Pontypridd Museum

Sometimes it's good to be a tourist in your home area.  Despite being regular visitors to Pontypridd, neither my husband nor I had been to Pontypridd Museum.  On noticing an advert mentioning their suffragette exhibition we decided to put that right.

The museum is in a former chapel, and the original organ presides over the building with its impressive and ornate wooden dais.  Despite the grey stone exterior of the chapel, inside it's fairly light, with beautiful stained glass windows and a fabulous ceiling.  Like many chapels of its type, there is a galleried landing running around the outside of the main room.  Hung from this are many union banners reflecting past workers' strikes from mining and the railways.

Bernie Dexter Jeans for a Walk In The Welsh Hills

This wasn't meant to be an outfit post.  I'm not wearing anything particularly exciting here, but it was a beautiful day when we took one of our Sunday strolls along the top of the hill behind our house.  So, this is really about the pretty scenery, with a few photos thrown in of what I was wearing for those that need an outfit-fix!  It's been a busy time (again) and I just didn't get around to having a specific shoot this week, so you'll have to make do with this rather casual ensemble of jeans, trusty Clarks brogues, and a cosy jacket.  It's a typical weekend outfit for a day spent walking, tidying the house, and doing a supermarket shop. 

I need to talk a little bit about the jacket though.  I picked it up in a local charity shop, I think it was £5, which is a lot by my usual standards, but it has faux fur.  I love faux fur.  It's always so cosy to have a faux fur collar to nuzzle into when faced with a chill wind, and it increases the glamour factor measurably.  I think it originally would have had faux fur cuffs as well, which is taking glamour to another level!  Such a shame they were missing.

Abergavenny Food Festival

The UK has very good food festivals, and one of the best is right here in Wales.  Every September, the town of Abergavenny on the Welsh-English border hosts a weekend food festival that draws a large crowd of hungry visitors. Being from the town originally, I took the opportunity to visit family and then head to the food festival with my husband to get stuck into all of the cheese.  Here's a little pictorial roundup of what were the highlights for me.  We tried salmon jerky, dozens of cheeses, English brandy, gourmet pasta, cured meats, chocolate, chutneys, gin, and many more tasty morsels.

Above: Abergavenny town hall's spire rising above the throng of visitors

Portmeirion

Following my post about dawn at the estuary, here are some more photos of the wonderful private village of Portmeirion in North Wales.  For those not familiar with the history, the village was the dream of a chap called Clough Williams-Ellis, who painstakingly brought his vision to life over the decades from 1925 until his death in the late 1970s.  It's a complete indulgence, all this Italian style architecture in the far North of Wales.  Today it's owned by a charity, and day visitors can pay an entrance fee to explore the village for the day.  Alternatively, you can pay (fairly heftily) to stay in the guest accommodation on site.  There's the main hotel building, the village buildings, and the castle further up the hill.  As we were travelling a fair way from South Wales, I decided we should definitely stay.  We couldn't have timed it better with the weather - arriving in 31 degree heat, it felt like we'd stepped off a plane rather than out of my car!

First stop then was a dip in the pool, which is heated these days, a step up from when there would have been a bracing freshwater pool in the 1920s.  The pool is small but was just what we needed after a 4 hour drive in warm weather, and feeling refreshed, we explored the village a little.  It's a compact site, centred around some beautiful gardens.  There are lots of little shops and places to eat, including a 'diner' style cafe in the Town Hall, and an ice-cream parlour.  If the filming of the 1960s TV series 'The Prisoner' interests you then you can visit the gift shop, which I think was Number 6's cottage in the programme.  The village is surrounded by woodland, and there are lots of paths veering off if you're feeling exploratory.  You'll come across little follies and look-out points if you do.  After a quick change, it was then time for drinks on the hotel terrace, followed by a picnic overlooking the estuary.  Apparently the restaurant is top-notch, but it is pricey, and we were a bit too hot to sit inside for a formal dinner.  We had cold salmon and salad off plastic plates, washed down with some wine.  Classy!

