Blogs

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In a recent academic study which looked to measure "sing-ability" of patriotic songs, a musicologist found people more willing to join in with a chorus from Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau than the UK's official anthem, God Save the Queen, and USA's Star-Spangled Banner. Musicologist Dr Alisun Pawley conducted the study as part of her PhD at the University of York with Dr Daniel Mllensiefen, a German music psychologist at Goldsmith's, University of London. Le Marseilles came top with our Welsh anthem in second position.

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion in the British media about the status of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau with the Tory Minister for Tourism, John Penrose suggesting that Hen Wlad fy Nhadau was a song rather than an anthem as well as the recent scandal of Welsh foot-ballers refusing to sing the so called British anthem that of God Save the Queen during the Olympic Games.

This is the perfect backdrop to launch an App to learn to sing the Welsh National Anthem ! The App was launched in Wales at the time of the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Llandough this year by Member of the European Parliament Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru) and the App is now available in the Apple App store. The singer & political activist Dafydd Iwan will be launching the App in the Casey Ballroom , in the Hilton Hotel, Scranton , Pennsylvania, Friday the 31 ^st of August . It will be an honour to launch the App in America in Scranton in the North American Festival of Wales.

The broadcaster and performer Gwenno Dafydd is very experienced in leading and singing the Welsh National Anthem in numerous public places. As a Welsh Masters International Athlete, she went to the Welsh Amateur Athletics Association in 2010 and suggested to the Chief Executive Matt Newman that a tradition be established to sing the Welsh Anthem during their National Championships. She had the honour of being not only the first singer to do this for the Welsh Championships and Commonwealth Games Trials in Cardiff International Stadium in Leckwith Summer 2010, but also sang it for the second time in the Welsh Championships in 2011.

Gwenno sang the anthem to celebrate local athletes who had represented Wales Internationally in athletics in a ceremony before the Olympic flame came through Fishguard, and also sang the Anthem at the end of the Geovation weekend camp competition to create Apps to promote the Welsh Coast Path. Here she was approached by Melinda Russell and invited to sing the anthem on a new App that Melinda from www.mjrsolutions.co.uk was developing at the time.

Gwenno was very keen to share this amazing opportunity with the young and highly talented musician Harri Davies. He has already performed as a soloist on the stage of Saint Davids Hall in the Rememberance Concert in 2011 & recently performed on the Glanfa Stage in the Millenium Centre in Cardiff Bay. All of this whilst just eighteen years of age.

http://itunes.com/apps/dragonsongs

This is the most comprehensive App to learn the anthem available on the market and it contains the following elements:

• Gwenno Dafydd singing the Anthem with Harri Davies accompanying on the piano.

• Seperate piano accompaniment by Harri Davies.

• Harri Davies performing a totally new and fresh version on the acoustic guitar.

• A short film with Gwenno Dafydd enunciating the words clearly with sub-titles passing by at the same time.

• The words in Welsh with an English translation.

• A phonetic version of the words.

Gwenno has a previous family connection with America. One of her great, great, great Uncles, William Bebb, was the 19 ^th Governor of Ohio in 1846 and a park called the Governor Bebb Metro Park till exists in Ohio

http://ohio.llgc.org.uk/people-bebb.php

This is the first song in the Dragon Songs series and the second song will be the Saint Davids Day Anthem, Cenwch y Clychau i Dewi (Ring out the bells for Saint David) Words: Gwenno Dafydd. Music: Heulwen Thomas.

Gwenno had the idea for a special song, an anthem for Saint Davids Day way back in 2005 when she was taking part in the National Saint Davids Day Parade (NSDDP) and since that time the song has been performed both Wales wide and world wide, in Toronto, Ontario, Los Angeles, Patagonia, Disneyland Paris, Once in Llandaff Cathedral, Twice in the Houses of Parliament, Three times in Saint Davids Cathedral, Once in the Brangwyn Hall, Five times in the NSDDP and this year it was performed in both English and Welsh in the All Wales Saint Davids Day Service.She will be singing the Saint Davids Day Anthem and the National Anthem during the American Launch.

