Turning The Windsor “Quay”

Last October, me and Andy made the first big step in our relationship and moved in together into our very own flat! It was the right decision at the right time, for many reasons. We were living in a shared house and as a couple, we naturally wanted our own space and a place that we could call ours! I'd also just started working at Llamau, a job that I was happy and proud to call mine and Andy had also decided to go back to University to study Computing. The two of us were in a good place to move in together - it was the next best thing!

We found a nice little flat not too far from Cardiff Bay. I actually found it advertised on Gumtree funnily enough. When we first went to view it, I actually had to miss the first viewing because I went to see it in my lunch break and the lady showing us around turned up late so first impressions probably weren’t the best! But Andy viewed it and really liked it – the lady even asked if Andy and myself would like to come and view it again after I’d finished work because she felt bad that I didn’t get to see it.

I think as soon as I saw the flat, I really liked it! I really liked the living room especially the fact that it overlooks the river. I really like the red sofas, I think the red looks really nice in the flat! For me, the living room is just big enough for just the two of us.

I also really liked the kitchen – especially the little breakfast table. Sometimes me and Andy sit there and have our food together. Even though it looks small, there’s actually lots of storage space in the kitchen as well and its just the right size of the two of us!

I think the woman who showed us around liked us, she must have liked the fact we were a couple and when we replied to her add, how we introduced ourselves and said a little bit about the two of us so she already had a picture of what we were like and whether we would be suited for the flat. Apparently other people just messaged her asking if it was available!

She rang us that same evening to tell us that the flat was ours! It was a great feeling – knowing that me and Andy would have our own little place to ourselves! We were living in a shared house with a live in landlord at the time so it was always his house, it was never “our home”. Its been great having our own flat. The best part was being able to go shopping for homely touches to the flat and being able to put whatever we wanted wherever we wanted. In our last place, we lived with the landlord so naturally it was his house and we’d have to ask his permission if we wanted to make changes to the house. I really like buying little things for the flat – I’m still looking for little cute decorations for the flat now! It probably doesn’t help that we have an Ikea and a few supermarkets in walking distance!

I bought these little heart bowls and like to fill them up with sweets for ‘guests’ – me and Andy usually end up eating them!

It was really nice at Christmas because a lot of family and friends bought us things for the flat as well – my friend Steph bought me some lovely candles for the flat and Andy’s grandparents bought us lots of little toiletries and kitchen equipment of our own. We’ve entered that stage of life now where we get given kitchen utensils as presents for our own flat!

And with the spare bedroom, its great to be able to have my parents stay over for the first time at my own place in Cardiff and to also have friends over to stay. Its the first flat I’ve been proud to show people around for the first time because as a student, I’ve either lived in halls or flats that you would be ashamed to invite anyone into. Its such a great location for the two of us as well, there’s supermarkets and lots of nice places to eat nearby and we’re not too far from Cardiff Bay or even into the city centre. Its also nice for the two of us to be able to just relax in our own home and do nice effortless things like film nights together. There’s lots of places to go for walks as well, there’s lots of little parks and walking trails that we like to walk down usually on Sundays when the weather is nice.

I can't wait till the summer where we'll be able to open our little balcony doors in our living room where the swans and the rowing boats pass by the riverside. It'll also be great to walk down towards the bay and watch the white water rafting and to walk over to the Cardiff bay barrage. I'm very lucky to have such a lovely flat and to be able to share it with Andy; my boyfriend, my best friend and when I come home from work and I walk past the riverside view, I always remember and remind myself that!

You Can’t Hurry Love!

Most people on Valentine's Day go out with their loved ones - maybe for a romantic meal or do something special to celebrate their relationship. Just like most couples, Leighton James took his partner to Terra Nova in Cardiff Bay to celebrate Valentine's Day but what she didn't know was that this "date" would be more special to the two of them than she realised! Leighton had arranged with the help of a Sing & Inspire flash mob choir to propose to Emma Williams, his partner of 10 years and I had the privilege of being part of that special moment as a member of the choir!

When I arrived at Terra Nova, the restaurant was packed. I could just about get through the door! There were crowds of people and most of them I recognised from the choir! It was strange walking into the restaurant and knowing everyone there – its probably the most popular I’ve ever been!

So many people from different choirs were there, there must have been over 60 of us singing for the happy couple! My choir; SuperChoir and The Llamau Big Sing were there as well as Admiral Inspire choir, Cardiff University choir, GE Aviation choir and other workplace choirs!  When Sing & Inspire told us all about Emma’s story we all fell in love with the idea of doing something special for her – she deserves some happiness and something positive to focus on!

Seven months ago, Emma developed a neurological condition that affects her spine while blood was also travelling up her spine towards her brain. As a result she has been left paralysed and now spends six days a week in hospital.The couple and their five children’s lives have subsequently changed completely. But now, the proposal will give both the happy couple something uplifting and exciting to think about!

For me, this is really what Valentine’s Day is all about. Its not about buying the most expensive presents and showering your partner with commercial gifts even though the shops do go commercial crazy! Its about showing your partner how much they mean to them and for Leighton to be able to show Emma how much he loves her with the help of our choir, is a beautiful thing! Its just something that money simply couldn’t buy – that memory will stay with Emma forever and thanks to the video, she can watch it over and over again!

We weren’t the only ones who also fell in love with Emma’s story, Wales Online wanted to know all about The Flash mob proposal!

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We all gathered in different places around the restaurant talking to each other, acting as part of the furniture. Me and a few of the other altos stood beside the staircase ready for our cue – the tenors and sopranos were hidden, waiting upstairs ready for the music to start. It was so exciting knowing what was about to happen and Emma had no idea!

When “You Can’t Hurry Love” began, the male section started singing and walking down the stairs with the soprano section mirroring them on the opposite staircase. As an alto, we were singing in the middle of the restaurant near the couple but not directly at them so Emma still wouldn’t suspect anything! It looked brilliant!

It was a tight squeeze when everyone came down the stairs – especially for me I’m only small! The males were coming at me from one angle and then the sopranos at the other! It was like a scene from the stampede in The Lion King! But, in all seriousness, it was great to be able to sing and share this feeling with all my choir friends – some that I only see at certain gigs and some that I see every Monday and Wednesday in rehearsals. We sang “You Can’t Hurry Love” and then as we were finishing Leighton went to grab something from his pocket. It then dawned on Emma what was about to happen! It was so exciting and surreal to be watching this couples’ moment. I was lucky, one of the women from Llamau had pulled me to the front with her so I could see what was happening. Everyone was so happy and emotional! And she said yes!!

To celebrate we sang “Just the way/ I wanna dance with somebody” it would only be right to use our iconic flash mob proposal song! It was a brilliant feeling to have been a part of their special day, speaking to everyone afterwards we were all still buzzing from this amazing feeling!

As I walked home to spend the rest of my Valentines day with Andy, I kept looking at the view of Cardiff Bay from the River Taff Bridge. The view looked beautiful, all lit up with the boats sailing over the River Taff. I couldn't stop thinking about how lucky am I to be able to see this view everyday - to be able to live in Cardiff with Andy and be part of all the exciting moments that Cardiff brings such as being with the choir! In Emma and Leighton's case, you can't hurry love - the right opportune moment came to Leighton to propose and for me, like most people we can all be unlucky in love but now, I'm so glad that I have Andy waiting for me with a romantic dinner for our Valentines!