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Of Welsh descent, Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) was an American explorer, soldier, politician, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark. Their mission was to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase, establish trade with, and sovereignty over the natives near the Missouri River, and claim the Pacific Northwest and Oregon Country for the United States before European nations. They also collected scientific data and information on indigenous nations.

Lewis was born in Virginia and had no formal education until he was 13 years old, but during his time in Georgia, he enhanced his skills as a hunter and an outdoorsman. He joined the Virginia militia, and in 1794 he was sent as part of a detachment that was involved in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion. In 1795, Lewis joined the United States Army and rose to the rank of captain.

Lewis was appointed as Secretary to the President by President Thomas Jefferson in 1801, and when Jefferson began to plan for an expedition across the continent, he chose Lewis to lead the expedition. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the two-year exploration by Lewis and Clark was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States.

After returning from the expedition, Lewis received a reward of 1,600 acres of land. He also initially made arrangements to publish the Corps of Discovery journals, but had difficulty completing his writing. In 1807, Jefferson appointed him governor of the Louisiana Territory, where he published the first laws and established roads. However, his record as an administrator was mixed, and he died in 1809 from gunshot wounds in what was either a murder or suicide.

The Vanities are an electro-rock duo from Cardiff made up of Rhys Bradley (vocals/guitar) and Adam Hill (bass guitar). Following a riotous period of early success in the noughties, the band retreated into a self-imposed, decade-long exile before returning in 2021 with their critically acclaimed album, “2001”.

Lead single “London” was singled out for particular praise and enjoyed heavy rotation on BBC Radio Wales, leading to the band supporting New Romantic legend Tony Hadley on his 40th anniversary tour in 2022.

The Vanities return in 2023 with new single, “Private Army”. A notable shift from their signature 80s sound, “Private Army” is an epic orchestral affair, a haunting lament on the folly of humankind in the new era of war in Europe.

The band will be playing a small number of select “unplugged” shows in support of the release, including two dates with Peter Cox of 80s icons Go West.

01/04/23 – The Second 45
15/04/23 – TIWNFEST
29/04/23 – HMV Cardiff
16/05/23 – Acapela Studio w. Peter Cox (SOLD OUT)
17/05/23 – Acapela Studio w. Peter Cox

Merlyn Hawke was a predator.

A sick one at that.

He was the ultimate Zooadist- he hated all animals -except that is his two hunting dogs, a lurcher called Addams and a Jack Russell Terrier, named Nipper, because that’s what he did to his Ex-Wife.

Merlyn had a small kennel on some land he had pinched from the Commoners Association on the Penygarnddu Common near Dowlais Top.

He had always been an outdoorsman, with his wrinkled and weathered face making him look much older than his actual  65 years of age.

Merlyn had always enjoyed causing pain to animals, his earliest memory was of his father, Buzzard, encouraging him at the age of four to throw stones at the multitude of rats that inhabited the open sewer of the Morlais Brook, that ran down from Dowlais through Penydarren, carrying the effluent and pollution from a population ravaged by Industrial pollution.

At six, he had already learned the dark art of shooting tree sparrows with his Diana SP50 slug gun.

He enjoyed burning insects with matches and cutting worms in half with a scissors and watching try to regenerate before cutting them in half again.

It was no surprise then that as an adult, he become involved in the local fox hunting scene, not for the Boxing Day pomp and ceremony but he was first to admit for him it was purely to see a defenceless animal ripped apart by a pack of bloodthirsty hounds.

They say that evil isn’t born but made.

Merlyn Hawke appeared to be the exception to this rule.

Merlyn didn’t live like most people in 2023, he lived off the grid- he had made himself a bivouac out of branches and lived off the land in the Taf Fechan Woodland Area.

He had few Earthly possessions but despite this fact he had booby trapped the area around his makeshift home with bear traps to foil the unwary.

His eco-home blended into the woodland with only a Stephen King -style Red Indian ‘Dreamcatcher’ the only evidence of his existence on Planet Earth.

