Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Students at Trinity College, Carmarthen, are getting ready for one of the highlights of their musical calendar – the annual Principal’s Christmas Concert. The concert on Sunday, December 14, will feature the Trinity Choir under the leadership of award-winning cultural organiser and music lecturer Eilir Owen Griffiths. The choir will perform a contemporary programme of Christmas classics. This is the third year the choir has taken centre stage at the Christmas concert. “It is always a great occasion and one guaranteed to put you in the festive spirit,” Mr Griffiths promised. The 60-strong choir presents unique challenges for the conductor, winner of the prestigious composer’s award at last summer’s National Eisteddfod of Wales in Cardiff. “Every year we have to blend a different group of students into a choir and it is always an exciting voyage of discovery, finding new talent along the way,” Mr Griffiths added. The accompanist for the evening will be Euros Rhys Evans. And there will be

From My Scarlets website http://www.myscarlets.co.uk/News/Scarlets-game-a-sell-out.aspx 06/12/2008 - Scarlets game a sell-out The Ospreys have confirmed that their Christmas fixture with the Scarlets is a sell-out.Eight hundred tickets were returned by the Scarlets but were snapped up after being put on general sale on Thursday. It means the December 27 game is set to be played in front of the region's third ever capacity crowd of 20,520. The visit of the touring Australians in 2006 prompted the first Liberty Stadium full house. A month later came another as the Ospreys defeated the Scarlets 50-24 - the most points they have scored in a single game against a rival region. The Ospreys say the only way for anyone still to buy a ticket to attend the game will be to snap up one of the few remaining hospitality places available. MARK ORDERS A few observations here . . . How come the Scarlets returned 800 tickets? Surely, there are hard core fans out there who could have managed the shor

 

It’s a very short walk along the cycle path from the Stradey Park entrance at Clos Caer Elms to Sandy Bridge, Llanelli. But, like many other sections of the cycle path which extends up towards Swiss Valley and Cynheidre, it seems to be a mecca for fly-tippers. Here’s a short list of some of the ‘throwaways’ which littered the path last weekend – A doll’s house, a child’s plastic swing, a car tyre, a garden strimmer, a door frame, assorted black plastic refuse bags full or rubbish, and 47 assorted cans and bottles. Path users can compare themselves to contestants on the Bruce Forsyth generation Game. What will we spot next? A colour TV, a fondue set or a cuddly toy? Seriously, though, it beggars belief that people can be so thoughtless by using one of Llanelli’s attractions as a dumping ground. It is particularly galling when Llanelli boasts an excellent civic amenity refuse site at Trostre. There really is no excuse for fly-tipping on this scale. If you spot someone fly-tipping, then s

I was delighted to read many moons ago about the opening of the new Carmarthen Leisure Centre in Johnstown. Having joined the Carmarthenshire Council gym at Llanelli Leisure Centre, I was pleased to find my membership extended to use of other local authority gyms such as Carmarthen. “It’s all high tech and the machines will recognise your USB memory stick when you plug into the kit at the different centres” . . . at least that is what the sale pitch said. Imagine my disappointment then to find the reality is a little different and to discover that the Carmarthen Leisure Centre is a work in progress. The gremlins, of course, are not the fault of the staff. The crew at Carmarthen and Llanelli leisure centres are always pleasant and very helpful. But even they had to shrug their shoulders and admit defeat when I attempted to plug into the kit in Carmarthen. By all accounts, the technology at Carmarthen and Llanelli doesn’t communicate. Result? Lots of tut-tutting and more forms to be fill

It's an old joke, but I did enjoy this from the BBC magazine . . . According to an online survey, cliches like "at the end of the day", "24/7" and "literally" are among the most reviled. Here are 20 more that particularly irk Magazine readers. 1. My vote for most irritating cliche has to be "basically" . I even manage to irritate myself by using it, although I do try not to. AS, Salford, England 2. A few minutes ago I said "basically" was the most irritating cliche. I've changed my mind: "To be fair" is the most awful thing anybody can ever say, particularly since it is invariably followed by a biased and utterly unfair comment. Ian, Sheffield 3. My most hated expression has to be "to be honest" . What does it mean? Are you normally dishonest then? To my shame you might even catch me saying it. John Airey, Peterborough 4. It has to be "going forward" , used by business people/politicians, as in: &q

Burry Port Opera – Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci at Burry Port Memorial Hall SOME 57 years of experience goes a long way in showbusiness. So, you know when you buy the ticket, you are guaranteed a good show from Burry Port Opera. The opera group’s latest annual production was the double-header operatic treat of ‘Cav and Pag’. Burry Port opera shows are well known for the clever balance of professional singers supported by a dedicated and enthusiastic local chorus. It’s a neat formula which works, year in and year out. This latest production - the group’s fourth stab at Cav and Pag – was, in fact, the latest in a series of annual performances dating back to 1951. The stars of the shows here were Suzanne Manuell (playing Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana and Nedda in I Pagliacci) and Richard Lloyd Owen (playing Turiddu in Cav and Canio in Pag). But Richard Lloyd Owen would be the first to admit that top billing had to go to Suzanne Manuell, who was worth every penny of the admissio

19-10-2008_Anwenbirthday

John Anthony's 90th birthday party John Anthony's 90th birthday party

You couldn't make it up . . . Smokers in deprived communities in one of Scotland's major cities are to be offered £12.50 a week to quit. NHS Tayside hopes the £500,000 pilot scheme will help 900 people in Dundee stop smoking over the next two years. Participants in the new initiative will be offered £12.50 per week credited onto an electronic card which they can redeem in their local supermarket for fresh food and groceries, but not alcohol and cigarettes. They can take part in the programme for a maximum of 12 weeks. Those taking part will receive nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) through their local pharmacy, where they will have to do a weekly carbon monoxide breath test to prove they are still smoke-free. Participants will also receive social support from Dundee Healthy Living Initiative (DHLI) where they can access smoking cessation support, physical activities and other lifestyle advice and support. Love the line about smoking cessation support!

"Let me get this straight. Bin Laden's top man has been released. The price of petrol is through the roof. There's inflation, depression. And people are hysterical because I said f***" - Joan Rivers, who has revoked her apology for swearing on air during the ITV's Loose Women programme. "I'm more frequently likened to a goblin than a pixie" - Vera Baird, Solicitor General, responding to Tory MP Anthony Steen who complimented her on her "new pixie look". "Why is everyone so bloody miserable?" - Junior Transport Minister Tom Harris. "I get invited to these weird dinners full of Labour celebrities and entrepreneurs, and we all sit there and say 'What can we do?', and everyone says 'I don't know'" - Comedienne Jo Brand. "Thank you for travelling with South West Trains. Please make sure you take all your belongings when leaving the train. This is particularly important if you work for Her Maje

Not been on here for a while, but will try and resume action this week!