Care in the community

Young Cancer survivor from Haverfordwest gets post-lockdown lift

A 26-YEAr-OLD from Pembrokeshire, who is living through and beyond cancer, admits “It’s given me a silver lining!” after enjoying five days of sailing from the Isle of Wight with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust last week (13-16 September).

Callan Glass was 20 when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. He was among 9 young people from across the uK that spent last week sailing from the Isle of Wight, as the Trust gets back to bringing young people together, having been off the water in 2020.

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust inspires young people aged 8-24 to believe in a brighter future living through and beyond cancer. For many young people, picking up where they left off before their diagnosis isn’t possible. So, when treatment ends, the Trust’s work begins.

The isolation, loneliness and anxiety experienced by young people with cancer has been massively amplified by COVID and lockdown. That is why they need the Trust more than ever right now. everyone. Being back at the Trust has been better than I thought it would be, like being able to meet new faces and familiar faces and have that place to de-stress and not worry about the rest of life and just sail on by.”

Through the Trust’s sailing and outdoor activities, young people meet others who have had similar experiences - often for the first time, rediscover independence away from home, experience an increased sense of purpose and self-worth, and begin to realise what they are capable of again. Most importantly they stop feeling like the ‘only one’.

The young people are inspired to believe in a brighter future as they feel valued, accepted, optimistic and independent. They can start to re-establish their place in the world by getting back into education or employment and reconnecting with their friends and families.

Callan adds: “I was diagnosed when I was 20, I was living in London and I was working at the time, so it completely changed my life direction. It’s been a roller-coaster, but I always feel like I’m so privileged because with these charities like the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, it’s turned something really negative and given me a silver lining, so I really appreciate it.”

Dame Ellen MacArthur, the Trust’s Founder and Patron, concludes: “We hear it a lot, that for many young people what happens after treatment can be as difficult as, if not even more so, than the treatment itself. receiving funding from People’s Postcode Lottery has been a gamechanger in enabling us to reach and have a positive impact on the lives of many hundreds of these young people over the past decade.

“We know the impact the Trust has on the mental wellbeing of young people living through and beyond cancer. Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, more and more will get the support they need to believe in a brighter future.”

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust was founded by the record-breaking roundthe-world yachtswoman in 2003. It is there for anyone who is struggling or could simply do with a bit of support, however long off treatment they are. Visit ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org or follow @emctrust on social media.

Community Bite

TWO special cricket matches, played at Pembroke Dock Cricket Club on Sunday (Sept 12), have helped to raise over £5000 for charity.

The money will be split between mental health charities and Callum Jones who is recovering from serious neck injuries.

A large number of raffle prizes were donated while those playing cricket also donated money and the match and balls were also sponsored.

Among the raffle prizes were a signed Haverfordwest County shirt and ball, Welsh fire signed cricket top and cricket bat and Lamphey Court tea time me time package.

The day started with a women’s Twenty-20 match as rachael Sander’s XI took on a Lauren Amy XI with the winner collecting the Prosecco cup.

There was rain in the air but it was Lauren Amy’s side who picked up the win.

After that it was the turn of the men who played for the Helen Griffiths shield. That match saw Pembroke Dock take the win against an All-Stars select side.

Players for the All Star side came from Lamphey, Pembroke, Neyland, Carew and Cresselly and both matches were played in excellent spirits.

Organiser Nick Daley said: “It was an amazing day and effort from everyone. Thanks to all players and a big thank you to all the sponsors. And for all the wonderful raffle prizes. Over £5000 raised so far with a few more quid to come in, all for mental health and Callum Jones.” CAPTAIN Adrian Beckett from Hakin, Milford Haven is using his selection in the 2021 London Marathon to support The Meadows nursing home in Johnston.

Adrian, a former member and now Honorary Patron of the Milford Haven Town Band, joined the Army in 1989 and now serves in Central London as Operations Officer for the State Ceremonial bands who are seen at royal and State occasions.

During the pandemic, Adrian’s Dad John, who himself played in the town band, was diagnosed with dementia and now lives in The Meadows. Adrian plans to raise funds to purchase gifts or specialist equipment hoping to make a difference and add something special to the everyday life of all those living in the nursing home.

Adrian joined the Army in 1989 and now serves in Central London as Operations Officer

Adrian first ran the London Marathon 25 years ago in 1996, and by his own admission had no desire of doing it again – but somehow always knew deep down that his marathon story was not over, looking for an excuse to pound the streets of London again – for a great cause! He says “I have taken a year off running for every mile I completed in 1996 and think that after 25 years it is time to start running again. I want to make a difference, giving something back and by running 26.2 miles and asking for support from the community, it will make it all worthwhile and raise a smile from the residents and staff of The Meadows”.

Adrian has served in the Welsh Guards for 23 years prior to being commissioned into a role which saw him mastermind Army Bands, Drums and Pipers in all corners of the world. He was instrumental in organising the VE and VJ BBC television events in 2021 and was part of the command team supporting the funeral of HrH The Duke of Edinburgh and maintains the musical support to Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace.

Adrian first ran the London Marathon 25 years ago in 1996, and by his own admission had no desire of doing it again

“Dementia is difficult enough, but due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns it has been incredibly hard to visit Dad as the home has, of course, had to protect its residents. The nurses and staff are just incredible, they work tirelessly every single minute of the day, caring for everyone in such a compassionate way, whilst ensuring their safety and that of their own families, always with a smile on their faces. It is hard to describe how grateful I am. Dad is so well looked after”.

The London Marathon is broadcast live on the 3rd of October and if you wish to help Adrian in his efforts to support his Dad, please follow this link for more information.

Army Captain to run London Marathon for local nursing home

STEPHEN BErESFOrD, writer of Pride, was told that no studio would make his film and was left convinced that the story of LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners) would go unheard by the masses.

Nothing could have been further from the truth.

The 2014 movie, starring the likes of Imelda Staunton, Bill Nighy, Andrew Scott, and Dominic West, was met with widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike, leaving a lasting impact on so many who watched it.

Based on true events, Pride told the story of how gay activists worked to help Welsh miners during their lengthy strike of the National union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984.

Speaking seven years on, Stephen said ‘Nobody knew anything about it so it was a completely obscure, unknown story, so I was bringing it to completely fresh eyes.

