Latest news with #Steffan
South China Morning Post
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Chinese-Canadian families and their restaurants get their stories told in Sons & Daughters
Suyin Looui has a faint memory of visiting Oxbow Restaurant as a child. The diner was opened by her grandfather, Louie Ser Dour, in the Canadian town of Oxbow in southeast Saskatchewan, and served dishes such as chop suey and chow mein. But it was not until decades later that she thought about the restaurant again. The London-based creative producer and director was on maternity leave after having her first child and became interested in learning more about her roots. She decided that she wanted to go on a road trip in Canada to visit the cafe with her father, Steffan, and ask about his memories of growing up there. That turned into an idea to also speak to other Chinese-Canadian immigrants who have operated cafes – which Suyin defines as small family-owned restaurants – along the Canadian Pacific Railway, a train line that weaves across the country from Montreal to Vancouver. 'The thing that was most important to me, and the questions that informed the journey were, why did you come here? And then, obviously, what was it like when you came? But also, what did you want to pass on?' says Suyin, who is now in her forties. Suyin Looui and her father Steffan, the father-daughter duo behind Sons & Daughters. Photo: Suyin Looui The result is a Webby Award-nominated multimedia online project called Sons & Daughters that documents her family's journey to Canada and tells the stories of 30 other Chinese-Canadian cafe and restaurant owners and their families.
Daily Mirror
25-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
I spent years trying to keep weeds off my drive — then I tried a new method
I have tried all kinds of methods for keeping the weeds off my drive over the years - and now I've found one that actually works Lifestyle opinion Steffan Rhys Deputy Content Hub Director Steffan is Reach PLC's Deputy Content Hub Director. He is also Reach's Head of Spare Time. He writes, edits and oversees content across Reach's large portfolio of websites, including some of the UK's largest national news websites like the Mirror and Express to its biggest regional websites like WalesOnline, the Manchester Evening News and Liverpool Echo. He covers everything from food, cooking and recipes to gardening, cleaning and DIY hacks to travel and places to go both inside the UK and abroad. He is particularly interested in healthy eating and ultra-processed food, as well as amazing places to go within the UK (he knows a lot about Wales). He also loves discovering and writing about pubs, restaurants, beaches and historic places to visit. He has won several awards, including Story of the Year at the Wales Media Awards for his work on a 50th anniversary tribute to the Aberfan disaster, as well as Website of the Year and Digital Initiative of the Year at the Regional Press Awards and News Website of the Year several times at the Wales Media Awards. He has been shortlisted for several more awards, including Online Editor of the Year at the Online Media Awards. He has also spoken at events, including most recently at the Welsh Crucible where he advised researchers on engaging with the media. If you think you have a story, get in touch by emailing He is a Welsh speaker who grew up in Carmarthenshire, joined Reach in 2006 and has worked in our Pontypridd, Bridgend, Carmarthen, London and Cardiff offices. He grew up supporting the Scarlets in rugby and Liverpool in football, and now cycles and runs to keep fit. The pesky weeds on my driveway have been a constant thorn in my side for years. My block paving driveway, composed of thousands of individual bricks, is often besieged by an unsightly mix of weeds, grass and moss. When it's weed-free (a rare occurrence), it's a sight to behold - I absolutely adore it. But when the weeds stage their takeover, it's a sorry sight that leaves me too embarrassed to even step outside. One kind-hearted neighbour even offered to tackle the problem, spending days weeding, only for the green invaders to return swiftly. It was a crushing blow for both of us, reports the Express. I've tried everything from laboriously scrubbing around several thousand bricks with a wire brush (which left my back crying out in agony) to filling the gaps between the blocks with setting sand and kiln-dried sand. I even gave vinegar a go after neighbours mentioned that the previous homeowner swore by it (though they did caution that it left the street reeking of a chippy for weeks). At one point, I was just a mouse click away from purchasing a fancy gadget designed to incinerate weeds. It resembled a litter-picker but with a flame or very hot element at the end. Despite the clear time commitment involved in singeing thousands of weeds individually, I was rather keen to give it a whirl. However, I decided to try one last method before resorting to this. I'm chuffed to bits that I did. This method was not only quicker than any other, but weeks later, only a smattering of weeds have dared to reappear, a stark contrast to their previous rampant regrowth. Here's a rundown of the methods I tried before stumbling upon the one that actually did the trick. Scrubbing with wire brush I gave the wire weeding brush method a go more than once. After the second or third attempt, it dawned on me that I