Latest news with #Romany
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
Beautiful Romany wagon tucked away in wildflower meadow by river with brown trout and otters
Beautiful Romany wagon tucked away in wildflower meadow by river with brown trout and otters A truly unique 'tranquil and enchanting' site that sadly the owners are now forced to take to auction Not your usual property for sale (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) Have you ever experienced the arguably very stressful scenario of buying a property without even seeing it in reality? Andrew Newland from Pontypridd and Alexandra from Mold have done it - three times - and one of the unseen purchases was as unique as the situation. After spending 14 years living and teaching in Asia teaching in China, Thailand, Vietnam and lastly Hong Kong, the couple were ready to come home to Wales to re-establish roots for raising a family. The pair were looking for a business to buy with their friends John and Rachel, and stumbled across surely one of the most wonderful and wild holiday lets in west Wales - a pocket of land that is home to a genuine Romany wagon as well as a wooden cabin and pretty slice of land. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here. READ MORE: We transformed an old cow shed into an incredible Welsh home ALSO: Stunning country manor with cottages and over 500 acres of land for sale for £4.5m The Romany Gypsy Wagon is joined on the site by a wooden chalet (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) Article continues below Andrew says: " We hadn't actually seen the place, we were still in Hong Kong when we bought it - we sent our in-laws as scouts and they had a good look around for us and they fell in love with the place - it's unique - just under an acre and where the wagon and cabin are and then separate flower meadow connected by a small bridge that we built and there's a section of river that flows through the site with trout and salmon and otters. "Family and friends thought we were 'a bit mad' but they know us and in life we've taken the road less travelled, so it was very 'on brand' for us." But as soon as the couple visited the site near Llangrannog, Ceredigion they were enchanted. Andrew remembers: " We were immediately taken by it - there was a storm, my wife was heavily pregnant with our second child and the phone signal is not very good and there's no WiFi but even with all that we fell in love with the place. The site is 0.65 acres in size (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) "It's the silence - the fact it was totally cut off - such a difference to what we were used to, to Hong Kong - to come into that, a slice of heaven in Wales. It's where time slows down. "I love the wagon most of all, it's almost womb-like! Because the cover is all insulated you're cosseted from sound as well so it's very much how I imagine what a womb is like. It's got a nice big comfy bed and heating, room under the bed to fit a dog bed too if visitors want to bring their dog away with them. Idyllic and peaceful place to relax near Llangrannog, Ceredigion (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) "The wagon is one of the main reasons why the site got planning permission as a holiday let - because of the historical value of the wagon itself, it's a genuine vintage Romany wagon. And i t's a stunning location even if the weather is not great, you can still lie in bed, read a book with the top half of the wagon door open and watch the rain." The site comes with a wooden cabin too that offers a kitchenette with bistro table and chairs and an amazing view from the kitchen sink, a shower room and a lounge which opens out onto a new raised deck area, one of the features the couple have worked on since owning the site, as well as tidying the foliage, renovating the paths, painting the wagon and building a bridge over the little river. The Romany gypsy wagon looks very inviting (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) Andrew says: "You come out of the cabin in the morning with your coffee and you sit there and you feel like you're in the trees, you're well above the wagon and above the river so you're up mid-tree level - you're in amongst the birds - there are so many fantastic birds there - we fill the feeders and watch them and that's all you can hear, the bird song and the river." But not seeing the site before they bought it was not the challenge for the couple. It is said by many people that timing is important with a property purchase and for Andrew and Alex it was bad timing - they came back to Wales and were the new owners of the site in December 2019, just a few months before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Inside the wagon is comfortable and cosy (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) Andrew, a retrofit assessor, says the situation wiped out the first 18 months of running the tranquil and secluded site as a successful holiday let and led to a change of plan and location for the family. He says: " We were going to come back home and set up a holistic fitness retreat, run it from the land and develop it further and have more accommodation but we had to make other plans