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

A series of events are being held across Aberystwyth University in the week leading up to and following on from International Women’s Day on Tuesday 8th March. The varied programme of events provides opportunities for students, staff and members of the local community to come and celebrate women and their achievements. Highlights from the full programme of events include can be found here and includes: ‘Women and care: Empowering Women in Wales’ ; a talk hosted by the Women’s Equality Network. ‘A life in Fresh Water – Kathleen Carpenter (1891 – 1970), a pioneering freshwater ecologist at Aberystwyth University’ presented by Catherine Duigan and Warren Kovach. ‘Beyond the binary: All the genders we are’ presented by Aberration. On International Women’s Day the National Assembly for Wales presents ‘Women in Wales 2016 – Vote for your future’. All of these events are open for all to attend. As well as events on campus, women of all ages are invited to come and celebrate International ...

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. Zero hours contracts always tend to be a hot news topic. With interest in the contracts growing, the Government has published guidance for employers. The guidance sets out where zero hours contracts may be appropriate and also sets out alternatives and best practice. The guidance gives examples of where zero hours contracts might be appropriate: new businesses, where demand might be fluctuating and unpredictable  seasonal work, for example around Christmas or harvest times  employers needing cover for unexpected sickness in critical roles  catering businesses using additional experienced staff when a special event is booked and  a business testing a new service that they are thinking about providing, needing employees on an ad hoc basis.  What are zero hours contrac...

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 ------------------------------------------ CHEMICAL REACTION Common sense warns us not to indulge in things that are inevitably going to lead to disaster, like running around the parapet of a 60-storey building in a thunderstorm, while juggling two armchairs and a ‘fridge. I’ll never try that again! Or stopping your car in the middle of Longleat’s lion enclosure, winding-down the window, holding out a handful of raw steak and shouting, “Hello boys! Anybody hungry?” You’d be even more foolhardy to answer your front door to a couple of well-dressed, well-scrubbed individuals and invite them in so they can explain, over a nice cup of tea and a slice of fruit cake, why you’re doomed to burn in the fires of Hell for all Eternity. While our instincts warn us about obvious things we should avoid, last week the med...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star - After the success of the weekend’s Llanelli St David’s Day celebration concert, there’s a special event to celebrate our patron saint’s day in Carmarthen. The concert has been organised by Theatrau Sir Gar and Llanelli concert promoter Cerith Owens and Loud Applause Productions. It will be at 7pm on Saturday, March 5 at the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen. The concert will feature – Côr Meibion De Cymru, Côr Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin and international baritone Gary Griffiths, from Burry Port. The evening will be hosted by the excellent Garry Owen. It will be something of a ‘welcome home’ concert for Gary Griffiths. Winner of the Welsh Singers Competition in 2012, Gary was a finalist representing Wales in the 2013 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where, in 2009, he won the prestigious Gold Medal Competition. At the Welsh Natio...