needed to do something to stop the weeds from sprouting in the gaps between the bricks. Someone suggested trying setting sand. This is sand that you sweep into the cracks and then lightly water so it hardens like cement, preventing any weed growth. Kiln-dried and setting sand I also tried kiln-dried sand, a fine, dry sand that fills the joints and supposedly creates a strong, interlocking structure that keeps the weeds at bay. It looked much better than the setting sand I'd used, but it didn't halt the weed invasion. Weed killer It was obvious very quickly that this method would be incredibly inefficient, time-consuming and ultimately pointless. After buying a bottle of weed killer and starting to spray each individual weed by hand, I realised that I would need several bottles and hours of time to get it done. And I also knew that given it would only kill the weeds currently there, it would do nothing at all to prevent new weeds growing. The spray did kill the weeds it touched, but it was not the right solution for my problem. Bleach The thought of dousing the garden in bleach was off-putting, not to mention the sheer volume needed to tackle the weeds. Concerns also arose about rinsing away the bleach after its weed-killing spree. Plus, online gardening gurus suggest that while bleach may zap surface weeds, it doesn't get to the root of the problem, rendering the effort somewhat futile. Vinegar, lemon juice and boiling water Phoebe Cornish applied vinegar to weeds and said"the weeds looked colourless and shrivelled within a few hours of soaking them in the vinegar solution". She said: "And when I checked back the following morning, I was truly impressed with the effectiveness of this gardening hack. It's a great way to flatten and weaken weeds before pulling them out of the ground, but it doesn't replace the need to dig out the roots to prevent them from growing back." Another person tried using lemon juice only to find it ineffective, noting: "If anything, the weeds seemed to have grown 24 hours later." The logistics of securing enough lemon juice for a large area would be baffling – you'd practically need a lemon orchard. Boiling water was another tactic tested; it caused an immediate wilting of dandelion leaves and flowers, yet the pesky weed persisted a day later due to the intact root. The winning method: salt She wasn't alone in championing salt's effectiveness: "Salt really does make a great weed killer as it will kill just about anything that grows." National Garden Bureau member and Laidback Gardener, Larry Hodgson, told Homes and Gardens, though he cautioned: "But [it's] so toxic it simply can't be recommended in most garden settings." However, salt doesn't just destroy the foliage when sprayed on - it would also eliminate the roots if watered into the soil. Across various websites, gardeners claimed salt "essentially sterilises" the ground "preventing vegetative re-growth". On another platform, someone declared: "If you salt the soil, no plant will ever grow there again." How to use salt to kill weeds This sounded amazing to me so I went for it. I bought 20kg of rock salt from Amazon (which turned out to be an awful lot of salt — you can buy it here). I already had a pressure sprayer with a large capacity of at least 10 litres ( you can see an example here). The initial approach I tried involved adding a substantial quantity of rock salt to my sprayer, followed by several litres of warm water. I mixed it with a large wooden plank to dissolve the salt as thoroughly as possible before starting to spray the weeds. Like several of the techniques mentioned earlier, I quickly realised this would be quite time-consuming (although considerably faster than targeting individual weeds with a handheld weedkiller bottle). So, I opted to remove the lid from the pressure sprayer and pour out the salt water mixture over as wide an area as possible. With just a few refills of my large pressure sprayer, I managed to cover the entire driveway in no time. I added extra clumps of rock salt to particularly weed-infested areas around the edge of the drive, where years of accumulated dirt and sand had created a haven for weeds. Within a matter of hours, the weeds were withered and appeared decidedly dead. Granted, large sections of my drive were now strewn with piles of rock salt or the white residue left by the salt water. However, I simply rinsed this off a few days later using a power washer (a garden hose would do the trick too). Most crucially, the weeds were undeniably dead. It's been several weeks since I tried this method and, while some new weeds have started to sprout, their growth rate is nowhere near as fast as before. So, it seems there's some truth to the notion that salt renders soil inhospitable to plant life. Obviously, you wouldn't want to use this method in a garden where you're aiming to kill weeds but preserve other plants and flowers, as the salt would obliterate everything. But for a patio or driveway, it could be just the solution you're after. My colleague, Angela, also found success with the same method. After using salt to tackle weeds, she reported: "Nine hours later, the weeds were completely dead, so I was easily able to dig them out. I didn't use a fancy tool for this; a regular screwdriver sufficed. Curious as to whether the weeds would reappear, I checked back in on the area over the next two weeks, and no weeds seemed to have grown back."