SEE YOU AT SCRANTON

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Reproduced with kind permission from David Westerns Portland Lovespoon Blog

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Last time , I was ready to begin sanding. Lots of sanding....
I usually start at around 80 or 100 grit - especially for the larger areas like the bowl. This first grit of sanding inevitably reveals little connections and overlaps that I end up wanting to carve to refine a little further, again, this time more than usual. I think I even made 4 or 5 new piercings, not to mention sharpening lots of little corners, and maybe even a little slight re-shaping here and there. With all the nooks and crannies, the needle files were a big help this time, too. So, I find that the first pass probably takes 4 or 5x as long as any other grit. I assume, also that the reason for that is because I don't carve nearly as cleanly as someone like Dave. That means more shape refining in my first pass. It's probably been years since Dave's had to deal with that issue.

Next came 180, 220, 400, 600 and 800. In these pictures, it was at 800, and still drying the first time. You can see, the scratches are pretty much gone, but the surface still looks pretty rough after wetting it this first time. Through these first several grits, my main focus is removing scratches from the previous grit, or from the carving tools as well as I can. By 600 or 800, it starts to get a sheen, and it mostly stops creating dust. At this point, I like to wet down the spoon with water to bring up the fibers of the wood (I just pour water all over it). Then, I repeat 800, wet it again and see if it roughs up any more. Once it doesn't rough up after wetting it, then I move on to the remaining grits.

So - it looks rough here, because those little fibers are all standing up, but it wasn't long now, before I was through all the rest of the grits (about 9 more). Probably only 3 hours or so.
At this point, I think of it more like polishing than sanding, so I don't feel the need to get all the way into every nook and cranny with these very high grits. Of course, that's why these higher grits go so quickly. There's no more dust, and no more scratches, but if I can see a difference in the polish with each grit, then I keep going until either the polish stops improving, or I run out of grits. With most of these harder woods, that's usually 12,000.
Someone said something about video... so, I figured I'd give it a try. I don't think I'm any good at it - hope you don't get motion sickness watching it! Anyway, here it is, with the sanding all done...

( Go here to see the video:- David Westerns Portland Lovespoon Blog )

Last thing - maybe a coat of oil to protect it a bit... Earlier, I was thinking it might be better to just leave it sanded, not oiled, but after seeing how dirty it got from handling it, I changed my mind, and decided a coat of oil would be a good idea. Also, I finished it on a Saturday, so I couldn't mail it until Monday anyway, so why not?

Here are some pictures against a medium-color background, just for a change of pace.

Well, time for me to part with this thing. That was really really fun! Thanks, Dave & friends at Americymru for letting me be a part of this! I can't wait to see Dave bring the top alive, and pull the whole thing together - It's definitely becoming reality. My only regret is that it took me so long. Sorry, Dave! Don't forget to get your tickets - you really won't want to miss your chance at this one!

Next, packaging it so it won't break in the mail, and then we all get to see Dave make it into something really special!

Today was the anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth ( August 22nd ). I waited all day for some reference on the web. I checked the usual suspects; Welsh groups on FB, Welsh political blogs etc. But...not a single mention.

This is perhaps hardly surprising. There are more topical issues and Bosworth's place in Welsh history and national consciousness has always been slightly problematic. Ever since , and indeed before, the Armes Prydain and Geoffrey's History of the Kings of Britain ( a reference work unrivalled for its authority and accuracy until the advent of the Wikipedia ) the Welsh had been waiting for a Mab Darogan/Son of Prophecy who would unite the tribes of Britain to defeat the Saxon invaders and drive them from the land. After a few glorious but spectacular failures ( Owain Lawgoch, Owain Glyndwr ) Henry VII put in a bid for the title.