and so I started a business near Chester so we ended up being based in north Wales." The site also contains a wood chalet which is also part of the auction lot (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) The two couples ran the holiday let business via and trying to visit the site as much as possible to keep it maintained and also stay and enjoy it themselves occasionally. Andrew says: "People love it as much as we do which is fantastic, everybody who comes to stay seems to have the same experience - people feel like they are transported back to a simpler time - lack of phone signal, lack of WiFi, it taps into a sense of nostalgia." Inside the chalet and it's surprisingly spacious with a kitchenette and cost lounge (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) The site has even attracted the attention of TV presenter and celebrity Richard Hammond, who stayed back in 2007 before the two couples owned it and it was booked via company Under The Thatch, said: "It was only in the morning that I fully appreciated why this place is so popular. "Although the caravan scores high on novelty points, it's the setting that's the real winner. Tucked away in the corner of a wild-flower meadow next to the river where brown trout and otter are protected as part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest, it's secluded and ridiculously picturesque." The cute kitchen also has space to eat at a bistro table (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) However after a few years making the three to four hour journey from north Wales to this special spot near the Ceredigion coast it is with heavy hearts the two couples have decided to sell the site and pass on this idyllic and enchanting site on to a new owner, who has the chance to realise its potential to expand the business into the land and increase the size of the cabin, subject to planning of course, and if they want to. Andrew says the experience has taught them the value of owning a holiday let and says if someone is thinking of purchasing the site, or any other unique property, they should consider what makes it distinctive in the first place, and cherish it. For more property stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here The chalet can even boast a shower room with full facilities (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) He says: "Try and maintain the character of the place. It would have been easy for us to tear the cabin down, to remove the wagon, and put on some standard glamping facility but we wanted to maintain the character of the place - we wanted to keep it authentic, that's what we strived for. "Keep the authenticity of the place and then it rings true to everybody who comes. Oh, and make sure it's not a four hour drive away, get one closer to where you live!" The 0.65 acre site, including the wagon and the cabin, is going to auction with a guide price of £99,000 with Auction House Wales with bidding opening on Monday June 23 at noon and finishing on Wednesday June 25 at 12.36pm, call 01633 212555 to find out more. Viewings are strictly via appointment with the local agent Morgan and Davies, Aberaeron, call 01545 571600 to find out more. The chalet's wooden deck is a sun-kissed bonus feature perfect for alfresco dining or star-gazing (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) Andrew says: "Selling is definitely bittersweet for us. It holds a lot of emotional value, and parting with it isn't easy. That said, it's a necessary step for the next phase of our lives, which we're genuinely excited about. "While there's some sadness and disappointment in letting it go, we're also happy knowing that someone else will have the chance to realise the full potential of the site. It's a special place, and we hope the new owners will love it as much as we have." Article continues below Find your own holiday let or property for sale in Wales:
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Chris Hughes' ex reveals she's pregnant as Celebrity Big Brother star confirms Jowo Siwa relationship
Her partner is believed to be worth in excess of £10million Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHRIS Hughes' former girlfriend has revealed that she is pregnant and expecting her first child. Tennis player Annabel Dimmock confirmed the news that she would be welcoming her first baby on Instagram earlier today. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Annabel Dimmock has revealed that she is pregnant with her first child Credit: Instagram 5 It will be the star's first child with Alfie Best Jnr Credit: Instagram 5 Annabel was previously loved-up with Chris Hughes Credit: Instagram The star showed off her bare baby bump in the snaps as she lounged by a private pool. She wore a pink crop top which allowed her blossoming belly to be totally exposed as she kept her jean shorts unbuttoned to allow for extra breathing space. Annabel captioned her pregnancy reveal post with a cheeky tennis pun, writing: "New rookie on tour coming soon." Whilst she did not add anything further, her post appeared to allude at the baby's gender as she posed next to a tiny pair of pink fluffy shoes in a clear hint she is expecting a girl. It will be