http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/ Join Samantha Castle as she tries to tighten the purse strings en Copyright 2013 Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:38:50 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss VISIT Chester and you'll find a city bursting with character and variation. Whatever your taste, whatever excites you, relaxes you, or inspires you, you'll find something to suit your mood. From modern shopping malls and outlet stores to quaint cobbled streets and vintage shops, it's all here. This most delightful of cities was originally built by the Romans to control the native tribes in North Wales and northern Britain. The layout still follows the Roman pattern, and the defensive walls create a pleasant walk around the old city centre. But the walls were mostly lined with screaming teenagers during my three night visit, as it was the very first Chester Rocks music festival taking place at the famous racecourse. Thank goodness I had opted for a posh stay, giving myself and my cousin Rebecca a respite from the excitable throng. The doughnut-shaped Abode Chester was built on the site of the county's former police HQ, and is all gleaming glass. Rooms have panoramic views of either the River Dee and racecourse - the country's oldest - the historic city walls or of the hotel's courtyard. They all boast the wow factor, with floor-to-ceiling windows, while the spacious top floor is given over to the Michael Caines Restaurant and Champagne Bar. Our twin room, for two of our three night stay, was full of bold colours, with a sumptuous black and white bathroom and bright carpets. All bedrooms have handmade vi-spring beds, LCD TV's, DVD players and a basket of local produce. Our room overlooked both the Dee and the back end of the racecourse - enough to see the crowds of people patiently queuing-up to get into the gates for Chester Rocks. But before rocking the weekend away we enjoyed a thoroughly modern evening meal in a 17th century Georgian mansion house at Oddfellows in Lower Bridge Street (01244 400001, oddfellows.biz). There's a restaurant and nightclub, bistro, hotel and roof terrace with Moroccan-style tents and cocktail bar. The restaurant is gaining a reputation thanks to consulting chef Richard Phillips, one of the bright young things of modern British cooking. Some freshly baked bread was delivered to our table with tapenade, a black olive and garlic dip. The menu itself aided wine-list phobics like us, offering tips on which wine best suits the dish ordered. In the day we joined over 20,000 revellers for the inaugural Chester Rocks festival. The two-day event at Chester Racecourse gave music fans big name bands such as McFly, The Wanted, The Saturdays, Iggy And The Stooges, The Lightning Seeds, Shaun Ryder, Australian Pink Floyd as well as local acts. With VIP passes we were able to enjoy the acts upclose-and-personal - with the added bonus of no queuing for drinks, food or the toilet. My cousin enjoyed Saturday's younger acts more, but I favoured Sunday's old school vibe with crowdpleasing performances from Tommy Scott (Space), Iggy Pop and head liners Leftfield. Before Sunday's festival we stopped off at The Chester Grosvenor for the ultimate in posh nosh: an afternoon cream tea. Traditional afternoon tea is an English institution, which originates back to the 1600s when it was first introduced to stave off mid-afternoon hunger pangs. Today the ritual has grown to include a delicious array of accompaniments including sandwiches, scones, pastries and cakes. The Chester Grosvenor is right in the centre of the historic city by the Eastgate clock. Dating back 150 years, its Arkle Bar is named after the famous racehorse and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, who was owned by Anne, Duchess of Westminster. In the lounge we devoured lighter than light sponge cakes, buttery pastries and sandwiches made with freshly-baked bread. For an extra special treat there was Ruinart Rose Champagne. On our last night we stayed at the 128-bedroomed Mill Hotel and Spa in Milton Street. The accommodation is divided between a north and south wing, on either side of the picturesque Shropshire Union Canal. Our twin room was quite large with a view of the canal and a little sun terrace, and also boasted a Jacuzzi bath. The hotel has a free car park and is just a short walk into the city. We didn't have enough time to use the hotel's extensive spa facilities but we did pop into its pub bar for a well-earned nightcap to end our luxurious, action-packed weekend break. Dinner, B&B at Abode Chester (01244 347000, abodehotels.co.uk) from £109 (single) £129 (double). Two-night B&B family midweek break at Mill Hotel and Spa (01244 350035, millhotel.com), including one dinner in Canaletto Restaurant, from £195 (two adults & 2 children) Afternoon tea at Chester Grosvenor (chestergrosvenor.com, 01244 324024) Sun-Fri noon-4.30pm, Saturday noon, 2pm and 4pm Oddfellows - Lower Bridge Street (01244 400001, oddfellows.biz). www.chester-rocks.com http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2011/09/rock_around_the_clock_-_cheste.