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Tennis players from Wales have been called up into the Great Britain teams for a series of international competitions, with two already achieving success. James Story (Cardiff Met) and Morgan Cross (Wrexham Tennis Centre) have both helped GB 16U teams reach the finals of the Tennis Europe Winter Cup, while Hugo Cochlin (also Cardiff Met) represented GB Boys 13U against France. Chris Lewis, originally from Neath, now coach at Cardiff Met, has been chosen for GB over-35s in the world…

Continuing her series of articles exploring small businesses and entrepreneurs in Cardiff, this month Sarah-Jane changes tact and focusses on a local charity, Believe, set up in the wake of a family tragedy, and its founder, Anna Louise Bates. I have been writing my column for the Cardiff Times for over a year now. In that time, I’ve met many wonderful and inspirational people, from cake makers to artists and all that is in between. This month’s column is slightly…

Now you have to agree that as titles go, this is one you won’t see every day. I have just been reading about a convicted benefits fraudster from South Wales who cheated you and me out of over £50,000 and has been ordered to pay it back by the Court at £2.66 per week until the year 2384 when she will have achieved the ripe old age of 416! Staying with the same subject, I was recently engaged in a…

I was recently engaged in a meeting with a mate in North Wales and travelled back down through Mid Wales.  As we were driving through Newtown we passed the train station and I happened to glance at the train and the bored commuters.  When lo and behold, I spotted the almost extinct Newtown Panda.  I kid you not.  There was a life-sized Panda sat in a seat on the train (and no, I hadn’t been drinking).  It must be a…

Much has happened over the Season of Good Will to All Men (and Women). Here’s an extract for you starting with a career development interview genuinely overheard in my local pub, The Foot-in-Mouth, between a disgruntled lady employee and her boss. I emailed this to myself having typed it into my phone in “real time” as the drama unfolded: “I don’t want to mention individuals’, I just keep my head down and avoid contact.” What about Shirley then? “Oh, she’s…

So I was in Sainsbury’s, Swansea Marina, hard at another well-deserved sandwich when one of life’s annoying little cameos developed in front of me.  Why is it that some people insist on sitting at a dirty and un-cleared table rather than find another one which is ready for occupation? Anyway, a wife who was very much in charge, sat husband down amongst somebody else’s dirty crockery and then proceeded to complain many times about the dirty table. Eventually the husband, in…

Love comes in all shapes, sizes and colours, which is why Carluccio’s is spreading the amore further this Valentine’s Day. Celebrate the day of love with a sweetheart, family or a best friend by poring over a chocolate-lover’s dream of smooth gianduja, moreish biscuit kisses and the classically-elegant chocolate rose, encased in gift set graphics inspired by iconic Italian brand Fiorucci. Carluccio’s Valentine’s collection has received an injection of Eighties nostalgia with neon lettering, graffiti prints and sharing boxes decked…

February is the month of love with Valentine’s Day upon us and shops laden with hearts, flowers and shelves of cards and gifts sporting ‘lovey dovey’ messages. Whether you love it, hate it, tolerate it or ignore it, I imagine you are definitely aware of it. But, whatever your marital status or attitude towards Valentine’s Day, I propose an idea this February – to show a little love to someone very special in your life – yourself. If there is…

My Dear Chums, It’s Election Time again and I have a number of comments to make.  So let’s start with our recent Assembly Elections?  I should emphasise at this point that I have no particular political affiliation but I have a number of overseas clients and trying to explain to them the outcome of the Election made me look at what really happened in a more critical way. The turnout was 45% of those entitled to vote.  This meant that…

My Dearest Chums, Is it just me or is there more than a passing resemblance between Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes to Hollywood fame and our World no 1 rugby referee Nigel Owens? Talking of singers, what about Gloria Leicester Fan?  Very popular of late. Staying with showbiz, I read that the recently departed David Gest was in the UK to tour in his musical show “David Gest Is Not Dead, But Alive With Soul”.  I must confess to having…