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By Ian Price2, 2011-04-04

Average Mother's Day gift selection time rises to 3.5 seconds

01-04-11

THOUGHTFULNESS is on the increase across the UK with some people taking almost four seconds to choose a Mother's Day present, it has emerged.

The Institute for Studies found the average time spent selecting a gift for the annual obligatory display of affection increased by just under one third of a second.

Professor Henry Brubaker said: "People are no longer just reaching for the first chocolate product or flowers that costs approximately a fiver. They are momentarily deliberating between products before thinking, 'yeah, that'll do'.

"At least we hope that's the case. Possibly it's just because they've rearranged garages so that the generic flowers are slightly harder to spot."

Meanwhile, there is also evidence that general gift quality is increasing.

Bill McKay, from Darlington, said: "What with inflation and how much I love my mum, I've increased the budget to 6.20 including the card.

"I would always get the generic flowers in the sort of plastic sheath - paid for, mind, not just lifted from the site of a bad crime - or whichever chocolate selection box has a sticker on it saying 'gift idea'.

"This year though I've decided to be more original and get her eight Double Deckers. It's much better value in terms of weight.

"Plus they're on offer."

Teacher Nikki Hollis said: "I know my mum would do anything for me, that's why I don't really need to bother with a decent present, although I shall drop in with a card this Sunday. The fact that I'm spending time with her rather than doing somethng I want to do will mean the world to her."

Father-of-two Stephen Malley added: "It's all a big marketing thing cooked up by Americans in the Fifties, or something. The maternal bond shouldn't be commodified or reduced to the giving of a product on an arbitrarily-allocated day.

"At least that's what I'm telling myself after just discovering the fucking garage is shut."


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Dragon & Hawk - by Jude Johnson


By Ceri Shaw, 2011-04-04

The Jones's ( Evan, Dylan and Huw ) are emigrants from Wales trying to 'make it' in 1880's Arizona. They get off to a bad start with a failed ( and farcical ) stagecoach robbery and much drinking, gambling and whoring.

The harsh conditions in the silver mines where they work at the beginning of the book are vividly depicted. Their struggle to better themselves is long, arduous and equally brutal. The road to honest happiness for the Jones boys is a very crooked highway indeed.

Throughout this relentlessly paced novel the graphic descriptions of the seedy goings on in Tombstone's whorehouses are a source of constant delight. In the earlier chapters much of the action occurs in Velvet Ass Rose's Diamond Emporium, an establishment much frequented by the Jones boys.

There are frequent humorous interludes as when Huw enquires of his brothers after learning that the stagecoach they are holding up was already robbed "about five miles back":- "Do we wait here? When's the next?"

At another point in the narrative preparations for a forthcoming wedding are described in the following terms:-


"How nice for her. Who's the fortunate groom?"

"A Barker from Contention City named Freddy. They courted real quick. Lucy's daddy --- Sherriff Roberts? ---- he's so happy about Freddy joining the family, I hear he's bringing his shotgun. To make sure no one objects"


Though hardly lacking in incident and humor the dominant theme here is the convoluted and tempestuous relationship between the elder Jones brother, and Reyna , a woman of independent means and strong character who nurses Evan back to health after a catastrophic mining accident which causes him to become addicted to morphine. The many scenes of tenderness between them will be a delight to all lovers of graphic romances.

All in all we have no hesitation in giving this book a five star recommendation. We learn from the author's website ( see links below ) that this is part one of a forthcoming trilogy and that parts two and three are already written. We look forward to both.

'Dragon & Hawk' is published this month ( April 2011 ) by Champagne Books. To read an excerpt go here:- http://jude-johnson.com/excerptDH.html

About Jude Johnson

From the author's site :- "Jude Johnson is a writer with a passion for historical research and details. The smell of parchment, old leather, and glue bindings makes her giddy. It is her attention to accuracy that infuses her stories with authenticity, letting the reader step into those dusty streets of Tombstone or onto the pitching deck of a frigate of Nelson's Navy.

Granddaughter of a curandera, a Mexican healer who uses herbs, psychology and a little bit of mysticism, she incorporates a bit of family legend into her Dragon & Hawk series. Currently, Book One, Dragon & Hawk, is scheduled for ebook release by Champagne Books in April 2011, with print publication following. Rest assured, Books Two and Three are already written."....more here

Review by Ceri Shaw

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Madog Participants with Dafydd Iwan

A German explorer, John Lederer, came to the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1669. He viewed the Shenandoah Valley hemmed on the eastern and western borders by an array of mountain ridges extending northward and southward as far as the eye could see. Reposing lengthwise in the center of this valley lay the Peaked Mountain or Massanutten Mountain. Between Jon Lederer and this Peaked Mountain lay a prairie across which wound the Shenandoah River, the beautiful Daughter of the Stars. On the east bank of the river the forest primeval waved its proud and haughty branches. *

It is in this breath-takingly beautiful setting that Cymdeithas Madog will hold its 35th annual summer course. Even when the surroundings are more prosaic, Cymdeithas Madog leaves a lasting impression on those who attend.

