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Noztock 2019 Preview

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Once again this year my younger brother Josh is reviewing Nozstock along with his friend Dan, I’ll hand over to them for this preview of Nozstock 2019:

It’s that time where Britain becomes enthralled in the festival season, where globally known artists flock to the UK’s countryside to perform to scores of revellers. Amidst all this chaos, this weekend, on the Nosworthy dairy farm in Herefordshire the Boutique festival Nozstock will take place. Although small this festival is not to be underestimated; music, food, art, sustainability and community all flow through the very soul of this festival. This year’s theme is The Wizard of Noz so we expect to see some magical costumes and themes.

Last year we were delighted to be asked to join in the fun and the very same has happened this year! So here’s who (and what) we’re looking forward to seeing at the 21st annual Nozstock festival.

Sleaford Mods

Headlining the festival on Friday will be the punky, foul mouthed Sleaford Mods from Nottingham, or as they would say ‘Nottz’ this eccentric duo has toured the UK to premier their album ‘Eton Alive’ and will be livening up the main stage in Nozstock this weekend. If you’re planning on bringing children to the set, it might be worth bringing some earmuffs for them to wear else they may be coming home with some new… words in their vocabulary.

Notable track – Tied up in Nottz

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard

This denim clad clan from Cardiff are certainly not to be missed at this year’s festival, their 70’s-esque rock and roll sound will surely get the crowds in the mood for a dance. Formed in 2016 this four-piece has certainly gained traction with praise from Radio One and a set at Green Man festival. We’ll certainly be doing the ‘Double Denim Hop’ when these guys perform in the hidden valley.

Notable track – Double Denim Hop

Kings of the Rollers

Performing in the aptly named ‘Cubicles’ KOTR will definitely be dropping some stinkers for the crowds to enjoy, this DJ supergroup consisting of Serum, Bladerunner and Voltage are dominating the scene with their jungle influenced drum and bass sounds. It’s no doubt that KOTR will be keeping the bass rolling all night at Noz.

Notable track – Round Here

Soul II Soul

Are words even needed here? I mean this is a blog post so yes, but it goes without saying, it will be an honour to witness the genius of Soul II Soul in person and I couldn’t think of anywhere better to do so than Nozstock. Formed in London back in 1988 Soul II Soul are showing they are still a force to be reckoned with.

Notable track – Back to Life

Now Nozstock isn’t all about the music, this year we hope to take part in a few ‘extracurricular activities’ like beat the blacksmith, Anzahata yoga workshop, chicken sh** bingo and many, many more. The Wizard of Noz awaits!


  • Press tickets have been provided for this festival. All images have been provided by Nozstock.

Movies, Meals & Muddling Through Life – June 2019

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It’s been a while hey? A lot has been happening in my life since my last movies, meals and muddling post back in Autumn of last year. It has been a stressful and busy time. I haven’t taken as much time for myself as I should have even though I am well aware of the importance of self care and me time. I am working on that.

My health has taken a bit of a hit this year, I’ve had a few scary appointments, damaged my SI joint and lost a little too much weight but that at least seems to be improving. I am focusing massively on my health right now, eating as well as I can, getting outside as much as I can and exercising lightly so as not to irritate my back. Fingers crossed my efforts will mean that soon I will be back to full fitness. I’ve also begun to work harder to get all of my vitamins etc through food because for some reason my body doesn’t absorb iron or folate as it should and if i can avoid taking tablets I will.

Movies

I have managed to squeeze in a few films lately, not as many as I’d like but I have also blitzed through a few netflix series and a couple of books. At the cinema recently I’ve watched Aladdin, Dumbo, A Dog’s Purpose and Toy Story 4. My favourite being Aladdin. At home we have watched a few films too including old classics such as Big Foot & The Hendersons and Marley & Me. I also recently watched Booksmart ( the Netflix film) and I enjoyed that too.

TV

I don’t have an actual TV subscription such as Sky or BT right now but I use Netflix and Now TV ( thanks to a free subscription for Netflix from my phone provider and a 3 month freebie for Now TV thanks to Maccies monopoly). Most recently I have watched Game Of Thrones ( of course) – I actually enjoyed the final series, so much shorter than I’d have liked but I enjoyed. Chernobyl is a truly fascinating watch, highly recommend it. After Life – one of the best TV shows I have ever watched. So so good, heartbreaking in parts but truly excellent. Jailbirds was another interesting show to watch, a documentary set in a Sacramento county jail, it blew my mind a little how they managed to chat to fellow inmates via the toilets. I have just started the second series of Good Girls and I am powering through series 13 of Greys Anatomy.

Books

I haven’t had the best of concentration over the last 6 months, I have picked up so many books and had to just give up. These are the very few I have managed to stick with.

The Prisoner Of Auschwitz – probably one of the most powerful books I have read about a true historical event. It made me cry with both sadness and joy for the author. Well worth a read.