‘Also there was a huge question about whether anyone would make [the film]. I was told at every turn when I was trying to get it off the ground, “Don’t be so ambitious, it’s too big, no one’s going to make a mainstream movie about this”.

‘In a way, those two things take the pressure off – you think A: nobody’s heard this story, and B: they’re not very likely to anyway!’ However, things started to change when the roles were cast, with high-profile actors jumping at the chance to be included, resulting in a spectacular star-studded lineup.

‘Pride is unique in that it’s the only thing I’ve ever done where every single actor who was asked to play a part said yes straight away,’ he reflected.

‘In most cases, you ask somebody and they say no and you ask somebody else, you cast it that way. In this film, Imelda came on, Bill came on, Dominic – there wasn’t anyone that we wanted that turned it down. And that’s kind of amazing really.’

Most importantly, however, it was essential to get the real-life parts of the story right. For that, Stephen tracked down as many members of LGSM as he could, starting with the man who he knew couldn’t be mistaken for anyone else in the world – reggie Blennerhassett.

‘I sent him a message on Facebook and I said, “Are you the reggie Blennerhassett from LGSM?” and he wrote back, “I haven’t been asked that question in a long time – what on earth do you want?”‘ Stephen laughed.

‘Through reggie I managed to find the rest of the group and everybody said “Mike [Jackson] is the keeper of the flame, he’s the one you need to speak to because he has all the information.” So all roads led to Mike Jackson, who I then formed a close working relationship with him really, just digging into the story as much as I could. I tried to meet as many people as I could – and of course the Welsh community.’ Despite his close bond with the communities, Stephen still feared what their reaction would be.

‘I was worried how the real people involved would take it, and I was very honest with them – most of what I did was out of naivety, really. I’d never made a film before so I didn’t really know how you were supposed to behave but I always told them the absolute truth.

‘So I said, “I’m going to make up a story about these events,” rather than trying to tell a story, so they knew that, they expected that. But their reaction was my biggest concern. That was the only concern.’

However, he needn’t have worried. Mike Jackson, Secretary of LGSM, told us: ‘The impact of the movie never stops.

‘It has been adopted by the global labour movement as a paradigm of solidarity and by the LGBT+ community as an example of our need for allies. Of course this is all stems not from the movie but from the miners’ support for LGBT+ rights when they voted in favour of our motion at the 1985 TuC and Labour Party conferences.

won our statutory rights – it was the trade union movement which started the equalities drive for LGBT+ people by negotiating with employers, including the more progressive local authorities such as Ken Livingstone’s GLC.

‘Viewers watching Pride will see how ordinary people are capable of achieving extraordinary things even in the face of fierce and powerful opposition. The most powerful fanbase for the movie and LGSM are teenagers through early 20s.

‘We are particularly proud of Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants who were inspired by what we did 35 years ago and see migrants as a group who are being demonised by the media and the state in the same way the miners were. LGSMigrants do some spectacular and courageous campaign work but also do the donkey work, trekking around Soho with their collection buckets in aid of migrants and receive the same generous support from the LGBT+ community for migrants today as they did for miners all those years ago. That’s Pride!’

Stephen doesn’t take for granted how well-loved the film is. But there’s one part of it he feels people haven’t completely understood, especially now.

‘The thing that I think is least understood about the film and that I wish was more understood is that it’s a story about putting yourself on the line. The reason that LGSM achieved what they achieved, was because they turned up. And if you turn up to the place where it’s possible you might be rejected, but you go there with an open heart and an open mind, and you say, “I’m here to help,” that’s when you make a change happen. think have been rather devalued – words like “solidarity” and “activists”. Because they tend to now mean the things we say on social media.

‘What LGSM were doing was physically appearing in a place where they didn’t know how well they’d be received. And that’s very important, it’s an important part of the story.’

‘I never said this, but somebody said this in a review – “Prejudice cannot survive proximity.” And that’s really the most important thing about the film,’ Stephen explained.

‘You have to actually go and be up close and personal with people and speak to them in a reasonable way, open-hearted and openminded.

‘Pride is a film about bringing people together who don’t appear to have anything in common and I have to say that it’s a disaster because we now live in a world where people have never been more divided, I don’t think, in the whole of my life.

‘We have become so sectarian and tribal in the way that we deal with the world, that anybody who steps out of line with one particular point of view is ostracised forever.’ ‘If my intention with Pride was to bring people to a more nuanced and open-hearted understanding of each other, then I have to call the film an abject failure,’ Stephen laughed. ‘But there is still time.’

Stephen Beresford

FrOM the appearance of the first humans in Wales there have been great tales of spooky mystery. With its historic churches, numerous castles, and ruggedly sailed coastline, Pembrokeshire is home to many of the scariest ghost stories in all of Britain.

For those staying in one of our great holiday cottages in Tenby, especially this Halloween, there is the perfect opportunity to get into the spirit without travelling far from your temporary home.

There is a guided Ghost Walk through Tenby that helps to conjure up the spooks the village has to offer. Ghosts, fairies, witches and more are discussed on this unique tour through Pembrokeshire’s scary past. Starting from the Lifeboat Tavern on Tudor Square, the walk has previously been named by the Sunday Times as one of the top 5 ghost walks in Britain. Much of the walk has also been included in richard Felix’s book The Ghost Tour of Great Britain: Wales.

If you are looking for an even spookier adventure, there are a few more places throughout Pembrokeshire for you to investigate… if you dare!

The A4076 Ghost

In Haverfordwest, there have been numerous reports of a ghost walking a rural highway. The A4076 is said to be haunted by a lonely woman walking the road. Paranormal investigators have been called to examine the area, and have spoken to local media about the phenomenon.

“We have had around six people contacting us with the same story,” Shaun Sables from Pembrokeshire Beyond said in 2011. “It’s something we really need to investigate. They all report getting a glimpse of a woman in the corner of their eye as they approach the crossroads. Then they are convinced they have hit somebody or something, they get out of their cars but find nothing.”

The sightings have continued. Earlier this year, more motorists claimed they saw a shadowy woman – leading to people naming the road the most haunted in Britain.

“Perhaps it is merely reflections of light or a hoax played out by a daring and suicidal prankster,” said Gavin Davies from the Paranormal Chronicles website. “It has certainly a very spooky story and has really captured the imagination in the county of Pembrokeshire. It’s a paranormal epidemic.”

