News

Love is all around

Published

12 years ago

February 6, 2014

VALENTINE’S Day has been a tradition since the pre-Christian era, and has roots in several different legends that have found their way to us through the ages. Though there are many stories connected with its history, such as the beheading of St Valentine on February 14, perhaps the most common thing connected with Valentine’s Day is Cupid, usually depicted as a small boy with wings, who carries a bow and arrow.

Although in Greek mythology, Cupid plays a different role. The Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite was the mother of Cupid. Cupid had fallen in love with a human, whose beauty rivalled his mother’s. She did everything in her power to thwart the marriage. Cupid’s lover, Psyche was worshipped for her beauty in her homeland. This drove Aphrodite mad, so she sent a plague and let it be known that it can only be stopped by the sacrifice of Psyche.

Her father tied her up and left her to her death at the hands of a fearsome monster. Cupid saved her and married her. In addition to Aphrodite, Psyche’s sisters were equally jealous. Cupid had made sure that she never saw what he looked like and upon the sisters finding out this information, they persuaded her that Cupid must be a hideous monster. Psyche assured her sisters that they were wrong, but they had put doubt in her mind. She took a candle to Cupid while he was asleep and found he was extremely angelic and “exquisite”. While she was there, she dropped hot wax on him, to which he awoke and flew away. Aphrodite then suffered from a case of “I told you so” syndrome, though agreed to give Psyche a second chance. She set her four difficult tasks and passed the first three with flying colours, though failed the fourth. Cupid rescued her, bringing her to Olympus and was given nectar and ambrosia so she would become immortal. Aphrodite reluctantly reconciled with her pregnant daughter-in-law, who was about to give birth to a grandchild she would dote on.

Did you know?

• Teachers receive the most valentines, followed by kids, mothers, wives and sweethearts.

• Over 50 percent of all Valentine’s Day cards are purchased in the six days prior to the holiday.

• The oldest surviving valentine dates from 1415. It is a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife. At the time, the duke was being held in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.

• One billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making it the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. Women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.

• Hallmark produced its first valentine in 1913.

• Today, Hallmark employs an 80-person research staff to analyze the sales pattern of previous valentines. That analysis, combined with more than 100,000 annual customer interviews, focus groups and in-store observations, will help create roughly 2,000 cards in Hallmark’s core Valentine’s Day line.

• While Hallmark offers thousands of different cards for Valentine’s Day, one card was the top choice of customers in New York, Los Angeles, and virtually every other city in the country in 2006.

• In Japan, women are expected to give chocolate and other gifts to men on Valentine’s Day. This tradition was started as a marketing campaign by Japanese chocolate companies. Men are not off the hook, unfortunately. They are expected to return the favor on March 14th, commonly known as White Day.

• BBC reports that Shiv Sena, a nationalist political party in India, has spoken out against Valentine’s day, calling it “nothing but a Western onslaught on India’s culture to attract youth for commercial purposes.”

• The Ivory Coast is the world’s largest producer of cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate. In 2001, the U.S. State Department reported child slavery on many cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast. A 2002 report from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture estimated there were 284,000 children working on cocoa farms in hazardous conditions.

• The Catholic Church struck St. Valentine’s Day from its official calendar in 1969.

News

Rhun ap Iorwerth to chair first meeting of new Welsh Government Cabinet

Published

11 hours ago

May 17, 2026

Tom Sinclair

New First Minister says government will focus on waiting lists, jobs, education and child poverty

FIRST MINISTER Rhun ap Iorwerth will chair the first meeting of his new Welsh Government Cabinet today, setting out what he says will be an agenda based on action, openness and results.

The meeting marks the formal start of the new government’s programme, with ministers expected to focus on improving public services, supporting families and growing the Welsh economy.

Ahead of the meeting, Mr ap Iorwerth said his Cabinet would work as “one team” and avoid what he described as unnecessary duplication across government.

The First Minister said: “This is a government of action, a government for all, and a government of new ideas. The hard work has now started.

“Our focus is on the issues that matter most to people in every part of Wales – cutting waiting lists, supporting families with the cost of living, creating good jobs, raising standards in education and tackling child poverty.