'Allo 'Allo at Everyman Open Air Festival in Cardiff

"The gateau from the chateau 'as the candle with ze 'andle."  That is the line I remember most from watching episodes of WWII sitcom 'Allo 'Allo growing up.  No chateaus or explosive candles in this open air stage adaptation by Everyman Theatre in Cardiff, but there are plenty of misadventures within Renée's café as the Gestapo, the General, and the French all try to get hold of the painting of the fallen Madonna (with the big...).

West Wales for Gin, Cheese and a Wedding

Back to a focus on the positive today.  The other weekend we were invited to a family wedding near Tenby, and so decided to make a weekend of it.  I need little excuse to head to West Wales for a mini holiday!  First stop was the town of Narberth, so that I could re-stock my much loved seaweed gin.  Narberth is a very foodie place, and has a selection of delis, butchers, cafes and bakeries.  Feeling a bit peckish, we popped into Ultracomida, a deli and cafe that specialises in French, Spanish and Welsh cheese.  We lingered a little long over our food, a to-die-for selection of cheesy and meaty tapas that conjured up Spain, so I unfortunately didn't get to pop into Giddy Aunt, a fabulous vintage shop down the road, before it closed for the day.  We did manage a mooch around the antiques place though, and although we didn't buy, we were thoroughly entertained by some of the weird and wonderful items on display.

Afternoon Tea Review: Tudor Farmhouse

Today's afternoon tea review is of Tudor Farmhouse, in the village of Clearwell in the Forest of Dean on the Welsh-English border.  A former working farm, it's now a boutique hotel, housed in an extended 15th century building with cottages in the pretty grounds.

Bank Holiday Vintage Extravaganza in Cardiff

On the recent bank holiday the Vintage Extravaganza returned to Cardiff's Millennium Centre.  Full of music, dancing, stalls and - most importantly - folks taking advantage of the chance to dress up, it promised to be a fun event.  Last year we particularly enjoyed the classic cars on display, and I came home with a few vintage purchases.  What would we find this year?

Afternoon Tea Review: Wyndcliffe Court Sculpture Gardens

A few weeks ago I visited Wyndcliffe Court Sculpture Gardens in Monmouthshire with my Mum and my sister Louise.  It was supposed to be a belated Mother's Day treat, but it happened to be the day before my birthday too, so it was a bit of a double celebration.  Nestled in some pretty countryside with views down to the Seven Estuary, the house and gardens at Wyndcliffe are opened to the public on weekends.  As if the Grade II listed Arts and Crafts gardens aren't enough to tempt visitors, the gardens also host a sculpture exhibition by local artists.  We had a lovely wander around the gardens before tea.  It's such a rural spot that all you can hear is birdsong.

Vintage Cardiff: The Pumping Station Antiques Centre

On a bitterly cold day we visited the Pumping Station, an antiques centre in Cardiff.  It's a fine Victorian industrial building from 1899, and today houses a collection of antiques, interiors (the obligatory shabby chic pervading), a stove showroom, and collections for model hobbyists and Sci-Fi fans.  The inside is huge, with a little warren of rooms spilling out on various floors, with galleries, basements, and occasional glimpses of the wonderful industrial architecture.

We were in search of an Art Deco mantlepiece, lighting inspiration, and as always, vintage guitars and dresses.  Read on to find out if we found treasure...

Afternoon Tea Review: Waterloo Tea Penarth

The British winter can be a little dampening on one's mood, so I think why not allow yourself a little solace?  I know it's trendy for people to have gone tee-total, joined a gym, and forgone most sins whilst in the first few months of the year, but I think that at a time of year that is hardest for many, the treats should continue.  Before Christmas, my husband and I went to Waterloo Tea's Penarth branch for a full afternoon tea.  We don't eat this kind of thing very often these days, so we were quite excited at the prospect of bread and sugar in one sitting.  The afternoon tea was actually a gift from some colleagues as a wedding present, isn't that a lovely gift?