Merlyn didn’t believe in the concept of money- to him it was just a legal fiction- designed to keep the lower classes in economic slavery- he had what he needed from Mother Nature by way of food, foraging for nuts, berries and mushrooms and of course meat from rabbits, voles and fish when he could get them.

He had modelled himself on the Sylvester Stallone character, John J Rambo although without the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Merlyn had never claimed a single penny but spent many a penny marking his scent on the proliferation of hawthorn bushes and ash trees in and around the Taf Fechan River.

Just like a bear, he too shat in the woods and wiped his caked arse on the Dock leaves that were in abundance in his little valley.

Merlyn avoided society like the plague, had never had any form of inoculation as his late parents had not believed in them.

Surprisingly, Merlyn had rarely been ill since he left school at 11 , mainly due to his lack of contact with other humans especially since his estrangement from his ‘wife’, Jane.

They weren’t married in the eyes of the law, but had followed his parents traditions by ‘jumping the broom’ together.

It did however, confuse the Hell out of the Council Street Cleaner.

Merlyn had decided that his dogs were much more reliable and trustworthy than humans and certainly far more loyal.

When they went hunting together, he always ensured that the dogs got a fair share of any catch- both in terms of meat and the marrow from the bones too.

Nipper was very partial to rabbit stew and he would place a bowl out for him once it had sufficiently cooled after transfer from his big metal stewpot.

Merlyn had recently found a little human companionship with a local lad, formerly of Romany extract.

He had taught Merlyn the delights of eating hedgehogs and of course their use as a toothpick.

His name was Perry, which was short for Peregrine and Merlyn had experienced great delight in taking him under his wing.

They both enjoyed hunting together taking Nipper & Addams on long walks to pastures new.

Perry had his own pet , a tame ferret called Flusher- which he had so-named after finding him in an outdoor toilet when he was a kid.

Flusher lived in a side pocket of his camouflage trousers and went everywhere with Perry in his trews.

He still lived with his elderly 40 year old Grandmother, on the caravan park at Glynmil situated between two busy roads on the Slip Road.

He knew that soon he would have to find new ‘digs’ because it was a Romany tradition to burn out the wooden didicoi after the owner had died.

Today, Merlyn & Perry had been up to the kennels early, as they had planned to go hunting together near Brecon and it would be a long days haul, as neither of them drove or possessed a car for any purpose.

As usual the pair followed the line of the River as they headed North.

Not far from Talybont, the dogs picked up the scent of an animal and began to turn in a circle to notify Merlyn of this fact.

They knew that hunting rabbits and small mammals was allowed but certain creatures were off-limits with their dogs, especially when it came to foxes.

Not that the pair had any reservations about the fact- as they would do so undetected anyway.

Lurcher Addams had the keenest nose of the canines - a fact that Merlyn boasted about -claiming that his dog could smell a rabbit fart from five miles away-as long as Perry wasn’t upwind of course.

The pair of dogs took off at speed, as they hurtled up the valley and then pounded up a steep embankment in search of the source.

Perry ran after them but Merlyn being more advanced in years was a lot less light footed.

The pair had stopped near a large hole with the entrance partially obscured by ferns and bracken.

Addams and Nipper were now being restrained by their collars, as they we’re definitely onto something.

Barking and hollering at the hole.

Merlyn suspected that it wasn’t a Warren but couldn’t be certain as to what creature the dogs were sensing.

The hole was larger than an otter’s holt and probably too far away from the river in any event.

He turned to Perry and asked his opinion.

“Not sure ….but I suggest we send Flusher here on a scouting mission!” Said the youngster.

Reaching into the side pocket of his camouflaged trews, he lifted the little mammal out very carefully.

He knew from experience that the little member of the weasel family possessed tiny but very sharp teeth.

Sharper teeth than the zip of the second hand pair of knock-off Levi jeans that he once found in a bin that had taken his foreskin off.

Boy did he curse the bastard that had shat in them and then dumped them.

He lifted Flusher to the hole and he merrily made his way inside.

Flusher wasn’t normally scared of anything.