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2011/09/rock_around_the_clock_-_cheste.html Abode Chester Chester Chester Rocks Mill Hotel & Spa Oddfellows Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:38:50 +0000 living over the brush bliss, (aka cohabiting) and it seems to be getting louder every time I coo over friends family photo albums on Facebook and bump into proud new parents pushing their shiny new buggies, which incidentally seem to be loosing wheels! Yes I am in a settle relationship, and yes it is a bit later in life than I had hoped to find my happy ever after, and yes we know our future will be together forever, so we don't feel the need to rush into anything more commitment binding than what we already have- a new and very empty house we have just purchased together and the odd joint Christmas present, but everything happens for a reason and we are just grateful we ever found each other in the first place- altogether now 'Arrrr'. I'm not a naturally broody person, I never have been, I give the baby back to its mother when it cries or dribbles out a little bit of milky sick. Even when my beautiful twin nephews were born nine, yes nine years ago, I loved and adored them and probably spent more time than was welcome at my sister and brother in-laws house playing with those adorable boys and changing their nappies, but I will never understand how my wonderful sister Lisa and her hubby Kevin found time to sleep, eat or get a minute peace, in fact I don't know how any parents do it! Myself and Daniel have serious ambitions together, we want to travel the world, which can't be done in just 80 days Mr Phileas Fogg, especially when you only get five weeks holiday off a year like I do! We've got a three bedroom house to furnish and we've only been together for a couple of years and don't feel ready to share our lives with anyone else yet, not even a dog! Yet, almost everywhere I turn I am faced with articles and features on fertility problems of over 40 women, I can't pick up my monthly or even weekly fashion and beauty magazines without being poked in the face with an article on how fertility diminishes in women over 35 and the numerous complications during pregnancy for older women! These are all things you do not want to have to think about in the honeymoon flourish of a newish relationship, let alone discuss. From what we have already discussed, I know for sure that we are not ready for a child yet, plus I am extremly afraid of the thought of childbirth and the massive responsibility that comes with a baby. Maybe we might think about it again when I'm 38, or 40, but who wants to put a timeframe on it, I could even get to 40 and we decide, god forbid, that we don't want children (I can just see all the mother's out there recoiling in horror). Believe me these decisions are not one's I have taken lightly either, nobody can argue with the biological reality that younger women are more fertile than older women. I, like many other childless women around my age, have been researching the fore's and against pregnancies later in life and all the options for many years- harvesting eggs, IVF, not to mention the complications- chromosomal defects, foetal abnormalities, miscarriage, diabetes, placental abruption, pre-eclampsia, placenta previa, prolapse and stillbirth. And yet despite all the medical reports and horror stories there are in fact thousands of women out there, aged over 40, who are having healthy, happy, natural births all the time- so there is hope. Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics show that live births to mothers aged 40 and over have nearly doubled in the past decade. As for me, we are yet to decide if we are ready to share our lives with a little bundle of joy, but if we do at least we know there's no rush to make the decision now. www.mothersover40.com www.carefertility.com]]> http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2011/07/baby_boom.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2011/07/baby_boom.html chromosomal defects diabetes Fertility foetal abnormalities IVF miscarriage placenta previa placental abruption pre-eclampsia pregnancy prolapse stillbirth www.mothersover40.com. Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:25:43 +0000 you, not the other way round and if you are one of the lucky ladies out there who have a special gay man in your life feel very privileged and promise to always love, honour and obey them.]]> http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2011/04/every_woman_needs_a_gbf.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2011/04/every_woman_needs_a_gbf.html Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:20:28 +0000 Dianette is unique in that it is the only pill that increases this risk even further- to four times your normal risk! According to experts in the medical profession Dianette should only be prescribed for a limited time and should not be used as a primary method of contraception. All this is news to me. Not once through my constant surgery visits for blood pressure check-ups and repeat prescriptions for Dianette over the years- and we are talking years here, has any of these so-called medical practitioners ever questioned how long I've been on Dianette! Suddenly I feel very failed by the medical profession, the very service I pay my taxes to entrust with my health and wellbeing. Why oh why was I not informed of this risk before? Why has not one of the hundreds of different doctors I have seen in the three different surgery's throughout England and Wales, ever questioned me being prescribed Dianette. We are talking well over 10 years here. Should I sue, appeal or try and get some kind of official answer about this blindingly obvious malpractice before I become one of the every 100 people who dies as a result of DVT every year? I'm over-reacting I know, because I'm still alive but I might not be. And what do the medical profession advise if you are worried about DVT- "see you doctor". Ha ha don't make me laugh!]]