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

Communities First are running a free interview skills workshop at Llanelli Library Athenaeum Hall next Thursday (March 17). The one day workshop will provide support and advice on what to expect from interviews, how to prepare for an interview, what type of questions can be asked and how best to answer them. Laura Edwards from Prosperous team at Communities First said: “The workshops are really good for people who have not been on an interview for a long time, or maybe who don’t have enough experience going on interviews. “It’s good to share knowledge and whilst there, people realise that everyone gets nervous but that there are easy ways to prepare.” The workshops, which are run regularly, are supporting people back into work and giving them the boost in skills and confidence needed. For more information, to book a space on the workshop or to see how the Prosperous team at Communities First can help you with employment support, then please contact the team on 01554 777850.

Residents in Llanybydder are being urged to have a clear out. A waste and tyre amnesty is being held in the main car park on Tuesday, March 15 between 8am and 1pm. Most household waste can be taken along including unwanted furniture, carpets and mattresses, electrical items such as fridge-freezers and televisions, as well as black and blue bags. A maximum of four tyres can also be disposed of; however, tractor or lorry tyres will not be accepted. Hazardous waste such as paint, fluorescent tubes, batteries, chemicals, gas bottles and asbestos will not be accepted along with glass, garden waste, trade waste, construction waste and agricultural waste. Residents can pick up a free bag of Merlin’s Magic Compost (while stocks last) courtesy of CWM Environmental Ltd. Half-price compost bins will also be on sale for just £6 instead of the usual £12. Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Hazel Evans said: “I hope residents take advantage of this opportunity to dispose of their waste

Temporary Visitor Restrictions at Withybush and Bronglais Hospitals (Updated 11.03.16) Please be aware that temporary visiting restrictions are in place at two of our hospitals following separate outbreaks of Norovirus and Flu A. Specialists in infection prevention are asking people not to visit patients on Ward 8 at Withybush General Hospital, following an outbreak of Flu A. At Bronglais Hospital, access for visitors is also temporarily restricted on Ystwyth Ward due to Norovirus. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates. For further advice on preventing the spread of infection please visit: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/862/page/75416 See earlier blog post re Bronglais Hospital.

The latest Clay Shaw Butler Money Matters column from the Carmarthenshire Herald. By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants. In last week’s Money Matters column, we took a look at some of the positive aspects to zero hours contracts and how they can he used properly. This week, we flip the coin and examine some inappropriate uses of zero hours contracts. Zero hours contracts allow flexibility for both employers and individuals. However, they should not be considered as an alternative to proper business planning and should not be used as a permanent arrangement if it is not justifiable. Zero hours contracts might not be appropriate if the job offered will mean the individual will work regular hours over a continuous period of time. For example, if an individual is asked to work from 9am to 1pm, Monday to Wednesday for a 12 month period, it may be more appropriate to offer that worker a permanent part time contract or ev

A new e-book by a Russian academic sheds new light on the early history of the Welsh language. Llawlyfr Hen Gymraeg (‘Old Welsh Handbook’) by Dr Alexander Falileyev is the first comprehensive description of Old Welsh to appear in the Welsh language. It is published by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and was launched at Aberystwyth University. Old Welsh refers to the period between the ninth century and the early 12th century in the history of the Welsh language. Although books on Old Welsh are already available in English, French and Russian, there were no Welsh books until the publication of this e-book by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Llawlyfr Hen Gymraeg provides the first opportunity for Welsh speakers to learn about some of the earliest known examples of texts in their language. Dr Alexander Falileyev, a native of St. Petersburg, Russia, is an expert on the Celtic languages. He has published extensively on the place names and personal names of ancient European Celts, and on the

Communities First has now supported more than 100 people to improve their digital skills and learn how to use iPads. The free four-week course, which is delivered in local libraries by Communities First Digital Volunteers, has proved popular and since it started in July 2015 more than 100 people have taken advantage of it. The courses, which are run in Llanelli, Ammanford and Llwynhendy Libraries, show people how to use an iPad, search the internet and download apps and iBooks. The course is open to all ages, and you do not even have to own an iPad to get started! To book a place on the next available course please contact Llanelli or Ammanford Library on 01554 773538 or 01269 598150.