He had once dispatched eights rats in less than five minutes when he had entered the Waterloo House culvert near Penyard.

The camp had eaten well that night.

Even if the young uns had asked as to why their hedgehog tasted a bit funny.

Perry had laughed it off under the cover of a joke, where two cannibals were in the process of cooking a circus clown.

They agreed that also had tasted ‘funny’ too.

Flusher disappeared from view but suddenly returned as he retreated backwards out of the hole- such an event Perry had not witnessed before.

It literally was a ‘reverse ferret’.

Strange thought Perry.

“I’ll send in Nipper!” said Merlyn.

In through the dark earthen hole went the Jack Russell only to come back out missing his collar and half of his ear.

“Jesus…what’s in there?” Said Merlyn looking aghast at Perry.

It was Addams turn to try and flush out the occupant.

Initially, the second dog made some progress, but being much bigger in size and more muscular, the Lurcher got trapped in the burrow and had to be dragged out by his back legs with blood dripping from his face having been attacked by something.

“Your turn!” said Merlyn barking out an order to his young human companion.

Perry, not being the sharpest tool in the box, felt ‘under pressure’ and despite the obvious risk to his health decided he would squeeze up the narrow tunnel and see what critter was inside for himself.

Like an Egyptian pyramid tomb raider, Perry shuffled his way up the passageway - he was not bothered about being covered in grime or insects -after all he was of Romany stock- but he was apprehensive about what he might be facing.

With a miniature torch in his mouth, he crawled along the earthy tunnel like Charles Branson in the Film the Great Escape-as he reached the end he peered inside and was shocked to see its occupants.

He immediately retreated narrowly avoiding the swipe of a set of razor sharp claws on the end of a furry paw.

Shuffling backwards he made it out of the burrow far quicker than he had entered.

Merlyn was desperate to know what he had encountered.

“Th…th…there is a Q..Q…Queen in there!” Stuttered Perry.

“Queen?…..there are bees in there?” Asked Merlyn looking puzzled.

“No …that bloke from Queen was in there….the one with the frizzy hair and an electric guitar!” Replied Perry.

“How the Hell did he get IN THERE?” Asked Merlyn.

“ How the Hell did he get on the Buckingham Palace roof to play God save the Queen?…I don’t know that either?” Replied Perry.

Merlyn decided the only way forward was that he must investigate the opening for himself.

Perhaps his gypsy friend had eaten too many magic mushrooms and was hallucinating?

As he crawled along the narrow tunnel he began to feel jittery, he was never good with enclosed spaces - he stopped a foot or so before the end of the crawl space and peered into the wider chamber and as his eyes adjusted to the underground gloom, he was shocked to see a rather cavernous drop and even more shocked to discover humans sitting there anticipating his arrival.

There was the original guitar hero, Brian May from Queen and alongside him sat Mike Batt staring back at him with ‘Bright Eyes’ and James Dean Bradfield of the Manic Street Creatures.

“What the Hell are you guys doing in here?” Asked Merlyn in disbelief.

“Protecting the badgers!” Replied May without hesitation.

“Why?” Continued Merlyn still in shock head protruding into the badger hole.

“See I did warn you….said Bradfield to Batt.

“If you tolerate this then your Wombles will be next!” warbled Bradfield.

Mike Batt just nodded in agreement.

“Aren’t you guys worried about getting tuberculosis in here?” queried Merlyn.

“The link between badgers and bovine tuberculosis has never been proven!” raged May.

“If you continue with this line of questioning….we will…we will …Brock you!” threatened the Killer Queen.

Merlyn’s eyes were suddenly drawn to the fact that there was a huge sharp badger claw rigged on a booby trap wire above his head.

“More importantly what were YOU doing sending your dogs into a badger hole…I believe they call it ….badger baiting? “queried Queen Brian.

In the narrow confines of his earthy coffin, Merlyn found it hard to shake his head in faux denial- as he attempted to do so- loose soil fell from the tunnel ceiling onto his face causing him to appear to nod accidentally, as he tried to dodge the dust.