> http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2011/02/trust_me_im_a_doctor.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2011/02/trust_me_im_a_doctor.html Dianette DVT Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:48:05 +0000 AFTER a hugely successful West End and Broadway run, Spamalot has taken to theatres across the UK with gusto and this week it exploded onto Venue Cymru's stage in Llandudno. Spamalot leaps, dances and joyously kicks around such expectant traps. In a word, Spamalot is perfect. Yes, it would have been nice to see Cleese and Palin tread those boards once more, but if you're looking for the next best thing then look no further. Laugh? Myself and my sister Lisa almost cried. This manic and endlessly surprising musical is basically a warped take on the famous King Arthur story, much in the same vain of (or lovingly ripped off from) Monty Python's Holy Grail. There are sexy dancers, killer rabbits, cows, and, oh yes, French people. Devised by Eric Idle, who has often been accused of 'cashing in' (undeniably true but who can blame him?) has ensured all film scenes are quoted to the letter, including his own hilarious cameo as God. Absurdity reigns supreme as King Arthur travels to Camelot to call upon Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad, Sir Bedevere and Not So Brave Sir Robin to aid him in his quest to find the Holy Grail. Injected with a healthy dose of fresh fun - poked at the likes of Heather Mills, Jedward and Susan Boyle - King Arthur (Matthew Kelly) and his trusty companion Patsy (Todd Carty) drive along the preposterous plot with energy as the Knights meet with a variety of weird and wonderful characters en route. What more could you want? Songs? Well, you're in luck! There are songs a plenty. And not only are they playfully struck and pitch perfectly perfect, mainly due to the wonderful Jodie Prenger (of Nancy/Oliver fame), but they are also outstandingly funny and stupidly clever.....oh, and yes, you may indeed be treated to everybody's favourite sing along, Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life aired by a surprisingly fine-voiced Todd Carty, met with contented clapping and whistling from the crowd. Belly laughs are raised by fleeting reference to the famous Spam sketch, the Killer Rabbit and the Knights Who Say "Ni". Spot-on comic timing and vocal talents of reality musical star of "I'd Do Anything" Jodie Prenger in her performance as diva-esque human manifestation of "watery tart" The Lady of The Lake were nothing short of superb. Unless you've had a sense-of-humour bypass, there's little to hate about Spamalot. The all singing and dancing extravagance of Vegas-style Camelot and the powerful comedy ballads of "I'm Not Dead Yet" and "This is the Song that Goes Like This" go down a storm. Spamalot has glimmers of brilliance and comic genius, and Idle has successfully caught a mood - no mean feat in itself, and has managed to stamp his own authority and identity on the piece, while remaining faithful to the Python 'brand'. For two hours it kept the packed Venue Cymru, Llandudno crowd (including Phil Jupitus of Never Mind the Buzzcocks fame!?) in fits - and it was a deserved response. A must-see comic musical for Python fans everywhere! (I'm sorry you missed it Daniel x)]]> http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2011/01/prepare_to_laugh-a-lot_at_spam.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2011/01/prepare_to_laugh-a-lot_at_spam.html Spamalot Venue Cymru Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:38:38 +0000 NOW I'm not crazy about having my feet touched, so how did I come to find myself at the Fortina Spa Resort, Malta's finest 5star spa- having hundreds of aquatic-dwelling critters nibbling at my hard skin? Well, while I was on holiday last month in the beautiful coastal resort of Sliema in Malta with my boyfriend Daniel he suggested I treat myself to a spa treatment during our weeks stay. What a good idea I thought, but one facial isn't enough to even begin to make a dent in my sun-damaged face and seven days is not enough time to complete any of their extensive range of cellulite treatments taking into considering the amount of complimentary wine and rich food being consumed during our all-inclusive stay- making it a complete waste of money. So I decided to try the latest beauty craze- The Doctor Fish Pedicure. Call it aversion therapy, but I reasoned the best way to face my foot-touching fear was to take the plunge, literally, feet first into a tank full of hungry 'doctor fish' also known as Garra Rufa. Originally found in the hot springs of Kangal in Turkey, where tourists have flocked for treatment since 1960, the 'doctor fish' have long been used to treat skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, although it should be noted that this particular treatment at the Fortina Spa is beauty focused. Naturally omnivorous, these toothless fish, which