Much of that impact can be credited to our fine tutors, gathered from Wales and North America, who always have time to encourage and inspire course attendees with their enthusiasm for the Welsh language. This years roster will be familiar to many returning students:

Level 1 - Annette Evans

Level 2 - Kevin Rottet

Level 3 - Deian Evans

Level 4 - Marta Diaz

Level 5 - Hefina Phillips

Level 6 - Chris Reynolds

Level 7 - Geraint Wilson Price

Cymdeithas Madog has developed a varied week, rich in Welsh culture as well as language. Workshops dealing with many aspects of Welshness (Cymreictud) are given by tutors and increasingly also by students. The folk-dancing (twmpath) night, the ever-popular and extremely competitive pub quiz night, a Noson Lawen, (a chance for all and sundry, mostly sundry, to exercise the creative muse and generally to have fun); and of course, the Eisteddfod, the crown of the week, when students put their learning to the test, under the careful eye of a panel of judges. The ceremony surrounding the Eisteddfod is like nothing you could imagine, even in Wales itself, but seeing is believing!

Please consider joining the St. David's Society of D.C., the St. David's Society of Philadelphia, and the Welsh Society of Fredericksburg in Winchester, Virginia for the 35th annual Cwrs Cymraeg Welsh language week. Cwrs Cymraeg 2011: Dyffryn Shenandoah will be held July 17 - 24, 2011 at Shenandoah University.

Online registration is available now!

PRICES

Adult Resident (double occupancy) $ 900.00
Adult Commuter $ 700.00
Discount for Students (of above rate) - $ 50.00
Tag-along (double occupancy) $ 425.00
Upgrade to Single occupancy + $ 75.00
(Fees are quoted and payable in U.S. dollars.)

To save a place, send $100.00 (USD) deposit to:
Rebecca Blaevoet, Course Registrar
c/o KarenAlice Jones
2670 Glen Eagles Road, Lake Oswego, OR 97034
registrar@madog.org

Visit our website at www.madog.org to register online and obtain more information

We also take deposits via PayPal through our website

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A reminder from last month's winners post:- "As you may have noted from an earlier announcement we have transitioned to the weekly leaderboard for our monthly Top Blogger adjudication. Henceforth the winner will be decided on the basis of their ranking and points in the final weekly leaderboard of the month. Posts which were published in preceding months will be discounted. The reasons for this are twofold. Firstly the weekly leaderboards are much more responsive and competitive and secondly the monthly board has some strange quirks. In particular it insists on ranking a few ancient posts that have received no 'Likes' comments or recent traffic."

So without further ado here are this months winners:-

1. Crap Wife 91 points ( 71 ranking points plus 10 for quantity and 10 for quality, Crap Wife has been our most prolific and most amusing blogger this month. She has also recorded the single highest monthly score in Top Blogger to date. Congratulations/Llongyfarchion Crap Wife. View Crap wife's blog on AC here )

2. Rhianne Griffiths 32 points ( 20 ranking points plus 10 for 'traffic', Our stats indicate that Rhianne's posts this month generated a lot of interest View Rhianne's blog on AC here )

3. Byn ( Bynbrynman ) Tavarn Ty Elise 19 points ( 19 ranking points. View Byn's blog on AC here )

Fabulous digital prizes will be awarded to our three winners today and Crap Wife will receive a copy of Owen Sheers, 'White Ravens'. We will be announcing next months Top Blogger prize shortly. To view the current weekly leaderboard and peruse the rules of the competition go to this page

If you would like to congratulate our winners please feel free to do so in comments on this page

This Months Prize

'White Ravens' by Owen Sheers
  • "Two stories, two different times, but the thread of an ancient tale runs through the lives of twenty-first century farmers daughter Rhian and the mysterious Branwen

    After being wounded in Italy, Matthew OConnell is seeing out WWII in an obscure government department spreading rumours and myths to the enemy. But when hes given the bizarre task of escorting a box containing six raven chicks from a remote hill farm to the Tower of London, he becomes part of a story over which he seems to have no control....."

    http://www.serenbooks.com/book/white-ravens/9781854115034

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This blog can be viewed in its original format with pictures at www.crapwifeblog.co.uk and http://craphousewife.blogspot.com/2011/04/diary-of-crap-wife-waiter-waiter-i-have.html