Bwcabus is working in partnership with health organisations in the Teifi Valley to give patients access to the care they need. Living in rural and sometimes remote areas of Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, many patients struggle to attend appointments. But unlike traditional bus services; Bwcabus is flexible, more widely available, and journeys can be pre-booked to meet people’s needs when attending appointments. Philip Bower, from Llandyfriog, regularly uses the service to attend his surgery in Adpar. He said: “Bwcabus helps me enormously as I don’t drive. Without the service I would have to walk along a busy road with no pavement or even ask neighbours. Bwcabus gives me my independence and I can depend on it being there. “I have also used Bwcabus a number of times to visit a relation in Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth and have myself attended hospital appointments in Cardigan and Carmarthen using Bwcabus to connect with the Cardigan to Carmarthen 460 service. I find the service in

Visitors to Bronglais General Hospital are being asked to comply with specific hygiene requirements when visiting some wards, following a small number of isolated cases of Norovirus. Ystwyth, Rhiannon and Iorwerth wards currently have some temporary visitor restrictions in place to help prevent the spread of Norovirus, which has been confirmed in a small number of patients. The situation is being monitored at regular intervals and a further update will become available when visitor restrictions are lifted. Matthew Willis, General Manager at Bronglais, said: “I’d like to reassure visitors that a small number of Norovirus cases have been diagnosed and appropriate infection control measures are in place to reduce the risk of infection. "Unfortunately, at this time of the year, winter illnesses such as Norovirus and Flu do become more commonplace and it’s important for anyone experiencing these symptoms to follow simple hygiene advice. This includes washing and drying your hands thor

Cecile Johnson Soliz launches 'Made Up' exhibition at Oriel Myrddin Gallery in Carmarthen on Saturday, March 19.

Aberystwyth University is ranked among the best 200 universities in Europe according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings which are published today, Thursday 10 March, 2016. Aberystwyth University is ranked 161-170 and is one of only 46 UK universities to feature in Europe’s top 200. Overall 22 countries are represented in the top 200 list, which draws upon data from the 800 universities from 70 countries in the overall Times Higher Education World University Rankings. In September 2015, Aberystwyth University climbed 50 places to the top 350 universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-16. Based on the five pillars of teaching, research, citations, industry income and international outlook, Aberystwyth excelled in international outlook where it was ranked 162nd, and citations where it was ranked 260th. Professor John Grattan, Acting Vice-Chancellor at Aberystwyth University said: “To be ranked amongst the best 200

Carmarthen Welsh Week has been hailed as a success. The Week was launched on Saturday February 27 with West Wales’ first St. David’s Parade. The colourful and musical parade was supported by the Welsh Government via the Town Centre Partnership programme, and launched a week of events to celebrate all that’s Welsh in Wales’ oldest town. The parade was led by the Llanelli, Wales and British Lion rugby legend Delme Thomas, and was organised by Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths with Carmarthenshire County Council and Carmarthen Town Council. There were performances from Carmarthen Male Voice Choir, Carmarthen Symphonic wind Band and Crwbin Brass Band beforehand at Carmarthen Park and afterwards at St. Peters Church. Activities continued into the afternoon at Yr Atom the Welsh Language centre on King Street, where Ysgol Berfformio Dyffryn Tywi and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin entertained the crowd and actor Danny Grehan got in to character as Henry Tudor for a Welsh History Children’s perfor