Wirt Sykes and his Goblins

In the 1800s, Wirt Sykes was a local chronicler of ghost stories. He gathered the scary traditions of Western Wales.

In 1881, a tale was passed on about the ghost of a small cow. In his book, British Goblins, Wirt Sykes wrote:

“A black calf, which haunted a Pembrokeshire brook early in the present century (early 1800s), was believed to be the devil in familiar guise. It appeared at a certain spot near the village of Narberth — a village which has figured actively in mythic story since the earliest ages of which there is any record.

One night two peasants caught the terrible calf and took it home, locking it up safely in a stable with some other cattle, but it had vanished when morning came.”

Sykes also retold the story of a local ceremony courting the devil. He gives the

following account of a devil-summoning ceremony performed by a schoolmaster and a renowned Pembrokeshire conjurer named John Jenkin. A group was brought together to solve a mystery about some stolen money from the school.

After calling forth several spirits, and emotionally scarring a young boy in attendance, the whole event ended in flames.

He wrote of that particular evening:

“But when he did call, there came out of the wood a spirit dressed in white, and went about the circle. ‘Ah’ said the schoolmaster, ‘we shall now hear something from this.’ And sure enough ‘this’ told the conjuror (in a language the boy could not understand) where the money was, and all about it. Then it vanished in red fire; and that boy ‘has never been well since, the effect of the great fright still cleaving to him.’”

Finally, he wrote about the haunting of the original chapel founded by St Canna in Llangan. At night, he writes, one can hear goblins speaking in Welsh as if they are building the church.

Sykes tells us:

“In the middle of this parish there is a field called Parc y Fonwent, or the churchyardfield, where, according to local tradition, the church was to have been originally built; but the stones brought to the spot during the day were at night removed by invisible hands to the site of the present church. Watchers in the dark heard the goblins engaged in this work, and pronouncing in clear and correct Welsh these words, “Llangan, dyma’r fan,” which means, “Llangan, here is the spot.”

Llangan straddles the boundary between Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. It was also thought to have been the occasional residence of Hywel Dda, the greatest king of Wales.

The Mysteries of Carew Castle

Located in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Carew Castle has a reputation for sheltering the paranormal. The Castle boasts two ghost stories that have been entertaining visitors for years.

In the legend of Princess Nest, there is a white lady who walks the ruins in daylight or appears when there is a full moon. Thought to have once been the most beautiful woman in all of Wales, the ghost of the Princess Nest supposedly welcomes visitors to the castle – and has done so for 900 years.

Nest was the daughter of rhys ap Tewdwr, the king of Deheubarth. According to the story, Nest fell in love with Henry I of England. She gave birth to his son, but was forced to marry another. Throughout her life, Nest became embroiled in a variety of love triangles and was often involved in intrigue with her various husbands and lovers.

When she died, locals say she returned to Carew Castle where she was born, but her spirit never rested. In Carew’s other famous ghost story, locals speak of the spirit of a rescued ape that inhabits the castle. Sir rowland rees, who lived in Carew during the 1700s, returned from an expedition from the Barbary Coast – now North Africa – with an ape. rees trained the ape to obey him using a whistle.

But, when rees tried to command the ape to attack a rival, he was said to have been cursed by the man. After a fight between the man and the ape, all that remained of the ape was a pool of blood. Ever since, especially on stormy nights, the ghost of the ape is said to return to the castle and scuttle through the halls.

Home

1. A rather spooky treasure hunt “If you’re stuck in the house, there’s nothing more entertaining and exploratory than a treasure hunt! Draw up some clues you for your kids, or get them to write their own, and get cracking with your very own spooky Halloween hunt”, says Sarah Allsop, creative manager at Party Delights. 2. Get creative with carving your pumpkin

An obvious one, but a classic nonetheless. “Carve your own pumpkin is one of the best ways to join in the fun, whether you can trick or treat or not. This is one of those activities that can be done as normal if you’re at home with family. If you want to increase the party size, you could make this a Zoom affair, with other families showing their amazing creations,” Sarah explains.

Alternatively, she suggests heading to the park, given your area allows it, and enjoying some socially distanced pumpkin carving. Just don’t forget to take your rubbish home with you. 3. Tell your scariest stories Now it wouldn’t be Halloween without a scary story. Whether you prefer to just put on a movie—Hocus Pocus, anyone? — or invent your own spooky stories amongst one another, you’ll be in for some seriously ghastly fun. Not so keen? Take the party online, suggests Sarah “There are lots of other traditional Halloween events that can be done over webcam, like telling spooky stories. Why not use a torch under your face to create a ghoulish glow?”. 4. Halloween-ify your favourite activity Stories not up your street? Don’t fret, says Sarah—as above, there are so many options of fun things to do. Why not think of your favourite thing to do, and Halloween-ify it? “If you like dressing up, have a waist-up costume parade. If jokes are your thing, share some ghastly jokes. Or, if you’re into movies, why not watch a scary movie together?,” she suggests. The sky’s your limit. 5. Get crafty “Halloween is one of the best times of the year to crack out the glitter and pom poms,” shares Sarah. Not sure where to start? “There are lots of Halloween crafts you could try out, including making or decorating a Halloween tree, making some jam jar Halloween decorations, making and play tin can bowling, or even crafting your own bunting.” You could even have a scary craft competition—the spookiest entry, wins. 6. Whip up some scary edible masterpieces

“Why not get your trick or treaters in the kitchen to stir up some (tasty) magic? Little monsters of any age can benefit from spending time in the kitchen. From peeling to grating, mixing and rolling, there are lots of simple tasks for tiny hands and Halloween is the ideal time to get started,” explains leading children’s cookery author Annabel Karmel.

One idea? “unleash their inner Picasso by getting creative with their edible masterpieces. Task them with creating faces on their morning Dracula Buttermilk Pancakes or making a Skeleton Veggie Dip (that is, arranging their veg into a scary skeleton shape). It’s the ultimate spooky savoury snack.”

8. Conduct a spooky food experiment

This one’s a good’un. “Why not do a ‘spooky food experiment’ where you choose a mix of different textured food and kids have to guess what they are?,” suggests Grace Willis, founder of Happy Little Eaters. “Think leftover pumpkin flesh and seeds, jelly, wiggly worms and apple puree—you can really get creative here. This is a great game for sensory play,” she adds.