He was born in Pembroke Castle and had a Welsh speaking nanny so he may well have understood a few words of the language. He began his quest to claim the English throne from Richard III by landing at Mill Bay, Pembrokeshire on Sunday 7th August 1485. The rest as they say, is history. You can follow the plot in outline from the text in the picture below.

It is of course a supreme historical irony that this 'Mab Darogan' went on to found the Tudor dynasty whose major contributions to Welsh autonomy and independence were the Acts of Union of 1535 and 1542.

Anyway I just wanted in closing to draw your attention to an artefact ( see below ) which was gifted to me some years ago and, apparently, purchased in an antique/gift shop in Tenby. It hangs on a wall and gathers dust behind me in my study. I thought today would be a good day to give it an airing.

( For a most eloquent discussion of Bosworth and it's place in Welsh history and consciousness the following poem by R.S. Thomas is highly recommended:- A Welshman At St James' Park )

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Click to Enlarge

Islands Magazine recently visited Wales. This stunning photo essay is part of the editorial they will deliver over the next few years.

Burry Port delivery firm Celtic Couriers is helping to sponsor a prestigious vintage show in Carmarthen.

The Orllwyn Teifi 24th Vintage Show is taking place at the United Counties Showground in Nantyci, Carmarthen, between August 24 and 27.
Celtic Couriers general manager Gareth Jenkins said: "We are delighted to be lending our support to the show. It is a major attraction in South West Wales and should pull in bumper crowds over the Bank Holiday weekend."
Orllwyn Teifi Vintage Show started in 1989.
At first, it was held on the Kings Meadow at Henllan, but soon outgrew this 20-acre site.
It then moved to Croesllan, Llandysul and took up nearly 115 acres!
In its 24th year, the show moves to the United Counties Showground in Carmarthen, giving easier access to many supporters who live in South Wales.
The show attracts exhibitors from all over the country and many famous "names" have attended over the last 18 years.
The late Fred Dibnah, of Television fame, and the "Iron Maiden", the engine that starred in the film of the same name, to name but two.
The show is organised and run purely by volunteers and it is due to their hard work and enthusiasm that this show has been such a great success.
It has raised more than 111,000 for local deserving causes, which is a demonstration of the support it has had from many thousands of people who come to see it each year from all over the country.
Weblink -
http://www.otvintageshow.org.uk/

News in brief from Burry Port delivery firm Celtic Couriers . . .

We are closed Monday 27th August, back open Tuesday 28th August.
We are open as normal on the Saturday.
All deliveries sent Friday for 'Next Day Delivery' will arrive Tuesday.
Saturday deliveries are available with a surcharge.
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We have a 2008 LDV Maxus short wheel base van for sale. Give us a ring on 01554 835490.
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Many thanks to friends old and new who visited our Celtic Couriers and APC Overnight stand at the Pembrokeshire County Show in Haverfordwest.
It was great to meet everyone and we look forward to doing business with all our new Pembrokeshire customers.
Picture of our stand -

There's a warm welcome to Kevin Marsh, who has joined the team at Morganstone, the Llanelli-based construction firm.

Kevin will be working as small works manager with Morganstone.
He will be working with Chris Weaver, the Carmarthenshire Housing Standard site manager, pictured left with Kevin outside Morganstone's Llanelli HQ.

There's a music festival at the Diplomat Hotel, Llanelli, this Bank Holiday weekend.

Details -
AUGUST 26
12:00 PM
COME RAIN OR SHINE
Our annual outdoor MUSIC FESTIVAL is upon us again!

This Sunday will see live entertainment all day from 12pm @ Diplomat Hotel. Bar facilities available and our traditional BBQ (sunday lunch available in the restaurant).

Live entertainment comes in the form of international performers Jacqui Dankworth, Steve Waterman, Chica Chica plus many more...

So bring the family for a great day out!

STEVE WATERMAN

JACQUI DANKWORTH

www.diplomat-hotel-wales.com
The Best Western Diplomat Hotel
Felinfoel Road
Llanelli
Carmarthenshire, Wales SA153PJ