“Get Sett Go!” shouted May and the claw swished across the aperture and with a direct hit scratched both of Merlyn’s eyeballs at once damaging his optic nerves as it went.

The Hunter had now become the hunted.

“You bastards….,” Merlyn screamed as the blood began to fill up in his eyes.

“ Another one bites the dust!” laughed May and Bradfield ‘manically’

“ Karma is a bitch!” spat back blind as a Batt- Merlyn….” I’ll be back with more female dogs and sort you do gooders out once and for all!” 

“Don’t stop me now!….the show must go on!” May sung theatrically, as he applied a giant mole thumper to the trespasser’s head….shooting Merlyn out of the hole quicker than Mercury.

As the huntsman flew past Perry even the two dogs were silent.

The only faint sound audible to both human and canine alike came from the hole and was a trio singing

“We are the Champions ….of the Worms!”

Blodwen  yn America  Hanes y perfformiad cyntaf yn yr Unol Daleithiau o Blodwen Joseph Parry,

sef opera gyntaf – a Chymraeg – Cymru. Llyfr newydd gan Dulais Rhys  – Dydd G ŵyl Dewi 2023  

Cyhoeddwyd gan Eres Books yn yr Unol Daleithiau: eresbooks.com

Ym mis Mai 2019, yn Billings, Montana yn yr Unol Daleithiau, perfformiwyd opera Joseph Parry  Blodwen  gan Rimrock Opera Foundation yn NOVA Center for the Performing Arts. Dyma oedd y perfformiad llwyfan llawn c yntaf o  Blodwen yn America a’r cwmni opera oedd y cyntaf yn y wlad i ganu yn Gymraeg. 

Yn dilyn braslun o fywyd a gyrfa gerddorol Joseph Parry, amlinellir hanes ei operâu, gan ganolbwyntio ar  Blodwen , ei opera gyntaf,  a’i phwysigrwydd yn hanes cerddoriaeth Cymru; yna manylir ar gysylltiad yr awdur gyda Joseph Parry.  

Yn 1978, ar gyfer dathlu canmlwyddiant perfformiad cyntaf  Blodwen , cynhaliodd Gŵyl Gerdd Menai berfformiad cyngerdd o’r opera. Ar gyfer yr ŵyl, creodd yr awdur fersiwn cerddorfa newydd a oedd yn seiliedig ar lawysgrif wreiddiol Parry – gwaith a wnaethpwyd tra oedd yn fyfyriwr yn yr Unol Daleithiau. Yn dilyn llwyddiant y perfformiad, creodd yr awdur fersiwn siambr o’r sgôr, fel y gellid perfformio  Blodwen  mewn theatrau llai a gyda cherddorfa fach. 

Ar ôl ymfudo i’r Unol Daleithiau yn 2011, cynigiodd yr awdur y trefniant i gwmnïau opera’r wlad. Derbyniwyd sawl ymateb calonogol ac yn 2016, cymerodd Rimrock Opera Foundation yn Billings yr abwyd a datgan ei fwriad i berfformio  Blodwen . Dilynwyd hyn gan gyfnod o drafodaethau, cyfarfodydd cynhyrchu, clyweliad au lleisiol, dethol y corws a gwahodd cantorion proffesiynol (o bell – yn cynnwys Cymru –   ac agos) i ymgymryd â phrif rannau’r opera. 

Cafodd y cynhyrchiad gyhoeddusrwydd eang yn y wasg a’r cyfryngau ar ddwy ochr yr Iwerydd ac mae  Blodwen  yn America  yn olrhain hanes y trafodaethau, y paratoadau a’r ymarferion ynghyd â’r perfformiadau ac ymateb y gynulleidfa a’r wasg.

In May 2019, in Billings, Montana in the United States, Joseph Parry Blodwen's opera was performed by Rimrock Opera Foundation in Nova Center for the Performing Arts. It was the first full stage performance of Blodwen in America and the opera company was the first in the country to sing in Welsh. 

