Please find some of our older blog posts below, with hits in brackets. This news archive from the official Pontypridd Town website only runs from 2014 when we moved the old html, css site over to WordPress. Previous years work (1998-2014) has unfortunately been lost in the ether somewhere.
2020
The ABCs of CBD Oils in Wales – 2 July 2020
CBD oil is increasingly more popular throughout Wales with more and more consumers rushing to try the product thanks to 1000s of anecdotal reports of its wellness benefits! The total UK CBD market is now forecast to be worth close to £1 billion a year by 2025.
What is CBD?
CBD, or Cannabidiol as it is also sometimes known, is a compound that is naturally found in the cannabis plant.
But while the cannabinoid is a cousin of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD will not make users high and it is legal to use in the UK. There are some limits to how much THC can be included in CBD products that are available to sell in Wales, but this is not usually a problem at all.
In fact, the cannabis plant has dozens of different cannabinoids, so the differences between the impacts of CBD and THC are quite profound. Studies continue to be carried out to investigate the positive impact of CBD on the body and the mind. However, anecdotal reports in the UK are already finding that using CBD can be truly life-changing.
Different ways to use CBD in Wales
Newcomers to CBD have a few different options to try it out for the first time. It is recommended to start with a small dose to assess the impact, then increase it later on if necessary.
CBD oil drops – which are taken by placing them under the tongue – are still one of the most common ways to take CBD in Wales. The taste of CBD oil drops can put some people off though – it is definitely an acquired taste! But there are flavours available to make it more palatable and some people actually like how CBD oil tastes when taken in this way too.
Capsules of CBD can also be taken, which means it is ingested in the same way as food. This will likely have a slower impact than when CBD oil is absorbed under the tongue. This is the fastest way to feel the effect of CBD oil for a lot of people, with the impact taking around 15 minutes to be felt. However, the impact also wears off the quickest when taking CBD like this.
Companies are becoming increasingly innovative when it comes to the products that they sell. For example, did you know that it is even possible to buy CBD gummies now? ZenBears recently launched in the UK offering 20mg of CBD per bear, these sweets are a popular way to test the impact of CBD for the first time. CBD cocktail bitters are also available now, so the list of CBD products is growing very fast indeed.
Advice for people trying CBD oil for the first time
With so many new CBD products out there, it can be daunting for those seeking to test it out.
It is recommended members of the public consult with their doctor before trying CBD. There are not likely to be any issues with doing so, but it is always worth checking with a medical expert.
The impact of CBD can be affected by other medications you are taking, so ask your doctor. Research has suggested CBD could affect medication, with more studies still needed on this.
Starting small is also advised. If using CBD oil under the tongue, begin with a low dose. Just a single drop under the tongue should be enough to give an idea of the impact CBD oil can have. Users can then scale up the dose of CBD oil that they can take until they feel the effect is right.
Many people trying CBD oil for the first time do so in a vape. Using CBD oil in this way usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes to have an impact, so be careful not to take too much at once.
Various factors will also have an effect on what sort of impact CBD oil has on you. These include your body chemistry and weight – heavier people might need to take more. But be careful. Taking too much CBD can result in side effects such as fatigue and diarrhoea.
Research is also needed when buying CBD. The industry is not regulated well, a 2019 study found that many products on the UK market had less than the advertised dosage, and some even contained no CBD at all.
Medical benefits of using CBD
In the UK, high-street CBD oil products are sold as food supplements and no medicinal claims can be made. For those seeking medicinal benefits of CBD it is always best to consult with a professional doctor to discuss the best course of action, you can read more about medical cannabis on the NHS website.
If you’re interest in learning more about or buying CBD oil in Wales check out CBDShopy a trusted UK CBD oil retailer with over 400 reviews on TrustPilot.
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New Precinct Development – 26 June 2020
Well, it’s taken a couple of years and opinion is still pretty much divided amongst local residents (50:50 I’d say) but the new Pontypridd ‘precinct’ development is almost finished.
I have to admit, whilst I started out quite sceptical I’m now thinking what the heck, it’s actually quite nice. True, it doesn’t fit in with the old Victorian heritage of old Ponty, there are no shops, pubs or restaurants but it’s good having the library in the centre of town (even though the old building is stunning) and there’s a plush new gym upstairs.
Lots of nice seating areas overlooking the river, which is something we’ve been campaigning for, for over 25 years, so on the whole great. Let’s hope the council and more importantly, the people, appreciate it and treat the new area with respect.
As well as council workers there will also be 100’s of workers in the other two huge buildings so every Friday afternoon and evening the ‘Wonky bar’ should be packed (Covid-19, 20 and 21) willing of course.
Tell us what you think on the message board?
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Best Racecourses in Wales – 22 June 2020
There is a long tradition of horse racing in Wales, as the sport dates back to the 18th century in the country.
Those who have been to a racecourse before can vouch for how much of a great day it can be. Here is a look at the leading three courses in Wales if you are planning on making a trip out in the future.
Bangor-on-Dee
Racing has taken place at Bangor-on-Dee since 1859 and it is still going strong today. It is a small National Hunt course in the beautiful North Wales countryside.
Unlike its sister racecourse Chester, Bangor is not quite as busy on race days. It is the only course in the UK not to have a grandstand. Families enjoy having a picnic on the grass around the track, while there are often music nights where artists perform live after racing.
One of the most popular meetings of the year at Bangor is Ladies Day which takes place in July when the weather tends to be much better than the winter months.
Chepstow
Chepstow is the most high-profile racecourse in Wales as it is the home of the Welsh Grand National, the richest race held in the country.
The oval circuit hosts both Flat and National Racing. At this time of the year, the course is home to a number of Flat meetings in the evenings. The results for today’s horse racing from around the world and Chepstow can be found at the end of the day if you want to keep an eye on which horses have been winning recently.