As Mum Says, Do Your Homework!

Spend time looking at pictures of tattoos and talking to your friends. Save images of your favorites. After about a month, I promise that you will have changed your mind on some of those favorites. This will help you to hone in on an idea that you will enjoy for many years to come.

You may have been influenced by your parents or others that you know that have gotten tattooed. No offense to mom and dad, but tattooing has come a long way in the past 20 years. If you go to your artist with a picture that came straight out of the 90s, that is what you will get. Then later, when you do research for your next one, you will realize that you had many more choices available to you. However, it may still be your favorite, because it was your first!

What Do You Love?

This may seem like a strange question, but hear me out. Obviously not everybody gets things that they love tattooed on them. Sometimes, people choose their designs simply because they have seen something that they like. There is nothing wrong with this approach, but if you are having doubts about what to get, this is not the best way to choose your first one. You may get lucky and love it forever, but you could just as easily end up with a constant reminder of how impulsive and indecisive you are.

Speaking of regret, it is always a possibility. Something that is important to you is a nostalgic reminder of who you were at a certain point in time. This sometimes coincides with a life changing event, but it doesn’t have to. I suggest taking this approach because you will be less likely to regret it in the future.

Style Matters!

Let’s say you are certain that you want a tattoo of a St. Bernard because that was your first dog and it passed away last year. Well, that is a great start, but you are not done yet. There are several styles and if you learn them, your artist will be able to better understand the outcome you are looking for. Different styles include (but are not limited to): traditional, new school, realistic, 3D, portraiture, black and grey, tribal, and Japanese. You can easily find samples of these examples on Google image search. unsurprisingly, a St. Bernard done as a traditional old school design will look very different from one done in new school style. Chances are that you know what style you like, you just have to be able to tell the artist.

Go Big or Go Home?

An experienced artist can help you answer the question of what size it should be. After you show your artist what you are looking for, they will be able to tell you how large (or small) they can go. If it is too small for the amount of detail it has, it will degrade too quickly over time. Most artists will tell you if what you are asking for is unrealistic.

As Far as Pain Goes

If plucking your eyebrows is a torture that you are not willing to endure (those suckers are really rooted in there!), it is safe to say that you will have a harder time getting tattooed than somebody who can ignore this type of pain. Don’t freak out, though. Even though it hurts, your body will help you out. After about 10 minutes, your brain excretes neurochemicals to ease the pain. It really helps! But if you have to sit for a couple of hours or more, you will notice that the chemical releases ebb and flow over that time.

If you are not sure if you can handle the pain of that St. Bernard tattoo, be creative and get something smaller, like a bone, a paw print, or their favorite toy. A tiny tattoo will not hurt much, so you are pretty much guaranteed to be able to sit for it. Then you can decide if you want to sit longer for a larger and more detailed one.

Where Should You Put It?

Since you are an empty canvas, you can get your first one anywhere! Popular choices include the calf, shoulder, thigh, and upper arm. People choose these areas because they are less painful and can be easily covered with clothing if desired.

One Last Piece of Advice

Don’t ask your artist what you should get. That is not a part of their job! You should approach them with your idea in hand. read more about designing a tattoo with your artist, which also leads to another relevant post: How to Pick a Tattoo Artist.

Milford Ink

At Milford Ink Tattoo & Piercing Studio our aim is to turn your ideas into reality at affordable prices. We undertake all aspects of our profession from custom tattoo designs to cover ups. You will experience our professional, friendly service first hand and witness the passion we have for our work. Our studio is a clean and completely sterile environment.

Body piercings available, also have a selection of body Jewellery on sale in studio so feel free to make an appointment for a no-obligation consultation.

We also offer professional body piercings.

registered with the local health authority means all our equipment is ultrasonically cleaned and autoclave sterilized. rest assured, you’re in safe hands.

Barbershops: Heroes of the Highstreet?

BETWEEN January and March 2019 the number of barbershops on Britain’s high streets rose by 349 units, according to the latest research by the Local Data Company. We investigate what the rise is attributed to and discuss whether it’s an encouraging sign for the barbering industry or a cause to worry about standards declining. Plus, find out what you can do to set yourself apart from the increasing competition.

The barbershop boom could be attributed to a combination of factors, such as a rising costumer demand for male grooming services and the fact that barbershops can become thriving businesses quickly. A male grooming trend has undeniably taken off thanks to popular culture. It’s not just haircuts and beard trims that customers are now heading to their barbers for. They are now seeking out male grooming services such as waxing, eyebrow shaping, facials and manicures. “With the growing influence of social media, TV and the internet, there’s an emphasis on people looking and feeling good. This applies just as much to men as it does to women,” explains the Hilary Hall, chief executive of National Hairdressers’ Federation (NHF). Not only has this seen a new market emerge of men requesting grooming services for the first time, but they are getting them on a more regular basis too. of the rise in professionalism of the barber industry, the way barbers excel at promoting themselves on social media and the way they provide an excellent service for customers. The change in the public’s perception of barbering as an industry has changed dramatically these past few years.”

Another reason for the boom might be because the financial barriers to setting up a barbershop business are comparatively low. “Barbershops don’t cost a huge amount to set up compared to many other businesses because they don’t carry a lot of expensive stock,” says Hilary. “Many barbershops don’t employ their staff but have self-employed chair renters working in them. This is seen to a much greater extent than in hair or beauty salons. This reduces the costs of running a barbershop, particularly when employment costs are rising (such as rises to the National Living Wage/National minimum wage, pensions auto-enrolment).” A combination of a growing market and the financial accessibility of barbershops has created a boom.

Despite the boom, could it be a case of bust in a few years’ time? There are concerns that an increase in competition could lead to a price war which in turn has seen some businesses operating ‘under the radar’ with very low prices and a cash-only till. low prices which rely on high volumes of sales, but these are difficult to achieve when there are competing businesses up and down the high street.” In theory this can send barbershops into a spiral of ever-decreasing prices, and there is evidence to suggest that some are operating cash-only businesses to save money. “unfortunately there are far too many ‘cash only’ barbershops who charge rock bottom prices, ignore all their responsibilities and work completely under the radar when it comes to enforcement,” says the NHF. “We have been urging HMrC to target those businesses, not the reputable businesses who make an occasional genuine error.”

