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Amid great security HRH PrInce Charles - the Prince of Wales - becamethe first Royal visitor to The Dylan Thomas Birthplace at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, Uplands, Swansea earlier this month.
The Prince proved to be a charming guest and took tea in the lounge with house restorers Geoff and Anne Haden, Dylan's granddaughter Hannah Ellis, Welsh Tourism Minister Edwina Hart, poet Peter Thabit Jones and artist Gordon Stuart who painted the last portrait of Dylan which hangs now in the National Gallery in London.
After touring the house (an overstaying his schedule by 20 minutes!) he met John Rhys Thomas and Jeff Towns - past and present chairs of the Dylan Thomas Society - Sian Newman from the Dylan Thomas Prize and Jean Lannigan whose mother Emily Simpson was a maid in the house for five years when she was 15 and Dylan was 16.
The visitor book and commemorative engraved glass plaque are on display in the house.
During the visit it was announced that the Prince will be the Royal patron of DT100 the year long festival in 2014 to celebrate Dylan's birth in 1914 in the front bedroom of the house. Other patrons include Bryn Terfel and Cerys Matthews
Links to news items and photos are on the website
Greetings from the house made famous in Dylan's story A Child's Christmas in Wales and the place where uncles snored, aunts got drunk on parsnip wine and there were useful presents...and useless presents - sounds pretty normal to me!
Unfortunately this will not be one of the white Christmases that Dylan remembered but a very wet one with floods, landslides and train cancellations
Over the festive season check opening times by telephone 01792 403333 (add UK code if from abroad). More details on website
Photo by Johnny Nigma
AmeriCymru: Hi Eris and many thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by AmeriCymru. Please tell us a little about your new single 'So Many Nights".
Eris: Hi thanks for the interview! The new single So Many Nights is the first of 3 singles produced with Charlie Hoskyns that I will be releasing through a label I have set up called Original Human Records. These single have been developed from lofi demos into full scale productions with high tv/radio specs with a view to getting the sounds of little eris out to a wider audience.
The So Many Nights single is a harmless but loaded love song based on a true experience of being hurt by love. Its nice that the single has resulted in turning a difficult time of my life into positive life experience whereby I have rewarded by people enjoying the song and the video. A bad experience in love has created a positive result for myself! We had a lot of fun making the music video for the single. I set my imagination free and wrote a ridiculous script with 11 scenes and lots of outfits and locations and props. We succeeded in manifesting the idea into reality through collaboration with local artists. My friends have been very supportive particularly textile artist Elen Mai Wyn jones who found us the editor in LA and helped with a lot of the styling for the video. My boyfriend James has also been very supportive, as a professional animator he did all the storyboards and the single artwork for me. As a first release the single has brought a lot of people together, there were around 20 people involved in making the video for it and they all worked on the project voluntarily. The single is out now and available as a digital download, the video has also been released online and can be found on the main video streaming sites.
AmeriCymru: What is your musical background? How did you become a performer?
