Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. Website – www.philevans.co.uk

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The old saying ‘There Are Lies. Damned Lies. And Statistics’ is pretty much accepted as fact by most people.

There are exceptions, like politicians confronted by TV or radio interviewers with shocking figures that reveal their department’s failings on getting to grips with whatever problems it was set up to sort out.

And I don’t suppose the old saying goes down particularly well with the Office of National Statistics in Newport, Gwent.

Having said all that, I want to present you with some statistics.

No!

Don’t go!

I’ll try and drop a funny line in, I promise.

There’s a report out which reveals that two out of five adults check their mobile phones when they wake up.

The average Briton (Okay, that doesn’t include you because the fact you read my articles means you’re well above average) checks his/her mobile phone every 12 minutes . . . and before going to bed some 60% of over-35s check their mobiles.

Personally, before I go to bed, I brush my teeth and put the cat out.

Although there was one weird night when I brushed the cat and took my teeth out.

However, as the man says in those TV info-mercials for handy home products that we never knew we couldn’t live without . . .

“Wait! That’s not all!”

We’ve all seen families in restaurants who don’t speak to each other, but prefer to look at their phones while they wait for the food and drink to arrive.

Unfortunately, that behaviour has almost become acceptable.

But, unless you’re a doctor on call, what should be punishable by a 20-year stretch in Wormwood Scrubs is the unforgivable crime of making or taking a phone call or checking for messages while everyone is still eating.

While 90% of over-55s would agree with me, only 46% of 18-34s would.

In a generation or two, the words ‘Table Manners’ will be consigned to the dustbin of history . . . along with “Penny Farthing”, “Bowler Hat” and “Severn Bridge Tolls!”

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So, as my regular readers will know, I’m always up for a challenge – and last week was no different!

After a few months of gentle persuasion, I finally gave in and accompanied my partner to her weekly yoga class.

Having appeared on the landing of our home in my leg warmers, sweat band and Lycra shouting “Ta-dah”, I was immediately sent to change into something more suitable.

Now, then, I was quite sceptical, but thought I must try this at least once before I can say it’s not for me.

I have to say I was more than pleasantly surprised.

The hour flew by.

I attempted to get into some very challenging positions but thoroughly enjoyed the experience and was so relaxed by the end of the class that I almost fell asleep at the relaxation part at the end!

Yogi Dai, from Yoga FlowWales, was a superb and very patient teacher and I can safely say that, if you want to unwind and relax, yoga is the way forward.

I’m now wondering how I can incorporate stand-up comedy and yoga in one, which I’m sure you’ll agree would make for a very interesting night out.

Namaste for this week, my friends.

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You can follow Phil Evans on Twitter @philevanswales and www.philevans.co.uk

Please again include www.philevans.co.uk

Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards will link up with the Ospreys this season in a consultancy role, it was confirmed today.

The former Wasps head coach, and Wigan Rugby League legend, will combine his role with his ongoing duties with the Welsh Rugby Union, working exclusively with the Ospreys at regional level.

His first involvement will see him joining the traveling party heading to Portugal for a training camp this week, ahead of the next pre-season fixture, versus Saracens in London on Thursday 23^rd August.

Ospreys Head Coach, Allen Clarke, is excited about Edwards being part of the coaching group for the coming season.

“Shaun is a world class coach” said Clarke.

 “I wanted to bring him in because we know his strengths and how they will complement the existing coaching team here at the Ospreys. His knowledge and experience is unrivalled and his CV speaks for itself. I’m delighted to have him working alongside myself and, in particular, Brad Davis, complementing the excellent work that Brad is doing with the squad.

“He knows a large number of the squad already through their involvement with the national set-up and has a good understanding of what we want to achieve day to day and across the season.

“I think this appointment is a hugely positive one for both the Ospreys and the WRU, and is a reflection of the direction Welsh rugby is heading, with a clear understanding that we are all stronger as entities working in collaboration. We are extremely grateful to the Union for facilitating it.”

Shaun Edwards said:

“I’m looking forward to linking up with the Ospreys this week and getting down to work with the players and the coaches at the Region.