Following a sketch of Joseph Parry's life and musical career, the history of his operas is outlined, focusing on Blodwen, his first opera, and her importance in the history of Welsh music; The author's connection is then detailed with Joseph Parry. 

In 1978, to celebrate the centenary of Blodwen's first performance, the Menai Music Festival held a concert performance of the opera. For the festival, the author created a new orchestra version based on Parry's original manuscript - a work done while he was a student in the United States. Following the success of the performance, the author created a chamber version of the score, so that Blodwen could be performed in smaller theaters and with a small orchestra. 

After emigrating to the United States in 2011, the author offered the arrangement to the country's opera companies. Several encouraging responses were received and in 2016, Rimrock Opera Foundation took the bait and declared its intention to perform Blodwen. This was followed by a period of discussions, production meetings, vocal auditions, chorus selection and inviting professional singers (remotely - including Wales - and near) to undertake the main parts of the opera. 

He received a broad publicity production in the press and media on both sides of the Atlantic and Blodwen in America traces the history of the discussions, preparations and exercises as well as the performances and the audience and press response.

Gêm Fwrdd sy’n ail Fyw Rhyfel Glyndŵr Dros Annibyniaeth

Mae’r Lolfa newydd ryddhau gêm fwrdd newydd Gymraeg sy’n ail-fyw gwrthryfel Owain Glyndŵr rhwng 1400-1405. Mae bwrdd y gêm wedi ei seilio ar fap o Gymru’r cyfnod ac yn cynnwys lleoliadau’r cestyll a’r brwydrau. Mae’r holl ddarnau a’r cardiau wedi eu creu yn bwrpasol i roi naws ac ymdeimlad cryf o’r canol oesoedd ac i gynnig profiad i’r rhai sy'n chwarae. Dyma’r gêm Gymraeg wreiddiol gyntaf i gael ei chyhoeddi ers blynyddoedd maith

Mae ar werth yn awr yn y Siopau Llyfrau Cymraeg am £25 a  www.ylolfa.com  am £30 yn cynnwys cludiant.

Yn ôl Geraint Thomas dyfeisydd y gem...

“Mae’r gêm yn wledd i’r llygaid, yn syml i’w chwarae ond hefyd gyda digon o elfennau amrywiol i’w wneud yn gyffrous. Bydd hefyd yn rhoi cyfle i bobl ddysgu am wrthryfel Glyndŵr ac i ail-fyw’r hanes mewn modd hwyliog. Gobeithio y bydd yn tanio’r dychymyg ac yn ysgogi pobl i ddarllen rhagor am Owain Glyndŵr a hanes Cymru.”

A New Welsh Board Game to Relive Glyndŵr’s Independence Rebellion

Y Lolfa have just released a new Welsh board game which relives the rebellion of Welsh national hero Owain Glyndŵr. According to the publishers this is the first original Welsh board game for almost 50 years. The game board is based on a map of Wales at the turn of the 15 ^th  century with drawings of the disputed castles and battles. All the pieces and cards have been purposely created to give a strong feel of the Middle Ages and to offer a genuine experience to those who play

It is available in Welsh Book Shops for £25 and  www.ylolfa.com  for £30 (p&p inc)

(Welsh game with bilingual instructions)

The organizers could not have picked a more beautiful and historic location for the first annual Daffy Dipping event. Below we outline some of the natural and historic featues of Whitesands Bay. 

On February 26th a new chapter will be written in the history of this fascinating location. If you're in the area why not get along to Whitesands and participate in the first annual Daffy Dipping extravaganza. If chill swimming is not your thing just come and cheer them on!

Whitesands Bay is a beach located in the St Davids Peninsula in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is considered one of the best beaches in the country and is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The beach is known for its wide stretch of golden sand, clear blue waters, and stunning views of the surrounding cliffs and coastline.

Whitesands Bay is also popular with surfers, as it provides excellent waves for both beginners and more experienced surfers. The beach has a large car park, public toilets, and a café that serves food and drinks throughout the day.

