London Town

We are home from our road trip/mini break in London for the Real Food Festival. I'm not really sure where to start! On hearing on the way down to London that I was on the stall next to my pal and Gower celebrity Kate, provider of brownies to the rich and famous, I knew we were going to have a ball. There were too many highlights to mention. Sales weren't great but they weren't for anyone. It seemed like more of an exhibition and advertising event rather than a market. Those that tasted Bendylegs seemed to like it and plenty of people smiled and asked about the name. These events are more about the people you meet and what you can learn from other people and, as a new girl, this experience was invaluable. Any market is made by your neighbours. Kate, Rob and lovely Sophie (scouse) Elf from Gower Cottage Brownies, James from Trealy Farm and Pie Man (Robert from Tractor Pies, North Wales). We sold, we laughed, we moaned, we helped each other out. We traded our goods between us for lunch/breakfast and we had a little drink or two together once the sun was past the yard arm.... just.... Yesterday, it felt like leaving a bunch of people after a weeks holiday together!
Other highlights for me were meeting the lovely Masterchef boys of the class of 2010 Druv, Alex and Tim, meeting the hilarious Rhodri Williams and watching Kate from GCB begging Jay Rayner for his address to send him brownies. That girl is THE most amazing saleswoman! So, its all over. Back home to sell and to follow up all the exciting possibilities that could be in the pipeline for Bendylegs... I never realised how tiring standing still was until last night when I definitely had Bendylegs and then, after a day with the kids bouncing off the walls, standing still doesn't seem so exhausting after all...

The Bendylegs Story

Bendylegs was created by me, Jo Watkins, a GP, wife, mother of two, and lover of the outdoors from Mumbles on the beautiful Gower Peninsula, South Wales. After a trip to see family in Canada, I became hooked on their homemade granola and came home to find all the brands on the shelves were too sweet or oily. I set about creating a fantastic tasting, healthy granola that would enable my family to eat a good balanced breakfast, giving slow release energy to last the day. I sourced a mixture of organic and local products to give Bendylegs a strong Welsh provenance. Friends and family tried it... they loved it. I approached local cafes and delicatessens. They tried it. They stocked it. People bought it. That is how it all began... Having left my regular GP job I now work freelance as a GP to enable me to grow my business and juggle a busy family life. I sell my product in local high end delicatessens, farm shops, B+B’s and hotels. Bendylegs is also available online. 

Bendylegs has no additives, no preservatives, no added salt and is made using only natural sugars. I use Welsh apple juice and Welsh rapeseed oil with pure Canadian maple syrup to give an extra special flavour and to remind us of our cousins in Vancouver. Over the past year, Bendylegs has become a well known and loved local brand putting a healthy breakfast on people’s kitchen tables and gracing the menus of the independent cafes. Through my website www.lovebendylegs.co.uk I showcase other local businesses and producers in the area and further afield in Wales. 

Bendylegs is more than just another granola. It is a way of life.  My vision is to encourage people to eat a good, healthy, balanced breakfast before getting outside and enjoying the great outdoors, so that at the end of each day you feel you have lived every minute. 

Why Bendylegs? This is a term first used by my nephew Charlie in 2003 after a long, windy beach walk in Tresaith, West Wales on the final stretch home...‘I can’t walk up the hill, I’ve got bendylegs’

When did you last have Bendylegs?

Road Trip

My hubby and I have just been on a road trip. 4 sleeps away from the kids leaving them at home with Granny North and Grandad. We slept through everynight... unlike the kids by all account.. We had planned to go skiing but we have both been poorly and so have the kids so Europe seemed a long way away so we decided to stay close. We went up to North Wales on Sunday and spent a couple of days mountain biking in Llandegla, Nr Wrexham and visiting friends and family.

We set off home on Wednesday stopping for a bike in Coed y Brenin near Machynlleth, a night in the lovely Fron Haul B+B in Abderdovey then we stopped off all the way home visiting lovely delis, handing out Bendylegs for people to try and meeting some great people along the way. It felt reminiscent of our trip this time 6 years ago around New Zealand. Each time I have been away traveling, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, I have come home and wondered why, despite our beautiful country and all it was to offer, we don't 'do' tourism better here in Wales.

The fact is that things have changed.

Wales has everything.

We've always had the stunning coastline, huge mountain ranges, rolling green hills, passionate and friendly locals and hundreds of castles but now we are also proud to offer very special places to stay, award winning produce and restaurants, some fantastic independent shops and galleries, arts, culture and outdoor activities that are world class.


Llandegla, Coed y Brenin and the other mountain bike centres in Wales www.mbwales.com are a mecca for mountain bike enthusiasts who travel from all over the world to come and do the purpose made downhill tracks. They all have walking/running trails and family bike trails as well. There is something for everyone. Coed y Brenin in particular has a great playground and cafe with views over the river. Llandegla boasts the best bacon sandwich in the UK and a great cafe with wireless internet and comfy sofas. You can hires bikes from both places but walking is free.

Next time you are passing any of the mountain bike centres in Wales, stop... and have a look. Maybe even have a go, I'd forgotten how much fun it was... www.mbwales.com

Boys and Girls

Before I became the proud owner of one of each I never really understood the huge difference in parenting boys and girls. I have to admit to being rather smug about my beautifully behaved girl who played nicely with other children, sat and coloured for hours and hours and more often than not ate what was on her plate. I think I thought that I must have done something right as my friends wished a monster of a boy on us next so we new how lucky we were with our first... He arrived into this world 2 years ago and I have never been smug since... What a totally different story. Hungry all the time, always wanting to be held, noisy... but a big ball of loveliness at the same time who can melt your heart with his smile.

Jinksy is now 2 and I now understand they call it the Terrible Two's for a reason...

Polly is having a play date at the moment. I've picked her up with 3 friends from school. They have been playing happily for the last 3 hours without a crossed word... I'm suspecting it will be a different story altogether on the boy play dates in 2 yrs time!

Tea cakes

How could I go wrong with a toasted tea cake this evening. The toaster tripped the switch so that only half of Waking the Dead got recorded.... just when it was hotting up...

The perfect Sunday

A fantastic day at Bendylegs HQ. Chobby breakfast with the kids making croissants (pastry from a tin I might add) and eating jam by the spoonful before we noticed... Walked in Clyne then lunch outside in the sunshine. Really felt like summer with people calling in and out during the afternoon and the kids playing happily half naked in the garden.  Delyth the school doll has been with us for the weekend. She's been pretty quiet but I think she's had fun....