are a species of carp, are nature's scavengers, living off algae and the dead skin of bigger fish, or my feet in this case, and are notoriously hard to breed. I hover my feet above the meter-long tank swarming with hungry fish circling expectantly, and my therapist assures me the fish will only feed off dead skin, but after a long-standing shoe habit I'm afraid my battered, gnarled feet may cause a feeding frenzy! The trick is to plunge your feet into the tank in one slow smooth motion to deter the fish from concentrating on one area and to stop you chickening out. I take a deep breath and go for it. The fish immediately cluster around my feet and start latching on, which I have to admit was not unpleasant. Their gentle sucking is painless and relaxing abet a little ticklish, especially when they get in between my toes. For the next 20 minutes I sit transfixed, as the fish go about their work, with Daniel taking the odd photo, and I start to see how this is considered a relaxing therapy. Annoyingly the fish tank is located in the Spa's reception area, but I can see the benefits as I'm inundated with curious looks and enquiries from people about how it feels, the cost and if it works- I feel like an edible advert! But does it work? My session ends with a relaxing foot massage and then I finally get to feel my tenderises tootsies and they are extremely soft. Some hard skin is still visible, but I am told as the fish tackle the easiest parts first, it can take up to eight sessions for people with a passion for high-heels like me, to notice a significant difference. But at 15 Euros a go (about £13) it's a relatively reasonable treatment. The verdict? I'm hooked! ]]> http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/11/fish_pedicure_in_maltai_takes.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/11/fish_pedicure_in_maltai_takes.html Fish Doctor Fish Pedicure Fortina Spa Resort Malta Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:28:27 +0000 Mad Men's Christina Hendricks firmly in the fashion spotlight and plus-size models like Crystal Renn now becoming a familiar scene gracing the catwalks I feel that for once this season doesn't have to be a struggle. No more squeezing, I can wear my trusty mid-calf pencil skirts, body-hugging dresses and high heels and I can wiggle my fat bum with wild abandon in this autumn's sassy lines.]]> http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/09/hooray_my_figures_in_fashion_a.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/09/hooray_my_figures_in_fashion_a.html Thu, 30 Sep 2010 12:00:30 +0000 I've got a confession to make, and I bet I'm not the only one! We are more than half way through the year and despite joining my local council run gym in Llandudno Junction at the beginning of the year, I've not set a foot in it for months. I feel terrible about it and although I also feel desperately unhappy about my fat and frumpy body I just can't seem to find the motivation to do something constructive about losing weight and shaping up. Like many people, I work in an office and sit on my bottom for 8 hours a-day most days, unless I'm off out (in the car) round my patch searching for stories. When I get home I'm either too tired to do anything but flop-out in front of the television with a glass of wine or when the weather's been nice I've gone out for a lovely long walk with my trusty ipod for company. Now I'm sure any fitness expert would agree that getting out in the fresh air is far better than being cooped-up inside a sweaty gym, but its not making any difference to my wellbeing- I'm not asking you for answers dear readers- because I know what I HAVE to do in order to lose weight and shape up, it just seems like too much like hard work and sacrifice to get started. I've lost my mojo. When it comes to getting fit or not, as is my case- I just can't be bothered getting started, and I think its probably down to my very impatient personality and the need for overnight success, which I know is not realistic for an over-30 like myself- not even a week at military New You Boot Camp shifted the lbs, its not flab its concrete! Don't get me wrong, Llandudno Junction gym is decked out with amazing workout equipment, I've been given a training plan and their extensive workout classes including Studio Cycle on a Tuesday, Bodybar on a Sunday, Absolute Abs and Boxercise on a Thursday, a weight loss club and membership from just £21 a month is great but I just can't be bothered going. Why? http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/09/its_confession_time.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/09/its_confession_time.html www.conwy.gov.uk/sectionextra.asp?cat=6117 www.fit-retreats.com/about-us www.newyoubootcamp.com Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:37:04 +0000 follow the link) http://www.dailypost.co.uk/leisure/entertainment-news/2010/08/27/x-factor-finalist-niki-evans-on-being-a-west-end-star-55578-27146476/ Aug 27 2010 by Samantha Castle, Daily Post ]]> http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/08/from_dinnerlady_to_west_end_st.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/08/from_dinnerlady_to_west_end_st.html Blood Brothers Daily Post Wales Venue Cymru X-Factor Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:38:12 +0000 ]]> http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/06/lets_off-road.