Eris: Throughout my life music has always been there. I remember examining a speaker at the age of two to try and work out where the multiple voices were coming from when my parents played their records, I was very sensitive to harmonies. My mother also used to play guitar and sing to me as a baby Songs like Are you going to Scarborough Fayre. I was born the daughter of a striking miner and music by The Specials and The Police filled our house I remember the stillness in the air, stone floors and the sounds of ska music. I remember seeing Queen on a tiny tv set playing Radio Gaga live at Wembley. I was always intrigued by music and very conscious of my interaction with it. I went to a welsh medium school which had a strong identity for drama, arts and culture, In Wales we have Eisteddfods in schools where pupils are encouraged to compete in singing and recitals. There was a lot of singing and harmonies that I enjoyed. I would often sing at home with my sister duets we had learnt at school, we even sung a song from school in my aunties wedding! In school I also learnt the violin, harp and piano to a basic level which gave me a loose understanding of music that I applied to other instruments in later years. As a teenager in Aberdare I would go with my friends on the weekends to clubs in Swansea and Cardiff and got into house music. Before that we also used to like going to raves in Porthcawl called Southern Exposure where they played all sorts of underground dance music but mainly happy hardcore! I was very inspired and awakened by these new worlds beyond the dreariness of life in Aberdare. I left home at 16 and moved to Swanse where I made friends with a group of people who were also studying at Neath college where I was doing A levels. These people were all on the performing arts course. I was intrigued by their scruffiness they all seemed much older with beards and individuality. I thought the guitars were really sexy I loved hanging around bands rehearsing. I wanted to be like them scruffy and free instead of a townie as they described me. I started listening to bands and I got really into the early chilli peppers music and really enjoyed the warmth of guitars etc. I decided to pick up an instrument. I tried the guitar but got frustrated with the intricate chords and finger positions. I picked up the bass, a friend Chris Tucker taught me a basic funk riff and I soon started picking out bass lines from the chilli pepper albums which was a great way to learn as these funk bass lines were quite busy and set a high standard for me. For my 17th birthday my Dad bought me my first bass. A couple of years later I went to University where I formed a band playing on a 5 string bass we played experimental progressive space funk and did a few local gigs. After graduating I moved to London and joined a female fronted grunge band as their bass player. Around this time I got really into The Pixies and had moved from funk bass lines and slap bass to using a plectrum and playing a dirtier sounding bass. After a few years I got really homesick and moved back to Wales. I had over the years been collecting bass lines I had written and decided to try and record them as songs with vocals. I enlisted the help of Lee Harvey an excellent guitarist who lived in my street, we soon found a drummer and started to put some songs together. I took the role of vocalist and started writing lyrics to go with the bass lines. Singing and playing bass at the time took a lot of practice but I got there in the end and we toured the UK as Freaky Fortnight and became involved in the DIY punk music scene. The music we played was psychedelic bluesy grunge and different to all the other punk bands we played with but I think they liked our punk attitude and raw sound. Around this time I was introduced to the music of a band called Crass, coming from Aberdare and being the daughter of a miner (the last gig they did was in Aberdare a benefit for the miners) I could really relate to the lyrics of Crass and it crystallised my outlook on politics and social issues and also explained a lot of the poverty I witnessed as a child. In 2008 Freaky fortnight after 4 years of hard work disintegrated suddenly in a puff of frustration and bad feeling We had recorded an amazing album and it felt we were on the verge of something big. To see the band fall apart of this stage was very upsetting for me as we had put a lot of money time and energy into getting it to a good level. I vowed to never rely on other musicians again! There was a computer in my house with some software on it so I carried on writing songs anyway, recording bass and vocals and then putting very basic guitar over it. I used reason4 to create drums and began experimenting with the synthesisers. My first recording as Little Eris was played on Adam Walton on BBC Radio Wales and I got invited to perform live at the Cardiff SWN festival by some local promoters who heard me on the radio. I had not anticipated playing the music live I put a shout out online for some help with video projection and Johnny Nigma came forward and has helped with the project ever since. The live shows have been as organic, natural and experimental as my musical journey, I involved other musicians and performers who I had met on my journey to bring the music to life onstage. Over the years a lot of the live stuff has been improvisational and attracted comparisons to art bands such as Psychic TV. I continued to record demos and electronic music and synthesisers began to play a bigger role in my creations. I now understand how resonance, oscillation, repetitive beats and frequencies can have a powerful effect on listeners. To me I see myself not as a performer and definitely not an entertainer but something more intangible. I think I am an artist first and foremost and music is my creative journey that has influenced how I experience the world.
Photo by Matt Kirby
AmeriCymru: What can you tell us about the Great Wreck and Roll Cirkus and the Unemployed Daytime Disco?