The annual Loved and Lost Babies remembrance service, for members of the community of any or no faith, will be held at Glangwili Hospital Chapel on Saturday 26th March, 2016 at 12 noon. People living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and further afield, whose lives have been touched by the loss of a baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth, are invited to attend the service. The service is being organised by the Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Neonatal Team and Chaplaincy Department as a tribute to the babies who have died, and to their parents, entire family circle and friends. The service will offer meditative reflection, music and both religious and non-religious readings, with an opportunity to place personal messages in the book of remembrance and on a message tree. There will be light refreshments served after the service. Those who attend will be able to speak with and gain support from bereavement professionals as well as providing an opportunity for paren

A team of three Aberystwyth University students have been selected from more than 25,000 applications to compete in the regional finals of the world’s largest student competition to solve some of the toughest challenges facing the world today. Undergraduates Brandon Ribatika from the School of Management and Business, Mohammed Waqas from the Department of International Politics and Sohail Iqbal from the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, are representing Aberystwyth University in the London regional final of the Hult Prize on 11-12 March 2016. The Hult Prize is an annual competition which sees budding young social entrepreneurs from universities across the world competing in teams to create innovative start-up enterprises that tackle global challenges such as poverty, food security and affordable housing. The winning team is given the opportunity to make their ideas reality with the help of $1million in seed funding, as well as mentoring and advice from the in

The Chairman of Carmarthenshire County Council will welcome a peace run to the National Botanic Garden on Sunday March 13. Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths will be at the Garden to welcome the participants in the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run at 8.50am before the start of a 5km race and 2.5km Fun Run at 9am. Following the prize giving by the Chairman, a peace statue of a man holding a torch will be unveiled in a new peace garden area by Lord Elis-Thomas. The Peace Run will arrive in Laugharne at 3pm where they will meet the Port Reeve and the Mayor for a presentation. They will then go to the Dylan Thomas Boathouse to open the Writing Shed when Dylan Thomas’ granddaughter Hannah Ellis will be present and International Dylan Day will be promoted. On Monday March 14 the Peace Run will arrive at County Hall, Carmarthen, to be met by councillors and will then move on to Ysgol y Dderwen to meet the Town Mayor and Head teacher. The 5K Run for aged 11 upwards has a £7 entry fee of £5 for UK

Motorists and passengers are being reminded to belt up as part of an all Wales seatbelt campaign launched by police. Not wearing a seatbelt can be a fatal decision even on short, familiar journeys and at low speeds; in fact you are twice as likely to die in a collision if you are not wearing a seatbelt. Police officers will be monitoring the roads for those ignoring the law during the two-week crackdown, supported by Road Safety Wales. Both drivers and passengers can be fined £100 for not wearing a seatbelt. If prosecuted in court the maximum fine is £500. The driver is also responsible for making sure that passengers under the age of 14 are wearing a seatbelt, or using the correct child restraint for their height and age, or they can be fined. During the 2015 campaigns held in March and September, a total of 482 people in Carmarthenshire were stopped by police for not wearing their seatbelt and issued with on-the-spot fines. Council road safety officers are backing the campaign and

A man has been ordered to pay more than £500 by magistrates for a fly-tipping offence in Llandysul. Nicholas Aron Lloyd, aged 27, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty by post to an offence contrary to Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Carmarthen Magistrates Court heard that in September last year the council’s environmental enforcement unit received a complaint that household waste had been dumped at the entrance to the Welsh Water Sewage Disposal Works in Llandysul. Officers attended the incident and found a quantity of household waste including a TV. They traced it to a nearby rented property. They contacted the landlord who explained that household waste had been left in the garden by a previous tenant. However, the landlord had contacted the tenant to remove the waste so that her deposit could be returned. The officers visited the tenant at her new address and showed her a picture of the waste. She confirmed it was her waste left in the garden of her previous prop