Cardiff At Christmas

If you are thinking of visiting one of our glorious UK cities for a spot of shopping, a pre-Christmas meet-up with friends, or simply a day out over the festive season to share some precious time-off with family, you couldn't make a better choice than to visit Cardiff.  I am a bit biased, because I lived there for many years - and still work there - but I honestly feel there's something for everyone.  Read on to find out what festive fun can be had in Wales' capital city.

Shopping
Cardiff has become a shopping hub thanks to the whopping St Davids shopping centre, where you can find all of the high street brands you desire, along with a great selection of restaurants which have really helped Cardiff to become more family friendly.  One of the delights of shopping in Cardiff however, is if you leave St Davids and cross the bustling Hayes, you end up in the wonderful Victorian arcades, crammed full of more individual shops, such as Spillers Records (the oldest record shop in the world!).  The Arcades are just magical with all of the Christmas decorations, and will help you feel a bit more of that Christmas spirit.

Downton Abbey Costume Exhibition & Afternoon Tea at Llanelly House

After our wonderful trip to Highclere Castle in the summer, where Downton Abbey was filmed, I was keen for another Downton Abbey related adventure.  As luck would have it, historic Llanelly House here in Wales held a costume display from the first two series.  The timing was perfect for one of my sisters' birthdays, and my mum and husband's mum came along too for a proper family outing!

Costumes from the garden party scene - Edith's, Mary's and Sybil's.  Two are original vintage Edwardian dresses, can you tell which ones?

Steak of the Art Cardiff Review

I'm a carnivore that loves a nice steak.  I love art too.  What better way to combine the two than to visit Steak of the Art, a new restaurant in Cardiff that's opened up on Churchill Way?

Swing Trousers and Sailor Stripes for St. Davids Day at Rhondda Heritage Park

Today is Saint David's Day, the day of our national patron saint of Wales.  I thought nothing says Wales like our industrial heritage, so off to Rhondda Heritage Park we went.  It was one of those days that tricks you into feeling that Spring has arrived, only to blast you later on with some icy showers.

Lindybop 'Cassie' Dress for Treorchy Vintage & Craft Fair

I popped to a local event last weekend, the Treorchy Vintage & Craft Fair.  Held in a hall, the fair was 90% craft, with a smattering of vintage clothing and bric-a-brac.

New Cardiff Vintage Store: Annie & Co.

One of the things I love about vintage events is that they're an opportunity to meet like-minded souls, and to find out about other vintage-related events that you otherwise wouldn't hear about.

At the wonderful Vintage Flair event the other week, I met a few stallholders, who excitedly told me that they were about to set up shop in Cardiff, at the top end of St Mary's street by the castle.  The shop was to be an eclectic mix of craftsmen, upcyclers, artists and vintage clothing sellers.  Intrigued, I popped in to the opening evening of Annie & Co. to have a thorough browse.

Caerphilly Vintage Fair, 5th October 2014

Those of you in South Wales might want to put this date in your diary - a local vintage fair is popping up just outside Caerphilly, this coming weekend, on Sunday 5th October.



There will be a fashion show, which is very exciting.  Run by a few ladies from the Women's Institute, it promises to be something a bit different from the big vintage fairs.  If you do end up going, please come and say hello!

I'd also like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to comment on my last post - for your lovely sentiments, and for all the tips and advice!  I'm very grateful to know such wonderful people in the blogosphere.  My brain is already busying away with plenty of ideas for upcoming wedding-themed posts.

Review: Vanity Rooms & Spa, Cardiff

I'm keeping it local for this post, and want to mention a fabulous little salon and spa in Rhiwbina, a posh suburb of Cardiff.  Open since the end of 2013, Vanity Rooms & Spa is an Aveda salon that offers a full range of beauty services, from hair and nails, to complementary therapies.

Superdrug Launches Beauty Studio in Cardiff

Events are like buses - none for ages, and then they all come along at once!  Last week I was fortunate enough to be invited to the opening of the new Beauty Studio in St Davids shopping centre.  Beauty Studio is a new concept store by Superdrug, where as well as picking up your cosmetics, toiletries and fragrance, you can also have your hair, nails, brows and lashes attended to - a one-stop shop as it were, so that you can leave occasion-ready.