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

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. Pensions have been a big conversation topic in the world of tax and accounting. Last week, we focussed on the imminent changes to auto enrolment for pensions and what it all means for employers. This week, the spotlight goes onto pensions scams. Sadly, cons where people may be tricked into handing over their pension pots by scammers, are on the increase. Many of the offers seem very convincing, starting with offers of excellent returns. However, once you’ve transferred your money into a scam, it’s too late. You could end up losing all your pensions savings and in some cases face a tax bill of up to 55%. Here are a few tips to help you give yourself the best possible protection against the pension scammers. Before you sign anything . . . Never be rushed into making a decision, contact the Pensions...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star newspaper - Côr Meibion Llanelli’s concert with the Vancouver Orpheus Male Voice Choir from Canada will take place at Tabernacle Chapel, Llanelli, on Tuesday, September 29. Tickets are available from members of Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir. Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas said: “We are old friends with the choir from Vancouver and we look forward to welcoming them to Wales. They are on a seven-date tour of Wales so the Llanelli concert represents a great chance to listen to our choral colleagues from Canada. “Members of Côr Meibion Llanelli have performed in Vancouver and we look forward to meeting up with some very old and dear friends.” The Canadian choir’s Artistic Director is Liana Savard and the accompanist is Barry Yamanouchi. The Vancouver Orpheus Male Choir is part of Vancouver’s thriving community choir scene. Formed in 1992 for men of all age...

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 -------------------- Last week, I walked into a supermarket in Cross Hands just as a young man was walking out. As we passed, he nonchalantly spat out a huge, nasty-looking mass of phlegm onto the pavement and walked on, not giving a second thought to what he’d just done. Spitting was as natural to him as breathing. Normally, I’d have said something, though in retrospect I’m not sure what. Maybe, “Excuse me young sir! I think you dropped something!” No, that wouldn’t have worked. But his repulsive action made me feel so ill, I nearly retched. Had I followed through, it would have made an even bigger mess on the pavement...and someone might have written an article about my anti-social behaviour. There used to be signs in ‘buses that made no bones about how you were expected to behave on public transport... ...