It’s a case of out with the old and in with the new as Pembrey Country Park revamps part of its woodlands children’s play area. The current outdated equipment is being replaced with a new purpose built adventure ground covering the 50m square sandy area. A tree castle with slide and a wobbly bridge, climbing club with ropes, ladders, boarding nets and a sliding pole to whiz down, a cable way and five-way swing are just some of the new wood and steel items that will keep youngsters entertained for hours. An agility trail and a fort style climbing frame will complement those items as part of a £50k investment through the council’s capital works programme. Work is due to start shortly with some, if not all of the equipment, ready in time for the Easter opening. The council’s countryside and coast manager, Rory Dickinson said: “The woodlands play area is very popular with children and the current play equipment being very old, we were continually having to patch it up. Playgrounds can si

The latest Phil Evans column from the South Wales Evening Post. Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. www.philevans.co.uk ------------------------------------------ Another soapbox moment: Look out! Hide behind your sofas and stick a saucepan on your head for protection. Phil’s on the rampage! I’m fired-up and hotter under the collar than the time I devoured a vindaloo and chilli pepper curry at my local Welsh-Indian restaurant, The Pentre Khyber. What’s caused this? As usual, people’s cavalier, lazy use of English. I can’t be the only person who’s noticed that many journalists, politicians, experts etc., interviewed on the TV and radio news now routinely begin answering a question with the word ‘So....’ before continuing. For example . . . Interviewer: “With me in studio is the CEO of Amalgamated Chocolate Teapots, Abernathy Farquhar. Mister Farquhar, would you explain why sales of chocolate teapots have plummeted by 500% in

Professor Phillipp Schofield, Professor of Medieval History at Aberystwyth University has been elected as Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. A leading international researcher in medieval economic and social history, with a particular interest in matters of credit and debt, Professor Schofield is one of 42 leading social scientists to be recognised by the Academy. Following the announcement, Professor Schofield said: “I am delighted to be elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. “As a medieval historian, my involvement in the social sciences comes from two main directions. In my own work, which is directed mostly at the study of rural society in the middle ages, I focus in particular on topics that have a wider application within social science. So, themes such as the social and economic response to crisis and population change are central to a great deal of what I do, as is an interest in the use of law in past societies. Secondly, but also importantly for me, m

Hywel Dda University Health Board is supporting those who choose to give up smoking this No Smoking Day (March 9th) and a number of local events are being held to provide support and information to those ready to take on the task: Pembrokeshire • 10am-12pm at Pembroke Dock Hub/ Library • 4pm-5pm at the Regency Hall, Saundersfoot. Llanelli • Tesco Pharmacy (a.m) • Well Pharmacy (p.m) Carmarthenshire • Morrisons Pharmacy (a.m) • Morgan’s Pharmacy, King Street (p.m) • Boots Pharmacy 1-3pm Ceredigion • Coleg Ceredigion – available to staff and students Smokers are four times more likely to quit if they have help. You can find all local services available to help you give up, here: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/862/page/77333

Greenspace Gallery is supporting Age Cymru Sir Gâr this March. The Carmarthen gallery is hosting an exhibition until March 26, called “Painting our Mother”. It is all about recognising our relationships with our mothers. Local professional artists and students of art have all submitted paintings/artworks of their mothers in a variety of mediums. Exhibitors have paid a free to have their artwork displayed and Dorothy Morris, owner of the gallery is donating the fee to Age Cymru Sir Gâr for the charity to continue to support older people throughout Carmarthenshire. The Greenspace gallery is situated at 30 King Street, Carmarthen. Ann Dymock, chief officer of Age Cymru Sir Gâr, who attended the gallery to accept the donation said, “It's wonderful that creative local businesses such as the Greenspace Gallery support local charities such as ours. Relationships with the commercial sector can be so beneficial to the people we support and rewarding for the company involved

Latest news from Aberglasney House and Gardens in the Tywi Valley -  Two year heritage horticulture training opportunity We are proud to be a host garden for the Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme for a second two year placement starting in September 2016. Aberglasney joined the scheme last year, with the first placement being taken up by Jeanette Dunk (pictured above) in September 2015. Jeanette said: "The programme is a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in an historic garden. The diversity of plants and garden styles at Aberglasney makes training here interesting and varied. There is always a new challenge and I'm sure I'll finish my placement with a great all-round knowledge. It is a small and friendly gardening team at Aberglasney, so I get a lot of good quality supervision". Applications for 2016 placements are being accepted now and the closing date is 24th March. Applications must be made through the scheme's website at www.hbgt