Powys County Times
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Powys farmer reprising role in Bob Dylan 'Old Vic' musical
A Powys farmer has swapped the farmyard for the stage as he reprises his role in an Olivier and Tony award-winning musical now showing in London. Steffan Harri Jones says it is an "incredibly privilege" to make his debut at The Old Vic theatre, in the Great Depression-era musical Girl from the North Country which features songs written by legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The 33-year-old, who has performed in hit West End shows Shrek, Les Misérables and Spamalot, plays Elias Burke in the musical which runs until Saturday, August 23. 'I feel incredibly privileged to be making my debut at the Old Vic in London," Steffan said. "It's a theatre with such a rich legacy. "So many extraordinary artists have stood on that stage, and to now be a part of that history is both humbling and thrilling. 'I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity, and I'm approaching every moment with real joy and respect for the space, the story we're telling, and the people I get to share it with. 'Each show I've been a part of has shaped me in different and lasting ways. 'Performing in Les Misérables taught me the discipline and emotional depth that comes with being part of such an iconic and demanding show. 'Spamalot, on the other hand, gave me the freedom to play, to embrace spontaneity and comedy with confidence. 'And taking on the title role in Shrek the Musical was a real turning point. It challenged me physically and vocally but also allowed me to lead a company and find real heart in a larger-than-life character. Steffan was the youngest actor to play the role of Shrek. 'Each role has helped me grow, not just in skill, but in understanding how to connect with an audience and serve a story with honesty.' The former Caersws FC goalkeeper is taking a break from managing the family farm in Dolanog, near Llanfair Caereinion, alongside his wife and West End actress Rosie, to perform in Girl from the North Country. 'At the beginning of the Covid pandemic, my wife Rosie and I made the decision to leave London and return to the family farm," Steffan said. "It was a big change, but the right one for us. 'Together, we now manage the farm full-time, with the invaluable support of our family and friends. 'It's been both a challenging and rewarding journey, and we truly believe this area is the perfect place for our young son to grow up, surrounded by nature and a strong sense of community.'
Scottish Sun
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Welcome to ‘bonkers' beach', the seaside paradise for swingers where Brits romp on roof terraces & trade partners in sun
Sex with partners, sex with someone else's partner, group sex, sex on the beach, sex in the sea, sex during foam parties… in this hedonistic playground, anything goes SUN, SEX & SEA Welcome to 'bonkers' beach', the seaside paradise for swingers where Brits romp on roof terraces & trade partners in sun Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CAP d'Agde lies on a stunning stretch of Mediterranean coastline in the south of France. The sea is crystal clear, the sands are powdery white. But frankly, nobody really cares, because visitors come here with only one thing on their minds – SEX. 7 The 2km-long beach at Cap d'Agde is divided into three zones, the second being for naturists and the third section for swingers Credit: Rex 7 Cap d'Agde is located in the south of France and boasts stunning beaches and crystal clear water Credit: Getty 7 One Cap d'Agde regular, Brit Katie, reveals all about the swinging scene on the Mediterranean paradise 7 'There are parties going on, group interactions, couples looking for single guys, single women, couples – anything goes,' says Katie who visits with her partner Steffan Sex with their partners, sex with someone else's partner, group sex, sex on the beach, sex in the sea, sex during foam parties. In this hedonistic playground, anything goes. Hundreds of thousands of swingers, including many Brits, descend on the resort each summer looking to fulfil their wildest fantasies. But despite all the exhibitionism, it's a closed, secretive world. As a rule, visitors to Cap d'Agde follow the motto: what goes on tour, stays on tour. Most visitors have been part of the swinging scene for a while and have received an 'invitation' to join the fun. But one Cap d'Agde regular has agreed to speak to Fabulous, on the condition her identity is kept secret. 