Education and training is another area of concern for the industry. Adam Sloan MFED CEO explains: “I do worry about the standards declining. In my opinion the public deserves to go to a business that provides qualified hair and / or male grooming experts, or at least an employee who is working towards qualifications.” Adam is quick however to explain that the skill of more senior barbers who have grown their careers without formal training is not in question. But will the increase in barbershops breed a generation of ‘untrained’ barbers? As there is currently no regulation that means barbers have to have a qualification, it seems only time will tell.

The Welsh role in the founding of the United States of America

FOr such a historic moment in world history, the signing of the Declaration of Independence in the uS involved a lot of Welshman.

Sixteen of the 56 signatories were of Welsh descent, to be precise. This included the Llandaff-born Francis Lewis, who moved to America at 21, signing the constitution on behalf of New York.

The Welsh were among the very first settlers to go to America, so it’s fitting that we played such a big role in this historic moment.

Two history books claim that a Welsh Prince, Madoc, landed in America around 1170, 320 years before a certain Christopher Columbus. He returned to Wales, legend goes, to take more settlers with him. This myth was used by Elizabeth I to assert Britain’s rights to America over Spain in the late 1500s.

Another strand to the legend suggests his settlers eventually met the Mandan, a Native American tribe, who learned to speak Welsh. A 26-year-old explorer from Caernarfon, John Evans, voyaged to America to find them in the 1790s, but found no evidence of Welsh-speaking when he got there.

In 1681, King Charles II gave 45,000 square miles of America to Quaker William Penn, who wished to call it New Wales (Charles II insisted on it being called Pennsylvania).

Many Welsh Quakers who only spoke the Welsh language had recently moved there, fleeing religious persecution back home. More immigration in the 18th century brought the Welsh to a West Pennsylvania area now known as Cambria County. Delaware and the Carolinas also have Welsh roots, and a party of Jackson County, Ohio, is called Little Wales.

The Welsh language was spoken here widely until the 20th century. It still persists too: according to the 2010 American census, 135 people still speak Welsh.

Eluned Morgan MS said during a trip to America: “Wales has long historical, cultural and business ties with the uSA and Welsh-Americans have made an important contribution to life in the uSA – and continue to do so.

“It’s no exaggeration to say the Welsh helped build the foundations of a nation that has become the modern day uSA. The Welsh were among the very first settlers to go to America. The second wave of Welsh immigration took place in the mid1800s, and this continued throughout the Industrial revolution, when Welsh immigrants brought new skills to the American coal, steel and slate industries. Welsh steelworkers even built the steel roof structure of the White House! “Abraham Lincoln, himself of Welsh descent, in his Gettysburg Address in November 1863, reminded those present why the founding fathers established America 87 years earlier. But he very much underestimated the significance of his address, believing his words would not be remembered.”

One of the memorial stones on the Washington Monument is inscribed with “Fy iaith, fy ngwlad, fy nghenedl, Wales – Cymru am byth” – My language, my land, my nation, Wales – Wales forever.

Today, the uS is one of Wales’ biggest trading partners, with some statistics from the Welsh Government revealing:

The uSA is the largest source of inwards investment into Wales, in terms of the number of inward investment projects

The uSA is Wales’ largest export market outside Europe – equating to 14.7% of exports, worth £2.44 billion

There are 3,715 Americans living in Wales (2011 Census data)

So, the next time you are in a conversation about the Declaration of Independence, make sure you bring up those 16 men of Welsh descent, and the importance the Welsh played in America’s history, up until this very day.

OUTDOOR AND TABLE SERVICE ONLY.

Christmas is just around the corner...

YOu could say I’m an elf. Maybe not physically, because my ears aren’t particularly pointy and while I’m short, I can at least blend in with other regular-sized humans, but emotionally, I’ve reached elf-status. Call me cliché or childish, but I think Christmas is the greatest of all the holidays. Though I understand it’s a giant consumerist ploy to drain American adults of their hard-earned money, that fact doesn’t stop me from launching into Christmas festivities every December. So, in preparation for this glorious holiday, I’ve created a list of ways that you can get into the Christmas spirit.

1) Make a Christmas playlist.

First and foremost, everyone must make a Christmas playlist. When it’s snowing outside and everyone is sitting around the dinner table rolling out those pre-made, reindeer and Santa-shaped sugar cookies, listening to rap music or Britney Spears just doesn’t have the same cheery effect. The best Christmas playlists include a variety of songs from different eras. Some basic suggestions:

– Santa Baby by Madonna (a good pick if you can get past its creepiness) – All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey (my all-time favorite, judge all you like) – You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch by Thurl Ravenscroft (gotta get some movie soundtracks in there) – Anything from Michael Buble’s Christmas album (the man’s got a Christmas voice) – Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson (Kelly Clarkson is my musical drug, so I’m biased with this one, but it’s a new single and you should all go check it out)

2) Buy/Build a gingerbread house.

Pre-made cookies are not the only sugary good that define the Christmas season. Gingerbread houses also make for a fun familybonding event. To clarify, I don’t mean fullsized gingerbread houses. If you have the patience to attempt such a project and the self-control not to eat it along the way, then props to you, but I tend to go for the smaller, more manageable gingerbread structure. Even if the frosting doesn’t mix right and the walls don’t stay up for more than 2 seconds and in the end, you end up staring at a pile of gooey gingerbread panels that looks more like a stack of logs than an edible treat, you can say that you tried and that’s all that matters.

3) Decorate. Decorate everything.

As much as I hate walking through the aisles of Home Bargains in October and seeing decorations for Christmas inappropriately far in advance, I believe it’s also important to stock up on these decorations for when the actual holiday rolls around. And don’t limit yourself to decorating your house. Decorate cookies. Decorate the sidewalk with Christmas chalk drawings. Decorate your face with red and green makeup. Decorate your soul with the Christmas spirit.

4) Watch a Christmas special, or 10, or 100.

rudolph the red-Nosed reindeer. How the Grinch Stole Christmas. A Christmas Story. A Charlie Brown Christmas. There are so many heart-warming Christmas movies out there, it’s hard to list them all. And don’t even get me started on Elf. It would get it’s own number if I had room.