The Phone Addiction workbook. This has made me take a serious look at my phone usage. I have set screen time limits and I ( mostly ) keep to them. When the girls are around I try to limit my use a lot more. It is a really interesting book written by Hilda Burke an integrative psychotherapist.I recommend it if you find yourself mindlessly scrolling and notice an hour drifts by.

Meals

Hmm. I haven’t really eaten out much of late. A combination of insufficient funds and just not having the desire to. I did have a gorgeous afternoon tea for my sisters hen do at The Angel Abergavenny and a few lovely treats at my sisters wedding at The Emlyn hotel on the weekend but other than that my foodie life has been almost on hold. I am back in the kitchen more at home, cooking from scratch as much as possible. Creating new simple and more importantly budget friendly recipes that the girls and I have been enjoying.

Life in general

My sisters wedding and the planning part has taken up a lot of the last few months and I am so glad to say she had the most perfect day a few weeks ago. I did have some major concerns last week that my back wouldn’t quite hold up for me to walk down the aisle ahead of her ( I was maid of honour ) but yay it all went to plan. Last Friday my family stayed at the most amazing farm in West Wales prior to our weekend at The Emlyn where I experienced Reiki and sound healing for the first time. It wasn’t something I ever imagined trying but you know what I left the room feeling lighter and more relaxed, maybe there is something in it. I think it helped. I’m also hoping to be starting a new job soon, it was originally due to happen last month but it has been postponed – hopefully not for too long. The girls are continuing to grow and thrive, they are such kind and big hearted children and a pleasure to be around. They have reached an age where you can sit and talk about things and feel like its a real conversation. Izzy is an eco warrior already, obsessed with bugs and animals and saving the world. Chloe is funny and determined, never content to be just the little sister, wanting to do all that her sister can yet still managing to be small and soft and often offering a cuddle. I also did a little volunteering last month with our local food bank via a church that my mother attends and while it was quite literally the straw that broke the camels back ( I could barely move by the following day) it’s something that I want to do again, possibly not in exactly the same way but I want to do more.

And that’s it for now, I am hoping to be able to share a new recipe with you soon. Hopefully within the next month. I’d like to thank you for all for taking the time to come and read.

Eating Out In Cardiff – Grey’s At The Hilton

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*AD. This meal was gifted for the purpose of a review*

You’ll have probably noticed that I don’t write many restaurant reviews. I often find that the amount of work that becomes tied up with what is considered a free meal out doesn’t always feel like a valuable use of my time and also sometimes I just want to sit down and enjoy a meal without taking any photos. This isn’t meant to sound ungrateful, I massively appreciate the perks that blogging offers but it’s just how it is at times. Sometimes however things come about at the right time and when we were invited to visit both Grey’s at Hilton and an exciting Dinosaur day out in Cardiff for the girls, I immediately said yes.

My mother and I took both girls up for a day out in the Capital, travelling up on the train and making the day a bit of an adventure, they had a ball. I haven’t really done much in terms of blog related stuff with the girls for a while and Izzy especially found it pretty exciting that we were so well looked after and even more so that we got to see the dinosaurs before the general public.

greys cardiff

I have visited Grey’s previously with some blogger friends and enjoyed but that was just for a quick glass of prosecco. This time we were invited to try their midweek lunch deal and I was keen to see what they had to offer. Grey’s is a small but perfectly formed modern restaurant based on the ground floor of The Hilton hotel. We visited last summer ( 2018 ) – due to the fact that I have taken some time off from blogging the review is more than a little delayed but if you follow me on social media you will have seen my many stories and images at the time we visited.

Some of the dishes we enjoyed are no longer on offer but I am seeing lots of good things on social media so I would encourage you to go see what they currently have on the menu. Based on our experience and the 4.5 stars they have on trip advisor I can’t imagine you will be disappointed. I especially like that the current menu has a whole section just for eggs – eggs are underrated.

Dining out with a child with allergies is always tricky and often you are made to feel a little awkward, I’m pleased to say this wasn’t the case at Grey’s. They dealt with Chloe’s allergies with ease and made sure she had options. Whenever I review I like to watch how the staff treat other diners, because after all when they know you are reviewing I am sure most sensible establishments make sure you have very little to complain over. The restaurant wasn’t overly busy on our midweek lunch visit but there was one other large party and a few smaller tables dining at the same time and I was happy to note that everyone was treated well – promptly and politely. The restaurant has a cool, relaxed vibe and was clean and a pleasure to dine in. But onto the food…

greys cardiff

My mother and I started off with light salads, my mother really enjoyed the mackerel and mine was delicious too. Fresh, crispy salad is always what I want come the summer months and the creamy mozzarella was a treat. The girls had crudités and houmous which they both loved.

greys cardiff food

Onto the mains, both girls really liked their dishes. Izzy had fish and chips and Chloe had a roasted chicken bun with chips – adapted for her due to her gluten allergy. Chloe was incredibly happy that she could have chips – this may seem minor to some but for a 5 year old girl who is told on most occasions that a jacket potato or boiled potato is the only menu option she was thrilled. As you can see!