“As First Minister, I am determined to end siloed working and unnecessary duplication across government. This Cabinet will work as one team, with ministers focused on delivering together in the interests of the people of Wales.

“We will lead with openness and purpose, building trust through practical action and visible outcomes.

“The people of Wales expect a government that listens, that stands up boldly for Wales, and that works together to get things done. That is exactly what this Cabinet is determined to deliver.”

The first Cabinet meeting will be closely watched as the new administration begins to turn election promises into policy, with pressure already mounting over NHS waiting times, household costs and the state of public services across Wales.

Local Government

Road resurfacing works welcomed after repeated pothole complaints

Published

13 hours ago

May 17, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Castle ward councillor thanks residents for patience as long-running issue near St Thomas’ Green finally addressed

ROAD resurfacing works at St Thomas’ Green in Haverfordwest have been welcomed by local county councillor Thomas Tudor, who says a long-standing pothole problem near a bus shelter is finally being resolved.

Cllr Tudor, who represents the Castle Ward, said he was pleased to see progress being made on the improvements, particularly in an area that had required repeated repairs over time.

The works, being carried out by Pembrokeshire County Council and contractors, include resurfacing along part of the road close to the bus shelter near St Thomas’ Green.

Cllr Tudor said the pothole had been reported and repaired on numerous occasions before more permanent resurfacing work was approved.

He said: “As County Councillor for the Castle Ward, which includes St Thomas’ Green, I am pleased to see works progressing very well with the road resurfacing, in particular the area by the bus shelter which had a pothole which I have been reporting and having repaired numerous times.

“Many thanks to Pembrokeshire County Council and the various contractors involved and I would also like to apologise to the residents and thank them for their patience and understanding during these essential works.”

The resurfacing has caused some disruption to local traffic while work is underway, with temporary traffic management measures in place.

Residents have been thanked for their patience as crews complete the improvements, which are aimed at providing a safer and smoother road surface for motorists and pedestrians.

Photo caption:

Improvements underway: Cllr Thomas Tudor pictured at St Thomas’ Green as resurfacing works progress (Pic supplied)

News

Cefn Sidan retains Blue Flag status as one of Wales’ top beaches

Published

13 hours ago

May 17, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CEFΝ Sidan has retained its place among the world’s best coastal locations after being awarded Blue Flag status in the Wales Coast Awards 2026.

The Carmarthenshire beach, located within Pembrey Country Park near Burry Port, has now received the prestigious award 38 times — more than any other beach in Wales.

Cefn Sidan was also the first beach in Wales to receive a Blue Flag when the awards were introduced in 1988.

The awards, announced by Keep Wales Tidy, recognise beaches that meet high standards for water quality, safety, facilities, environmental education and site management.

A total of 48 beaches across Wales were recognised this year, with 20 receiving Blue Flag status.

Cefn Sidan is an eight-mile sandy beach backed by dunes and forms part of Pembrey Country Park, one of Carmarthenshire’s major visitor attractions. The park also offers woodland walks, mountain bike trails, a dry ski slope, toboggan ride, crazy golf, train rides and a family campsite.

Owen Derbyshire, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy said: “We are delighted to see Cefn Sidan once again retaining its Blue Flag Award status and continuing to hold the title of the Welsh beach which has received the most Blue Flags.

“As Wales’ very first Blue Flag Award winner, we appreciate the ongoing commitment of everyone at Carmarthenshire County Council and Pembrey Country Park in ensuring Cefn Sidan meets the high standards needed to gain the Blue Flag Award.”

He added: “These awards recognise high and consistent standards and we would like to thank staff, volunteers and everyone else at sites across Wales who work so hard to protect and preserve our natural landscape in the face of increasingly challenging circumstances.

“All of these places are beautiful but seeing that flag flying means visitors can be assured that they are clean, safe and well-managed with excellent facilities too.”

Other Blue Flag beaches in west Wales include Llangrannog in Ceredigion, Saundersfoot, Tenby South and Poppit Sands in Pembrokeshire.

Thirteen Welsh beaches also received Green Coast Awards, including Mwnt and Penbryn in Ceredigion, Freshwater East and Manorbier in Pembrokeshire.