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/06/lets_off-road.html Bala LRESnowdonia Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:04:16 +0000 I BRIEFLY paused my life and decided to take an interest in what morally responsible, politically sensitive, environmentally aware, health-conscious humans were supposed to be putting on their dining tables. But, unless you are willing to pay through the nose, which I'm unfortunately not in a position to do, it quickly becomes a ridiculous way of life - no meat, no dairy products, no wheat, no sugar, no fat, not even fish and certainly no sausages. No out-of-season vegetables, no eggs, actually, nothing. Well at least I'd be thinner! I try not to think about the chickens and if they suffered or had any kind of life before being shrink-wrapped while I'm walking down the meat isle of my local supermarket, even after watching kids animation 'Chicken Run' with my nephews, I didn't feel a pang of guilt when buying the cheapest chicken carcass on the shelf. I didn't care where it came from, how long it lived, or how much exercise it was allowed to take- I pushed those thoughts to the back of my conscious. I didn't even spare a though if its so pumped up with hormones it makes men at the table grow breasts. That's the trouble you see, in order to be a morally responsible, politically sensitive, environmentally aware, health-conscious human I would be broke and hungry. Correct me if I'm wrong but organic food is very expensive and if we insist on sparing a thought about how animal may or may not have suffered during their short lives and even shorter death's, I may as well become a vegetarian. But its not all bad, after contemplating this matter for some time I have since made more of an effort when shopping to try and source any organic and Fair Trade products (on offer) while in Asda and Tesco and recently my gorgeous newish boyfriend (Dishy Daniel) and I even went to a local butcher in Bangor to buy lamb shanks, chicken, bacon and sausages and although it did cost a small fortune we did feel a slight smug sense of happiness knowing exactly where our Sunday roast had come from. http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/06/its_not_always_easy_being_a_me.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/06/its_not_always_easy_being_a_me.html Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:57:56 +0000 I have also learned to play a guitar, to pole-dance (see previous blog posts) and will soon be trying off-road driving in a Range Rover in the wilds of Snowdonia! Being empowered is about achieving your dreams and about daring yourself to do more. "We're so routine-driven," according to psychologist Celia d-Felice, who has recently published a book called Dare To Be You. "If it isn't always work and family its another habit that we can't get out of. It becomes difficulty to imagine another reality." Its all about conquering fear or conquering your fear of fear. Recently, Germaine Greer wrote in The Times arguing that the feminist revolution was only just starting. She said we are only now inspecting our own futures and taking charge. So if your 20's are for working out who you are in relation to other people, your 30's are for working out who you are in relation to yourself. This makes your 40's a triumph, and not only because you have found the perfect colourist! We girls are past mistresses at finding excuses not to do things for ourselves. But now more than ever we should be showing our children what we're made of. Why dine out on old stories when you can spin new ones, physical challengers are wonderful- nothing feels as good as freedom tastes. If you need inspiration just look at these past great female adventurers. Sylvia Earle- oceanographer and explorer, she led the first female team of aquanauts, set a record for solo diving to a depth of 1,000 meters and has walked untethered on the sea floor at a lower depth than any other human before or since. At 75, she had 15 honorary degrees, authored 150 scientific publications and led more than 70 expeditions. Dian Fossey- zoologist, conservationist and author of Gorillas in the Mist, she did more to reconfigured out understanding of gorillas than anyone else before of since. Her last ever diary entry read: "When you realise the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrated on the preservation of the future." Amelia Earthart- aviator and pioneer and the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. She always maintained that men and women were equal in jobs requiring intelligence, co-ordination, speed and willpower. On a lighter note- dancing is also very good for you, not just keeping you fit and burning calories but also by producing happy hormones. I was very brave, some might say foolish, at the weekend when I went nightclubbing with my cousin, who is 10 years my junior. But we had an amazing couple of hours at gay-friendly Liverpool nightclub Garlands. We dancing non-stop for two hours and came away feeling enlightened. Thanks to the management at Garlands nightclub, Eberle Street, Liverpool. www.garlandsnightclub.com]]> http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/04/be_brave_and_empower_youself.