The meals were plentiful and Chloe’s chicken was delicious, there was so much in the bun that we all had a little try!

greys cardiff

My mother and I opted for a roast chicken dish ( my mum) and chorizo and pea risotto ( me). We were both impressed with the flavour, quantity and aesthetic appeal of our dishes and both plates were empty pretty quickly!

For dessert the girls had an ice cream while we enjoyed a coffee. The coffee was excellent and I am a little fussy with coffee so a big thumbs up there.

greys cardiff

Overall we were all more than happy with our lunch, from the food to the service and atmosphere. Next up I’d love to try their bottomless brunch which at £27 for two courses and free flowing prosecco for 90 minutes sounds a bit special, anyone tried it?

And in case you were wondering the Dinosaur day out was pretty cool too!

cardiff castle kids

Thanks to Grey’s for inviting us and looking after us. As stated above our meals were complimentary for the purpose of this review.

Are you a writer if you stop writing?

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Why don’t you blog anymore Mam? Izzy has asked me this question more times than I can count over the last few months. It’s a difficult one to answer. The real answer is that when your life feels a mess and your mind feels oh so full then it is incredibly hard to get the words out. Or sometimes harder to contain the words you want to share but perhaps feel you shouldn’t. I try to explain it to her in a way that a 7 year old can process. I tell her that at times it is hard to get the words out of my brain and onto the computer, because my mind is too busy. I tell her that I want to focus as much of my time as possible on her and her sister. I have told her, yes I will blog again, she smiles and says good because you are good at it ( I am her mam after all ) and it means sometimes we get treats and days out. She isn’t daft that wise beautiful girl. She then adds that she thinks writing makes me happy and that I should do a job which makes me happy.

Everything I have told her when she asks is true. My mind is too busy. I do want to focus my time outside work on them.

Yet I know that writing for me has always been its own kind of therapy. As it is for many others I’m sure.

I do consider myself a writer, I mean it’s not my day job but I write, I have written and I guess I will continue to write. Some days it is as natural to me as breathing. The words tumble out one after another, often a ramble, sometimes a little sense and on rare occasions something I am proud of. It is part of me. It always will be. I started as a child writing short stories and as a teen my essays often went on far more than the 1000 word limit we were set. Oh Rebecca, you write well, if only you knew when to stop – an actual quote from my English teacher.

It has been nearly 7 months since I last wrote on here, since I last wrote anything more than a birthday card really. And I miss it. I have missed the tap tap at the computer and the way it feels when you know you are onto something good. The reaction when something you write means something to others, the responses when people tell you that what you wrote resonated.

I don’t know if I have felt like me in every sense for a really long time but I do know that writing is a huge part of me. It’s time to do something about that. Because it is something I can do something about. There are lots of thing in my life which I don’t have control over. This here, my space, my blog, my words. This is me ( ignore The Greatest Showman Tune which is no doubt in your head right now ).

I am not going to apologise for my absence like I have done before, I have needed this time. I am not going to say I will be writing a new post each week because I can’t promise that. But I plan to write. When I want to, when I can. And if people want to read it then great and if not well thats ok too.

Henry Miller: “Writing is its own reward.”

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Patrick Fore

15 Feel Good Christmas Films

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On the weekend I watched The Christmas Chronicles – a Netflix original that popped up on my screen a few days ago. Myself, the girls and my mum, sister and niece had a properly festive afternoon with snacks and mulled wine ( squash for the kids ) with candles lit and comfy clothes on! We really enjoyed it, it was a nice change to the animated festive films that I seem to have been watching over and over. Definitely worth a watch and it got me to thinking of other Christmas films, both the typical ones I know and love and the ones that perhaps I’ve missed.

I asked a group of blogging friends what films they know and love and I thought it was perfect timing to share the responses with you all! Here are 15 Christmas Films to enjoy this year. To make it easy I have linked to all of the films on IMDB so you can check out the ratings and certifications.

1. The Christmas Chronicles:

This came up a few times in the discussion and I have seen quite a few good reviews over on twitter too. It’s well worth a watch if you have Netflix and if not now would be a great time to take advantage of a free trial. Jo from Cup Of Toast says: We love The Christmas Chronicles. So much fun and a great modern take on how Santa delivers all those presents! Cheryl from Mummy Of 5 Miracles agrees and says its fantastic.

2. Die Hard:

Now I have to admit to something here… I cannot actually recall watching any of the Die Hard films! However Rachel from Coffee, Cake, Kids recommends it,for the following reason: Tight White Vest …perhaps I’ll have to give it a whirl.

3. Gremlins:

I was pretty petrified of these films as a child and I am yet to revisit as an adult but Amy from Amytreasure.com says: The films have to be watched every year and take me right back to my childhood.

4. The Muppets Christmas Carol:

Jenni from The Bear And The Fox says: Nothing beats The Muppet Christmas Carol! Great to sing along to, and who doesn’t love the Muppets? We watch it every year on Christmas Eve, without fail. Bring on the popcorn!

5.  Elf:

Emma from EmmaReed.Net and Becka from Mummy Est 2014 both recommend Elf as it is so funny and merry.