5) Create a gift list idea for other people.

receiving gifts on Christmas is only half the fun. The only thing better than the weeks leading up to Christmas is finding the perfect present for someone you love, whether it’s a gag gift or a serious item that they’ve been needing for awhile. Once you spot that antique typewriter that your hipster brother has been looking for, everything about life seems to fall into place.

6) Start a countdown.

Countdowns can be a very powerful force in nature, if the New Year’s Eve ball drop tradition is any indication. They can both ease the mind (i.e. 10 more minutes until I can escape this English class on Medieval Dinner Plates) and incite anticipation (i.e. 2 more days until I can order my tickets for Lord of the rings on ice). Advent calendars can also be an acceptable substitution for such events. A friend of a friend (definitely not me) mentioned that Neopets has a good advent calendar, but I don’t know for sure. (I do. It does.)

7) Bust out the seasonal drinks/food.

Nearly every respectable establishment offers some sort of special Christmas meal or drink. Mint hot chocolate. Pumpkin spice latte. Then pair that with Christmas munchkins or candy canes and you’ve got yourself a meal.

8) Wear a Santa hat all day, every day.

Santa hats are like Ellen Degeneres. They make everything more fun. Quote me on that.

9) Volunteer to wrap presents, and everything else.

Present-wrapping is a core part of the Christmas tradition, so volunteering to do it, either for charity purposes or to wrap your own, can get you in the holiday spirit. Wrap yourself in a sweater while wrapping a sandwich wrap and buying wrapping paper to wrap Christmas presents. Then when you’re done, go to a wrap party that plays only rap music. That’s a wrap!

10) Be jolly.

This is perhaps the most important rule of all. In the end, Christmas is not about spending enormous amounts of money or spoiling your children/parents/grandparents/significant other. rather, it’s about coming together and celebrating all of the good parts of life. The best thing you can do to prepare for Christmas is just be happy. It’s the one time of the year where you don’t have to hate on humanity (which is what I do 95% of the time). Take advantage of it. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, after all.

Whats on... Bite

WITH over 30,000 theatregoers attending pantomime at Swansea Grand Theatre each festive season it’s never too early to book!

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, we have the fairest panto cast of all! Starring Olympian Colin Jackson as The man in the Mirror, Swansea panto legend Kev Johns as Cook, BGT’s hilarious Jon Clegg playing Muddles, and the brilliant bad apple, Zoe George, playing the Wicked Queen.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be spectacularly brought to life with an abundance of comedy, sensational song and dance numbers, fabulous costumes and stunning scenery. Throw in a magical mirror, seven friendly dwarfs, a beautiful princess, a handsome prince and plenty of audience participation as we outwit the Wicked Queen and let love prevail in this glittering festive treat for all ages.

Times: 1:00PM, 2:00PM, 5:00PM, 7:00PM Price: £17.00 - £36.00

Extra offers:

£15 ticket on selected performances: 10 Dec 19:00 / 11 Dec 14:00 & 19:00 / 12 Dec 13:00 & 17:00 / 14 Dec 14:00 & 19:00 / 15 Dec 14:00 & 19:00 / 16 Dec 14:00 & 19:00

Assisted Performances

British Sign Language:

14 Dec 14:00 & 16 Dec 19:00

Audio Described:

15 Dec 14:00

Relaxed Performance:

20 Dec 13:00

It’s behind you!

A bRIEf hISTORy Of PANTOMIME

PANTOMIME is often seen as something quaint, something utterly British, but its origins lie in warmer climes. It developed from the Italian street theatre of the Commedia dell’arte in the 16th Century, with comedic moments, stock characters and great physicality.

Small companies toured in Italy and France, setting up in market places and fairgrounds to tell stories of the old man Pantalone, the clown Pierrot, and Columbine - the girl in love with the naughty servant Arlecchino.

From the late 1600s these characters appeared in English comic plays, introduced by the theatre impresario John rich. Taking centre stage was the acrobatic Harlequin - the English name for the Commedia dell’arte’s Arlecchino - who evolved into a impish magician.

Known as Harlequinades, rich’s plays were an early form of pantomime. The stories involved lovers, magic, chases and acrobatics, with Harlequin using his ‘slapstick’ to hit scenery, instigating set changes. In the late 1700s actor Joseph Grimaldi took the character to new heights and the sets became more elaborate.

By the Victorian era pantomime had become typical Christmas fare. Scripts now told stories of robinson Crusoe or Fairy tales, with a witty rhyming style that included topical content. The Principal Boy - played by a woman - also offered the Victorian gentleman the rare opportunity to look at a well turned ankle.

This period saw the rise of the music hall and the demise of the traditional Harlequinade. Stars crossed over from variety, bringing with them topical comedy and popular songs. The father of modern pantomime, Augustus Harris, encouraged lavish productions and competition between theatres across the country. The last London Harlequinade was staged at the Lyceum Theatre in 1939.

Pantomime has always had the capacity to adapt and move with the times, welcoming radio stars in the 1930s and 40s, to television and sports personalities today. Above all it has the capacity to offer a child its first magical encounter with live theatre.

Where to watch: IN CINEMAS released: 15th OCTOBEr

VENOM: LET THErE BE CArNAGE is drawing nearer, despite having been subjected to the same release date delays that have affected every blockbuster going.

However, fear not, as it seems we’ll still be getting the return of Tom Hardy’s antihero this year – it’ll just be a little later than originally planned as Sony has delayed the sequel from its original summer slot.

Despite a tepid reaction from critics to the first Venom film, fans are still excited for the sequel – especially now that the trailer has been released. Here’s what we know so far about Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

Before all the delays started, the sequel was due in cinemas on October 2, 2020 before being shifted to June 25, 2021. That date didn’t stick though and in March 2021, Sony pushed Venom: Let There Be Carnage back to September 17, 2021.

There was one little delay left though and it’s currently now scheduled to hit cinemas on September 24. However, that date was brought forward in the uK to September 15. rumour has it, though, that this could be pushed back again.

It was pretty much a given that Tom Hardy would be back as Eddie Brock and his brains chocolate-hungry alien alter ego. They make actors sign multi-film contracts these days, don’tcha know. Michelle Williams, who stars as Eddie Brock’s ex-wife Anne Weying, will also return. The actress told Yahoo! simply: “I’m in” but more importantly, Williams hopes the sequel will give She-Venom equal screen time.