'There are parties going on, group interactions, couples looking for single guys, single women, couples – anything goes,' says Katie, 34, who visits Cap d'Agde with her partner of six years, Steffan, 39. The couple, from Milton Keynes, run a website for swingers – fittingly. 'Everyone finds it so exciting,' she says. 'You get a real sense of the hedonist lifestyle. I've seen all sorts. Cap d'Agde has really opened my eyes. It's crazy.' The two kilometre beach at Cap d'Agde is divided into three zones. The first is for ordinary families, the second for naturists and the third section is for swingers. Thousands of swingers descend on sleepy village for UK's biggest sex festival with 'play tents, hot tubs and massages' Bonkers' beach, if you will. The swingers' zone even has a number of hotels to choose from. Some accommodation even has two interconnecting rooms for couple swaps, while one hotel has a roof terrace where residents can have sex on sun loungers. Katie had her first swingers experience ten years ago, while with a former partner. 'We were going to Berlin to see a music gig and I was searching on TripAdvisor for what to do – just some innocent searching,' she explains. 'I came across what was described as a lifestyle club. It was number three on the list of attractions. 'That looks interesting', I thought. I was nervous, but inquisitive. You get a real sense of the hedonist lifestyle. I've seen all sorts. Cap d'Agde has really opened my eyes. It's crazy Katie 'I remember getting the train there with my ex and I felt like people knew where we were heading. It felt a bit naughty.' When Katie arrived, she discovered her intuition was spot on. 'It was held in a nightclub and while everyone was clothed, there were private areas where people went to have sex or get involved,' she says. 'It was like this other world we didn't know existed. We just observed the first time and didn't participate. But it felt incredibly liberating.' When she came back home, Katie and her partner began visiting swingers' clubs in Newcastle and Leeds. 7 Katie met her current boyfriend through the swinging scene six years ago after splitting from her ex 7 Cap d'Agde was a naturist village 30 years ago before swingers started going there Credit: Getty 'Soft swap' 'We were keen to meet similar people in the UK,' she says. 'We found so many normal people do it. It's like a secret life. It opened our minds to a different world. Even so, I didn't participate the first two or three times. I just watched others having sex. 'By the time I did get involved, I'd made some connections with people, so I was more relaxed. My first experience was a soft swap. My first full swap was the next time we went to a club. 'A soft swap might mean switching partners, but not having full sex. It might involve kissing, or foreplay. 'A full swap is having sex with them. It's like experimenting, but with other people. It opens you up to a new world of different experiences.' I'm more of a voyeur – I'll be in among the fun. I like being in the vibe Katie Katie says the word swinging is now considered old-fashioned and those involved in the lifestyle call it ethical non monogamy – ENM. After splitting with her partner, she met her current boyfriend, Steffan, through the scene six years ago. About a year later, they took off to Cap d'Agde after learning about it from friends on the scene. 'The first time I went, it opened my eyes even wider,' says Katie. 'There's all sorts of stuff going on. You've got adults playing freely, having sex on the beach and in the sea. Some couples like to stand on the sidelines, enjoying the voyeuristic side where you watch others enjoying themselves.' Voyeurism is Katie's particular thing. 'There might be a handful of people I'll interact with, kissing or dancing,' she says. 'But I'm more of a voyeur – I'll be in among the fun. I like being in the vibe.' 'Freedom and empowerment' Katie and Steffan loved their first experience so much that they have returned every other year since. You could call it a swingers' pilgrimage. Katie says that contrary to what appearances might suggest, Cap d'Agde is not a free-for-all. Well, not most of the time. 'Everything is about consent and respect,' she explains 'When you go to Cap d'Agde, you'll be on one of the lifestylers [swingers] apps, such as one called Wyylde. If you have a profile, you explain what you're looking for, there is a conversation, then you meet. 