6. Miracle On 24th St:

This is one of my favourite Christmas films and Jennifer from My Mummy’s Pennies agrees, she says: My favourite Christmas movie is Miracle on 34th Street! I remember going to see it as a child at the cinema and getting a badge to wear declaring ‘I Believe!’ I just think it’s so magical and makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

7. Home Alone:

Emma from The Mini Mes and Me recommends Home Alone as her kids really love the action and injury however secretly her favourite is Elf! Rachel from Blogging Mummy says: Home alone, absolute classic and I’ve watched it every Christmas for years and years. Its only the first 2 though thats I love and now my boys love it too.

8. Home Alone 2:

Jo from A Rose Tinted World says she loves the Home Alone films and especially love the fact that Kevin gets around the concierge when using his Dads credit card!

9. The Santa Clause:

Lucy from The Parent Game says: It’s really funny and I love the message behind it. It’s a really sweet story and I love how he wins his ex wife and partner around in the end!

10.  Santa Clause The Movie:

Sarah from Kippers and Curtains recommends the 1980s classic Santa Claus the Movie she says: I used to watch it every year with my brothers and last year I took my 3 children to see it at the Backyard Cinema.

11. It;s A Wonderful Life:

Kate from Veggie Desserts says: I love It’s a Wonderful Life. A timeless classic that always makes me cry. I don’t even know if the tears are still because of the film or because it’s tradition to weep over it!

12. The Holiday:

I love The Holiday with its appropriate levels of cheese and Emma from Happy Family Hub agrees, she says: The Holiday is my favourite Christmas movie guilty pleasure! There’s something about a smoochy christmas film with a smattering of comedy to really give you the feels. Having Jack Black in it is also a bonus!

13. The Polar Express:

Clare from Wild Mama – Wild Tribe says: The Polar Express ❤️ it’s our Christmas Eve must watch as it’s so magical even for older children ‘the bell still rings for those who truly believe’

14. This Christmas:

This was a new one to me, I had not heard of it before but a musical, romantic drama? Yes please. Leanne from Anklebiters Adventures says: I love the family element to the film and the happy ending.

15. The Grinch:

Lauren from Raising Rocco says she loves The Grinch because:

1. I LOVE Dr Seuss
2. It’s hilarious!
3. The meaning behind it is lovely
4. “Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.

I know there are lots more so how about you leave some of your faves in the comments?

 

 

Movies, Meals & Muddling Through Life – September 2018

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Well it’s been about 5 months since my last one of these supposedly monthly updates. Oops. Life has been busy and not busy and hard and stressful.

I have managed to squeeze in a few films lately, not cinema trips as much but Netflix has become my go to. When my mind is as full as it has been lately I struggle to concentrate on anything too serious or intricate and I may possibly have been watching a lot of films aimed at teenage girls but hey I’m learning a lot. I haven’t created too many new dishes other than this one for Welsh Lamb which I’m really proud of. I haven’t eaten out an awful lot either. Hmmm I have been a little boring if I’m honest. Let’s talk about what I have done instead of what I haven’t shall we?

Movies:

I remembered! I did have one cinema trip with my mam and sisters to see Mamma Mia 2, possibly the cheesiest film I have EVER seen and I’ve seen a lot of cheesy films but I enjoyed. It made most of us laugh and cry at various points and you leave with a feel good vibe. I also saw The Incredible 2 with the girls – was good fun.

On Netflix I’ve watched:

Sierra Burgess Is A Loser – I LOVED this film. Please do watch it, it’s a bit beautiful. I think anyway.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before – another super sweet teen rom com, I thoroughly enjoyed and now see what all the twitter fuss was about. Worth a watch.

I have also watched a whole heap of old films including such gold as Monster In Law and Bad Moms…yep. Sorry about that.

TV:

I don’t really watch much normal TV anymore, in fact I cancelled my TV service and I just use a fire box now. Pretty much only ever use the Netflix app.

I have enjoyed some new series on there such as Safe ( based on a  Harlan Coben book )  and Good Girls which I enjoyed a lot. I am also re watching Orange Is The New Black and every now and again an episode of Friends too.

Books:

I wrote about what I’m reading yesterday so I’ll just link you here. I am currently reading The Other Sister by Elle Croft – so far so good, I’ll keep you posted.

Food:

My appetite is still fairly rubbish but I am trying to make sure that what I do eat is better, I also make sure I walk a lot which boosts my appetite. Currently loving Aldi Tiffin. My soft spot for cheese is returning too..I am seeing this as a good thing and indulging it often. I am looking forward to a local restaurant visit next week with a friend so next month I’ll have something more to tell you!

Music:

Easy listening is what I want right now. Jason Mraz and George Ezra feature heavily on my playlists.