If it is the Welsh Grand National you are interested in going to see, it takes place on the 27th December each year. In 2019 the race was won by Potters Corner for local trainer Christian Williams.This year’s renewal should once again be an interesting race. Topofthegame begins the campaign as the horse to watch in the stayers’ division. He may be the one they all have to beat in December at the Welsh course.
Chepstow also holds concerts at its track following some race meetings. Madness, Tom Jones, UB40, and Simply Red have all performed there in recent years.
Ffos Las
When it opened is 2009, Ffos Las was the first new National Hunt racecourse built in the UK in 80 years. It is now fully embedded in British racing as a regular on the fixtures list.
Ffos Las hosts both Flat and National Hunt fixtures across the calendar year. Their flagship race is the Welsh Champion Hurdle which is staged in October. In 2019 the race was won by Monsieur Lecoq.
If you are new to horse racing, you can find horse racing tips from Paddy Power on the action at Ffos Las. Adam Wedge is the leading jockey at the course at the moment, while Ewan Williams is the leading trainer. Those two are certainly worth following when they feature on the card.
Enjoy your next visit to the races and hopefully, you come away having backed lots of winners on the day.
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Second Wave – Is It Coming? – 15 June 2020
At time of writing the UK has had between 40,000 and 50,000 deaths from Covid-19. This is tragic and recriminations about whether lockdown should have started sooner (yes doh, of course it should!) will no doubt start after we’re over the worst of it. But whilst we all realise the importance of protecting our struggling NHS against a second wave (another rise / increase in infections) and keeping the R number below 1 and so on I can’t help wondering why the media keep on with the same narrative, even after they’ve been proven to be wrong on at least 3 separate occasions.
Wales has seen 2,317 deaths involving coronavirus (to date) but since the peak (roughly, the middle of April) numbers of infections (and deaths) have thankfully been falling. However, the media told us that due to the VE Day celebrations, when many street parties in glorious weather all over the country resulted in people breaching lockdown in favour of a few beers and social interaction, we would see a huge rise again in cases in two weeks time. Guess what? We didn’t.
They then told us that there would be another outbreak due to the non-socially distancing demonstrations in London when the anti-lockdown protests occurred. Two weeks later… Nope, numbers still falling.
And let’s not forget the ‘Cummings effect‘ where thousands of people all over the UK said, ‘Bugger it, if that arrogant fool can break lockdown so can I.’
And finally, what about #BLM and the thousands of idiots not socially distancing but gathering in their thousands (with their kids) all over the country to protest about a black criminal being killed in the US. Crazy I know. Especially since many of these people don’t want to send their kids back to school ‘cos it’s too dangerous – yeh right! Yep, once again the media warned us that this would result in a second wave. No sign of one yet…
The incubation period for Covid-19 is five to seven days, up to 14 days. So we should start seeing a huge spike in new cases occurring in the next few days if the media are right. Time will tell but I’m willing to bet there won’t be.
But, here’s the thing, if cases don’t rise over the coming week or so (especially as shops opened today in England as well) then are we missing something? Maybe more of us are immune than we thought? Maybe the virus has mutated to make it less contagious or dangerous? Maybe the warmer weather is having an effect? Maybe the media / government is lying to us? Maybe the media are just plain stupid and don’t get the differing scientific views?
They say if you repeat something long enough people will start to believe it. Well this is certainly true of a second wave. We have been told it is inevitable, but what if it isn’t?
This expectation has directed most of our strategy, as well as being used to ensure compliance in the population. Sars and Mers (thankfully) never had second waves.
Some scientists say we won’t have one. In Europe, where Covid-19 cases have also been decreasing, France, Denmark and others have eased lockdown well in advance of the UK, and there are no indications of a second wave yet. Yes there have been outbreaks, but nothing like the soaring rates we have been warned about. Switzerland reopened schools and restaurants on May 11 and has not seen a peak since lockdown measures eased.
What if the second wave will only happen in winter? What if the virus mutates and gets worse? Shouldn’t we be testing for immunity and using plasma more?
There are other coronaviruses that infect humans and this one may well be with us for a long time. Without a vaccine do we just stay in forever or should we start to just get on with it?
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Be Nice To Cyclists – 12 May 2020
Britain’s two largest cycling organisations are asking the public to show some kindness towards cyclists amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cycling UK and British Cycling have come together by publishing an open letter in ‘The Times’ calling on the public to show tolerance towards cyclists during the lockdown, following a worrying spate of hostile incidents.
In recent weeks, cyclists have been targeted with aggressive behaviour from motorists and signs telling them to go home. Actions that just highlight the ignorance and fear of many people.
For the record there is no evidence to suggest that cyclists are any more likely to spread the disease than runners and walkers, so to target a group of people who happen to be exercising in a different way is just plain wrong.
The Government’s guidance since the beginning of the lockdown has continued to encourage cycling for daily exercise, in recognition of the substantial physical and mental health benefits it provides to the many millions of people taking part. Cycling is an excellent form of exercise and there is no compelling scientific evidence that cycling poses any more risk for transmission of the virus provided social distancing measures are sensibly applied.
Of course, cyclists need to ride responsibly at this time, and should only ride alone or with those they live with, and never in groups.
Last week, Cycling UK wrote to council leaders in England, Scotland and Wales urging them to adopt temporary measures to allow more space for cyclists on our roads. You can lend your voice in support of this campaign by using the link below to email your local councillor explaining how setting up additional space for cyclists on our roads can be achieved quickly and at low cost.