My love affair with Campbells cuppa soup is completely over. Last night after my bath I resorted to cuppa soups in the absence of cigarettes. Half way through the second, I found at the bottom of my mug what can only be described as a dehydrated chicken arse. It actually touched my actual mouth. This triggered a volley of dry heaves that nearly resulted in another Poppy-gate. (Poppy is the cat and Im not proud of this but... about six months ago, after a night out (drinking something that tasted like Bertie Bassett threw up in a shot glass) I accidently vomited on her. I tried to get the bathroom in time but my shoes were the same colour as the carpet and the resulting invisible feet caused me to lose balance, fall up the stairs, land awkwardly and throw up on the sleeping tabby. I told you, Im not proud, but it happened and you have a right to know.)
Husband was awoken from his slumber by my cries of distress and was clearly concerned.
Whats wrong now? he said.

Theres an arse in my soup and it touched my mouth.

You are taking the bloody piss.
Hes not good when hes sleepy.
After showing Husband the arse and crying a bit, he was able to see that it was all his fault and that none of this would have happened if hed just given me my fags. He must have felt pretty shitty about it because he made me some tea and gave me a foot-rub.
We didnt stay up too long as Husband was freezing due to only having swimming shorts to use as pyjamas so we returned to bed where I dreamed that I was given the Spanish Armada as a birthday present. During one of my hourly burglar checks I got my tit stuck in the venetian blind which led to more distresed noises and crying- by morning its fair to say we were knackered.
Husband was off work all day due to his new fangled shift patterns and if you ask me its a fucking blessing. His clothes still havent arrived and hes today wearing a sleeveless vest with some shell-suit bottoms. I can once again see his knob.
Husband believes that this is because its got bigger. I tell him thats hes probably right as itcouldn'thave got any fucking smaller.
I'mnot good when Im sleepy either.
Husband and I reach an uneasy truce around Midday when he tells me that hes sorry about the fags. I tell him that I too am sorry for not preventing his clothes from getting robbed. We have a cuddle and a cup of tea and throw the soup sachets in the bin together. I feel calmer knowing theyre not in the house anymore.
Late afternoon and were starving. Were only going to Tesco when absolutely necessary at the moment and Husband offers to pop to the Co-op. Our local Co-op is a marvellous place, alright the prices are extortionate and they prey on the loyalties of pensioners, but the staff are generally wonderful. I have never known a shop that will go so far to help a customer in need.
Husband has been gone about 10 minutes before I ring the Co-op.
Hello Co-op, this is Linda speaking, how may I help?
Hello Linda, I hope you can, strange request but Im in a bit of a tizzy. My son has just popped down to your shop for some essentials and Ive had a bit of an accident.
Are you okay? asks Linda, she sounds nice.
Im fine, its just my age. Ive tried to ring his mobile telephone but hes left it here and I desperately need to get a message to him, I was hoping you d be able to find him and pass it on?
If you think it would help my love, of course. Whats his name and whats the message?
His names ###### ######, hes wearing one of those shelly suits thats all the rage. Just tell him that his Mam has had one of her accidents- hes going to need to pick up some tenna-lady super absorbent, bleach, a new mop head and a twix. If you could do that, my love, Id be ever so grateful.
Right... no problem, dont you worry- Ill call him over the tannoy and then give him the message myself. Rest up til he gets home now.

Husband bought me 40 fags. Hes a fast learner.
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A Welsh Silver-lead Mine


By Stephen Peter Lloyd Harvey, 2011-04-01

Work on the old mine continues. Still got electrical problems and MANWEB (our local supplier) has dug a big hole to try and improve the earth connection!!

As to the future? The mine is an absolute gem and needs to be saved for the Welsh Nation. Open market solutions do not really wash! The site and the collections are uniquely Welsh and should stay within the control of the area. We are looking at a Third Sector (Not-for-Profit) solution. Any assistance with the mechanics of this process would be most welcome. How do we get safely into harbour? CADW and the National Trust have declined to help. Any ideas?

A bit of rain in the Cambrians today but quite mild! Frogspawn has hatched in the pond and tadpoles are everywhere.

The rogue Eagle is still being sighted in the hills, along with our resident Red Kites.

Greetings to all our members in hard-rock mining areas of the States. We would love to hear from you and perhaps you could help with future plans for our Silver-Lead Mine.

Best wishes,

Peter

PS. How are our friends in Oak Hill, Ohio?

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Little Known Welsh Customs


By Ceri Shaw, 2011-04-01

In the first of an occasional series on little known Welsh customs we would like to highlight the charming ritual performed in villages throughout Wales on St Pyr's Day.