 

Everything Else:

As always there are a million things going on. Not all of them happy and easy. I’m not going to go into the hard stuff on here. I will talk about some of the nicer things, Izzy turns 7 this weekend. How is she 7? How? Gloriously funny and affectionate, she lights up all of the rooms. She is tall and beautiful, she’ll be taller than me by the time she becomes a teen I’m sure. She has an incredible interest in bugs and all animals and loves her little sister although she drives her crazy too. Chloe started full time school and as always just took it in her stride as if the sudden change in being away for 2 hours to suddenly being gone 6 hours was entirely normal, she definitely coped better than I did! She already seems a little more grown up, more independent and super duper tired every evening. Hangry tired meltdowns are common place. I have become an aunty again, twice in fact. Both of my brothers wives gave birth within two weeks of each other and I have two very cute nephews to add to my long list of nieces and nephews. I joined the gym! Well about 2 months ago now and other than this last week I have become a 3 x week gym goer. This week I have had some kind of cold virus and my body has needed rest.

 

 

Filed Under: Life ·

Reading More Books 2018

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Its been a while since I last wrote about what I was reading, and not an easy while either. But here I am back and writing again. I’m working a little more each day and a little harder. Both girls are now in full time education so I am committing the equivalent of one full time working day each week on the blog, then I have my office job a few full days a week and the rest of the time is spent focused on the girls or cooking. Yes there will be new recipes soon.

I’ve been reading a lot more lately, I’ve had a little more spare time and a need to keep my mind busy and aren’t books just the best things for that? I have moved the comfiest chair in the house to the opposite side of the room as the TV so it encourages me to just curl up and read.

But what have I been reading?

Well a lot, a mixture of new reads and old as well as a few cookbooks thrown in. I can’t be the only person who takes a big Jamie Oliver book into the bath to absorb and get new ideas? Here are just a couple of my more recent reads.

*On a side note I’ve included amazon links for each book, this is for ease and they are not affiliate links.

Notes On A Nervous Planet

Notes on a nervous planet written by Matt Haig has been on my to read list for months, even before it was released and it was a payday gift to myself a few months ago. I really enjoy all of Matt Haig’s books and aside from this book I can especially recommend Reasons To Stay Alive and one of his fictional works, How To Stop Time. Matt has had anxiety and depression for a good chunk of his life and reading his work you can tell that he genuinely understands. He has some excellent insights in his most recent book and also some really relevant and important tips about how to avoid more stress and anxiety in this nervous planet of ours. His words have made me take regular social media breaks and my brain feels better for it. This book made me think a lot, although can I be honest and say I didn’t find it an easy read? Because books which speak to you often aren’t. I took a while to read this instead of my usual breezing through style but I know I’ll read it again and pass it around my loved ones. Read it.

This Is Going To Hurt

This is going to hurt written by Adam Kay is the secret diary of Adam the junior doctor going through his first few years of medicine. It is a truly astounding look into the wonderful world of the NHS. It will make you laugh and cry and nod and shake your head along. It is honest and at times crude in the best of ways. His labour ward stories are perhaps the most interesting and it filled me with the utmost of respect for those doing this incredible, hard and often criticised job. i would urge you to pick up a copy.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

This fictional book written by Gail Honeyman is an amazing read. I found it incredibly incredibly sad at times but it sort of leaves you in awe a little at the wonder of human life and how we all get through it, some seeming to breeze and other stumbling at every fence. The main character is entirely lovable in such a strange way and I have to admit I sort of missed her when I was done. It is beautifully written and you feel like you are almost there watching it, bringing things to life as the best books do.

I’m also reading a lot more with the girls, mostly My Little Pony books but the occasional chunk of the famous Five books or some of the really old Enid Blyton’s such as The Naughtiest Girl In school series.

What have you been reading? Any recommendations for me?

books 2018

Wonderful Welsh Vineyards

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Yes you read that right.. Wonderful Welsh Vineyards! Until a few months ago I was under the impression that Wales had one maybe two vineyards. I had heard of Llanerch Vineyard and I also knew we had a cracking distillery – Penderyn but welsh wine? Was that a thing? I didn’t think so. Well I was ready to be proved wrong and indeed I was on my recent press trip with Food and Drink Wales. There are welsh vineyards. Many of them and we got to explore and stay at two of the best, we may have indulged in a few glasses of the wine too.

On our first night we stayed at Jabajak Vineyard in Whitland, Carmarthenshire. and it would be fair to say that I fell in love with it a little. The welcome was warm and friendly and the place had the most relaxed vibe. I could have settled into my gorgeous garden suite for a week quite happily with a good book ( or two ) and notepad.

The entrance to my room was green and inviting with a rocking bench set on the porch. I loved that my room was pretty much wall to wall windows and looked immediately out onto the glorious vines.

The whole place has an effortlessly stylish cosiness without trying too hard. Within five minutes of arriving I was relaxed, right there on that sofa with a cup off tea. Welsh tea of course, there is a huge emphasis on supporting Welsh producers from the tea, coffee and toiletries in the room to the cheeses and chocolates served at the end of the meal. Amanda ( the owner) is big on using local companies and supporting new brands.

