Swansea Life October 2018

SWA NSE A

LIFE october 2018 £2.95

Trick or Treat! u Halloween events u Frightful fashion u Spooky interiors

the AWARDS GUIDE

24-page picture special from the Swansea Life Awards 2018

INSIDE

Bumper wedding edition

Autumn trends 9 771750 843018

9 771750 843018

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a w a r d - w i n n i n g M AGA Z INE

Must-have looks for you and your home

Shot in Fairyhill’s 24-acre Gower garden

Combining old-world charm with 21st century cool, this is Fairyhill, but not as you know it. As we toast to our future we welcome you to start yours with us. Here’s to new beginnings.

Oldwalls, a collection of luxury wedding venues oldwallscollection.com

Contents...

O C TO B E R

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Swansea Life is part of Local World, which is owned by Trinity Mirror PLC, which is a member of IPSO, the Independent Press Standards Organisation. We adhere to the Editors’ Code Of Practice as enforced

by IPSO, who are contactable for advice at Independent Press Standards Organisation, Gate House, 1 Farringdon Street, London.

EC4M 7LG. Website: http://www,ipso.co.ukTelephone: 0300 123 2220; email advice@ipso.co.uk If you have a complaint concerning a potential breach of the Code of Practice, we will deal with your complaint directly or IPSO can refer your complaint to us. Please go to http://www.trinitymirror. com/howtocomplain where you can view our Complaints Policy and Procedure. A “How To Complain” pack is also available by writing to the Legal and Compliance Department, Trinity Mirror PLC, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AP.

Average net distribution 7,500 copies sold and distributed in Swansea, Gower and the surrounding South West Wales areas.

Opinions expressed in Swansea Life magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or designer and the magazine is in no way liable for such opinions. While every effort has been made to ensure that the contents are fully accurate, we cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies and late changes. No article, advertisement or graphic, in whole or in part, may be reproduced without prior permission of the publishers.

4 SWANSEA LIFE

22. BLACK MAGIC The colour for Halloween and beyond

HAIR & BEAUTY 27. BEAUTY NEWS What is new in October 32. BEAUTY TIPS Everything you need to know 42. AUTUMN BEAUTY The trends of the season

Email: laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk If we have published anything that is factually inaccurate, please contact the editor on 01792 545533, at postnews@mediawales.co.uk or at Evening Post, Urban Village, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW and once verified we will correct it here as soon as possible.

AWARDS SPECIAl FROM PAGE 181

16. GET YOUR COAT New season coats to wrap up in

PUBLISHER Lisa Cameron | lisa.cameron@mediawales.co.uk

Swansea Life, Urban Village, High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW @swansealife

2018

10. AUTUMN TRENDS What is in style this season

Editor Laura Davies | 01792 545523 @LawsDx | laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

Contributors Lara Johnson & Dom Capel, Lesley Taylor, Sian Day, Joseph Atkin, Andrew Morgan, Dr. Charlotte Jones, Chris Howells, James Richards, Marc White, Daniel Turner and Chris Peregrine

AWARDS

FASHION

LIFE Photography Adrian White, Jonathan Myers, Gayle Marsh, Hoosh Arabi, Robert Melen

Winner

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42 HEALTH & WELLBEING 47. EXERCISE IN PREGNANCY What mums-to-be can do to keep fit 49. FOOD BENEFITS Why pumpkin seeds are so good for you 50. DR, DR! Columnist Dr Charlotte gives topical advice

BRIDE 54. GOWNS TO LOVE Wedding dresses to wow

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WHAT’S ON 172. DIARY DATES Best events this October

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174. HALLOWEEN EVENTS Where to go on October 31

69. I DO Georgia and Will’s dream day

176. AUTUMN STROLLS Take a walk at a local beauty spot

77. FAIRYTALE AT FAIRYHILL A magical wedding story

160

OUT & ABOUT

SOCIAL DIARY

159. WALKIES A leisurely walk with Andrew Morgan

202. CHARITY BOULES Mumboules tournament 204. LAUNCH EVENT DJM solicitors launch their charity

160. LUXURY LONDON A weekend break in the Big Smoke 162. IDYLLIC LAKES First-time stay in the Lake District

HOUSE & HOME

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106. HOME SWEET HOME Buy yourself a new home 118. AUTUMN TRENDS What’s hot for your home this autumn/winter

202 MOTORING SOCIAL 168. TEST DRIVE DIARY We try the Skoda Fabia

206. NANCIE’S OPENING Nancie Beauty relocates

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214. HEAD Phphphp 170.

TYRE hphp hphp hphp Make sure your tyres are 221. HEAD roadworthy Phphphp hphp hphp hphp phphphphphphp

135. SPOOKY Decorate your home for Halloween

226. HEAD Phphphp hphp hphp hphp phphphphphphp

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FOOD & DRINK

209

TIME FOR YOU

92. INN AT THE STICKS A Carmarthenshire restaurant is celeb-worthy

208. EDDIE Businessman Eddie’s month

95. TRICK OR TREAT Halloween sweet treats

209. OH BABY Products and essentials for your baby

104. FOOD REVIEW We try award-winning Rake and Riddle

217. LEGAL ADVICE Tips from the team at Peter Lynn

SWANSEA LIFE 5

E D I TO R’ S L E T TE R

Welcome...

Can you believe it is October! Nope, neither can I.. the dreaded C word will be here before we know it. The number of Christmas emails dropping into my inbox every day is getting rather frightening, but on a plus, at least I get a sneak preview of what I can potentially buy for my family and friends before it even hits the shops!

So a massive welcome to our bumper October edition of Swansea Life, where we celebrate the new season ahead and the changes that come with it! As the trees begin to display showstopping shades of burnt orange, conker brown and ochre yellow, there’s really nothing nicer than wrapping up in cosy layers and taking that first crisp walk outside. That followed by heartwarming food and comfort treats, snuggled up in front of the fire, a very close second.

This month, we are talking about everything, from how to update your autumn wardrobe and beauty make-up bags, tasty hearty seasonal foods, and what to do in Swansea Bay over the next four weeks. Plus, we have a 40 page bridal supplement inside, so if you are planning to tie the knot in the next few months or need that last bit of inspiration we have it!

Inside, we also have a bumper Swansea Life Awards 2018 souvenir special, following on from our fantastic, annual awards ceremony a few weeks ago. If you were there, I am sure you will join me in saying what a great night it was and if you were unable to attend, then make sure you get in quick next year! With an Indian Summer theme, we had everything from Bhangra dancers and drummers, a photobooth mirror, a 360 degree video and excellent Indian cuisine. The room and decor looked fantastic and so did all our guests, who really went to town in the fashion stakes in order to win best dressed male/female. And of course, the awards themselves! Well done to all our winners and highly commended businesses and not forgetting our lifetime achievement winner, Mr Swansea himself, Kev Johns! Thank you to all our sponsors and to YOU for voting we had plenty of support which showed on the night with an excellent turnout.

This month, is also Halloween and we have a cauldron of tricks and treats for you! Whether it is spooky confectionary, to discovering the health benefits of eating pumpkins, Gothic-inspired fashion and the best Halloween events for the kids (and adults!) in the area, we have it all covered. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and as usual we feature a selection of the products you can buy while also donating a percentage to the cause. So go pink and get buying!

And not forgetting our regular features and contributors. It’s fair to say this magazine is fit to burst!

Enjoy the read

DEBBIE ROBERTS AWA RD -WI N N I N G MA G A ZI N E

SWA NSE A

LIFE

Advertising Manager 01792 545626 debbie.roberts@trinitymirror.com

OCTOBER 2018 £2.95

TRICK OR TREAT! u Halloween events u Frightful fashion u Spooky interiors

THE AWARDS GUIDE

24-PAGE PICTURE SPECIAL FROM THE SWANSEA LIFE AWARDS 2018

Find us on Facebook @SwanseaLife

6 SWANSEA LIFE

Autumn trends 9 771750 843018

10

Bumper wedding edition

10

01792 545523 laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk @LawsDx

INSIDE

EDITOR 9 771750 843018

LAURA DAVIES

Must-have looks for you and your home

ON THE COVER: Velvet Belted Jacket, £55, Wide Leg Velvet Trouser, £40, V by Very at Very.co.uk

SANDRA EVANS

EDITORIAL DESIGNER sandra.evans@trinitymirror.com

Swansea lives OUR PICK OF THE MONTH’S BEST PARTY GET-TOGETHERS (FOM PAGE 202)

202

MUMBOULES TOURNAMENT

204

Highly Commended

AWARDS AWARDS 2018 2018

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OPENING OF NANCIE BEAUTY

7 swansealife.co.uk

PRIVATE HOSPITAL CARE

YOU’LL FIND US MORE THAN HOSPITABLE. We’ve treated a lot of people at BMI Werndale Hospital since we opened the doors of our hospital in 1990 as we now celebrate our 28th year of providing private healthcare to Wales. Every patient is treated to a high level of individual care, which is delivered by a professional and caring team.The consultant that you select for your care will come to your room to talk through your treatment and our nurses will check on you regularly to make sure you have everything you need. Our chefs will even prepare your favourite food to help you on the road to recovery. It’s the little things that make the difference.

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For private hospital treatment, talk to us.

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If you are struggling to get the treatment you require on the NHS, you can choose to come to us and pay for yourself.You will get rapid access to your chosen consultant and a private room to recover. Fixed price treatments and flexible finance packages will help you get back to your old self.

Serious about health.

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0389 MKT POS

FASHION FASHION

W I T H L AU R A D AV I ES laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

@LawsDx

Jumper, £25, M&S, Swansea and Parc Trostre

Star Cluster Barrette £12, Oliver Bonas, Cardiff

Seeing Stars Stars are always a personal favourite around autumn especially when you are staring up at the night’s sky around Bonfire night. Here are some of our favourite star items.

HOLLY MAKES HER MARKS She is a fashion icon, with the clothes she wears each day on This Morning often selling out, and now Holly Willoughby has been unveiled as a brand ambassador for Marks and Spencer. Holly will curate her must-have pieces for the autumn season in a clothes edit that will be available from September 27. Additional edits will arrive in October and into 2019.

SOFT TOUCH

As we head into autumn, it’s time to think about cosying up and wrapping up in lots of layers.

This jumper looks so warm and toasty, you could almost doze in it. £50, River Island, Swansea and Parc Fforestfach

Edrisstud Trainers, £70, Dune, Cardiff Star Vamp Heels, £45, Monsoon, Parc Trostre Star Midi Dress, £130, Monsoon, Parc Trostre

Multicolour Cat Ear Headband, £6, also Next.

all about

colour

It may be autumn, but it doesn’t mean your clothing has to reflect the dark nights and generally dull and dreary weather. Take a leaf out of Next’s book and go bright - even better why not be more daring and try colour blocking.

We particularly love the pink and green colour combo and yellow and royal blue outfits.

heavy metal

Lipsy Metallic Rose Gold Clutch Bag, £32, Lipsy, Cardiff

puffa Puffa jackets are going to be big (literally!) again this autumn/winter. Why not wrap up in this colour block, stylish outerwear. £55, Dorothy Perkins, Swansea

halloween

Black Bite Me Sweater, £18, Next , Morfa Retail Park

We’re absolutely in love with this glitzy sequin dress from M&S. And it’s perfect if you dislike showing your off your arms with its dazzling sleeves. £55, M&S, Swansea

We love this trend all year around. Get ready to shimmer with these metallics.

Kylie Metal Stripe Skater Dress, £65, Littlemistress.co.uk

We love some of the quirky Halloween clothing and accessories in the shops right now.

They are perfect if you want to celebrate the occasion without going out full fancy dress…

TIME TO DAZZLE!

FA S H I O N F L A S H

V by Very Metallic Blazer, £45, Very.co.uk

Shoes, £29.50, M&S, Swansea

Gold Metallic Skirt, £25, Tesco, Fforestfach

SWANSEA LIFE 9

FASHION

Autumn s d n e r t Your new season cheat sheet

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T Try the animal print trend: Dorothy Perkins beige brushed leopard print v-neck jumper, currently reduced to £22.50 from £30

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Try the tweed trend: Glamorous.com multi tweed button front blazer, £42

here’s lots to be excited about on the fashion front for autumn/winter, because the catwalks gave us some stunning – and, for once, wearable trends, and now you can shop them to your heart’s content on the high street.

But don’t, whatever you do, start spending until you’re up to speed with the season’s style forecast.

Here are the seven key fashion themes you need to know about for AW18 and how to shop them now...

1. Animal print

If you’ve taken even a cursory glance at the high street of late, it can’t have escaped your notice that animal prints are everywhere.

That’s because leopard roared back into fashion on the catwalks, seen everywhere from Max Mara to Tom Ford, while zebra was trotted out at Balenciaga and Halpern, and tiger print growled on the girls at Bottega Veneta.

2. Headgear Roksanda’s autumn colours on the catwalk

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Try the headscarf trend: TK Maxx Euroseta fashion black and purple silk floral scarf, £16.99

Hoods, balaclavas, berets, head scarves - all manner of millinery appeared in the AW18 collections.

There were even crowns and tiaras at Dolce & Gabbana (there’s the royal influence again), but if you’re looking for something a bit less ostentatious, try a Versace inspired beret or floral head scarf instead.

3. Tweed

A tweed transformation took place throughout the season, the traditional fabric given a modern spin by designers.

At Altuzarra, that meant sharp overcoats while at Prada it was bright hues, but the most creative example was in London, where Matty Bovan showed deconstructed woven skirt suits with fabulous houndstooth boots.

4. Pleats

A knee-length pleated skirt has become a summer staple in recent years, but now designers are making the case for wearing a longer length in winter.

From the elegant evening styles at Emilia Wickstead and Lanvin, to the cream creations at JW Anderson and Victoria Beckham, the one thing they all have in common is that they’re delightfully swishy.

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Try ‘The Queen’ trend: Lipsy floral high neck blouse, £34, Next

5. The Queen

The Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex may get the lion’s share of the fashion column inches, but on the AW18 catwalks, the Queen was the undisputed style icon.

The most literal interpretation was at Toga, where Her Majesty doppelgangers, complete with gloves and head scarves, appeared on the runway. Regal silks and florals also made an appearance at Celine, Moschino, Richard Quinn and more, while the Town and Country tweeds trend also referenced the royal family.

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Try the pleat trend: Topshop pleated crepe skirt, £69

6. Seventies

The decade most designers plundered this season? It was without doubt the Seventies, specifically the collars, coats and colours.

Collars were long and sharp at Louis Vuitton and Chloe. Coats were big and fluffy (Vuitton again) or suede at Tory Burch and Coach. The colours - brown, beige, mustard, chestnut - were everywhere, particularly the cosy layers at Roksanda and Miu Miu.

7. Leather

An overarching theme of ‘clothes as armour’ emerged from the shows, and leather played a big part in that.

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Try the leather trend: Sosandar navy zip through leather-look collared dress, £69

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Try the seventies trend: Miss Selfridge rust brown corduroy baker boy hat, £12; teddy coat, £65; rust tile V-neck pinafore dress, £28; stripe wide neck ruffle tee, £20 (shoes, stylist’s own)

The leather dress is one of the key pieces of the season, therefore, as seen at Stella McCartney (rouched), Givenchy (belted) and Victoria Beckham (collared).

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FASHION Hat, £20, River Island, Swansea Coat, £80, River Island, Swansea

power in

Earrings, £10, Next, Swansea

Pink Double Breasted Blouse, £19.99, New Look, Parc Trostre and Swansea

J by Jasper Conran Bag, £49, Debenhams, Swansea

Pink

Nine by Savannah Miller Blazer, £59, Debenhams, Swansea

Celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month with LAURA DAVIES’ round up of pink fashion.. laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

@LawsDx

Jumper, £35 , M&S, Swansea Skirt, £39.50, M&S, Swansea and Parc Trostre

Pink Fairisle Knit, £40, Oasis at Debenhams, Swansea

Rose Crepe Wide Leg Trousers, £38, Next, Morfa Retail Park

J by Jasper Conran Heel, £59, Debenhams, Swansea Blush Suede Court Heels £28, Dorothy Perkins, Swansea

Debut Dress, £69, Debenhams, Swansea

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M&S Collection Mule, £17.50, M&S, Swansea

FASHION FASHION

COSY KNITS GO WILD

LILAC COAT

Talk about fierce footwear.

Animal prints are hotter than ever for the new season.

We love these leopard print Dune London Guiltt shoes, £75, paired with a red Diella bag, £70.

Dune at Debenhams, Swansea

F&F Black Sequined Jumper, £25, Tesco at Parc Fforestfach and Llansamlet

BELT IT

THIS MONTH

WE LOVE LAURA DAVIES rounds up some of her favourite products this month laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

SILVER & LUX

GO WESTERN

The low cowboy boot is making a comeback this season. These are a snip at £25.

Embroidered Western Boot, £25, George at Asda, Parc Trostre and Llansamlet

Winning is winning, but especially when it’s with your mini me! River Island launches its exclusive collaboration with mini influencers Silver & Lux! Co-designed by their achingly cool mums, celebrity hair stylist Lou Teasdale and Bleach founder and mummy blogger Emi Ozmen, the 12-piece collection is just what you and your little one have been waiting for! From cheeky

slogan tees and the hero denim two-piece to floral tracksuits and cute co-ords in 70s-approved prints, it’s time to get matchy-matchy in more ways than one.

Available from age 6 months to 12 years and womenswear sizes 6 - 18 and priced from £8 - £30 for girlswear and £15 - £55 for womenswear. Shop online at www.riverisland.com.

RAINBOW BRIGHT

A tie-waist shirt dress will be the hardest working item in your wardrobe for autumn. We love this red prairie wrap dress from Wallis, which is a steal at £60, Wallis at Debenhams, Swansea

How gorgeous is this lilac woollen coat? The ideal cover-up for autumn/winter.

M&S Collection Coat, £89, M&S, Swansea

@LawsDx

Metallics are on trend this season. Update your look with this colourful stand-out clutch.

Metallic Rainbow Bag, £18.99, New Look, Swansea

ROYAL COLLABORATION

When you are doing your big shop at Tesco keep your eyes peeled for F&F’s bold knitwear collection. These wonderful woollies not only encapsulate autumn’s trends, they are mega affordable, with prices starting from £12. You’ll find colour pop brights, divine diamonds and this sparkly sequin stunner.

Hobbs’ launches its exclusive Palace collection collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces, is inspired by the passion flower, one of the many exotic plants collected by Queen Mary II. The elegant pieces feature exclusive prints and premium fabrics such as velvet and 100% silk.

Passionflower Blouse £149 and Passionflower Midi Dress £179, Hobbs at John Lewis, Cardiff SWANSEA LIFE 13

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LAURA DAVIES shops this season’s High Street styles 1. Coat, £130, Glasses, £14 2. Dress, £50 3.​ Coat, £85 4. Necklace, £10 5. Jumper, £38 6. Top, £35 7.​ Skirt, £35 8. Trousers, £40 9. Bag, £55 10. Boots, £95 11. Shoes, £32 12. Gloves, £25

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laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

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@LawsDx

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1. Teddy Biker Jacket, £55, Berry Pencil Skirt, £24, Ivory Collar Roll Sleeve, £22 2. Pink Crombie Coat, £69 3.​Red Leopard Shift Dress, £39 4. Colour Block Puffa Jacket, £55 5. Yellow Chunky Knit Jumper, £26 6. Ochre Jacquard Blouse, £28 7.​Stripe Sequin Skirt, £38 8. Check Buckle Crossbody Bag, £18 9. Grey Leopard Print Scarf, £10 10. Pointed Mule Heel, £30 11. Red Studded Ankle Boots, £49

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1. Collection Jumper, £32.50, Skirt, £39.50, Earrings, £15, Boots, £45 2. Dress, £49.50 3.​ Jumper, £25 4. Per Una Dress, £49.95 5. Earrings, £9.50 6. Bag, £35 7.​ Jumper, £39.50 8. Skirt, £39.50 9. Skirt, £69 10. Shoes, £29.50 11. Shoes, £65 10

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1. Coat, £45, Jumper, £18, Boots, £22 2. Blouse, £20 3.​Check Coat, £40 4. Stripe Jumper, £14 5. Drapey Mac, £25 6. Suit Trousers, £16 7.​Check Skirt, £12 8. Floral Duffle Cross Body Bag, £14 9. Red Stud Ankle Boots, £24 10. Tassel Cross Body Bag, £12

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1. Jumper, £29, Tie Waist Trousers, £29 2. Cold Shoulder 8 Dress, £59 3.​Pink Blouse, £29 4. Star Print Shirt, £22 5. Sequin Lace Embroidered Jumpsuit, £65 6. Petite Mint Green Funnel Neck Jumper, £20 7.​Mustard Yellow A Line Skirt, £26 8. Slogan Tee, £12 9. Colour Block Cross Body Bag, £19 10. Floral Jacquard Skirt, £32

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SWANSEA LIFE 15

coat grab your

From ravishing red to fluffy fabrics, these are the coats to covet now.

LAURA DAVIES rounds up some of the top autumn/ winter coat trends laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

Charlotte Maxi Coat, £160, Laurel Shawl Collar Puffa, £99, Joenie Jacquard Dress, £60, Monsoon, Parc Trostre

16 SWANSEA LIFE

@LawsDx

Puffa, £30, Jumper, £20, Matalan, Parc Cwmdu and Morriston

Coat, £35, Blouse, £16, Jeans, £18, Matalan, Morriston

Principles Coat, £99, Jumper, £16, Jacket, £59, Jeans, £55, Debenhams, Swansea

M&S Collection Coat, £89, Collection Jumper, £39.50, Collection Skirt, £35, M&S, Swansea

SWANSEA LIFE 17

Autograph Coat, £119, Collection Polo Neck, £17.50, Autograph Skirt, £199, M&S, Swansea

Roll Neck Cable Jumper, £18, Tartan Longline Crombie, £35, Stripe Skirt, £14, Earrings, £5, George at Asda, Llansamlet, Parc Trostre and Llanelli

Coat,Colour £35, Crombie, £69, Pink Blouse, £16, Red Satin Jacquard Jeans, £18,£30, Midi Skirt, Matalan, Perkins, Morriston Dorothy Swansea

Cream Teddy Bear Jacket, £39.99, Burgundy Ribbed Roll Neck, £8.99, Leopard Print Shirt Dress, £29.99, New Look, Swansea

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Coat, £95, Trouser, £35, Knit, £26, Shoes, £45, Wallis at Outfit, Parc Trostre

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Camel Crombie Coat, £69, Dorothy Perkins, Swansea

Scarf, £20, Jeans, £20, Coat, £65, Boots, £45, M&Co, Cardiff

J by Jasper Conran Coat, £130, Trousers, £49, Blazer, £85, Debenhams, Swansea

V By Very Animal Print Single Breasted Coat, £90, Leopard Mini Dress, £38, Studded Western Ankle Boot, £45, Very.co.uk

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Relaxed Straight Leg Mid Rise Jeans, £55, Classic Wrap Top, £35, Check City Coat, £150, Studded Loafers, £75, Longtallsally.co.uk.

SWANSEA LIFE 21

FASHION

Floral Black Drop Earrings, £14, Next, Swansea

V by Very Chain Trim Box Bag, £35, Very.co.uk

Ethnic Stacking Ring Set, £8, Accessorize, Swansea

Black Long Sleeved Lace Underlay Top, £35, Miss Selfridge, Swansea

K C A L B . black s h it w e ween r top piec o l l a he is H up th rounds up it sDx p @Law IES Vam V k .u A les.co RA D diawa @me LAU avies .d laura

Lace Maxi Dress, £75, Glitter Court Shoes, £35, Very.co.uk

V by Very Metallic High Neck Blouse, £28, Very.co.uk

Fringe Skirt, £48, Next, Morfa Retail Park

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Nine by Savannah Miller Shirt, £42, Debenhams, Swansea

V by Very Faux Leather Stud Fringed Skirt, £38, Very.co.uk

Lipsy VIP Shell Top, £45, Lipsy at Next, Morfa Retail Park

Black Sequin Skirt, £24, Next, Morfa Retail Park

Beaded Necklace, £15, Jdwilliams.co.uk

C I G A M Black V Neck Top, £39, M&Co, Cardiff

Black Stripe Pussy Bow Blouse, £20, F&F at Tesco, Parc Fforestfach and Llansamlet

Per Una Dress, £99, M&S, Swansea and Parc Trostre

Studio by Preen Dress, £69, Debenhams, Swansea

Debut Dress, £130, Debenhams, Swansea

Black Pom Pom Earrings, £5.99, New Look, Swansea

Lipsy Lace Bardot Dress, £60, Lipsy at Next, Morfa Retail Park

Little Mistress Lace Skater Midi Dress, £180, Littlewoods.com

Collection Dress, £55, M&S, Swansea

No.1 Jenny Packham Bra, £36, Thong, £18.50, Debenhams, Swansea

Lipsy Embellished Feather Hem Dress, £145, Lipsy at Next, Morfa Retail Park

V by Very Sequin Sock Boot, £45, Very.co.uk Collection Boot, £39.50, M&S, Swansea

Faith, £45, Debenhams, Swansea

Beaular Heel, £85, Dune at Debenhams, Swansea

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Pom Pom Knit Dress, £20, M&S, Swansea

Check Dress with Fur Gilet, £14, George at Asda, Llansamlet and Llanelli

Baker By Ted Baker Girls Pegasus Fur Trim Prom Dress, £45, Debenhams, Swansea

FASHION

Baby Ballerina Bunny Cardigan, from £16, Monsoon, Parc Trostre

Baby Set, £18, M&Co, Cardiff

Novelty Gloves, £12, Monsoon, Parc Trostre

London Toile Medium Kids Sleeveless Dress, £24, Cath Kidston, Cardiff

Boot, £35, River Island, Swansea

Coat, £40, River Island, Swansea

Mermaid ; Pink Swimsuit, £9 0, Swimsuit, £1 ff M&Co, Cardi

LAURA DAVIES looks at what’s hot this autumn for children

Baby Boy Tractors Tee, £12, M&Co, Cardiff

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@LawsDx

Fox Jumper, from £10, Matalan, Morriston

Jacket, £40, River Island, Swansea

Bears In Space Kids Bomber Jacket, £26, Cath Kidston, Cardiff

Check Shirt Bodysuit, £6, George at Asda, Gorseinon and Parc Trostre

Baker By Ted Baker Penguin Shirt And Body, £22, Debenhams, Swansea

Rocket Romper Jersey Set, £22, Monsoon, Parc Trostre

laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

Next, Swansea and Parc Trostre

J By Jasper Conran Engineered Stripe Polo, £14, Debenhams, Swansea

Retail Park Next, Morfa tre os Tr rc Pa and

BRIAN BROWN SALON MODELLING & MANAGEMENT AGENCY

01792 301901

1 BELLEVUE WAY • SWANSEA • SA1 5BZ

www.briandbrown.co.uk

HAIR & BEAUTY

BEAUTY NEWS W I T H L AU R A D AV I ES laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

@LawsDx

FINDERS KEEPERS?

Coming to a shore near you soon! Barry M’s Shipwrecked Baked Eyeshadow palette is the holy grail of intensively rich and silky pigments in 18 matte and metallic autumnal shades. £12.99, Superdrug, Swansea from October 12.

MAGICAL BROW We love Benefit’s offering - Magical Brow Stars - a limited edition brow set containing five full size favourites, including Fool Proof Brow Powder, Precisely, My Brow Pencil, Goof Proof, Ka BROW! and Gimme Brow, a PRO tool and brow tips and tricks. From brow pencils to powders to gels and more, this set has everything you need to transform your brows.. all in an adorable magic brow trunk worth £118.

Festive Make-Up Collection Shine bright this festive season with Clarins Festive Make-Up Collection which launches this month. It features three limited edition products that is bathed in light and delicately dusted with a golden shimmer, lashes that sparkle into the night and glamorous red lips that shimmer like precious jewels.