Eris: The Great Wreck and Roll Cirkus is a multi arts event started 10 years ago by SCRAP Records (sub cultural radikal arts productions) with a strong history of underground music from the traveller scene. I played Wreck & Roll shows a few times with my old band Freaky Fortnight. Our drummer was also in a band called Crowzone fronted by Gary DS founder of SCRAP Records and organiser of The Great Wreck & Roll Cirkus. Playing these shows was a big eye opener as back then I had only played in music venues with other guitar bands and these parties were multi genre events that started with live bands and then turned into a freaky ravey experience. These were big productions with massive rigs adorned with heavy handmade backdrops. There was a sense of real earthiness, it was a very real scene, real to the roots to the core. I never forgot how awesome these shows were. I was fortunate enough to contact Gary DS again some years after Freaky Fortnight had split. He mentioned he was planning a show in Cardiff and asked if I would like to be involved. I jumped at the chance and that show turned into a UK tour that took place in March and April of 2011. Being part of this was really life changing. It was amazing to play on the big stages with excellent underground bands who had been around for decades. The vibrations and musical inspiration was brilliant as the shows spanned all genres of heavy and mixed up music with dance performances, slamming DJs, circus vibe and of course all the handmade painted banners and big sound systems. After the tour I spent some time with Gary at his remote hideaway jamming and talking. I admired his respect for nature and ideas and energy. He had a relentless enthusiasm for his lifetime of creative projects. Through his music and the Wreck n Roll cirkus I think he changed a lot of lives. He was determined to bring the underground talents into the public arena by booking shows in large venues and helping to get new bands on the road. He was planning on making a really cool film too which would have been culturally important during these times. He was someone I really looked up to and was doing so much good work. Gary died tragically in an accident in Jamaica a few months after that last Wreck N Roll tour ended. He was a really amazing person at the heart of a scene with the most integrity, the real deal, a real punk rock legend. A lot of people including myself will always be holding the spirit and vibe of Gary in our hearts, it will never die.
The Unemployed Daytime Disco is an event founded in 2010 by myself and a friend called Adam Johannes. The underlying intent was to have a good time whilst being on the dole however we soon realised there were other benefits to the unemployed people of Cardiff. We provide a platform for performers, sometimes it feels like we are unofficial spokespeople for the unemployed as press often contact us for our opinions on the current situation in the UK. We also recognise wider social benefits to what we were doing. We nurture new talent and helped performers gain confidence. We help tackle social isolation and depression in unemployed people by bringing people together. We have guest acts supporting the disco such as Alan McGee founder of Creation records and published author Rachel Tresize who have achieved success through creativity. To celebrate the end of the Mayan Calender we had an electro DJ come over from Mexico. The discos have brought a refreshing cultural edge to the city, and many creative collaborations (and romantic ones!) have been spawned at the unemployed disco.
AmeriCymru: You are currently involved in a fascinating project based at the Wels Hotell in Riverside, Cardiff. Care to tell us more?
Eris: I moved in to the Wells Hotel in 2008. I had to find somewhere to live due to a break up, I had no money life was no great at that point. I found the flat to rent online and intrigued by the photo of the view of the Millennium Stadium through old oval windows I came to view it. I fell in love with the building immediately there were spirals carved in stone, a big dragon at the top of the building, to me it looked like a spooky fairytale castle and I moved in straight away! There are 6 flats in the Wells Hotel but back then none of the residents really bothered with each other. The place was becoming run down with rubbish being dumped outside, the energies were not great. A man was even found unconscious outside on a dumped settee with a syringe in his arm. The building became run down and the professional residents left. Some unsavoury characters moved in and caused damage to a flat downstairs. By early 2012 they left there were only 2 of us living in the building on the top floor. After having hassle from local gangs and previous tenants who had passed keys to drug addicts were accessing the building, my neighbour and I took matters into our own hands. We put a big lock on the front door and secured the building. We realised that the flats were not in good condition to be rented by the Estate Agents. I contacted the landlord and offered to help find good tenants who would take on the flats for what they could afford to pay. We gained access to the flats and I moved a group of people in who were performing with the little eris live band at that time. The place erupted as the newcomers revelled in the freedom the building offered. After a few months it became unproductive here the partying became disruptive, and some residents were asked to leave. After months of chaos things finally settled down and we have a good group of creative people here now who have mutual respect and together we can organise happenings using the whole building. Our first project was called Little Tokyo we opened the building to the public and webstreamed a live performance / installation into the Tate Modern oil tanks as part of Tracey Moberleys Tweet me Up exhibition. A welsh DIY label called Afiach has also launched from the Wells Hotel that has hosted live bands and organised graffiti artists to do amazing wall murals outside. I did the So Many Nights single launch party here as part of an art show called The Ghost Crystal where we projected the music video on the building next door and had performances under the moon with a fire in the yard. We are safe here for at least the next 12months while the building is being restored to its former glory and aim to make the most of this time by having consciousness expanding events and exhibitions. Having everyone under one roof means we can share ideas and skills and networks, it feels exciting to be part of what is being created here.