Full article / contact your council
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Things To Do In Lockdown – 6 April 2020
Ponty is on lockdown. The pubs are shut, the rugby is cancelled and even the park is closed, so many people are worried that they’ll get bored, go mad or just end up getting fat ‘cos they’ll be binge-watching Netflix and eating chocolate all day long. So how can you cope with this new way of living and what can you do to prevent you becoming addicted to Loose Women (television for stupid people)?
In Italy they are singing and sharing recipes. In Spain, communal staircases have become the new running tracks, in Germany, computer hackers are busy coding COVID-busting apps and in Wales we are all praying Alun Wyn doesn’t get infected.
So as hundreds of millions of Europeans languish in partial lockdown, people are finding increasingly inventive ways to keep themselves entertained – and to counter what psychologists warn are the very real mental health risks of confinement. Having said that, if you are going stir crazy just think what Terry Waite or John McCarthy must have felt like!
OK, here we go:
There are plenty of apps that help you learn a language for free. Download one or just search on YouTube, and spend 30 minutes a day teaching yourself how to speak Welsh, French, German, Chinese, Swahili or Klingon.
Keep active by downloading a Couch to 5k app, and head out into the fresh air for a jog three times a week. Just make sure that you maintain a two metre distance from other people while you’re out running and don’t run as far as the Peak District otherwise police drones will machine gun you to death and eat your dog.
- Watch all the James Bond films in order
If you’re lucky enough to have them, do an Alan Partridge marathon. Don’t forget to include toilet breaks into your schedule.
- Read some books
Wales has some great authors. Yep, here comes the plug! Enjoy a crime thriller trilogy set in Cardiff, the valleys and Africa or get stuck into some nature poetry that encourages you to get off grid! More Welsh writers here.
- Watch a Netflix series
Netflix has many great shows but rather than binge-watching the whole series, try to limit yourself to one episode a day. Try ‘Breaking Bad’ if you’ve not seen it and follow Walter through a series of adventures. Then when you’re done there is the ‘Jesse’ film and ‘Better Call Saul’ – months of fun! Just ration yourself so you have something to look forward to each night after all that painting, spring cleaning and the rest of the jobs she keeps adding to your ever-growing list.
- Come Dine With Me
No, not the crap TV show with the annoying commentary but a do it yourself version. If you live with other people, take it in turns to cook each other dinner, scoring each meal at the end. And don’t forget the entertainment.
- Catch up with your housework
Even men can attempt to iron things, do the dishes or dust. And ladies, just imagine Brad Pitt in a pink pinny – might do wonders for some of you.
Warning: Men. If you do attempt to iron some clothes just make sure you take them off first. A friend of mine ironed his t-shirt a while back and burnt his neck – true story, not a joke!
- Take a virtual tour of the world
Many UK tourist attractions offer virtual tours, so you can look around places from the comfort of your own home. YouTube has plenty of great travel videos and the BBC does great nature programmes if off the beaten track corners of the globe are more your thing.
- Phone a friend
Phone an elderly neighbour who might be feeling lonely, a relative who you haven’t spoken to in a while, or even just a friend who you ordinarily would only see in the pub. Many people will be feeling isolated during this period of social-distancing, and keeping in touch is important for our mental health. Maybe arrange to call twice a week, that way we all have a diary, a sense of schedule, purpose and something to look forward to.
- Enter a poetry contest
The Ponty-based International Welsh Poetry Competition is open and accepting entries so why not dig out those old poems, tidy them up a bit and give yourself a chance to win £500?
- Donate to your local food bank
Many supermarkets have a drop-off point where you can leave donations for your local food bank. Thinking about others less fortunate than yourself can do wonders for your own self esteem and make you realise that life isn’t so bad after all.
- Show the NHS your appreciation
Say thank you to health workers by taking part in the Thursday night, 8pm clapathon, bang a drum or hit a saucepan with a spoon.
- Write a novel
How many times has someone said to you? ‘You should write a book about that?’ Well now’s your chance. Time on your hands? Why not set aside an hour or two a day to get those stories and thoughts down on parchment or Microsoft Word.
- Host a virtual pub quiz
Gather your friends for a virtual pub quiz where you ask the questions over a video call. You can also text out a picture round – whether the clues are emojis, or photos of things in your house.
- Check out a world renowned museum’s art collection
The Lourve, Guggenheim, Van Gogh and many more all offer tours on their websites.
- Dig out your old photo albums
Now’s the time to take a trip down memory lane. Ask yourself when was the last time you looked at your photographs? You go on holiday, take your camera, print some images, stick them in an album and then they gather dust for years. Take them off the shelf and look at them.
- Clean out your wardrobe
Try on all your clothes, and bag up any that you don’t want, or that don’t fit. Do a good spring clean. It is spring after all. You can take them to a charity shop once lockdown is lifted.
- Watch all of Shakespeare’s plays
Actor and director Robert Myles has started project The Show Must Go Online, where a cast from around the world reads out Shakespeare’s plays over video. And if you real want to suffer even Andrew Lloyd Webber has put his musicals online. Joking 😉
- Take a yoga class
Even if you’ve never done yoga in your life, there are plenty of free tutorials on YouTube. You can also do a spot of training in the house or garden, just schedule it in and stick to your routine. Making it part of your daily things to do will give order and structure to your time inside.
- Get out in the garden
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, make the most of it. It might be difficult to get hold of some paint or decking stain but I’m sure you’ll find some stuff in the shed that needs using up. Do a spot of tidying up, when you go to Lidl for a shop, pick up some plants and start greening your spaces.
- Jigsaw and board games
Remember the old analogue entertainment? Jigsaws, Trivial Pursuit, Ludo, playing cards. Maybe skip ‘Operation’, but you get the idea.
- Watch the whole series of Fawlty Towers
Only one episode a week, like in the old days. Laughter is the best medicine so they say so what better than a half hour in the company of Basil, Sybil and the major to cheer you up. One a week will last you three months if need be.