Onto the wine. Now I should say upfront that I am not a heavy wine consumer, I like wine, on occasion I like wine a lot but it’s a rarity for me. A pleasurable one. We tried a few different wines during the course of our dinner, starting with The White House Sparkling Blush.  Whilst explaining about this wine Amanda talked to us about Hiraeth – a Welsh word which has no literal translation, you’ll find many explanations online but most say it is a sense of belonging or nostalgia/homesickness for your home even when you are there. This is written on the bottles:

Hiraeth – wine that belongs to its terroir.

I like that a lot. It appeals to my cheesy side. The sparkling blush was perfect for the light summery evening before our meal and it went down very easily, it is definitely the kind of light fizz that I enjoy with enough of an interesting flavour to please any wine experts you may have joining you for dinner.

Talking of dinner, we had a glorious meal at Jabajak. From the starters to the final chocolate truffle. The meals were hearty and full of flavour and interesting additions such as home made gooseberry and elderflower chutney served with possible the best bruschetta I’ve had.

I’d highly recommend a stay at Jabajak, you won’t find many people as passionate about welsh food and drink as Amanda and it really does add to your stay. Add to that the great food, delicious wine and atmospheric surroundings. I just know I’ll be back one day.

Day two and we moved onto Llanerch Vineyard. Llanerch is in The Vale Of Glamorgan and is a very different yet equally impressive vineyard. It has a slightly more corporate vibe to it and the rooms are more modern with a minimalistic feel, it is the type of place which would be great for an event or a large group booking – they have 29 more rooms coming soon. There were a lot more staff and customers due to the size difference and the approach was more business like yet friendly and down to earth at the same time. My room was lovely, large and airy with a super duper fan which I desperately needed in the heat!

We dined at Llanerch that night and the food was absolutely incredible. This time around we had Simon, a wine expert talking us through the wines at dinner and we again started with a sparkling blush which I really enjoyed once again. This wine was called Cariad which for my non Welshies means darling or sweetheart.

The whole meal was outstanding but the highlight for me was the starter, a poached hen’s egg coated in polenta served with asparagus, black garlic puree, beer and charcoal soil:

 

After a supremely comfy nights sleep, we headed for breakfast which was pretty darn good. I rarely eat breakfast or if I do it’s something light but I opted for the full Welsh and I’m so glad I did:

Later that day after a very interesting trip to Cwm Farm we returned to the Vineyard for our food and wine paring followed by our tour of the vines.

Simon Gatley talked us through a cheese, charcuterie and wine tasting – did you know that certain wines suit certain cheeses better or that a sparkling wine may suit a creamier cheese? I’ll be honest that I was ever so slightly tipsy after this very educational tasting. But seriously oh my word.. the cheese. I could have sat there all day just eating the cheese. My favourite wine from the tasting was the Montgomery Solaris and the Pant Y Gawn goats’ cheese was utter perfection.

welsh vineyards

Following on from the tasting we had our vineyard tour, with ..yes more wine. It was really interesting to stroll around the vines, learning about the different wines and tasting them as we wandered. Would be a great gift to buy for any wine lovers in your life.

We headed home, slightly merry for the wine and sated from all of the wonderful food.

Thanks to Food & Drink Wales and everyone who hosted us during the trip.

  • This was a commissioned post as part of a paid press trip.

Griddled Welsh Lamb Steaks With Lemon, Garlic and Herbs

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Welsh lamb has a special place in my heart, for a few reasons. Of course the first reason is that I am Welsh and grew up amongst some pretty glorious countryside where lambs grazed close by. The second reason is that as a child one of my favourite home cooked meals was Cawl. My mum would make huge batches of it and it was a comforting meal which always reminds me of home. Since moving into my home and starting my own family I’ve enjoyed cooking with lamb, generally the typical roast lamb dishes or chops with a mint sauce but I’ll be honest I haven’t experimented too much with it.

PGI Welsh Lamb got in touch last month to ask if I would like to collaborate and create a recipe using PGI lamb. I was incredibly keen, especially after my recent press trip to a salt marsh lamb farm and wanted to make something easy but tasty and healthy which would suit the whole family.

But firstly, what is PGI?

The European Commission (EC) has awarded Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef the coveted status of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). This puts Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef in the same elevated company as Parma Ham and other speciality and protected food name products from around the world. 

You can find a list of the butchers in your area which serve PGI Welsh Lamb by clicking here and there are even online stockists which deliver to your door. I quite enjoyed the discovery of a very local butcher to me and after the quality of this meat I will certainly be paying them a visit again soon!

Pretty much immediately after I was asked to create the recipe I began buying different cuts of lamb and trying different dishes. Research is key after all and well lamb is pretty tasty! I finally decided after plenty of testing on this recipe for griddled lamb steaks marinated overnight in a mixture of lemon, garlic, honey and herbs. It is summery and light and with the right sides can be a really special meal. It is also very good diced finely the next day in a wrap or pitta with loads of salad.

