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This will be hot on the heels of their fifth studio album Welcome Home Armageddon released on 14th March.St David's Day with the Chicago Tafia and St David's Society of Greater St Louis
By David Llewellyn, 2011-03-17
Had a great little mini tour with my duo partner and girlfriend Ida Kristin over the St Davids Day weekend. Idas from Sweden, and this was her first visit to Chicago. We stopped off at the Heartland Gallery in Urbana IL on the way up to Chicago. Great to play for Jan and John Chandler again a wonderful Celtic store and great vibe Welsh cakes (best outside Wales!) provided by Sylvia and Ernie Sullivan, whos Irish Inn B&B is THE place to stay if you are passing through this way. The relaxed (read lengthy) breakfast table conversations are always such a joy :O) Who says we cant solve the worlds problems!!!
Staying with my good friend Katie Thompson in Chicago, we got to see some of the sights, and yes, got our photos taken jumping up and down in front of the Bean, before joining up with the Chicago Tafia at the Red Lion Pub for a great little concert. Thanks to Dave Parry for setting this one up, and contacting the other gigs for me too! As I travel around the US, a keep bumping into the odd Welshman/woman, but here I got to spend time with two from my little home town of Mountain Ash ah, the memories come flowing back!
Then the appropriately named Llywelyns Pub in Webster Groves MO. Hell, more Welshman here too! Swansea Jack of the Saint David's Society of Greater St. Louis,and Cardiffian, John Evans (see photos). Thanks Jack and Mary for putting us up.
I think Ida said it right - Theres a joy, a genuine friendliness to the Welsh. The do talk a lot, but they are also really interested in you too
Big thanks to everyone who came out and supported us at the gigs, and bought CDs etc!!! Thank you.
Best
David and Ida
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| With Ida Kristin at Llywelyns Pub |
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| With fellow Welshmen at Llywelyns Pub in Webster's Grove, Missouri |
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| At the Red Lion Pub in Chicago with the Chicago Tafia, photo by Katie Thompson |
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| With Ida Kristin at the Red Lion Pub, photo by Katie Thompson |
Read the blog here:- Diary of A Crap Wife
AmeriCymru: Hi and many thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by AmeriCymru. I suppose the first question on many of our readers minds is:- What inspired Crap Wife? What is the story behind the blog?
Crap Wife: Thanks for having me, the site is marvellous- such a strong sense of community! Im sorry to say that CrapWife is me- its how I act and behave for the most part- the label CrapWife is just a way of filling my various shortcomings under one title and conning myself into thinking theres less wrong with me than there actually is.
Theres no real story to the blog, except that i love to write and struggle to find topics that flow easily, a friend had suggested writing about the battles at home, and being as Im no closer to breaking Husband, the blogs proving to be a great outlet. Its nice to know that even if my actions arent having the desired effect at home, theyre at least making people laugh online.
AmeriCymru: 'Husband' is of course a key character in your blog. May we ask how he feels about the project?
Crap Wife: He knows Im up to something- theres been a more sustained attack on him recently and Im nicer to him when I want peace to write the blog. At the moment, he thinks that I play a lot of online scrabble and am perhaps writing a Childrens book for my neice. Daily CrapWife on facebook has sent him a friend request which I have accepted on his behalf... he never logs in, and if he tried, Ive changed his password.
AmeriCymru: We learn from your bio that:- "The main objective of the blog is to make people laugh and break away from the Bridget Jones/Sex and the City ideas of relationship ideals." Care to expand on this a little?
Crap Wife: Im convinced that in 40 years time therell be Old Peoples homes full of spinsters wearing knock off Jimmy Choos still waiting for Mr Big- if I had a pound for every female Ive heard slagging off their significant other because theyre not comparable to someone from Sex and the City, then Id have eleven pounds, probably more if I had more friends. Bridget Jones the same, its just not my cup of tea. I dont really like the whole chickflick culture, not to say that there isnt a place for it, just that it doesnt appeal to me- also, I think Bridget Jones looks a bit like what would happen if someone left a waxwork of Cameron Diaz next to a radiator.
AmeriCymru: Humorous writing is not easy, yet you seem to have a natural talent for it. Have you written before?
Crap Wife: Thank you very much! I have written bits and bobs over the years, Im told as a child I showed promise, but I never really followed anything up. Before CrapWife there was CrapTeen. My family have a lot to answer for- theyre all very funny; my Father is very dry and quick witted- he doesnt say much, but when he does, its gold. My Mother has her own special brand of humour and my sister is able to floor me with a look. My grandparents are a fabulous comedy act, and after spending years with them, you learn to have an answer for everything! If I could get one of my Uncles to start blogging, I would- hes in a league of his own. Unfortunately, hes too old to see the keyboard now and the home only lets him out for an hour at weekends.
