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The South Wales Magazine


6 changes to make now to improve your sleep in warm weather
Simple adjustments can significantly reduce the impact of high temperatures on your sleep. Try to cool down your environment and your mind, advises the expert (Alamy/PA) As summer approaches, many of us look forward to longer days and warm evenings spent outdoors. But while rising temperatures are welcome during the day, they can become far less appealing at night when it’s time to sleep. If you’re concerned about how the warmer weather might affect your rest this summer, you


9 summer bedding sets for a peaceful night’s slumber
Embrace the warmer weather by styling up your scheme with dreamy duvet sets. By Sam Wylie-Harris. With a heatwave on the cards, time to refresh your bedding (Secret Linen Store/PA) With summer hotting up and promise of warmer weather, it only takes the first heatwave to put the focus on fresh bed linen – and making everything look and feel cool, crisp and charming. And whether you favour white, pastels, or feel fearless with colour by mixing and matching prints and florals, t


The 10 best finance apps to help you organise your money
Download some of these nifty apps to help you stay on top of your spending. Finance apps can help you sort out your finances and keep on track with savings goals (Alamy/PA) Feel like you’re floundering when it comes to keeping track of the money you have coming in and going out? As you’d imagine, there are more than a few apps out there designed to help you stay on top of your finances. So whether you’re struggling with budgeting, debt or splitting bills, an online organiser


Watering aids to help you through the drier months
Water butts, solar-powered irrigation and mists can all help. The Hozelock Solar Select automatic irrigation system is perfect for when you go away (Hozelock/PA) After an extremely dry spring in some parts, gardeners may now be heading for their hosepipes to try to keep their beloved flowering plants, fruit and vegetables happy. We may choose to plant drought-tolerant plants, although they are still likely to need watering-in until established, and use mulch to cover the grou


Comedian and TV presenter Tom Allen: Stand-up can still be very blokey
The quirky comedian talks about his love of suburbia, feeling old and a life of pottering. Tom Allen has embraced life in suburbia (Jiksaw/PA) He didn’t leave home until he was 37, but comedian and TV presenter Tom Allen says he has always felt older than his years. He admits that he likes nothing better than to be in his own suburban garden with his partner, Alfie Garston – his first boyfriend – and inviting celebrity guests to join him on his Pottering podcast. Sounds fairl


6 unexpected signs you’re dehydrated – and what to do about it
Dehydration can sometimes sneak up on you with some surprising symptoms. Make water a priority during the heatwave (Alamy/PA) As temperatures across the UK continue to climb to record highs, it’s important that staying hydrated doesn’t slip down the priority list. Dehydration is very common during heatwaves, and can range from mild to severe explains Dr Naveed Asif, GP at The London General Practice. “Most of us are probably mildly dehydrated the majority of the time and expe


Andrea McLean: Debt was ‘the toughest thing I’ve ever endured – and I’m a menopausal woman’
The former Loose Woman talks to Prudence Wade about her experiences with shame on the public stage. Andrea McLean’s latest book explores the different ways she’s experienced shame (Mark Harrison/PA) TV presenter Andrea McLean describes going into debt as a “whirling feeling of hopelessness and helplessness” – one she dealt with secretly for a long time. McLean left her 13 year stint on ITV’s Loose Women in 2020, going on to found a female personal growth business called This


A fairytale wedding at Hensol Castle for Leah & Matt
From the moment Leah and Matt set eyes on Hensol Castle they knew their wedding day was going to be something special. The vision blossomed into a beautiful summer celebration filled with love, laughter and meaningful personal touches. Leah and Matt wedding at Hensol Castle photos by One Vision Photography With family at the heart of everything, and even a business inspired by their beloved dog, this couple created a day that was uniquely theirs. Here, Leah shares the story b


John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers The Play at Wales Millennium Centre
Comedy fans are in for a treat when John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers – The Play checks in for a laugh-out-loud stay at Wales Millennium Centre. John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers – The Play is heading to Wales Millennium Centre Nearly 50 years after it first burst onto television screens, one of Britain’s most beloved sitcoms is back, this time live on stage. John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers – The Play is heading to Wales Millennium Centre from 23–27 June 2026, bringing timeless comedy, unfo


Visit the Portmeirion Festival 2026
Tucked away on a private peninsula in North Wales, Portmeirion is a place where imagination and landscape blend seamlessly. In 2026, this iconic destination celebrates a remarkable milestone with the Gŵyl Portmeirion Festival, marking 100 years since it first opened its gates. The Portmeirion Festival 2026 Few places in Wales capture the imagination quite like Portmeirion. Perched on a stunning peninsula overlooking the shimmering Dwyryd Estuary, this extraordinary Italianate