Gold Mascara Top Coat, £22; Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil, £19; Illuminating Sculpting Powder, £31, Clarins at Boots and Debenhams, Swansea

Benefit Magical Brow Stars, £49.50, Debenhams, Swansea

SOFT VELVET PRESSED POWDER Developed with the latest advances in artistry, NARS Soft Velvet Pressed Powder is the ultimate multi-purpose beauty essential for all skin types.

Available in eight shades to suit all skin tones, £28, John Lewis, Cardiff

LISTS S A M ST

CHRI

The velvet-to-the-touch formula sets makeup, evens skin tone, absorbs excess oil, and reduces the appearance of imperfections with a soft-matte finish.

Smooth. Set. Perfect.

As Christmas is not far around the corner, we couldn’t help but show some of the offerings available from L’Occitane this year. Treat someone special to the Best of L’Occitane gift and £10 from each sale will go directly to UNICEF to provide life-saving eye care treatment to those in need. Including all of the most loved products, this gift is the gift that gives back this Christmas.

Best of L’Occitane Gift, £69. We also love the Shea Christmas Bauble, £12, which features a trio of iconic products from its shea range plus Castelbajac Hand Cream Duo stocking filler, £21, L’Occitane, Cardiff

POWDER KISS

PART ONE

MAC introduces its new lipstick, Powder Kiss, which comes in 16 different shades from pale pinks to fuchsia, bright reds to brick reds, peach to oranges and nudes to browns.

MAC’s “powder kiss lipstick formula rose from the backstage technique of putting on lipstick, blotting it off, and feathering it with a brush to create the most beautiful, effortlessly blurred finish. It’s truly colour and finely-tuned conditioning in one product.” £17.50, Debenhams, Swansea

COLOURS OF EMOTIONS Alien, The Essence Of Light By Mugler, is taking the spotlight with an exceptional collector's Edition. Each limited edition bottle has undergone an industrial process called Random Interactive Lacquering that has never been used before in the luxury perfume industry. Five colours are randomly applied simultaneously to create infinite combination, each colour representing a different emotion.

Each bottle spins independently while being coated, resulting in a finished product that has its own unique personality.

We Are All Alien Collector, Limited Edition, 60 ml, £75, available exclusively online

VELVETY

Sisley launches a gorgeous day and night cream which has a velvety texture, both rich and delicate, with a non-shiny finish which allows make-up to be applied immediately. A scent of natural origin with notes of honey and orange blossom provides a sensation of well-being.

Sisley Velvet Nourishing Cream with Saffron Flowers is a nourishing skin care product that acts against skin dryness to make it more hydrated, comfortable and beautiful.

Sisley Velvet Nourishing Cream with Saffron Flowers, £143, www.sisley-paris.co.uk

SWANSEA LIFE 27

Highly ed Commend

S D R A W D A R A W A 201188 S 20

Thank you to all of our amazing customers, family and friends that helped us get shortlisted by voting for us in this years Swansea Life Awards.

38 Ravenhill Rd, Swansea, SA5 5AW 01792 587444

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HAIR & BEAUTY

BEAUTY NEWS @LawsDx

laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

PART TWO

ADVENT

Count down to Christmas with this luxurious advent calendar filled with 25 skincare surprises for you to discover.

Exclusive to Elemis.com, this is the perfect advent calendar for luxury skincare lovers.

Twenty-five very special little drawers of Elemis goodness, from award-winners and bestselling heroes to new secrets and skincare staples. Discover something new every day, leading up to Christmas morning, when you will unveil your final gift; a full size Pro-Collagen Marine Cream! Be sure to get yours before they’re gone!

25 Days of Beauty, £150 (Worth over: £345) Elemis.com

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS NATURALLY

Christmas is coming and, to help fans of cruelty-free, organic beauty countdown to Christmas naturally, Green People has designed their first ever beauty box. Containing an array of pampering plant-based products, Green Regime is entirely cruelty-free and made without harsh chemicals, parabens or SLS. Proving once and for all that good things come in small packages, the limited-edition beauty compendium is also approved by the vegetarian society and 100% recyclable.

Green Regime Beauty Box consists of 15 products with a combined retail value of over £125, within the botanical beauty bounty you’ll find three full-size products from Green People’s natural mineral make-up range. This includes the brand’s special edition Damask Rose lipstick, lash-lengthening mascara and illuminating eyeshadow duo as well as plenty of other treats from exfoliator, night cream, shampoo and conditioner and moisturiser.

Green Regime Beauty Box, £75, exclusively from www.greenpeople.co.uk

WINTER’S COOLEST HAIR STYLING TOOLS

SWEET BY NATURE

W I T H L AU R A D AV I ES

Get your bounce back with Aveda’s new new silicone-free, vegan and 98 per cent naturally-derived softening shampoo and conditioner. The Cherry Almond Collection leaves hair touchably soft, shiny and full of weightless bounce. The new formula is powered by nature with a blend of naturally derived cherry blossom extract and sweet almond oil to help restore softness and shine from roots to ends, while the 100 per cent naturally derived Pure-Fume aroma, crafted with 38 plant and flower essences, infuses hair with a sweet, floral scent.

Cherry Almond Softening Shampoo, £15.50, Conditioner, £17, Aveda.co.uk

THIS OCTOBER TEMPLE SPA SUPPORTS MIND Temple Spa will be donating £6 to charity Mind for every REPOSE Aromatherapy Resting Night Cream purchased, (£40 for 50ml) and will in turn also be thanking their customers for their support by sending them a beautiful, limited edition full-size gift of Repose as well. REPOSE is a gorgeous vitamin rich night cream that slips on skin like silk, with a blend of ten calming and relaxing essential oils, plus hops and valerian to deeply nourish the skin and soothe the soul. With ingredients like these known to aid restful sleep, Temple Spa calls REPOSE a ‘good night’s sleep in a jar.’ The REPOSE night cream and MIND offer will be available from October 10 at Templespa.com/reposemind

LUXE LIQUID LIP VELVET MATTE

Lush liquid meet a velvet-soft, comfortable matte finish in this luxe formula. Fluid powder pigments derived from natural clay minerals are blended with Wild Mango extract, known for its softening properties, for creamy, smooth application that dries matter with 12 hour, extra-long wear. 9 luxurious shades include: Double Bare, Uber Pink, Follow Your Rose, Tomboy, Brocade, Your Majesty, Pink Shock, Starlet Scarlet, and Blood Orange.

BOXOFTREATS

Both are available, £28, from Bobbi Brown at Debenhams, Swansea Discover 24 luxury miniature L’Occitane products, perfect for a daily pamper session in the lead up to the festive period. From the coveted Divine Cream, to the sensuous Terre de Lumière fragrance, you will have everything you need to look and feel your best in December.

Luxury Advent Calendar, £89, (worth £112) L’Occitane, Cardiff

Embrace icy blue hues this winter with the limited edition ghd Glacial Blue collection. The collection, featuring the new SMART platinum + styler, £175, iconic ghd gold styler, £139, and professional favourite ghd air hairdryer, £99, all dusted in a frosty blue hue inspired by AW18 trends. Available at Unique Hair Design, Gorseinon and ghdhair.com.

TRANSLUCENT LOOSE SETTING POWDER - GLOW Laura Mercier’s iconic setting powder now comes in a glow finish. The cult-favourite Translucent Loose Setting Powder now includes infused pearl pigments to lock in your look for extended wear with a healthy and radiant glow finish.

These truly translucent shades work on all skin tones – from the fairest to the deepest.

Translucent Loose Setting Powder Glow: £29, John Lewis, Cardiff

SWANSEA LIFE 29

ADVERTISING FEATURE

FIGARO’S BARBERS SET FOR EXPANSION WITH A TOUCH OF CHAMPAGNE-STYLE

C

HAMPAGNE and R’n’B make for a heady cocktail, one which is not usually found in a barber’s shop.

But Figaro’s is daring to be a bit different as it prepares to increase its presence in Swansea. It has been a familiar operator in High Street for four and a half years, during which time it has been the hairdresser of choice of many Swansea City players.

WHAT IS ON THE MENU AT FIGARO’S?

“If it is good enough for a professional footballer it is good enough for anyone, children and anyone else.”

“Kenji Gorré came in when he was in the Swans Under 23s,” said AK. “He just asked me to shave his beard and I asked him to let me cut his hair and if

★ Women’s haircuts ★ Kids’ haircuts ★ Eyebrows

he didn’t like it, I would shave my hair off and be the ugliest man in the world.

He liked the haircut and other players started coming here.

Word quickly spread within the dressing room that it had a style which suited, and owner AK Zadeh, who moved to the UK from Kurdistan seven years ago, is delighted to have such a high profile clientele within the community. Not that they get any special favours. He values all his customers just the same.

Figaro’s also operates in Oxford Street and will be expanding its portfolio for the start of 2019 with new shops in The Kingsway, which will have a beauty section, and Castle Street.

★ Shaves and beard grooming

★ Hair colouring and highlights

★ Waxing

★ Face steaming

★ Beauty

LUCIANAO NARSINGH Hair style: Skin Fade.

Description: Hair shaved at side, leaving hair on top.

A SATISFIED CUSTOMER FROM SWANSEA CITY FC

"Every week I go to AK's for a haircut. It is all about loyalty and it's a happy place to be.

When I came to Swansea a friend told me about AK's and Leroy Fer was going there and said you have got to go there. It's perfect. I think it is very important to look good when you are in public. I have got my football, which is the most important, and then I have got my hair.

Knowing you are going to be looked after here is great."

To the background of the business’s trademark R’n’B soundtrack, a free glass of champagne will be served to customers at all four premises at weekends when DJs will also feature.

music. It is a happy place to work in.

If any member of staff does not talk to a customer they are told off, unless we can see the customer is tired and doesn’t want to talk!

families. Everyone is very hard and is very respectful.”

“We are successful and hard working,” said AK. “I work six or seven days a week. There is a good vibe to the

“There is so much talent in the team.

We probably spend more time together than we do with our own

“Swansea is the friendliest, happiest, most open-minded place I have ever known,” he said.

And AK and his charges get plenty back in return.

A SATISFIED CUSTOMER FROM SWANSEA CITY FC

LEROY FER Hair style: Shape-up.

Description: Tidying up the sides and beard.

"I have been going here for four or five months.

Borja Bastón, who has left the club, told me about AK and every time he went there, I thought ‘wow’.

He said you have got to go there and I came here for my first trim and thought this is the place for me straight away. He does a fantastic job.

“I am a happy person, who likes a laugh and a joke and AK is me times two. I like the vibe here and the music they play. I may be here for half an hour for my hair, but I will sit here for an hour.

My main focus is football, but I also want a good haircut. Everybody likes to look good, and I like to be a bit different.”

HIGH STREET, SWANSEA ★ TEL: 01792 474800 / 07429 553752

HAIR & BEAUTY

■ Red lipstick as a tattoo cover up

Have a tattoo you want to temporarily cover up?

Trace it with a red lippy as this acts as a neutraliser to the ink, which will cover the tattoo up. After this, fill it in with concealer and powder.

■ Shampoo as a makeup brush cleaner

Don’t purchase expensive makeup brush cleaner to wash your brushes in, simply use regular shampoo instead. Wash your makeup brushes weekly in a bowl of warm water and shampoo, rinse and leave to dry for sparkling brushes that look like new.

ointment is air and watertight so will seal in fragrance better than when you apply to dry skin.

BEAUTY TIPS

■ Argan oil for nails

Argan oil is a miracle to use on hair, and it can also be used on your nails to keep them healthy. Simply apply to dry cuticles to give them some tender loving care.

Using deodorant to prevent blisters and petroleum jelly to set perfume are just some of the weird and wonderful ways common beauty products can be re-purposed.

LAURA DAVIES looks at multi-purpose beauty products laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

■ Conditioner for shaving cream Conditioner isn’t just good for your hair, it can also be used as a shaving cream for your legs. Simply coat a small drop onto your leg, and shave to get accurate and smooth results.

@LawsDx

■ Eye shadow as a highlighter

Want an ultra-blinding highlighter? Simply apply a super shimmering eye shadow to your cheekbones, Cupid’s bow and nose tip.

■ Deodorant to prevent blisters

Before you head on a night out with your brand-new heels on, simply apply some deodorant to the backs and sides of your feet.

This will stop blisters and will leave your feet thanking you the next day.

■ Highlighter as a lip plumper

Lip plumping products can be expensive, so instead, why not create the illusion with a highlighter?

After putting on your lipstick, apply a small amount onto your cupid’s bow and across the middle part of your lips. Blend and blot to make your lips appear lusciously fuller with no cost involved.

■ Loose powder as an eyelash primer

Add a small touch of loose powder to your eyelashes before applying mascara. This will soak up any natural oils and will also beef up the diameter of your lashes. This allows mascara to look fuller and last longer.

■ Blush as nail varnish

To get a flattering nail varnish that suits any skin tone, simply scrape a bit of your blush onto a clean surface and then mix with a clear nail polish. Shimmery blushes are also great to use, as they will add a bit of sparkle to your nails.

■ Petroleum jelly to set perfume Placing a small dab of petroleum jelly onto the areas you spray perfume will make it last longer. The

32 SWANSEA LIFE

■ Primer as a makeup remover

Don’t worry about sneezing and messing up your mascara, simply rectify it with your face primer. Dot some onto a cotton bud to clear away any mistakes without smudging.

■ Deodorant to remove nail polish

Running low on nail polish remover? Then use your spray deodorant instead. Spray either directly onto the nail, or onto a cotton ball and wipe away the varnish from your nail.

■ Loose powder as a dry shampoo

If you’re running low on dry shampoo, use translucent powder instead. A light dusting of loose powder on your roots will soak up the grease in your hair.

■ Lip balm to set your brows

To set your brows you can use clear lip balm or coconut oil if you’ve ran out of brow gel. Simply comb through your brows with a clean (mascara free) wand for perfectly arched and groomed brows.

■ Coral lipstick as concealer

Did you know that orange cancels blue? You can use coral lipstick as a colour corrector to minimise dark under eye circles. Simply dab into the under-eye area and blend with some foundation or regular concealer to balance out your bags perfectly.

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HAIR & BEAUTY

Makeover!

W ITH

L ARA

JOHNSON

Stylist & salon owner Lara Johnson shares her tips in her monthly column.

Colour statement Model: Maisie Occupation: Student and part time model

Maisie’s experience I am a student and part time model originally from Nottingham. My lifestyle is pretty busy with study and part time work so I like to wear my hair short. The only problems that I have with my hair is that I do get a bit bored of it especially if I’m going out to a special occasion.

My hair had become quite a yellowish gold colour which I didn’t particularly like. I wanted the make over to give me more of a clean Scandinavian blonde I love the colour I now am. It feels like it’s much more of a natural look. The ideas and style that Lara Johnson has given me really work for what I want. I didn’t know I could feel so glamorous with short hair. My favourite thing about the change is that the stylists understood that I didn’t want to go crazy, and it looking soft and natural. They showed me how to create loads of volume and a hairstyle up which I have been able to do myself. I really enjoyed my morning. I was a little nervous but I really didn’t need to be, everybody was really friendly and listened to what I wanted.

Lara Johnson LIFESTYLE says...

Maisie’s hair had been coloured a few weeks before, but we both felt it was to warm on her. The colour had gold tones which after consultation we agreed Maisie would be far more suited to a cooler shade of blonde. I highlighted Maisie’s hair using three different tones of cooler blonde shades - rose blonde, pearl blonde and smokey amethyst blonde. These tones are far more compatible and complimentary to Maisie’s skin tones. We used a selection so that the colour didn’t become to blocky or heavy.

Maisie’s hair is worn in a cropped style with a little length on the crown and through the fringe. Maisie’s request was to have glamorous evening hair. When dressing the hair it is important to prepare it properly. We cleansed using Sebastian Pro volumactive shampoo and conditioner. We then dried the hair after applying Sebastian Professional Volupt Spray. When the hair was dry I set the hair with a little Shaper Zero Gravity Hair spray and small tongs.

When the hair had cooled I brushed the hair out, gently back combed it into a full shape and secured the look with a spritz of Shaper Zero Gravity. We feel it is important that you should be confident to style your hair, Maisie learnt really quickly and found the products helped.

34 SWANSEA LIFE

After...

Before...

Step by step...

Bohemian bun

Difficulty level: Medium Ideal hair length: Mid length to long hair Assistance needed? Get a friend to help but with practice it can be done Accessories: Can be dressed with flowers for a wedding What you need: • Brush • Hairband • Grips or pins • Hairspray • Texture spray

After...

1

2

3

4

5

6

Before...

1

Spray Texture spray or dry shampoo into your hair. It makes it easier to dress. Brush into a low ponytail

2 3

Separate above the band into two sections

4

Make small braids or twists with the remaining hair securing them with small elastics

5 6

Roll up the ponytail and secure into a bun with pins

Using your fingers separate and pull the length of hair over and through the parting, creating a twist each side

Dress over the braids and secure into base of ponytail with pins

SWANSEA LIFE 35

HAIR & BEAUTY

REAL WOMEN, WINNING LOOKS W ITH

C H R I S

H O W E L LS

Swansea based International Make Up Artist and winner of the National Federation of Hairdressing’s Welsh Make Up Artist of the Year award, Chris Howells, gives a Swansea woman a wedding look.

Ann-Marie is a civil servant from Swansea, looking for a new more glamorous look without looking too “done.”

Ann-Marie has great skin that she looks after very well so we just needed a little hydration from Deciem’s The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Drops, followed by Rodial Bee Venom Day Cream. Around the eyes, I used Rodial Snake Venom Eye Cream, which has a mild Botox-like effect and genuinely firms and tightens skin beautifully.

I always believe that the tools you use are essential for the best makeup finish. Over the years I have used many different makes and styles but recently I have been using Walford-Richards Designs brand new Complete Makeup Brush Collection and they are superb, luxurious and easy to use.

I started with the Flat Topped Foundation/Finishing Brush and applied Cover FX Illuminating Primer all over Ann-Marie’s face, concentrating around the nose, chin and forehead. Then using a cosmetic sponge I applied Cover FX Powerplay Foundation in Ann-Marie’s shade mixed with a single drop of Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Moonlight to add more luminosity. Following this, with the specially designed Concealer Brush, I applied the highly anticipated waterproof, sweat-proof, crease-proof Powerplay concealer from Cover FX. It is available in 30 shades and there is one for literally everyone. I then took a much deeper shade of the same concealer and applied it to the contours of Ann-Marie’s face, using the Detail Contour Brush to easily blend the contour seamlessly, thus creating dimension not stripes or bruises. Taking the gorgeously fluffy Powder Brush and loading it with Laura Mercier Translucent Powder, I gently pressed and rolled it all over the skin, ensuring the base set and a provided a flawless finish.

I massaged a little Urban Decay Eye Potion Primer into Ann-Marie’s eyelids (from the lash to the brow) then applied Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sand-Glow, buffing it up to the crease with the Finishing Eye Brush. Using the Smudge/Detail Brush I blended a Khaki shadow along the lash line above and below the eye. Next I curled the lashes using Kevyn Aucoin Lash Curlers and applied By Terry Lash Expert customizable mascara to the upper and lower lashes. The next step was using Hourglass’ Gel Liner in Obsidian I tight-lined the upper lash line and lined the lower waterline.

Ann-Marie’s brows were enhanced with Hourglass Arch Brow Pencil in Blonde and brushed out using the built in spoolie. Then I took the Angled Blush Brush and applied Film-star Bronze and Glow from Charlotte Tilbury to the outer parts of the face and where the sun would usually hit. Then using a Chantecaille Blush in Camelia, I applied it to the “apples” of the cheeks lightly and also just above the crease of the eye. I took the lip brush and used Hourglass Confessions Lip Stylo in shade I Love to the lips, taking time to enhance the cupids bow. To finish I applied a set of Eylure Corner Lashes from the Emma Willis Collection and a sweep of the Fan Brush loaded with Victoria Beckham Modern Mercury highlighter over the high points of the face. I’m sure you’ll agree Ann-Marie looks divine.

36 SWANSEA LIFE

The amazing set of 12 Cruelty Free Makeup Brushes with a case are available on www.walfordrichardsdesigns.co.uk now!

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HAIR & BEAUTY

give me joy!

GOLDEN GLOW

Hollywood star Jennifer Lawrence looks stunning in the campaign for Joy, Dior’s first new fragrance in 20 years. And we are absolutely loving the ‘feelgood’ scent itself! Citrus undertones combine with mellow sandalwood, cedar and patchouli, all finished with a light.lifting musk.

Joy by Dior, from £54 (30ml) Boots, Swansea

Forty shades, including the deepest shade the brand has ever debuted, means this foundation is catering for all skin tones. It’s buildable so, can cover everything from a pimple to a dark blemish. Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation, £28, Boots and Debenhams, Swansea

hair care

THIS MONTH

WE LOVE

REST ASSURED

LAURA DAVIES rounds up the latest news, trends and best buys for your shopping basket this month laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

We love Elemis’ Peptide4 Eye Recovery Cream 15ml, an around-the-clock lightweight formula that provides a well-rested, beautiful look all day long. Its cooling and transformative texture offers instant hydration to the delicate eye area.

Autumn marks the return of changing leaves, pumpkin spice lattes and warm jumpers, but the new season also calls for a new skin care routine.

Re-Gen is a specialist treatment that effectively combats skin imperfections such as scars, stretch marks, blemishes and dry skin – giving you an extra helping hand to improve your skin health. The Re-Gen range includes a restorative face and body oil, an anti-ageing facial serum, a hydrating face and body cream and the newly launched Continuous Spray, which is created from the same clinically approved formula as the popular Re-Gen Oil. Available from Asda, Home Bargains, www.regenoil.co.uk, with prices starting at £4.14.

@LawsDx

KENZO COOL

£38, Kenzo at Feelunique.com

facial peel

Skin Care Routine

Prices start from £8.99 for the Restora Protein Shampoo and Conditioner, and £24.99 for the Restora Protein Treatment, restora.co.uk

Fashion designer Kenzo, has ventured into makeup releasing this first ever eyeshadow palette. The packaging, £38, is a knockout and the eight velvety shades are simply divine.

Elemis Peptide4 Eye Recovery Cream 15ml, £38, Monks Spa at Machynys, Llanelli

Refresh Your Autumn

Step into autumn with the Restora hair treatment, a simple three-step process that nourishes dry, sun-damaged hair back to health. The set comes with a Protein Shampoo and Conditioner that helps prevent colour fade and hair breakage between colour appointments.

This is the perfect product ready for the winter months ahead. 24K Gold and Manuka Honey is a radiance boosting golden facial peel, which lifts tired, dull looking complexions. It not only brightens, smoothes and hydrates but also leaves skin glowingly soft and looking naturally radiant.

The Peel lifts dead skin cells, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth, whilst brightening the complexion and visibly tightening pores, boosting skin’s natural glow.

Manuka Doctor 24K Gold and Manuka Honey Facial Peel 75ml, £29.99, Holland and Barrett, Swansea

ORGANIC MOISTURISER

Add this organic 24-hour anti-ageing moisturiser to your wish list this month.

It helps boost skin hydration and reduces wrinkles as well as smelling delicious helped by the delicate aroma of Sandalwood and Rose Geranium.

Green People Vita Min Fix 24 Hour Cream, £18.50, Greenpeople.co.uk

PERFECTPOUT Update your makeup look this autumn with Chanel’s new Le Rouge Crayon de Couleur long-wear lipsticks. The jumbo crayons come in 16 red, pink and earthy brown shades that melt onto lips, are long lasting and easy to apply on the go.

Chanel Le Rouge Crayon de Couleur, £31, John Lewis, Cardiff

SWANSEA LIFE 39

HAIR & BEAUTY GHD Gold by Lulu Guinness, £139, Unique Hair Design, Gorseinon and ghdhair.com

Palmolive Gourmet Strawberry Touch Body Butter Shower Cream, £1.50, Asda, Parc Trostre, Gorseinon and Llansamlet Pick up a bottle of this sweetlyscented shower cream in Asda and 10p will be donated to Tickled Pink, the supermarket’s breast cancer charity initiative.

MZ Skin Hydrate & Nourish Age Defence Retinol Day Moisturizer SPF30, £95, Net-a-Porter.com Luxury skincare brand MZ Skin will be donating 5% of its total website sales to Breast Cancer Haven, so when you purchase its celeb-favourite Hydrate & Nourish day cream online in October, you’ll be supporting the charity.

Two icons have come together this year to say ‘kiss this, cancer’. GHD has teamed up with Lulu Guinness on a pink straightener emblazoned with the designer’s signature lip print. For every Gold style sold, £10 will go to Breast Cancer Now.

THINK PINK!

October sees the return of Breast Cancer Awareness month, when beauty products get a pretty pink makeover and a percentage of sales are donated to breast cancer charities. Here’s our pick of the pink treats...

Aveda Limited Edition Hand Relief Moisturizing Creme, £21, Aveda.co.uk Aveda’s much-loved Hand Relief cream returns for 2018, with around £4 from each tube sold donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Bobbi Brown Pinks with Purpose Lip Colour Duo, £35, Debenhams, Swansea In two flattering colours - Sandwash Pink and Pink - with a semi-matte finish, this is a lipstick duo that you’ll get lots of wear out of, and £5 from every sale goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Vintage Rose Rabbit And Cabbages Make-up Bag, £22, Breast Cancer Care, Shop.breastcancercare.org.uk All the profits from this cute cabbage and bunny cosmetics pouch will go to Breast Cancer Care.

Philip Kingsley No Scent No Colour Shampoo, £19, Philipkingsley.co.uk For every full-size bottle of No Scent No Colour Shampoo or Conditioner sold, 50p will go to cancer charity Look Good Feel Better, while 25p is donated from mini bottles - and that’s all year round, not just October.

40 SWANSEA LIFE

Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, £68, Monks Spa at Machynys, Llanelli A long-time supporter of Breast Cancer Care, this year Elemis will be making a donation of £25,000 to the charity through sales of its pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, which is decorated with a bespoke rose print by Brit designers Lily and Lionel.

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HAIR & BEAUTY

autumn beauty trends The AW18 shows offered an abundance of inspiration, from bold brights to metallic shimmer, and modern twists on make-up classics.

We’ve distilled five key trends that are set to soar this autumn and the products you need to get the look.

1. Shimmer and shine Seventies disco sparkle was a major theme for AW18, with glitter sprinkled liberally on models' foreheads at Preen and all over their faces at Giambattista Valli.

Will these looks translate to real life? They will once they're toned down (a lot), but there was more wearable shimmer by way of jewel-toned eyes at Michael Halpern and metallic lips at Stella Jean.

As MAC make-up artist Mark Carrasquillo explains: "It's not about recreating a retro look, but getting the energy of the decade's aesthetic, without applying a lot of make-up."

NYX Face and Body Glitter in Silver, £6, Nyxcosmetics.co.uk

2. Black eyes The one product the backstage pros couldn't get enough of at the autumn shows? Black eyeliner.

3. Bright eyes There was a rebellious spirit, too, in the way colour was used on the eyes, with opaque citrus hues daubed at Kenzo and Palmer Harding, abstract aqua eyeliner used at Jeremy Scott, and neon eyelashes seen at Dries van Noten.

"The new way to wear colour is borderline bad taste, but it still looks beautiful," explained MAC's Terry Barber.

Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Color Paint Waterproof Eyeshadow in Matte Orange, £19, Escentual.com

4. The natural look Alongside all the glitz and punky glam, AW18 proved that the 'no make-up make-up' trend has still got legs, because who doesn't love a youthful 'I woke up like this' glow?

From razor-sharp liquid flicks at Molly Goddard and David Koma to smudged and smokey pencil scrawls at Max Mara and Carolina Herrera, the make-up staple was given a new lease of life and a punky sensibility reigned.

The aim here is an 'uncluttered, invisible' feel, so the focus is very much on a flawless complexion, enhanced with soft rosy hues on the eyes (as seen at Oscar de la Renta and Shrimps) or flushed cheeks (Christopher Kane, Issey Miyake and Missoni).