One new addition to the cast is James Bond star Naomie Harris playing the villain Shriek. Speaking to IGN, director Andy Serkis said: “She’s a damaged soul and she really has suffered in her childhood, but there is a real vulnerability about her, and she’s in a lot of pain… She’s been living in isolation for years, years and years.

“She’s dangerous too and I think she has her own sense of fairness and being just, and I think when that line is crossed, then you see a very, very dangerous, dark side to her, and that’s what we wanted to do with the character.”

National treasure and frequent Tom Hardy colleague Stephen Graham has been confirmed to be joining the Venom sequel as Patrick Mulligan and is likely more significant than we realise. Woody Harrelson’s Carnage is of course here, and seems to have sorted out his wig problem. A recent merchandise leak has given us a glimpse at what Carnage could look like, but given it has yet to be officially confirmed we’re skipping the tease this time around. Suffice to say, symbiote Carnage is just as scary as you’d expect. A late confirmation to the cast is Killing Eve star Sean Delaney, who confirmed to Insider that he’s got a “very, very small blink-and-you’ll-miss-me role”.

“In terms of what I play in it, I can’t say anything about it,” he added. “In terms of its tie to the story, it’s really cool. It’s really, really cool.”

riz Ahmed starred in the first movie as Carlton Drake, but he met a messy end that makes a return unlikely. “I think I’m done in Venom. It’s pretty conclusive. Dude got blown up in a spaceship,” Ahmed explained. Another non-returner is the first movie’s director ruben Fleischer, with Andy Serkis taking over directing duties.

While we didn’t get a Spidey-sized cameo in the first Venom movie (well, not exactly), the director has hinted at a future SpiderMan crossover. Could that take place in Venom 2?

Marvel boss Kevin Feige did say it was “likely” that the Spider-Man and Venom would cross paths eventually. Fans hoping to see a Spider-Man cameo were temporarily buoyed by the plethora of spidey Easter eggs (ew) in the trailer. unfortunately, Serkis has confirmed that they’re just that – Easter eggs and nothing more.

WALES is an untapped resource for British cinema. There’s a lot of movies made about England, Ireland, and Scotland in all kinds of genres. But Wales often gets missed out.

Y DYN HEB NEW

The Toll is a Coen-and-Tarantinoinspired Welsh Western (Welshtern?), set in Pembrokeshire that takes its cues from unforgiven and then flips it on its head. It is the story of an unnamed toll booth operator known simply as Toll Booth on character’s phone screens and in hushed tones. Michael Smiley (Tyres from Spaced and regular Ben Wheatly collaborator) has been working the quietest toll booth in Wales for nearly 30 years. He appears to live a quiet, unassuming life of solitude operating a barrier on a long stretch of peaceful road.

Of course, not all is as it seems and the arrival of a face from his past sets off a bloody and violent chain of events that pulls in local gangsters, farmers, the London mob, the one honest cop, and an Elvis impersonator.

The music, stand-offs, eye close-ups, use of six-shooters, and bandits are all from the Western playbook but also coated in a thick Pembrokeshire charm. It never feels like ryan Andrew Hopper is trying to make a Western but didn’t have the budget to go to Monument Valley. It’s like rian Johnson’s Brick, in that it takes the trappings of one genre but makes the new setting the key to the story.

The most interesting subversion Hopper does is take the retired gunslinger trope and then add in the idea that this particular retired criminal is actually continuing his criminal ways. It’s like if unforgiven’s William Munny married, had kids, started a farm, but still shot people in the back. Toll Booth has vanished from his London bosses after performing some kind of unspeakable betrayal, but also quickly managed to create a tiny Welsh criminal empire of his own.

Y BRODYR COEN

Other than the obvious Western connections, the other movie The Toll brings to mind is Fargo. The movie and series of Fargo involve a lot of the time, characters finding themselves drowning in chaos and violence because they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and got in over their heads. With The Toll, there are different levels of criminal and the Welsh chancers who are just playing at gangster are the most tragic and Coen-esque.

As well as this mix of comic criminals and actually scary criminals there is a lone female cop, Catrin, played by Annes Elwy. She’s young, no-nonsense, and grieving her father’s hit-and-run death. unlike the rest of the police force who seem happy to line their pockets and stay invisible, she’s committed to finding out just what the hell is happening around her as bodies pile up and she begins to notice that no one will talk about the man in the toll booth.

The framing device is Toll Booth telling Catrin the story of what’s happened, but in a convoluted, out-of-order way that leaves her and us trying to put the story in the right order. There’s an element of unreliable narrator but also of a man giving confession in the hopes of saving his life.

CONCLUSION: THE TOLL

The Toll, at a tight 85 minutes, is a snappy crime movie that hits the ground running and doesn’t ease off the gas until the credits. The cast is incredible with Smiley and Elwy as the standouts, with supporting turns from Paul Kaye and Iwan rheon as hapless Welsh small-time hoods who add a layer of, in Kaye’s case, absurd comedy and with rheon a bit of tragedy for a led astray youth.

Smiley is excellent at portraying a sense of annoyance and boredom with the world that is drenched in tightly restrained anger. With The Toll, he’s got all that but also a tiredness that the past has caught up with him and the only way to survive is schemes within schemes and lackeys who might not be able to produce the goods when the time comes.

Annes Elwy is a wonder and I hope to see more of her in future projects. She shines in the Marge Gunderson role of the one cop straight enough and smart enough to put things together and to try and hold people to account for their crimes. She’s the lion’s share of the movie’s emotional scenes as she copes with the death of her father and the fallout from Toll Booth’s mess.

Will The Toll create a rush for Hollywood to make more Welsh movies? Probably not. But it’s well worth your time checking out if you’re a fan of Westerns, the Coens, or gorgeous scenery and violent crime.

Where to watch: Streaming sites released: OuT NOW

released: Early 2022

THE TEENAGE MuTANT NINJA TurTLES are finally returning to video games with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s revenge.

In the retro 16-bit era, Konami produced some classic arcade beat ‘em ups based on the franchise. The most famous and lauded of those is Turtles in Time. unfortunately, while the TMNT franchise has stayed relevant with new TV shows, comics, and movies, more recent games like Out of the Shadows and PlatinumGames’ Mutants in Manhatten were lacking in quality.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s revenge features groundbreaking gameplay rooted in timeless classic brawling mechanics, brought to you by the beat ’em up experts at Dotemu (Streets of rage 4) and Tribute Games.