the first child of Chris' ex and her partner, Alfie Best Jnr. Alfie has previously been described as the son of the UK's richest gypsy, worth a cool £10million thanks to his dad. Alfie's dad - Alfie Snr - has a billion pound fortune, a £6million mansion, a fleet of supercars, an Aston Martin helicopter, a jet and a yacht. The Sun first revealed Annabel and Alfie's romance in 2023 with pals of the tennis ace praising Alfie and their blossoming relationship. The jet-setting entrepreneur - who has a £10million fortune – told The Sun how he has found inner peace after converting to Islam. The Romany gypsy, 25, who appeared in reality show Absolutely Ascot, is thought to be the first traveller to take up the faith and told how he found Allah after a helicopter trip to Cornwall for lunch. Chris Hughes breaks silence on JoJo Siwa relationship and he's quizzed by Ben Shepherd on This Morning Alfie - joint 85th in the Rich List for people under 30 with actress Millie Bobby Brown - left school at 12, hired a van and a driver and sold cleaning products to factory bosses. He bought a nightclub at 16 and sold it a year later. Now he owns two caravan parks and sells eye-wateringly expensive watches to celebs, millionaires and footballers. Annebel split from Chris in 2022 after an 11-month romance. The news of Annabel and Alfie's baby comes after her ex Chris revealed joyous news of his own - that he had fallen for former child star, JoJo Siwa. The pair developed an intensely close bond in the Celebrity Big Brother house although JoJo was romancing Aussie star Kath Ebbs at the time. She later dumped Kath at the show's wrap-party and quickly moved things along with Chris after revealing their extreme friendship was no longer "platonic". The couple have since shared plenty of loved-up snaps and gushed about their bond in a number of media interviews. 5 They split in 2022 before she found love with Alfie Credit: Instagram
Buzz Feed
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
"Wuthering Heights'" Casting Director Shares Four-Word Response To Margot Robbie And Jacob Elordi Backlash
AP Saltburn director Emerald Fennell is working on a brand new adaptation of Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in the lead roles. However, the casting of the upcoming film has already faced criticism, with some claiming the character of Heathcliff – who is described as having alternately Romany and Indian heritage, and who is written as 'dark-skinned' in the original gothic novel – has been ' whitewashed ' with the Euphoria star's casting. Others reckon Margot is unconvincing as the book's teenage heroine, Catherine Earnshaw. look at this 17 year old teenager in 1783 — naz ᓚᘏᗢ (@enchantednaz) March 23, 2025 Speaking at the Sands film festival in Scotland, the movie's casting director, Kharmel Cochrane, had a strong response to both critiques. Per Deadline, the casting director said there is 'no need' to be completely true to the original text, claiming: 'It's just a book'. Kharmel shared: 'There was one Instagram comment that said the casting director should be shot. 'But just wait till you see it, and then you can decide whether you want to shoot me or not. But you really don't need to be accurate. It's just a book. That is not based on real life. It's all art.' The casting director added: 'There's definitely going to be some English Lit fans that are not going to be happy. Wait until you see the set design, because that is even more shocking. And there may or may not be a dog collar in it'. Some fans have responded poorly to the comment, with one sharing on X: 'so they saw the whitewashing backlash and proceeded to ignore it.' so they saw the whitewashing backlash and proceeded to ignore it — ❤️🔥 (@nerdphobik) April 28, 2025 'But you really don't need to be accurate. It's just a book' STOP HIRING PEOPLE WHO DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE SOURCE MATERIAL — 𝓔𝓶 💫 (@emkenobi) April 28, 2025 Previous Heathcliff actors in major productions of Wuthering Heights have included Ralph Fiennes, Timothy Dalton, Sir Laurence Olivier and Tom Hardy, while mixed-race actor James Howson also took the lead in a 2011 adaptation. Much-loved movies like Bridget Jones' Diary and 10 Things I Hate About You have previously provided a far-from-loyal adaptation of Austen and Shakespeare 's texts, respectively. Meanwhile, a Time film critic lauded Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet – which reimagined the story as being set in modern-day California – as 'one of the best Shakespeare adaptations'.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wuthering Heights' Casting Director Shares 4-Word Response To Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi Backlash
