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Pictures: Fun in the sun across Gwent through the years

Pictures: Fun in the sun across Gwent through the years

Crowds enjoying the sunshine at the Big Cheese at Caerphilly Castle in July 2004
Tom and Sharon Edmunds walk their dog Fizz in the sunshine at the Black Rock picnic site near Sudbrook in June 2005
(L-R) Cameron Crandon and Curtis Murphy, both four, play in the swimming pool at Tredegar Park in August 2005
Crowds enjoying the sunshine at Greenmeadow Community Farm on Good Friday, April 2006
Nursery children enjoying the sunshine at Oakdale Infants School in July 2006
Elizabeth Scarpato and her son Kori aged from Pill enjoy their lunch in the sunshine in Newport city centre in May 2008
Steve Rowlands basks in the sunshine near his floating tea room at the canal basin in Pontymoile in December 2008
The first Blaenavon Light Industrial New Wave Gamelan workshop took place at the Blaenavon World Heritage Centre in April 2010. Old spanners, decommissioned aqualung cylinders, gear sprockets and car wheel rims were among items used as percussion instruments. The workshop was being led by Chrys Blanchard, back left, the expert behind the three-year project based in Blaenavon. In the foreground, playing the car wheel rims is Hannah Clint of Blaenavon
Crowds taking in the dragon boat racing at Monmouth Rowing Club in June 2010
Leah Taylor, left, and Bethany Rodgers doing some Welsh studies in warm spring sunshine on the promenade area that adjoins many of the classrooms at The Archbishop Rowan Williams Church school in Caldicot in March 2011
Joanne Nicholas in the Pontypool Carnival procession in the town centre in July 2011
Rachel Rice pictured enjoying the sunshine in the grounds of Tredegar Park in Newport. Picture: Mike Urwin
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Formula shows which karaoke songs are most likely to boost mood
Formula shows which karaoke songs are most likely to boost mood

North Wales Live

time2 hours ago

  • North Wales Live

Formula shows which karaoke songs are most likely to boost mood

An Oxford University mathematician has explained the best karaoke song of all time, after devising a unique formula. Dr Tom Crawford has explained which songs are best to sing - and why - as new 'Kathartic Karaoke' booths from Three UK and Samaritans launch at festivals this summer. Dr Tom devised a formula which grades each song with a score out of 100 (K). In the equation, which was developed using data from 2,000 karaoke lovers, V refers to the number of verses, C repetition of chorus, BPM to the song's beats per minute and Y to the year the song was released. Dr Tom used his formula to rank the UK's favourite karaoke songs and identify ten guaranteed to boost moods and help find joy. 1. Livin' On a Prayer – Bon Jovi (91%) 2. I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston (90%) 3. Don't Look Back in Anger – Oasis (89%) 4. Man! I Feel Like a Woman – Shania Twain (88%) 5. 500 Miles – The Proclaimers (88%) 6. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) – ABBA (85%) 7. Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield (84%) 8. Someone Like You – Adele (84%) 9. Wannabe – Spice Girls (84%) 10. Let Me Love You – Mario (83%) Dr Tom said: 'People love a fast-paced song with an average 126 BPM and 3 repeated chorus' for every 2 verses, just like most pop songs – hence why common favourites are scoring highly in the research. With ABBA dominating the 70's, through to Adele in the 2010's, the average release year of a karaoke classic is 1995. This captures the boyband craze, as well as Brit pop with Oasis, and girl power like the Spice Girls, showing there's some serious maths behind a karaoke belter.' The 'Kathartic Karaoke' initiative forms part of Three and Samaritans' commitment to mental health support and wellbeing. Launching this week at Klarna presents Latitude Festival in Suffolk (24 to 27 July), the karaoke booth will then move to The Mound at Edinburgh Fringe (15-16 August). The experience has been designed to help festival goers boost their mood with music and singing. And in partnership with Samaritans, singers can head to Samaritans tent at Latitude if they want to talk or scan a QR code to seek additional support. Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer at VodafoneThree, said: 'We are delighted to be partnering with Samaritans for the first time at music festivals, to create joyful spaces for people to connect to one another and experience our 'Kathartic Karaoke' for themselves.' Sonya Trivedy, Executive Director of External Engagement at Samaritans, said: 'Music has a unique power to have a positive impact on our mental health. Singing, in particular, can help people process emotions, ease stress and boost mood. Through this pitch-perfect partnership with Three, we're turning up the volume on wellbeing, using music as a carefree way to connect, express, and take care of your emotional health.' Samaritans volunteers will be at Latitude throughout the festival, ready to listen without judgement, whether it's in the early hours after a long night or while queuing for a morning coffee. Their presence is a powerful reminder that support is available 24/7, every day of the year. The festival also coincides with Samaritans Awareness Day on 24 July, known as 24/7, which shines a light on the charity's round-the-clock service and the life-saving impact of human connection.