- Exercise / dog walk
Dog walkers don’t need to be told this as we do it every day, including Christmas Day, in the pouring rain, sleet, snow and gale but getting outside in the fresh air is good for us. Both mentally and physically. So don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to go for a nice walk. When you’re back in work you’ll be cursing yourself for not doing it more when you had the chance. And if you’re elderly and can go out, just a lap of the garden, walk the length of the street, round the block, anything is better than nothing. Get dressed up appropriately and take your daily exercise.
- Learn a new skill
Take up a hobby. Photography is a good one. Dig out the old camera and take it with you when you go for that daily walk or exercise. Learn how to take better photos by downloading an e-book. Share them on social media with friends.
- Relax
This is a stressful and worrying time for many, so don’t put any pressure on yourself to make the most of your time stuck indoors. Remember what it was like when you ‘had’ to get up early, brave the A470 to go to work and how much you hated it. Think about your horrible boss and how you couldn’t wait to get away from work – well guess what, you now have a couple of months break from the evil b****! Maybe now is the time to think about what else you could do. Could you work for yourself? Start a new business? In the meantime don’t stress, just chill.
****
Lockdown is a serious thing of course (even though this is hardly severe) but with a positive mental attitude and following the sensible guidelines we will get through it. It may take a month before the outbreak peaks, it may even be a month after that before we see light at the end of the tunnel but it will come so try not to worry. Oh yeh and one other thing. If you spend / waste (delete as applicable) any time on social media be nice to people!
Stay safe.
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Save the Planet Lockdown Weekend – 2 April 2020
OK, maybe now is not the time. We are currently only at the start of a serious COVID-19 pandemic. The situation is bad and will probably get a lot worse before it gets better, but, it will get better, eventually.
At the moment, in the UK, we are all undergoing ‘lockdown’. NHS workers and other essential services are still running of course and we are allowed out of the house to walk the dog, exercise or shop but for many this is a very difficult time. Personally I sort of live in semi-lockdown anyway. I get up, walk the dog, go for a cycle, shop, play 5 a side and socialise in the pub but as I work from home I’m pretty much in the house all day, most days anyway. For others though this is a testing time, particularly mentally. So I had an idea…
After the worst of the virus passes and we get allowed out to play again by the government the pubs will reopen and no doubt many people will go a bit crazy and party like it’s a Prince song. But wait a minute. Have you noticed the skies lately? No contrails, or very few anyway. The planet is slowly recovering. Healing itself like the good Gaia it is. Air pollution is way down as 20% of the planet’s human population is on lockdown at time of writing. Just a couple of weeks of staying indoors, not driving our cars and adding to the planet’s woes has such a huge impact on the health of everything.
So here’s a suggestion. OK, it might be August before we can but… How about we have a ‘Save The Planet Lockdown Weekend’?
What would this entail? Well, one idea is that, if possible, we finish work on a Friday afternoon and invite family and friends around to the house for a few beers, a bit of grub and a group hug. We can talk about the dark days of the COVID-19 outbreak, remember loved ones who’ve passed, celebrate the fact that we are lucky to be alive and do our bit to help preserve the planet and all the amazing creatures (including us) that live here by not rushing around like mad idiots, stripping supermarket shelves of bog rolls, buying things we don’t need (like more shoes or clothes) and wasting the finite resources we do have. Let’s just chill. Spend a whole weekend doing next to nothing. Enjoy a stress-free few days, go ‘off grid‘.
- Lock ourselves in for 24 hrs (or even 72 hrs?)
- Party with family and friends
- No travelling, working or driving
- Remember loved ones
- Toast the NHS and all the other key workers that helped us get through the crisis
- Relax, breathe deep
A weekend, or even a day, on self-imposed lockdown should help us all appreciate the good things in life and let us be happy with what we do have rather than worry about what we don’t and all those silly little things that don’t really matter, like Brexit, Corbyn v Boris or the biased BBC. How about it Ponty people? How about it planet Earth?
Feel free to post the date on our message board 🙂
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Land-based Casinos – 29 March 2020
The UK is a popular destination with plenty of options when it comes to filling your time with interesting activities. There are so many attractions; shopping centres, pubs, museums, restaurants and lots of other forms of entertainment available so it’s easy to overlook the casinos.
Great Britain has a rich history of gambling; from horse racing, card schools in public houses, boxing and greyhound tracks to the plush establishments offering roulette, blackjack and slot machines.
There are of course many different types of casinos in the UK – from high class options with strict dress codes to the more relaxed, fun atmosphere.
However in recent years there has been an explosion in online casinos where people can gamble from the comfort of their own home. That said, nothing compares to the excitement of a visit to a land-based venue with all the glitz and glamour that can offer.
Why not check our list of UK casinos to find a great option to visit when your in the UK?
Whether you’re in England, Scotland or Wales there is a casino for you. London has many options as you would expect but Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, has ‘Les Croupiers’. Just a short 30minute drive from Pontypridd the capital is a great spot for nightlife so why not give it a try?
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Coronavirus in Wales – 18 March 2020
Well, whether we like it not coronavirus (COVID-19) is with us. At time of writing Wales has 149 confirmed cases with many more probably undetected as yet.
The recent floods were bad enough but how badly could we do with a few years of #Brexit bollocks on the telly right now eh!? The daily updates on the deadly coronavirus are definitely scary. It’s a very infectious disease, easily transmitted and spread from person to person, and a real worry for anyone over 70 or for anyone with underlying health issues.
However, the vast majority of people who get infected will recover, just like if you get the flu or have a bad cold. The virus may cause some damage to the lungs, especially in the vulnerable groups, and the threat of this bug, plus many others like it, may be with us for many years to come, but if we follow the health professionals advice, be sensible and look out for one another we’ll get through it.
