Blogs

Hello All,

I am sorry if I crossed the line and allowed my politics to show with my posts about current events here in Wisconsin. I have decided to remove my Blog about it all, but most of it can be found on my Facbook page if you are inteested.

Again, my apologies. ometimes I just can't help myself.

Mona

Well, there ya go..Cardiff falls again at the death, just like last week. Swansea drew at home. I believe (without checking the table) that City are now in 4th place.

I would like to see both clubs make it to the PL.

I usually follow the City games via the live blog on the Wales on Line site. It is amazing how many of the City fans hate the Jacks. I suggested once how nice it would be if both teams went up and was blasted by readers! Good grief.

Great 9s and 10s.

The idea came from a conversation with a work colleague while fund raising for Help for Heroes in Swansea. He said how come Wales always produce great halfbacks? My reply was its because of the outside half factory making reference to the Max Boyce song from the seventies. It was then the idea popped into my head. People have got complete sides to sign a shirt, but a collection of signatures from certain positions, well thats a new one!

Originally the idea was to go back to 1970 and the task at hand began. Searching the WRU archive, Google, Wiki and rugby club web pages I started.

First 10 to sign was Paul Turner, Newport Gwent Dragons coach. I emailed the Dragons and explained what I was doing and they invited me down to see Paul. The day was a bit rushed as he was about to leave for their game against Edinburgh, but he signed and we were off.

The first 9 was Gerald Williams. I had seen Gerald on TV the week before I met him. He was pointed out by a police officer who was in his lab on one of the police camera action programs. So, I phoned South Wales Police HQ in Bridgend and asked to be put through to Mr Williams, and they did! I met Gerald a few days later and he signed. While there, Gerald gave me Rob Howleys number but I never had the courage to cold call him, but I did meet him later.

So from there my travels started. I have been from Cliff Morgans house on the Isle of Wight to Leeds Uni to see Gareth Davies. With the help of Caroline Morgan at the WRU I was able to meet with the current team members along with Rob Howley and Neil Jenkins. I have met with players like Gareth Edwards and Rob Jones through the Scrum V studio team to meeting Brynmor Williams at a service station, to having a drink with Barry John and Lloyd Williams.

Thats how it all started. The list of players are as follows:

9: Onllwyn Brace, Lloyd Williams, Clive Rowlands, Gareth Edwards, Terry Homes, Brynmore Williams, Andy Moor, Gerald Williams, Chris Bridges, Robert Jones, Rupert Moon, Rob Howley, Dwayne Peel, Gareth Cooper, Mike Phillips, Martin Roberts, Richie Rees

10: Cliff Morgan, David Watkins, Barry John, Phil Bennett, Gareth Davies, Paul Turner, Bleddyn Bowen, Jonathan Davies, Lee Jarvis, Arwel Thomas, Neil Jenkins, Stephen Jones, Nicky Robinson, James Hook,

Dan Biggar

Each shirt winner will also receive a photo album with pictures of the players at the signing of the shirts

Cliff Morgan has also donated a book written by a friend of his Paul Verdon, LEGENDS OF WORLD RUGBY, A book of the worlds great players from the amateur era. It is number 93 of a limited number of 530 copies produced. It has 75 original signatures of greats from Hugo Porta of Argentina to JPR Williams.

Start date for the raffle is March 1 ^st 2011 and to run until 8 May 2011 and the presentation on May 16. It has taken 18 months in total to complete these shirts. All the proceeds are going to two charities, Macmillan Cancer Support and Help for Heroes.

The raffle is online and will run until 8 ^th May 2011. Tickets can be bought at www.rogavi.com on the sports page.

The picture was taken this morning at the Wales training camp. The WRU are going to put a link on their web pages. Had a great time with the boys, they were very relaxed and really looking forward to Saturday.

If you know of people who might be interested in buying some raffle tickets to win one of these great shirts please tell them where to get a ticket.

A chilly Boston, Massachusetts afternoon, but sunny. The sun has not been seen much this winter, but the snow has! Sick of the white stuff.

I am new to this site and this is my first blog. Fact is, it is the first blog I have ever written period.

I was born in Dorchester 65 years ago, served in the US Navy from 1965 through 1971. I didn't care for it much, but now I am proud to say I served my country, two years of service on a destroyer, the USS Gearing.

For most of my life I considered myself English (mothers side) and Irish (father). But a few years ago a family member did a family tree and traced some family back to Wales. With a name like Evans I figured there had to be some Welsh in my background. To make a long story short, I have been considering myself Welsh for quite a few years now and loving it. I now know some Welsh wordsand have met many Welsh on Face Book who are really delightful.

Being now a self proclaimed Welshman, I began to follow the sport teams of Wales and the athletes of the country.

The teams I support are Llanelli RFC, Scarlets, Llanelli AFC, Wales national rugby team, Crusaders RL, Glamorgan Cricket and Cardiff City FC.

The thought I had today was why do my Welsh teams seem to struggle so? Cardiff City, for instance, had a chance to move into second place on the table last week, but lost 0-2 at home! Everyone says they should gain at least the 2nd spot and automatic promotion...ok, but why put me (and many real Welshmen) through the trama?

And what is this I heard the other day on BBC Wales: In order for Wales to have a international cricket team Glamorgan would have to cease to exist? Good Lord.

From Visit Wales and Peter Thabit Jones:

Come and See Dylan's New York

Get the true facts about the legendary Welsh poet Dylan Thomas andhis colourful life in New York City.

His most famous work, Under Milk Wood, was completed and originally performed inthe City, where he also originated recordingthe spoken word, cutting the first spokenLP in history here.

