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

Party this evening at Gower Golf Club for our Beti, who is celebrating her visit to the Palace to collect her MBE - http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/expert-honoured/story-14305591-detail/story.html South Wales Evening Post story - A Swansea mum who has strived to get women and girls interested in computers, science and engineering is celebrating her New Year's MBE. Beti Williams, of Bishopston, was until recently the director of ITWales, at Swansea University. ​ One of her achievements was to obtain EU support for two Welsh projects worth £20 million. Loughor-born Mrs Williams is secretary of the Swansea Bay branch of the Institute of Welsh Affairs, an award-winning founder member of the British Computer Society in Wales, and a former finalist in the Welsh Woman of the Year. She was appointed MBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list for services to the community.

BBC News - Twin Town and Pobol y Cwm actor Dorien Thomas dies, 55 The actor Dorien Thomas, best known for his role as a corrupt policeman in the cult Welsh film Twin Town, has died. The 55-year-old suffered a heart attack early on Friday. He had also been receiving throat cancer treatment. The actor, from Pontypridd, was also familiar as Skull Jones in the BBC Wales comedy High Hopes, and parts in The Bill and Pobol Y Cwm.

The Llanelli Rotary Club website has just been updated with latest news - http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=936 Pictures from the Carmarthen Town AFC Youth Presentation Evening at Richmond Park are now up on the club website - http://www.carmarthentownafc.com Want to work at the National Botanic Garden of Wales? We are looking for an Assistant Horticulturist http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/support-us/job-vacancies/ #GardenOfWales Beer tasters ready to get down to work for the Evan-Evans Brewery #beer #realale - http://sirgarblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/beer-tasters-ready-to-get-down-to-work.html Carmarthen artist Mark Cox starts a new exhibition run at Aberglasney House and Gardens in the Tywi Valley - http://sirgarblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/mark-cox-starts-new-exhibition-at.html Lee Trundle mulls legal action against Neath on 'substantial' unpaid wages http://ow.ly/brxNZ Retweeted by Robert Lloyd Expand Catch up on news about the latest events at Aberglasn...

Two new members were inducted into membership of Llanelli Rotary Club at the weekly meeting at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Dr Kevin Jones (left) and Mr Simon Rowley (right) were welcomed into the club by President Graham Williams. The two new Rotarians were proposed as members by Rotarian Jeff Wheeler. Dr Jones was born in Llanelli and attended Llanelli Boys Grammar School before receiving his medical training at Cardiff University and St Andrews in Scotland. He returned to Llanelli in 1982 to join the Ty Elli medical practice. He is a senior partner in the practice. Mr Rowley is a retired surgeon. Born in Leeds, he was brought up in Zambia. He was educated at Shrewsbury and at Birmingham and Heidelberg universities. The next meeting of Llanelli Rotary Club is the annual Club Assembly meeting on Wednesday, June 13, 7.30pm at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Website - http://llanellirotary.com/

The new chair of Carmarthenshire County Council joined the Carmarthen Town Mayor and Deputy Mayor in welcoming the Olympic Torch as it passed through on its tour of the UK. Chair Cllr Siân Thomas is pictured with Mayor the Rev Tom Defis, torchbearer Paul Adams of Towy Riders cycling club and Deputy Mayor Cllr Phil Grice.

Splendid lunch at Llanelli Rotary Club at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli, today.

The Dan Collins Memorial Rugby Match raised a staggering £11,078 for Healing The Wounds, the Welsh PTSD charity. The event was organised by soldier's mum Deana Collins. Deana's son Dan tragically lost his life on New Year's Day 2012. With the help of Deana's friends and Dan's mates from the Welsh Guards, the Dan Collins Memorial Rugby Match kicked off at Cardigan Rugby Club, with the Healing The Wounds charity's Patron, Nigel Owens, giving his time to kindly referee the match. The day turned out to be very warm and sunny with lots of supporters young and old joining the fun and a fabulous day was had by everyone. A delicious barbecue was available and Healing the Wounds Mascot 'Dylan Draig' made a welcome appearance that added to the fun theme of the day. A fund-raising auction was also held. Healing the Wounds would like thank everyone involved - All at Cardigan Rugby Club for providing the venue, the Male Voice Choir who entertained pre-match...

