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

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. ----------------------- People often come up to me and say things like... “Do you write your own material or make it up as you go along - as it appears you do?” And... “If you’re a comedian, how come I never sees you on ‘Buzzcocks’ and ‘Nine Out Of Ten Cats?” And my reply is always “Could you kindly close the bathroom door on the way out!” Because I’m a patient man. I once spent 48 hours waiting in A & E and didn’t complain. There was nothing wrong with me. I had no plans for the weekend and fancied mixing with new people. If you think that all a comedian does is stand on a stage and tell jokes, you‘re sadly mistaken, even if you’re feeling happy. They say happiness and sadness are two sides of the same coin. But it’s not legal tender in this country. What can comedians do apart from tell jokes? Well, as I’ve never learn...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star - Côr Meibion Mynydd Mawr Male Voice Choir will stage their annual dinner dance at Tumble Hall on Friday, January 23. Entertainment will be provided by the Tom Collins band, and entry fee will include a three course carvery meal. Members are extending a warm welcome to anyone interested in attending rehearsals at Bethesda Chapel Vestry in Bethesda Road, Tumble either with a view to joining or just listening. Rehearsals are held every Monday and Thursday evening from 7pm until 9pm. Anyone interested in joining the choir or attending the dinner dance can contact choir secretary Roger Walters on 01269 844259 or Ellis Davies on 01269 843525. There are two contrasting concerts coming up in Kidwelly. On Saturday, January 24, at the Princess Gwenllian Hall , beginning at 7.30 pm., the Cwmbach Male Voice Choir from Aberdare will be singing. This fine choir will be joined by young instrume...

  Welsh actress Samira Mohamed Ali has embarked on a journey half way across the world to promote her latest Bollywood movie bPositive where she stars as the lead heroine. Samira, currently the UK Ambassador for BritWeek Miami, FilmInWales and UK ambassador for Children’s Charity Cerebra, is on an intense 10-day press tour in India to promote the picture. Samira has started the tour in Bangalore with a press photo shoot with her co-stars Raj Purohit and Nibeditha. She will travel to Mumbai on Wednesday for a full week of interviews for major TV channels, magazines and media conferences. Last night’s red-carpet event at the Grand Leema Hotel saw the release of the movie trailer, followed by an exclusive fashion show. This attracted over 4,000 screaming fans outside the hotel hoping to catch a glimpse of the cast and crew. Samira will play lead heroine Nina, and the Venkatesh Kumer film is about a love triangle, with an interesting twist that cannot be revealed unti...

Aberystwyth University is investigating the feasibility of generating its own wind energy with three wind turbines. As a way of meeting its sustainability targets, and minimise future energy costs, the University is undertaking a feasibility study to establish what the planning and business requirements would be. If constructed, the three 250 kilowatt turbine Aberystwyth University Sustainable Future project could generate enough electricity to meet up to 10 per cent of the University’s current annual electricity needs, and save the University a significant predicted amount in running costs over the 20 year life of the turbines. The University has submitted a screening opinion to Ceredigion County Council to request further information on the requirements for developing the scheme. The University will hold a three-week consultation with Aberystwyth students, residents and staff, starting with a public exhibition from 7pm on Thursday, January 28th The project, which would cost about £...

Delivering a future programme for the transformation of social care has been discussed by Welsh Government ministers and social care chiefs across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys. The Minister for health and social services Mark Drakeford and chair of the National Social Services Partnership Forum, Gwenda Thomas AM, met the four county senior representatives together with officers from Powys and Hywel Dda University Health Boards and Pembrokeshire and Powys associations of voluntary organisations. They discussed the readiness of the region for the implementation of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014. The Minister and Mrs Thomas emphasised the importance of the Act in providing a statutory basis for the transformation of social care in Wales and the need for strong political and professional leadership during an ongoing programme of change. They endorsed arrangements for delivering such leadership through the Mid and West Wales Health and Social Ca...

Prepare for passion and punchlines celebrating St Dwynwen’s Day (Diwrnod Santes Dwynwen), the Welsh version of St Valentine’s Day. Following sell out shows at Toronto, Edinburgh and Machynlleth Comedy Festival, Phil Evans has rallied a varied group of the very best in English language comedy. With stand-ups, comedy characters and musical comedy greats, there are guaranteed giggles. 'Love and Laughter with Phil Evans and Friends' is at The Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen, on Saturday, January 24. The evening features Phil Evans (Gala Gomedi, S4C), Daniel Glyn (Gwerthu Allan, S4C), Ignacio Lopez (Show Me The Funny, ITV), Ed Holden (BBC Radio Cymru Award Winner), Simon Emanuel (Welsh Unsigned Stand Up Award winner), Paul James, with his cheeky engaging style and a hint of dark comedy and Karen Sherrard ('Last Mic Standing', outright winner 2014) a character you will instantly warm to once you collide with her engaging characters and sharp wit. This will be a showcase featur...