Little Eris with band members James Hill and Jasamine Jackdaw - Photo by Photo Evolution
AmeriCymru: What are you listening to at the moment? Any recommendations?
Eris: As a musician I am often asked what I am listening to but to be honest I dont really actively seek out new music. I am often to directed to music having had comparisons drawn to particular acts. I really like the creative life of Genesis P Orridge and the theories of chaos magicians such as Grant Morrison. I have been listening a lot to binaural tones and learning about frequencies. Frequencies can actually heal diseases there is a lot more to music than most people realise. I have been listening recently to more hip hop than usual, Hieroglyphics are one act that have caught my attention. Other music I have been listening to recently is music by electro producer Legowelt. I also really like discovering music from Cardiff eg welsh language anarchist hip hop duo Llwybr Llaethog who live nearby, and Euros Childs I love his feel good sing alongy song called Painting Pictures. An album I listened to a lot this year is called Tales of Terror by Inner Terrestrials, there are a couple of stand out songs on there and the whole album generally has a warm sound with good musicianship. I am very random when it comes to music consumption its often what appears before me, what is recommended to me by friends or what I hear around me. Live acts I have enjoyed this year are the underground heavy sounds of Tribazik and Dead Silence both of whom I met on the Wreck n Roll tour. Ive also been enjoying the music of Princes Chelsea recently this year. I often look at what other female electro artists are doing as a point of reference I was even checking out the Welsh Lady Gaga tribute Donna Marie on youtube last week as I was interested to see how she cleverly managed to create scaled down versions of Gagas extravagant live productions for smaller pubs and clubs.
AmeriCymru: Where can people go to hear/purchase your music online?
Eris: The single So Many Nights is available to buy from CDBaby and other music download sites. There is also a free album of demos that can be found online from 2009 called Molecules R Us that might interest some music fans.
The new So Many Nights music video is a good introduction to the world of little eris this is a showcase of a lot of creative talent from South Wales. I am building up the content the website for the Original Human record label at the moment. Theres links to all sorts of little eris media on there http://www.originalhuman.co.uk .
AmeriCymru: What's next for Eris Kaoss?
Eris: With two more singles to release in the coming months I am looking to creating new music videos and hopefully reach more people as an artist. I hope collaborations at the Wells Hotel will continue to blossom. I am looking forward to developing Original Human as a company to release singles by other artists too for example artist Jacqueline Janine Jones has an amazing track called Deeper Skies that we hope to release through the label in 2013. My partner James Dawson and I also plan to collaborate on a drum and bass project called Liquid Eris. My favourite thing to do is create lofi demos so whatever I am doing with the projects I am always recording new sounds and loops, and putting together rough recordings. I also try to play lots of smaller shows where I can experiment with new material. So I will just be carrying on chaos as usual.
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the readers and members of AmeriCymru?