A gala dinner is being planned in Carmarthenshire for the Help For Heroes charity. Dena Lloyd Waterford is the County Coordinator for the Help for Heroes. She writes - As a coordinator, I cover the whole of Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. Every year I hold a gala dinner for the charity. It is being held on Saturday July 14 at The Ashburnham Hotel, Pembrey. Guests will start to arrive around 6pm. We have in attendance the Mayor and Consort of Royal Wotton Bassett again this year. The ticket price is £25 per person, where you will have a drink on arrival, a three course meal which includes, Vegetable soup, Turkey Dinner, Strawberry Cheesecake or Ice Cream then Tea or Coffee. There is also a vegetarian dish available, if required. During the evening there will be a raffle and an auction. This is a Black tie event. We have individual tickets available or tables of 8 or 10 if anyone would like to make a table.. Contact - Dena Lloyd Waterford 75 Station Road Kidwel...

It has been billed as the best job opportunity ever - Official Beer Taster! In December of last year, Evan-Evans started the search for a group of beer tasters to help the award-winning brewery with the development of its new beer range for the summer of 2012. The company received more than 250 applications for what was described as the best job in brewing. The first 25 successful tasters met last month for a training session headed by Evan-Evans brewery Chief Executive Simon Buckley and Ian Swanson of The Beer Academy. Now, tomorrow (June 9), a second batch of tasters are to be put through their paces on a specially-designed beer tasting course. The course, being held at The Cricketers in Cathedral Road, Cardiff, will cover a variety of topics and include the tasting of a series of beer styles and the skills required to become a professional beer taster. The course culminates in an exam and a final tasting session at the bar of The Cricketers, the top food pub in Wales. Mr Buckl...

Carmarthenshire county councillors have decided that they will not claim travel allowances for constituency duties, neither will they claim refunds for telephone or postal costs related to their work as councillors. Members were unanimous in showing their favour for the decision when members’ salaries and allowances were discussed during the adjourned Annual Meeting of the council. Cllr Pam Palmer, who proposed that members do not make such claims, said: “We are told all the time that bureaucracy will be reduced. As such, I propose that we decide not to claim such allowances.” These were two areas of the Councillors’ and Co-opted Members’ Salaries and Allowances Scheme on which the members could use their discretion. All other allowances and salaries are now statutory, having been set by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales. During the meeting, several councillors welcomed the new statutory carer’s allowance, which allows members to claim back certain costs where they have to m...

The new chair of Carmarthenshire County Council is looking forward to raising the profile of community life and voluntary effort in the county over the next 12 months. Cllr. Siân Thomas from Penygroes has made a busy start to her year in office as County Council Chair. Her Chair’s Charities for the year are specialist equipment for Glanaman Hospital, the dedicated home for sufferers of dementia based in the Aman Valley, and the Gwendraeth Valley Diabetic Association. Cllr. Thomas, who lives in Heol Maes y Bont, Castell y Rhingyll, Llanelli, with husband David, comes from the Amman Valley but was brought up in the Swansea Valley in Ystradgynlais and Pontardawe. She was a pupil at Ysgol Ynyscedwyn, Trebanos Primary School and and Ystalyfera Grammar School before going to the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and graduating with a BA in Education and Philosophy. She also has an MEd in Performance Management from the University of Wales, Swansea, an MA in Creative Writing in Welsh from ...

Carmarthen artist Mark Cox has a new exhibition at Aberglasney House and Gardens. The exhibition started today and runs through to 21st June. The show is made up of more than 60 original paintings, mainly of West Wales, together with prints and cards. Below, is Mark's view of Druidstone Beach. Mark's own website describes him as 'an eclectic artist who enjoys working on a variety of subjects, producing landscapes, marine and coastal paintings. He works in both oils and watercolours'. Mark, who has been painting all his life, gained an honours degree in fine art at Trinity College Carmarthen. Mark has exhibited widely in Carmarthenshire, Bristol, Brecon, Dublin, Mid and South-West Wales, including Cardiff and the National Assembly for Wales. His work has been sent as far as Australia and USA. Mark can be seen working on his latest paintings most Wednesdays in the Lounge Gallery, Waverley, Carmarthen. Mark is well known to visitors to Aberglasney House and Garden...