'For single guys and adventurous couples, you could have over 10 interactions, from soft swaps to full sex, in a day.' Interacting with complete strangers is not unusual. 'If you're on the beach, for example, people might start to watch. You might say, 'Do you want to join us?' and there's the joy of the spontaneous situation. 'But there's always consent. There's no pressure. You do get people you're not interested in making approaches, but you can politely decline.' One of the curious things about Cap d'Agde is that while all this sex and wild abandon is going on, parents with kids might be eating picnics and building sandcastles just metres along the coast. 'There are families on a different part of the beach,' says Katie. My parents' initial reaction was that they wanted to make sure I was OK and it wasn't something I was being forced into Katie 'And Cap d'Agde was a naturist village 20 to 30 years ago, before swingers started going there. So you'll see naturists walking about, who are not there for sex.' Surprisingly, Katie claims she doesn't get jealous when she sees Steffan having fun with other women. 'No, actually I find there's less jealousy,' she says. "It's about sex positivity, freedom and empowerment. It can strengthen your relationship.' Katie believes swinging has 'skyrocketed' in recent years. 'From our research on Google, it's around five per cent and growing. It's opening up in the mainstream,' she says. "Most of my friends are now in the lifestyle. We told them and they were interested to see what it was all about. People questioning the standard monogamous relationship structures. 'There are ENM clubs across the UK, and events at mansions. From our research, 30 to 60 years old is the main age group, but the 20 to 30 age group is growing.' What is Swinging? SWINGING, also known as partner swapping, is a sexual activity where partners in a committed relationship engage in sexual activities with other people. All parties involved must give explicit and enthusiastic consent. Open and honest communication between partners is crucial. Many swingers engage with a community or attend events specifically for swinging. Such activity can enhance intimacy and trust within the primary relationship. It provides an opportunity to explore sexual fantasies and desires. But it is not suitable for every relationship and requires a strong foundation of trust. Jealousy and emotional challenges may arise and need to be managed. While Katie wishes her identity to remain unknown to the wider world, her friends and family know her secret. 'My parents' initial reaction was that they wanted to make sure I was OK and it wasn't something I was being forced into,' she says. 'But they're fine with it because they know I'm fine with it. Family members find it interesting – they're all very inquisitive.' Katie and Steffan recently started a family. Their baby son is just four months old, so they won't be heading out to Cap d'Agde this summer. Being a new mum, my attention is on the little one now Katie 'Being a new mum, my attention is on the little one now,' says Katie. 'But I'll definitely be going back at some point. My family will be able to look after my son.' Despite the demands of motherhood, Katie says she's very much still part of the 'lifestyle'. She and Steffan recently set up a website, Playful Pineapple, aimed at improving the experiences of swingers. 'Playful Pineapple is a destination for people in the lifestyle. The online experience was dated,' says Katie. 'You get a lot of fake profiles on websites. We want to make it safe, so people know they're talking to a real person, a social networking space for the lifestyle. 'On our website, you've got profiles, what you're looking for in lifestyling, what your travel plans are, where you might be heading. It's a safe environment.' The logo is an upside down pineapple – a swingers' symbol. 'Upside down pineapple cake, that was the essence of offering, of hospitality, in countries like Hawaii,' says Katie. Now you get necklaces, earrings and so on, to showcase the lifestyle.' Pineapples are used as a secret sign to other prospective swingers. At Cap d'Agde, however, there's no need for pineapples or any other secret sign. When you hit the beach, there's not a chance of mistaking what it's all about.