DWP issues 'Emergency Alerts' update to anyone with a phone
DWP issues 'Emergency Alerts' update to anyone with a phone

Daily Mirror

time5 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

DWP issues 'Emergency Alerts' update to anyone with a phone

The UK's Emergency Alert system is a tool for providing warnings in life-threatening situations The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued an alert about an important date in less than two months. Its message especially concerns anyone who owns a mobile phone or tablet device. ‌ Posting to X, the department wrote on Sunday: "There will be a UK-wide test of the Emergency Alerts system on Sun 7 Sep 2025 at 3pm. Your phone may sound and display a message. No action is needed." ‌ As its message suggests, the government is testing the UK's Emergency Alert system on Sunday, September 7 at 3pm. This specifically describes a tool used to provide warnings and advice in life-threatening emergency situations. ‌ While the alert on September 7 is just a test, it may be used to warn UK citizens of hazards such as wildfires, severe flooding, and extreme storms in the future. The government, emergency services, agencies, and other organisations that handle emergencies can issue these cautions. Crucially, the government does not need to know your phone number or location to send these alerts. "An alert will include a phone number or a link to the website for more information," the government's website explains. ‌ "You'll get alerts based on your current location - not where you live or work. You do not need to turn on location services to receive alerts." When an alert occurs, a phone or tablet may either make a loud siren-like noise, vibrate or read the message aloud. READ MORE: 'Itchy prickly feeling' and spots may be a hot weather symptom, NHS explains Alerts usually last around 10 seconds. Although members of the public will not need to take action during the September 7 alert, others may provide instructions on what to do next. However, the government adds: "Do not read or respond to an emergency alert while driving or riding. Find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message. ‌ "If there's nowhere safe and legal to stop, and nobody else is in the vehicle to read the alert, you can listen to news on live radio to find out about the emergency. It's illegal to use a hand-held device while driving or riding." It's important to acknowledge that emergency alerts will not replace local news, radio, television or social media announcements. If you have an incompatible device, the government stresses that you will still be informed when there is a threat to life. Most emergency alerts across the UK will be sent in English, though in Wales, they may also be received in Welsh. The government's advice continues: "If you have a vision or hearing impairment, audio and vibration attention signals will let you know you have an emergency alert if accessibility notifications have been enabled on your mobile phone or tablet."

'Old habits die hard': Irvine Welsh's Porno comes home
'Old habits die hard': Irvine Welsh's Porno comes home

The Herald Scotland

time7 hours ago

  • The Herald Scotland

'Old habits die hard': Irvine Welsh's Porno comes home

Having begun its life on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2022 five years after Danny Boyle filmed Welsh's book as T2, Carswell's adaptation became a West End hit. Bringing it all back home for what probably won't be the last time is living testament to the ongoing power of Welsh's ever expanding back catalogue. The handy translations of Leith patois projected onto the back wall of the stage lest a passing west coaster stumble into the building acts as a cheeky curtain raiser to the uneasy reunion between Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie, the fab four at the heart of Welsh's original story. Fifteen years after ex junkie Renton did a runner to Amsterdam with the gang's money, he makes a prodigal's return home to tend to his sick mother. This surprise comeback also gives him the chance to hook up with his former drug buddies, and possibly make amends for his betrayal. With Sick Boy now in charge of a spit and sawdust old school Leith boozer, Spud attempting to write a history of his 'hood before gentrification wipes it out, and Begbie just out of prison, old alliances are rekindled as well as old tensions. The quartet may be older, but probably aren't wiser, as Sick Boy co-opts his pub function room to make amateur porn. Enter Lizzie, wannabe actress and local copper's daughter who joins the fun before history starts repeating itself as Renton gets itchy feet. This is presented largely through a series of bite-size monologues that get to the inner workings of each character. In performance this becomes a set of baroque routines that come on like a form of potty-mouthed spoken-word stand-up, with expletive laden punchlines aplenty. While Chris Gavin's Begbie is a study in hard man machismo, Kevin Murphy as Spud and Jenni Duffy as Lizzie both reveal a fragility hidden by either the effects of drugs in Spud's case or Lizzie's sassy bravado. When there is conversation, it explores the fragile ties that binds the group. The duologues between Liam Harkins as Renton and James McAnerney especially see the now middle-aged coulda-been contenders off-loading the baggage of shared history. Read more: If only we could bring Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse and Eric Morecambe back to life True crime tale of Glasgow poisoning turned into city play 'Period parody run riot' The 39 Steps Pitlochry Festival Theatre If Harkins' Renton is an everyman figure who hasn't quite cleaned up his act, McAnerney's Sick Boy is a more mercurial figure, always looking for that ever-elusive money making scheme that will see him make it big. Lizzie's interplay with her dad Knox, played by Tom Carter, is a similar illustration of conflicting loyalties. Welsh's world is brought to life by Carswell and director Jonty Cameron with a heightened irreverence closer to restoration comedy than gritty realism. This is more than Carry on Trainspotting, mind. As old habits die hard, it becomes a story about working class aspiration and getting away with whatever you can in order to survive. The next chapter awaits.

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