Staff and residents at an Ammanford care home have more than a Diamond Jubilee to celebrate this month – they have a rather special ruby anniversary to celebrate too! This month, Tegfan, on Arthur Street, Tirydail, will mark 40 years since it first opened its doors to older people in need of care in the Ammanford area. To celebrate, staff have organised a special party on Wednesday, June 13th, and all former members of staff have been invited back to reminisce. Manager, Rosemarie Griffiths, said: “It’s going to be a special event for many people, as Tegfan has touched the lives of many people over the years. Our League of Friends will be here, and we will be having entertainment too. All ex-staff are invited to pop in and have tea and cake and share some of their happy stories.” Carmarthenshire County Council Executive Board Member for Health and Social Care, Cllr Jane Tremlett, added: “I’d like to extend my very best wishes to all past and present staff, relatives and families on t...

The leader of Carmarthenshire County Council has called for the clock on Ammanford’s All Saints Church to be repaired. Cllr Kevin Madge welcomed the fact that the Grade II listed Building is to be extensively repaired and said he hoped that the clock would be repaired as part of the work. Cllr Madge said: “All Saints Church is a landmark building in Ammanford and I’m pleased that this work is going to be carried out.”

A new literary magazine that has been created by first year students in the Department of Welsh at Aberystwyth University as part of a module they are studying, is to be launched on Saturday (9 June) at the Urdd Eisteddfod. The students taking the module 'Introduction to Welsh Professional' have been given an ambitious project to work on this season, to publish and edit a literary magazine called Y Ddraig (The Dragon). This bulky 117 page edition will include examples of creative work of students from more than one of the university’s departments. It will contain short stories, poems, micro pieces of literature, as well as interviews with interesting individuals. The magazine will be launched on the University stand at the Urdd in Glynllifon at 12 o'clock on Saturday, 9 June. It will provide Aberystwyth University’s new generation of young poets and authors the opportunity to showcase their work. Professor Margaret Haycock and Dr Bleddyn Huws are coordinating the mo...

A total of 3.8 million people are currently living with diabetes in the UK, a figure that is projected to increase to 6.25 and cost £16.9 billion to the NHS (17% of its annual budget) by the year 2035. Working alongside the Bronglais Hospital Diabetes Specialist Team, the Department of Sport and Exercise Science at Aberystwyth University is hosting A Diabetes Information Evening. The event, which takes place at 7pm on Wednesday the 13th of June, forms part of Diabetes Week (12-16th of June) and is designed to raise awareness about diabetes and provide support for those who already have the condition. More than 160,000 people in Wales have been diagnosed with diabetes which is nearly 5% of the population. On top of that it’s estimated that there are 66,000 more people that have the condition but have not yet been diagnosed. In people with diabetes the body cannot make proper use of the glucose in the blood. This means the glucose cannot be used effectively as a fuel, and res...

Melin Consultants is looking for new blood to join its expanding technical team. Just in case you have not heard of the firm, Melin Consultants is one of the leading sustainable construction consultancies in Wales, providing technical support to architects and engineers. Melin provides SAP, SBEM, Code and BREEAM as core services, but there is a whole lot more that goes on behind the scenes from co-heating tests to low carbon feasibility studies to air leakage testing. Melin Consultants is run by Jamie (pictured above) and Mel Best. The firm has a great opportunity for a lead SAP assessor to join the team based at the new office at The Beacon building in Dafen, Llanelli. Ideally, you will already possess a current assessors license, so that you can hit the ground running. Melin is a solutions-led company, so you would be expected to work closely with clients to acheive the most effective design possible. To find out more please send a current CV to -  llanelli...

Posters are out for the Llandeilo Jazz festival, sponsored by the Evan-Evans Brewery - Website is live at - http://www.jazzatllandeilo.co.uk/

Today's news round-up from Celtic Couriers in Burry Port. Follow their webste - http://www.celticcouriers.co.uk/home - for regular updates. Last night saw another record night at Celtic Couriers. The volume of parcels was the most we have delivered in one night this year! The record-breaking night follows a trend for 2012. Just before the Easter break, the company chalked up new 2012 records for daily deliveries and collections. "This month, June, we are keeping up the momentum," said Celtic Couriers general manager Gareth Jenkins. "We would like to thank all our customers for helping us input the busiest night of the year. “We’re consistently busy and always keen to make sure we deliver for our customers. “We like to think that we live up to our motto of being frequent, fast, efficient and flexible, providing an award-winning ‘handled with care’ delivery service. “The fact that we get a lot of repeat business is testament to our determination to keep customers h...

