Robert Dalling

Welsh Water will impose a temporary hosepipe ban from 10am on 19 July 2026 across parts of Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, affecting around 33,000 properties. The restrictions prohibit 11 forms of non-essential hosepipe use, including watering gardens, washing cars, filling pools and cleaning patios. Welsh Water says demand has reached about one billion litres per day—around 20% above normal—during an extended heatwave, putting pressure on treatment capacity and local storage despite healthy reservoir levels. The company has increased production, moved water through its network, repaired leaks and deployed tankers, and says the ban will be lifted when conditions and storage levels become sustainable.

Armed officers shot a 21‑year‑old man in Newport after responding to reports of threatening behaviour and finding him armed with a crossbow. He was taken to hospital in stable condition and later arrested on suspicion of affray, threats to kill, and possession of an offensive weapon. Gwent Police referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The deputy chief constable stated the event was isolated, emphasised the seriousness with which weapons incidents are treated, and defended the professionalism of firearms officers while urging the public to provide any relevant information.

Grove Land Leisure Park, a £1 million attraction created from a dairy farm in St Clears, Carmarthenshire, opened in 1994 with rollercoasters, family rides, animal shows and affordable all-inclusive admission. Founded by John and Janet Williams, it aimed to boost local tourism and the rural economy while creating hundreds of jobs. Former employee Jade Walsh and visitor Gemma Daniels recall its relaxed atmosphere, popular rides and notorious fast slide that reportedly caused friction burns. The park closed in 2005, its rides were relocated, and later redevelopment plans for the site eventually became a static caravan park. Former visitors continue to remember it fondly.

Robert Dalling reviews TonyResort, a remote woodland hotel beside Lake Gilušis near Anupriškes, Lithuania. He praises its panoramic lake views, Scandinavian-Baltic design, comfortable rooms, restaurant, outdoor activities and wellness facilities, with rooms starting at €89 per night. The resort also provides easy access to Trakai Castle and the picturesque town of Trakai, making it an appealing base for relaxation, nature and cultural exploration.

Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city, is presented as an overlooked destination with a distinctive blend of history, creativity and reinvention. Highlights include the Yard Gallery’s street art and memorials to former Jewish residents, the UNESCO-recognised interwar architecture, the M.K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art and its immersive Trail of Angels experience, and the city’s emerging food scene at Sija and DIA. The report concludes that Kaunas offers far more than a brief stopover, combining restored historic spaces with contemporary art, culture and cuisine.