With this in mind, rather than look up mortality rates or nightmare scenarios I thought I’d look for the positive things some people are doing:
- Supermarkets introduce dedicated shopping hours for elderly
Several supermarkets in Wales have set up dedicated shopping hours for the elderly. They hope to allow the elderly to do their food shopping without having to worry that other customers have emptied the shelves first.
- Volunteers help vulnerable in self-isolation
In Ireland, Samantha Kelly, who setup the hashtag “#SelfIsolationHelp” has been used to help people who have been advised to stay indoors and reduce their social contact with others. People have been offering assistance and running errands for people who have been asked to self-isolate.
- Caremongering
Scaremongering is a big problem, so Valentina Harper, in Canada, helped set up 35 Facebook groups as part of a ‘caremongering’ movement. The aim was to bring people together and do the opposite of panic.
- Small shops help local community in need
A corner shop in Stenhousemuir, Scotland gave away thousands of pounds worth of free supplies to those in need. Face-masks, antibacterial hand gel and cleaning wipes were given to over 65s in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus, setting an example many of us can follow.
- Postcard campaign launched to battle loneliness
While self-isolating may protect individuals from catching or spreading the coronavirus, it is also going to cause loneliness. Becky Wass, from Cornwall, came up with this great idea to help combat loneliness: a postcard scheme that allows vulnerable members of society to request that others carry out certain errands for them, such as shopping, collecting urgent supplies or alternatively offers something simple like a chat on the phone. When it is dropped through a person’s door, the members of the household can fill out all the options to dictate what they need.
Italian residents under total lockdown must have found this quite frightening but some communities have been boosting morale with heartwarming sing-alongs. Not sure the dogs appreciated it though.
- Nightclub transformed into food distribution centre
London’s 338, has called on ‘young clubbers’ to give up their time to help those in need. They recently announced a plan to turn the club into a giant warehouse to store food and other essential items.
Here in Pontypridd and the valleys we are a resilient bunch so I’m sure people will look out for one another.
We have dedicated doctors, nurses, council workers and many others who will go above and beyond to keep us safe so let’s all take heart in this and pull together.
Things are changing not just daily at the moment, but hour by hour so by the time you read this it will be out of date but just recently (a few hours ago) a report was released that showed ‘Favipiravir‘ – a drug used to treat flu has had great results in treating patients with coronavirus. In Cuba, they too have a treatment that works against this virus and in China it was used alongside 30 other possible drugs. So fingers crossed we’ll have a treatment or even a cure soon and we can all get back to life as it was before.
As Cicero wrote to a friend in 46 BC, “You must hope for the best.”
Stay positive Ponty people!
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International Welsh Poetry Competition 2020 – 21 Feb 2020
The 14th International Welsh Poetry Competition is now open and accepting entries. Started in Pontypridd we are now the biggest and most well-respected poetry contest in Wales!
The 2020 competition will offer the following prizes:
1st Prize – £500
2nd Prize – £250
3d Prize – £100
plus 17 other runner-up mentions.
Judge – Sally Spedding.
To enter the competition or just find out more visit our website.
To keep up to date with our contest and other Welsh writing news please sign up to our newsletter.
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Fast-Growing Careers You Should Keep an Eye On – 19 Feb 2020
It seems that every article we read lately is about technology and how it keeps advancing fast and steady. This development is leaving many to search for career options that can easily fit into the current market and bring them a steady income. While the more traditional career options are still holding up well, many of the career options connected to the digital world are gaining a lot of traction. If you’re thinking of making a career change or maybe just want to pick up some new skills then these next few professions are something you should definitely look into.
Web Design
Web designers are the people who make all of your favorite websites coordinated, smooth and eye-catching. They mainly work on the styling and layout of webpages by manipulating web design tools and resources like CSS and HTML. With a lot of businesses going online, there are a lot of opportunities out there for aspiring web designers. All kinds of businesses need web designers ranging from online casinos like https://www.novibet.co.uk/casino to local businesses like hair salons and coffee shops. Starting a career in web design will require some knowledge of coding, so if you’re planning on joining the army of web designers out there be sure to check for courses in your area.
Graphic Design
If you think you’re a creative person then this could be the perfect career path for you. The job for graphic designers consists of creating design solutions for digital and print media by using content creation and photo editing software. Graphic design can be implemented into almost anything out there, and nearly all businesses use some types of graphic design solutions. This means that the opportunities out there for graphic designers are practically limitless. Graphic design also requires some learning but it’s mostly color theory and how to properly use the available graphic design tools. Graphic design is also quite versatile, so there are quite a few different options you might want to look up depending on what type of media you’d like to make.
Digital Marketing
The marketing field has hit the holy grail of career growth with digital marketing. Digital marketing is one of the fastest-growing careers out there at the moment, and it’s also one of the most interesting ones. To be a digital marketer you need to pick up some knowledge of traditional marketing and learn how to implement it in the digital space.
Digital marketers plan, create and measure the success of marketing campaigns throughout the endless void that is the internet. They use social media, search engines and a plethora of tools available online and offline to promote products and services to the right audiences at the right times. This can include a ton of market research, measuring and comparing results which can be tedious but in the end, it’s all worth it as the field can be quite lucrative (for other high paying careers you can check out this link – https://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/25-best-jobs-that-pay-more-than-100k).