AmeriCymru: The choir sang Elvis at your wedding. Whose idea was this and which numbers did they perform?
Crap Wife: My mother arranged the Choir, they were absolutely wonderful, I have a great passion for Male Voice Choir music- especially when they sing the Welsh rugby songs (which they did, as a special treat for my extended English family 
The Elvis idea was Husbands, I love Elvis we had them singing Cant help falling in love with you, an highlight for me was Ar Hyd Y Nos.
AmeriCymru: What's next for Crap Wife?
Crap Wife: I intend to keep blogging, I am finding it immensely rewarding, and am having so much fun with it. The Husband-torture has gone on long before the blog, and itll go on long after no doubt, but its lovely to think that there are people out there enjoying reading about it.
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the members and readers of AmeriCymru?
Crap Wife: Of course! Thanks for reading and please support a local wife on the verge of braining her Husband- I would love to be able to reach more readers, so anyway you can pass on the blog would be appreciated greatly, also, if anyone of you has a suggestion for a torture method Ive not yet thought of then please, please let me know.
Reprinted with permission from David Western's blog , all material 2011, David Western --
Nobody knows for sure where lovespoon carving originated, but strong traditions developed in Wales, Sweden and Norway and examples have been collected from most European countries. The oldest Welsh spoon was created in 1667 and is housed in the collection of the National History Museum of Wales at St Fagans near Cardiff. A German spoon dated 1664 is housed in the collections of the German National Museum in Nuremburg, and as far as I have been able to tell, is the oldest dated lovespoon currently known. It is unlikely that the custom dates back much further than the early 1600's despite wonderfully romantic theories of the custom having a direct link with the Celts of yore. Most of the romantic wood tokens originated around the same period and both the social and economic situation of earlier times make it unlikely they date back much before 1600.
It has been suggested that acceptance of a lovespoon was a betrothal promise, but this has never been proven and it is far more likely that acceptance of the spoon merely indicated mutual interest and a 'green light' for a courtship to begin.
Today, handcarved lovespoons are heirloom quality gifts which are given at engagements, weddings, anniversaries and a host of other occasions where a gift of deep sentiment is required. Although the symbolism may have changed throughout the years, the relevance of alovingly carved spoon given with sentimental or romantic intent is as strong as ever. As a symbol of Wales and the warmth and passion of the Welsh people, it would be pretty hard to find a more iconic tradition than the lovespoon.
So THAT is why we carve one each year.
Another example of how the government thinks!
A DEA officer stops at a ranch in Texas , and talks with an old rancher. He tells the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs." The rancher says, "Okay, but don't go in that field over there," as he points out the location. The DEA officer verbally explodes saying, " Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me!" Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removes his badge and proudly displays it to the rancher. "See this badge? This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish . . . On any land. No questions asked or answers given. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand?" The rancher nods politely, apologizes, and goes about his chores. A short time later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the DEA officer running for his life chased by the rancher's big Santa Gertrudis bull . . . . . With every step the bull is gaining ground on the officer, and it seems likely that he'll get gored before he reaches safety. The officer is clearly terrified. The rancher throws down his tools, runs to the fence and yells at the top of his lungs . . . . "Your badge. Show him your BADGE!" |
ANNOUNCEMENT
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved."
Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.
The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.
The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.
Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."
The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose."
Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels .
The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.
Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be right, Mate." Three more escalation levels remain: "Crikey,!" "I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend" and "The barbie is cancelled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.
looking for a seat, but the only seat left was taken by a well dressed,
middle-aged, French woman's poodle.
The war-weary Marine asked, 'Ma'am, may I have that seat?'
The French woman just sniffed and said to no one in particular
' Americans are so rude. My little Fifi is using that seat.'
The Marine walked the entire train again, but the only seat left was under
that dog.
'Please, ma'am. May I sit down? I'm very tired..'
She snorted, 'Not only are you Americans rude, you are also arrogant!'
This time the Marine didn't say a word; he just picked up the little dog,
tossed it out the train window, and sat down.
The woman shrieked, 'Someone must defend my honour! This American should be
put in his place!'
An English gentleman sitting nearby spoke up, 'Sir, you Americans seem to
have a penchant for doing the wrong thing.
You hold the fork in the wrong hand.
You drive your cars on the wrong side of the road.
And now, sir, you seem to have thrown the wrong bitch out the window'
Happy St Patrick's Day from AmeriCymru! Someday I'm going to get around to doing a new one, maybe.
Deconstructed sandwich was a great idea, thanks babe. Cheers as well for putting a DVD in- managed to swap it with Dai for Paranormal Activity 2- we can watch it later? X
