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Wine-lovers drop some corking faux pas when it comes to their favourite tipple with common errors including filling a glass to the top, adding ice cubes and leaving a bottle open for too long. A study of 2,000 adults found 29 per cent admitted they have mispronounced the name of a wine while ordering a glass – and one in six have even been corrected by a sommelier in a restaurant. Other mistakes include holding a glass by the bulb…

Jamie W. from South Wales has beaten thousands of fellow failures to have his garden crowned the nation’s ugliest. His unloved outdoor space, which vaguely resembles a garden, was judged to be the biggest abomination by a distinguished panel of gardening editors, in the ‘Garden Disasters’ competition organised by power tool manufacturer Ryobi. As well as claiming the title, Jamie now has the perfect opportunity to overcome his gardening demons by being awarded a complete set of Ryobi 18V ONE+ cordless…

The other weekend was rather strange.  We found a large toad in our garage.  How it got in there is a complete mystery.  However, we released him back into the wild in a local reen.  Next up we saw a bloke catch a two-foot long pike in the same reen.  Then we saw this swan on a Lilo in the reen.  Finally saw a life-size imitation crocodile on a canal bank in Rogerstone.  I have got to stop drinking!  …

Achieve together, a leading provider of support for people with learning disabilities, autism and associated complex needs, has welcomed Montana Healthcare Limited into its family, following its acquisition of the South Wales specialist support services provider. Founded in 2007 and based in Caerphilly and Cardiff, Montana Healthcare Limited has an excellent reputation for the support it provides to people with complex needs, offering specialist support to people with learning disabilities, mental health issues, acquired brain injuries and autism. The 73-strong…

I am confident that the system overseen by Qualifications Wales (QW) and WJEC, in response to the current emergency, is fair for students and robust in what it measures and signals to employers and universities. However, governments in other parts of the United Kingdom have introduced changes to their systems and we must make sure that these alterations do not disadvantage Welsh students. Students in Wales, and prospective employers and universities across the UK, can be assured that their A Level grades reflect…

Buraq Ahmed, who left his parents in Iraq to travel to the UK with his grandmother to be treated for congenital hip dysplasia, has gone against the odds and achieved a place at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge to study Medicine having achieved A* in Biology, A* in Chemistry, A* in Economics and A* in Maths in his A Level results announced today. Leaving his parents who sold their home to finance the trip in order for Buraq to access medical services…

Twins, Arianne and Enyala Banks (18) from Cardiff, are celebrating today as they both win places at Oxford University. The girls, who are students at Cardiff Sixth Form College, have however chosen very different courses to study.  Arianne who gained A* in French, A* in Politics, A* in History and A* in Biology is off to study Law with French Law at Mansfield College and Enyala who gained A* in Maths, A* in Physics, A* in Chemistry and A* in…

Begw Rowlands of Cardiff – Photographer Huw John   An aspiring actress from Cardiff says the pandemic has given her more time to think about her future, as she prepares to collect her A-Level results this summer. Until the coronavirus pandemic hit, Begw Rowlands, 17, was planning on heading to drama school in September. Now she’s planning on taking a year out to volunteer at a local theatre and decide what she wants to do long-term. Begw, who attended Ysgol…

Ceri Jones of Cardiff  –  Photographer Huw John   An 18-year-old from Cowbridge whose trip to work abroad was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, is hopeful things will be back to normal when he starts his degree in 2021. Ceri Vaughan Jones was always planning to take a year out from his studies before starting his degree in Business Management and Spanish. While the pandemic hasn’t changed his plans, it has meant the postponement of his year working abroad…

UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, have launched a film about the impact social entrepreneurs are making across four areas that UnLtd has been supporting thanks to players of the People’s Postcode Lottery: North Staffordshire, the South Wales Valleys, Brighton and Dundee. Since 2018 UnLtd and Postcode Innovation Trust have been working on the Resilient Communities programme. Together they have been enabling social entrepreneurs to develop their impact in these communities: funding social business ideas, building collaboration, and providing access…