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Pontypridd Floods – 17 Feb 2020
Once again residents are counting the cost of flooding after ‘Storm Dennis’ left half of Ponty town under water. The organisation responsible for preventing flooding – Natural Resources Wales (NRW) – said the scale of flooding was ‘unprecedented’ and there was a ‘huge’ amount of rain. They sound like a contestant on Mastermind whose specialist subject is stating the bleeding obvious but severe flooding has occurred in the past, therefore it is NOT exactly ‘unprecedented’ is it? Also a red weather warning – meaning there was a threat to life – was issued by the Met Office many days before so they knew this was going to happen. As the storm hit parts of south and mid Wales on Saturday and Sunday authorities all knew it was going to be bad. It does rain quite a lot in Wales, severe flooding has happened on numerous occasions over the years and still not enough has been done to prevent it adversely affecting people’s lives. Anyone see NRW lorries dropping sandbags off in town Friday afternoon for example?
Yes the planet is warming (this affects weather patterns) although maybe (due to solar activity) man-made climate change will have little effect us we head for a mini ice age but one thing is 100% certain. It rains in Wales. It always has done. Rivers and streams from mid Wales cause the River Taff (and other waterways to rise significantly and extremely quickly) and people and towns get flooded. In fact the 64km long River Taff is one of the fastest rising and falling rivers in the UK so in fairness preventing flooding is always going to be a big ask.
While over-stretched council workers have been working 24hrs a day, along with wonderful local residents, First Minister Mark Drakeford said he would look into what help could be provided but not before he sat down to talk about stuff. The Welsh Government had a £350m flood and coastal defence budget, and all the defences succeeded, Mr Drakeford said? He obviously doesn’t live in Sion Street then!
Drakeford has also promised up to £10m for the 800 flood-hit homes and businesses. However Rhondda Cynon Taf council believes more money will be needed with the repair bill set to ‘run into millions and millions’ of pounds.
In Pontypridd, businesses are counting the cost of the second storm in less than two weeks. Crowdfunding pages have been set up to raise money for those affected after homes, schools and businesses were damaged during the flooding and local people have been fantastic offering help and support to those that need it.
To help out or read how people are coping visit our Facebook page.
At its peak the water was over 5 metres high. A new record & the highest since 1979 and so certainly not unprecedented as stated by NRW. Taff Street in Pontypridd was left underwater and Welsh club, CYB is still waterlogged.
Pontypridd Museum thanked people who had volunteered to help salvage artefacts, after its basement was flooded and Eglwysbach’s GP surgery has also sustained ‘significant’ flood damage. Businesses in town have been ruined and as the clean up starts people want to know if the UK government is going to offer assistance?
In the coming days and weeks politicians will be mouthing off in the media but will anything actually be done? Next year will tell, ‘cos it’ll probably happen again. Many residents of Pontypridd and the surrounding area cannot get home insurance because insurance companies know this is going to happen so people are stuck in limbo. The River Taff was dredged and widened a number of years back but rivers fill up with silt and debris as it washes down from the valleys so this needs to be done regularly. Councils will argue they do not have the money, which is true of course but it is not really their responsibility. It is NRW that should be asking the Welsh government for funds and if they don’t have them then they should be asking Westminster.
The fact is the River Taff floods. Not very often, but every few years it floods and when it does it causes millions of pounds worth of damage and heartache. So until millions of pounds of investment is made in preventing the river spilling over into towns, streets, homes and businesses guess what? Yep, it’ll happen again.
Over to you Mr Drakeford…
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Happy Valentines Day – 14 Feb 2020
A stroll through any town in the UK today might make you see the world in rose-coloured glasses. Why? Well, everything is pink! Roses here, chocolates there, cards the size of double-decker buses. And all those lovely hearts and cherubs. Ah, blydi lovely.
So where did this additional layer of over-the-top capitalist consumerism come from? Some say the Catholic Church who murdered at least three different saints named Valentine and others go back further and point to the Roman pagans.
Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, so he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. Unfortunately for him Claudius found out and had his head lopped off.
One legend sees an imprisoned Valentine sending the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl (his jailor’s daughter) who visited him in clink. Before his death, he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today.
One thing we do know though is that those pesky Christians did try to steal Valentine’s Day (which is celebrated in the middle of February) to ‘Christianize’ the pagan celebration Lupercalia, which was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. Roman priests, would gather at a sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa.
Lupercalia was outlawed by Pope Gelasius who declared instead that February 14 would be St. Valentine’s Day. It was not until much later, however, that the day became definitively associated with love.
Today, it’s all gone bonkers of course and according to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year after Christmas. Women purchase approximately 85% of all valentines cards because lets be honest, men don’t give a shit about crap like this.
Anyway, enjoy the day I have to go and start the bulldozer. That huge mountain of paper piled up outside my door won’t shift itself.
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Top Casinos with low wagering requirements – 11 Feb 2020
Many gamblers prefer casinos where they will play the least time and withdraw the winnings. In most cases, casinos will offer attractive bonuses, but they will set wagering rules where you will have to play several times before you can be allowed to withdraw the winnings. You need to check out the list of the casinos so that you will play the least multiplication of the bones and start enjoying attractive winnings. The casinos are offered in such a way they make it easy to get started. Take time to compare the different casinos which allow low wagering requirements and sign up at the best casino. There are several factors you need to check out apart from the wagering requirements. If you can check out the different elements, it will be easy to enjoy the best results in your gaming adventure.
1. Volt Casino
It is a casino that has low wagering requirements to make you enjoy the game to the fullest. With features such as up to 300 wager-free cash spins, you will get started as fast as possible. They have fair terms of operation, which make them very reliable. The casino has been around for long, and they know what it takes to realize the best experience in players. Different deposit methods are supported. The casino takes time to ensure they offer reliable support to all their members.
2. Casumo Casino
You will never regret the attractive bonuses offered at the casino. They offer up to £300 upon sign up to allow you to test the different features in the platform. For most experienced gamblers, the casino is among the best where you will get to enjoy the best experience as you play the games. They are known to offer top quality games such as roulette, among others. Their terms and conditions are very fair. You can count on them to enjoy the best performance as you play the different games supported by the casino.