From the Wikipedia :- "On the first day of April in villages around Wales it is the custom to throw one's oldest living male relative down a well in honour of St Pyr. St Pyr was the dissolute former abbot of Caldey Island who died after falling down a well as a result of extreme intoxication. Regarded in Wales as a national hero his 'Saints Day' is celebrated annually at gatherings on village greens during which participants dance around the well with pints of real ale singing "Yo ho...ho ho ho. Throw the ole b*****d down the hole" The festivities reach a climax when the oldest male relative is shoved down the well where he is left overnight with a pail of ale which is lowered down after him."


...



Llangelynnin holy well
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Monarchial Mountbatten Mountebanks


By Ian Price2, 2011-04-01

Now look here! Ive just returned from my hols in fair Tahiti only to find that the jumped up Teutonic Mountbatten clan have started a bloody media frenzy with the announcement of some superstitious bonding ritual between the next CEO of English anachronisms and some delicate flower of the common soil.

This simply wont do. It is beholden on every republican minded chap with a penchant for rational thought to object in the loudest possible terms against public money being spent on a six ringed travelling circus designed to perpetuate the myth that some people are far superior than others by dint of birth.

I come from humble stock myself; papa only had some 3 billion salted away by the time I first blinked. He beat into me the sound knowledge that money always comes before people a sound credo that has seen my fortune increase ten fold. It was against this background that I first met the ball and chain.

The Memsahib and I were spliced together in the most bonding of ceremonies wherein the Mems father Major Roger Sholto Crump( late of The Enniskillen Light Horse ) held a Purdey to my back and where the witnesses were all members of the Inns of Court ; each and everyone of the blighters now Law Lords.

Dont like people being deferred to through accident of birth when its

the likes of I that should be lauded for keeping the bloody country great by keeping Johnny foreigner down. King Quentin has a fine ring to it I proffer.

Ahem! I mean President Whistleton Thynne ( Col Rtd ) of course.

Toodle Pip.

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This blog can be viewed in its original format with pictures at www.crapwifeblog.co.uk and http://craphousewife.blogspot.com/

I am thankful that I had a legitimate reason for not attending Husbands team lunch yesterday. Im not so thankful for the nature of the reason. Im a little bit addicted to Campbells cuppa soups at the moment and in my haste to get my fix I left the teaspoon in the mug and stabbed myself in the eye with it.
CW Text : C ant come to lunch. Sorry. Been stabbed in eye.
Reply : WTF? By who?
CW Text : Campbells. Very bad. Its touch and go. If I die, dont get over me.
Reply : R U dicking about or R U actually hurt.
CW Text : Whats RU?
Reply : Are you.
CW Text : Am I what?
Reply : If you can see to text and take the piss then I will take that to mean youre not dying. CU.
CW Text : Whats CU?
Reply : Short for c*nt.

I think Husbands mad. Im starting to worry about the clothes situation. He made it quite clear that I was to make sure that his wardrobe was full again by the end of the day. After phoning the Royal Mail and being advised that delivery will be made within 2-4 working days, I had to swiftly come up with a plan to fill his empty wardrobe.

To my relief, my beautiful (ginger) niece has left her pencil case here and I was able to draw pictures of all the missing clothes and blu-tack them to coat hangers. Dodged a bullet there, I think youll agree.
Husband arrives home late from work in a delightful mood considering I didnt attend his work lunch. He says that his Uni clothes were a huge hit and that he told everyone what had happened with my eye and they all send their best. Peachy.
Compared to his, my mood is admitidly a little less delightful- I attribute this to my mortal wound as my eye is actually, properly, not-even-joking hurting. And I cant see facebook without squinting. Add me here
Husband, to his credit offers to run me a Radox bath to ease my stresses and go to the shop to replenish my cigarette supply as I have self medicated the eye with nicotine and run out. Everyone knows that theres no better cure for stress than a soak in water than smells like a synthetic jungle and a fag.
My mood quickly improves as overall Im pleased. Ive managed to side step the humiliation of being seen in public with him and have resolved to change my facebook status to separated in order to detach myself from him while his clothes are missing. Just as soon as I can see it properly again.
After a blissful 40 minutes in the bath, drinking red wine and savouring my last ciggie, I hear Husband opening his wardrobe in the spare room. Wow he says, hes clearly impressed with the art work, although in hindsight, this may just as easily have been Cow.
By the time I emerge from the bath, (thoroughly soaked and looking like Gloria Hunifords knee) Husband is in bed. Bless him; hes had a long day.
Im pleased that hes asleep because itll give me time to colour my drawings in. I am, however, less pleased with the drawing of 20 Marlboro Lights hes left on the coffee table. CU.
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