Bash your way through gorgeous pixel art environments and slay tons of hellacious enemies with your favorite Turtle, each with his own skills and moves - making each run unique! Choose a fighter, use radical combos to defeat your opponents and experience intense combats loaded with breathtaking action and outrageous ninja abilities. Stay sharp as you face off against Shredder and his faithful Foot Clan alone, or grab your best buds and play with up to four players simultaneously!

With Bebop and rocksteady assaulting Channel 6 and stealing super gnarly devices to support Krang and Shredder’s latest twisted plan, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s revenge sees the Turtles battling across a righteous range of timeless TMNT locations. From Manhattan and Coney Island, to city rooftops and dank sewers, help the fearsome foursome trounce Foot Soldiers, Triceraton Warriors, and rock Troops all the way to Dimension X! Enjoy stunning full-color pixel art graphics and a vintage TMNT vibe that will rock you straight back to the awesome 80s. Every character, vehicle, weapon, item, and background is directly inspired by the 1987 TV show, making you feel like you hopped into the television -- with a dope mix of killer humor and action-packed adventures!

While many details surrounding Shredder’s revenge are still a mystery, this project is already so exciting because of the teams behind it. Tribute Games is the developer, a studio with a great history of retro-style games like this. Its founders worked on the cult classic and just re-released Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game. In addition, sonic Mania composer Tee Lopes is working on the soundtrack.

At Tribute Games, the team has worked on games like Ninja Senki, Mercenary Kings, Flinthook, and fantastic Mega Man-inspired platformer Panzer Paladin. Meanwhile, Dotemu has made a name for themselves as a publisher reviving classic franchises with games like Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap, Windjammers 2, and Streets of rage 4.

Currently, Shredder’s revenge has a 2022 release window. This release window was confirmed when Dotemu showed off the game at Gamescom Opening Night Live. It was originally supposed to release in 2021 but was delayed for unknown reasons. So hopefully, we don’t have to wait too long into 2022 for it.

THE ALL NEW NINTENDO SWITCH OLED

By Luke Sinclair

THE NEW NINTENDO SWITCH OLED

released: October 8th

I’M sure that Nintendo’s hardware engineers have had more than a few restless nights over the last couple of years, their hairlines rapidly receding as each new rumour of a ‘Nintendo Switch Pro‘ emerged to heap more pressure and more expectation on their shoulders. When it was eventually revealed, I’m sure that the Nintendo Switch (OLED model) will have disappointed a fair few expectant gamers out there. Here is a device that keeps the core of the console exactly the same – the chipset, the screen resolution, the Joy-Con – but Nintendo has looked at other ways to improve the experience of playing on their console.

The first thing you notice about the Switch OLED is just how unassuming it is. It’s almost exactly the same size as the original 2017 model, it’s still a large black slab kindly escorted into your hands by a pair of Joy-Con on either side, and unless you knew what you were looking at, you could easily mistake it for a regular old Nintendo Switch. Then the screen lights up.

Look, I know that talking about the difference between 7inch and 6.2inch is going to get some snickering from the back of the room, but it’s surprising just how much bigger the 7inch screen feels to play with. That extra 0.8 simply means that the screen takes up that much more of the front of the central tablet. It’s along the lines of the transformation that so many smartphones and tablets have undergone over the last few years, where bezels are banished and screens get ever closer to the edges of the device.

Pulling out my old Switch for the sake of comparison, and another difference becomes abundantly clear: the OLED panel works wonders for just how vibrantly colourful these games are. We had the opportunity to check out a handful of evergreen Nintendo exclusives, and from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey, the graphics pop with more saturated colours across the board – that’s saying something when Breath of the Wild has a rather muted colour palette.

If you were worried that a larger screen would highlight any deficiencies in resolution, then this trio of games weren’t exactly the best examples to try, but I honestly wasn’t bothered by any aliasing or resolution while playing. Games where the resolution drops significantly below 720p might be another story, but at that resolution, the Switch OLED will certainly be an eye-catching option.

That bigger screen is also going to be a boon if you’re a fan of tabletop mode and multiplayer when on the go, and it goes hand-in-hand with the new kickstand. Where the original Nintendo Switch kickstand is this fiddly bit of plastic that only kicks out at a relatively slight angle, the Switch OLED has a kickstand that runs the entire width of the device and can be adjusted to pretty much any angle you could possibly want. It’s exactly what you would want from a kickstand, with a solidity to any angle you set it to thanks to a pair of chunky hinges that extend from recessed channels in the Switch OLED’s body when collapsed – this is a clear sign of some of the internal space-saving that Nintendo has made.

And if you want to hear what’s going on while playing your game? The Switch OLED’s front-facing speaker holes are wider slits for speakers that can go noticeably louder than before. It might still lose the fight with a noisy cafe, but every little helps.

That kickstand has also forced Nintendo to make changes to the console’s cooling, relocating the intake vents that were previously on the back panel to run along the bottom edge of the console. Anyone that’s suffered from a cracked vent at the top of their console will also be happy to see that the exhaust at the top of the console is much more solid as well, similar in style to those on the Switch Lite, instead of the gaping hole into the body of the console on the regular Switch.

It’s not just the Switch that has been given an overhaul, as the humble Switch Dock has also been redesigned. Fundamentally (as with the main console), it’s the same concept as before, with a slot that you drop your console into for charging and playing on a TV, but again, it’s been refined. That slot now has smooth, shiny plastic on the inside, so you won’t worry so much about the risk of scratching up your lovely OLED screen, and around the back, hidden behind a panel that now pops off instead of opening on a hinge, you’ll find an ethernet port to help eliminate internet connectivity issues (which has often been one of the Switch’s weakest points).

The Switch OLED might not be the souped up console that many people wanted Nintendo to make, but I will say this: it’s pretty nice. Surprisingly nice, in fact. It is far from essential, and at an extra $50 it’s an added expense over the regular Switch model that will remain on sale for the foreseeable future. Even so, I’m sure that there’s some people out there that will be tempted by the refinement of a familiar machine, and the allure of that new vibrant screen.