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

Santa’s North Pole residence has been replicated in a Kingdom of Ice grotto at Llanelli’s North Dock Discovery Centre. The magical effect is completed with a dozen illuminated penguins, obligatory Rudolph, a snowing Christmas tree with a colourful Snow White and Cinderella in attendance keeping Santa company. Angela Edwards, who has created the exciting grotto out of her indoor ice cream parlour within the Discovery Centre, said they had already been busy. She said: “We have a post box for present wish lists and children or parents have the choice of 10 gifts which are all age related on every visit. “My husband and I are big kids at heart and nothing gives us more pleasure than to see the bright eyes open at the wonder of Santa when they enter his grotto. “We have found, too, with some the younger children who still have that awe impact at the sight of Santa, that our little helpers in Abby Davies as Cinders and Brooke Dawson as Snow White, make the experience for them a little more...

Father Christmas is making a welcome return to Llanelli Rotary Club's Grotto this weekend. The grotto is based at the BHS store in Trostre, Llanelli. Last year, the Rotary Club Grotto raises more than £1700 for local charities. 'Santa' is flying down from the North Pole to sit in the special Rotary Grotto at the BHS store on eight days in the run-up to Christmas. He is being accompanied by some specially-dressed Rotary Club 'elves'. Rotarian Alison Evans said last year's Grotto was such a hit with children that opening hours have been extended this year. Alison said: "Santa is full of the joy of Christmas and most of the young visitors who call in to see him at the Grotto are delighted with the experience. "We are, of course, grateful to Linda Ryan and the team at BHS in Trostre for being such great hosts for Father Christmas." Charities being supported by the Rotary Grotto this year are - Bobath cerebral palsy centre treating new...

Switching lights on for Santa means Dafen road in Llanelli will be closed temporarily next month. Part of Maescanner Road, Dafen from its junction with Havard Road for a total distance of 225 metres in an easterly direction will be closed between 5.45pm and 6.15pm on Friday, November 27. This is to ensure public safety during the festive lights switch on. The alternative route for west bound traffic will be to travel in an easterly direction along Maescanner Road to its junction with the B4303.  There the traffic will have to turn right and continue in a south-easterly direction along the B4303 to its junction with the roundabout. At this roundabout, take the third exit and continue in a south-westerly direction along the A4138 to its junction with Glyncoed Terrace. At the junction, turn right and continue in a north-westerly direction along Glyncoed Terrace to its junction with Havard Road. Traffic then has to turn right and continue in a north-easterly direction to return to...

Father Christmas has helped Llanelli Rotary Club raise more than £1700 for charity. 'Santa' was kind enough to come down from the North Pole to sit in the special Rotary Grotto at the BHS store in Trostre, Llanelli, on five days in the run-up to Christmas. He was accompanied by some specially-dressed Rotary 'elves'. It was a big 'first' for Llanelli Rotary - the first time the club has managed to secure the services of Santa in the run-up to Christmas. "It was very much a team effort between Santa and his North Pole team and members of Llanelli Rotary Club," said Rotarian Alison Evans, who was one of the organisers. "Santa was full of the joy of Christmas and most of the young visitors who called in to see him at the grotto were delighted with the experience. "Fingers crossed, we will be able to secure Santa's services again next year and repeat the whole exercise. "Members of Llanelli Rotary Club thoroughly enjoyed...

Ammanford residents have been left shocked after the town’s 10ft Santa figure was vandalised. The festive statue, which stands in Quay Street, had to be repaired by the Ammanford Town Council after being badly damaged by vandals over Christmas. See link to Carmarthen Journal story.

The phantom secret Santa has returned spreading goodwill about Llanelli’s award winning Millennium Coastal Park. Two carrier bags of fluffy toys, some gift wrapped, have been left hanging in trees at Sandy Water Park over the weekend. And it could be the start of hundreds of the gifts being found. Last year whole sack fulls - a total of more than 600 items - were found hanging in bags in the Christmas tree like Corsican pines in the park in the two months run up to Christmas. The first cache of toys last year was discovered by a regular park walker in October who took the toys to charity shops before alerting park rangers to his repeat finds. After that the toys were found over six-miles of park perched in trees around the Nicklaus designed Machynys Peninsula Golf Course, on the Mabinogion Walk through trees at Sandy Water Park and four miles away in Burry Port Woodlands. Park Ranger Andrew Jenkins said it was a bit of a shock to see the phantom Santa had returned in the night of Sunda...

Santa arrives at the National Botanic Garden of Wales at Llanarthne, near Carmarthen, on Saturday December 4. He will take up residence in his Garden Grotto from 11.30am – and has a present for every child who comes to see him. The Garden’s special Santa Shows will then be running every weekend until Christmas. On Saturday and Sunday, December 11 & 12, the Garden’s popular Christmas Craft and Food Fair takes place – in the stunning surroundings of the Great Glasshouse. The best local produce and top local crafts will be on show and for sale all weekend and there will be special festive musical entertainment provided by Cor Persain (on Saturday) and Cor Meibion Dyffryn Tywi (Sunday). For more information about Christmas activities at the Garden, call 01558 668768.