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/04/be_brave_and_empower_youself.html Fit Retreats Garlands nightclub Newyou bootcamp Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:42:32 +0000 Weekly News reporter Samantha Castle was given the chance to meet boxing champion Mike Tyson she jumped at it. Meeting the Baddest Man on the Planet was quite a profound experience for me. Not being a boxing fan but still being very aware of Mr Tyson's reputation in and out of the ring made me feel slightly apprehensive of our meeting and put me at a disadvantage knowledge- wise, but I had no reason to fear him he was a pussycat! I had been invited, courtesy of Dragon Promotions' Mike Williams, ring-master of the An Evening with Mike Tyson tour, to experience the £75 VIP package for myself. I along with thousands of eager men and a handful of less eager women pilled into Venue Cymru last Friday evening and took my place at the back of a long queue to meet the legend that is Iron Man Mike Tyson. After a number of security checks and the opportunity to purchase my own unique piece of Mike Tyson memorabilia including framed boxing gloves, shorts, T-shirts and photos, I eventually had my turn. Under strick instructions that I wasn't allowed to ask Mr Tyson a single question- which was just as well as I know nothing about boxing and was actually going to ask what his favourite cheese was and did he have anymore plans to act (see The Hangover)- I took my place beside him under the glare of the flashbulbs. Dressed in a brown suit and looking mean and trim for his 43 years, with a shaven head and that famous facial tattoo, he clasps my right hand in both his huge shovel-like hands and said 'Good evening mam' in a soft voice that reminded me of the late Michael Jackson's soft raspy whisper. I put my left arm round his back against his still very solid torso, we both faced the camera and smiled and he then he turned to me again and said 'Thank you' and 'Good buy' as I left the room. Softly spoken and very polite- how surprisingly nice! The show itself was a funny affair with a panel of boxing greats including Mike Tyson- the youngest heavyweight champion in history, Big Joe Egan, Jonny Nelson and former world heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon lined up on the stage surrounded by more boxing memorabilia. After the boxing greats each took their turn sharing anecdotes about their time with Mike there was a rather slap-stick auction of the boxing paraphernalia before Mike himself took to the stage for a short Q&A session. Altogether a very interesting and entertaining evening- one to tell the grandchildren. ]]> http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/03/my_evening_with_mike_tysonalon.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/03/my_evening_with_mike_tysonalon.html Dragon Promotions Mike Tyson Venuw Cymru Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:00:58 +0000 She added: "Instructor Kieran and I will be doing all of the fitness classes in the centre all week leading up to Sport Relief. We are collecting sponsors online and in person." To donate log on to: www.mysportrelief.com/ljlc ]]> http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/03/my_inner_gym-bunnys_hopped_off.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/03/my_inner_gym-bunnys_hopped_off.html Ffit Conwy Sports Relief Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:20:26 +0000 Weekly News reporter Samantha Castle each week as she sets out to improve her mind, body and soul in her New Year, New Me! weekly online blogspot. Each week I will take a closer look at how I can improve not only my physical wellbeing- by all the usual methods and some more unusual and alternative ones, but also my mental attitude to life and all it throws at me. Far from being the months for successful new beginnings, January, February and March are often the time we set ourselves up for failure. So this year I have decided to reflect less on the changes I want to make and focus more on my actual wellbeing. 2009 was a tough old year for me and by the sounds of it I'm not alone as most of my friends, colleagues, facebook buddies and twitter chums agree, whether its redundancies or house repossessions- the recession has got to us all. So its good riddance 2009, and hello 2010! My first tentative steps to renew my mind and body was to rejoin the gym. Public and privately owned health clubs can be lonely, boring and intimidating places at the best of times, but after speaking to the staff at my local council run gym in Llandudno Junction, I now have the confidence and conviction to drag my podgy-self down to any one of eight local leisure centres available to Ffit Conwy members across the county. Since January I have had access to a number of activities including spinning, water aerobics, step class, circuit training and fitball sessions and I have also been given a short gym workout programme specifically tailored to my personal health and fitness needs, which I'm slowly but surely working my way through. So I hope you will tune in each week to read my reports and reviews and maybe learn from my experiences and giggle at any titillations I encounter along the way. ]]> http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/02/new_year_new_me_1.html http://www.pennypincher.northwalesblogs.co.uk/2010/02/new_year_new_me_1.html ffit conwy new year new me samantha castle Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:54:57 +0000