Marc Jacobs Magic Marc'er Liquid Eyeliner in Blacquer, £23, Net-a-Porter.com

Illamasqua Colour Veil in Tonic, £20, Debenhams, Cardiff

42 SWANSEA LIFE

5. Red lips Designers spoke about female empowerment a lot at the autumn/ winter shows, and that theme came through in the make-up as well, with a return to the bold 'power lip'.

From orangey-red at Dolce & Gabbana to blood red at Alexander McQueen and Rochas, and berry hues at Erdem; the shade is up to you, but the texture is nonnegotiable: It's got to be a stamp of rich, matte pigment.

Nars Audacious Lipstick in Louise, £26, John Lewis, Cardiff

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10

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Safe exercises you can do while pregnant Studies have shown that remaining fit and active while pregnant can have very real benefits for both mother and baby. When you know what exercise to do, it’s not only possible to keep active when pregnant, it’s also incredibly easy. LAURA DAVIES looks at six safe exercises mums-to-be can do laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

@LawsDx

1

Indoor cycling – roadcycling is best avoided when pregnant, especially as you enter the final few months. It may not be as exciting but using an indoor bicycle places less strain on the feet, ankles and legs, and allows the user to set their own pace and level of resistance.

2

Swimming - the ideal exercise for women at any stage of pregnancy, swimming provides a full-body workout and can be carried out solo or with a friend. It can be done at any pace or intensity. If you want to wear yourself out then you can, however, if you just want a leisurely paddle then you can do that too.

3

Weightlifting perfectly safe so long as you do not put your body under too much strain. Rather than developing strength with a low reps-high weight approach, you will want to opt for high repslow weight and thereby focus on toning.

own pace while walking, making it ideal for any trimester, and you can easily map out different routes to help keep thing interesting day after day.

5

Aqua aerobics – it incorporates many exercises and activities commonly carried out in gyms, albeit adapted for being carried out in a pool. The benefit of aqua aerobics is it places less strain on the body’s joints but moving through water provides additional resistance, making exercise effective but not strenuous.

6

PRenatal yoga – if stiffness and joint pain is a problem, yoga could be your saviour. Incorporating various stretches, techniques and movements, yoga helps to keep the body limber and supple while encouraging deep relaxation, meditative breathing and mental focus.

4

Walking – no gym membership required. As it is possible to set your

SWANSEA LIFE 47

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

FO O D B E N E F ITS

n i k p pum seeds

With Halloween on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about pumpkins! Before throwing out your pumpkin’s insides during carving, don’t forget the inside is just as nutritious and tasty as its outside. LAURA DAVIES looks at the benefits of pumpkin seeds. laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

Increases immunity

Because these seeds contain a rich source of zinc, they are perfect for combatting winter colds. Zinc aids immunity and cell growth in your body. Many of us do not get enough zinc in our diet, which is what leads to an increase in cold and flu symptoms. So make sure to include some of these miracle seeds in your next meal if you want to avoid the yearly bout of sneezes!

Gives you energy

Pumpkin seeds make a great snack when you are on the move because they are easy to pile into a container and nibble on throughout the day. Even better if your daily routine involves a lot of hard work - these little power-houses pack a lot of fast releasing energy!

Helps to improve your skin

Because pumpkin seeds are rich with Omega-3 fats, there are many hidden skin benefits within your new favourite graze craze. Omega-3 can manage oil production in the skin, as well as managing the hydration levels – perfect for someone with combination skin. It can also help reduce the small red bumps often seen on the hair follicles of the upper arms, that are common in the winter months.

Migraine relief

Pumpkin seeds contain high levels of magnesium that is proven to be the ideal remedy for migraines, especially those brought on by the menstrual cycle. Much like zinc,

@LawsDx

we often do not get enough of these important minerals in our diets.

They curb hunger cravings

These seeds may be small – but they are mighty! They are full of healthy fats and proteins. Mono-unsaturated fats, found in pumpkin seeds, send messages to your brain that you are feeling full. Eating these over a sugary snack may be less tempting, but in an hours time you won’t find your stomach grumbling for more. Handy for those looking for a diet hack. They also won’t leave you with a sugar crash!

Aids Sleep

The sleep hormone can sometimes feel hard to come by during the restless winter nights. If you need help settling down at night, pumpkin seeds could be for you. Snack on some a few hours before sleep to find yourself more calm and drowsy. Just make sure it is a few hours beforehand!

Helps eliminate stress

That same hormone that helps you fall asleep can also help you reduce stress and lighten your mood. It’s called serotonin, and a boost of it from healthy sources such as pumpkin seeds could result in a more relaxed and positive state to face the day with. Unhealthy snacks that contain high amounts of sugar and chemicals are proven to have a negative effect on your mood. Studies say switch these out for less processed foods such as seeds for a more sunny disposition.

Stronger, healthier nails

A deficiency in zinc is what leads to brittle nails that break easily, as well as white spots that we get on the surface of our nails. Eating pumpkin seeds could be your quick-fix to salon-perfect, healthy nails.

Provides menopause relief

Hot flashes, hormone imbalances, fatigue. The symptoms of menopause are absolutely no fun. Luckily, some say that pumpkin seeds can reduce all these symptoms due to their high level of Vitamin E. They also contain chemicals that act in the same way as oestrogen, which can balance out uneven hormone levels in the body.

Lowers cholesterol

Pumpkin seeds are low in bad cholesterol.

They also contain plant-based components that can suck out bad cholesterol already existing in your body, allowing you to continue living a healthy lifestyle.

Prevents dandruff

You can use pumpkin seed oil, massaging it into your scalp to provide a gentle, natural alternative to harsher beauty products – or you can simply add the seeds to your daily diet for the same desired effect.

Helps premature ageing

Antioxidants found in pumpkin seeds, Vitamins E and A, can fight the damage done by the sun as well as ward off free-radicals, helping skin look younger for longer.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

ASK

DR. CHARLOTTE

Self Harm

Recent reports highlighted that over a quarter of young people aged between 14-25 have self harmed –the actual numbers may be even higher as a lot of people don’t seek help after self harming.

What is self-harm?

Self-harm is when somebody does something to deliberately harm or hurt themselves. It can take many forms: overdose; cutting / burning / pinching / biting / hitting oneself; putting objects into your body; over or under eating etc.

It is not necessarily linked to other mental health disorders like depression etc Why do people self-harm?

In the main, it is a sign of the distress that the individual is feeling which has built up usually over a long period of time for a variety of personal reasons.

This month Sketty GP and Swansea Life doctor Charlotte Jones, focusses on self harming.

Some people won’t want any help and accepting that can be difficult.

Sometimes leaving some useful contact details with the person can prompt somebody to seek help even if they don’t accept or want help when you speak to them.

I am self harming – what can I do?

• Accept your feelings.

The person often suffers in silence with selfharming being done in private.

•

Try to find somebody you can open up to and talk freely with.

Self-harming can make the person feel in control and release the tension / distress they are feeling – some also report using it as a punishment for feeling and thus releasing guilt.

•

Try to recognise any patterns / triggers

•

Can you distract yourself from the urge to self-harm?

Isn’t it just a failed attempt at suicide?

•

Is there a different way of expressing your feelings rather than harming yourself?

•

Try writing a diary / journal of how you are feeling – you don’t need to share that with anyone.

•

Think of who you could reach out to in a crisis.

•

See your GP to access help and support and / or use the resources below for help and support.

There is a higher risk of suicide in patients who self harm BUT that does not mean that all patients who perform self-harm will attempt suicide. It is though, a sign of their distress, and the acts they do to harm themselves could put them at increased risk (especially acts that are violent or dangerous and undertaken regularly) so it is important that they are encouraged to seek help.

Other potential complications?

It depends on the form of the self harming e.g. cutting can lead to permanent scars, swallowing objects can mean they get stuck -> operations to retrieve them (As a young doctor, I remember seeing a patient who had inserted shards of glass in various parts of their body requiring various unpleasant surgical procedures to remove them).

What should I do if I identify that somebody is self-harming?

Speak to them openly, let them know that you are worried that they are self harming and that you are there to listen, support and get them the help they need. Be non-judgmental and encourage them to seek help.

Some may need help with specific issues e.g. relationship issues / work issues / accommodation problems / debts etc and guiding them in the right direction for specific help for their problems and supporting them through that process may be all they need

50 SWANSEA LIFE

and want. Others may need more formal treatment in the form of counseling / therapy etc so encouraging them to see or speak to their GP would help – reassure them that their GP will not be critical and is there to help.

Other sources of support / treatment: Talking therapies – often accessed via your GP or mental health charities Book prescriptions – self help books recommended by specialists – available via your GP Mind Cymru – www.mind.org.uk - 01792 642999 Samaritans- 116 123 (email service available – jo@samaritans.org) Childline – 0800 1111 Papyrus Hopeline UK – professional helping providing support, to young people and anyone worried that a young person ay harm themselves - 0800 068 4141 Websites - Selfharm.co.uk, harmless.org.uk and elefriends.org.uk

BRIDE

40

pages of wedding inspiration

PLUS

STYLISH IFE REAL LN S WEDDWIEDG S NEWLY EIR TELL TH stories

BRIDE Gorgeous gowns and beautiful accessories

LH

LLECHWEN HALL H OT E L & R E STA U R A N T

Your Dream 2019 Wedding 5 0 DAY & 70 E V E N I N G G U E STS

O N LY

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plas Make your own history.........

.........in the historic surroundings of Plas Llanelly House, in the heart of Llanelli opposite the Parish church of St Elli With Fine Georgian architecture this striking venue is the perfect setting for your wedding or special event. Llanelly House is fully licensed for Marriages and Civil Partnerships. The House has a lovely choice of rooms. Or you can be Lord and Lady for a day having exclusive use of the house. Whatever your budget we endeavour to tailor make a package truly unique for you.

Plas Llanelly House Bridge Street, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA15 3UF

01554 772857 Bookings@llanellyhouse.org.uk

www.llanelly-house.org.uk

BRIDE

once upon a

bride Make sure your big day is your dream day with LAURA DAVIES’ pick of the latest wedding dress collections laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

@LawsDx

Stephanieallin.net

54 SWANSEA LIFE

Morilee.co.uk

Ronaldjoyce.com

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Ellisbridals.co.uk

Ianstuart-bride.com

Rosaclara.es

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SWANSEA LIFE 55

Your dream wedding at

ExclusivE • Romantic • uniquE Nestled within over 850 acres of stunning parkland.

01639 883553 | orangery@npt.gov.uk • www.margamorangery.com The Orangery at Margam Country Park, Port Talbot, SA13 2TJ Photograph credit: Lloyd Jones Photography

STRADEY PARK HOTEL & SPA HHHH

Winter Wedding Fayres

SUNDAY, 18TH NOVEMBER ‘18

SUNDAY, 20TH JANUARY ‘19

• Arrival drink • Canapés • Goody bag • Wedding ceremony room set-up • Meet award winning wedding co-ordinators • Wedding suppliers • Photographers

For more details, book a meeting with our wedding co-ordinators today Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli, SA15 4HA | T: 01554 758171 E: weddings@stradeyparkhotel.com | www.stradeyparkhotel.com

fairytale YOUR

BY THE SEA

For a perfect setting for your dream wedding look no further than The Cliff Hotel & Spa. Exclusive use of our wedding suite & ballroom for up to 160 guests (250 for evening reception) with exclusive bar & terrace with simply stunning views over Cardigan Bay. For more details get in touch with our Wedding Team.

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BRIDE

SOMETHING BLUE Oh so sweet This three-tiered wedding cake by Sweet Cake Kitchen is simply divine. Dressed in wild clematis and placed on a wooden plate, it makes the perfect touch for a rusticthemed wedding.

Visit www.facebook.com/ thesweetcakekitchen/ Photo Naomi Llewellyn www. naomillewellynphotography.com

It’s a well known tradition to wear something blue for your wedding day. Links of London’s new blue topaz sterling silver range could be just what you’re looking for. The earrings £175, bracelet £190, and necklace £250, also make a lovely gift from your nearest and dearest.

THIS MONTH

the LUXE TOUCH

Whether you are planning a big elaborate wedding or a small family affair, Luxe Touch can help you create something imaginative. The tableware hire company provide beautifully curated collections of table decorations to suit all occasions.

Visit www.theluxetouch.co.uk to be inspired.

WE LOVE LISA WALSH rounds up some of her favourite products this month

wall art

Hip hip hoORay They are a bit on the pricey side, but these wedding cake hippos, £93.37, are so cute they can’t possibly fail to make your guests smile.

Say yes to the two-piece dress!

www.etsy.com

We love this simple wedding outfit from Pritchard and Moore bridal in Whitchurch, Cardiff. A lace skirt and silk crop top combo has a fun, youthful vibe, without sacrificing on elegance.

Savour your special day by transforming those precious wedding photos into made-to-measure wall mural. A well-designed space will instantly energise and transform a room, becoming a real talking point among guests. A favourite close-up of your bridal bouquet or a heartwarming shot of your bands will will turn your walls into a piece of art.

Prices start from £27/m2. Visit Wallsauce.com

Get personal If the happy couple have failed to make a wedding list, or the only thing left is the kitchen sink, then a personalised wooden gift box makes a super unique present, £26.99, www.gettingpersonal.co.uk

&

Flowers pearls Complete your bridal look with the perfect wedding hair accessories this stunning foral hair comb in soft silver will give a bit of sparkle to an updo, £34

www.lilyluna.co.uk

Photo Naomi Llewellyn www. naomillewellynphotography.com, at Sugarloaf Barn, Abergavenny

SWANSEA LIFE 61

Porthmawr Country House Your home for your event Exclusive use of the Mansion and three acre grounds for a three day wedding event.

Stay with at least 32 of your guests and relax in the comfort and grandeur of this special location.

A family business priding ourselves on helping your individual dreams come true.

Completely bespoke; create your own look, feel and menu with our in house chefs and wedding planner.

7 years of 5 star reviews, hosting weddings of all sizes (see our Facebook page).

No extra charge for civil weddings, with a choice of 5 different fully licensed areas for your ceremony.

Nestled behind a twelve foot high castellated stonewall, this discreet and peaceful setting is protected from public gaze yet enjoys magnificent sunsets over the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains.

Welsh wedding venue of the year 2017, via Bridebook UK

Contact Geoff or Beth on 01873 811592 www.porthmawrcountryhouse.com Porthmawr Country House, Brecon Road, Crickhowell, Powys, NP8 1DE.

YOuR PIcTuRe PeRFecT WeddInG Venue

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40 DAY GUESTS 70 EVENING GUESTS

40 DAY GUESTS 70 EVENING GUESTS Incudes

Incudes • Ceremony Room Hire • Red Carpet • Cake Stand • Cake Knife • Arrival Drinks For All Your Guests • Canapes • 3 Course Wedding Breakfast • Half A Bottle Of Wine Per Person During The Wedding Breakfast

• Sparkling Wine For The Toast • Evening Finger Buffet • Our Resident Dj • 10 Of Our Bedrooms Bed And Breakfast • Chair Covers And Bows • Additional Day Guests £49 Per Person Additional Evening Guests £15 Per Person Additional Rooms £95 Bed And Breakfast

• Ceremony Room Hire • Red Carpets • Cake Stand • Cake Knife • Arrival Drinks • Canapés • 3 Course Wedding Breakfast • Half A Bottle Of Wine Per Person During The Wedding Breakfast • Sparkling Wine For The Toast • Evening Buffet-Hog Roast

• Our Resident Dj • All The Rooms And Apartments Bed And Breakfast- This Includes 17 Rooms And 4 Apartments • Brunch / Breakfast The Morning After The Wedding For All The Guests Staying • Chair Covers And Bows • Additional Day Guests £69 Per Person Additional Evening Guests £20 Per Person

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call

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click

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connect /facebook /instagram

Bride

BRIDE

Childhood sweethearts had their dream come true after tying the knot at the Village Hotel thanks to a WalesOnline Win a Wedding competition

Emily and Michael Bendon Emily Bendon (nee James), 29, and Michael Bendon, 27, from St Mellons, in Cardiff, were married at the Village Hotel in front of 81 guests including friends and family and their one-year-old son Zach.

She said: “It was fantastic, it all went smoothly and it was a perfect and really amazing day.

name, especially for me, so it’s great to feel like a proper family unit now.

“It still doesn’t feel real, it feels like a dream. It’s still a shock, to be honest.

The couple, who got together when they were teenagers at Rumney High School, won the day of their dreams worth about £20,000 after collecting tokens in the South Wales Echo and being the lucky ones to win the prize draw.

“It was amazing to see everybody turning around to watch me walking down the aisle and seeing all our friends and family cheering and clapping.

“We’re husband and wife now and it’s nice for us to do something to celebrate how long we have been together as a happy young family.”

Emily, a maintenance company worker, said she and Michael, a selector for a supermarket’s distribution centre, were planning to marry in 2020 but thanks to the competition their big day surpassed all expectations.

“The highlight was seeing Michael waiting for me at the end of the aisle with my son, it was really emotional and everyone in the room shed a tear.

“For us it means everything, we have got a little boy and it’s important that we all have the same

Emily and Michael celebrate their honeymoon in New York, courtesy of THG Holidays, and will be putting the money they had saved for a wedding towards a house deposit.

Emily said: “We would never in our wildest dreams have thought we would be able to have the wedding we have got. We’re so grateful because so many people put themselves in debt for a wedding.

“I could never express in words how grateful we are to all the people and businesses who have contributed to our wedding out of the goodness of their hearts.

“The Village Hotel were fantastic, the food was great, the band were great and the flowers were gorgeous.

“I would like to say a big thank you to all the suppliers for putting this together. It’s a dream come true for us and it wouldn’t have been possible without any of them.”

Sally Krouma, marketing manager for WM and WalesOnline, who helped put the prize together said: “A huge congratulations to Emily and Michael on their marriage, they thoroughly deserved to win the wedding of their dreams.

“On behalf of everyone at WalesOnline I’d like to extend a big thank you to all of the brilliant suppliers who made the day extra special, none of this would have been possible without each and every one of you.”

WHAT THEY WON – The wedding package with the Village Hotel was worth £10,000 and included three-course wedding breakfast for 70 guests and evening hog roast and celebrations for 90 guests.

– A fabulous photography and videography package, courtesy of Wedding Films 4K South Wales.

– Hair and makeup for the bride, mother of the bride and bridesmaids, courtesy of Cardiff Bride.

– Two individual rings, fully hallmarked, designed and handmade specifically for the couple by Anne Morgan Jewellery, worth £1,000.

– A bridal bouquet, flowers for two bridesmaids and five buttonholes to put the finishing touches to the lucky couple’s wedding, courtesy of Betty’s Florists.

– A Catherine Perry wedding dress worth £1,500 courtesy of Sentiments Luxury Bridalwear.

– A four-tiered cake worth £450 courtesy of Cakey Wakey.

– Long-haul honeymoon worth £1,500 with THG Holidays.

– Suit hire for the groom and his party, courtesy of Formal Hire.

– Brilliant band, DJ and dance floor and lighting, courtesy of Session Entertainment.

– Wedding website, invites and table plan, courtesy of Pip Designs.

– Harpist during the ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast, courtesy of Shelley Fairplay.

– A luxury, vintage wedding car, courtesy of Price’s Wedding Cars.

– Afternoon tea hen party courtesy of Bryn Meadows Golf Hotel and Spa.

– Chair covers courtesy of Chair Covers and Bows worth more than £200.

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T&Cs: Single supplement applies; rate based on 2 sharing a standard room, upgrade to a luxury room for £15 per person. Half board rates give you a £25 per adult food allowance in the restaurant, excluding drinks. Specialist coffees available at a £2pp supplement. Offer subject to availability.

Don’t miss our ExclusivE offEr Book a wedding before the end of October 2018 and get it for just £3,900 in 2019* Don’t miss this fantastic offer, our wedding package below caters for all budgets and includes everything needed to make your special day perfect.

This fabulous package includes: • Room Hire • Reception Drink on Arrival • 3 Course Wedding Breakfast • Glass of House Wine During Breakfast • Glass of Sparkling Wine to Toast • Finger Buffet for Evening Reception For 80 guests • Evening Entertainment by our Resident DJ • Complimentary Bridal Suite for Night of Wedding • Use of Wedding Post Box • Use of Vintage Easel for Table Plan • Use of Red Carpet • Silver Cake Stand and Knife • Complimentary Parking for All Guests

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Wedding Fayre here, Sunday 27th January, 11am-4pm Free Entry and a goody bag

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BRIDE

prettymaids Katie Wright shows you where to find fabulous frocks even on a shoe-string budget.

Amy Slinky Cowl Neck Maxi, £85, V by Very Blush Lace Pencil Dress, £45, Very.co.uk

Red Crepe Embelished Bandeau Maxi Dress, £69.99, Quiz, Swansea

Gwyneth Lace Maxi Dress, £99, Monsoon, Parc Trostre

Paper Dolls Melbourne One Shoulder Lace Maxi Dress, £95, Little Mistress.co.uk.

Sonny Dress, currently reduced to £52 from £68; Sherrie Maxi Dress, £73, Chi Chi.co.uk

Dorothy Perkins Showcase Gunmetal Grey ‘Ava’ Sequined Maxi Dress, £95, Dorothy, Perkins, Swansea

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Oasis at Debenhams, Swansea

Nude Pleated Midi Dress, £55, available from Little Mistress.co.uk

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BRIDE

Your style of wedding dress, according to your star sigN Most women have dreamt of their wedding dress since they were little, and it is arguably the biggest decision of their big day. But how do you decide on the style? Do you want a heavily embellished dress, something more elegant and classic, a budget-friendly option or a gown that makes you stand out from the crowd?

LAURA DAVIES looks at the type of dress and designer that suits your star sign. laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

Aquarius – Ladies with this star sign are known for their

originality and fun personality. They dislike anything boring and dull so when it comes to wedding dresses they should opt for contemporary designs. Designer Amanda Wakeley might have exactly what you’re after.

Pisces – This star sign represents water, so brides with

this star sign may want a dress that is light and flowy. They have artistic and gentle personalities and colours such as lilac or pastel pink will suit them the most. Hayley Page is the epitome of romance and could become your favourite designer.

Aries – Women who have Aries as their zodiac sign are known to be courageous, confident and passionate, and this is mirrored in their clothing style! However, comfort is also very important to them. Perhaps dresses screaming ‘fierce femininity’ designed by Rime Arodaky would suit them the most.

Taurus – Women who are known to be a Taurus, are romantic and devoted. But when it comes to clothes, they prefer high-quality fashion and often shy away from synthetic fabrics. Justin Alexander is known for his sophisticated wedding dresses that will make ladies with this star sign say YES to the dress!

Gemini – Gemini’s are known for their calm personalities. They love to be affectionate and show their feelings, however they can sometimes be shy and nervous in social situations, which only adds to their charm.

A romantic wedding gown designed by Essense of Australia could be their number one bridal choice.

Cancer – Ladies with Cancer as

their star sign, are characterised as the ‘mother’ of all zodiac signs.

They are caring, sweet-hearted and have an eye for art. Morilee gowns are romantic and ethereal, and the perfect way to begin a new chapter.

Leo – These fiery women radiate

passion. They are warm-hearted and they like to buy expensive things. They also tend to be the centre of attention and want to be treated like a real-life princess, so a dress by Pnina Tornai will make sure they are, if only for a day!

70 SWANSEA LIFE

@LawsDx

Virgo – Women who represent Virgo, love spending time outside in the wild. They love cleanliness and simplicity too, so a dress by British designer Ronald Joyce with clean lines and simple details will be the best fit.

Libra – Libra women are social butterflies and they

love the outdoors. Ellis Bridal London create elegant and fluid dresses that are also luxurious and modern.

Scorpio – As suggested by the name and just like the animal, Scorpio women are known for their brave and outgoing personalities. They are also extremely passionate and looking for a fairy tale love story. They are not afraid to take risks and stand out. House of Ollichon offers that perfect ‘dress-less’ combo.

Sagittarius – Feeling free is one

of the main character traits for women with Sagittarius as their zodiac sign. They dislike being tied down and prefer out of the box clothes that are flowy and Boho inspired.

So why not turn to Daughters of Simone who create Boho and vintage inspired wedding gowns.

Capricorn – Those with

Capricorn as their star sign love following traditions and are disciplined and responsible. Why not opt for Australian designer Sophia Tolli who knows how to attract brides with a classic and couture familiarity.

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BRIDE

Georgia and Will Roch A gorgeous elegant Gower wedding surrounded by family and friends was the perfect day for Carmarthenshire couple Georgia and Will Roche. LAURA DAVIES speaks to the bride about the big day. laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

The couple: Georgia and Will, both 25. They live in Llanelli, Georgia is a dental nurse in Carmarthen and Will is an insurance adviser.

How did you meet and tell us about the proposal?

We met in college eight years ago. After weeks of Will repeatedly asking me out, I finally gave in and here we are eight years later!

The proposal was amazing, I totally wasn’t expecting it. Will took me for a surprise night away to the Celtic Manor in December 2016 for our anniversary, which wasn’t out of the

@LawsDx

ordinary because Will is quite romantic, but when I walked into our room the words “marry me” were spelt out on the bed in flower petals along with champagne and chocolates. He was down on one knee asking me to marry him. I was so shocked because I didn’t have a clue it was going to happen, and was even more shocked to find out all my family knew it was going to happen!

Where did you get married and why did you choose the venue?

We got married in the King Arthur, Gower. We hadn’t actually been to a wedding there before but when we were looking around at possible venues, we felt that this one was more

suited to us. It has such a relaxed vibe and it really is a beautiful venue inside with all the wooden beams and fairy lights and outside has beautiful gardens, a lake and meadow.

When did you know you had found “the dress” and what style did you go for?

I had found “the dress” in the first shop that I went to, Chapel in Idole. It was only the fourth dress I had tried on. It just felt like the one. I can’t really describe how, but when you know you just know. It’s amazing, I wish I could wear it everyday! It’s an A-line fitted dress with a lace edge train and crystal beading all over the front.

SWANSEA LIFE 69

BRIDE

What about your bridesmaids and groomsmen?

What were your wedding highlights?

I had three beautiful bridesmaids, my sister in law Hannah, my friend Anna and my cousin Ellie. Our flower girl was our daughter Olivia Grace. They all looked absolutely gorgeous in their dresses and were the best bridesmaids I could ever ask for! We also had our Best Man, Liam, and ushers Adam (Will’s friend) and Joshua and Elliott ( my brothers) and our handsome page boy was our six- year-old son, Cai.

Our wedding highlight was definitely when our children Cai, and Olivia, 2, joined us half way through our first dance. It was a lovely moment dancing to our favourite song - Stand by Me - Ben E King, It was really easy for us to choose this song as it has always been “our song.” Also just seeing all our friends and family enjoying themselves day and night was also a highlight!

What about your cake?

Our cake was made by a woman in Llanelli, Cakes

by Helzbach, who did an excellent job. It was four tiered - chocolate, lemon and red velvet - alternated with white/blush icing, with a ruffle effect on the bottom tier. The third tier had a beading effect on it. The second tier had an embellishment with our initials on it and the top tier had models of Me, Will, Cai and Olivia on it. It was so cute because the little boy had glasses like Cai, and the little girl had a bow in her hair because Olivia always has one in her hair.

It also had beautiful handmade iced roses on the edge of the tiers.

70 SWANSEA LIFE

Did you have other entertainment?

We also had a band in the evening, The Styles - from Music HQ, who were absolutely amazing and always had everyone up on the dance floor all night. We really couldn’t have asked for a better band!

We also had a photo booth - who doesn’t love a photo booth at a wedding! We had a sweet cart, a doughnut wall, and we had a magician, Luke Jugglestruck, who was just amazing! He totally blew our guests away, everyone kept coming up to me all day to say how amazing he was and that they’d never seen a magician quite like him before.

How did you make your wedding personal to you? And did you have any DIY touches?

If you could go back and change anything, what would it be?

