ACCLAIMED theatre-maker Sam Freeman is bringing We’re Not Getting A Dog to the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven this February — a new, comic, roughly 72-minute solo show packed with domestic observation and a quietly rueful bite.

Told through passive-aggressive letters, early-morning jet-washing and the small rituals we cling to in an effort to make a house feel like a home, the production casts a wry eye on what it means to live close to other people — neighbours we see every day, yet barely know.

“It’s really hard to describe the show,” Freeman said. “I guess it’s best to imagine a really gorgeous Radio 4 late-night comedy, but performed live — it’s heart-warming and like being wrapped in a warm hug. It’s a show to warm the soul.”

The performance weaves multiple storylines together: a couple sprinting through rain to catch a bus, a man staring at a blank laptop screen in despair, and a woman opening an envelope to reveal a photograph. Each moment builds towards a bigger picture, drawing the audience into a narrative where not everything is as straightforward as it first appears.

“It’s a real joy to perform because you let this story unfold,” Freeman added. “You see these moments where people laugh, occasionally cry, but also join the dots and discover that not everything is as simple as it first may seem.”

Read from a little black book, the show has been described as a hidden gem — a quietly powerful and comic examination of home, connection and distance.

And for anyone wondering about the dog on the poster, Freeman has an answer.

“Everyone wants to know about the dog on the poster… It’s my border terrier Poppy — absolute psychopath,” he said. “Whether she makes it into the show… well… you’ll have to see it to find out.”

We’re Not Getting A Dog will be performed at the Torch Theatre on Saturday, 14 February at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8. For more information, visit the Torch Theatre website or contact the Box Office on (01646) 695267.

Trading has crept into everyday conversation. You hear it in adverts, see it on social media, and watch it turn into a kind of entertainment. For many people, that creates confusion: is trading investing? Is it gambling? Is it something normal people should do, or is it a specialist world best left alone?

Let’s start with the basic question: what is trading? Trading is buying and selling financial instruments with the goal of profiting from price movement. That could mean shares in a company, currencies, commodities, or broader market indices. It can happen over minutes, days, or months. What makes it trading is the intention to act on price changes rather than simply holding long term.

Trading versus investing: the difference that matters

Investing usually means buying something because you believe in its long-term value. You might hold for years, collecting dividends or benefiting from growth over time. Trading is more tactical. A trader might buy the same share, but their focus is on near-term movement, not a multi-year thesis.

This difference matters because it changes how you manage risk. A long-term investor can often tolerate short-term volatility. A trader needs clearer exit plans, because the trade’s “reason” can disappear quickly.

Many people sit somewhere in the middle: they invest most of their money long term and experiment with small amounts in more active strategies. That can be sensible, but only if the “experiment” is treated as education rather than income.

Why trading became popular in the UK

Part of the rise is cultural and technological. Apps made markets feel accessible. News coverage made market moves feel like sport. Low savings rates in the 2010s pushed people to look for alternatives. Then, periods of volatility created the illusion of easy opportunity.

But accessibility can be a trap. Easy access does not mean easy skill. Trading is one of those activities where “a little knowledge” can be worse than none, because it tempts you to act confidently without a proven process.

What people trade, in practice

In the UK, many new traders encounter shares, indices, and currency products. The more liquid the market, the more predictable its pricing behaviour tends to be. That doesn’t mean it’s safe—it means it’s less prone to wild distortions.

The instrument you choose shapes your experience. Some instruments move slowly and steadily; others are sharp and fast. For beginners, slower tends to be better, because it allows time to think.

Risk: the part that decides whether trading becomes a problem

If there’s one point worth repeating, it’s that trading outcomes are dominated by risk management. You can have a good idea and still lose money if you risk too much. You can also have an average idea and still survive if your losses are controlled.

This is where people drift into gambling behaviour without noticing. If you’re increasing size after a loss to “win it back”, trading has become emotional. If you’re placing trades because you’re bored, trading has become entertainment. If you’re following anonymous tips, trading has become outsourcing your decisions to strangers.

A healthy approach is to decide your risk before you enter. That means knowing where you’re wrong and how much that wrongness costs. Without that, you’re not trading—you’re hoping.

Scams and misinformation: a local consumer issue, not just a finance issue

Readers in Wales and across the UK are not immune to scams dressed up as trading. Fake “investment groups”, impersonation adverts, and pressure tactics thrive in uncertain economic times. The safest assumption is that anyone promising guaranteed returns is not serious.

It’s also worth remembering that legitimate finance includes warnings for a reason. Risk disclosures are not decoration. If you don’t understand the product, pause. If you can’t explain it in plain language, you shouldn’t be risking money on it.

So, should you trade?

That depends on your goals, your temperament, and your willingness to treat it as a skill. If you want a stable financial future, the boring fundamentals—budgeting, emergency savings, sensible long-term investing—matter more than trading.

If you are curious, approach trading as education: start small, use a structured plan, and focus on process, not quick wins. The win is learning without damaging your finances or your headspace.

Trading is real. It’s not inherently good or bad. But it demands respect—because the market will take money from people who treat it casually.

UK-WIDE hospitality company Loungers plc is planning to open a new beachfront venue in Tenby, with the promise of 30 jobs created, in just over two months’ time.

The West Country-based café/bar group gearing up to open Lansio Lounge at Tenby’s South Beach on Wednesday March 25.

Loungers, founded in 2002, runs family-friendly Lounge café bars across the UK – including the Cofio Lounge at the Guildhall, Carmarthen, and the Waldo Lounge at Haverfordwest’s Riverside.

The Loungers build and design team will transform the former Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant on Water’s Edge, South Beach in their unmistakable and unique style, Loungers has said.

Loungers added: “A real home from home, Lansio Lounge will cater for all tastes throughout the day with a varied and innovative all-day menu.  Particular attention will be paid to families with a selection of games, books, colouring pencils, and pads on offer.  A full menu, high chairs and baby-changing facilities are also available for Little Loungers.

“With community and neighbourhood at its heart, Lansio Lounge will welcome locals looking for a space for regular catch ups, meetings and events – everything from business networking, book or knitting clubs to parent and baby meets and life drawing classes.”

Ellie Gould, regional community manager, The Lounges, says: “We can’t wait to open the doors of Lansio Lounge in March.  We hope our family friendly environment and top-notch food and drink offering will prove popular with local residents and visitors.

“We’re passionate about integrating genuinely into the communities we serve so we’re looking forward to meeting everyone and to playing our part at the heart of Tenby’s food and drink scene.  Anyone looking for a space to host events or groups should pop in once we are open, we’d love to hear from them and see what we can do to help.”

Late last week, the Loungers plans for the former Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant were revealled following an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for Loungers signage at Salty’s, which recently closed.

Tenby Town Council is recommending approval for the signage, but the park’s buildings conservation officer Rob Scourfield is recommending refusal for the proposals, in the town’s conservation area, mainly on the grounds illuminated signage is not generally allowed there.

The signage application will be considered at a later date.

Family-run venue Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant announced its closure on social media, confirming that Sunday, January 4 was its final day of trading.