Newsletter No.51

October 26th 2005

by Mike Caluan

Welcome to the October edition of the Expats newsletter ...

Is it that time of month again? The months are just flying by . . . it seems just like yesterday i was writing to you.

On my daily jaunt through the capital's winding back streets I spied yet another rash of apartment blocks being developed. Westgate Street plays host to the latest addition to Cardiff's burgeoning skyline. Walking by and admiring the strange half-born twisted structures, I'm still left with the same nagging question - who can afford to live here now?

The general consensus is that there was a cut-off point of about five years ago, if your average person had a house in Cardiff you were fine. But now the costs have spiralled and the chances of getting on the property ladder are grim. In the current climate of a mortgage-obsessed nation, I was one of the fortunate ones who bought a home for less than £60k. Which at the time, faced with the prospect of such a large loan, filled me with worry.

On the face of it, it would seem to be a laughable sum for a property that has, five years later, a market value of £200k plus! Yes folks, on paper everyone's a winner - but if you sell you still have to buy another front door at a vastly inflated price.

Then again I could always sell up and become an expat . . . don't think I haven't thought about it!!

So without further ado here's the latest news from in and around your old backyard.

This month: We take a look at the shape of things to come as the blueprint for Cardiff's new £1.2bn sports village is unveiled. We take a nostalgic trip down 'Chip Alley' and the 'Cinderellas of the Soil' get ready for an emotional reunion.

Also, Swansea will soon be boasting a £2.5m luxury bespoke hotel and the villagers of Hendy are fighting to keep one of Wales' last lidos alive.

So until next month take care and enjoy the Expats newsletter.

Don't forget to check out the Expats Changing Wales and Expats Nostalgia sections for regular updates on what's going on.

Keep those articles and stories coming in, let me know what you've been getting up to. You can send them to me at mike.caluan@wme.co.uk

Pob lwc

Mike

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Cardiff's new £1.2bn sports village
Nostalgic trip down 'Chip Alley'
The 'Cinderellas of the Soil'
Swansea's new £2.5m luxury bespoke hotel
Keeping Wales' last lidos alive.