To be honest I didn’t do much DIY when it came to the wedding because I couldn’t find the time between working and having two children, but we got all our beautiful decor and flowers from Naomi from “The Wedding Business” she made all our bouquets/ buttonholes and my daughter’s flower wand. She also set up our ceremony room and the only word I can describe it as was - amazing! She worked so hard in making sure it was absolutely WOW! She also did the change over of the rooms for me as well for the wedding breakfast and all of my guests commented on how amazing it looked.

She worked so hard to get it just perfect and it really showed.

There is nothing we would change about our day, it was so perfect from start to finish. It was like a dream come true. Even when our two year old was calling out for us in the ceremony it just made our day that little bit more special. I wish I could re-do the day again as it just seemed to fly by! But we made memories that will last a lifetime.

Did you go on honeymoon?

We didn’t go on honeymoon straight away. We went on a familymoon in September for two weeks to Ibiza. We couldn’t go anywhere without the children!

Venue - King Arthur, Gower Videographer - Steve Ratcliffe Bridal Party Hair - By Hannah Roderick Bridal party make up - Makeup by Nicola, Carmarthen Decor - The Wedding Business Wedding Props - Quaint Hearted Weddings by Rebecca Caddy Cake - Cakes by Helzbach Photographer - Karl Baker Photography, www.KarlBaker.com

SWANSEA LIFE 71

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BRIDE

Louise and Damian Church After meeting in infants school, aged seven, and then losing touch with one another, they finally said “I do” 35 years later with a lavish Italian-themed wedding at Fairyhill, Gower. LAURA DAVIES spoke to the couple. laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

The couple: Louise Helliwell, 42, a H&S (Scientific) Officer for Swansea University and Damian Church, 42, Production Supervisor at Felindre Water Treatment Works for Dwr Cymru. They both live with their children and two dogs Max and Lilly in Dunvant, Swansea.

How did you meet?

There have been a few occasions. We first met in Dyfnant Primary School, aged 7, when I joined the school for a very short time.

Damian is one of the only boys in my class that I remember. We bumped into each other again at 17 when Damian was out celebrating his birthday in Bentley’s nightclub – it ended with a cheeky kiss and a promise that I would

@LawsDx

meet him in Cinderella’s the following week.

Oops, I forgot and didn’t turn up (he often reminds me of this!) Damian searched the phonebook for my number but couldn’t find me and went to Cinderella’s to look for me for a few weeks afterwards. Fast forward 21 years and we met again on a night out and when Damian asked me out on a date, this time I turned up. We both knew straight away we had found something special, it was the right time for us and that one day we would be married.

Tell us about the proposal..

A week before we were due to attend Chris Evans’ CarFest over bank holiday weekend August 2017, Damian suggested selling the

tickets and flying to Venice instead. It was unexpected, but I agreed and off to Venice we went! Two days in and Damian was acting nervously and suggested a ride on a gondola.

Our gondolier Cristanio was explaining the history of the canals and as we turned down a beautiful small canal, just off the Grand Canal, Damian played our song – Ellie Goulding ‘How long will I love you?’ and got down on one knee! He said he wanted the proposal to be really special and it certainly was – I was bowled over and we both had a little cry! Once wasn’t enough however and he proposed in a Trattoria again that evening in front of the whole restaurant after planning to put my ring in the dessert which was brought out by the Chef and all the staff!

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BRIDE

Where did you get married?

We married in our local Catholic Church – St Joachim and St Anne and held our reception at Fairyhill, Gower. We were looking for wedding venues and visited on the off chance one day.

The venue was so elegant and stunning and as soon as we saw the plans for the new K room we were blown away and knew this was the venue for us. The whole setting is beautiful and everyone was fantastic to deal with. The wedding day ran like clockwork and our fabulous wedding coordinator Jo was there the whole time to make sure we were happy and check if we needed anything.

My mum, daughter Jess and friend Kim all had a tear in their eye and commented on how understated and classically beautiful it was.

Linda from Chic & Elegant was fantastic and gave great advice.

Where did you get your jewellery?

My wedding day jewellery was a gift from my lovely Mum and was designed personally for me

by Gill Clement – Mumbles. It consisted of a classic ivory pearl necklace and pendant set with a large cabochon Swarovski crystal, matching earrings and bracelet. Our wedding rings are platinum bands from Spencer Morgan, Swansea.

What was the theme for the day?

What about your bridesmaids and groomsmen?

We wanted to ensure our décor complimented the beautiful setting of the venue both inside and outside and so we chose an ‘old Italian romance’ theme with large candelabras and candles. This is because of my Italian family heritage on my mother’s side – our family ‘Sartori’ come from Italy and it is also where we got engaged. The main colours were dusky rose and ivory, which were reflected in the flowers and bridal party attire.

I love the colour dusky rose and when I started to look for bridesmaid dresses, I found the exact colour and a style I loved by the brand Chi Chi in House of Fraser. Our bridesmaids Leanne (Damian’s sister) and Jessica (my daughter) wore them while the young flower girls Evie (my Goddaughter) and Halle (Damian’s niece) wore pale gold dresses from Monsoon.

When did you know you had found “the dress” and what style did you go for?

I thought I wanted all lace and long sleeves but this soon changed when I tried on dresses.

I knew I had found “the one” when trying on dresses in Chic & Elegant, Swansea. As soon as I saw how the sweetheart neckline and satin bodice complimented my figure and the delicate lace edged skirt looked I was so excited!

78 SWANSEA LIFE

We spoke to Dyfed Menswear at a wedding fayre and they had a brand new suit on show which Damian loved from the Regency collection. We arranged an appointment and Damian tried on a few suit styles but still liked the one he’d seen.

They checked and had one size in stock that he tried on and totally loved it. It was a steel colour suit with a blue waistcoat and pink tie. Damian, the Ushers (Damian’s sons), Best Man – Andrew and cute page boy Archie all wore matching suits.

Tell us about your floral arrangements?

During a visit to a wedding showcase at Fairyhill we saw the K room set up with candelabras on all of the tables and knew we had to have them for our wedding. Black Orchid were fabulous in advising us on the floral centrepieces using the candelabras and also provided the bouquets and buttonholes for the wedding party. The candelabras looked amazing on the day and were a real focal point.

What about your cake?

I do love a bit of cake, however Damian is more for savoury foods and we probably went a bit overboard on cakes. I love to bake and so decided (not sure it was wise) to make our wedding cake myself. It was a naked two tier cake – vanilla bottom tier and lemon and elderflower top tier. There was a mini bit of stress in our kitchen in the lead up to the wedding but it was worth it to see it displayed on the day! We met Carmarthenshire Cheese and tasted a range of their cheeses. They provided a cheese tower that they set up on the day with an amazing display of fruit too. It was delicious.

I often have a slice of the most delicious vegan carrot cake in the University and ordered one especially for the wedding from Naturally Kind Cakes – Sarn.

How did you make your wedding personal to you? And did you have any DIY touches?

There were a number of personal touches apart from the wedding cake. Jessica our daughter, designed the wedding invitations and used a photo of Damian’s proposal to me as the main feature. I arranged a Groomsman gift box for Damian to open on the morning of the wedding,

which included a set of handmade cufflinks that have the map coordinates of the Church stamped on them. We had our own unique personalised ring box and guest book made for us by Cara, a talented artist (Purple Frog Designs) – they were fabulous final touches.

All of the table names for the seating plan were places that we visited in Venice and included a photo of us at the location together with a little bit of information about why it was special to us.

The top table had to be ‘The Grand Canal’ after the proposal.

As we wanted a bit of fun on the day, I made a hessian peg frame and we had our own ‘retro’ photo booth where guests could take photos using an instax camera and hang them on the pegs. We will stick them all in our guest book as memories of the day. Herbie (my white VW beetle) was dressed up for the day and used to transport some of the wedding party to the reception in Fairyhill.

What were your wedding highlights?

Dunvant Rugby Club Singers sang at the Church, lifted the roof, and made the whole service very atmospheric. A female trio sang the entrance song ‘A Thousand Years’ which is really special to us and brought a tear or two to Damian’s eyes. I loved walking down the aisle to this song as it means so much to us, after finding each other again. When I saw Damian waiting for me I was ecstatic and was beaming the whole way down the aisle. I couldn’t believe the day had arrived when I actually became Mrs Church!

We were also totally shocked and grateful to

receive an amazing gift from Damian’s sister Leanne and Best Man Andrew – first class return flights to New York. We cannot wait to go for Valentine’s Day next year!

Did you have a first dance? Was there any other entertainment?

Our first dance was to Ellie Goulding ‘How long will I love you?’. This is one of our favourite songs from when we first started dating, and the proposal, and we always said it would be our first dance. We had a DJ in the evening who played a selection of our songs and everyone enjoyed a good boogie on the starlit dancef loor under the amazing lighting in the K room.

Did you go on honeymoon?

We went on a lovely mini moon to our favourite part of the Gower for two nights straight after the wedding. We went to London at the end of September for a few nights and enjoyed the Sky Garden, Chinatown and drinks in the Shard, followed by a week in stunning Croatia at the Sensimar Adriatic Beach.

What was the best investment you made? (something you are really glad you did, bought, etc) We wanted to ensure we had fantastic lasting memories of the day. I have always loved Peter Price Media’s work. He takes amazing photos and so I knew straight away I would have to ask him to be our photographer. The photos of our day are incredible and we are totally in awe of them.

In addition, one of our friends had recently published a video of a wedding he had filmed.

We loved the style of his work and asked James Duffy – Gingerduff Productions to film our day.

He produced a short wedding film as well as a full version. Everyone who has watched the mini video has said it captures ‘our story’ perfectly and that it is beautiful. Both Pete and James were fantastic to work with – plus Cheryl, James’ wife was brilliant as she helped me with my dress and veil during the photos and filming.

Purple Butterfly and Stars Wedding hire were also a great investment as they dressed the pew ends and wedding chairs in the Church and they looked fabulous. Lisa also provided the table plan, LOVE letters and sweet cart in Fairyhill, which we loved, and it was great to have these things taken care of.

If you could go back and change anything, what would it be?

On reflection, it was probably not a good idea to take the bridesmaids’ dresses to get steamed two days before the wedding, as they burnt a massive hole in the front of one of them and ruined the dress! I managed to get another dress delivered on 24 hour delivery, which was whisked, to a tailor to make minor alterations.

Slightly stressful!

There honestly isn’t anything we would change about the day itself. We put loads of effort into planning, the people we worked with were all brilliant at what they do, and this helped the day go without a hitch! It really was the best day of our lives. We would love to do it all again!

Pictures: Peter Price Media, www.peterprice.media

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S L E B EC H PAR K C OU N T RY

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DISCOVER THE LEAST DISCOVERED

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Celebrating our Ruby Anniversary of Care

1978-2018 261 Llangyfelach Road, Swansea, SA5 9LB Tel: 01792 462 295 www.painfreedentistswansea.co.uk info@brynhfyryddental.co.uk

At Manor Park we have the experience to assist in the planning of your special day down to the last detail, so that it will be a memory to cherish.

Idyllic surrounding gardens.

Romantically decorated function suites to accommodate over 400 guests.

Complete range of wedding services available from champagne fountains to photo booths.

MANOR PARK COUNTRY HOUSE LIMITED

Photographs courtesy of 1st Choice Photography

CLYDACH, SWANSEA, SA6 5NR TEL: 01792 846999 WWW.MANORPARKCOUNTRYHOUSE.CO.UK

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Wedding Showcase 2nd November 5pm until 8pm | 3rd November 11am until 5pm

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Wedding Showcase Special Offer with us before 3rd November 2018 and receive the ceremony room hire complimentary (new booking only).

Exclusive

Weddings

from £2,990 Ashburnham Hotel, Ashburnham Road, Pembrey, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA16 0TH

Tel: 01554 834455

info@ashburnham-hotel.co.uk www.ashburnham-hotel.co.uk

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Irresistible Wedding venue...

Experienced wedding coordinator and staff will be on hand to ensure your day is planned and carried out to perfection Wedding breakfasts can be held in our fabulous function rooms, our larger room is ideal for up to 200 guests, Alternatively our smaller room is perfect for the more intimate celebration.

...set in beautiful gardens

We recommend that you come and view our facilities to fully appreciate what we have to offer.

Complete Wedding Packages Available at Special Rates

Pure Creations Photography

Pengwern Road, Morriston, Swansea SA6 7LW www.treetopscountryclub.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

RUSTIC CHARM LOVED BY LOCALS AND CELEBRITIES Liz Perkins heads off to the newly refurbished Inn At The Sticks in Llansteffan, Carmarthenshire to sample a midweek meal

T

he rustic charm of Inn At The Sticks is easy to fall in love with.

Castell Howell, Blas ar Fwyd, A David (Bristol),Carmarthenshire Cheese Company and Cenarth Cheese.

It’s no surprise it became a favourite with Dame Judi Dench’s crew, when she was filming in Llansteffan over the summer, along with a host of TV companies, including Channel 4.

A nice touch was the Focaccia with light Marmite butter served at the start of the meal and melted in the mouth.

Pictures: Rob Melen

The restaurant is in the shadow of the art gallery and the village church and is a perfect haven of peace and relaxation. At the heart of the beautiful and historic village of Llansteffan, a stone’s throw away from the castle walk and a 10-minute stroll from the beach, it is easy to get to and has good parking facilities.

I would recommend the slow cooked pork belly, the stunning Dauphinoise, braised red cabbage and apple sauce off the mains list, although it is awash with traditional favourites ranging from Pie Of The Day and Honey Roast Ham, Fries and Egg along with Sticks Cheese Burger and Fries. There was also a choice of Chicken Schnitzel, Rocket and Parmesan Salad along with 40-Day Hung 10oz Rib Eye Steak, Slow Roasted Tomato, Bearnaise Sauce and Fries along with SlowCooked Lamb Shoulder, Moroccan Cous Cous Aubergine Caviar and Mint Yoghurt.

Peering out through the window at the rain falling on the autumnal night, it could not have been a more perfect place to dine out especially with Nora Jones as the soundtrack.

My friend was enticed by the delicious dish of Tempura Hake, Fries, Peas and Tartare Sauce, which was beautifully cooked in soft batter accompanied with a glass of Coke.

Steeped in history, in the Inn’s ancient past, it was a stop-off for pilgrims heading for St David’s in Pembrokeshire and is now a hub to both locals and visitors, as it is also home to five charming en-suite rooms in which to stay. They are built around an unique character, which has important stories behind them and local produce is served on a plate as part of the Welsh breakfast available.

With the hour-long drive home, I enjoyed orange juice throughout the meal although there was a fine extensive selection of wine on offer.

Swansea Bay Mussels and Pendine Wood Pigeon Breast are among the starters on the menu at the fully-restored gastro pub, with its old style fireplaces and wooden features.

But I opted for tasty Pork Scotch Egg, Piccalilli, and was glad I chose it from the menu and my friend tucked into the deliciously light Crispy Chicken, Kiev Mayo. The ingredients are mainly locally-sourced from firms including Swansea Fish, Preseli Bluestone Meats, Trealy Farm, Capestone Free Range Chickens,

92 SWANSEA LIFE

And there is a wide-range of well known beers behind the bar along with a variety of real ales.

Chef Ian Lewis has inspired a selection of a la carte dishes and stunning Sunday lunches with mouth-watering appeal to suit a variety of different tastes. After the main dish, I thought a light dessert would be the best way to end the night. Pavlova, with Lime Curd and Seasonal Fruit was a real treat and was perfectly crisp and light inside and my friend had a beautifully creamy yet light Yoghurt Pannacotta, Strawberry. Tarragon.

The Sticks has really made its name as a restaurant to visit winning rave reviews on social media and a stop-off I would definitely make again in the near future.

advertisement ADVERTISEMENT feature FEATURE

Inn at the Sticks | High Street | Llansteffan | Carmarthenshire | SA33 5JG | Tel: 01267 241066 e-mail: thesticksllansteffan@gmail.com | Innatthesticks-llansteffan.com SWANSEA LIFE 93

FOOD & DRINK

Quirky Kitchen LAURA DAVIES rounds up some quirky kitchen buys

COOKING TIME As autumn approaches and the nights are getting darker, why not spend some time trying out some new homely recipes. This Cath Kidston apron will not only help you look the part but protect you from any splashes!

Scattered Cosmos Dress Apron, £26, Cath Kidston, Cardiff

Home cooking with Sian Day

Spice up your life!

Spicy Beef Burgers Everyone loves a good beefburger especially when you know what’s inside. I like to get my mince ground by my local butcher using Chuck or brisket cuts, which are best for flavour and have a reasonable fat content.

I remember my grandfather would grind his own mince with a heavy duty vintage hand grinder, which would clamp to the table, using all the bicep strength he could muster to turn the wheel, these days you can just use a food processor.

HALLOWEEN CRUSHER

These patties are quick and very flavoursome as the spice comes from the curry paste so no chopping garlic or grinding spices as all the work is done for you, perfect for a midweek meal.

A glove of garlic a day keeps Dracula away although it doesn’t seem to bother this little fella, The Gracula Garlic Crusher from Luckies of London is happy to help with all your garlic crushing needs. Simply pop in the garlic, twist his head and voila! Your garlic will be crushed to smithereens. This easy to use gadget will be a welcome addition to your kitchen!

Gracula Garlic Crusher, £10.95, Cuckooland.com

ANYONE FOR GIN..

Your own personalised gin glass. Can it get any better. Check out our Gin feature to find your favourite tipple.

Monogram Gin Glass, £6, Next, Morfa Retail Park

COFFEE SHOT Forget throwing away all your empty coffee cups and invest in this re-usable plastic mug - ideal for your caffeine fix.

Flat White Coffee Mug, £2, Primark, Swansea

FIZZ FANTASTIC Celebrate in shimmering style by adding a sprinkle of this absolutely fabulous PopaBall Raspberry Prosecco Shimmer to your prosecco and sparkling drinks, and gaze in wonder as your glass is transformed into a silky, iridescent shimmering treat.

Rose Gold Shimmer Popaball For Prosecco, £7.49, Lakeland, Parc Trostre

MORE? We love this quirky slogan plate, “anyone for seconds?” from Sainsbury’s. Now, you and your guests won’t feel guilty about asking for a second helping.

Slogan Plate, £3, Sainsbury’s, Swansea 94 SWANSEA LIFE

You will need: For the burgers: ■ 500g lean minced beef ■ 1 egg ■ 3 tbsp curry paste (I like Rogan josh) ■ 1 large red onion chopped ■ Bunch of fresh coriander ■ Seasoning ■ Oil To serve: ■ Brioche burger buns ■ Iceberg lettuce ■ Fresh tomatoes ■ Relish

method Place all of the burger ingredients into a large bowl and with clean hands mix everything together to form four large patties.

Place a griddle over a medium heat and brush the burgers lightly with oil and cook for approximately 5 minutes on each side until they are cooked through, avoiding pressing the burgers as this squeezes out all of the juice leaving you with a really dry burger.

Serve in freshly toasted buns with crispy iceberg lettuce, fresh tomato and maybe some relish.

Bon appetite!

FOLLOW SIAN’S DELICIOUS RECIPES on her blog page siandaydream.wordpress.com or Tweet her @SianDay

FOOD & DRINK This creepy cookie is decorated in-store with cobweb icing and a shortbread or brownie spider. £5 , Morrisons, Parc Pemberton and Morfa Retail Park

shortbread pumpkin biscuit with jam. This orange pumpkin with a jammy nose is made from spooktacular shortbread, £1, Morrisons, Parc Pemberton

halloween horrors Solid milk chocolate with a wicked wind-up - Halloween Horrors 55g, £2, M&S, Swansea Chocolate Eyes Net, £1, Tiger Stores, Swansea

witch chocolate lollipop 28g, £1.50, M&S, Swansea

shortbread day of the dead biscuit with jam. This Day of the Dead biscuit is too tasty for trick or treaters, £1 , Morrisons, Baglan and Morfa Retail Park

fright night

treats LAURA DAVIES rounds up some spooky sweet and savoury treats ready for Halloween @LawsDx

ffl es , 11 0g

laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

Ch

Day of the Skull B Dead ars (Colourf ul choco late version Monoch £8/ 125g; rome version chocolate £ www.ch 7/115g), ococo.c o.uk

Decorate your own Halloween Haunted House Gingerbread houses aren’t just for Christmas.

Cast your creative magic with gingerbread shapes, icing, candy bats and sweets. £5 , Morrisons, Parc Pemberton and Baglan

HALLOWEEN AT SAINSBURY’S

by Sainsbury's Milk Chocolate Pumpkins £1, Sainsbury’s, Swansea

harry potter range expands The magic continues with the newly expanded and redesigned Harry Potter inspired collection from Jelly Belly Candy Company in partnership with Warner Bros.

Consumer Products. It debuts it’s new chocolate and gummi confections inspired by Harry Potter, along with new Chocolate Frog collectible cards and a wild new Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans Gift Box. Here are a few of our favourites from the entire collection: Harry Potter Chocolate Wands 42g, £9.79, Chocolate Frogs 15g, £4.40, Jelly Slugs 56g, £3, www.jellybelly.co.uk

by Sainsbury’s Trick or Treat Chocolate Character Hollows, £2, Sainsbury’s, Swansea and Gorseinon

by Sainsbury’s Milk Chocolate Eyeballs, £1, Sainsbury’s, Gorseinon

Tru ky o o arbo nnel et Walker Sp diff Car £13.5 0, John Lewis,

Skeleton Jolly Ginger, £9.95, Biscuiteersbaking.co.uk

This Halloween, take a bite out of these hand drawn horrors. Creepy apparitions have captured Hotel Choclat’s caramels and transformed white truffles. Beastly and beautiful, in equal measure.

Beastly Bites Selector, £3.95, Hotel Chocolat, Cardiff SWANSEA LIFE 95

FOOD & DRINK

Extra Special Pink Grapefruit & Elderflower Gin Liqueur (50cl)

Malfy Con Limone Gin (70cl) £28, Marks & Spencer, ABV 41%

£12, Asda, ABV 20%

Looks and tastes a lot posher than the price tag. Powerful fruity whiff. You get a subtle grapefruit flavour then the elderflower comes through stronger and sweeter.

It smelt yummy and citrussy and had a refreshing lemon, zesty flavour that didn’t overpower the gin taste. It hit the roof of our mouths with a pleasant sensation. The bottle swiftly disappeared!

IAL GIN SPEC

Sharish Blue Magic Gin (50cl) £35.49, Drinksupermarket. com, ABV 40%

A pretty shaped bottle that will stand out in your drinks cabinet, with a bright blue tipple. Turns pink with tonic!

Not a very strong flavour, but with a delicious hint of coriander coming through.

Gordon’s Premium Pink Gin (70cl) £16.50, Sainsbury’s, ABV 37.5%

Classic and simple bottle in a good vibrant pink.

Gordon’s has a long history of turning out quality gin at a reasonable price, but this offering smelled a bit sickly and was far too sweet and syrupy.

THIS MONTH

That Boutique-y Gin Co. Strawberry & Balsamico Gin (50cl) £29.95, masterofmalt.com, ABV 40.1%

It looked more like a rum and coke, and divided our tasters. Some loved it, others found it slightly bitter.

Started with a nice fruit flavour but left an acidic aftertaste.

WE L VE Whitley Neill Blood Orange Gin (70cl) £26, Morrisons, ABV 43%

It had a good balance of flavours – zesty orange and a hint of liquorice worked well. Easy to drink and a cool bottle in a white and vibrant orange colour scheme.

Opihr Oriental Spiced Gin (70cl) £20, Sainsbury’s ABV 40%

It looks expensive with its simple, chic bottle. A very smooth gin with a perfect spicy, peppery kick that lands on your tongue.

Subtle but enough to pep things up.

Botanical Project Limited Release Chilli & Ginger Gin (50cl) £19.99, Aldi, ABV 43%

Not for the faint hearted as it has a powerful chilli kick and just a smidgen of ginger with a fiery aftertaste.

£16, Tesco, ABV40%

Smooth and creamy with a flowery and citrus hint.

Very refreshing with a nice subtle flavour but tastes like a proper gin should.

Simple and very chic.

British Rose No 3 Small Batch Gin (50cl) £25, Marks & Spencer, ABV 39%

Looked very rustic. Smelt pleasant and had the wow factor when it turned pink as the tonic was added to it.

Strong rose flavour.

Limited Edition London Dry Gin

Cygnet Hand-Crafted Welsh Dry Gin,

£30, London Transport Museum Shop, www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk

£34.99, Juniper Place, www.cygnet-distillery.co.uk

The London Transport Museum and East London Liquor Company have collaborated to create this delicious Limited Edition London Dry Gin. Named No.8, this gin has been made with the spirit of re-invention in mind - bringing alcohol production back to its roots in London’s East End. Infused with Citrus peels, berries and spice, the hint of sweet and smoke in this alluring drink is sure to awaken and entice your tastebuds. So grab some ice and lime and pour yourself a classy tipple.

96 SWANSEA LIFE

Bulldog London Dry Gin (70cl)

Cygnet is crafted at its own distillery at York Street, Swansea at its Juniper Place restaurant and bar. Master distiller Dai Wakely has blended herbs and spices including cardamom and coriander seeds with pink grapefruit, lime and sweet orange peels combined with almonds and liquorice and orris roots. It’s infused in a handmade copper still using the finest Welsh water to deliver a great local gin.

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Best places to Eat

Restaurant Guide Five great places to eat and drink

SWANSEA

The Smiths Arms

GS OOKIN B G N I AK NOW T IES S PART A M T S I HR FOR C

51-52 Neath Road, Hafod, SA1 2HR Tel: 01792 466776

Family friendly pub serving food daily.

Curry & Pint night every Thursday 5-8pm.

Serving for food MondayWednesday 12-3pm & 5-8pm, Thursday & Friday 12-8pm, Saturday 11.306pm.

Free newly refurbished function room for parties. Car park at rear of building.

Sunday carvery 12-4pm.

Choice of 3 meats £6.45.

Book now for Christmas.

Prices: 1 course £9.95, 2 courses 12.95, 3 courses £15.95

PORT TALBOT

Franco’s Takeaway & Restaurant The Princess Margaret Way, Port Talbot SA12 6QW Tel: 01639 881202 • www.francochips.com

We will be offering Christmas Roasts with all the trimmings every Sunday throughout December and will be hosting Christmas party evenings.

Brunch, lunch and Evening meals.

As well as our traditional Fish and Chips we offer

Opening hours 10-10 seven days a week.

Have Breakfast with Santa throughout December.

Phone for details.

Best places to Eat BYNEA

The Lewis Arms 80 Yspitty Road, Bynea SA14 9TD Tel: 01554 227544

We have now been awarded a 5 star hygiene award.

Serving delicious breakfast, lunch and evening meals.

Book now for your Sunday Dinner or for that special occasion Afternoon Tea for two.

Spooky Kids Disco & Meal 26th October and Adult Ghost tour 31st October. Tickets only.

R R YOU O F W NO TY BOOK ISTMAS PAR R H C T S MEE OR KID PARTY SANTA

G TAKIN NOW BOOKINGS TMAS CHRIS TE WEBSI R U O VISIT ENUS FOR M

SWANSEA

Shepherds Country Inn 18 Heol Myddfai, Felindre, Swansea SA5 7ND • Tel: 01792 794715 www.shepherdsinn.co.uk • E: reservations@shepherdsinn.co.uk Family owned pub located in the lovely quiet village of Felindre (5 minutes off M4 J46).

Serving food Tuesday-Saturday 12-2pm & 6-9pm.

Lunchtime 2 Course special for £7.95.

Large External Marquee with fully functioning bar available to hire for parties, charity events, etc.

Evening specials board as well as tempting homemade cheesecakes.

Large Car park to the side of the building.

Burger & Pint offer Tues-Weds £6.95.

Christmas Craft Fayre Saturday 20th October.

GOWER

Gower Heritage Centre Parkmill, Gower, SA3 2EH Tel: 01792 371206 • www.gowerheritagecentre.co.uk Gower Cider Festival Saturday 6th – Sunday 7th October - The festival offers visitors a wide selection of ciders and perry from all over Wales, alongside Welsh cheese stalls and live music throughout the weekend!