The Irish Sun
30-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Welcome to ‘bonkers' beach', the seaside paradise for swingers where Brits romp on roof terraces & trade partners in sun
CAP d'Agde lies on a stunning stretch of Mediterranean coastline in the south of France. The sea is crystal clear, the sands are powdery white. But frankly, nobody really cares, because visitors come here with only one thing on their minds – SEX. Advertisement 7 The 2km-long beach at Cap d'Agde is divided into three zones, the second being for naturists and the third section for swingers Credit: Rex 7 Cap d'Agde is located in the south of France and boasts stunning beaches and crystal clear water Credit: Getty 7 One Cap d'Agde regular, Brit Katie, reveals all about the swinging scene on the Mediterranean paradise 7 'There are parties going on, group interactions, couples looking for single guys, single women, couples – anything goes,' says Katie who visits with her partner Steffan Sex with their partners, sex with someone else's partner, group sex, sex on the beach, sex in the sea, sex during foam parties. Advertisement In this hedonistic playground, anything goes. Hundreds of thousands of swingers, including many Brits, descend on the resort each summer looking to fulfil their wildest fantasies. But despite all the exhibitionism, it's a closed, secretive world. As a rule, visitors to Most visitors have been part of the swinging scene for a while and have received an 'invitation' to join the fun. But one Cap d'Agde regular has agreed to speak to Fabulous, on the condition her identity is kept secret. Advertisement 'There are parties going on, group interactions, couples looking for single guys, single women, couples – anything goes,' says Katie, 34, who visits Cap d'Agde with her partner of six years, Steffan, 39. The couple, from Milton Keynes, run a website for swingers – fittingly. 'Everyone finds it so exciting,' she says. 'You get a real sense of the hedonist lifestyle. I've seen all sorts. Cap d'Agde has really opened my eyes. It's crazy.' The two kilometre beach at Cap d'Agde is divided into three zones. The first is for ordinary families, the second for naturists and the third section is for swingers. Thousands of swingers descend on sleepy village for UK's biggest sex festival with 'play tents, hot tubs and massages' Bonkers' beach, if you will. The swingers' zone even has a number of hotels to choose from. Advertisement Some accommodation even has two interconnecting rooms for couple swaps, while one hotel has a roof terrace where residents can have sex on sun loungers. Katie had her first swingers experience ten years ago, while with a former partner. 'We were going to Berlin to see a music gig and I was searching on TripAdvisor for what to do – just some innocent searching,' she explains. 'I came across what was described as a lifestyle club. It was number three on the list of attractions. 'That looks interesting', I thought. I was nervous, but inquisitive. You get a real sense of the hedonist lifestyle. I've seen all sorts. Cap d'Agde has really opened my eyes. It's crazy Katie 'I remember getting the train there with my ex and I felt like people knew where we were heading. It felt a bit naughty.' Advertisement When Katie arrived, she discovered her intuition was spot on. 'It was held in a nightclub and while everyone was clothed, there were private areas where people went to have sex or get involved,' she says. 'It was like this other world we didn't know existed. We just observed the first time and didn't participate. But it felt incredibly liberating.' When she came back home, Katie and her partner began visiting swingers' clubs in Newcastle and Leeds. 7 Katie met her current boyfriend through the swinging scene six years ago after splitting from her ex Advertisement 7 Cap d'Agde was a naturist village 30 years ago before swingers started going there Credit: Getty 'Soft swap' 'We were keen to meet similar people in the UK,' she says. 'We found so many normal people do it. It's like a secret life. It opened our minds to a different world. Even so, I didn't participate the first two or three times. I just watched others having sex. 'By the time I did get involved, I'd made some connections with people, so I was more relaxed. My first experience was a soft swap. My first full swap was the next time we went to a club. 'A soft swap might mean switching partners, but not having full sex. It might involve kissing, or foreplay. Advertisement 'A full swap is having sex with them. It's like experimenting, but with other people. It opens you up to a new world of different experiences.' I'm more of a voyeur – I'll be in among the fun. I like being in the vibe Katie Katie says the word After splitting with her partner, she met her current boyfriend, Steffan, through the scene six years ago. About a year later, they took off to Cap d'Agde after learning about it from friends on the scene. 'The first time I went, it opened my eyes even wider,' says Katie. Advertisement 'There's all sorts of stuff going on. You've got adults playing freely , having sex on the beach and in the sea. Some couples like to stand on the sidelines, enjoying the voyeuristic side where you watch others enjoying themselves.' 