Eris: The world needs imaginative people and creativity. Collaborating with others is so rewarding and it can be done with or without a budget. Share your ideas freely plant them like seeds. Be unique there is no right or wrong way to express yourself, always be mindful of the energies that are being created but regardless of what is going around you never lose sight of your dreams! I am really into the idea of creating your own reality I put a lot of theory into practice over the past few years and have seen good results so I would recommend that people look into what we are capable of as human beings. I hope we see a world one day where our human potential is released, there is so much out there that is being kept from us tesla energy, orgone energy, natural cures, how we can heal ourselves etc. I think these things are so important and we can all be educating ourselves and each other. It is music that has led me to many discoveries relating to the mind, body, spirit and our environments. They are inextricably linked to music in both the experience of it and in the creation of it. .
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Interview by Ceri Shaw Ceri Shaw on Google+
NadoligLlawen/Merry Christmas to all our members ansd readers from AmeriCymru.
Two excellent novels by the author Jenny Sullivan...A must read for all interested in Welsh history and, in particular in the history of the Owain Glyndŵr War of Independence
By Sian Ifan2, 2012-12-23
A review of Jenny Sullivans two novels Silver Fox Part 1 & 2.
Lets first look at the first of these two novels, Silver FoxThe Dragon Wakes which came off the press in 2010, The story is set in Wales during the period of Owain Glyndr and the Welsh War of Independence and although the main historical characters in this war, as we know them, have been placed as secondary to the main fictional characters portrayed in the storyline of the novel, the geographical locations and main historical events of the war, as gradually revealed via the narrative of the three principal characters Elffin, Rhiannon and Llywelyn, are as accurate as they can be from historical records available. This illustrates the outcome of intensive and thorough research into the history concerned prior to venturing on the project.
The descriptions of the battle scenes are very detailed and imaginative - especially in regards to the Bryn Gls Battle; any reader with an ounce of imagination can visualise the frenzied fighting and sprays of blood as a target was hit, and can hear the clashing of weapon upon weapon and the thundering of the horses' hooves as they charged across the battlefield.
Overall, Silver FoxThe Dragon Wakes is a novel that has been constructed and developed skilfully by a very imaginative mind. It has all the elements needed for a good historical story i.e., an unique history and setting, strong characters that have transcended time to guide us through the storyline, love, passion and a sprinkling of subtle sex.
The storyline ends in May 1403 with the burning of both Sycharth and Llys Glyndyfrdwy by the English under the young Prince Hal (Henry V) and with one of the main fictional characters, Llywelyn on his way to join Glyndr's army heading south.
The sequel, Silver FoxThe Paths Diverge follows the story from May 1403 to April 1407 with the principal Characters Elffin, Llew, Rhiannon, Siobhan, Ceridwen, Jack and Siwan finally travelling into exile to France on the ship y Groes Sanctaidd. Siobhan, Siwan and Loc were amongst a number of well constructed and interesting characters that had been introduced to this sequel which, again, has been constructed very skilfully as a continuation of what, undoubtedly, is a very interesting story based on the historical account of the Owain Glyndrs War of Independence.
But, at the end of the day, Silver Fox is a fictional story and the author is quick to admit that she has taken some liberties in the telling of the story. For example, apart from the creating of fictional characters, she has portrayed the Lady Marged (Owain Glyndrs wife) as a ruthless conniving woman who, whilst being totally loyal to Prince Owain Glyndr, would go to any lengths to ensure that her offspring were married off into the right blood lines. Shes also, in passing, portrayed Iolo Goch as a paedophile which probably wont go down well with any descendents he may have still in existence but, on the whole, the storyline is credible and evocative and presents the reader with a realistic insight into how both the peasant and 'Uchelwyr' lived, and what they wore and what they ate on a daily basis in the early 15th century.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed both the prequel and the sequel of Silver Fox and found it extremely difficult to put each book down once I had started reading them. This story is an excellent fictional angle on the Owain Glyndr history and very raunchy in parts especially in the prequel. I have spent more than half of my life studying and promoting the history of the Owain Glyndr War of Independence and am confident in my mind that Silver Fox part 1 and 2 could be adapted into a very interesting television series that would have worldwide appeal. I hasten to stress here that the reason I say series rather than a film (which everyone craves for) is that the storyline is based on characters associated to Prince Owain rather than on Prince Owain himself. Yes, a film on Prince Owain Glyndr and his Great War of Independence is desperately needed but, such a film will need to be a very powerful epic with Glyndr as the central figure. Such a film would be produced on the lines of Braveheart but would be even better as the Glyndr story is a much stronger one than the William Wallace story in my view.