Carmarthen Library is helping people combat the January blues by celebrating the life and work of iconic Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. 2014 marked the centenary of Dylan Thomas’s birth, and Carmarthen Library in conjunction with the Dylan Thomas Boathouse will be giving visitors the opportunity to step in to his world. With readings, sound recordings, photographs and books will give people an insight to the county’s most famous poet and his iconic writing shed, which travelled around the country last year. The free event will take place at Carmarthen Library on Wednesday, January 21, with readings at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Reference Manager, Catrin Simon, said: "What better way to beat the January blues by escaping into the world of Dylan Thomas. Come and join us.” Carmarthenshire libraries host many events throughout the year. Make sure you don’t miss out by following them on Facebook or Twitter ; alternatively email library@carmarthenshire.gov.uk or call 01267 224824.

The manager of Carmarthen’s Lolfa Lounge, Water Street, has been prosecuted for breaching licence conditions. John Paul James attended Carmarthen Magistrates Court on January 9, and pleaded guilty to eight separate offences contrary to Section 136 of the Licensing Act 2003. He was fined a total of £600, and ordered to pay £450 prosecution costs, with a victim surcharge of £50. The court heard that Carmarthenshire County Council had received complaints from local residents regarding noise from the premises. Licensing officers had also been made aware of a number of incidents at the premises which had been dealt with by police. The officers visited the premises on three separate occasions in November 2013, supported by local neighbourhood police officers, and found it was in breach of a number of licence requirements. On the 1st, 2nd and 10th of November, officers found that entertainment was being provided beyond the permitted hour of 1am. On November 1st, officers also witnessed the...

Space scientists at Aberystwyth University have played an important role in the discovery of the remains of the Beagle 2 Mars Lander which was lost on Christmas Day 2003. The UK-led Beagle 2 Mars Lander, which hitched a ride on the ESA Mars Express mission, has been found partially deployed on the surface of Mars. This find shows that the ‘Entry, Descent and Landing’ sequence for Beagle 2 worked and the craft landed successfully. The team searching for Beagle 2 approached Dr Laurence Tyler and Dr Matt Gunn at the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science at Aberystwyth University to provide detailed 3D images of the area where it was believed to have landed. Using powerful ‘Shape from Shading’ computer software developed by the Space Robotics Group at Aberystwyth University, Dr Tyler was able to provide a terrain map of the area from images taken by the HiRISE camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Dr Tyler hopes to use the same technique to study the proposed ...

The next meeting of the Llanelli Rugby Business Network will be held at Parc y Scarlets stadium, Llanelli, on Tuesday, February 10. The guest speaker will be Dr Neil Lewis. The aim of the Llanelli Rugby Business Network is to promote and enhance business in Wales, particularly within the local area. During the meetings all attendees will be provided with the opportunity of introducing their business, the services they provide and the type of leads and introductions they are seeking, plus there will be ample opportunity for informal open networking in a friendly, informal and welcoming environment. The guest speaker, Dr. Neil Lewis B.Ch.D Msc, works for The Robert Owen Community Banking Fund as an Environmental Consultant. His role within the organisation is to manage a fund that develops energy projects for Community organisations throughout Wales. Neil has an interesting background, is passionate about community environmental projects whilst being a very able presenter. Neil ...

Swansea more evidence of the UK's two-tier economy, says new Centre for Cities report | South Wales Evening Post : Swansea lags behind many other cities economically, a report says today, with business start-up rates and worker productivity low. But new jobs are being created while the value of the coastline and hills are not measured. A wide-ranging economic audit of Swansea has painted a mixed picture as the gap between the UK’s best and worst-performing cities, according to a report published today, accelerates quickly. The Centre for Cities outlook has crunched a load of economic data on 64 cities — and also drawn wider conclusions by comparing that annual data since 2004. Swansea, with its population of just over 240,000, came 60th out of 64 on the business start-up front in 2013, while worker productivity was a lowly 61st. Average weekly wages in 2013 were £427 (or £22,204 per annum), which was 56th out of 64." From South Wales Evening Post