'There might be a handful of people I'll interact with, kissing or dancing,' she says. 'But I'm more of a voyeur – I'll be in among the fun. I like being in the vibe.' 'Freedom and empowerment' Katie and Steffan loved their first experience so much that they have returned every other year since. You could call it a swingers' pilgrimage. Advertisement Katie says that contrary to what appearances might suggest, Cap d'Agde is not a free-for-all. Well, not most of the time. 'Everything is about consent and respect,' she explains 'When you go to Cap d'Agde, you'll be on one of the lifestylers [swingers] apps, such as one called Wyylde. If you have a profile, you explain what you're looking for, there is a conversation, then you meet. 'For single guys and adventurous couples, you could have over 10 interactions, from soft swaps to full sex, in a day.' Interacting with complete strangers is not unusual. Advertisement 'If you're on the beach, for example, people might start to watch. You might say, 'Do you want to join us?' and there's the joy of the spontaneous situation. 'But there's always consent. There's no pressure. You do get people you're not interested in making approaches, but you can politely decline.' One of the curious things about Cap d'Agde is that while all this sex and wild abandon is going on, parents with kids might be eating picnics and building sandcastles just metres along the coast. 'There are families on a different part of the beach,' says Katie. My parents' initial reaction was that they wanted to make sure I was OK and it wasn't something I was being forced into Katie 'And Cap d'Agde was a naturist village 20 to 30 years ago, before swingers started going there. So you'll see naturists walking about, who are not there for sex.' Advertisement Surprisingly, Katie claims she doesn't get jealous when she sees Steffan having fun with other women. 'No, actually I find there's less jealousy,' she says. "It's about sex positivity, freedom and empowerment. It can strengthen your relationship.' Katie believes swinging has 'skyrocketed' in recent years. 'From our research on Google, it's around five per cent and growing. It's opening up in the mainstream,' she says. "Most of my friends are now in the lifestyle. We told them and they were interested to see what it was all about. People questioning the standard Advertisement 'There are ENM clubs across the UK, and events at mansions. From our research, 30 to 60 years old is the main age group, but the 20 to 30 age group is growing.' What is Swinging? SWINGING, also known as partner swapping, is a sexual activity where partners in a committed relationship engage in sexual activities with other people. All parties involved must give explicit and enthusiastic consent. Open and honest communication between partners is crucial. Many swingers engage with a community or attend events specifically for swinging. Such activity can enhance intimacy and trust within the primary relationship. It provides an opportunity to explore sexual fantasies and desires. But it is not suitable for every relationship and requires a strong foundation of trust. Jealousy and emotional challenges may arise and need to be managed. While Katie wishes her identity to remain unknown to the wider world, her friends and family know her secret. 'My parents' initial reaction was that they wanted to make sure I was OK and it wasn't something I was being forced into,' she says. 'But they're fine with it because they know I'm fine with it. Family members find it interesting – they're all very inquisitive.' Katie and Steffan recently started a family. Their baby son is just four months old, so they won't be heading out to Cap d'Agde this summer. Advertisement Being a new mum, my attention is on the little one now Katie 'Being a new mum, my attention is on the little one now,' says Katie. 'But I'll definitely be going back at some point. My family will be able to look after my son.' Despite the demands of motherhood, Katie says she's very much still part of the 'lifestyle'. She and Steffan recently set up a website, Playful Pineapple, aimed at improving the experiences of swingers. 'Playful Pineapple is a destination for people in the lifestyle. The online experience was dated,' says Katie. Advertisement 'You get a lot of fake profiles on websites. We want to make it safe, so people know they're talking to a real person, a social networking space for the lifestyle. 'On our website, you've got profiles, what you're looking for in lifestyling, what your travel plans are, where you might be heading. It's a safe environment.' The logo is an upside down pineapple – a swingers' symbol. 'Upside down pineapple cake, that was the essence of offering, of hospitality, in countries like Hawaii,' says Katie. Now you get necklaces, earrings and so on, to showcase the lifestyle.' Pineapples are used as a secret sign to other prospective swingers. Advertisement At Cap d'Agde, however, there's no need for pineapples or any other secret sign. When you hit the beach, there's not a chance of mistaking what it's all about. 7 Cap d'Agde has really opened my eyes. It's crazy, says Katie
