Tips for driving in Wales’s beautiful but challenging terrain

Wales, is currently where I call home and a place I love to explore as it's renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, from rolling hills to rugged coastlines and my boys and I certainly make the most of it. However, these scenic vistas come with unique driving challenges that can catch even experienced motorists off guard and it's something I've personally experienced.  Whether you’re exploring Snowdonia or heading down the Pembrokeshire coast , these practical tips will help you stay safe and confident on the road. Preparing for varied weather conditions Wales is known for its unpredictable weather, which can change dramatically within a few hours. When setting off, always check the local forecast, but also be prepared for sudden shifts, particularly in the hills and valleys. Rain is common, and mist can settle quickly in lower areas, especially early in the morning or evening. Good car tyre condition is critical for maintaining traction on wet or slippery roads. Before y......

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Peter Pan at The Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Watching live performances, good or bad and the excitement and electric atmosphere you only get at the Theater is something that never gets old. Over the years I've seen some fantastic productions and others leaving a lot to be desired but luckily that has never been the case at The Sherman Theatre, a fantastic homegrown theatre in the heart of Cardiff which creates and curates amazing shows.  So when I had the chance to review Peter Pan at The Sherman over the festive period this year, I jumped at the chance, especially with such a talented and diverse cast, I knew they would bring a new dynamic to this classic family story and Catherine Dyson's adaptation does a great job of doing so as it offers up an offbeat twist, stepping away from Disneyesque cliches to a strange and wondrous place.  This joint production between The Sherman & Theatre Lolo & supported by the talents of NoFit State Circus is a family-friendly delight suitable for for 7yrs+ and is both engaging a......

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5 unmissable things to do in Cardiff this year

The Welsh Capital is a place that is always bouncing, with a hive of activity, both residents and tourists visiting this incredible city looking for something to do, won't be disappointed with Cardiff always delivering. From live music to family experiences, to history and castles and side-splitting comedy, whatever your vibe Cardiff has you covered. But, with so much on offer, it can often be hard to decide what the best option actually is. Don’t worry, that’s where I come in. I've got a list of the five unmissable Cardiff events that you need to attend before the year's end. So scroll down, and check out what’s on offer, Cardiff will undoubtedly surprise you! 1. Rhod Gilbert | Hoof Cancer When : Saturday 9th September - Sunday 10th September 2023 Where : Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Velindre Fundraising and their Patron Rhod Gilbert are putting on their latest Hoof Cancer Right Where It Hurts gig at Wales Millennium Centre. This will be the third Hoof Cancer gig Ve......

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My Motorpoint Experience - Test driving the perfect car

This is a paid collaboration with Motorpoint The first car I had when I moved to the UK was a 1975 Austin Mini, which I loved but it wasn't exactly in the best condition and while it was great fun to drive when I was a carefree twenty-something it quickly became apparent it wouldn't cut the mustard as a family car, in fact, I couldn't even find a car seat that would safely fit in it. Finding the right car to fit your needs can be quite tricky, but with Motorpoint's motto "car buying made easy" they take a lot of the stress and pressure out of finding the right car for you. I got to experience this first-hand recently as I was invited to come along to Motorpoint's Newport branch to test drive one of their vehicles. Taking a test drive is a must when you're looking to purchase a car & while we can look at different models and makes online you really cannot make a decision without trying it out first-hand to see if it really suits your needs. For tho......

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Why you should try Stand Up Paddle boarding in 2021

*I have been working with Bluefin on a review of their SUP boards - my words and review are 100% my own As most of us can agree 2020 didn't exactly go to plan and learning how to adapt and hopefully thrive was key and as we move forward into 2021 we all have hope for normality but it appears to be a few months off at least. Saying that having goals and dreams are important and help to give us purpose and keep our moods up with something positive to look forward too. In fact, for a lot of us, our new found hobbies during lockdown helped to get us through the year. Last year I joined the Bluefin SUP community and had lots of plans for very exciting content, especially the charity SUP I had planned to help raise money for those struggling in South Africa (my home country) but due to Covid this simply wasn't possible and has now been replanned later in 2021. My BlueFin 10.8 Cruise board is a perfect all-round SUP board and suitable for most conditions as well as being very stable......

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Moments of Joy from 2020

I know 2020 was one of the most difficult years globally we have had to face in a very long time. No one could foresee it and very few were fully prepared, especially in the UK. We have learnt how to adapt and change our lives to hopefully keep others safe until the pandemic is fully resolved and while there were plenty of lows in 2020 there were also some amazing highs as well as a new appreciation for what we have on our doorstep. While 2020 was also hard for many not only health-wise but also financially, mentally, socially and affecting everyone in some way I also don't want to forget the moments of joy we had despite all of this because there really were some great times and I think it's easy to overlook these when we think back to 2020. So here are a few of our personal moments of happiness within the chaos of what was 2020 and I hope you had similar moments too.  Before Covid Hit There was a short period at the start of 2020 when we still (unknowingly) had it really good......

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Discover Delicious Welsh Produce this festive season

*I was kindly asked by Discover Delicious to try out some of their produce for an honest review  I'm am a big supporter of shopping local, supporting small independent businesses and enjoying the local delicacies found on our doorstep and luckily there is plenty of fantastic produce right here in Wales from Welsh cheese to wine, gin, chutneys, chocolate and everything in between.   Like most people, however, I don't always have as much time as I would like to roam local fairs and farmers markets so having an online store such as Discover Delicious which brings the best of Welsh produce and foodie experience in one place is just fantastic and makes shopping independent a breeze. As we moved into December and festive season I thought having a little Cheese and Gin lunch to welcome the festivities in was in order but while keeping those food miles down and enjoying the bounty of local welsh food so I ordered the Cheese Lovers Gift Box alongside some Cr......

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SouthernSundown Food Festival - Waving goodbye to Summer

Does anything scream summer more than street food and festival vibes? I find letting go of eating al-fresco and long evenings very hard so having the chance to enjoy it one last time before the Autumn weather really sets in was an opportunity to good to miss and when we heard about the SouthernSundown happening the last weekend of September we thought why not head down to the beautiful coastline and enjoy a cheeky G&T. Hosted at The Barn at West Farm in the small Welsh coastal village of Southerndown, a venue I have wanted to visit for a while and was the perfect location, with some of the most inspiring cliff side views across the ocean you couldn't get a better place to chill out, listen to live music and eat an array of good food. I have to be honest and say it wasn't the warmest of Sundays, in fact the Saturday had been so gloriously sunny we had been hoping for the same but the one upside of that was it was quieter meaning no queues for all the deliciou......

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17 Family Friendly things to do in Cardiff when it rains

If you are a regular reader you probably already know we love being outdoors but living in Wales does mean dealing with rain on a fairly regular basis and therefore we always have some sort of back up plan for those days when it's really coming down heavy. Luckily for both those visiting and living near the city there is plenty to do from education museum visits to hitting a wave pool or a round of putt putt we pretty much have it all in the Welsh Capital and I thought I would share a few of our favourites. 1.   National Museum Our National Museum by many standards is not the biggest but it's housed in a beautiful building and offers something for all ages from modern art and touring gallery exhibitions to the permanent and popular dinosaur and wildlife display. It's easy to spend a couple of hours in this museum out of rain, there are also two different places to grab a bite to eat and on weekends The Core room is open giving the opportunity to get up close and pe......

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