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Facebook has elected to stop people from saying KILL SOPA on its site. This demonstrates one simple fact. Facebook is trash.

KILL SOPA

The latest 'View from Richmond Park' Carmarthen Town AFC column is in the Carmarthen Journal today.
Splendid back page story in the Carmarthen Journal today on new Carmarthen Town AFC manager Mark Aizlewood's new recruits.
Burry Port businessman Gareth Isaac (GI Carpets) gets a plug in the Llanelli Star story about Tesco coming to the town.
Splendid 'Support Carmarthen Town AFC' campaign feature in the Carmarthen Journal today.
The latest Red Kite Law 'Business Brief' column is in the Carmarthen Journal newspaper today.

Where better to look for romance to blossom than the stunning surroundings of one of the most romantic gardens in Wales?

Dydd Santes Dwynwen, St Dwynwens Day, is next Wednesday, January 25, and love will be in the air for all visitors to picturesque Aberglasney House and Gardens in the Tywi Valley.
All couples paying to enter the garden on St Dwynwens Day will receive a special gift, said Aberglasney shop manager Vanessa Bolton.
Over the years, Aberglasney has proved very popular with visitors seeking that extra-special romantic location for St Dwynwens Day and for St Valentines Day.
The gardens at Aberglasney have seen their fair share of marriage proposals and the setting lends itself wonderfully to romance.
To make St Dwynwens Day extra special for those looking for romance we will be giving a hand-carved Welsh lovespoon to every couple coming through the turnstiles.
Aberglasney chief executive Roger Evans said he was eagerly looking forward to welcoming couples young and old to the gardens on St Dwynwens Day.
As well as being a romantic location, this is a magical and inspirational venue, he said.
The custom of carving and giving Welsh lovespoons originated in Wales hundreds of years ago. In fact, there are many on display at the Welsh Folk Museum in Cardiff, including one that dates back to 1667.
The lovespoon tradition is one we are keen to preserve and promote here at Aberglasney and what better day to give your loved one a gift of a love spoon than on St Dwynwens Day?
Aberglasney, acknowledged as one of the UKs finest gardens, is the ideal location for romantic walks amidst beautiful, exotic flowers and plants from all parts of the world.
To find out more about Aberglasney, you can visit
www.aberglasney.org.uk

Pictures: Paige Griffiths and Alexander Hoyle put the romantic spirit of Aberglasney to the test.

Picture of the love spoon which couples will receive as a free gift from Aberglasney on St Dwynwens Day.

St Dwynwen's Day is celebrated in Wales on the 25th January.
St Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, which makes her the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine.
Dwynwen lived during the 5th century and was one of the prettiest of Brychan Brycheiniog's 24 daughters. Dwynwen fell in love with a prince called Maelon Dafodrill, but unfortunately her father had already arranged that she should marry someone else.
Dwynwen was so upset that she could not marry Maelon that she begged God to make her forget him. After falling asleep, Dwynwen was visited by an angel, who appeared carrying a sweet potion designed to erase all memory of Maelon and turn him into a block of ice.
God then gave three wishes to Dwynwen. Her first wish was that Maelon be thawed; her second that God meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers; and third, that she should never marry. All three were fulfilled, and as a mark of her thanks, Dwynwen devoted herself to God's service for the rest of her life.

A fund-raising curry evening is being held at the Sheesh Mahal restaurant in Stepney Street on Tuesday, January 31, at 7 pm for Radio BGM, Prince Philip Hospital Radio. The cost per head is 11, with a variety of dishes to choose from.

David Hurford, chairman of Radio BGM said: "We have been really fortunate to have been so well supported in the past by so many people and we hope that we can repeat that success and swell the funds a little to allow us to continue our service. A warm welcome is extended to all."

If you want to attend, then email David Hurford at davehurford@talktalk.net .

Weblink -

www.radiobgm.org.uk

It has been suggested that interested members might wish to congregate in the AmeriCymru chat room at a given hour and practice chatting in Welsh. I am all for this suggestion with two provisos:-

1. The timing might be a bit tricky. So we are open to suggestions. Please chime in with your own ideas in comments below. The initial proposed time is between 5 and 6 p.m. EST ( 2 and 3 p.m. PST ). on Monday 23rd Jan. Any other, or perhaps better, ideas?

2. Some of us have only a rudimentaery grasp of the language so much patience will need to be execised as we all fumble to translate and formulate semi coherent sentences. That being said it could be a useful learning experience and it should be fun.