Tickets are selling fast for the Carmarthenshire Sports Personality Awards 2014 when 12 of the county’s top sporting heroes will be crowned winners next Friday. A full house is expected to turn out at Y Ffwrnes Theatre which plays host to the annual sporting talent event on January 30. Thirty six finalists will take their seats ahead of the 12 awards winners being announced as well as the Hall of Fame award which goes to rugby legends the late Ray Gravell and Stuart Gallacher. Categories include sports personality, young sportsman and sportswoman, disabled sportsman and sportswoman, sports coach, sports volunteer, young volunteer, team of the year, young team of the year, community sport coach, high performance coach and the Ryan Jones Memorial Award for outstanding services to sport. In its 17th year the event recognises the sporting achievements of athletes, coaches and volunteers across Carmarthenshire. Executive board member for regeneration and leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: ...

A new safer cycle route into Pembrey Country Park is being created thanks to the Big Lottery Coastal Communities Fund. A total of £300,000 has been secured to link up the Pembrey Canal Route with Pinged through to Kidwelly with a significant spur to create a safer cycle route to the country park. The new one-mile of cycleway will link Pembrey to Pinged Road joining the existing network. Executive board member for transport services, Cllr Colin Evans, said the celebrated Sustans Cymru M4 cycle route along Llanelli’s Millennium Coastal Park was one of the most popular in the country. He congratulated Sustrans and council officers for their successful bid adding: “This new funding will allow significant spurs off it to link up communities and create more safer cycling opportunities. “It will tie in the communities of Burry Port, Pembrey and Kidwelly to the immensely popular Sustrans coastal cycleway that enters the county at Bynea. “The existing route, was completed from Burry Port Harb...

Carmarthenshire County Council's first female director has started in her post. Christina Harrhy has been appointed as Director of Environmental Services. She joins the authority from Torfaen County Borough, where she was Chief Officer for Neighbourhood Services. Christina is a Chartered Civil Engineer and one of only two fellow female Welsh members of the Institution. Named winner of the Leading Wales Awards 2011, Christina has more than 20-years of service in local government – starting out as a junior technician in highways design. As Director of Environmental Services, Christina will be responsible for services such as waste collections, street cleaning and lighting, transport, roads and highways maintenance, planning, enforcement, flytipping and dog fouling. In her first week in post, Christina said her main priority is the budget. She said: “I recognise that the services we provide are highly valued by people in Carmarthenshire. I need to look at how we can deliver them mor...

Terry Griffiths OBE, snooker ace, West Wales legend and winner of the World Snooker Championship, the Snooker Masters and the UK Snooker Championship. will officially open the new offices and the new Advocacy project of Age Cymru Sir Gâr. Age Cymru Sir Gâr, the older persons charity serving the over 50s of Carmarthenshire will be launching two of their latest developments on Friday, January 30: the Help to be heard advocacy project funded by the Big Lottery Fund. and their new offices in Trostre  The Advocacy project is to help older residents in Carmarthenshire to secure their rights, understand situations they are, in as well as ensure that their voices are heard and respected. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to promote advocacy for older people and explain how the already popular service can benefit more people across the whole of Carmarthenshire. Age Cymru Sir Gâr will be hosting a day of events from 10.30am to 3pm, including opportunities to learn new crafts, pu...

Love this quote - “When you wrestle with a pig, you both get covered in mud.” From story in the weekend Observer. Michael Fertik: online reputation is becoming more valuable than money or power | Technology | The Guardian : "

Decent read from The Observer. Think we all need to cut out the distractions and focus more! Why the modern world is bad for your brain | Science | The Guardian : 

Llanelli’s future, school security, the media’s glorification of war, giving students a political voice and the dangers of social media destroying privacy . . .  These were among the topics debated in the annual Llanelli Rotary Club Youth Speaks competition held at Llanelli Town Hall. “The quality of the arguments presented was outstanding and the children taking part reflected great credit on their schools and families,” said the chairman of the judging panel Lt Colonel David Mathias. The competition saw St John Lloyd win the senior category and Brynwgyn Comprehensive take the junior intermediate section. Both teams will now progress to the next round of the Rotary competition – zone area and district finals. The competition attracted entries from Ysgol y Strade, St John Lloyd, Coedcae and Brynwgyn schools. Lt Col Mathias said: “The standard in the competition was exceptionally high and the competitors made the judging task a very difficult one.” Llanelli Rotary Club pres...

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