HIGH STREET CHIC Why is it that we never seem to appreciate what's on our own doorstep? Often, we find that visitors and tourists from further afield know more about our area than we do, because they take the time to learn about it. click here for more

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VALE FOOD & DRINK Each Issue we bring you the best in the Vale of Glamorgan. click here for more

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THE WHITE MOVE The Ski Lodge has moved from its original location in Barry to a new purpose designed retail space in Cardiff Bay. Vale Life talks with Jason Jeffery about the move and the exciting new season ahead. click here for more

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RATIONAL THINKING When owners Steve and Claire Bloom welcome customers into their showroom at Spacefittingfurniture on Colchester Avenue in Cardiff, they'll usually talk about designing and installing a beautiful, contemporary... click here for more

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SPLASH OUT IN MERMAID QUAY Cardiff's vibrant waterfront, Mermaid Quay, is the perfect place for a spot of shopping, pampering, a relaxing drink or a romantic meal. click here for more

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HEALTH & WELLBEING Take good care of yourself with Vale Life’s guide to healthcare in the Vale. click here for more

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DESIGNER SPEC If individuality is your style and you refuse to follow the pack, then Arbuthnot Opticians in Barry is the place to go to celebrate your uniqueness, with its bespoke couture range of Tom Davies eyewear. Vale Life talks to Suzanne Cox, practice manager. click here for more

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ESSENTIALLY HAWKES There are certain rules and traditional norms when it comes to dressing men and no one knows this more than Russell Scott Lawson, owner of Hawkes Essentials in Cardiff. click here for more

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DESIGNED FOR LIFE When local Vale couple Peter and Mary Murray were planning their extension, they sought the design and build expertise of Cowbridge based kitchen and interiors company Room For Living to create their dream kitchen. click here for more

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LIGHT AND DAY At Vale Life we are extremely lucky to meet truly inspiring people - those who each have their story to tell and yet give so much to others. We are all the product of life's ups and downs... click here for more

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SEE TOMORROW'S TECHNOLOGY TODAY For some people, the biggest decision when buying spectacles is which frames to choose. click here for more

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HEART AND CRAFT We are a nation of hoarders. Whether it's clothes, CD's or nik-naks from our travels, they all need storage. Often we cram our homes with mass produced 'storage solutions' when we could opt for beautiful bespoke designed furniture instead. click here for more

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CUSHIONING THE FALL With summer come and gone, our attention turns from gardens and outdoor activities, to cocooning and the home interior. click here for more

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A CUT ABOVE I don't know about you, but when it comes to fine jewellery, I'm a bit of a novice. I've always found fine jewellery a little bit too serious which is why I've received most of it as a gift rather than buying it myself. click here for more

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THE FUTURE'S ORANGERY When thinking of adding a room to their home, most people consider a traditional conservatory build, but if you want to bring outside living in and inside living... click here for more

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UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL There are few examples where technology and tradition work so well hand in hand that they're a match made in heaven. Matthew Mullooly, owner of Northern Star Jewellers in Penarth is a fine example of this creative synergy. Vale Life gets... click here for more

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COWBRIDGE There's always something happening in the historic market town of Cowbridge. What is truly lovely is the energy and warmth of community spirit that makes this somewhere you want to spend time. click here for more

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START-UP SUCCESS Most people at one point in their lives have dreamed of having their own business. You'd think, in a recession, that people would go off the idea. click here for more

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THE CHEF'S TABLE The 'season of mists and mellow fruitfulness' is once again upon us. Comforting images come to mind of hearty autumnal food, wood smoke and sumptuous armchairs in which... click here for more

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SEASONAL STYLE Avid gardeners will know that dwindling light and the promise of cooler days ahead does not spell the end of the gardening season. In fact, according to the experts at Stylegardens garden village in Wenvoe... click here for more

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THE LAST WORD Vale Life talks to Martyn Burnett, partner at Burnett Davies Lettings of High Street, Barry about the current state of play with the lettings market. click here for more