But, whilst were waiting for someone to come up with the perfect script for a great Owain Glyndwr epic film and a major production company or a syndicate of companies that can come up with the finance to produce such a great epic, lets see if there is a production company out there with enough foresight and funding to produce Silver Fox as an interesting and unique Television series.
Sin Ifan
C.E.O. Embassy Glyndr
By Mona Everett
(Reprinted from Ninnau & Y Drych )
It was not quite the multi-million dollar Powerball, but Jane Buch, of Florida, was nearly as surprised to learn she held the winning ticket for the 2012 West Coast Eisteddfod Lovespoon. Jane bought her winning ticket, one of about 1400 sold, at the North American Festival of Wales, which was held Labor Day Weekend in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Sales of raffle tickets, along with donations, fund the annual Eisteddfod.
This year's lovespoon was the result of an artistic collaboration that stretched across state and national boundaries. Although never having met in person, carvers David Western, of Canada, and Laura Gorun, of Ohio, teamed up with artist Jen Delyth to create the one-of-a-kind spoon.
Jane said, When I received the call, I was thrilled to hear of my amazingly good fortune in winning this most beautifully and intricately carved Welsh lovespoon! Jane took up lovespoon carving as a challenge four years ago after collecting over 70 of them through the years, so she appreciates the mastery that went into this spoon.
Jen Delyth contributed the beautiful tree of life design which forms the focal point for this year's spoon. The tree, with its interlocking branches and leaves is the perfect symbol for this Eisteddfod lovespoon, with artists coming together in a spirit of cooperation to create an artwork of exceptional beauty.
Even before making the trip from Portland to Florida, this was a well-traveled spoon. In fact, a glitch at the US-Canadian border as it was mailed back and forth between Laura and David nearly delayed the finished product.
The detailing on this year's spoon is exquisite. Many painstaking hours were spent refining the knotwork and perfected the sinuous vine details. A Welsh dragon guards the spoon, his tongue and tail weaving through the four Canadian maple leaves and four American stars which symbolize the international nature of the Eisteddfod. The grain sweeps through the cherry bowl and the four balls in the organic cage represent the four years of the West Coast Eisteddfod. Everything is carved on both sides, so the spoon looks great both from the front and back.
As an additional bonus, Jane also received an exclusive copy of Chris Chandler's poem on celebrating your roots, printed on a background designed by Jen Delyth. The poem was the inspiration for this year's spoon.
The 'Celebrate Your Roots' theme is especially meaningful for Jane whose maternal grandparents were of Welsh descent and from Plymouth, PA. Her grandfather, John R. Powell was born in Aberdare in 1875 and had a coal mining background. Her grandmother's family, the Joneses, were from a farm called 'Abercaseg' in Bethesda, Caernarvon, and were Penrhyn quarry workers. Jane adds, Interestingly in the search for my roots, I found it matters not whether it be in North Wales or South Wales; all the death certificates list either mining accidents or lung disease as the cause of death. So typical.
Nothing to do with Christmas - but then I have gone on record about my views of premature decoration, and am surprised that all those Nigerian spammers have not also decided to suggest medication for my lack of Christmas Globes in addition to comments about my apparently publicly known medical conditions.