Halloween Half Term Fun Saturday 27th October – Sun 4th November (10am–5pm) - Join Magenta the witch at school for spooks for all things

Traditional Sunday Lunch served every Sunday 12-3pm Adults 1 Course £9.95 Childs 1 Course £4.95.

that go bump in the night! Plus lots more!

Halloween Party Nights Tuesday 30th & Wednesday 31st (6pm-9pm) - Why not spend Halloween in one of the most haunted spots in Gower.

The three nights are host to a spooky disco, dancing competitions, fancy dress competitions plus lots more! *pre booking mandatory.

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SIX OF THE BEST The Colliers Arms Swansea Enterprise Park, Swansea SA1 7DW Tel: 01792 798340 • www.thecolliersarmsswansea.co.uk

The Colliers Arms is a Fantastic family pub in Swansea Enterprise Park with a great reputation for their home cooked meals.

There is a huge choice on the menu including all the pub classics and of course a Sunday Roast, but no need to wait until Sunday we serve a roast with a choice

of meats everyday!

We pride ourselves on good sized portions, this is the main reason for attracting custom through the doors time and time again.

Food served Mon - Sat 12 - 8:30pm, Sunday 12 5:30pm.

The Queens Hotel Gloucester Place, Swansea SA1 1TY Tel: 01792 521531

Homemade Sunday dinners served 12-3pm. £5.95 for adults. Choose from Chicken, Pork, Lamb or Beef, bookings advisable.

Christmas bookings now being taken, call us on 01792 521531.

Visit us on Facebook.

Justin’s Catering The Mill Tea Rooms, Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill, Swansea SA3 2EH • Tel: 01792 371206 • www.gowerheritagecentre.co.uk

New to the Tea Rooms Sunday Lunch.

Adults 2 course £12.95 or 3 course £14.95.

Children (5-12 years) 2 course £8.95 or 3 course £9.95.

Under 5 eat FREE! Take Away simply bring your own plate along and leave the rest to us.

SUNDAY LUNCHES The Britannia Inn Pub and Restaurant Llanmadoc, Swansea SA3 1DB Tel: 01792 386624 • www.britanniainngower.co.uk

Gower’s Best Kept Secret

Outstanding Natural Beauty”).

Boasting awe-inspiring views over the Loughor Estuary, the Britannia Inn is situated in the picturesque village of Llanmadoc on the North Coast of the famous Gower Peninsula (Britain’s first designated “Area of

Serving home cooked Sunday Lunches and mouth watering dishes from our bar menu or a la carte from our restaurant.

Book now for your Christmas party.

The Croft Inn 71 Pencaerfenni Lane, Gower, Swansea SA4 3SW Tel: 01792 850494 • www.thecrofty.co.uk

A family run restaurant serving traditional homemade Sunday Lunch, meals, tapas, a la carte meals and desserts. Now serving our speciality Pancakes filled with various fillings.

Book now for our Halloween party for Kids and Adults

phone for details. Book now for Christmas.

Bar, Restaurant & Coffee House.

Open Mon - Sun 12pm midnight (Mon & Tues from 4pm).

The Beaufort Arms 18 Penard Road, Kittle, Swansea SA3 3JG • Tel: 01792 234447 www.sabrain.com/pubs-and-hotels/south-wales/swansea/beaufort-arms-new

The Beaufort Arms is a charming pub perfectly located to begin or end a visit to the Gower with all local beaches close by.

mouthwatering Sunday Lunch, steaks, fish, homemade pizzas and everything in between.

Large outside seating area, free parking and children’s play area available.

Live Music last Friday of every month & very popular Weekly Quiz every Monday evening from 8pm.

Treat yourself to our

Book now for Christmas.

THE FINEST FOOD FROM TURKEY Weddings - Birthdays - Graduation - Engagements - Events

Visit our refreshed restaurant today and taste the experience

Now taking Christmas party bookings!

21 High Street | Swansea | SA1 1LF T: 01792 650444 | www.swanseaturkishkitchen.com turkishkitchen1 swansea_turkishkitchen

At The King Arthur Hotel To Start Cream of Mushroom & Celeriac Soup, Truffle Oil Croutons (v) Crab Pannacotta, Chorizo Crumble, Sweet Potato Mousse, Herb Crostini Pressing of Ham Hock Terrine, Spiced Clementine & Date Chutney, Toasted Sourdough Shards Oven Roasted Figs, Per Las Welsh Blue Cheese, Watermelon Jelly, William Pear, Honey & Mustard Vinaigrette To Follow Pembrokeshire Turkey Ballotine, Stuffed with Walnuts, Cranberry & Minced Belly Pork, Pigs in Blankets, Crisp Roast Potatoes Braised Ox Cheeks, Pulled Brisket Bon Bon, Charred Shallot Petals, Smoked Garlic & Herb Mash, Red Wine Reduction

To Finish Welsh Set Cream Infused with Mulled Wine, Pink Peppercorn Shortbread, Winter Berries Deconstructed Black Forest Gateau, Chocolate & Olive Oil Sponge, Cherry Brandy Chantilly, Glazed Black Cherries, Pure Chocolate, Cherry Sorbet Trio of Bara Brith & Butter Pudding, Mini Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce and a Little Cup of Chef ’s Eggnog Pistachio & Polenta Cake, Cranberry Compote, Pickled Strawberries

Petit Fours & Coffee Lunch £19.95 Dinner £22.95 Dinner Dance with live entertainment £27.95

To Start Cream of Mushroom & Celeriac Soup, Truffle Oil Croutons (v) King Arthur Fish Cake, Dressed Leaves, House Tartare Asparagus & Goat’s Cheese Salad, Toasted Walnuts To Follow Roast Pembrokeshire Turkey, Pork & Cranberry Stuffing Roast Topside of Welsh Beef, Yorkshire Pudding Pan Roast Salmon Fillet, Shellfish Butter Sauce Wild Mushroom Nut Roast, Cheese & Leek Fondue To Finish Christmas Pudding, Brandy Sauce Salted Caramel Cheesecake Joe’s Vanilla Ice Cream Mini Mince Pies & Coffee 2 course £13.95 3 course £16.95

Pan Roasted Brill Fillet, Blow- Torched Cauliflower, Caramelised Cauliflower Purée, Monkfish Scampi, Sea Vegetables

The King Arthur Hotel www.kingarthurhotel.co.uk Higher Green, Reynoldston 01792390775 Gower, Swansea info@kingarthurhotel.co.uk SA3 1AD

FOOD & DRINK

After winning Best Pub in the Swansea Life Awards 2018, LAURA DAVIES reserves a table at the Rake and Riddle to see if the food is just as good

AWARDS 2018

laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

T

here are not many restaurants you can go to mid-week and find it busy with diners, especially at the start of September when the children have just gone back to school and the weather is not particularly inviting.

So, when my husband and I pulled into the Rake and Riddle near Penclawdd, we were surprised at how many cars were parked in its extensive car park. On entering the main restaurant, there were probably only a few tables free, with customers spilling into the bar area for food, and there was a lovely vibe with people enjoying themselves without it being too loud.

I have eaten a couple of times at the restaurant and every occasion I haven’t been able to fault the service and the welcoming, friendly staff. Our waitress was superb, always with a smile on her face and despite it being busy, she always had the time to answer any questions or give information about the menu.

Rewind 20 years, and I remember being in that exact position - a young 16-year-old waitress working at what was then, the Berthlywd. So looking around, it always seems strange being back in the building which has held so many memories for me.

Not like it looks the same! The Rake and Riddle has had an extensive makeover. It is light and modern with a light blue and white colour palette with rustic influences - very much reflecting

104 SWANSEA LIFE

@LawsDx

a coastal theme. It is fairly open plan and relaxed with circular sofa booths carefully placed to break up the room.

You will definitely be spoilt for choice at the Rake and Riddle.

The menu offers an extensive choice of meals as well as a specials board, which will please even the fussiest of eaters.

From appetisers such as olives and deep fried cockles to starters including a mezze platter, brie wedges and cajun prawns to main meals which range from grills and burgers, pub favourites and international dishes such as chicken fajitas and curries. There are also a number of gluten free options, vegetarian and vegan options - so there is something for everyone.

So what did we choose? For once I knew exactly what I wanted.

For starters, I went for the Cockle Pot, (£5.95) and chose a 12oz Gammon (£10.50) and a bucket of scampi to go with it, (£4.50), while my husband opted for the Cajun Prawns, (£5.95) and a Sirloin Steak, (£16.50), and also like me, upgraded to the surf and turf option.

The service was prompt and our starters came out sizzling. My Cockle Pot was delicious, with layers of cockles, laverbread and bacon topped with cheddar cheese and accompanied by toast and a side salad. My husband’s seasoned Cajun Prawns, which I had on my last visit to the restaurant, were packed with pan seared prawns and were served with ciabatta slices.

PICTURES: Jonathan Myers

Winner

A winning restaurant that caters for all

advertisement ADVERTISEMENT feature FEATURE

The main meals were spot on! The steak was cooked to perfection and was juicy and tender, while my gammon was huge! I haven’t had gammon for longer than I can remember and it was great being able to add the scampi option to it. It was served with chips, vegetables, a grilled tomato, onion rings and pineapple - although you could have egg instead. Both meals were well presented and they certainly didn’t disappoint - in fact, we both struggled to finish.

But that didn’t stop us from ordering a dessert - well, we asked for two spoons! It was just as well we shared the Peanut Butter Stack served with Joe’s Ice Cream, (£4.95) as it was huge and very rich - but totally divine.

The entire meal was faultless and the drinks menu is also to shout about. There is a wide selection of wines, and the Gin menu is fantastic, while there are a number of real ales including ones from the Gower Brewery which the owner co-owns. My husband was made up he could order his favourite pint of Gower Gold with his meal.

The Rake and Riddle not only boasts a popular downstairs restaurant, there is also a stylish upstairs area, which not only offers food in a relaxed area, but also has television screens which show sports and often has live music. There is also an impressive pizza oven and extensive bar. Outside there is an Astroturf play area, which is a great place to go with the children for a bite to eat or simply a drink in the beer garden.

The Rake and Riddle caters for everyone, couples, parties and families and offers a modern yet homely environment. It is not surprising it just won the Swansea Life Awards 2018 Best Pub Award a few weeks ago. It has just announced its Christmas Menu and Party Lunchtime Menu, which will be served from November 26 - December 22. With three courses starting from £16.95, it will no doubt be a sell out - so get in there quick! I know I will be.

The Rake & Riddle, Gowerton Road, Penclawdd, Swansea SA4 3RB Tel: (01792) 872886 Email: info@therakeandriddle.com www.therakeandriddle.com SWANSEA LIFE 105

HOUSE & HOME

through the keyhole

MODERN HOME COMBINED WITH FARM QUARTERS Pleasure could combine with business at this large property in the Neath area, with two distinct parts making for an interesting whole, as CHRIS PEREGRINE reports. chris.peregrine@mediawales.co.uk

I

t is a case of twin attractions at a property in the countryside near Neath and taking in comfortable living and working options.

The centrepiece is a four bedroom detached house, and it is joined on site by a farm quarters with a livery yard and 10 loose box stables, a hay store workshop and storage buildings set in around 9.5 acres of good grazing land.

All those attractions can be found on a quiet road in the hamlet of Wernddu on the outskirts of Bryncoch. The spacious old farmhouse

106 SWANSEA LIFE

was completely renovated 20 years ago by the owners and offers modern living with features such as a spa bath tub, beautifully landscaped gardens, a sun room and electronic gates to a paved driveway. It also has an entrance porch, an inner hallway, a kitchen, a garden room, a utility room, a downstairs shower room, a lounge/ dining room, three double bedrooms, with an en-suite in the master, a fourth bedroom, a dressing room/study and family bathroom.

There are solid oak internal doors and uPVC windows throughout, widespread solid oak flooring, an air conditioning unit in the day room and oil central heating. The house is partly dry lined and the driveway offers parking for more than five cars.

The entrance hall has built in cloak cupboards and there is a walk-in shower room with a chrome towel rail/radiator. Into the kitchen and you will find the likes of an integrated wood burner, which also heats the utility room. There is a range of wall and base units with work tops over, dishwasher and a ‘everhot’ electric range oven, space for an American style’ fridge freezer, and a kitchen island with under counter storage.

It is open planned into the garden room, which has underfloor heating, colour changing inset ceiling lighting and double glazed patio sliding doors to the rear. The utility room has an airing cupboard, a linen closet and a boiler cupboard housing a Worcester oil fired boiler. Again there is a range of base units with work tops over incorporating a double Belfast double sink with mixer taps, tiled flooring, space for a tumble dryer, plumbing for two washing machines and underfloor heating.

A feature fireplace with inset wood burning fire takes its place in the living/dining room under an exposed beamed ceiling and four double radiators.

Up to the first floor and the generous master bedroom benefits from fitted wardrobes and four radiators, while the en-suite has sky light windows in a sloped roof, a spapanelled Jacuzzi bath with side/shower taps and glorious views to boot, and a walk-in shower. Built-in wardrobes feature in two of the other bedrooms, and there are fitted fitted wardrobes in the remaining one. A shower room can also be found on that floor.

The double garage is accessed via the utility room, while outside there is an art studio for use as an office or storage, with plumbing for a shower to increase options. The private well established rear garden has a lawn and patio areas providing access to the double garage. Then there are the acres of grazing land, with mature gardens and fruit trees.

Extras include ample outdoor storage, kennels, a fitted workshop, a greenhouse, a wood storage shed and a play area. And the 10 stables give an added business opportunity.

The space can be rented or sold as a business in its own right.

PROPERTY: Tyllwyd Road, Wernddu, Neath.

PRICE: £840,000 BEDROOMS: 4 AGENT: Peter Morgan, Neath, 01639 348001

SWANSEA LIFE 107

Regionally 18 offices throughout the region Nationally 225 offices across Great Britain Internationally Plus 75 offices globally 5000 professional associates all around the world

5 CHURCH LANE, BISHOPSTON, SWANSEA

37 BWLCH Y GWYNT, MACHYNYS, LLANELLI

A charming Georgian period family home, with a stunning country setting & a wonderfully peaceful location in the glorious Bishopston National Trust Valley, Gower. Boasting bags of character, 3 receptions, kitchen/breakfast rm, utility, 4 beds with 1 ensuite & family bathroom. Glorious country garden, summer house & outbuildings. EPC F

Situated in popular Machynys, directly on the waters edge running along the Millennium Coastal Path & close to Machynys Golf Course. Perfect for an outdoor lifestyle, offering modern generous living spaces including lounge/diner, kitchen, utility, 5 beds with 2 ensuites, 2 family bathrooms, double garage, garden, hot tub & breathtaking views. EPC B

Contact: 01792 367301

Contact: 01792 367301

Asking Price £595,000

Offers Over £525,000

6 LANGLAND COURT, LANGLAND, SWANSEA

117 RHYD Y PANDY RD, MORRISTON, SWANSEA

A modern & well designed 4 bed townhouse located just moments away from Langland Bay. Comprising lounge, kitchen/family rm, utility, 4 beds with 2 ensuites, family bath, pretty garden & a cleverly concealed electric 'Stiltz' lift connecting the ground & 1st floor effortlessly. A beautiful home with much flexibility & excellent finishes. 2 parking spaces via electric gated entrance. EPC B

An immaculate family home located in Rhyd Y Pandy village & surrounded by countryside.

Comprising 3 reception rm's, modern kitchen/breakfast rm, utility, sun room, 5 beds with 2 ensuites, study and 2 family bathrooms. Lovely big private garden, hot tub, outbuilding & detached garage. Great location close to the M4 & Morriston hospital. EPC D

Contact: 01792 367301

Contact: 01792 367301

Asking Price £625,000

Fine & Country Swansea 77 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4BN Tel: +44 (0)1792 367301 | Email: swansea@fineandcountry.com

Asking Price £450,000

Regionally 18 offices throughout the region Nationally 225 offices across Great Britain

OAKDALE, SOUTHGATE, SWANSEA

ROSEMEAD HOUSE, LLANRHIDIAN, SWANSEA

Oakdale is an absolute joy of a family home which is tucked away in a very popular coastal village and perfectly private. Generous accommodation comprising 4 receptions, large kitchen/diner, utility, 4 bedrooms all with ensuites and triple garage. Copious private gardens. EPC D

Perfectly private extended farmhouse surrounded by the most spectacular North Gower countryside views & set among approx 5 acres. Presenting generous accommodation of 5 beds, 4 receptions & 2 bathrooms. Glorious gardens & grounds. EPC D

Contact: 01792 367301

Contact: 01792 367301

Offers In The Region Of £1,250,000

Offers In The Region Of £730,000

The agent selling Fine & Country homes.

We can make a difference when it comes to selling your home.

23 CARADOG COURT, FERRYSIDE, CARMARTHENSHIRE Located in the charming coastal village of Ferryside, this new & modern home is ideally situated, to enjoy coastal living & stunning coastal views. Boasting 6 beds with 4 en-suites, beautiful open plan lounge/kitchen/diner with sea views, utility, study, garage, garden, underground storage & solar panels. EPC B

Contact: 01792 367301

Offers In The Region Of £465,000

Fine & Country Swansea 77 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4BN Tel: +44 (0)1792 367301 | Email: swansea@fineandcountry.com

Call us today to book your free valuation.

Internationally Plus 75 offices globally 5000 professional associates all around the world

QUALITY WOODEN FLOORING AND CARPETS.. ...all at great affordable prices

DESIGNER CARPET BRANDS

304 Carmarthen Road, Cwmbwrla, Swansea SA5 8NJ

01792 474922 www.ksc-carpets.com

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HOUSE & HOME

Large Glass Copper Lantern, £20, George Home, Parc Trostre Plain Bird Bowl Set Of Two, £16, Cath Kidston, Cardiff

Cushion, £26, Debenhams, Swansea

Gingham Check Cube, £60, Next, Swansea

Vitra Ball Wall Clock, £230, Nest.co.uk

THIS MONTH

WE LOVE LAURA DAVIES rounds up some of her favourite products this month

Off White Sheepskin Chair, £499, Homesense, Parc Fforestfach

Kimba Side Table, £99, Very.co.uk

laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

Colour Tint Wine Glasses, set of 4, £19, Jdwilliams.co.uk

Peacock Letter Opener, £15, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park

A by Amara Stainless Steel Tealight, £30, Amara.com

Mat ala n, P arc Cw

ston orri dM an du m Horse Lantern Table Lamp Copper, £29, Dunelm, Parc Pemberton

Luxury Faux Sheepskin Rug, £30, Next, Morfa Retail Park

Mirror, £20 ,

Set of 4 Black Effect Shot Glasses, £10, Next, Swansea and Parc Trostre

@LawsDx

Carraway Side Cabinet, £329, M&S, Swansea

Nappa Table Lamp, £115, Oliver Bonas, Cardiff

SWANSEA LIFE 111

HOUSE & HOME

Glass Bead

L hn Jo 6, £1 at, em Plac

Sara Miller Fig, Vanilla and Cacao Candle, £25, Daisypark.co.uk.

Peacock Embellished Canvas, £20, Dunelm, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park

ew is, Ca rdi ff

Peacock Cushion, £16.99, Very.co.uk Peacock Ring Holder, £2, Tiger Stores, Swansea

peacock inspired

Aaah…the peacock, such a majestic creature, the king of the bird kingdom with the most impressive feathers. LAURA DAVIES looks at peacock-inspired interior decor laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

Turquoise Fantailed Peacock, £24.99, TK Maxx, Morfa Retail Park

Peacock Cushion, £39.99, Homesense, Parc Fforestfach

@LawsDx

Peacock Feathers Wallpaper by Mind The Gap, £150, Mindtheg.com

Peacock Object, £40, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park

Blue Peacock Fringed Cushion, £22, Dunelm, Parc Pemberton

Rory Dobner Perfect Plates - Paloma Peacock, £32, Amara.com

112 SWANSEA LIFE

LAUNCHING THURSDAY 18TH OCTOBER 5PM - 8PM

coast and country t in f perfect r harmony SWANSEA SA1

at Dawsons Marina Office, Meridian Bay, Swansea (opposite Grape & Olive restaurant, Meridian Tower)

F DEVELOPMENT O OF 5 HOMES OF 3 STYLES (4 AND 5 BEDS)

ONLY

3

MULTIPLE AWARD WINNING CLEWS HOMES

REMAINING

EXCLUSIVE INCENTIVES AVAILABLE ON LAUNCH EVENING ONLY Come and meet our New Homes experts to find out more about this vibrant new development. Ready to occupy early 2019.

01792 653100 tim.kostromin@dawsonsproperty.co.uk

HOUSE & HOME

1

L E S L E Y

TAY LO R

And So To Bed RELAX, RECHARGE AND RETREAT – MAKE (OVER) YOUR BED

It’s the biggest piece of furniture in your home, but do we give it the attention it deserves?

A headboard can breathe new life into a tired bed, framing it and adding a design focal point.

and Calvin Klein all bringing out their own bedding collections.

Enjoying plentiful zzzzs is all well and good, but if you cannot stand the sight of your bed during daylight hours, the bed of dreams can become something of an interiors nightmare.

If your bed already comes with a headboard, consider replacing it with something more modern. Perhaps choose an oversized option to frame all sides. You could even opt for a chunky headboard which would double as a shelf and use it to show off pictures, vases and other decorative elements.

And when choosing your new set, go all out and invest in a set you truly love. Not only will you adore slipping in between the covers come bedtime, you will also love how it looks in the morning too.

However, a few tweaks here and there might be all you need to bid goodnight to these terrors once and for all.

We know the bedroom is home to some pretty large items of furniture, namely the bed itself. Throw in some fitted wardrobes and a chest of drawers, and space can be rather limited.

But make the most of any wriggle room to change the layout.

Simply transforming how the natural light interacts with your bed can have a huge impact on the master suite’s styling. Moving the bed in relation to the window will give you the opportunity to play with the light.

Oversized cushions and throws are perfect for disguising any design flaws you’re not too keen on.

Invest in a large throw, much too big for your bed, that will drape along the edges and hide the frame you detest so much, while two decorative cushions will draw attention away from anything unsightly.

A new duvet and pillows can also revitalise a tired bed, as will new bedding. Bedding has become something of a designer favourite with the likes Ted Baker, Ralph Lauren Home

Lesley Taylor is the author of 10 interior design books and has appeared on a range of network TV shows, including This Morning, giving inspirational advice on home styling.

2 1. Indulge in new bedding. Image from Elitis of France 2. A new headboard will transform the way your bed looks. Image from Elitis of France

3 114 SWANSEA LIFE

3. Use cushions and throws to disguise design flaws

coast and country in perfect harmony

DEVELOPMENT OF 5 HOMES OF 3 STYLES (4 AND 5 BEDS)

MULTIPLE AWARD WINNING CLEWS HOMES

LIMITED AVAILABILITY PRICES FROM £550,000

01792 653100 tim.kostromin@dawsonsproperty.co.uk

HOUSE & HOME

Winter is coming... so it’s time to choose something cosy to snuggle under

Blue and White Throw £19.99, HomeSense, Parc Fforestfach

Pink and White Throw £16.99, HomeSense, Parc Fforestfach

Knitted Throw in Charcoal £22, Wilko, Llanelli and Swansea Fox & Ivy Wine Knitted Throw £40, Tesco, Parc Trostre

Grey Checked Woolen Throw £49.99, TK Maxx, Morfa Retail Park

Chunky Knit Throw, Mulberry, £240, Christy. co.uk

Pom-Pom Throw £75, Debenhams, Swansea Simcoe Throw, Pearl £95, Sohohome.com John Rocha, Debenhams, Swansea

Hana Throw £45, Oliver Bonas, Cardiff Silk Tasselled Throw £19, JD Williams.co.uk Leopard Faux Fur Throw £55, River Island.co.uk

Home Neon Knit Throw £60, Monsoon.co.uk

Bronte by Moon Gold Athens Throw £78, DaisyPark.co.uk

www.pablack.co.uk

01600 717 040

black

black

www.pablack.co.uk

www.pablack.co.uk

Prestige homes from Peter Alan Ltd

Llangennith, Swansea

Upper Killay, Swansea

• 4 bedroom detached property, including self contained annex • Sea Views over Llangennith beach and Rhossili down • Situated in over 3 acre plot • Off road parking • Business opportunities (subject to relevant permissions) • Versatile accommodation EPC - E

• Finished to a high standard throughout this 4 double bedroom detached property is not to be missed.

• High Specification Throughout • Gated Driveway & Detached Garage • Wheelchair Friendly Ground Floor • Backing onto fields, countryside views • EPC - AWIATED

Swansea 01792 641481 £560,000 Bethany Lane, West Cross,

Swansea 01792 641481 Eaton Crescent,

£550,000

£350,000

For sale with pa black Swansea 01792 641481

St Catwg Walk, Swansea

Graigola Road, Swansea

Lon Cedwyn, SWANSEA

• Detached property Neighbouring Clyne Gardens • gardens StEnclosed Annes,rear Mumbles, • Driveway and integral garage • Bishopston and Olchfa School catchment.

• Good access to City Centre and Mumbles.

EPC - E

• 4 bedroom detached dormer bungalow • Set in generous plot with Front and rear gardens Dylans View, Uplands, • Detached garage • Elevated views • Generous living space • EPC - E

• 4 / 5 Bedroom detached property with SEA VIEWS •Gower Modernised throughout by current owners Road, Sketty, • Contemporary fitted kitchen • Loft conversion with sea views • Off road parking to rear and detached garage • EPC - D

Swansea 01792

For sale with pa black Swansea 641481 01792 641481

Cardiff Monmouth Penarth Porthcawl Newport

£450,000 £320,000

Morriston 01792

£375,000

For sale with pa black Swansea 798201 01792 641481

£450,000

Swansea 01792

£350,000

For sale with pa black Swansea 641481 01792 641481

Delivering exceptional service for exceptional homes

£395,000

©LW

For sale with pa black Swansea 01792 641481

£625,000

HOUSE & HOME Delilah Bloom Duvet Cover Set – Double, currently reduced from £49 to £45, Very.co.uk

Designers have revealed their new decor schemes for autumn and winter.

Gabrielle Fagan selects her three favourites...

Decorate Max to the

Star by Julien Macdonald-MultiColoured Winter Bloom Floral Photo Frame, £18, Debenhams, Swansea

A

utumn is the time of year when nature changes its colours, and thanks to the new home collections, it’s easy to ring the changes indoors too.

Choose from sumptuous florals, a cool Nordic theme that celebrates easy, stylish comfort, or full-fat maximalism, with its emphasis on luxury and individuality.

Be inspired – whether it’s a total revamp or just a refresh with a few new accessories so that your rooms are fashionably kitted out for the seasons to come...

Velvet Statement Floral Square Cushion, £22.50, M&S, Swansea

1. Make magic with moody bloom “Escape the everyday and saturate your home with glorious jewel tones this autumn. There are so many ways to use them – in Oriental, deco, and bold floral prints – I love that it all feels a bit fantasy,” enthuses Lois Vincent, home designer at House of Fraser.

Biba Collection: Pink Facet Vase, £35; Camilla Print Pillowcase Pair, £35; Deva Print Pillowcase Pair, £35; Erica Cherry Blossom Velvet Pillowcase Pair, £40, Double Duvet Cover, £90; Isaac Floral Cushion, £20; Giselle Rectangle Black Cushion, £20; Vivien Cherry Blossom Pink Sateen Cushion, £30; Art Deco Embroidered Diamond Cushion, £35; Signature Logo Embroidery Pillowcase Pair, £45, House of Fraser, Cardiff

118 SWANSEA LIFE

“You can up the glamour quota by mixing in a few gilded accessories; after all, who doesn’t need a flamingo candlestick in their life?”

DECOR TIP: Rich plum and berry shades are

the perfect autumnal palette for a cosy feel. If you don’t want to go full-on floral, choose dusky pink and warm neutrals for a backdrop and then layer up with petal-rich accessories, from throws to bed linen.