I also thought up a fun adaptation using diced lamb so that kids could get involved in the recipe too. One of the things I’ve recently picked up on with my two young daughters is that the more I involved them in cooking the more they want to eat the food. They have always been enjoyed baking cakes or biscuits but everyday cooking is fun for kids too. We call it cooking club. Both of the girls enjoy rubbing herbs into potatoes for crispy air fryer potatoes, helping to butter bread or chop veggies or in this case threading meat and vegetables onto skewers for kebabs! Always be careful when little ones are touching raw meat or using sharp objects such as kebab sticks and it goes without saying they need constant supervision but they can do it and what’s more they will enjoy it.

We began our prep the night before with Izzy helping somewhat reluctantly to rub the marinade into the diced lamb while I did the same to the lamb steaks. She soon got over her initial squeaminess and enjoyed helping out.

The next day at my parents house the girls sat at the kitchen table and had so much fun creating their very own lamb kebabs.

We used halloumi, peppers, new potatoes and sweet potato to layer up our lamb kebabs but you could use any veggies you like.

 

To make the lamb kebabs just us the marinade recipe from the lamb steaks below and use chunks of veg and halloumi. Drizzle with oil and bake for 25 mins until golden brown or pop on a bbq until cooked thoroughly. If using wooden skewers pre soak to avoid burning.

The finished product:

Moving on to the main event – Griddled Welsh Lamb Steaks – sounds simple you say? It is, extremely simple yet tasty and satisfying. Lamb doesn’t need an awful lot of fuss but an overnight stay in the fridge after being massaged with a good marinade can make a basic dish an exceptional one. I love the light summery combination of lemon, herbs and garlic, throw in a little honey for sweetness and a good rapeseed oil to bulk it up and that is all that’s needed. Lamb has quite a strong flavour on it’s own, don’t try to overpower that flavour, just subtle enhance it. I had planned to make these on the BBQ and this recipe can be easily adapted for that particular style of cooking just by firing up your gas barbecue or lighting some charcoal for a real smokey taste. The Welsh weather this weekend had other ideas and a particularly wet Sunday meant that an alfresco lunch was out of the question. A griddle pan is a perfect swap for a bbq when you need to eat indoors, you get the look of bbq’d food and a lot of the flavour too. Just remember to oil the meat, not the pan and keep some windows or doors open as it can get a little smokey.

Griddled Welsh Lamb Steaks With Lemon, Garlic and Herbs

You will need:

6 Lamb steaks

Zest of 2 lemons

Juice of 1 lemon

75ml of a good quality rapeseed or olive oil

2 tbsp of fresh diced herbs – I used oregano

4 garlic cloves minced

45ml honey

a good pinch of salt

a good pinch of cracked black pepper

Mix all of your marinade ingredients together well and add to your lamb steaks in a bowl, massage for a few mins and cover. Pop in the refrigerator for a minimum of 12 hours.

Remove your lamb from the fridge 30 -60 minutes before cooking to bring to room temperature ( this helps it cook more evenly ).

Place your griddle pan over a medium to high heat and heat the pan completely before adding your meat, cook for around 3-4 minutes each side for medium rare, 6-8 minutes each side to be cooked through or to your liking.

All meat should be left to rest slightly after cooking, this makes the meat a little more moist and allows the flavour to develop. Just a few mins will do the trick.

Serve with some super sides. Here are some basic recipes for the sides I served:

Flatbreads:

I have been using this basic recipe for flatbreads for years now, it always works well and they are kind of addictive. These quantities make around 16 small flatbreads, believe me everyone wants at least two.

500g Plain Flour

300ml warm water

30ml of rapeseed oil

Method here

Aubergine: 

Slice your aubergine into chunky rounds, rub in some chilli oil and sea salt. Bake for 25 mins.

Yoghurt and mint dip:

Blend together half a tub of natural greek yoghurt with a heaped tablespoon of jarred mint sauce.

Buttery potatoes:

Not a recipe as such but a serving suggestion, get the best new potatoes you can find and cook to perfection. Add some herb butter for indulgence.

We had a lot of fun creating this recipe for PGI Welsh Lamb. I also enjoyed an afternoon with my mum where she taught me how to make her homemade cawl, would you like that recipe too?

  • This recipe is in collaboration with PGI Welsh Lamb and I have been compensated for my time in creating it.

Nozstock Hidden Valley 2018 Review

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You may remember a few weeks ago I shared a preview post my younger brother wrote about Nozstock Festival, well here he is again after a really enjoyable time at Nozstock last month. Over to Josh:

The 20th anniversary of the prestigious festival brought many surprise acts and a plethora of upcoming talent. As the sun shone over Herefordshire for the weekend, the heat rose in more ways than one. A festival oozing in art, culture, great food and a brilliant family ethos was always set to deliver nothing less than excellence.

I arrived at the festival on the Thursday with ease. There were signs pointing you in the right direction for around 3 miles prior to the festival gates ensuring a swift arrival. Upon entering Nozstock the staff were extremely helpful and friendly offering information and making the whole experience unforgettable. 

Walking through the festival was an experience in itself. There was unique artwork everywhere with inspirational quotes and colourful décor all around. It was a breath of fresh air to see people of all ages roaming around freely and immersing themselves in the Nozstock vibe. 