3. Genesis Casino
Each casino comes with its attractive features as a way of attracting more players. For the case of the casino, it has up to £100 sign up bonus to make new players get the excitement the game offers. All the payment and deposit methods allowed are safe. It is among casinos with an excellent reputation in availing top quality services.
4. Hyper Casino
The casino has a sing up bonus of up to £300 and low wagering requirements. You can sign up and get to enjoy the several games they offer. As a way of making it easy for their players to enjoy a wide range of games, they have put measures in place to introduce new games. All the games offered on the casino adhere to the latest casino rules. You can bet at the casino with confidence knowing everything will run smoothly.
5. Classy Slots Casino
The casino stands out from the rest in offering a huge signup bonus. With up to €800, you have the freedom to test a wide range of games offered at the casino. With the use of the latest technology, the casino ash stood the test of time in providing top quality games to meet the needs of different gamblers. It will not take you long before you can withdraw your first winnings if you are a serious gambler. They take into consideration various measures to avail top gaming experience to the heavy rollers. It is a casino designed to guarantee users the best gambling experience.
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How to play roulette and win – 5 Feb 2020
Nowadays, earning money has become much easier. There are several ways introduced through which you can generate a good amount just by sitting at your home. If you are good at writing, then there are multiple content writing jobs or you can also write your own e-book and can publish on different sites just like Amazon. Not good at writing? Don’t worry there are many companies and people who are looking for a good designer and virtual assistants, why don’t you give them a try? If you think that these categories don’t match you, then there is something amazing for you.
Are you good at casino games? Or love to play bets? Then the online casinos are waiting for you. Now you can do gambling just by sitting at your home. If you think that gambling is not worthy, let us tell you that according to Forbes, both online and local gambling is one of the biggest businesses in the world. Casino games are not only for professionals, but newbies can also be a part of them. Newbies should not go for the difficult games, there are several gambling games that would be a great starting for them. Roulette is one of those games. It is very easy and simple to play.
What is roulette?
Roulette is one of the easiest and worthy games of the casino. It is basically a French word which means a small wheel. Coming to this game, you will see a wheel placed on a table that contains multiple numbers on it in two different colors, red and black. Each color has different numbers in it. A ball used to place a bet. A roulette wheel is also known as a wheel of fortune because all the bets are won or lose upon this wheel. There are three main types of roulette tables. The first one is British roulette and it is the most popular one. On the second number, we have a French roulette. It is also one of the most lovable roulette tables. In last, it comes the
The ultimate guide to play roulette:
Roulette is really simple and straight. All you need is basic knowledge and some strategies. Only you have to place a bet that should become successful. Roulette is not only the name of placing bets, but you also should come up with a proper plan in order to win heavy amounts. Newbies are going to get a lot of knowledge from here and later, they can implement these ideas in their game. Being a newbie, if you want to get best deals in roulette, then you should visit Casino Online.
Choose a number on which you have to place a bet and then spin the wheel. The wheel will spin in full motion and in some time it will come back to the rest position. After the wheel stops, if your number matches with the final destination of ball, congrats you are the winner. Isn’t it so simple? If you have lost the bet, don’t worry just try again.
Best way to win roulette:
Though there are various ways to come up with a good amount in roulette, but here are some of the most useful tips to win in roulette:
- Always start your game with the lowest bet. Avoid playing heavy amounts in the start
- Observe the number that is coming multiple times and try to put bet on that number
- If you are facing the loss of your money than play a large bet right after the winning bet.
Conclusion
Roulette is a popular casino game and the best source of income. Being good in casino games indicates the sharpness of your mind. It can also help you out in improving the calculations and reasoning skills. Playing roulette is a good thing, but According to Wikipedia, playing gambling games out of limits can cause a disease name as a gambling disorder. Follow the techniques and get better results in your game.
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Can Wales reclaim their Triple Crown? – 23 Jan 2020
The Six Nations gets underway in early February. But there is no doubting that Wales’ fixture against Italy will be the most important sporting occasion on that weekend.
Wales will be looking to be the first team in three years to successfully defend the crown. They have only done it on one occasion since 2000, with that back to back success coming between 2012 and 2013.
However, many sportsbooks are currently not backing Wales to repeat the feat after a huge transition since the World Cup last year. If you are a horse racing enthusiast, let’s say that the chances are similar to the ones the Victor Ludorum winning the Kentucky Derby in May.
Departure Of Iconic Head Coach
The biggest difference for Wales between this year and last is the man that is in control of the team. Warren Gatland ended an incredible 12-year stay as the Welsh boss in the winter after the World Cup. His success in last year’s competition turned out to be his final parting gift, as they fell short in the World Cup itself as they were beaten by South Africa in the semi-finals.
However, it isn’t just Wales that has to deal with the departure of crucial figures, as the other sides in the competition do too. Joe Schmidt left his role as Ireland manager, while Connor O’Shea and Jacques Brunel left their positions with Italy and France respectively. The whole complexity of the Six Nations has changed this year, which means it is incredibly difficult to judge who may take advantage.
Big Chance For Gatland Replacement
The man that has been trusted with the fortunes of the national side is another New Zealander – Wayne Pivac. The Kiwi has former international experience as he was in charge of Fiji between 2004 and 2007, but this is a significant step up, and the expectation will be huge. He signed his contract with Wales in 2019 and coached the team for the first time against the Barbarians in a 43-33 win.
There is work to do defensively for the new man at the helm, but looking at his CV, there is clear potential for him to excel. He led the Scarlets to the PRO12 title back in 2017, which was their first major success for 13 years. The Welsh success hasn’t been that long, but an immediate impression will be expected when the Six Nations gets underway against Italy. He will have to get the fans onside immediately with a big win against the side that are likely to end the competition with the wooden spoon.