  Young mums living in a rural Carmarthenshire community have been putting their hearts into art as part of a project to help them build skills, self-esteem and confidence. The Arts 4 Wellbeing programme, funded by the Genesis project, has been running at Pencader Family Centre, giving participants the chance to explore their inner creative self. Genesis is a European Social Funded project which aims to improve life for families, either because they are unemployed or on a low income. Genesis and the Pencader Family Centre are working together to improve opportunities for families in the rural community of Pencader. Genesis Advisor Elonwy Williams said: “The courses have gone really well, and we believe that the mums who have taken part have found it a rewarding experience. “The facilitator, Sara Wentworth, encouraged participants to let their imaginations go, and there have been some fantastic results.” The Arts 4 Wellbeing course was one of many being funded by Genesis in C...

Hywel Dda Health Board | This Healthy Wednesday check out Change4life Wales The Hywel Dda Health Board's Healthy Wednesday gives you healthy tips every week to help you make a small healthy change which could have a big impact on your life. www.Change4LifeWales.org.uk is a good resource for more information and has a free health check for adults and a free personalised action plan for kids. It also has tips on how to cut back your fat intake, get your 150 active minutes in and get your five a day.  It also has tips on how to cut down on alcohol and healthy eating recipes.

Wildlife and Environmental concerns during Holidays | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys During the holidays earlier this year Sergeant Matthew Howells, Wildlife and Environmental Crime Sergeant for Dyfed Powys Police, noticed that several calls were made to the police regarding children and adults displaying anti-social behaviour at public parks and attractions where there was wildlife on display. In particular, there were calls regarding children throwing stones at ducks and swans on rivers and canals and adults encouraging their dogs to swim after ducks on ponds. Matthew would like to remind the public that the animals are there for pleasure not persecution.

Big concert this Saturday at Pontarddulais Leisure Centre. Pontarddulais Town Band with Cor Meibion Llanelli. Garry Owen the compere.

Students and lecturers of Theatre, Film and TV Studies are set to be the first beneficiaries of a new Memorandum of Understanding which has been signed by Aberystwyth University and Enniscorthy Vocational College (EVC), County Wexford, Ireland. The three year agreement was signed on Thursday 31st May 2012 by Professor Martin Jones, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Participation and Collaboration at Aberystwyth University, Mr Liam Sharkey, Head of Media Production at Enniscorthy Vocational College and an alumnus of Aberystwyth, and Mr Morgan Dunne, Head of the Board of Management at the College. Under the terms of the agreement staff at the Department of Theatre Film and TV Studies at Aberystwyth will work with colleagues at Enniscorthy College to develop the curriculum there, with particular focus on Further Education and Training Awards Council Level 6 courses.  Once set up, Enniscorthy students who successfully complete the level 6 course will be able to progress onto the second year...

My interview with the Rev David Jones, of Greenfield Baptist Church, Llanelli, conducted for the Llanelli Talking Newspaper for the Blind -  

Welcome to the business column from the QualitySolicitors Redkite, the biggest legal firm in West Wales. This week, property solicitor Lucy Morris puts the spotlight on solar panels. Solar panels are becoming increasingly popular in West Wales, providing environmental and financial benefits. But homeowners should not rush to install. If you are thinking about it, there are two basic packages available -either a purchase or a lease. Both options require careful consideration. You could pay for the installation and claim the income (called a “feed in tariff”) yourself. A number of solar panel installation firms are approaching homeowners, with attractive the promise of no up-front costs and, more importantly, cheaper or free electricity. This will usually involve you giving the company a 25-year business lease of the air space above your house. The company will install the panels and then claim the feed in tariff. A lease is needed to regulate the ongoing relationship be...