“For me it is a great opportunity to work alongside some great players, a lot of which I know from their time with Wales but also to work with players hands on who I know a lot about but haven’t been out on the training pitch with.

“The Ospreys are a region with a lot of history and pride and under Allen they are ambitious and I’m looking forward to playing my part.

The Welsh Rugby Union commented: “It is great for the game in Wales that Shaun is linking up with the Ospreys for the forthcoming season. 

“It allows for great continuity between the Senior National Management and the coaching team at the Ospreys and is an extension of the work our national coaches do across the four Regions throughout the season.”

A study by a researcher at Aberystwyth University into how social isolation affects snail responses to stress has been published in the latest edition of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Journal.

The paper by Dr Sarah Dalesman ’Habitat and social context affect memory phenotype, exploration and co-variance among these traits’ appears in a special edition of the journal on Causes and consequences of individual differences in cognitive abilities10.1098/rstb/373/1756.

Dr Dalesman is a Lecturer in Freshwater Biology at the University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences and a snail behaviour expert.

Dr Dalesman said:“Social isolation is known as a stressor for a lot of animals and humans, causing changes in behaviour and negatively affecting their ability to learn and form memories. However, individuals respond differently to the effects of stress, and some may be able to cope better than others.”

The study looked at whether individuals that form strong memories in unstressed conditions respond differently following social isolation, to those that normally form weaker memories.

The study tested how social isolation affected the snails’ ability to form long-term memory, which in the case of a snail means a single day.

There is a lot of interest in how memory relates to other behavioural traits in animals. The work explored how isolation affected the way snails explore new environments, and whether there was a relationship between memory formation and exploration behaviour.

Snails that formed strong memories when kept in groups were unable to form long-term memory when socially isolated, whereas snails that formed weak memories when kept in groups appeared unaffected by isolation.

So, it seems that snails which normally form weaker memories are more robust to the effects of stress from being socially isolated.

The effect of isolation on exploration behaviour also differed depending on their ability to form memory.

Snails that normally form weak memories did not change their exploration behaviour following isolation; where as those that form strong memories decreased their crawling speed and time spent in contact with the behavioural arena wall (thigmotaxis).

Dr Dalesman added: “These results show that social context can alter our conclusions about how ‘smart’ an animal is. Snails that form stronger memories in groups form the weakest memories in isolation and vice versa. It also shows that the relationship between exploration behaviour and memory changes when the social context is altered.”

Photo: Snail behaviour expertDr Sarah Dalesman with Lymnaea stagnalis, better known as the great pond snail.

Links:

’Habitat and social context affect memory phenotype, exploration and co-variance among these traits’ Dr Sarah Dalesman, IBERS

The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Journal – ‘Causes and consequences of individual differences in cognitive abilities’

Study at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences

Dr Sarah Dalesman

The Clinical Research Centre at Hywel Dda University Health Board are delighted to have recently been presented with two beautifully framed pieces of calligraphy artwork by patient Mike James.

Mike, who has had a lifelong interest in artwork and history, recently took up calligraphy to challenge himself to learn a new skill.

The artwork he created for the Centre uses a medieval script system called half insular majuscule that was used to scribe important documents and sacred texts, the most famous one being the Book of Kells which is widely regarded as Ireland’s finest national treasure.

He regularly attends a Lifelong Learning Service calligraphy class run by tutor, Judith Porch, Community Education Development Officer for the City and County of Swansea.

Commenting on Mike’s works, Judith went on to say, “Mike joined the group just last September and I am incredibly proud of what he has achieved. Calligraphy is not an easy skill to master and Mike has produced outstanding pieces which incorporate not just calligraphy but design and gilding with pure gold leaf. I am thrilled that his work will grace the walls of the new Research Centre and hopefully will inspire future patients.”

Professor Kier Lewis, who heads up the Clinical Research team at Hywel Dda, said: “I am delighted Mike has shown such interest in our Centre and created these pieces specifically for us to remind everyone that the human-being is always central to clinical care and all research endeavours. The pieces now take pride of place in our Centre’s foyer in Prince Philip Hospital (Llanelli).”