Saltburn director Emerald Fennell is working on a brand new adaptation of Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in the lead roles. However, the casting of the upcoming film has already faced criticism, with some claiming the character of Heathcliff – who is described as having alternately Romany and Indian heritage, and who is written as 'dark-skinned' in the original gothic novel – has been 'whitewashed' with the Euphoria star's casting. Others reckon Margot is unconvincing as the book's teenage heroine, Catherine Earnshaw. look at this 17 year old teenager in 1783 — naz ᓚᘏᗢ (@enchantednaz) March 23, 2025 Speaking at the Sands film festival in Scotland, the movie's casting director, Kharmel Cochrane, had a strong response to both critiques. Per Deadline, the casting director said there is 'no need' to be completely true to the original text, claiming: 'It's just a book'. Kharmel shared: 'There was one Instagram comment that said the casting director should be shot. 'But just wait till you see it, and then you can decide whether you want to shoot me or not. But you really don't need to be accurate. It's just a book. That is not based on real life. It's all art.' The casting director added: 'There's definitely going to be some English Lit fans that are not going to be happy. Wait until you see the set design, because that is even more shocking. And there may or may not be a dog collar in it'. Some fans have responded poorly to the comment, with one sharing on X: 'so they saw the whitewashing backlash and proceeded to ignore it.' so they saw the whitewashing backlash and proceeded to ignore it — ❤️🔥 (@nerdphobik) April 28, 2025 Another X user opined: 'STOP HIRING PEOPLE WHO DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE SOURCE MATERIAL.' 'But you really don't need to be accurate. It's just a book' STOP HIRING PEOPLE WHO DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE SOURCE MATERIAL — 𝓔𝓶 💫 (@emkenobi) April 28, 2025 Previous Heathcliff actors in major productions of Wuthering Heights have included Ralph Fiennes, Timothy Dalton, Sir Laurence Olivier and Tom Hardy, while mixed-race actor James Howson also took the lead in a 2011 adaptation. Much-loved movies like Bridget Jones' Diary and 10 Things I Hate About You have previously provided a far-from-loyal adaptation of Austen and Shakespeare's texts, respectively. Meanwhile, a Time film critic lauded Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet – which reimagined the story as being set in modern-day California – as 'one of the best Shakespeare adaptations'. Only time will tell if the new Wuthering Heights will receive the same acclaim... Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights Accused Of 'Whitewashing' Amid Jacob Elordi Casting Reports Who Cares About Pride And Prejudice's New Darcy? Austen Knew He Was Never The Real Romantic Lead Tom Hardy Recalls Pride & Prejudice Producer's Very Blunt Reaction To Him Playing Mr Darcy
The Guardian
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘It's just a book': Wuthering Heights casting director defends choice of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi
Kharmel Cochrane, the casting director of Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights has defended the choice of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi for the leading roles. Speaking at the Sands film festival in Scotland, Cochrane responded to criticism of both actors' ages and Elordi's ethnicity by saying there was 'no need to be accurate' as the source material is 'just a book', Deadline reported. Brontë's novel is set in the late 1700s in rural Yorkshire and depicts the passionate relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, an orphan fostered by her father, who is described in the book as having dark hair, dark eyes and dark skin. Many believe the character is meant to hail from a Romany or Gypsy background, which accounts for much of the prejudice against him. Most big and small screen adaptations of the novel have ignored this, with the character having been played by actors including Ralph Fiennes, Tom Hardy and Timothy Dalton. However, Andrea Arnold's 2011 adaptation did cast a mixed race actor, James Howson, in the role. Both Howson and his co-star, Kaya Scodelario, were also a similar age to the characters in the novel, who are in their early 20s for much of the story. Robbie is 34, while Elordi – who also hails from Australia – is 27. 'There was one Instagram comment that said the casting director should be shot,' said Cochrane. 'But just wait till you see it, and then you can decide whether you want to shoot me or not. But you really don't need to be accurate. It's just a book. That is not based on real life. It's all art.' She continued: 'There's definitely going to be some English Lit fans that are not going to be happy. Wait until you see the set design, because that is even more shocking. And there may or may not be a dog collar in it.' Her response also met with online comebacks. 'So they saw the whitewashing backlash and proceeded to ignore it,' wrote one user on X. Another flagged Wuthering Heights' engagement with contemporary issues. 'A classic book that famously talks about class politics, racism & the patriarchal system of the time.' Elordi starred in Fennell's irreverent black comedy Saltburn, released in 2023, loosely inspired by Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited. The director won an Oscar in 2021 for the screenplay of her debut film, Promising Young Woman. Robbie starred in and produced Barbie, the biggest film of 2023. Leaked photographs of her on set of Fennell's film in an anachronistic wedding dress attracted ire earlier this year.