Please indicate in comments below if you are interested in participating AND if you have a better suggestion for the timing of the event.

BNI recruits: Scott Ashford, Llanelli gas services engineer, left, and environmental services consultant Philippa Stanley, right, are welcomed into membership of the BNI Endeavour Llanelli branch by BNI area director Nick Romanello.

A popular Llanelli business breakfast club is going from strength to strength with the announcement it has recruited three new members.
The trio of new members at the Business Network International (BNI) Chapter in Llanelli is made up of environmental consultant Philippa Stanley (who was renewing her annual membership), Llanelli architect David Darkin and gas services engineer Scott Ashford.
Membership of the BNI business network is all about being part of a bigger team, said Llanelli chapter chairman Graeme Fox.
Everyone comes to a BNI meeting with their own individual skills and talents, but the power of the meeting comes through the way members work together.
These are challenging times in business and the club is really useful as a support mechanism. You know that fellow members are there to support you and to encourage you to do better in business.
The BNI Chapter in Llanelli is continuing to look for new members for the Thursday morning club at The Diplomat Hotel in Llanelli.
Kick off is 7am, said Mr Fox.
Yes, its an early start. But it does help you get some quality time at the start of the day to give your business a lift and, lets face it, nowadays everyone needs help and support to meet the challenges posed by the state of the economy.
One of the things new members are always impressed with is the fact that the meetings create a real buzz in the morning. We start the day energised as theres a lot of enthusiasm in our meetings.
Significantly, membership has gone up from 12 to 22 in the last 12 months as more and more businesses appreciate the benefits of joining the business network.
It is estimated that each seat around the Llanelli BNI breakfast table is worth more than 12,000 in business.
The key to this is in the make-up of the BNI membership. No two businesses in the BNI are allowed to be in the same category, so you get a mix which can be as varied as the proverbial butcher, baker and candlestick maker.
In Llanelli, the membership includes a plasterer, electrician, builder, web designer, IT support consultant and an accountant.
It really is a great mix, said Mr Fox.
As well as the networking and the support BNI provides, the meeting also enables members to pass business referrals to each other, which can vary from firm orders from one business to the next or an introduction to a potential client.
The business between the BNI members is monitored and in money terms we know that the BNI members have done more than 200,000 worth of business between each other over the course of 12 months.

BNI details: Endeavour BNI (Llanelli), Venue: Diplomat Hotel, Felinfoel, Llanelli, SA15 3PJ. Meeting time: Thursday 0700am - 0830am.
If you are interested in joining the Llanelli BNI, then ring the clubs chief experience officer Phil Evans for an informal chat on 07796 990493
Website
www.bni-southwales.com

Welcome on board: BNI Llanelli chairman Graeme Fox, right, welcomes Llanelli architect David Darkin into membership of the business breakfast club.

Pembrokeshire Housing is in charge of the development of 35 dwellings at land off Peregrine Close, Haverfordwest.
The project has been designed by the Lewis Partnership of Llanelli. The building contractors are W.B. Griffiths & Son Ltd of Haverfordwest and the engineer is Roger Casey Associates of Carmarthen.
The project is worth 3.2m, and the contractors will be on site for the next 18 months.
We are very excited about the project as it is the largest project of its kind in Pembrokeshire at the moment, said Philip Lewis, managing director of the Lewis Partnership.
There is a great need for social housing in the area and the site uses an area of land that was derelict.
When it is completed, it will give the area a real lift and will help meet a great need for social housing in Pembrokeshire.
Pembrokeshire Housing, which last year celebrated its 30th anniversary, is the local housing association for Pembrokeshire and owns and manages 2,150 affordable quality homes across the county.
Once complete, the 35-home development at Peregrine Close will provide a mix of flats and houses and include a specially-adapted disabled persons bungalow.
Brian Charles, the chair of Pembrokeshire Housing, said: With the shortage of affordable housing across the county, it is important for Pembrokeshire Housing to deliver additional affordable homes. This is the first of at least four developments we intend to commence this year.
By working with local contractors who, in turn, use local suppliers we can also support the local economy, which is essential in these difficult financial times.
The development is being built to Level 3 under the code for sustainable homes and the design will comply with all current design requirements of the Welsh Assembly Government.
Lewis Partnership MD Mr Lewis said he was delighted to be working in partnership with Pembrokeshire Housing and the other contractors on the project.
He added: We are also working on a project with Pembrokeshire Housing and W.B. Griffiths & Son Ltd to complete seven bungalows in Poyston Close, just off the St Davids Road in Haverfordwest
In addition, we have been working with Pembrokeshire Housing on a feasibility study for new housing sites in the county.
We are, of course, delighted to be working with our partners in bringing about attractive new housing developments which will meet a real need.
Weblinks
http://www.lewispartnership.co.uk
www.wbgriffiths.co.uk
http://www.pembs-ha.co.uk
On Facebook, search Lewis Partnership Ltd.
On Twitter, look for @Lewis_Architect
Photo above: Artistic impression of the development at Peregrine Close.

