder that is Italian food. Like everyone in Britain, I grew up with Spaghetti Bolognese and was blissfully unaware of just how much of a true ‘bastardisation’, as television’s Gino D’Acampo would state, it truly was. The list goes on of stolen British interpretations, but we do not have all day, really! On a more positive note, perhaps there lies a good side to all of this. Without Britain’s questionable involvement in India, and the subsequent anglicised food thus created, we would not have the nation’s favourite dish, the infamous Chicken Tikka Masala.
The north east would not have its beloved Parmos, there would be no kebab shop to serve you a Doner meat pizza following a hefty night out and there would not be a Nando’s there to fulfill your piri piri cravings; what a bleak world that would be. To sum up, do I think that Britain does well at providing a previously inaccessible insight into cuisines from around the world? In a word, yes. Do I think that British interpretations of foreign foods could to better to honour them? Of course, without a shadow of a doubt. Do I think that our nation’s colonial history of taking things that are not our own and claiming them is something we need to work on? Probably. Most importantly, do I think referring to such a classic Italian dish as ‘Spag Bol’ should be listed as a hate crime? Without question!
FOOD & DRINK
anglicisation
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Antony Worrall Thompson While it seems like a common occurrence to read about celebrity chefs falling from grace, Antony Worrall Thompson’s own fall was more of a fizzle, with a smattering of petty crimes and personal
FOOD
drama sandwiched between the financial collapse of a handful of restaurants. Despite that, he has not shied away from the spotlight, bravely confronting his past and public insecurities, including his current writer’s block. In the past decade, Antony has slowly begun to resign himself to talk-show panels rather than chefing. Yet, he has continued writing cookery advice for the magazine Uncovered, and plans to continue writing books once he feels inspired. Antony encapsulates the rise and fall of celebrity chefs in the public eye, with a rocky few years and enough debt to make even a student’s eyes water! Right now, it seems he is on the rise again, albeit after downsizing his ambitions, spending less time on the television, and more in the kitchens.
P a y n e e x l A : y b o n e s s d ig o J n W o r d I : N BY DES I G
Nigella Lawson A decade is long stretch of time for public figures, and none have felt it more than Nigella Lawson. When we last checked in, she was a zany and glamorous figure who was putting a posh spin on food, but a lot has changed since then! Now, Nigella has one of the farthest reaching careers of all celebrity chefs. She has become a household name globally thanks to a glut of global features in advert campaigns and shows in America, New Zealand and Australia. Nigella has always proven to be someone with a finger in many pies. From the start of her career, which has been exemplified in recent times, she has established a £7 million cookware range and has presented on both Masterchef and Eurovision, alongside writing her books and sealing cooking deals. She may face criticism from her competitors who credit her looks, rather than her skill for her success, but there is no doubt that she is currently the nation’s resident darling thanks to her no-nonsense guides and a healthy dollop of charm. Nigella has seen a change over the past decade, with her carefree and flirtatious image somewhat deflated by personal hardships. A smear campaign contrived by her abuser, Charles Saatchi, attempted to fabricate all sorts of lies; particularly surrounding Nigella’s drug habits.These latter quickly got picked up by gossip mills, but she has continued to grow her brand regardless. It is admirable that this far into her career, Nigella continues to tease the boundaries of what constitutes being a celebrity chef. She managed to redefine herself while still maintaining the core elements that drastically charged her success in the first place.
Delia Smith Throughout the years, Delia Smith has remained a staple of culinary television. She has lent her encouraging tones to the BBC for decades. Recently, she has effectively been canonised into British culture, thanks to a plethora of awards and hundreds of hours of air time. Delia has managed to have such a strong presence that she has even produced a phenomenon - The Delia Effect, so called as the demand for a niche product that she has used on a television show, such as frozen mashed potato or tinned mince, suddenly sky rockets. The Delia Effect saw omelette pan sales rise from 200 to over 90,000 a year. The last decade has been relatively uneventful for Delia, with a short advertising campaign for Waitrose alongside Heston Blumenthal, and a five-episode series, ‘Delia Through the Decades’, which served as victory lap for both her and the public to reflect upon her past achievements. Having gracefully retired from catering in 2011 and from television just two years later, Delia has managed firmly cement her legacy in all of our minds.
Heston Blumenthal Heston Blumenthal has continued to champion a more scientific approach over the last ten years. He has transformed his cooking from a taste-focused experience to one that, instead, aims to engage every one of our senses. Subsequently, Heston has produced bizarre creations formed from eclectic amalgamations, such as a Green Tea and Lime Mousse, which is “nitro-poached”. Sound pretentious? It is also served with a “Lime Grove” scent, fresh from a perfume-esque atmosiser. Yep! It will surprise literally no-one then, that Heston is both from the south of England and is the face of Waitrose, which includes a range of food complete with branding covered in tweedwearing, anthropomorphic animals. Cherry bakewell flavoured vodka, anyone? While everything may sound a little ostentatious, it is all grounded firmly in science, with research from both Oxford and Sussex Universities supporting his bold culinary adventures. Over the past ten years, Heston has been relentl ess both on and off-screen, from cooking for the Queen, to a handful of shows that showcased his ingenious streak but in a more approachable format. Primarily produced by Channel 4, Heston has reimagined everything from historical dishes and banquets to the food served in different industries such as the Navy and airlines. Heston is now exceptionally accomplished having being lauded with a variety of different awards including Chef of the Year, an OBE, an honorary science degree and a coat of arms - how very Heston! To be frank, anyone who can win Best Restaurant in the World while serving snail porridge deserves to be recognised! The last few years have been decidedly successful for Heston Blumenthal who has managed to avoid controversies while continuing to establish himself as a household name. It seems like they will be many more years of delicious, albeit questionable, culinary creations to come from his genius imagination.