No, nothing to do with Christmas, but following a recent Blog post upon Americymru (an excellent website / for Welsh Pats and Ex Pats if you are not in the know!!), it is more about Christine. Christine Keeler to be exact - and the continuing story of 1963, a scandal that "rocked the government". Oh, it would be an insignificant oversight in the light of modern governmental frailty, but in the sixties the press was at its peak in "investigative journalism" - pre-dating mobile phones, computer dating and Britain's third TV channel BBC2, which would not arrive until 1964, and then only after delays due to power cuts.
Now, in 2012, Christine is in her 70's, living with her cat and spurning men. After a brief residence in Wales where she thought the fresh air would assist heremphysema she now lives once again in London, estranged from her mother, her two sons and most of the world - still carrying her legacy with her photo sitting upon a chair, apparently naked - though she claims she had her knickers on at the time.
By comparison, the "disgraced" John Profumo (family motto: Virtue and Work) endured only a brief spell of ignominy. His wife stayed with him until her death in 1998.By 1975 he had been awarded a CBE for his charity work in Londons East End; at Margaret Thatchers 70th birthday party he was not only a honoured guest, but he sat next to the Queen.When he died in 2006, aged 91, the great and the good attended his funeral: reputation had been redeemed; his status restored.
But this is about Christine and not Christmas.
But as I cast my mind back to 1963, it is with a more personal recollection. At 9 years old I had only a little interest in politics and world news. This was before "Craven's Newsround" brought current affairs into the minds of minors, with John Craven carefully explaining complex issues into single syllables - I think there is still a need for such a programme though incessant repeats of Sky News will have a similar affect upon the feeble minded.
No, at 9 years old I was more interested in a family holiday in Portugal. My family had always been inventive in finding holidays that were slightly different. My father's view was that a good holiday was worth saving for and was better than a new three piece suite. He rarely liked the concept of package tours or pre-arranged bookings. 1963 was not different. Gibralta still had open borders with Spain at that time. Flights from London to Gibralta were available and at reduced prices - and as I recall the flight into Gibralta, where the runway extends out into the water and crosses the main road were highly interesting. I vaguely recall the Barbary Apes on the rock - how and when we saw them I do not recall - but see them I did!!
But more memorable was the hire car that we took from Gibralta - and then drove across the whole base of Spain heading for goodness knows what in the next country. Memorable. yes - because the hire car unfortunately sprung a leak in the radiator. Of course, now we would call an international roadside assistance with our mobile phone or iGadget. Not in 1963!! A simpler solution was a regular stop at garages and shops across the whole of Spain to beg for a refill of water. Which in those days, meant doing the polite thing and buying something at each stop !!
My Sister and I drank more Coca Cola from small bottles purchased at roadside stops than I have at any time in my life until 2 litre bottles started marketing at 3 for 3 in the lead up to this Christmas. But this is nothing to do with Christmas !!
The basis of the family holiday in the 60's was that they would last until the money ran out. This would normally mean a couple of days of luxury somewhere, and then downsizing and nurturing resources to ensure the longest period away. It was quite reasonable to expect a two to three week holiday in Portugal.
As we limped across the border into Portugal, our battered car, steam pouring from the bonnet, limped up to the Vasco de Gama hotel - an oasis of luxury in the undergrowth. Swimming pools, Doors that opened automatically except for the large glazing near the dining rooms where uniformed porters held the door open for a 9 year old and called him "sir". We stayed two days as I recall - only remember the swimming pool and the porters calling me "sir". I was only 9 !
In normal fashion, we moved on from Fantasy Island into a bed and breakfast hotel/guest house overlooking a glorious beach and deep blue seas. I would have more memories, but it seems that British Newspapers were delivered in Porta de Wherever - l failed to learn to speakPortuguese though I did play some beach football with some local lads - GOAL!!! is universal in the Glorious Game .....
Newspapers would not be a problem in a normal family - but mine was a Fleet Street family. As Daily Mail Parliamentary Correspondent and lifelong self made journalist, my father always read every newspaper - our paper boy hated us at home as our one house was the equivalent of a full street of deliveries - I am sure our papershop loved us for the same reason.... We probably paid for his holidays in a real hotel.
