WITH5 THINGS I CAN’T LIVE OUT
Musician Cerys Matthews, 46, lives in London with her husband, music producer Steve Abbott. Between them they have fi ve children, Hope, 22, Harvey, 19, Glenys, 12, Johnny, 10, and Red, fi ve
1 FIRE
There is something very hypnotic and soothing about an open fi re and during the summer I insist on having a barbecue every single night, simply so I can light the fi re pit.
We recently moved house and we now have a wonderful wood- burning stove which I can quite happily sit and watch for hours.
2 MY GUITAR
Neil Young gave me my treasured acoustic guitar in 1990 and it has gone everywhere with me ever since.
My family loved music but they were not particularly musical so I was never pushed towards learning an instrument.
Instead I discovered the guitar myself and as a child I had endless hours of fun learning to play it.
Every time I start strumming the chords I embark on this wonderful journey of discovery in my head.
That’s exactly what I think music does, it takes you on an adventure. My daughter Glenys is now teaching herself to play the electric guitar and it delights me to see the pleasure it gives her.
3 PAPER AND PEN
As a busy working mother I don’t get much time just to sit down and think but if ever I do fi nd myself with half an hour to spare, there is nothing I love more than sitting down with a blank piece of paper and a pen.
I adore writing and there is something so appealing about being at the beginning of something, when anything is possible.
Whether I’m drafting a letter to a friend or writing a poem or a story, I am always so excited about how I’m going to fi ll that piece of paper.
4 MY GARDEN
Before we moved to our new house we had a courtyard with a few pots.
Now though we have a lovely little garden and it has been a complete revelation to me. With the help of my youngest son Red, I have fi lled every spare space with something.
We have grown everything from cabbage and chard to rhubarb and runner beans. It has been a wonderful experience. I grew up in Cardiff and Swansea but I actually come from farming stock and my grandparents had a farm in rural Pembrokeshire.
We would stay with them every holiday and I have many lovely memories of us toiling on the land.
To this day I am still amazed at how quickly seeds can grow and I spend a lot of time outside, poking around in the soil, impatiently waiting for things to sprout.
5 RED WINE
For me, there is nothing quite as satisfying as a full- blooded bottle of Bordeaux. I enjoy a glass of dry white wine or a crisp rosé on occasions, too, but if I’m honest I am not that keen on New World wines, I much prefer the European stuff.
One day I dream of having a huge cellar carved out of rock. I plan to keep my magical grotto constantly stocked with wonderful wine, expensive cheese and chocolate.
Cerys Matthew co- founded the Good Life Experience festival which will be held this year on September 18- 20 at Hawarden Estate in Flintshire, just outside Chester. Tickets cost £ 45. For more information visit thegoodlifeexperience.co.uk