Hay Festival 2026: The Must-Visit Cultural Event of the Year
The world-renowned Hay Festival returns to Hay-on-Wye from 21–31 May 2026, with eleven unforgettable days of ideas, stories and inspiration. Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, visitors can dive into a vibrant programme packed with thought-provoking talks, live performances and cultural experiences. Hay Festival 2026 Writers, readers, thinkers and dreamers gather once more at Hay Festival on the edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog National


When It’s your child, experience matters at Nuffield Health
At Nuffield Health Cardiff & Vale Hospitals, specialist paediatric teams deliver care that is carefully designed around the needs of children and young people, ensuring they feel comfortable, listened to and fully supported at every stage of their journey. Nuffield Health Cardiff & Vale Hospitals Every parent knows that few things matter more than their child’s health. From the first unexplained tummy ache to a niggling sports injury or concerns about development, deciding wh


A magical family adventure at Between the Trees Festival
If you’re looking for the must-do family event of the summer, then look no further than the enchanting Between The Trees Festival, 27-30 August 2026. Between the Trees Festival Returning for the August bank holiday weekend, this much-loved micro-festival transforms the beautiful surroundings of Candleston Woods into a four-day celebration of music, creativity, nature and togetherness. From August 27 to 30, families, friends and festival lovers will gather in a stunning 100-ac


How to find the perfect sunglasses shape for your face
An expert explains how to decode your face shape and choose the frames that suit you best. Victoria Beckham has long sported the ‘aviator’ style (Alamy/PA) Finding the perfect pair of sunglasses is deceptively complicated. What looks effortlessly chic on someone else can sit completely differently on your own face – either too wide, too narrow, too harsh or simply… off. “The main rule I’d give anyone is to contrast, not match,” explains the co-founder of sunglasses label Finl


Summery kitchen ideas for a quickie refresh
The hardest working room in the house loves to look spanking new for summer, says Sam Wylie-Harris. Clear the clutter and create the perfect kitchen space for entertaining (Beach House Art/PA) If sunshine and blue skies have you thinking about a simple spruce-up and introducing a breath of fresh air, it could be time for a kitchen makeover. Especially with longer, warmer days, and promise of throwing open the windows to embrace indoor-outdoor living… and getting organised ahe


How to boost your chances of living to 100 – as Sir David Attenborough approaches milestone
Everyone is talking about the latest longevity health trends, but to what extent can we actually increase our lifespan? Sir David Attenborough turns 100 on May 8 (Ian West/PA) The nation’s favourite broadcaster, natural historian and environmental advocate Sir David Attenborough will celebrate his 100th birthday next month on May 8, marking a remarkable seven-decade career that has defined natural history storytelling and reshaped humanity’s understanding of the planet. To ce


6 best pieces from Victoria Beckham’s new Gap range, from £25 to £250
Here are the standout items from Victoria Beckham’s new 38-piece Gap collection. Here are some of the best items to get your hands on from Victoria Beckham’s new Gap launch (Gap/PA) The long-awaited collaboration between Gap and Victoria Beckham has officially landed, marking a significant moment in the high street’s ongoing push towards more elevated and design-led fashion. The 38-piece collection – priced from £25 to £250 – reimagines Gap’s most recognisable staples through


How an Olympic mindset can bring students exam success
An Olympic sports psychologist explains how achieving peak exam performance has ‘marked parallels’ with striving for sporting excellence. For exam success, it’s about the preparation you put in beforehand – exactly the same as sport (Alamy/PA) Sitting an exam can be one of the most important performances in a child’s life – and the way to succeed may be to adopt the mindset of an Olympic athlete. The link between sporting success and acing exams is all about creating the righ


6 stylish cocktails to cheer happy hour
Springtime soirées signal a snazzy serve, says Sam Wylie-Harris. Party drinks to rustle up at home (Trevethan Distillery/PA) In tune with the seasons, much like wearing fewer layers and lighter fabrics to stay cool, tastes change and so do our warm weather drinks rituals. After months of muddling and garnishing with evergreen herbs and rustling up spicy recipes, it’s time to forage for fresh flavours, zingy notes of citrus to perk up the palate, and lighter thirst-quenchers.


How to treat adult acne
Dermatologists and facialists share their insights on treating breakouts and blemishes in adulthood. Experts break down the key steps to treating adult acne (Alamy/PA) Acne is often seen as something we leave behind in our teenage years – but for many, breakouts persist well into adulthood, often becoming even more frustrating in the process. Unlike adolescent acne, which tends to follow a more predictable pattern, adult acne can feel erratic, reactive and harder to treat. Ho
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