Home Culture Features

Confessions... of a Father Christmas

GARY FIELDHOUSE, 31, otherwise known as Santa, is visiting the Talbot Green Shopping Park throughout December. He lives with his wife, Mrs Claus in Abertridwr. Read

How a bank manager helped transform Forest Farm into a nature reserve

IT has been 20 years since a conservation charity took over a 17th century dairy farm on the outskirts of Cardiff. Cathy Owen finds out how Forest Farm has been transformed into a nature reserve thanks to the hard work of volunteers. Read

Aberdare mum’s secret to success

SU WORLOCK left school without any qualifications but as Cathy Owen finds out, after the breakdown of her marriage left her homeless she turned her life around to become a successful entrepreneur. Read

Louis Theroux turns to crime

WITH bookish glasses, softly spoken voice and a unique line of questioning, Louis Theroux is like no other. Read

’Tis the season to be silly

RUMOURS of an on-set feud between lead stars Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn hardly echo the tidings of comfort and joy espoused by Seth Gordon’s romantic comedy. Read

Sex and the ditty

WELSH singing sensation Jem has revealed how she nearly didn’t allow her song It’s Amazing on the Sex and the City soundtrack. Read

Who? It’s Fry for our Sian

WEATHERGIRL Sian Lloyd has made an unusual forecast – she reckons Stephen Fry would make a perfect Doctor Who. Read

Welsh Gladiators ready for TV battle

FORMER Miss Wales glamour girl Amy Guy is set to do battle as one of the new Gladiators. Read

Welsh Woman of the Year Judith Hall’s African challenge

She’s the only female head of anaesthetics and intensive care medicine in the UK, and runs an international charity in her “spare time” – no wonder Professor Judith Hall is the new Western Mail Welsh Woman of the Year. She finds a window in her busy schedule to talk to Rin Simpson about her life’s work Read

Safe as houses?

Playing the property market is now as much a game of chance as throwing a double six discovers Catherine Jones as yet another ‘homes show’ hits the television screens Read

Changing zoos

She was the ‘glam’ one from telly’s Changing Rooms but it’s all change for Anna Ryder Richardson reveals Abbie Wightwick Read

He may be used to posing the questions but we get some straight answers from Louis Theroux

Q Your new two-part series sees you jetting off to Philadelphia in Pennsylvania to work with the police department’s rapid response unit. Scary? Read

Ps and Qs: Nia Parry

Presenter Nia Parry is ready to head to Builth Wells to present S4C’s coverage of this year’s Winter Fair Read

Barber’s garden is cutting edge

BARBER Michael Michael is as happy with a pair of secateurs in his hands as a pair of scissors. Read

Well it came back. What are you referring to you might ask? I mean the winter weather. Last weekend we were again plunged into a cold snap with the strong winds sending the temperature plummeting so there was no hanging around on the paths and it was straight for a huddle around the stove in the warm cafe.

When will the seasons sort themselves out and become one or the other? Things were much simpler before climate change and you went suitably attired according to the season. Now it’s warm coats on, warm coats off .You cannot put away your gardening gear as every few days there is a dramatic shift in conditions. Life was oh so simple when I was young. Read

Travel review: Andorra

WITHOUT a snowflake in sight, Barcelona Airport seemed a strange place to arrive for a ski trip. Read

WM’s secret boutique: En Vogue in Cowbridge

En Vogue, 50 High Street, Cowbridge, 01446 774055 Read

Ps and Qs: Nia Parry

Presenter Nia Parry is ready to head to Builth Wells to present S4C’s coverage of this year’s Winter Fair Read

Ps and Qs: Louis Theroux

Q Your new two-part series sees you jetting off to Philadelphia in Pennsylvania to work with the police department’s rapid response unit. Scary? Read

A credit-crunch Christmas party

CHRISTMAS and parties go together like turkey and stuffing – but as the credit crunch takes hold across South Wales, many people are slashing their party budgets or cancelling their festive bashes altogether. Read