Magnus Two-Seater Sofa, Wool Touch Fabric, Dark Grey, £599, CultFurniture.com

3. Conjure calm chic spaces “Simple, minimal and layered – soft crafted neutrals and materials are set against stripped back rustic woods for this calm, tranquil look,” says Karen Thomas, head of design for Home at Marks & Spencer.

“This palette of calming neutrals is inspired by the change in seasons, and evokes a restful and relaxing feel for the home. As we move into autumn, we celebrate the urge to nest and stay indoors.

The Abigail Ahern new edition range featuring Lizard Cushion, £45; Table Light, £80; Bison Planter, £14; Highland Cow Wall Art, £35; Lantern, £24 and Honeycomb Sideboard £760, Debenhams, Swansea

2. BE CREATIVE “We expect maximalism to be one of the breakthrough looks for autumn and winter, and we’re already seeing people investing in bold, bright pieces for their homes,” says Fionnuala Johnston, senior designer at John Lewis.

“Maximalism is not necessarily about overcrowding a space, but choosing to be bold by showcasing your own unique style in a creative way.

“Carefully considered mixing and matching of colours, prints and textures is key to achieving the look, and it’s the perfect opportunity to layer designs and blend references.

“A good example would be combining a contemporary drinks trolley with tropical, vintage wallpaper, for a refined glamour that celebrates old and new style.”

Designer Abigail Ahern has embraced the luxe look and made it her own, with her richly designed animal-inspired Edition homeware for Debenhams.

“Layer soft knits and textures for a casual lived-in feel, and use clean lines and smooth surfaces of cool marble and craft glazes to accessorise your living space.”

DECOR TIP: If you’re reworking your entire living

space, keep to a palette of pale grey, wood and white for walls, floor and furniture. Declutter to create a pared-back base, and if you want to warm the scheme, add accents of yellow or green in accessories or plants.

Baltimore Low Stool, Velvet Upholstered Charcoal Grey, £79, CultFurniture.com

DECOR TIP: Floor-to-ceiling curtains and

reflective surfaces, such as mirrored glass and metalllics, contribute to the luxe look and create an atmosphere of elegance. A successful home will reflect your personality and taste and contain pieces that make you smile – don’t be afraid to experiment.

Effie armchair, velvet upholstery, blossom pink, £449

Grey Sheepskin cushion, £45, Debenham, Swansea Riley Compact Sofa In Alle Silver, £499, And Riley Armchair, £299; Whitstable Coffee Table, £149; Maggie Pendant Light, £69; Oversized Crescent Chevron Cushion, £19.50; Agate Sequin Cushion, £39.50; Opulent Bird Jacquard Cushion, £17.50; Oversized Velvet Feather Print Cushion, £25; Printed Cotton Geometric Rug And Striped Cotton Rug, from £15.60-£23.60 each, M&S, Swansea

Conway Arc Table Lamp, White Marble Base, Brass, £69, cultfurniture.com

Triangles Cushion, £35, Lush Designs, lushlampshades.co.uk

Embroidered Nakshi Chair with Pink Crushed Velvet Seat, currently reduced from £895 to £850, iansnow.com

SWANSEA LIFE 119

T

HE FLOORING STUDIO have been an established recommended Amtico Retailer / Installer for over 30 years, servicing Swansea to the tip of West Wales.

In store we have the full range of Amtico Signature & Spacia on display.

Our reputation is second to none built on quality products, customer service and excellent workmanship.

We also supply full range of Carpets, Natural Flooring. Wood Flooring, Laminate and Cushion Vinyl, whatever type of floor you are looking for THE FLOORING STUDIO is the one stop flooring specialist.

Q: What is Amtico?

A: Amtico is the UK’s original luxury design floor company. It is unrivalled in its design capability and offers our customers the opportunity to create a totally unique floor. With over 4000 design options we can create the ultimate experience in bespoke designs which will compliment any room type.

Q: When you say Amtico bespoke floors what exactly do you mean?

A: We look at the decor and furniture etc to create a floor with unique and creative designs and colours which will compliment the room.

Q: How does it perform?

A: You can have the real look of wooden floors without the maintenance required of sanding, sealing polishing etc. The Amtico range of tiles look as good as ceramic, however, they are warmer and softer to the touch with special design strips in between the tiles. These strips allow the grout lines to be added however will not discolour and stain like most grouting in between normal floor tiles.

Q: Does Amtico require specialist installation?

A: Yes, we ensure that our fully trained installers carry out a preparation process prior to laying the floor, this ensures that our customers receive the floor and finish they desire.

Q: What about maintenance?

A: Amtico is a very low maintenance product and is also very tough and durable. Amtico Signature has a lifetime warranty and Amtico Spacia has a 25 year warranty (visit www. amtico.com for full warranty terms and conditions).

Q: Is Amtico expensive?

A: Absolutely not, when compared to most woods and stones it is of a comparable price however as previously mentioned more unique.

Q: Where is Amtico manufactured?

A: Most competitor design floors are sourced from the Far East or Europe however we are proud to say that Amtico is made in England.

Our customers want UK products not just to support the economy but also the fact that they believe they are manufactured to a good standard.

Q: What are the steps to creating an Amtico design floor?

A: Easy, simply call into one of our stores. We can discuss customer requirements and ideas that they may have and we will help them create this within a luxury design floor. They will be able to view many of the Amtico products in store and take samples as required. We then can arrange a free no obligation home visit and the necessary checks required by Amtico to ensure we create the perfect floor.

A company built on its reputation & personal service • Wood Flooring • Vinyl Flooring • Carpeting • Safety Flooring • Full Floor Preparation • Domestic & Commercial Contracts • Free Measuring & Estimates Technical & professional advice on the best flooring for your home or business SWANSEA’S ONLY NICF MASTER FITTER

Recommended installers of Amtico Flooring

T: 01792 896523 Email: theflooringstudioltd@btconnect.com Visit our website: www.theflooringstudio.biz Our showroom: 72 High Street, Gorseinon, Swansea SA4 4BP

HOUSE & HOME

Tiger Ornament, £20, Debenhams, Swansea

Palm Lamp, £29.99, HomeSense, Parc Fforestfach

African chic is going to be a roaring success this autumn

Safari

Safari Plates, £28 for four, House Of Fraser, Cardiff

SO GOOD

Light fitting, £59.99; gold chair, £115.50; side table, £71.99; desk, £517.50; vase, £20.39, all Maison dumonde.com

Wall- Mounted Elephant Head, £82, Audenza.com

Jaguar Cushion, £30, Dunelm, Parc Pemberton

Hippo Wall Vase, £36, Tch.net

Salt & Pepper Pots, £18, Amara.com

122 SWANSEA LIFE

Safari Wallpaper, £18, B&Q, Morfa Retail Park

Quality Kitchens & Bathrooms at Leekes

Home Experts FOR

120 YEARS 1897 – 2017

Leekes Cross Hands, Business Parc, Carms. SA14 6RB Leekes Llantrisant, Cowbridge Road, RCT. CF72 8XU Tel: 0800 038 3050 | Online: kitchens.leekes.co.uk

Quality

Kitchens Create the perfect space for cooking, dining and entertaining.

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Home Experts FOR

120 YEARS 1897 – 2017

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Leekes Cross Hands, Business Parc, Carms. SA14 6RB Leekes Llantrisant, Cowbridge Road, RCT. CF72 8XU Tel: 0800 038 3050 | Online: kitchens.leekes.co.uk

Terms and conditions apply – ask in store for details.

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Bathrooms From a practical family bathroom to a luxurious en-suite, find the right one for you from our wide selection from Leading Brands. Make a design appointment in store and let us help you to create a beautiful new room.

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Home Experts FOR

120 YEARS 1897 – 2017

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Leekes Cross Hands, Business Parc, Carms. SA14 6RB Leekes Llantrisant, Cowbridge Road, RCT. CF72 8XU Tel: 0800 038 3050 | Online: kitchens.leekes.co.uk

Terms and conditions apply – ask in store for details.

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, £25, Dunelm lock , Pa dC rc e t Pe la

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Wall C lock Bla ck Bo

esense, Parc Ffo Hom rest 99, fac 12. h r, £ de ar Wall Clock Black Boarder, £12.99, Homesense, Parc Fforestfach Round Geometric Wall Clock, £14.99, Very.co.uk

128 SWANSEA LIFE

Writing Desk

Metal Skeleton Wall Clock, £35, M&S, Swansea and Parc Trostre

u ho ra ext

Zuiver Cute Desk Clock, £25, Cuckooland.com

Acctim Isky Cuckoo Clock, £120, John Lewis, Cardiff

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Retro Blue Alarm Clock, £9.95, Rexlondon.com

aura Ashley, P 65, L on tar k£ dd oc l C

etail Park ad R Ro ais ul

Bike Clock, £10, Matalan, Morriston and Parc Cwmdu

Clock, £8, Primark, Swansea

Game Boy Retro Alarm Clock, £20, Debenhams, Swansea

Ma nte l

HOUSE & HOME

Vitra Ball Wall Clock Cherry, £285, Nest.co.uk

Wilko Bell Alarm Clock Silver, £5, Wilko, Swansea and Llanelli

Marble Desk Clock, £40, Oliver Bonas, Cardiff Jordan Green Marble & Brass Dial Clock, £40, John Lewis, Cardiff

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FREEPHONE 0800 808 3224 www.securahome.co.uk Unit C1 Kestrel Way, Garngoch Ind Est, Gorseinon, Swansea SA4 9WN

HOUSE & HOME

2

Dress up your home this Halloween with LAURA DAVIES’ pick of spooktacular decorations

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laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

@LawsDx

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Plush Peanut Bat, £12, Bat Felt Bucket, £5, Pumpkin Felt Bucket, £5, Glass Skull with Cork Large, £8, Plush Casper Cat Medium, £15, Skull Glass Cup, £3, Wind Up Walking Pumpkin, £1, Wind Up Walking Skull, £1, Scream Straw, £3, John Lewis, Cardiff

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1. Pumpkin Pinata, £12, Sainsbury’s, Swansea

Halloween Pumpkin and Spider Tinsel Wreath, £18, John Lewis, Cardiff

7. Pumpkin Serving Dish, £45, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park

2. Papercut Trick Or Treat Halloween Bunting, £9.99, Gettingpersonal.co.uk

8 Halloween Place Set, 6 pack, £5, Sainsbury’s, Swansea

3. Felt Spider Web Place Mats, Pack of 4, £8, John Lewis, Cardiff

9. Personalised Hanging Slate Sign, £12.99, Gettingpersonal.co.uk

4. Glow In the Dark Cups, £2, Tiger Stores, Swansea

10. Ghost Light, £3, Primark, Swansea

5. Rats With Light Up Eyes, £8, Sainsbury’s, Swansea 6. Trick or Treat Disney Sign, £2 , Primark, Swansea

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11. Bendable Skeletons, £1, Tiger Stores, Swansea 12. Metal House Tealight Holder, £18, John Lewis, Cardiff

SWANSEA LIFE 135

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Payment plans are offered by Close Brothers Retail Finance. Close Brothers Retail Finance is a trading name of Close Brothers Limited. Close Brothers Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. Finance is only available to permanent UK residents aged between 18-75, subject to status, terms and conditions apply.

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Tel: 01792 896531 Unit A2 & A3 Kingsbridge Business Park, Gorseinon, Swansea SA4 4HJ

For more information visit out website www.chicblinds.co.uk Email: sales@chicblinds.co.uk or visit our 3 showrooms

HOUSE & HOME d nge Corn Fe ecial Free Ra Asda Extra Sp 3.90, Asda, Llansamlet , £1 British Turkey and Llanelli

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AUTUMN POTS OF COLOUR With autumn in full swing, plant some pretty pots to brighten the scene. Hannah Stephenson digs up top tips.

1. Provide good drainage Once you’ve emptied your pots of summer bedding and given the containers a good clean, line the base of your pots with crocks from broken terracotta pots or bits of polystyrene that your new bedding comes in, to make sure you have ample drainage for new autumn and winter bedding.

As autumn rains come, if your pots are exposed to the elements, the roots of your plants can become too wet if you don’t include sufficient drainage when you plant them up.

Mix a handful of sharp stone or grit into the fresh compost to help drainage and stand your pots on feet, so the moisture doesn’t come up through the pot and soak the roots from below.

2. Fill pots well Unlike summer bedding, which grows rapidly to cover the whole area of the

pot, winter bedding is slower to make an impact - so it’s best to plant winter bedding closer together in tubs, troughs and hanging baskets.

They won’t have as much growing time as summer plants had to make their mark, so don’t penny-pinch on the amount you buy.

3. Don’t over-water Winter-flowering pansies and other bedding won’t need as much water as your summer annuals did, so don’t mix water-retaining granules into the fresh compost, or you’ll end up with rotten roots and wilted plants.

4. Shelter containers If you have planted up pots with spring bulbs, violas and pansies, put them in a sheltered spot - say under a porch or cold greenhouse when the winter weather is at its worst - but make sure they get maximum light so they can benefit from even weaker sunshine.

As the weather gets cooler, protect plants by grouping containers and moving them closer to the wall to keep off wind and rain.

5. Choose plants wisely Some bedding only appears in the autumn, including dwarf Michaelmas daisies, pot chrysanthemums and miniature cyclamen, while orange-berried winter cherries and ornamental kales appear slightly later on in the season. All can be put to good use in a container and enhanced with evergreen foliage plants.

Garden centres will now be awash with autumn and winter bedding, including pansies and violas, wallflowers, dianthus and cyclamen. Use a showstopper as the centre plant and then use trailers, such as creeping Jenny or ivy, around the outside of your pots, filling the gaps with pretty violas and pansies.

SWANSEA LIFE 140

Quality made truly affordable

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Bathroom design Not only can we help you find that simply perfect accessory to finish off a room; the most amazing wallpaper for your hall and sofa for your conservatory; we can help you create beautiful bathrooms.

Our experienced designers can turn your wishes into reality using some of the most coveted bathroom products in Europe, coupled with our innovative design expertise.

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Plan of bathroom design for one of our clients

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HOUSE & HOME

October with a difference With Joseph Atkin, Head Gardener at Aberglasney Gardens in Carmarthenshire

Hydrangea aspera

October is the month when autumn and as Keats put it, the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness; comes into its own. It’s not just autumn colour to be enjoyed either, there is huge selection of plants that complement the autumn hues of the trees. Many of these flower at this time of the year adding freshness to the display, a real bonus before winter arrives.

Kniphofia ‘November Glory’

Salvia ‘Amistad’

When you find a plant that reliably flowers in October and November, as well as making a spectacular addition to the display, it surely deserves a place in the border! Kniphofia ‘November Glory’ is one of the most striking redhot poker with red, yellow and orange spikes that stand over two meters high. It is perfectly hardy and the ultimate plant for lengthening the season of interest in the garden. Like many of the plants that flower in the cooler periods the flowers last far longer than those of their summer flowering compatriots. If you have a hot colour themed garden this is an absolute must.

Possibly another surprise choice for October is this tall blue Salvia that we have used a great deal in recent years. It’s not considered to be reliably hardy in cold areas but if you have good drainage then it seems to get through the winter. We use it in several different situations as it flowers on a small plant in June and just gets bigger as well as flowering right up to the very hardest frosts.

The rich navy to purple flowers go with almost any other colour. It is very easily propagated from cuttings in July and will sit in a glasshouse over the winter ready to be planted out in the spring.

Even a small plant will make a meter and a half in a season giving it all the qualities of an annual. We propagate ours but leave the parent outside and most years it comes back.

■ Height = 1.5m ■ Spread = 1m ■ Position/Aspect = Any sunny ■ Soil = Free draining ■ Pest and diseases = No real problems ■ Style = Cottage garden, bedding displays, exotic, any herbaceous, we even use it in the Kitchen Garden to add colour

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Height = 2m Spread =1.5m Position/Aspect = Any sunny spot Soil = Any fertile free draining Pest and diseases = No real problems Style = Tropical, exotic, cottage garden, any herbaceous border or even prairie style

Cosmos ‘Purity’ It may come as a shock to many gardeners that I’ve included this summer annual in my plant choices for October, but every year it’s a real star of the autumn display and they often look good well into November. At Aberglasney we fill in gaps in the borders with Cosmos every year and they really come into their own from September to November. The lacy foliage and white daisy type flowers, held on substantial plants really, lift the herbaceous displays at this difficult time. You may find you need to stake them by late summer as they often get well over two meters tall but it’s well worth the effort.

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148 SWANSEA LIFE

Height = 2m Spread = 1.5m Position/Aspect = Any sunny Soil = Any except waterlogged Pest and diseases = slugs when young but planting large plants solves this problem Almost any except wet or shaded gardens

HOUSE & HOME

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Update your home with LAURA DAVIES’ round up of autumn woodland decor laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

@LawsDx

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1. Rural Retreat Patterned Side Plate, £3.75, Sainsbury’s, Swansea | 2. Rural Retreat Animal Set of 3 Candles, £7.50, Sainsbury’s, Swansea 3. Rabbit Print Cushion, £19, M&Co, Cardiff | 4. Bronze Bird, £22, National Trust, Nationaltrust.org.uk | 5. Emma Bridgewater Rabbit Mug, £19.95, Daisypark.co.uk 6. Auburn Framed Print, £32, Dunelm, Parc Pemberton | 7. Rabbit Sculpture, £20, Matalan, Parc Cwmdu and Morriston 8. Woodland 12 Piece Taupe Dinner Set, £41, Dunelm, Parc Pemberton | 9. Large Florence Floral Vase, £19.50, M&S, Swansea 10. Graham & Brown Palm Leaf Wood Panel, £54.99, Very.co.uk | 11. Hare Pair Objet, £10, Sainsbury’s, Swansea 12. Fox Doormat, £25, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park | 13. Hare Melamine Tray, £12, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park

SWANSEA LIFE 150

Transforming Homes, seTTing sTandards, saving you money!

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Call us today for a free, no obligation design & quote www.castlekitchensandbedrooms.co.uk

Call in today at our showroom: The Old Lloyds Bank Building, 43 Neath Road, Briton Ferry, SA11 2DX

Telephone: 01639 797901

HOUSE & HOME Petite Friture Cherry Pendant Lamp - Black Rainbow, £392, Amara.com

Lisa Pendant, £75, Debenhams, Swansea Copper Ceiling Light, £60, Next, Morfa Retail Park

LET THERE BE

LIGHT

Loop Table Lamp, £75, Oliver Bonas, Cardiff

Mateo Irridescent Easy Fit, £25, Matalan, Parc Cwmdu

Chrome and Glass Wall Light, £80, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park

With the clocks going back at the end of the month, we will be losing an hour of light. Make sure you brighten up your evenings with LAURA DAVIES’ round up of new lighting for your home Feather Table Lamp, £39.99, Very.co.uk

laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

@LawsDx

Fleur Table Lamp, £79, M&S, Swansea and Parc Trostre

Leon Caged Bar, £150, Matalan, Parc Cwmdu and Morriston

House by John Lewis Cheetah Table Lamp, £45, John Lewis, Cardiff

Shiny Metal Table Lamp Marble Base, £24.99, Homesense, Parc Fforestfach

Marble Base Table Lamp, £20, George Home, Parc Trostre

152 SWANSEA LIFE

Leaf Sculpture Tealight Holder, £45, John Lewis, Cardiff Jaguar Table Lamp, £59, Dunelm, Parc Pemberton

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HOUSE & HOME

Flower Candle, £8, Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park

Jenny Velvet Blush Shade, £30, John Lewis, Cardiff

Set, £28, Next inner , Sw nD ans tto ea u H an e c d ie

K N PI

Park tail Re fa or M

Pin k1 2P

Retro Pink Alarm Clock, £9.95, Rexlondon.com

Catherine Lansfield Bianca Tasseled Knit Throw, £39.99, Very.co.uk

With autumn here, add a touch of warmth to your home with shades of pink laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

@LawsDx

Cushion, £45, Debenhams, Swansea

Small Apothecary Vase, £9.50, M&S, Swansea and Parc Trostre

Pink Chevron Ceramic Vase, £14, Next, Morfa Retail Park

Flora Armchair Pink, £395, Oliver Bonas, Cardiff

Frame, £12, Debenhams, Swansea

You Go Girl Mug, £12, Oliver Bonas, Cardiff

SWANSEA LIFE 155

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en-suite of a luxury designer bathroom Tel: 01269 595806 the inspiration you need www.norwaveltd.co.uk

104 Wind St, West End We’ll give you Ammanford, SA18 3DUall

OUT & ABOUT

A N D R E W

M O R G A N ’ S

SWANSEA BAY WALK Join andrew morgan as he leads us on a Swansea Bay walk.

Start/Finish location ......... Bishopston, Pyle Corner Distance ..................................... 3 miles (2 hours) Level ............................................. Moderate

Upcoming Walks

Parking ........................................ Brandy Cove Road

OCTOBER

Pwll Du A few months ago we did a summer walk nearby and now you can enjoy an autumn stroll in a different direction. This section of coast and country provides good all-year walking and a variety of views. The best way to do these walks is in the company of fellow walkers who share the love of the countryside and Swansea Ramblers provide that social aspect that can be missing when you walk alone. So far this year, about another fifty new walkers have discovered the fun of group walking.

Parking in Brandy Cove Road, set off down the single track road, turning right along the footpath just before the chalets. Crossing the minor road, pass South Gower rugby ground, following the path by the hedge that goes behind the building. Pass through two kissing gates then head to the furthest hedge in front of you. Turn left and follow the hedgerow to pass through some more walkers’ gates. Eventually, enter Bishopston Wood and keep to the higher path or you may have to use the rope to get down when it eventually descends to the broad Pwlldu access track! Turn right and descend to the idyllic stream and the footbridge. Turn left and pass between a couple of houses that were once pubs for the quarrymen who worked here. Now alas, both ‘cold comforts’!

Reaching Pwlldu, you are greeted by a pebbled beach which at the far end changes shape with the tides and storms. This bay is a magnet in summer for small sailing boats that sail out of Swansea Marina for the day before heading back to the safety of harbour. To continue our

Mon 01 Gowerton and Dunvant (4 miles) Easy

meet 10.00am Gowerton car park off B4295

walk, unless the tide is too high, you can walk across the beach and ascend the rocks to the path onto the coast path or you can retrace your way back up the broad access path then descend onto the same stretch of coast path.

Follow the coast path to Brandy Cove, enjoying the views. The path is fairly good but do take care on some tricky sections of the cliff path nearer Brandy Cove. Here at the cove, smuggling took place and long ago, maybe in Roman times as well as more recent periods, there was a silver/lead mine. Leave the coast and follow the broad track uphill to join Brandy Cove Road and back to the start.

Wed 03 Pantyffynnon to Pontarddulais by train (9 miles)

Moderate meet 9.45am Pontarddulais: Rail station Sat 06 Autumn Colours at Dinefwr (4 miles) Easy

meet 11.00am Llandeilo: Central Car Park Sun 07 Llantwit Major and Nash Point (10 miles)

Moderate meet 8.30am Francis St Sun 07 Penllergare (6 miles) Moderate meet 10.30am

Penllergare Valley Woods Car Park Mon 08 Swansea Canal (4 miles) Easy/Moderate

meet 10.00am Pontardawe: Lidl’s car park Tue 09 Cowbridge and St Hilary (9 miles) Moderate

meet 9.30am Go Outdoors CP Sat 13

Dimbath (6 miles) Easy/Moderate meet 11.00am Bridgend: Blackmill: Cattle Market car park

Sun 14 Hills North of Brecon (13 miles) Strenuous

meet 8.30am Francis St Mon 15 Killay and Clyne Valley (4 miles) Easy

meet 10.00am Killay: Railway Inn car park Wed 17 Fan Llia (8 miles) Strenuous meet 9.30am

Llansamlet: Go Outdoors Car Park Sat 20 Llanrhidian (2.5 miles) Easy meet 9.30am

Oldwalls: Greyhound Inn on B4295 Sun 21 Blorenge and Mynydd Garnfawr (9 miles)

Strenuous meet 9.00am Francis St Mon 22 Parkmill (3.5 miles) Easy/Moderate

meet 10.00am Parkmill: Park Wood car park Tue 23 Afan Argoed (7 miles) Moderate meet 10.00am

Pontrhydyfen: Rhyslyn Car Park

Transport: Traveline: www.traveline-cymru.info • 0871 200 22 33 or BayTrans: www.baytrans.org.uk Visit our website: www.swansearamblers.org.uk

Sat 27

Porthcawl (6 miles) Moderate meet 10.00am Francis St

Sun 28 Killay and Dunvant Circular (11.5 miles) Moderate

meet 9.00am Killay: Railway Inn Car Park Sun 28 Gnoll Estate & Tonna (6 miles) Moderate

meet 11.00am Neath: Gnoll: main car park (charge) Wed 31 Halloween Headtorch Walk (4 miles)

Easy meet 6.30pm Newton: Jct Highpool Lane

& Highmead Av Wed 31 Bryngarw House & Llangeinor (6 miles)

Moderate meet 10.30am Blackmill:

Cattle Market

SWANSEA LIFE 159

OUT & ABOUT

“Spectacular views of London’s skyline from the luxury of your bedroom” LAURA DAVIES visits the newly refurbished luxurious Royal Lancaster hotel in central London laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

N

o visit to London would be complete without taking in the city’s incredible skyline and the Royal Lancaster offers just that - all from the comfort of your room.

Situated on the edge of Hyde Park, my luxurious 18-floor room offers breathtaking views over the grassy park, the Shard, the Millennium Eye and Big Ben. It is a spectacular site whether it’s in the day when you are just waking up or in the night when everything is all lit up.

I have stayed at the Royal Lancaster hotel on several occasions before and it has always impressed, but this is my first time staying at the hotel since its £80 million renovation. The prestigious hotel has been completely transformed both internally and externally and I am more than impressed by the result. It feels more opulent and luxurious and quirky and modern but still retains a retro vibe.

On arrival I am impressed by the the entire frontage of the hotel, which has been remodelled. It now features a dramatic eightmetre high glazed façade revealing an impressive double-height

160 SWANSEA LIFE

@LawsDx

reception space. Inside, the centrepiece is a palatial sweeping marble staircase which winds around to the first floor. The extensive marble and mirrored walls with dimmed lighting adds pure class and is more impressive.

One reason I love this hotel is its fantastic location. It is convenient and that is always an advantage when staying in London. A short stroll west takes you to quaint and cultured Notting Hill and Holland Park and if you go east you will find yourself on Oxford Street and Marble Arch. Amble south through the park and you’ll end up in Knightsbridge and Kensington. Paddington Train Station is a 15 minute walk away and right next to the hotel is Lancaster Gate tube station.

The Royal Lancaster has a rich and celebrated history which the refurbishment reflects. Michael Caine was filmed here for The Italian Job, and the rooms have model Minis in them and are quite retro. It also famously hosted the after-party for The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine film premiere, which The Beatles’ attended in the Yellow Submarine Nightclub. Mohammed Ali, Princess Diana and countless other royals have also attended events here.

Royal Lancaster London Lancaster Terrace, London W2 2TY Tel: 020 7551 6000 www.royallancaster.com

On this occasion, I am told, Mo Farah is staying on the same corridor as me although I don’t happen to see him!

restaurant I try on this visit and prices are fairly reasonable for a central London hotel .

My mum is accompanying me to an awards function at the hotel and it is her first visit and like me she is more than impressed.

Check in is easy and we are shown to our room by the staff. We are on the top floor which is bright and luxurious with a designer feel and there are little touches to match. A king-sized bed was welcome as we rested our tired feet after exploring the city and at the bottom of it was a teal sofa with geometric cushions scattered on it which almost matched a tasteful honeycomb-shaped print carpet which is a charming nod to the the bee farm that is situated on the hotel’s roof. The marble bathrooms come with rain showers and White Company toiletries and there is a smart TV as well as a smart-phone that guests can take out and about with them. In-room spa treatments are available and there is a 24/7 gym although we didnt take advantage of it on this occasion. This stay is all about chilling out and having a good time.