The area around Whitesands Bay is also home to a range of wildlife, including seals, dolphins, and a variety of sea birds. There are several walking trails in the area, including the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, which offers breathtaking views of the coastline and is a great way to explore the area's natural beauty.

CARN LLIDI

Carn Llidi is a prominent rocky outcrop located on the St Davids Peninsula in Pembrokeshire, Wales, near Whitesands Bay. It is a popular destination for hikers and walkers, offering spectacular views of the surrounding coastline and countryside.

The summit of Carn Llidi stands at 594 feet (181 meters) above sea level and can be accessed via several walking routes, including the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. From the summit, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the St Davids Peninsula, the coast, and the offshore islands.

The area around Carn Llidi is part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which is known for its rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and diverse wildlife. The hill is also home to a range of archaeological sites, including neolithic burial chambers, prehistoric enclosures and field systems, and an iron-age defensive wall. During World War II, a Chain Home Low early-warning radar station was located on Carn Llidi, and the remains of the concrete base and a Lewis gun pit can still be seen.

PEMBROKESHIRE COAST PATH

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a long-distance walking trail that follows the coastline of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in Wales, UK. The trail is approximately 186 miles (299 km) long, running from Amroth in the south to St Dogmaels in the north.

The path is renowned for its stunning coastal scenery, with rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and hidden coves to discover along the way. It is a popular destination for walkers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts, with the trail passing through a diverse range of landscapes, from wild, windswept headlands to peaceful wooded valleys.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is also rich in wildlife, with opportunities to spot seals, dolphins, and a variety of bird species along the way. The path is well-signposted and maintained, with plenty of accommodation and amenities available for walkers, including campsites, B&Bs, and pubs serving food and drink.

The trail can be walked in sections, with many visitors choosing to tackle shorter sections of the path, while others complete the entire route over several days or weeks. There are also guided tours and baggage transfer services available for those who prefer a more supported walking experience.

RAMSEY ISLAND

Ramsey Island, also known as Ynys Dewi in Welsh, is a small island located off St David's Head in Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales. It is around 1 kilometer off the northern side of St Brides Bay, and its area is about 259 hectares (640 acres). The name "Ramsey" is derived from Old Norse and means "Hrafn's island," while in Welsh, the island is named after Saint David, the patron saint of Wales.

The island has a diverse geology that consists of sedimentary, volcanic, and intrusive igneous rocks dating from the early Paleozoic era. The north part of the island is mostly mudstones of the Tetragraptus Mudstone Formation, while the south is dominated by a rhyolite intrusion. The island's coastal cliffs are formed by sedimentary rocks, including the Lingula Flags and sandstones and mudstones of the Ogof Hen Formation.

Ramsey Island has evidence of prehistoric cairns, field systems, and barrows, indicating human activity on the island dating back up to 5,000 years. There are also medieval sites on the island, such as a holy well and cemetery from the 9th century.

MEDIEVAL TRADING POST

In 2021 the Dyfed Archaeological Trust has excavated around 200 well-preserved bodies from the site of a medieval trading post with Ireland at Whitesands Beach, Pembrokeshire. The remains are from an early Christian community and have been buried in sand, providing a unique snapshot into life at the time. The Trust hopes to excavate as much of the chapel cemetery as possible due to fears coastal erosion could wash it away. Radiocarbon dating has shown the cemetery was in use from the 8th to 11th Centuries, and the excavations will be stored at the National Museum of Wales. Earlier digs had taken place at the St Patrick's Chapel site in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

SUBMERGED FOREST

During low tide, visitors to the beach can see the remains of an ancient forest, which has been preserved by the sand and sea for thousands of years. The forest is believed to have been part of an area of woodland that was once above sea level and may have extended out into the bay.

The remains of the trees are visible as stumps and are often covered in seaweed and other marine life. Scientists have been able to use the submerged forest to study past sea levels and climate change, as well as to learn more about the local environment and ecology.

The submerged forest can be accessed from Whitesands Bay during low tide, but visitors should be aware of the tides and take care when exploring the area. It is recommended to visit with a guide or tour, as the area can be dangerous and unpredictable.