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. The taxman at HMRC is advising employers that their employees may benefit from accessing their Personal Tax Account. These accounts allow taxpayers to view information about their tax affairs and advise HMRC online about changes that may affect the tax they pay. The services available through the Personal Tax Account include: checking income tax estimates and tax codes  advising HMRC about changes affecting company cars  using the online forms available to claim tax deductible work expenses or a tax refund  checking the expected level of their state pension  renewing tax credits  advising HMRC of a change of address.  In a recent development, the system for registering for this service has been revised and it is now possible to register using your National Ins...

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 -------------------- The Welsh Rip Off? How much are we prepared to pay – or how much can we afford to pay – to satisfy our appetite for culture? We all need culture whether it’s Film, Literature, Opera, Jazz, Folk Music, Comedy, Theatre or Eisteddfods. Last year, when it was announced that a play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”, was opening in London this summer, I wrote an article about it for the South Wales Evening Post entitled “Theatre of the Absurd Ticket Prices”. Actually they’re two separate plays – Part One is a matinee, Part Two is performed in the evenings. And you have to pay separately for each show. What ‘HP’ sauce! Geddit? The plays have now opened to positive reviews and are already booking to 2018. So Ms. Rowling can stop worrying about paying her heating bills this winter. Ha! Ha! Obv...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star and the Carmarthen Journal - Tickets are now on sale for A Night With The Stars, the annual showcase concert of Loud Applause Productions, the popular production company run by Llanelli-based Cerith Owens. A Night With The Stars takes place on Saturday 12th November at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, 7.00pm start. This is a Gala Concert featuring the ever popular soprano Shân Cothi, the world famous Morriston Orpheus Choir, the brilliant young violinist Charlie Lovell Jones and an array of very talented vocalists from Loud Applause Rising Stars. It will be a bilingual evening of first class musical entertainment to suit all tastes - choral, opera, classical musical theatre, jazz. The host is BBC TV and radio personality Garry Owen and the accompanists for the Rising Stars are Andrew Pike and Rhiannon Williams Hale. Charlie Lovell Jones is regarded as one of the best young violinists in...

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. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has called for banks and charities to take greater responsibility for those who may be vulnerable to scams. The CTSI commissioned a report from Bournemouth University’s National Centre for Post Qualifying Social Work into scam victims, and its recommendations to financial institutions and charities include: recognising their duty of care to dementia sufferers who could make an ‘unwise decision’ as a result of their cognitive state  allowing vulnerable people to put a 24 hour delay on new or large transactions from leaving their bank accounts and sending an email or text alerting a carer or loved one at the start of that period  adopting a default that personal data is not shared without a clear opt in and that it is not held for longer ...

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 -------------------- IT’LL BE A RUBBISH SUMMER . . . IF YOU DON’T USE A BIN. I was reading The Evening Post recently (No, I wasn’t in a coffee shop at the time, some of you might be surprised to learn) and although it was jam-packed with interesting articles – as always – one in particular caught my attention. Part of it is reproduced here... A dedicated cleaning team is now on hand at two Blue Flag beaches on Gower to keep them looking their best throughout the school summer holidays. Swansea Council has placed two members of staff at the busy beaches of Caswell and Langland until September. I also read articles in other Welsh newspapers about the tons of rubbish being left behind by bone-idle, bone-headed day-trippers on Barry Island beach and that the streets of Cardiff City Centre were in a disgusting s...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star and the Carmarthen Journal - The ‘boys’ of Cor Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir are taking a well-earned holiday this August, with rehearsals resuming in September. “When we get back to work it will be all systems go,” said choir musical director D Eifion Thomas. “We have our ever-popular annual concert coming up and we will be fine-tuning the items we have already rehearsed. “The annual is always one of the highlights of the Llanelli musical calendar and we are hoping for a full house at Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli. “Tickets have gone on sale for what is the choir’s yearly opportunity to showcase their latest repertoire before their ‘home town’ supporters.” Côr Meibion Llanelli will be staging their annual concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, at 7pm on Saturday, September 24. Tickets can be obtained through the Ffwrnes Theatre box office or through the Theatrau Sir Gar website....

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. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has called for banks and charities to take greater responsibility for those who may be vulnerable to scams. The CTSI commissioned a report from Bournemouth University's National Centre for Post Qualifying Social Work into scam victims, and its recommendations to financial institutions and charities include: recognising their duty of care to dementia sufferers who could make an 'unwise decision' as a result of their cognitive state allowing vulnerable people to put a 24 hour delay on new or large transactions from leaving their bank accounts and sending an email or text alerting a carer or loved one at the start of that period adopting a default that personal data is not shared without a clear opt in and that it is not held for longer...