Burry Post businessman Gareth Isaac is confident the planned new Tesco store will provide a boost to independent traders in the town.
Burry Port shouldnt be worried and should get out the welcome mat, said Mr Isaac, who runs GI Carpets and Rugs in Station Road.
The Tesco plan is for a new store on the Fairground Field close to Burry Port Harbour.
The store could be open by Christmas, 2012.
The store will have 15,000 sq ft sales area and a 125-space car park that will be available for all shoppers, regardless of whether they visit the store.
Mr Isaac, 43, said: Yes, I can see why some independent traders will be worried about the arrival of Tesco.
But we have to look at the positives they will be creating 130 full and part-time jobs and that money, we hope, should be spent back in Burry Port.
The new car park will also encourage more people to visit the town.
With more footfall through the town, we need to show that we, as independent retailers, offer different sorts of services to the likes of Tesco.
Experience tells me that people look for different things in the shopping experience and the things independent retailers offer include personal service, the friendly face, the guarantee of quality. They all add up to a different experience to supermarket shopping and we need to find the balance between shopping in Tesco and shopping with independent retailers.
Ive been in business here for just over three years now and Im an optimist rather than a pessimist. Tesco coming to town will provide another reason to visit Burry Port and hopefully encourage more people to stroll through Burry Port and that cant be a bad.
One of the things I love about Burry Port is the fact that everyone knows you name or wants to know your name.
People love the personal touch and they get that from the smaller independent traders in the town.
Also, I think people are now buying into the Buy Local and Shop Local ethic.
We place great store on that as we try to source as much of our flooring products from British sources.
I was talking to a farmer friend from Mid Wales the other day and he was explaining to me how he was now getting a better price for his wool from the carpet manufacturers.
We buy carpets from that same manufacturer, so thats got to be a good thing.
Mr Isaac added: We stock names like Brintons, Cormar and Abingdon and everything from the budget end of flooring to luxury Axminsters.
As an independent flooring retailer I am always up against the big supermarket-style carpet warehouses.
But we are able to take them on because we offer a professional and friendly service which is also quick and reliable. For example, we usually provide quotes within 24 hours.
We do both residential and commercial work and I have a team of three experienced carpet fitters who provide an expert service.
Weblink -
www.gicarpetsandflooring.co.uk

Its not often that a former pupil gets to play a part in reshaping his old school, but thats what is happening at St Michaels School in Bryn, Llanelli.
St Mikes private and independent school is expanding to build a new boarding house wing.
And the architect in charge of the project is former pupil Philip Lewis, managing director of the Lewis Partnership Ltd, of Llanelli.
I have fond memories of being a pupil at St Mikes, so being able to play a significant role in its future development is a very proud moment for me, said Mr Lewis.
The team here at the Lewis Partnership has been working very closely with St Michaels to produce a design which passes that test with the leadership team at the school.
The first stage of the plan is for a 40-bed boarding house and new kitchen and dining facilities for the school.
But that could be followed by another proposal for a further 40 beds and a sports hall.
Theres also scope for the development of new car parking facilities and the addition of new sporting attractions, including an athletics track, rugby and football pitches.
Mr Daniel Sheehan, the headmaster at St Michaels School, said he was very excited by the project.
Ideally, it would be nice to see the first boarding house completed by Christmas so that it is ready for new boarders arriving in January, 2013.
Our pupil numbers vary between 400 and 450 and we currently have 40 boarders from home and abroad and they are evenly spread out between Year 7 and the Sixth Form.
The addition of new boarding house facilities will give us greater flexibility as student numbers are always changing as people move into the area for work and family commitments. We are not known as a traditional boarding school, but the new facilities will greatly improve the facilities we have to offer students.
Lewis Partnership MD Mr Lewis added: As a former pupil of St Mikes, it is great to see the school thriving and making improvements which will stand it in good stead for the future.
Weblinks
http://www.lewispartnership.co.uk
www.stmikes.co.uk/home
On Facebook, search Lewis Partnership Ltd.
On Twitter, look for @Lewis_Architect