Attacking Welsh Side
We saw from Pivac’s tenure at the Scarlets that his strength is in the attacking. His first Welsh side pointed to that being the direction that he will coach this Welsh side too. However, whether his inexperience at the test level of rugby will be a concern for some fans, who question whether he is being naïve to think that this will work against the very best in Europe. He will be buoyed by the quality that he has at his disposal, with Josh Adams leading the Welsh chances.
The winger was the leading try-scorer in the World Cup, but he will be back up by a fluent selection of forward players. There is also a lot of experience in the squad with Gareth Davies, Dan Biggar, George North and Leigh Halfpenny all having over 50 caps for the national side. The biggest miss will undoubtedly be Jonathan Davies. But, Taulupe Faletau and Rhys Webb returning will ensure that they have the strength on the pitch to compete for the championship this year.
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Poetry Book Awards – 20 Jan 2020
The annual Poetry Book Awards is an international book award given to the best poetry books produced by indie writers, self published authors or books published by independent or small presses.
Even though more and more people are enjoying and participating in creative writing it is becoming increasingly difficult to become traditionally published, especially in the poetry world. Most of the top book prizes and competitions do not allow self published authors to enter. If they are allowed then many are extremely expensive leaving independent publishers, self publishers and indie authors struggling to find the recognition they deserve. Instead of asking for huge sums of money from those shortlisted we instead charge an entry fee for each entry.
We are proud to be a Welsh based international awards programme, open to all indie authors and independent publishers globally. Why should you enter the Poetry Book Awards?
- Open to independent authors and publishers worldwide
- Cash prizes, certificate, logo
- Great Amazon & Goodreads reviews
- Earn recognition from having an award-winning book
- Your book cover & link on our website
- Winning book gets a 1 year subscription to P N Review
- All books given to local libraries / schools after the awards
Your book will be judged by experienced, published poets, respected authors, local writing groups and library staff. Our aim is to achieve respect and recognition from authors, publishers and publishing organisations for our winning choices. This will help the winners gain further recognition when they can proudly announce that they are award-winning authors of the Poetry Book Awards and be confident that the title is respected.
After many years of finding and promoting outstanding poets through the International Welsh Poetry Competition we now aim to bring further recognition to those writers that have produced a book-length collection of their work and hope to heighten a poet’s profile by offering this new award.
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What has happened to Welsh news? – 10 Jan 2020
Happy New Year Campers. Thought I’d kick off 2020 with a warning about our wonderful Welsh media.
Welsh Media Crisis
Wales Online has decided to stop pretending to be a news source this week after overpaid journalists drinking in a famous city centre pub revealed that the last cat found up a tree in Aberdare was in 1972.
‘Aye mun, Tibbles was a great story. We strung that one out for years. We did features, spinoffs and vox pops for ages. Those were the halcyon days alright. We recycled that heart-wrenching news every few months too,’ said Arthur Testicle, science reporter.
Official figures for the newspaper show that it has an average circulation of 13,419, down from over 40,000 in 2007. This will only get worse of course (until the paper eventually folds) as more people find their news in the only place you can get the truth these days – the pubs the journalists don’t drink in.
Many backward-thinking commentators and news organisations still mistakenly think that the future of news is online. They have invested heavily in this area, but to be honest they have no idea what real people think (living in their metropolitan bubbles) and very soon that medium will also fade too.
Online Policy
‘Our new, specially designed website shows the direction Wales’ premier media outlet will be taking from now on,’ reported chief editor Mrs Gladys Bouquet.
She continued, ’We now have so many adverts, popups and affiliate links to dodgy US conglomerates posing as quirky news articles when really all they are is email harvesters and generic Viagra sellers that it is almost impossible for any viewer to actually end up on our own pages. Just as well really as we don’t bother to write anything important there anymore.
‘Of course there was a time when journalists actually investigated stories, tried to uncover the truth, read press releases and acted upon them but nowadays we just think what the hell, let’s just feed them any old shit – no-one cares about anything anymore anyway and even if they did they certainly wouldn’t believe a word we say!
‘With more and more teachers leaving the profession most people can’t read anymore or are too busy liking fake news or cat pictures on Facebook to actually give a flying fuck about what’s happening to their sad little third world country,’ she added.
Different Approach
Across the road from the self-styled ‘voice of Wales’, at their new Orwellian HQ, BBC Wales has revealed that their approach is very different however.
‘We are desperate not to lose the license fee which pays for our jollies, foreign travel, plush hotels and sexy Christmas parties so we take a different view. We try to bombard the reader with so much information that they just get overwhelmed and only read the headlines. That way we can brainwash them with our left-wing, politically correct bullshit and make them feel it is OK to ‘hug a hoodie’, ‘cuddle a Qaeda’ or bomb Israel. We censor so much news now that we have even started to believe the crap we put out ourselves,’ said Mohammed Khan, Head of the Ministry for Information.
Possible Conflict
Some people have argued that there is a possible clash ahead when the Western Mail (a rag that has always been a big rugby paper, albeit with correspondents that know nothing about rugby) goes head to head with BBC Wales because they are fast becoming so diverse that soon everyone will be so diverse that diversity will cease to exist as everyone is or wants to be or is perceived to be or is addressed on Twitter as diverse. (Obviously white, male heterosexuals need not apply).
‘I have a dream,’ said Spike Susan Thornberg, Head of Gay Nicaraguan Whales for Theatre Splott. ‘Soon football will be a thing of the past and trans vegan Muslims will come together everywhere (apart from Tylorstown obviously) and join flippers in solidarity for our sisters in the Bristol Channel.’
Oh bugger, why do I bother. I’m emigrating to Hungary – nice fruity reds there.
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