Children in the Cwmann area are enjoying their new £5.7million school at Ysgol Carreg Hirfaen. This week, they had a visit from senior councillors and officers from Carmarthenshire County Council, to see how they were settling in. The school, which opened its doors a few weeks ago, caters for children aged between four and 11, and also houses a Cylch Meithrin Coedmor. It has state of the art facilities and first class accommodation, including a 3G artificial grass pitch, designed for both school and community use. Ysgol Carreg Hirfaen was delivered through the council’s Modernising Education Programme. Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole said: “It was wonderful to see for ourselves the excellent facilities the pupils now enjoy in their new building. “To say they were pleased is an understatement, pupils, staff and governors are all delighted with their new home. “This is exactly the kind of environment we want to provide for every child in the county and demonstrates what our MEP is all about.” T

Secondary school pupils across Carmarthenshire can meet potential employers - and take selfies with international rugby referee Nigel Owens at the same time. A Careers Wales Convention is being held to give all secondary schools in Carmarthenshire the opportunity to discuss recruitment opportunities. Around 70 employers will attend the event, taking place at Parc y Scarlets on Tuesday, March 15. The convention is being organised by Careers Wales in partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council and Coleg Sir Gar, with support from the Welsh Government’s Grant Bwrw Mlaen 2015/16. International rugby referee Nigel Owens will also be in attendance to help promote the benefits of bilingual qualifications, in order to improve customer service in particular in the Welsh speaking communities of Carmarthenshire. Education executive board member Cllr Gareth Jones said: “The message is to consider the language of your course when choosing your future. “In order to improve the chances of bein

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Sport and Leisure team are attempting to gain a record for the number of children riding balance and toddler bikes at any one time, and they need your help to do this! They are looking for around 100 participants between the ages of 2 and 7 to enter the Little Bikers Challenge. It will be held on Sunday, March 20 at Pembrey Country Park. The council has teamed up with organiser of the UK’s only cycle beach race, Battle on the Beach, which takes place on the same day, to make this possible. The fun race starts at 10am, so if your child is up for a challenge then please register their place here . All participants will receive a medal at the end of the race. Following the event, there will be a selection of fun activities as well as the main Battle on the Beach race starting at 12noon, with over 750 riders taking part. It is likely that this unique event will attract media interest so your child may be filmed. Both balance, toddle bikes and helmets w

The chance discovery on eBay of a post card featuring a portrait of a young black woman in university robes has led a Welsh university to honour one of its alumni. As part of its International Women’s Day celebrations on Tuesday 8 March, Aberystwyth University will officially name a room in honour of Iris de Freitas, the first female lawyer in the West Indies. Born in 1896, Iris de Freitas was the daughter of a merchant in British Guiana. She registered as a student at Aberystwyth University in 1919 after a short period studying in Toronto. At Aberystwyth she studied botany, Latin and modern languages, law and jurisprudence, and lived in Alexandra Hall, the first purpose-built university hall of residence for female students in the UK. She also became Vice-President of the University’s Students’ Representative Council and the President of the Women’s Sectional Council. Iris graduated with a BA in 1922, but continued her association with the University and qualified for the degree of

Latest special offers from the Jenkins Bakery - WEEK COMMENCING March 7, 2016 3 Medium Corned Beef Pasties, £1.70 2 Large Corned Beef Pasties, £2.00 2 Minced Beef and Onion Pies, £2.30 2 Egg Custard Tarts, £1.10 Sandwich of the Week, Turkey, Stuffing & Cranberry, £2.35 Rustic Baguette of the Week, Chicken Tikka, £2.50 Filled Softie of the Week, Ham Salad, £2.30 Website - http://jenkinsbakery.co.uk/