T he Dylan Thomas Walking Tour, guided by Ianto Robert, will take youto the Village places where thelegendary Welsh poet stayed, ate,drank, worked and performed, and towhere he finally died, while givingyou a feel for The Village in the 1950s.

• When: Sunday mornings weekly from March 2011
• Time: 11:00 AM, Check current schedule
• Duration: Approximately 2 hours
• Cost: $25.00 per ticket
• Weather: Tour takes place rain or shine

Tickets should be purchased in advance at

www.NewYorkFunTours.com

Or phone (USA) 0012122093370

Please refer to activity # 1213

This is the Official Dylan Thomas Walking Tour of NewYork. Originally written by Peter Thabit Jones through acollaboration of the Welsh Assembly Government in NewYork and the family of Dylan Thomas.

In Memoriam

Of Dylans daughter Aeronwy whoconfirmed the research and walked outthe tour.

Download the original pdf here

Reprinted with permission from David Western's blog , all material 2011, David Western

Help design this year's spoon here!

I've started carving the 2011 West Coast Eisteddfod Spoon Mark III. The birch is gorgeous and cuts like butter, so I am confident that some of the crazy ideas I have for this spoon will work out. I like to shape the bowl first as it requires some heavy cutting, so if things go wrong at this stage and there is a breakage, its not such a big deal...not that there wouldn't be some fairly heavy duty swearing going on!!

I've been using my Preferred Edge bent knife which was custom made for me by Mike Komick just weeks before he suddenly passed away. It is a glorious little knife which I never tire of using, but it always reminds me how much I am going to miss Mike's remarkable skill with metal! As you can see, I glue the pattern directly to the piece I am working on. This keeps my cuts good and accurate and also keeps the wood nice and clean.

With the heart-shaped bowl roughed out, I am able to start on some of the nearby Celtic knotwork. I use a scroll saw to do the rough cuts and then utilize my very small (but wickedly sharp) straight knife to carve the details. With a wood as accommodating as birch, the knotwork generally comes out crisply right off the knife and very little 'clean up'work is necessary.

I've also started to frame in the first of the 3 circles which will be designed by one of the winners of our Design the Spoon Competition. I do hope that I can encourage you to have a crack at it! Even if you don't consider yourself an artist, submit an idea or two or three! Whether it is a drawing, a photo, written word or a vague idea...send it in and it might wind up on this year's spoon! The West Coast Eisteddfod is a celebration of the 'forgotten Celts' living here in North America and this little spoon is part of that. It says 'the Welsh are here' but you don't have to be Welsh to join in our fun! Anyone and everyone are welcome to contribute ideas and I look forward to seeing them!

If you are too shy or simply can't be arsed, why not consider donating a couple of bucks to the Eisteddfod instead. You could win the finished spoon for your generosity!!

An interview with Welsh artist Jacqueline janine Jones. Check out here Jacqueline's website here

AmeriCymru: Hi Jacqueline...and many thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by AmeriCymru.Why are you an artist and why painting? When did you begin painting?

Jacqueline: I'm an artist because i believe that artists are not satisfied with the world as they see it. They are like children, bored with sameness. And they are moved deeply by things they see and feel and think about. I paint because i am compelled to. Its like breathing air.

Do you work in any other media?

Jacqueline: Yes i have done some photography and electronic music,sculpture.

Care to tell us a little about your paintings? How would you describe your style?

Jacqueline: My style is raw i would say, and expressive.

How do you conceptualize your subjects? Do they represent or are they inspired by actual physical scenes or pure imagination or a combination of both?

Jacqueline: A definite combination of both. I couldn't really say which one comes first!

What is your process, ie: do you start a work with an end in mind? do you work from sketches or create as you paint? Do you have a usual practice or process?

Jacqueline: Both. Sometimes I have a clear idea of composition, what colours i will be using. Sometimes i will do a sketch. At times its more freestyle spur of the moment. An idea or a theme might be the motivation for me to paint.

Your pieces on welshart.net are an interesting mix of bright, strong colors and neutrals - do you consciously plan color in composition or does it develop as you create? What effect do you intend it to have on your viewer?

Jacqueline: I intend the viewer to be moved by what i do. No art lives in a vacuum. It must relate somehow.

Are there other artists or creatives in your family? What role did art play in your life?

Jacqueline: My mother wrote songs and some poetry, her mother did watercolours.

Can you describe the visual art environment in Wales? Is there a strong visual art community in Wales?

Jacqueline: I would like to think so, to be positive. Different things are happening now.

What advice would you have for the aspiring visual artist in Wales?

Jacqueline: Believe in what you are doing. Especially if you are following your own path. Sometimes it can be tough.

What's next for Jacqueline Janine Jones?

Jacqueline: More exhibitions on the way. Just had a major solo show at Ffin Y Parc gallery.

Any final message for the members and readers of AmeriCymru?

Jacqueline: Check out Welsh art!

I guess everyone who has been following our progress is aware by now that we have achieved our funding goal with the Kickstart appeal. This is an important milestone in the development of our program for this years West Coast Eisteddfod and I want to take this opportunity on behalf of AmeriCymru and A Raven Above Press to thank you all for your generous support.

We will be making many further announcements as we develop the schedule for this years event and we are acutely conscious that none of our plans would be realisable without your donations. A thousand diolch's to everyone who contributed . We remain committed to bringing you the best possible event in September and we will be announcing other ways in which our supporters can assist us with that as we move nearer to the date.

We will be distributing complimentary tickets for Eisteddfod donors in the coming weeks. Please check your inbox for details.

Diolch yn Fawr Ceri Shaw ( AmeriCymru ) Lorin Morgan-Richards ( A Raven Above Press )