Getting around Swansea as a student can feel like a challenge at first, but honestly, it’s way easier than it seems. Whether you live in halls, a flat, or at home, there are plenty of options to get you from lectures to the city centre, the beach, or a night out with mates. Buses Buses are the lifeline for most students. First Cymru runs the majority of routes, and if you’re a student, it’s worth checking if you can get a discount on weekly or monthly passes. Routes like the 4, 5, and 6 go through all the main areas, from Uplands and Mount Pleasant to the city centre and Swansea University campus. Make sure you download the First Cymru app real-time updates are a lifesaver, especially when it’s raining (which, let’s be honest, is often). Trains If you’re planning a day trip or heading home for the weekend, Swansea train station is your friend. Direct services run to Cardiff, Bristol, and even London. For students, booking in advance usually saves a bundle. It’s a comfy option compared to a long bus ride, especially if you’ve got coursework to catch up on. Cycling and Walking Swansea is actually pretty cycle-friendly. If you live near the university, walking or cycling can be quicker than waiting for a bus. There are cycle racks all over campus and in the city centre. Plus, it’s free exercise and a nice way to clear your head between lectures. Taxis and Ride-Sharing Sometimes you just need a lift home after a late night. Local taxi firms like ABC Taxis and Uber operate in the city. They’re more expensive than buses, obviously, but perfect if you’re running late or heading somewhere buses don’t go. Tip for Students: Invest in a student bus pass if you’re relying on public transport a lot, as it’s cheaper than paying per ride, and you won’t have to stress about exact change.
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!
In dire need of a cooked meal that reminds you of home? Trying to find new ways to spend time with your flatmates? Or maybe you just want to show off the cooking skills you have developed since moving out to your family groupchat. Either way, no matter the reason, here is the guide to cooking the ultimate Sunday roast for your flat. Improving your cooking skills Whether you’re a Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen or brewing up a pot-noodle is as far as your culinary skills reach, cooking your first ever Sunday roast can be quite the ordeal, especially if you live in a chaotic student house. But don’t stress (mainly because students will eat anything, so it’s actually not a big deal if it doesn’t turn out to be Michelin star worthy.) Where to begin First thing’s first, try and count how many people you are cooking for. Rounding up all of your flatmates and getting them to confirm attendance can be quite the task in itself, but will save you some effort in the longrun if you find out that only one person likes vegetables or not all ten people can make it to the meal. It’s all in the prep Next, it’s time to get the ingredients . If you’re cooking for the entire flat, it’s unfair for the financial burden of this to rest solely on you, so try to find a way to split the cost but make sure it’s stated from the beginning. Cooking for a lot of people can often make you feel like you don’t have enough food for everyone, but it all goes further than you think. So the trick is not to buy too many ingredients and to plan out what you are making so you can ensure that everything is bought beforehand (there’s nothing more stressful or frustrating than running out of an essential ingredient just as you’re about to plate up!) If you’re wondering how much veg is needed per person, VegPower says that 80g of vegetables per day is the recommended amount. Take a look here to see how it’s portioned . Peeling and chopping If you’re cooking meat, that is usually the first item to put in the oven. Most packets say how long to cook it for, but as a general rule, a chicken needs approximately 45-50 minutes per kilogram, plus an additional 15-20 minutes at the end, at a temperature around 180°C. When that’s in the oven you can start with preparing all the veg. Potatoes usually take the longest but remember that you will need enough time to make gravy at the end too. Timings To boil potatoes: 20 minutes To cook cauliflower: 5-7 minutes Carrots: 4-7 minutes Broccoli: 3-5 minutes Cabbage: 3-5 minutes Peas: 2-4 minutes These are just rough timings and depend on how high the heat is as well as the quantity, but if you keep an eye on them whilst cooking you can usually tell when vegetables are done by giving them a poke to see how tender they are. What to do with leftovers A Sunday Roast sit-down meal is a great way to spend time with your flatmates, especially around the Christmas holidays before everyone goes home. If you overestimated how hungry you would be, you can either refrigerate a portion of Sunday lunch or freeze it. Some people also like it in a fry-up the next day. Either way it can save you some cooking time for the following week!