At festivals I have previously attended there’s usually a target audience, usually ages 16-30. Nozstock is rightfully a festival catered for every person of any age or background. The festival is perfect for families without taking away the goodness that will attract young adults, something that is very difficult to most but the curators of the festival make this seem effortless. The family vibe is one that will stick with me for a long time, you see the same faces around in the most friendliest of atmospheres.

The line-up included some stellar acts such as Chase and Status and Goldfrapp.  The line-up offered much diversity with genres for all music lovers. It infused elements of rock and roll with jazz and funk in the most unique way. Nozstock was a massive eye opener of just how successful an event can be in such a small capacity in comparison to heavyweight festivals. Its ethos is surely one that can be looked at by other small festivals to replicate.

There was an array of options when it came to food. There were options for all needs with almost every food stall serving gluten free and vegan options. Personal favourites were the ‘Pimp my Fries’ and ‘Super Tidy Burgers’ (The Grazing Shed) both of which delivered excellent service with delicious food. The topped fries from Pimp my Fries have to be the most delicious I’ve ever tried. Pimp my Fries seemed to be a general favourite of attendees with continuous queues throughout the day. The price of food and beverages was also very reasonable considering the quality of the goods.

Performances 

Honeyfeet delivered one of the most unique performances I’ve ever witnessed. The 7 piece (you heard it right) offered a unique twist on jazz and folk combining it with huge riffs and impeccable vocals. The band are real crowd pleasers for all the right reasons.

We Are Scientists played predecessor’s to Chase and Status prior to their headline performance on the orchard stage and they more than got the crowd raring to go for the headliner later that evening. The indie-rockers from USA have been touring the UK of late much to the pleasure of fans. Their performance was impeccable offering a real engaging show with the ‘Nozstockers’. 

Chase and Status as always delivered sheer excellence in their headline performance. The crowd was jam packed with just about enough room for everyone to have a boogie. Their set list comprised of classics and some new tracks. MC Rage literally has the audience in the palm of his hand throughout the show creating a special bond between artist and audience. The show was a perfect performance with Chase and Status living up to their reputation.

Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 finished Friday nights events in the one of the most culminating performances of the weekend. Chali’s silky smooth voice comprised with dance beats offered a unique twist on Jurassic 5’s classics. One of the most groovy performances I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing live.

Dub Pistols are almost of residents of Nozstock , they deliver a quirky twist on Dub, electronica, hip-hop and alternative music. They’re sound is so distinctive and hard to replicate. No other group can captivate a crowd like them and their performance provided no disappointment. Mucky Weekend was a personal highlight and the track depicted the weekend perfectly (despite how clean the site is kept).

Grandmaster Flash was a sight to behold from start to end. Prior to his performance there was a VT showing his origin and how he grew to love all kinds of music through his upbringing. This was not just special, but also hugely inspiring to any musician who wants to make it in the industry. ‘Flash’ also paid homage to many artists who had passed away in a touching and personal way. This performance exceeded all expectations I ever imagined I’d have.

Childcare started the last day of Nozstock with a bang. The 4-piece from London who’s name derives from lead singer Ed’s previous occupation as a Nanny delivered one of the most exciting performances of the weekend despite it being so early in the day. The band played the Orchard stage at Midday and didn’t look out of place. Ed’s footwork on stage was also a sight to behold, if a music career ever fails the band he’ll no doubt have a fair crack at making it as a footballer. After this performance however I have no doubts that the band are destined for success. Film Club was the defining song of the weekend for myself, it made me and others huge fans of the band.

Oh My God It’s The Church sure know how to put on a show. The outfit offer a bit of everything, they have trumpets, saxophones , organ and a combination of brilliant drumming and covers of classic songs. If there was a band/performance to sum up Nozstock in a nutshell this would certainly be it!

Goldfrapp are the greatest performers I have ever witnessed. Alison Goldfrapp is captivating to say the least, her stage presence alone cannot be compared with any other. The whole show was angelic and perfect in every possible way. The lights and sound of the whole performance had no imperfections and the crowd were absolutely incredible. Alison also immersed herself with the crowd especially when spotting a fan (who was stood next to me) who knew the words to every song. The front-woman made a special moment of pointing and singing to the fan which made his whole weekend. Personal highlight of the show ‘Anymore’ the lights flashing, fast drumming and vocals of this track cannot be compared. The most perfect possible ending to one of the most perfect festivals I’ve ever attended.

The Cabinet of Lost Secrets deserves the most honourable of mentions as I’ve never had anything blow my mind the way this did. Have you ever watched a TV series and wanted to be able to un-watch it and be able to re-watch it all over again? This has the same effect but 10x more. For those reading who haven’t been to the festival I’m not going to give away exactly what it is, but it is mind blowing to say the least.

The festival in a nutshell was a bag of surprises, a festival that is literally like no other. A festival full of colour, vibrancy and the friendliest people you’ll ever have the pleasure of partying with.

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