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

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star - Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir members are looking forward to a trip to Ireland next year. The choristers are planning a short tour to Mayo and Galway in Ireland at Easter. “One of the joys of being a member of Côr Meibion Llanelli is getting the chance to tour abroad,” said choir secretary Fred Elias. “Down the years, we’ve covered the globe. We’ve been to Australia and New Zealand, the United States of America, Canada, and a whole host of countries in Europe. “Côr Meibion Llanelli members are highly regarded as being ‘ambassadors of song’. “Our former chairman always used to say that if countries sent out choirs rather than armies, then there would be more peace in the world.” Mr Elias added: “In recent years, we have been to Austria and The Netherlands. The boys do like the odd half pint of Guinness so it seemed appropriate to go on a mission to Ireland in 2016. “There...

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 ------------------------------------------ So this is Christmas And what have you done? Another year over And a new one just begun. So sang John Lennon in 1971 – and if you’ve been listening to the radio, and shopping in supermarkets and department stores in the last couple of months, you’ll be aware he’s still singing it, 35 years after his death on December the 8th 1980. It’s become as familiar as every other Christmas-themed song, from Slade’s raucous “Merry Christmas Everybody” to the gentler “Last Christmas”, yet it’s only recently that I’ve taken any real notice of the lyrics of “So This Is Christmas”. Maybe it’s because I’m no longer in the first – or even second – flush of youth, but the opening verse strikes more of a chord ( no pun intended ) with me now. Or perhaps this year’s terrible events ...

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. Everyone knows that it pays to check the small print. So it is with the Government’s Autumn Statement. Over the last couple of weeks, Money Matters has focussed on some of the main items in the Government’s ‘state-of-the-nation’ autumn housekeeping, such as the U-turn on Tax Credits. This week, the focus is on some more of the small print in some of the personal tax issues (for those with business and employment tax issues, we will get to these topics in the coming weeks). The Chancellor George Osborne combined the Autumn Statement and with what is called a Spending Review when he presented his key points to Parliament. Here is our summary of just some of the key personal tax issues – Taxation of dividend income: Currently, when a dividend is paid to an individual, it is subject to different ta...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star - It’s been quite a year for Llanelli concert promoter and impresario Cerith Owens – and 2016 promises to be bigger and better. Mr Owens has worked tirelessly during the year to develop his stable of ‘Rising Stars’ at Loud Applause Productions. He explained: “I was already heavily involved in concert promotion in Llanelli, but I could see the need to provide different platforms to help develop young talent in the area. “We’ve got so many talented youngsters in the area and they all need careful tuition and mentoring to fulfil their potential. “My core idea was to provide them with ‘gentle’ introductions to concert stage – and it seems to have worked a treat. “Many of the Rising Stars team are now familiar figures on bigger concert stages – Samuel Morris, Daniella Difede, Keely Morgan and Jordan Williams, for example. “They will continue to develop further over the next year and at...

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 ------------------------------------------ SMALL TALK IS A BIG BORE: This time of year, there are four words mentioned in newspapers and magazines and heard in TV advertisements that chill me to the bone. “It’s the party season!” With the exception of those that start at two pm, feature jelly and ice cream and ‘Pass The Parcel’ before finishing promptly at four pm with goodie bags handed-out to the little ones as they’re collected by their parents, I cannot abide parties. I’m a tolerant person, who appreciates a joke – whether I’m telling it or hearing it – and I enjoy a good night out. But I’m hyper-allergic to those excruciating ‘fun’ celebrations of enforced jollity, surrounded by obnoxious, boozed-up people, as loud music blasts our eardrums while everyone stands around making small talk – something I h...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star - Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir will have a host of wonderful guests at their annual Christmas concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli. ‘Christmas with the Choir’ will be staged on Saturday, December 12, at 7pm. Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas said: “The Christmas concert is always very popular and hugely appreciated by everyone in Llanelli. “The choristers love Christmas and the ‘boys’ are getting into the Christmas spirit at their twice-weekly rehearsals. “This year, we will have some excellent guests taking the stage and we can promise a memorable evening, tailor-made to evoke the spirit of Christmas. Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi and the popular Phil Harmonics will have dedicated slots in both halves of the programme. Côr Meibion Mynydd Mawr will join in the final Christmas Medley. Also taking part will be the school chamber ensemble from St John Lloyd Roma...

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 ------------------------------------------ They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I don’t believe it. If I’m lost on a lonely road in the Scottish Highlands and want to get back to civilisation, I’m not going to show a shaggy-bearded, kilted local a signed photo of Lloyd George astride a Bactrian camel. I’m going to ask, “How can I get back to civilisation?” and hope the lady knows the answer. Words are important. We use them to communicate in texts, e-mails, telephone calls and one-to-one conversations. In my twin capacities as a comedian and a South Wales Evening Post columnist, I make sure the words I use are so clear and concise, my audiences and readers know exactly what I’m about talking. Gotcha! University-educated people have a vocabulary of around 30,000 words. The rest of us have a vocabula...