I order Salt and Pepper Calamari, £8.50, while my mum goes for the Pan-Fried Scallops, £10.50, for starters and we order a main of Seabass, £16.50, and a 10oz Sirloin Steak, £25. Our meals are excellently presented, tasty and faultless, which is often not the case in some hotels.

The Royal Lancaster has two restaurants - the Nipa Thai serves an extensive, authentic Thai menu in plush surroundings, while the Island Grill allows for a more laid-back dinner with tasty dishes from burgers and salads through to steaks. It is the latter

The atmosphere is not pretentious and is very relaxed with attentive staff and good, prompt service. The restaurant is bright and airy and is welcome to passing customers and not just hotel guests.

Equally good, the next morning, is the hotel’s breakfast which serves everything you can possibly wish for from a selection of cereals and pastries to smoked salmon, fruit and yoghurts as well as cooked options such as smashed avocado or a full English breakfast. There is even honeycomb from the hotel’s bee hive to try which is delicious…

I can not praise this hotel enough, if you are looking for luxury and comfort, friendly service in close proximity to all of London’s attractions, then this is for the place for you.

SWANSEA LIFE 161

OUT & ABOUT

A RELAXING STAY IN IDYLLIC,TRANQUIL SURROUNDINGS LAURA DAVIES spent a long weekend at The Wild Boar Inn in the Lake District, which certainly did not disappoint laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

T

here’s no doubt about it, the Lake District is a world-class destination.

The four star hotel couldn’t be better placed for exploring the countryside and getting out and about.

So why haven’t I visited it before, I thought while my husband and I made the five hour drive from Swansea to Windermere.

Our room had the wow factor and we were literally blown away by it!

It was generally light in decor with modern interiors such as unusual hanging bedside crystal lamps next to a comfy king-size bed, a large LCD TV and a powerful shower. A fireplace and quintessential chairs and antique looking artefacts gave it the perfect balance of old and new. We had plenty of natural light and doors that opened out to our own verandah where we enjoyed a morning coffee. The White Company toiletries were a lovely touch as well as a cuddly toy dog which acted as our “do not disturb” notice.

If I am honest, the journey time to the Lakes has always put me off a little, but after deciding to set off early and stop off at various picturesque locations along the way, it felt as if we were on our own mini adventure!

When we booked our break to the Lakes, we desperately needed a holiday away from it all. After months of undergoing my first IVF cycle, we were due to find out that weekend if we had been successful or not. Plus as it was my birthday, we thought a weekend just the two of us would be a nice distraction. As it turned out, the timings were delayed by a week, so we were none the wiser anyway - but we were determined to have a good time, even if I couldn’t drink, had to follow a pregnancy diet or climb any mountains (the latter was not too difficult!)

As soon as we got closer to the Lakes we were mesmerised by the gorgeous scenery and stunning picturesque backdrops. Despite being surrounded by mountains here in Wales, the natural beauty was jaw-dropping especially around Windermere where we were staying.

We spent two nights at the wonderful Wild Boar Inn, which is situated in stunning Gilpin Valley near the tiny hamlet of Crook, roughly halfway between Kendal and Bowness-on-Windermere.

162 SWANSEA LIFE

@LawsDx

After spoiling the aesthetic of the room with our overflowing suitcases, we headed down for food. We sat in the lounge for pre-drinks where my husband took advantage of the ales brewed on site.

Parking ourselves on deep leather chairs, we admired the clusters of framed drawings of animals, landscapes and such like on the walls plus the open fire and neat stack of firewood.

The hotel’s Grill and Smokehouse restaurant did not disappoint. After closely studying the mouth-watering menu I opted for the Hot Smoked Salmon, which was smoked at the hotel’s Smokehouse, and baked in parchment paper, while my husband, plumped for a sirloin steak with peppercorn sauce. While waiting for it to be served, we munched on delicious homemade pork crackling dipped in a bramley apple sauce as well as hunks of moreish ‘artisan’ bread.

Not only was the food of an exceptional standard it was presented like a work of art. With oak beams and cosy candlelight as well as plenty of artefacts and even the chance to see the chef at work, it made the perfect setting to unwind.

Full to the brim, we relaxed in the bar before wandering up to bed to sleep off our mega-meal.

After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast the next morning, we decided to blow off the cobwebs and headed outside to explore the Wild Boar’s very own expanse of woodland - 72 acres of it. Walk through a gate at the back of the hotel and you are suddenly in a private and ultra-peaceful mini-Lakeland, full of native flora and fauna. It is totally idyllic and it was hard not to drag ourselves away to explore the rest of the Lake District.

We certainly did a lot over the weekend - I was actually quite surprised at how much the Lakes has to offer. I always imagined it would be full of walkers in mountain-attire, very relaxed and casual and the odd country pub scattered here and there. I didn’t expect it to be so modern and in some areas lively and vibrant, with quirky and modern bars and fantastic restaurants. And boutique shops! Bowness, which was a five minute drive away, was bustling - the lake was so picturesque, with tourists feeding the swans on the water’s edge, fishing boats scattered along the front and stunning views across Lake Windermere with its jaw-dropping mountainous backdrops. In the village, there was a lovely buzz, with people sitting outside in beer gardens and roaming around the shops and restaurants. We then ventured onto Ambleside about a 15-20 minute drive away which is definitely recommended.

Restaurants were exceptional and during our stay we ate at the very popular Dodd’s restaurant, and had a fantastic Thai at Doi Intanon on our last night in the Lakes.

We made it our mission to go around Lake Windermere during our trip - in fact we even made it around the less commercial Lake Conniston too, which was equally as beautiful. You can’t go to the Lakes without visiting Beatrix Potter’s house - but be warned, get there early - it gets very busy! I was totally enchanted by the chocolate-box cottages in Sawrey, and tried to imagine walking in Beatrix Potter’s footsteps as we wandered through her home. I envisaged Peter Rabbit running through the vegetable patch and looked at the wonderful scenery that inspired Beatrix to create her bunny sketches and wonderful stories that I had grown up listening to as a child by my mother. It certainly was magical and I couldn’t help thinking whether I would one day read her delightful tales to my child. I was tempted to buy some memorabilia but decided not to tempt fate. Instead we went to explore the lake that Beatrix spent many a day and evening, just down the road at Esthwaite Waters, which was so tranquil and beautiful. We also visited Wray Castle, Hawkshead, Kendal (where we tried the famous Kendal cake) and Conniston before heading back to the hotel for a much needed chill before our evening meal in Ambleside.

We loved the Lakes so much that instead of heading to Chester for the night - to break up the drive home - we decided to stay a third night, which meant another great breakfast at the The Wild Boar Inn. After a full English it was time to leave after a faultless stay aided by friendly and supremely accommodating staff. The Wild Boar Inn is the quintessence of quality and sophistication but not in a distant, ostentatious way. It distils the best element of old England with modern luxury. We made so many memories in the Lake District and we will definitely be coming back - but next time, there will be three of us!

The Wild Boar, Crook Road, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3NF Website www.englishlakes.co.uk Reservations: 0333 2203 108 Telephone: 015394 45225

SWANSEA LIFE 163

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THE CANARIES P&O Oceana Nov 9th 2018 12 nights Departing from Southampton Ports of Call Lisbon, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma & Madeira

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NEW YEAR SHORT BREAK P&O Oceana Dec 29th 2018 5 nights Departing from Southampton Ports of Call Hamburg & Zeebrugge

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HIGHLIGHTS OF ANDALUSIA Fred Olsen Braemar April 7th 2019 11 nights Departing from Southampton Ports of Call Malaga, cruising Guadalquivir, Seville, Cadiz, Lisbon

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FESTIVE DUBLIN CRUISE CMV Marco Polo Dec 16th 2018 3 nights Visit and explore Dublin during the festive season

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SC ANDINAVIA AND RUSSIA Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Silhouette May 19th 2019 14 nights Departing from Southampton Ports of Call Copenhagen, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm, Berlin

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MOTORING ■ WHAT IS IT? Volkswagen Group hatchbacks are on something of a refresh trail at the moment, with the VW Polo and Seat Ibiza both recently entering new generations on the MQB A0 platform. The Skoda Fabia though, staggers on without new underpinnings - instead seeing a minor refresh for 2018. It may be surprising on the face of things that the Czech firm hasn’t gone for a total overhaul, considering the availability of the new platform, but this generation of Fabia has only been around since 2015, so it’s not exactly outdated just yet. Can a bit of nip and tuck be justified though?

■ WHAT’S NEW? As far as facelifts go, the new Skoda Fabia pretty much meets the definition: Minor changes to an already existing model.

Don’t expect a revolution here, but that’s not to say there hasn’t been some notable changes. A tweaked look comes thanks to new headlights, a larger grille and a fettled bumper, with LED daytime running lights now a standard feature. New dashboard trims bring a revived lease of life to the cabin, while more assistance tech makes this the safest Fabia to date. As for engines, there’s been little in the way of change - although the line-up now consists exclusively of petrol units, with three set to be offered in the UK. ■ WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET? Powering our test car is a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder, here paired up to a five-speed manual gearbox, developing 94bhp and 160Nm of torque. It can take the estate from 0-60mph in 10.7 seconds and on to a 115mph top speed. As for efficiency, Skoda claims it can achieve 63mpg with CO2 emissions of 103g/km.

On paper, it doesn’t sound particularly fast - in fact, incredibly slow - but in reality, it’s quite sprightly. OK, we’re not suggesting it’ll give you a fright when you put your foot down, but there’s certainly enough go to have some fun with, and it’s definitely more than up to the job if you plan on using the car for getting around town.

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THE NEW SKODA FABIA The popular Skoda Fabia has been refreshed for 2018 Ryan Hirons headed to Prague to take it for a spin.

■ WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? Nothing has really changed in the way the Fabia drives, which means it’s still a pleasant experience behind the wheel. It’s well suited for the town, thanks to light-but-not-overly so steering paired up with good all-round visibility, while the addition of a parking camera to our test car just made it that little bit easier to pinpoint. Take it out on a B road, and it’s not the most dynamic of machinery, but by no means bad. It’s not quite as fun as rivals like the Ford Fiesta or Suzuki Swift when things get a little bit tighter, but it handles well and doesn’t roll around a huge amount.

■ HOW DOES IT LOOK? Although it looks largely the same as before, a little bit of nip and tuck has given the aesthetic a new lease of life. Revised headlights, combined with a larger grille, give it a little more presence on the road and even creates a mini Superb-like look.

LED daytime running lights as standard also means the whole range looks more premium than before. LED rear lights now feature on the options list, but it’s hard to see much difference than before without them. It remains a good-looking car, and the tweaks mean it’s not yet showing its age - despite its VW Group stablemates brasher look as a result of the longer wheelbase on the MQB A0 platform.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE? The Skoda Fabia benefits from some new dashboard trims with this facelift, which keeps it up to date. Despite its relatively low price point, it doesn’t feel particularly cheap to be in and it’s genuinely quite pleasant.

Monte Carlo trims brings sports seats and carbon-effect finishers, and while we like the former, the latter doesn’t really do much more than cheapen the interior.

As for space, our estate test car offers 530 litres of boot space - although rivals don’t come with such a body option. The hatch can store 330 litres of luggage with all seats in place, boasting more than the Ford Fiesta’s 292 litres, although less than the Seat Ibiza’s 355 litres.

■ WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE? Keeping in line with usual facelift formalities, the updated Skoda Fabia gains more tech as standard - with more also joining the options list. Every car now gets LED daytime running lights for no extra cost, while autonomous emergency braking also comes as part of the package. Monte Carlo trim cars, as tested here, get climate control, LED rear lights and electric rear windows, along with styling upgrades in the form of a black-painted front spoiler, roof and matching floor mats.

For its £17,670 starting price, we think the Monte Carlo trim offers some pretty serious value for money - although those wanting to spend a little less wouldn’t be going wrong regardless of the trim. With the range starting at £12,840, the Skoda Fabia might just be one of the best bargains on the market.

■ VERDICT The updated Skoda Fabia is a facelift in its truest form, bringing minor touches and tweaks to a car that’s recognisable to a point you’d likely struggle to notice a difference unless you were told. That’s no bad thing in this case, with the compact machine still proving that it has a lot to give despite the recent total refresh many rivals have gone for. It may not offer the most engaging of driving experiences, but as a daily machine, it’s definitely one of the best-valued packages in its segment.

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MOTORING

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR CAR’S TYRES Ryan Hirons shares top tips for maximising the effectiveness and lifespan of your motor’s tyres.

1. Cheap isn’t always the best While it may be tempting to go for those £40 tyres from a brand nobody’s ever heard of, you could be doing more harm to your wallet in the long run. A good set of tyres may cost more, but you’re likely to get better grip from them, helping to keep you safe. They will usually have a longer life too, saving you more down the line. If in doubt about which tyres to fit to your car, consult your vehicle owner’s manual for manufacturer recommendations.

Under-inflated tyres have a higher rolling resistance than those at the correct level, increasing wear on the sidewall. To keep your tyres lasting longer, regularly check pressures and keep them at manufacturer recommendations, which can be found in the owner’s manual and inside the door sill of many cars.

3. Watch the tread

7. Seasonal rubber

Tread is the part of the tyre that contacts the road, and as a result, wears out. Not only is it important to ensure you have a good amount of tread for your own safety, it’s also a legal requirement to have at least 1.6mm of it on all four tyres. An easy way to tell if your tread is sufficient is to place a 20p coin between the grooves. If any part of the rim of the coin is visible, then it’s time to get a new set of rubber.

While all-season tyres can offer plenty of grip all year round, splashing out for season-specific tyres can keep prepared for all eventualities. Although ultimately more expensive, having a set of rubber for both summer and winter can leave you safer on the roads and also see less time between buying new tyres. Summer compounds operate at higher temperatures, offering better grip in hotter weather and lasting longer than harder rubber, which could potentially blister on hot surfaces. Winter tyres operate at lower temperatures and also tend to have much more tread - ideal for clearing rain, snow and slush in the colder months of the year.

4. Optimise your driving style

Tyres are the car’s only contact with the road, and as such can make a huge impact on not just the driving experience, but also vehicle safety.

To help keep you and your passengers safe on the road, and to get the best out of your car, it’s important to maintain the rubber on each wheel. Here are our top tips for making the most of your tyres...

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6. Rotation equals elongation No matter how careful your driving style, how new your tyres are or even if they’ve all been fitted at the same time - they’re going to wear unevenly. This is usually down to where the power is sent. On most cars, the fronts will wear much faster than the rears - in most cases, they’re tasked with delivering power to the road, steering, and most of the braking. To get more life out of your tyres, swap the fronts and rears - most mechanics will do this during a service or MOT anyway, but it’s always worth asking beforehand if you’re not confident of doing the task yourself. Rotating your tyres is also a necessity on cars with a part-time fourwheel drive system. These systems require all four tyres to be virtually identical for the best performance.

2. Keep them well inflated

As far as car parts go, tyres are one of the most important - but also one of the most neglected.

If you notice an uneven level of wear, take your car to a specialist to have alignment checked and corrected if necessary.

Find your right foot often pinned to the floor? Brake heavily? Corner hard? You’re probably doing some harm to your tyres. A smoother, more consistent driving style puts less stress on rubber and results in less wear - ultimately meaning more time between changes, and less hit on your wallet.

5. Stay aligned If your car’s wheels have gone out of alignment, the tyres will see more stress on a smaller contact patch. The result is quicker and uneven wear.

8. Check the spare tyre It’s easy to forget about looking after a spare tyre - after all, you’ll ideally never have to use it. In the event of a tyre failure though, it’s going to come in handy, so you’ll want to ensure its prepared to keep you safe before putting on a replacement tyre. Ensure the rubber hasn’t perished, and that it’s inflated to a good level.

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Please contact Laura Davies... laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

THIS October...

01792 545523 @LawsDX

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Castle Tours

Romeo and Juliet

Rob Brydon – I am Standing Up

12.15pm and 2pm, Margam Country Park

7.15pm, Swansea Grand Theatre

8pm, Swansea Grand Theatre

1

THURSDAY

3

2

SUNDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Autumn Deer Rut Safari

The Greatest Showman

Gower Cider Festival

Milkshake Live!

6.30am, Margam Country Park

4pm-8pm, Castle Square, Swansea

10am 11pm, Gower Heritage Centre, Gower

11am and 2pm, The Princess Royal Theatre

MONDAY

TUESDAY

4 8

5

6

The Big Charity Masquerade Ball

2pm, Swansea Grand Theatre

The Village Hotel, Swansea,

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Carmen

Jive Talkin’ Perform the Bee Gees

7:30 pm, Swansea Grand Theatre, Swansea

7.30pm, The Princess Royal Theatre

10 11

9

Tabby McTat

7

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Women in Business AwardS

Burns Series Adventure Race

12pm, Marriott Hotel, Swansea

Margam Country Park

SUNDAY

12 13 14 172 SWANSEA LIFE

Marina Market

10am, Dylan Thomas Square

=jSuite&r=1537278295526&id=TRMRMMGLPICT000162439660&j=eyJzcmNwYW5lbGlkIjo1MCwic G5hbWUiOiJDSFAiLCJzb3VyY2UiOiJoaXRsaXN0IiwidHlwZSI6ImFzc2V0IiwiYWN0aW9uIjoibGluayIHTFBJQ1QwMDAxNjI0Mzk2NjAiXSwibWV0YUtleSI6ZmFsc2UsInNoaWZ0S2V5IjpmYWxzZX0sImV4dMONDAY

15 Dara O’Briain 8pm Swansea Grand Theatre

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

April in Paris By John Godber

Stick Man

Jackson - Live in Concert

National Theatre Live King Lear

Joanna Lumley

7.30pm, Pontardawe Arts Centre

2pm, New Theatre, Cardiff

7.30pm, Swansea Grand Theatre

7pm, Taliesin Arts Centre

WMC, 7.30pm, Cardiff

16 17 18 19 20 SUNDAY

MONDAY

Whitney – Queen of the Night

James Martin

7.30pm, St David’s Hall, Cardiff

7.30pm, St David’s Hall, Cardiff

TUESDAY

23

21 22

Art Babas

10.30am, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Abbey Players present Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Art Break

Dirty Dancing Night

STRADEFEST

Spooky Halloween Trail

7.15pm, until 27th, Swansea Grand Theatre

2.30pm, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery

7pm, Village Hotel, Swansea

from 4pm, Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli

Laugharne Castle

24 25 26 27 28 MONDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

29

30

31

11am, Margam Country Park

3pm, Llanelly House, Llanelli

7:30 pm, Swansea Grand Theatre, Swansea

Halloween Slime Special

Harry Potter Themed Tea

Sue Perkins

SWANSEA LIFE 173

WHAT’S ON

TRICK R TREAT? LAURA DAVIES rounds up some of the spookiest Halloween events in the area laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

@LawsDx

Halloween Spook Night

HALLOWEEN HALF TERM

WHERE: Plantasia, Parc Tawe, Swansea

WHERE: Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill

WHEN: October 30 to October 31, 5.30pm- 7pm

WHEN : October 27- November 4, 10am-5.30pm

TELL ME MORE: Jeepers creepers! Step into Plantasia’s spooky cobwebbed jungle for a night of Halloween fun including creepy activities and a gruesome trail - you might even come face to face with some real life creepy crawlies... if you're brave enough! Look out for tarantulas, scorpions, stick insects, frogs, toads, assassin bugs, millipedes, centipedes, geckos, skinks, tegus and slithery snakes, including a large Burmese python! And don't forget to dress up! Pre booking is essential due to popularity.

TELL ME MORE: Gower Heritage Centre loves Halloween so much that it has decided to dedicate the whole half term week to it! Join Magenta the witch at school for spooks for all things that go bump in the night plus a day of spooky activities! There’s plenty to learn about magic and mystery and how to give a good fright! Can you handle the pace of a broomstick race or become the scary monster under the bed? Then join us at the school of spooks, but be careful not to lose your head. There will be pumpkin carving, spooky pottery, crafts, colouring competitions, quizzes and lots more.

Be sure to pop in and say BOOOOO! Normal admission fees apply.

WICKED WHERE: Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff WHEN: October 31 - November 24, 7.30pm TELL ME MORE: An ingenious and witty re-imaging of the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two young women who first meet as sorcery students.

Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

174 SWANSEA LIFE

Halloween Ghostly Tales by Torchlight Tours WHERE: Llanelly House, Bridge Street, Llanelli WHEN: October 31, 6.30pm, 7.30pm and 8.30pm TELL ME MORE: Llanelly House Halloween Ghostly Tales by Torchlight Tours - the spookiest tour yet! Starting in the graveyard (weather permitting) “characters” from the past will lead you

through the darkness of Llanelly House to encounter chilling tales.

Suitable for 15 years and over only.

Bring a torch! Tours available at 6.30pm, 7.30pm and 8.30pm. £10 per person.

Booking is required. Please note that this is a walking tour with steep stairs, uneven floors, loud noises and visual disturbances.

HALLOWEEN PARTY NIGHT WHERE: Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill WHEN : October 29- October 31, 6pm-9pm TELL ME MORE: Why not spend Halloween in one of the most haunted spots in Gower. The three nights are host to a spooky disco,dancing competitions, fancy dress competitions, scary story telling in the haunted mill cottage, swamp dip, halloween crafts and pumpkin carving (additional charge applies), bat hunts, ghost hunts and more ! Parents are invited to dress up as well as children.

Bar, BBQ and Tearooms will be open.

Halloween Slime Special

Newton House After Dark

WHERE: Margam Country Park

WHERE: Dinefwr Park and Castle

WHEN: October 29, 11am

WHEN: October 26, October 27 and October 31, 8.15-9.15pm and 9.30pm10.30pm

TELL ME MORE: For all those slime mad children! The Slime Factory is for you! Learn how to make spooky slime and why it works with the ingredients.

The children will have lots of fun getting creative and messy. We will also show them how to make swirls, bubbles and waves just like all their favourite youtubers! Sessions are at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm in the Castle. £6.50 per child.

All Night Haunted House Ghost Hunts WHERE: Craig Y Nos Castle WHEN: October 30, 9pm- 3am TELL ME MORE: After a three course meal in the Castle’s Patti Bar, take part in overnight paranormal investigation in the haunted house derelict levels - perfect for serious ghost hunters.

The tour includes a night in the hotel (if you dare) followed by breakfast the following morning and use of the gym and hot tub facilities. There will also be a history tour of the castle and its once famous owner, Madam Patti, the opera star reputed to still visit her private theatre. Scientific as well as spiritual experiments are carried out throughout the night with the use of investigatory equipment which is included. These investigations are not suitable for those under 18.

TELL ME MORE: Join a torchlight tour of Newton House; the National Trust’s most haunted property in Wales.

Discover the history and hauntings of times gone by and experience the atmosphere of Newton House after dark. Tours last approximately 1 hour.

Aged 14+ only. Booking essential.

Children’s Monster Ball

prizes for various competitions such as the best costume and best pumpkin bring your own decorated pumpkin for the Pumpkin Prize Awards ceremony.

SPOOKY VALLEYS WHERE: Aberdulais Tinworks and Waterfall, near Neath WHEN: October 31, 5.30pm-8pm TELL ME MORE: Dare you take a candlelit walk round the old spooky industrial site, and see what goes bump in the night? Listen to the tales of terror, and see who or what, lies round the corner in wait for you. There'll also be ghoulish games and activities going on. Discover Aberdulais like you've never seen before - if you dare...

WHERE: The Orangery, Margam Country Park WHEN: October 31, 6pm TELL ME MORE: The Orangery presents… a Halloween-themed children’s disco, with a bouncy castle, face painting, and hot food.

There is also a competition for the best costume for boy and girl, and best dancer for boy and girl.

HALLOWEEN EXTRAVAGANZA WHERE: Craig Y Nos Castle WHEN: October 31, 2pm -6pm TELL ME MORE: Get your spooky costumes on for a Halloween themed afternoon featuring music, glitter tattoos, bouncy castle. Ghost tour

SWANSEA LIFE 175

WHAT’S ON

AUTUMN

strolls

There’s nothing better than pulling on your walking boots and heading out for some fresh air. But there is something particularly special about walking in the autumn, when the leaves are starting to turn red and nature is truly beautiful. LAURA DAVIES looks at some of the walks in our area that everyone can enjoy. laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

Penllergare Valley Woods, Penllergaer Penllergare Valley Woods is a picturesque landscape hidden away in a steep valley just a stone’s throw, yet a world away, from the M4 in north Swansea. With its lakes and waterfalls, terraces, panoramic views, and exotic trees and shrubs, this forgotten Victorian paradise is being slowly restored and brought back to life

by The Penllergare Trust. Visitors can enjoy over 12km of walks, including a stroll along the old Carriage Drive, and also down into the Llan valley where the Dillwyn Llewelyn family, who lived on the estate in the 19th century, created the Upper Lake and the stunning man made waterfall. Afterwards enjoy a hot chocolate, slice of homemade cake, or a hot panini at the Woodland Coffee Shop, with views from the terrace over the Woodland Garden.

Margam Country Park The 2-5-mile Monastic Trail (which has some steep sections) takes walkers around the back of Margam Castle and the iron age hillfort and up through

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woods to the remains of the medieval church Hen Eglwys, passing the fish pond so remember some bread to feed the ducks. Afterwards, a short drive takes you to traditional country inn The Prince of Wales at Mawdlam, Kenfig.

Oxwich Walk around the headland at Oxwich Bay (go as far as you want), visit the 13th century St Illtyd’s church, almost hidden in the woodland behind Oxwich.

The chancel is thought to mark the original 6th century Celtic cell of Saint Illtyd. After taking in the woods with breathtaking views of the sea, visit the Oxwich Bay Hotel for refreshments.

Parkmill A five-mile round walk takes you through stunning mixed woodland and an ancient, dragonfly and kingfisher-buzzed pond plus a 16th century former corn mill which is part of the historic Penrice Estate.

Afterwards, the King Arthur Hotel in Reynoldston with its wooden beams, log fire and good selection of ales is a short drive away.

Dinefwr Castle and Park, Llandeilo Dinefwr’s historic parkland is famed for its abundance of wildlife and stunning valley views. Some of the ‘veteran’ trees are thought to be over 700 years old. A roughly three-mile walk takes in Newton House and Deer Park, Dinefwr Castle, the hidden Llandyfeisant church and gorgeous woodland and parkland in between.

Carreg Cennen and Llygad Llwchwr Approximately 5.5 miles long, the dramatic Carreg Cennen Castle is the start and focal point of this stunning walk... but it’s far from the only highlight.

From the castle, the route drops down to cross the river Cennen then rises back up through woods and fields onto open moorland. It also features the intriguing Llygad Llwchwr, (the Eye of the Loughor), the source of the river where it emerges after flowing for around four or five miles underground.