The latest 'View from Richmond Park' Carmarthen Town AFC column from the Carmarthen Journal newspaper - A meeting of the Carmarthen Town AFC general committee at the clubhouse and community centre at Richmond Park considered proposals for a new-look management structure for the club. The new structure will see the end of the executive committee of the club and will see specific club ‘directors’ take charge of new areas of responsibility – business, financial, football, community affairs and communications. A vision group and management group is proposed to work alongside the club’s legal directors. The new proposals require a change to the club’s constitution, so will be considered at the forthcoming AGM on June 12. ------------------------------------- The annual Carmarthen Town AFC Fete will be held at Richmond Park on Saturday, July 7. ------------------------------------- The Welsh Premier League AGM will be held at The Marine Hotel, Aberystwyth, on Saturday, Jun...

Interview with Caru James of the Llanelli Heritage 6 Project, conducted for the Llanelli Talking Newspaper for the Blind -

My interview with Mark Jewell of Carmarthenshire Library Services for the Llanelli Talking Newspaper for the Blind -

Hywel Dda Health Board | Recruitment underway for Executive Director post Recruitment is underway to recruit a new Executive Director for Public Health Services to the Public Health Wales Board. Bob Hudson, Chief Executive of Public Health Wales The vacancy was created following the announcement of Dr Hilary Fielder’s retirement at the end of September. The Executive Director of Public Health Services leads work in health protection, screening, clinical and health governance and safeguarding.

A group of long-term unemployed jobseekers were bussed into London to work as unpaid stewards during the diamond jubilee celebrations and told to sleep under London Bridge before working on the river pageant. See Guardian story.

Back at HQ after a splendid day out at Porthgain and the Presceli Mountains. Some of the freshest air on the planet! For more pictures, see - https://plus.google.com/photos/114054103325052180233/albums/5750214408137352497?authkey=CKTgqcO8vvKkAQ

Hywel Dda Health Board | Lighting the way for Bronglais Patients An Olympic torchbearer returned to Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth to celebrate his once in a lifetime experience with those who helped nurse him back to health. Richard ‘Richie’ Denyer, 60, from Aberystwyth, ran his part of the 70 day, UK-wide Olympic Torch relay through Brynhoffnant in Ceredigion. A remarkable achievement as Richie suffered a stroke in 2001 whilst riding a motorbike, leaving him severely injured and wheelchair bound.  He was admitted to Bronglais Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where he spent 28 days before he could be moved onto a ward.

My interview with Bede MacGowan, Editor of the Llanelli Star, for the Llanelli Talking Newspaper for the Blind.

Hywel Dda Health Board | Learning from experience to make a difference Gwenda Thomas, Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services, has been to Ysgol Hendre in Bryncoch, Neath to visit a meeting of the Neath Port Talbot Special Needs Group. The group is made up of parents and carers of children and young adults with additional needs including autistic spectrum disorders, learning disabilities and physical and sensory impairment. The Deputy Minister discussed current developments within social services in Wales and asked the group about their own experiences.

Transport of delight | The National Botanic Garden of Wales Visitors will benefit from a successful fundraising campaign at the National Botanic Garden at Llanarthne, near Carmarthen. Donations collected by volunteers during the Garden’s free January have earned the Carmarthenshire attraction a brand new buggy.

Hywel Dda Health Board | Legislation to make cosmetic piercing safer for young people Under-16s in Wales will not be allowed to receive a cosmetic piercing without their parent or guardian’s consent, if proposed Welsh Government legislation goes ahead. Health Minister Lesley Griffiths said the legislation would also include an outright ban on intimate cosmetic piercings for under-18s. A recent public consultation asking for views on how to make cosmetic piercing safer for young people in Wales showed strong support for legislation.

Check out this new video of the APC Overnight delivery team. Celtic Couriers of Burry Port are part of the APC network.

Hywel Dda Health Board | Boost Your Bones for Age UK’s Falls Awareness Week Health and social care partners in West Wales will be holding events and raising awareness during June as part of Age UK’s Falls Awareness Week 2012 (Monday 18-Friday 22 June). Backing the charity’s drive to boost the bone health of older people across the country, the campaign will show that there are many simple things that can reduce the risk of falls and fractures as we grow older - from walking up the stairs to getting active in a local exercise class such as Tai Chi.