Jamie Oliver Have you ever wondered what celebrities chefs from the past are doing now? Well, I am going to try to delve into their stories, find out which ones have managed to maintain and retain their reputation over
the
last
10
years
whilst
also
looking into what happened to those who have perhaps slipped under the radar.
Over the past decade, Britain’s sweetheart Jamie Oliver has become a victim of mob mentality, rekindled by The Daily Mail in 2009, particularly surrounding his campaigns for healthier food. His infamous 2006 public push for school dinner reforms was undoubtedly a positive step forwards for a nation crushed under the pressure of a looming obesity crisis. However, a well-timed hit piece has slightly soured public opinion. Jamie has continued to produce a new eight-part series each year, primarily for Channel 4, focusing on his established niche of bringing affordable and approachable food to the British masses. In recent years, he has introduced us to a couple of Italian-themed specials. He has also branched out from working exclusively with Sainsbury’s, creating a range of adverts and recipes for Woolworths (throwback!), Tesco, the meal delivery service Hellofresh, and has continued his food industry activism despite all the backlash. Unfortunately, in the last year, both his chain of Italian restaurants and barbecue steak houses have found themselves just hours away from bankruptcy; the former finding itself in debt of a staggering £71.5 million. It will be interesting to see whether in the next decade Jamie will return to his roots in advertising and television, or whether he will attempt to revive his sinking restaurant empire.
Food & Drink
FIGHT
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33 FOOD & DRINK
Atma
Atma serves wholesome vegetarian and vegan food with a twist because not only is it good for the body, but it’s also nourishing to the soul due to our sacred ingredient – love. Our dishes are handmade with fresh vegetables and spices, making it some of the most authentic food you’ll find in Cardiff city centre.
The Supersoul Special – the conscious curry and delicious dal of the day, accompanied by rice and salad – created to showcase the beauty in simple, Indian cooking. Maha Mexican Burger – For those who want a bit of a kick with their meal, we’ve constructed a unique vegan burger with not a bean in sight! Our peanut and lentil patty is complimented by jalapenos, crunchy tortilla chips, leafy greens, Atma mayo and our homemade sweet chilli sauce. Freespirit Falafel Wrap – Capturing the bohemian side of Atma, this wrap was made to transport you straight to nature with our hand-rolled beetroot and quinoa balls, fresh green salad, hummus and sweet tamarind chutney – great for on the go! Nachos and Hummus with Vegan Cheese – Created to make sure vegans don’t miss out on any luxuries, these make the perfect side to any of our main meals, or serve as a tasty snack.
Miracle Mango Lassi – Sweet, creamy and insanely flavoursome, this heavenly drink takes us back to our Indian roots while also making a traditionally yoghurt-based beverage available to those who choose to eat plants. Celestial Hot Chocolate – Vegan doesn’t have to mean healthy and this drink is no exception. Our head chef, Radhi, used his creative powers to design a delightful blend of Belgian cocoa with a few of his secret ingredients, with the result being this other-worldly hot chocolate! We also offer a range of vegan desserts that vary from day-to-day, with a few classics like bounty bars, peanut butter cups, cheesecake and more!
Quench
Issue 16 - October 18 04
“Education is there to brainwash people”
Issue 15 - October 4 2004
Gr uff Rider s
The Music
The Quench Interview
The Super Fur r y Animals Wales best band bar none
S
Sucka
Technology quits talkin’ jibba jabba
Interviews - Fashion - Gay - Travel - Music - Books - Digital - Film - Arts - Food - Going Out
Digital: The gadgets you must own Interviews - Fashion - Gay - Travel - Music - Books - Mr Chuffy - Film - Arts - Food - Going Out
F ilm: Mar lon Brandon RIP
Gay: Gay: Testing Testing the nightlife
Inter views: views: The lovely lovely Char lotte
Fashion: Maggie’s Maggie’s back
Q U E N C H QUENCH.GAIRRHYDD.COM > VOL 4.44 > OCT 30 2006
Music: Razorlight Razorlight live Fashion: Get naked naked Features: Treguard’ s back Treguard’s
THE
BABIES: WHO'D HAVE 'EM?
DIA N GUAR EN T ST UD ZIN E MAGA E OF TH YE AR
Sex
ISSUE
Q U E N C H QUENCH.GAIRRHYDD.COM>VOL 3.17>MARCH 20 2006
25/02/09: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
“The geeks shall inheri t the earth”
... it’s good isn’t it!”
Quench chat to comic gods Simon Pegg and Nick Frost
THE THE BODY BODY AS ART AS ART
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BRING ON THE FUZZ Mob them!
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“PEOPLE SAY YOU MUST BE ON DRUGS”
We give you
THEMIGHTYBOOSH PLUS: HUGH DANCY>SPIKE LEE>
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SARAH JESSICA PARKER
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ROCK AND ROLL STARS: WE SPEND THE DAY WITH THE GO! TEAM, THE AUTOMATIC AND MORNING RUNNER
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Razor sharp fashion with Summer ball stars - Gay pride - The Welsh Baftas - Ripley and Ripley, photographers to the stars + Music
t h e
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Features · Fashion & Beauty · Travel · LGBT+
Features · Fashion & Beauty · Travel · LGBT+
Culture · Music · Film · Food & Drink
Culture · Music · Film · Food & Drink
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15
Celebrating Celebrating years the pu llout Celebrating years of Quench of Quench of Quench Issue 124 | September 17th 2012
Issue 126 · October 15th 2012
ISSUE 170 | NOVEMBER 2018
Interview With
Cardiff Christmas Callendar
The Kooks
Alternative Christmas Films
New Years' Style Resolutions
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