5 Nov/Tach St Helen’s Ground, Swansea Maes San Helen, Abertawe

Gates open at 5pm Entertainment and live music at 5.30pm with main display at 7pm Gatiau’n agor am 5pm Adloniant a cherddoriaeth fyw am 5.30pm a’r brif arddangosfa am 7pm

enjoyswanseabay.com joiobaeabertawe.com

SAL LE E S SA ALE E S E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE LE E S E S A L A L SALSALE ALE SLE SAE SALSE ALE SLE SAE SALSE ALE ALE LE S E SA SAL ALE LE SA SAL ALE LE S SA SAL ALE LE S E SA SALE LE S E SA SALE ALE LE E S E SALSALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE SLE SA SAL E LE ASLE SAE SALSALE ALE SLAE SALSALE ALE SLE ALE ALE SLE SAE SALSE ALE SLE SAE SALSALE ALE SALSALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE SLE SAE SALE LE S E SA SAL ALE LE SA SAL ALE LE ALE ALE SLE SAE SALSE ALE SLE SAE SALSALE SALSALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE SLE SAE E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE AL E S A LE ALE SALSA ES S SAL ALE ES S A SAL LE AL ES S S SAL ALE ALE E S SAL S A SAL LE ALE S E S SAL S SAL ALE ALE S E E S SAL AL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA E S SAL ALE S SAL ALE ALE S E SA E S SAL ALE L S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SA E S SAL ALE LE S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE E S SAL ALE LE S S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE A E S SAL ALE LE S S S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE E S SAL ALE LE S SA S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE S E S SAL ALE LE S SA S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE E S SAL ALE LE S SA AL S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE S E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE L S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA S E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SAL E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE AL E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA S SAL ALE ALE S E SA SALE ALE SLE SA SALE ALE E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S SA ALE E S SA ALE LE S SA AL L SAL ALE LE S SA ALE LE S E SA E S SAL ALE LE S SA ALE AL E SA AL LE

N OF O I T C E L E S E V I S MAS TORE S N I S T I U S M I SW

DIVE IN

E C N A R A E CL ARTS

END OF SEASON

SALE - ST 1ST OCTOBER

Sharks Swim and Triathlon Shop,

47 Gower Road, Sketty Cross, Swansea, SA2 9BH Tel: 01792 202795 Email: info@SharksSwimShop.com

COME TO E R OUR STO T Y T ON SKE CROSS

AWARDS 2018

Principal Sponsor

20-PAGE PHOTO SPECIAL from the awards event of the year

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Winners and Highly Commended...

So, after all the emails and marketing and conversations and tweets and nominations, it finally arrived!

SPONSORED BY

HOMES & GARDENS

WINNER! OYSTER GALLERY & INTERIORS

S P O N S O R E D BY

Thousands of votes later, the night we had been planning for months, was here. The red carpet event of the year!

The 2018 Swansea Life Awards was an evening that paid tribute and rewarded the successes of our highest achievers from right across the Swansea Bay area.

This region has so much to be proud of...and last month’s glittering Brangwyn Hall event celebrated that fact. And quite rightly so.

At it, we recognised the best beauty and hair salons, fashion and gardening retailers, restaurants, bars, hotels and wedding venues, as well as individuals from a variety of different fields who work so hard to make our city what it is. Well done to them all and also to the deserved highly commended.

HIGHLY COMMENDED...

PYLE GARDEN CENTRE | WAGMAN WINDOWS

Thank you to our key supporters on the night, including our principle sponsor, Securahome.

Big thanks also to the celebrities and guests who joined us for what was a fantastic celebration.

AWARDS 2018

Here’s to our next awards!

HIGHLY COMMENDED

LAU RA DAVIES E D ITO R

Principal Sponsor

PYLE GARDEN CENTRE HOMES & GARDENS

S WAN S E A LI FE MA GA ZIN E

Category sponsored by

SPONSORED BY

EVENT

WINNER! BBC1 BIG WEEKEND SWANSEA

HIGHLY COMMENDED...

CINEMA & CO | WHITE COLLAR BOXING @ FUNKY PUMP

SPONSORED BY

PUB

WINNER! THE RAKE & RIDDLE

HIGHLY COMMENDED...

THE BUCKET LIST | WELCOME TO TOWN

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SPONSORED BY

HEALTH/GYM/SPA

SPONSORED BY

HOTEL

WINNER! FUNKY PUMP

WINNER! MORGANS HOTEL

HIGHLY COMMENDED...

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PERSONAL TRAINING STUDIO | ZUMBA WITH SION

DRAGON HOTEL | VILLAGE HOTEL

SPONSORED BY

LEISURE & TOURISM

SPONSORED BY

WEDDING VENUE

WINNER! THE EGYPT CENTRE

WINNER! KING ARTHUR HOTEL

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CLYNE GARDENS | LC SWANSEA

THE OXWICH BAY

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WINNER! NO6 HUNDRED

WINNER! BISTROT PIERRE

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BLUEBELL COFFEE KITCHEN | PEARLS COFFEE SHOP

RASOI INDIAN KITCHEN | THE FOUNTAIN INN

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AFTER DARK

WEDDING RETAILER

HIGHLY COMMENDED...

HIGHLY COMMENDED...

WINNER! NO SIGN WINE BAR

OLD HAVANA | PEPPERMINT

WINNER! CARIAD BRIDAL

ALLISON JAYNE BRIDAL | EVA ASHLEY BRIDAL

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FASHION RETAILER (LOCAL)

WINNER! FRANCIS FLORAL DESIGNS

WINNER! 102 COUTURE

HIGHLY COMMENDED...

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FONZ & THE POET | UNIQUE LIFE CEREMONIES

FASHION RETAILER (NATIONAL)

SOLO | STARDUST BOUTIQUE

SPONSORED BY

BEAUTY

WINNER! NEXT SWANSEA REGION

WINNER! THE SUN LOUNGE

HIGHLY COMMENDED...

HIGHLY COMMENDED...

PRIMARK | ZARA

SPONSORED BY

SPONSORED BY

CHARLOTTE BELLHAM MAKE UP ARTISTRY | FIGARO’S BARBERS & SUPPLIES

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HAIR

WINNER! TRIMOLOGY BARBERS

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD THE SUN LOUNGE SPONSORED BY

HIGHLY COMMENDED...

HAIR LOUNGE BY MARC ISAAC | RHYDIAN MAHER

SPONSORED BY

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD KEV JOHNS MBE

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S I M P LY S E N S AT I O N A L

THE BEST DRESSED EDIT From breathtaking gowns, towering heels, daring and jaw dropping dresses, to classic suits, shimmering, floral, and colourful blazers, hundreds turned up the heat and set the Swansea fashion world ablaze at this year’s awards.

Hair salon and model agency owner Brian Brown, multi-award winning international make-up artist Farhana Ali, and Shakira Obaid from our best dressed sponsors Oldwalls Collection, were on the lookout for the best and original outfits worn by the ladies and gents in attendance on the night. But there could only be one best dressed woman and one best dressed man, and here they are.

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More photos from the awards can be found and purchased at our website www.walesonline.co.uk and click on the "PHOTOS" tab.

A big thank you to all involved in making the night such a great success Photography by Robert Melen | Hoosh Arabi | Adrian White www.adrianwhitephotography.co.uk

We’re back in Mumbles Douglas-Jones Mercer closed its Mumbles office in the mid 1990’s. Last year we went back to our roots, opening once again in Newton Road. Since then the office has grown steadily with two dedicated solicitors based permanently at the office.

With the experience that DJM has built up over the years, we have maintained an excellent rapport with local businesses throughout the Mumbles area. We look forward to continuing that reputation by working more closely with local estate agents, banks and building societies, as well as other business professionals and individuals.

Mike Snowdon CHAIRMAN

Hana Littlehales

ASSOCIATE SOLICITOR

info@djm.law.co.uk Amy Cooper-Davies SOLICITOR

www.djm.law.co.uk

@DJMSolicitors

16 Axis Court, Mallard Way, Swansea Vale, Swansea SA7 0AJ Telephone: 01792 650000 Chelston House, 103 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4BN Telephone: 01792 304090

SOCIAL DIARY • MUMBOULES TOURNAMENT

MUMBOULES TOURNAMENT WHere: Petanque Courts at Southend Park, Mumbles.

Tell Me More: The second Mumboules tournament was held following on from the highly successful Marina Boules tournament, which has run for over 20 years. Organised by Rotary Clubs of Mumbles and Swansea with sponsorship from Douglas Jones and Mercer Solicitors and South Wales Evening Post, the tournament featured live music, street food and a beer tent. Among the teams were the Lord Mayor’s Chain Gang and Mumbles Community Council. Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi also joined in the fun. Teams were playing for the Ivor Evans Cup – named after the veteran Marina Boules fundraiser who sadly passed away recently. The event was in aid of the Lord Mayors charities and the Tenovus Closer to Home Appeal.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Birthdays, Hen Parties, Anniversaries, Baby Showers, Engagements, Charity Events and much more Castle Leisure can cater for pretty much any celebration Choose between Afternoon Tea or Evening Buffet with the use of a private room + bespoke party packages also available

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Try your hand at Bingo and be in with a chance of winning £45,000 played every afternoon and evening Castle Bingo at Cardiff, Newport, Merthyr Tydfil, Nantgarw, Bridgend, Neath and Swansea Contact us www.castlebingo.co.uk @castlebingo, #castlebingo

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SOCIAL DIARY • LAUNCH PARTY

DJM Charitable Trust Launch Event WHERE: The Hyst, High Street, Swansea Tell Me More: The launch of DJM solicitors’ charitable fund took place at The Hyst, with a general knowledge quiz, Greek mezze and entertainment. Pictures: Adrian White, www.adrianwhitephotography.co.uk

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HAIR SALON OPENING WHERE: Meraki, Uplands Tell Me More: The official opening of new hair salon, Meraki in Uplands. Pictures: Robert Melen

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SOCIAL DIARY • SHOP OPENING

OPENING OF NANCIE BEAUTY WHERE: Nancie Beauty, High Street, Swansea Tell Me More: Nancie beauty shop, which specialises in wigs, hair care and styling, plus nail and beauty services, held an official opening party in a new shop in High Street. She has relocated to a bigger premises from further up the street as part of the High Street regeneration scheme.

Pictures: Jonathan Myers

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TIME FOR YOU

Picture: ayo@chicstudio.org

BY INVITATION W I T H

E D D I E

W H I T N E Y

Swansea businessman Eddie Whitney keeps us up to date with his charity work and social diary...

ith a dramatic ballet interpretation of Live and Let Die as an opening number, you worry that it will all be downhill from here. But this was definitely not the case for this year’s Mellin Theatre Arts show. As an audience we are taken on a dance and drama rollercoaster ride of hip hop, jazz, modern and musical theatre. From the tots to the seniors it is clear the bar has been set very high for students and teachers alike. This year, you get two Mellins for the price of one as Miss Louise is joined by her sister Miss Laura, even though Miss Laura has been teaching MTA students for over five years now, her influence and dance style are clear to see. MTA have a great support net-

W

work in Maria King, Kirsten Hyett and Emma Harris and a full team of assistant’s backstage.

Swansea legend Kev Johns was compere for the evening adding charm and humour to the show links. We look forward to catching him later in the year in full “Ugly Sister” mode. But it’s the students that are the stars and after a full year of classes and exams, it was time to let off some steam. And steam it did, no need for smoke machines on this stage because the dancers and singers were smoking up a storm of their own. With a cast of over 80 pupils you would think it difficult to give every student a chance to shine, but this was not the case, every routine gave every individual a moment in the spotlight. The choreography gave every student a chance to shine as an individual but still be part of the group and this is no mean feat. From Can Can to Tango, Toothbrush to

Time for Tea, this was a great mix of solo and group excellence. The Cinderella ballet was worthy of a place on any stage complete with prancing horses.

With a rain-themed ending to the show we saw how diverse and strong all the dance elements are produced by this talented cast and teaching staff. If you are looking to give your child a bright start in life and a chance to grow in ways you would not believe you would do no better than to enrol with MTA. Please contact MTA if you are interested.

With the standard so high I can’t wait to see the next show.

And finally I would like to congratulate Gower Galaxy FC on their new kit reveal unveiled by Swans Legend Leon Britton.

Eddie x

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TIME FOR YOU Pink Moomin Bib, £7.50, Tate Shop, shop.tate.org.uk

Tommee Tippee Bath and Room Thermometer, £18, George at Asda, Parc Trostre

Orange Tree Peter Rabbit Wooden Xylophone, £14, Amazon.co.uk

The Hape Take A Long Activity Box, £19.99, Smyths, Llansamlet

My 1st Years, Personalised Children’s Pink Bunny Bean Bag, £18, www.my1styears.com

Space Man Travel Charm, £15, Mamas and Papas, Cardiff

The Hape Friendship Tower, £14.94, Amazon.co.uk Offspring Activity Toy - Jangly Lion, £15, Mamas and Papas, Cardiff

OH BABY LAURA DAVIES rounds up newborn essentials, gifts and keepsakes for your little ones laura.davies@mediawales.co.uk

@LawsDx

Chicco Next To Me Crib, £179, Argos, Swansea and Parc Pemberton

Pabobo Mimi Bunny Musical Star Projector, £29.99, John Lewis, Cardiff

Silver Plated Tooth and Curl Carriage, £25, John Lewis, Cardiff Babocush, £125, www.babocush.com

Tractor Ted Time For Bed Storybook, £6.99, Tractorted.co.uk

Offspring Soft Book, Meet My Friends, £12, Mamas and Papas, Cardiff

Grow Wild Growth Chart, £30, National Theatre Bookshop, Shop. nationaltheatre.org​.uk Jet Pushchair, £275, www.silvercrossbaby.com

Grey Matchstick Monkey Teething Toy, £9.99, Matchstick Monkey, www.matchstickmonkey.com​

Chicco Balloon Bouncer, £60, John Lewis, Cardiff

Limited Edition Wool Trousers, £22, Cardigan, £40, Hat, £12 www.newbiestore.com SWANSEA LIFE 209

T Meirion Hopkins & Son

JD Autos

Clydach Carpets

Independent Family Funeral Directors Established 1979 Private Chapel of Rest & Service Rooms Prepaid Funeral Plans by Golden Charter 24 Hour Caring and Personal Service

At JD Auto’s we pride ourselves on providing a professional personel service. We are a family run business that delivers a friendly, trustworthly and good value for money service at all times.

Clydach Carpet Centre near Clydach market

We cater for all your motoring needs from a simple bulb/wiper blade or battery replacement while you wait, brakes, tyres, MOTs, full comprehensive servicing to body repairs via our accident repair shop. Feel free to pop in and say hi to the team and take advantage of a free winter check (including a hot drink).

*Quality work *Sensible prices *26 years experience *Carpets *Vinyls *laminates *Wood Flooring *Accessories Supply or Supply & fit carpets from £4.95 sq.mtr Special offer. 9mm underlay £3 a meter with any carpet Open 9am- 5pm Monday- Friday, 9am-1pm Saturday

01792 844513

01792 844979

01792-849695

96 High Street, Clydach, Swansea, SA6 5LN www.funeraldirectorsclydach.co.uk

Units 1-3, Llys Davies Players Industrial Estate Clydach, Swansea SA6 5BB

Unit 1a Clydach Wharf, Players Ind Est, Clydach, Swansea SA6 5AT

www.jdautosgarageservices.co.uk

www.clydachcarpetcentre.co.uk email clydachcarpets@yahoo.co.uk

To Clydach Forge Fach Day Nursery

Expert Care, Fun & Learning Providing quality, affordable and flexible Childcare for babies and children 0-8 years Open Monday - Saturday 8.00am - 6.00pm Full & Part Time Places 10% Discount for 1st 3 months for NHS & DVLA employees with this advert FREE registration with this advert

Perfect Pads Sales & Lettings

Perfect Pads was established in 2005 by Carys Davies firstly as a lettings agency before moving into sales a few years ago.

We are passionate in providing a first class professional yet personal service to all our customers . Our services were recognised in 2011 and 2015 at the ESTAS awards for winning Best Letting Agents in Wales, something the company is very proud of especially as the awards were voted by our landlords and tenants.

Covering Swansea, Neath, Llanelli and surrounding areas, we offer different levels of services both in sales and lettings to our customers.

Chilli Too

CHILLI TOO proudly serving Clydach and the surrounding areas for the last 6 years.Book your table now for your special occasion or get together. Â Now taking bookings for Christmas. Open 7 days a week Sun-Thur 5.30pm - 11pm Fri-Sat 5.30pm - 11.30pm

Are you looking to Sell your property?

Are you looking for a personal, No fuss and friendly service with transparent fees?

Are you looking for a Local Agent with High Street presence and online prices?

If you are looking for any, or all of the above, then look no further.

01792 849071 07852 159950 Hebron Road, Clydach, SA6 5EJ www.aspiredaynursery.co.uk aspiredaynursery@hotmail.com

01792 849009 01792-845855 24 HEBRON RD, CLYDACH SWANSEA, SA6 5EJ

53 High Street, Clydach.

SA6 5LH www.chillitoo.co.uk

www.perfect-pads.co.uk • info@perfect-pads.co.uk

To Treasured Moments Photography

Treasured Moments Photography is run by Darren Whiteley and his wife Rhian, Darren was awarded “Welsh Newborn Photographer of the year 2018/19” at the MPA Welsh Regional Awards.

In 2008 with help from The Princes Trust and POWYS start up grant they opened their studio, over the years they found their true passion in photography was capturing Newborns and Maternity and in 2015 they relaunched their studio as “Treasured Moments Photography” and are now a fully dedicated Newborn and Maternity run studio.

In 2017 Darren joined “The Master Photography Association”, since joining Darren has achieved his Licentiate in Newborn Photography and the studio has also been awarded a Newborn safety certification, which is currently only held by four photographers in Wales. Since October 2017 the company has also won several Highly Commended awards and Three Silver awards.

Darren and Rhian said “Capturing Newborns is our passion and we just love every minute of it”.

Book in with your due date from your 12 week scan Photos are taken within the first 14 days

Pethau Plant

At Pethau Plant we specialise in designer baby and children clothing, with brands such as Mayoral, Emile et Rose, Hatley, Coco, Kite, Lily + Sid, Piccalilly, Lego Wear and much more. With prices to suit all pockets.

Come and see our Lilly + Sid Autumn Winter Collection 2018/19 and new Autumn range of Hatley Microfiber Rain Jackets.

Stunning Designer Clothes for Girls by Kite

The Welfare

The Welfare, Ystradgynlais The Welfare, Ystradgynlais is a vibrant Arts and Community Centre. We offer a varied programme of high quality theatre, live broadcasts, cinema, music, comedy, workshops, classes and exhibitions. We pride ourselves on our rich and exciting programme, which caters to people of all ages and to all tastes.

We are a versatile venue offering space to hire for a huge range of requirements including training and conferences events, as well as private hires. With a variety of spaces offering different capacities and facilities, please get in touch with your requirements.

01639 841520

Rear of 3 Brecon Road, Ystradgynlais, SA9 1HE

www.facebook.com/ treasuredmomentsphotographybydarrenwhiteley http://www.treasuredmomentsphotography.co

01639 849111 16 Station Road, Ystradgynlais, Swansea, SA9 1NT www.pethauplant.com @pethauplant @pethauplant

01639 843 163

Brecon Rd, Ystradgynlais, Swansea SA9 1JJ Email: boxoffice@thewelfare.co.uk Website: www.thewelfare.co.uk /

: welfare.ystradgynlais @TheWelfare1

o Ystradgynlais South Wales Picture Framers

A recent testimonial: On a recommendation I visited ‘South Wales Picture Framers’ and Art Gallery in Ystradgynlais recently.

First impressions were good. I was met by Angela who guided me through a wide choice of frames. Even more impressive are the unusual made to order bespoke framed record gifts that are on offer – real vinyl and record sleeves that took me back a few years; if you’re looking for something unique and a little different this has to be it.

The purpose of my visit was to frame a graduation photo but I couldn’t resist ordering a framed copy of the Commodores single ‘three times a lady’ as a surprise present for the wife and a memento of our first dance 40 years ago.

The small gallery inside the showroom was a bonus, with a selection of original arts, limited editions, canvas prints and old sporting memorabilia on show.

This is one picture framers that I certainly will be visiting again shortly.

Quote: SL10 for 10% discount.

The Cutting Corner

At Cutting Corner we pride ourselves on offering customers a professional, warm and friendly service at all times.

We have 25yrs of experience and cover all aspects of hairdressing.

We are a Goldwell specialist salon and stock a range of products.

Our beauty room offers a relaxed atmosphere where we offer an eyebrow waxing service.

Our specialist children’s salon has been designed to help children relax in a child friendly environment. When they leave they will receive a chocolate treat.

Gift vouchers are available throughout the year for; Birthdays, Anniversaries, Christmas and many more special occasions.

Quote: SwanL10 for 10% discount.

Ystradgynlais Chiropractic

Here at Ystradgynlais Chiropractic we use a range of techniques to reduce pain, improve function and increase mobility. As well as manual treatment, we as chiropractors are able to offer a package of care that includes advice on exercises and lifestyle changes.

Chiropractic treatment involves safe, often gentle, specific spinal manipulation to free joints in the spine or other areas of the body that are not moving properly. At Ystradgynlais Chiropractic we also use other techniques such as acupuncture, shockwave therapy, IASTM tools and sports taping.

Jake, our chiropractor, graduated from the University of South Wales in 2014 and has been working as a chiropractor ever since.

He set up Ystradgynlais Chiropractic in March 2017 and has built up a thriving business and excellent reputation.

During the course of his career Jake has treated patients of all ages. Anyone can suffer from pain and it is our goal to help people get back to enjoying life.

We treat a wide range of different conditions from neck and back pain to sports injuries to headaches caused by the neck. If you want to know whether we could help you please give us a call.

01639 849544 South Wales Picture Framers The Cabin, Ystradgynlais W/S Trawsffordd Rd, Ystradgynlais SA9 1BS

www.southwalesframers.co.uk @southwalespictureframers

01639 849072

70 Commercial Street, Ystradgynlais, SA9 1LA Website: Search for @cuttingcornerystradgynlais To find us on

01639 412252 18 Heol Eglwys, Ystradgynlais, SA9 1EY Email: Ystradchiro@gmail.com

@ystradchiro

ADVERTISING FEATURE

WELCOME TO PONTARDDULAIS GARDEN CENTRE A local family run business, which has been ongoing by the Evans family for the past 40 years!

Along with a huge range of glazed & unglazed outdoor terracotta pots, and plastic pots, combined with compost,

Stocking a wide range of seasonal bedding plants, hardy shrubs and trees throughout the year.

LANDSCAPING CENTRE Stocking a wide range of garden buildings, from glasshouses of different shapes, sizes and colours. To garden sheds, summer houses, children's playhouses. With over 20 different garden building on display.

There is also a varied range of garden paving, gravels and stoneware, and fencing & trellising products.

Plus a large display of garden ornaments from concrete pots, statues, & bird baths.

If you can't manage to transport your purchases home, just ask a member of staff about our delivery service.

and fertilizers for all plants.

Plus all the weedkillers, fungicides/ insecticides, and lawn care products, to keep your garden looking in top condition all through the year.

PLANTS, POTS & SUNDRIES With a wide range of plants specially chosen from our trusted nursery suppliers, ranging from seasonal bedding plants, garden trees & shrubs, fruit and vegetables to shaped topiary and specimen plants.

Now in stock, full range of ornamental garden trees along with a large selection of shrubs for autumn & winter interest only ÂŁ8.99 each or 3 for ÂŁ20!

Plus a full range of autumn a & winter bedding plants all ready to plant now.

New range of autumn planting roses in stock from end of September.

Alongside our wide range of both terracotta and plastic ornamental pots, we have something for all areas of your garden, for all seasons.

Pontarddulais GARDEN CENTRE est 1969

Combined with our garden & plant care range of fertilisers, insecticides, and weed killers. Plus a varied selection of garden tools, composts, and lawn care products.

We have everything in store to keep your garden and plants in top condition throughout the year.

VISIT OUR GARDEN CENTRE TODAY: Allt-y-Graban Road | Pontarddulais Swansea | SA4 8DS

SHEDS & GLASSHOUSES GIFTWARE Stocking a wide and varied selection of giftware from greetings cards, photo frames, ornamental candle holders, and ornaments of all sorts.

Stocking a wide range of garden buildings, from glasshouses of different shapes, sizes and colours.

To garden sheds, summer houses, children's playhouses. With over 20 different garden building on display.

There is also a varied range of garden

Fantastic range of candle jars, plus an extra 25% off selected fragrances (while stocks last).

GARDEN ROOM RESTAURANT We pride ourselves on our home cooked meals, using only the finest freshest locally sourced produce.

paving, gravels and stoneware, and fencing & trellising products.

Plus a large display of garden ornaments from concrete pots, statues, & bird baths.

If you can't manage to transport your purchases home, just ask a member of staff about our delivery service.

delicious home made sweets and hot puddings.

Open 7 days a week serving a range of breakfast, lunches, snacks, along with our daily roast menu. All freshly cooked to order.

All the meat served in our restaurant is of the highest quality.

We cater for a wide range of dietary requirements; just ask a member of staff who will be happy to help you.

Our daily changing specials board provides constant variety and there is always a tempting selection of

We are also able to host and cater for special occasions please contact us for details.

Open 7 days a week serving a range of breakfast, lunches, snacks along with our daily roast menu

Garden Centre: 01792 882561 | Restaurant: 01792 885948 www.pontarddulaisgardencentre.co.uk | @PontGC OPENING TIMES: Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5.30pm | Sunday: 10.30am - 4.30pm

Bringing food lovers and families together in the heart of Neath!

Neath!

Dod â theuluoedd a’r rhai sy’n dwlu ar fwyd ynghyd yng nghanol Castell-nedd!

Champagne Tent Pabell Champagne Live Entertainment Adloniant Fyw Street Food Zones Ardal Bwyd Poeth Free Parking Parcio am Ddim

Featuring, Special Guest Celebrity Chef Gwestai Arbennig, Y Pen-Cogydd Enwog

Jean-Christophe Novelli

Friday 5th - 7th October Dydd Gwener 5ed - Ddydd Sul 7fed Hydref

neathfoodfestival.co.uk @NeathFoodFest

@NeathFoodFest

TIME FOR YOU

ASK

P ETE R LYNN & PARTNERS

Divorce & Family Law Team at Peter Lynn & Partners Solicitors talks this month about why a DIY divorce is not a good idea

Why a DIY Divorce Is Not a Good Idea Q: I’ve heard the divorce forms are now more “user friendly”, so why should I use a solicitor instead of doing the divorce myself?

A: Although the court forms have recently changed there are still many pitfalls and easy mistakes that can be made by those inexperienced in completing divorce petitions Q: Such as?

A: For example, there are five facts you can rely on to get your divorce.

No solicitor would ever advise you to use desertion, unless there were really exceptional circumstances, as it is a very technical legal definition, but the number of people using desertion as a result for the breakdown of the marriage has increased by a third.

Q: Why is that a problem?

A: What most people don’t realise is that after preparing a divorce petition, when it comes to applying for your decree nisi – the interim stage of divorce – you must confirm the facts in your petition in a statement in support of your application. The court requires you to confirm specific evidence and information. If you have used the wrong fact in your divorce petition and cannot provide this evidence it will be rejected by the court.

Q: What happens then?

A: You will need to amend your petition and pay a further court fee.

The current fee for any amendment £95

Q: What is the court fee for a Divorce Petition?

A: It is £550, which makes it even more important to complete the Divorce Petition accurately and fully.

Q: Will the court then deal with the financial aspects of my divorce, such as who keeps the house?

A: No that requires a separate application. What you state in your divorce petition can have an impact in some cases on the financial side of the divorce. Dealing with the finances is substantially more complex and complicated especially where there is property and pensions involved. It is easy to overlook parts of the divorce petition which may not become apparent until later.

Q: So a solicitor can advise me on all of this at the same time?

A: Yes, we have a dedicated and very experienced team of family solicitors based at our SA1 offices, and throughout our offices in Morriston, Mumbles, Walters Road, Pontardawe and Ystrdgynlais, who can answer all your matrimonial queries.

Q: What do I do next?

A: CALL US ON 01792 450010 to speak to an experienced solicitor and request a free initial meeting to discuss your options.

For expert advice, contact 01792 450010 or email Divorce@plandp.co.uk to arrange a free initial consultation.

SWANSEA LIFE 217

NEXT MONTH IN SWANSEA LIFE

Bonfire Night Treats and Recipes Cosy up to Autumn Fashion and Interiors Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendars we Want!

Deck the Halls - Festive Decor Warming Fashion Updates Seasonal Beauty Updates OUT NOVEMBER 3

218 SWANSEA LIFE

Tired of pushy salesmen?

Just want honesty, good quality and no gimmicks...

...then look no further than the family business with family values

Call for a FREE quote:

01792 700700 Celebrating 25 years in business 26 Midland Rd, Llansamlet, Swansea, SA7 9QY Email: yvonne@wagmanwindows.co.uk www.wagmanwindows.com

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