Welsh Police Forces launch Summer Anti Drink and Drug Driving Campaign | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys The National All Wales Summer Drink Drive campaign 2012 backed by Dyfed Powys Police, South Wales Police, Gwent Police, and North Wales Police and in conjunction with Road Safety Wales Partners’, will run for the month of June. In this year's campaign the forces, led by Dyfed Powys Police, will be stepping up the pressure in a concerted effort to deter people from driving motor vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Identity remains unknown of body found at Lake Vyrnwy – now police look to the public for help | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys On the afternoon of Wednesday 23rd May 2012, the body of a man was found at Rhiwargor Water Falls in Llanwddyn. A post mortem examination has been conducted and although final results are awaited, there are no suspicious findings.  The death is unexplained and is not being treated as suspicious. It is believed that the deceased had been in the water between17th April  and 17th May 2012; anything between a week and a month before being found. Dyfed Powys police are appealing for public assistance in identifying the deceased.

Primary schools across the county have held a special lunch party to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Carmarthenshire Catering Service, part of the local authority, served up a buffet lunch fit for royalty to help thousands of children mark the great occasion. Children were served a selection of sandwiches, pizza fingers, buffet sausages and carrot and cucumber sticks, followed by a decorated cupcake, jelly and fruit squash. Sandra Weigel, Catering Services Manager, said: “It was a lovely occasion and a special lunchtime treat for the children to mark the Queen’s Jubilee.” Carmarthenshire Catering Service serves up 19,000 school meals every day, with every two-course meal analysed by a sophisticated software system for nutritional quality. Lunch costs £2.00 with many families eligible for free school meals. For further information call 01267 246521 or visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Beach Break Live – police prepare to welcome visitors | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys With the third Beach Break Live event shortly coming to Carmarthenshire, Dyfed-Powys Police would like to remind visitors of some basic crime prevention messages ahead of the event. The police have issued some simple guidelines or visitors to protect themselves and their property. “The past two events have been very popular and successful here,” said Chief Inspector Mark Bleasdale. “But unfortunately we have had some instances of theft from tents, criminal damage and assaults."

Leon Jeanne joins Carmarthen - Cardiff Football - CardiffOnline - WalesOnline Former Cardiff City winger Leon Jeanne has signed for Welsh Premier League Carmarthen Town. Jeanne, 31, is one of three players snapped up from Afan Lido by Carmarthen manager Mark Aizlewood for 2012-13, along with Carl Evans and defender Anthony Finselbach. Cardiff-born Jeanne's playing career started 15 years ago at Queens Park Rangers and he later signed for the Bluebirds, but his career was disrupted by alcohol and drug problems.

Lois Gibbon runs Daffodil Events, the firm which staged the South and West Wales Caravan and Motorhome Show 2012 in Carmarthen. Here is her Holiday Heaven and Hell, as featured in the South Wales Evening Post -  What was your best holiday? As an avid traveller, it is very difficult to choose, but I think New Zealand was the most interesting. I travelled there with my best friend Mererid back in December, 2007, for six weeks. We hired a car on arrival and travelled the whole of the north and south island. In the north, we visited NZ’s biggest city, Auckland, saw dolphins at Whitianga, visited the sulphur pools and the traditional Maori Villages in Rotorua, Huka Falls in Taupo, the art-deco town of Napier and the wine region of Hastings before heading down to Wellington, the windy city. Then we crossed to the south and spent time in Picton, Nelson, Franz Joseph and Fox Glazier and on to Queenstown for some white water rafting. We visited the peaceful and stunning sights of Milfor...

Jamie Best, of Melin Consultants, of The Beacon, Dafen Llanelli, was featured in the 'Holiday Heaven and Hell' feature in the South Wales Evening Post. Melin Consultants are experts in sustainable building solutions. What was your best holiday? Tough call, but I think my favourite was about 13 years ago in Eastern Australia. I handed in my notice to change jobs and was given a long spell of garden leave. Being free and single at the time, I grabbed a surfboard and was in Australia within 48 hours. I headed up the east coast from Sydney with a mate who was already out there taking in all the surf spots. He had a beaten-up old yellow transit camper and we didn’t meet another Brit in the whole five weeks We only seemed to travel on dirt tracks and missed all the tourist traps. I didn’t even get to see the Opera House! I lived like a tramp sleeping on the van floor, but loved every second of it. Your worst? A long time ago I went on a typical ‘lads’ holiday to Ayia Napa,...

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