But the Newspaper cried out a scandal in the making!! Early days - perhaps just the day the story broke - I was playing football on the beach and failed to understand the subtleties of the situation, but the political ramifications were clear to my father - and so the holiday was abruptly cut short.
I do not recall - but I am sure that we must have ditched some suitcases and added a barrel or two for spare water in the boot - because I do not recall multiple stops on the way home - I know we drove through the night !! I barely remember the argument at the Spanish Border trying to get back into Gibralta or the flight home..
But I do remember the song we sang as we came home. It was a family tradition to write a holiday song on each of our trips - and this one was no exception - and it was to the tune of "Oh Mr Porter""
I still recall to this day :
"Oh Mr Profumo - What did you do??
We have to leave old Portugal and its all because of you
We have to get back to England
As Quickly as we can...
Oh Mr Profumo - You are a naughty Man "
So, nothing to do with Christmas - but all to do with Christine. As she looks after her cat in her later years and looks back upon her life 60 years ago - when as a 17 year old she tried to make her way in the big city - I feel a little sorry that even in our holiday song - she did not get a mention... but that is the way of sex, lies and scandals
An Archive TO HOUSE THE RECORDS OF WELSH AMERICA
will be built at the Great Plains Welsh Heritage and Culture Centre n Wymore.
A 25 ft. square building, made of steel-reinforced poured concrete, with tornado-proof doors, super-insulation, temperature and humidity control and fire protection, will be added to the Welsh Heritage Centre.
This will become a major research facility for Welsh America n immigrant research, housing the archival records and artifacts of Welsh newspapers, Welsh Societies, Welsh Churches, and Welsh immigrants and their descendants. Many of the artifacts will be rotated through the museum exhibits for visitors to enjoy.
The Board of Directors and friends of the Welsh Heritage Centre have already contributed more than $70,000. We need $33,000 more to complete the project.
Help us preserve our Welsh American history by sending a donation to :
Great Plains Welsh Heritage Project
PO Box 253
Wymore, NE 68466
We are a 501 (c)3 non-profit, so a donation made in 2012 may be a tax deduction for you. Check with your accountant!
Thank you for your support of our Centre!
From our good Friend, Jenny Hubbard Young. Jenny is from Wales, but now lives in Atlanta. She is very active in Welsh activities, including Cwrs Cymraeg and the NAFOW. This is always a great show and you will hear some favorite Welsh tunes!
Greetings! Cyfarchion! Please join me to listen to The Celtic Show tomorrow 23 December 2012, on WRFG 89.3 FM, Atlanta. The programme airs from 5 7 PM EST and can be heard worldwide via live streaming at www.wrfg.org . Take a little break and enjoy seasonal and Christmas music celebrating the cultural heritage of Wales and the other Celtic lands. Every good wish for Christmas and a bright and bountiful New Year! Pob dymuniad da am Nadolig llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd gwych!
A Message From The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy - Good News!! David Wright House Saved.
By Ceri Shaw, 2012-12-20
Many people are celebrating at this time of year and we have one more reason to celebrate. The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy has facilitated the purchase of the David and Gladys Wright House in Phoenix, Arizona, through an LLC owned by an anonymous benefactor. The transaction closed on December 20 for an undisclosed price. The property will be transferred to an Arizona not-for-profit organization responsible for the restoration, maintenance and operation of the David Wright House. The change in ownership guarantees that the house will survive and be preserved. LEARN MORE .We expect city Landmark designation to follow shortly but there is no longer a demolition threat. We will also pursue long-term protections for the house.
Thank you for signing the petition and being part of this success! It was very important to demonstrate that so many people around the world cared about this house and took the time to voice their concerns.
As plans progress for the David Wright House there will be opportunities to contribute to its restoration. Details will be posted on the Conservancy website as they become available.
If you want to be a part of protecting other Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings in the future we invite you to join the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy!
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