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Fonmon Castle... Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales ST 047 681 ... Fonmon is one of the few medieval castles which is still lived in as a home...www.castlewales.com/fonmon

This morning our lawyer's office informed us that the IRS has granted our 501(c)(3) status and we are officially a recognized tax-exempt public charity in the United States!We formed a corporation to put on the Left Coast Eisteddfod, the Meriwether Lewis Memorial Eisteddfod Foundation, which will also create and support artistic and educational activities, events and programs on Welsh culture and heritage. For Americans, this means that donations they make in support of the Eisteddfod or any other program by the foundation will be exempt from US taxation.We retained attorney David Atkin and his staff, paralegals Lynette and Elizabeth, of Non-Profit Support Services of Eugene, Oregon and they made this happen. They have decades of successful experience doing nothing but non-profit law and we can't recommend them highly enough. Their rates were reasonable; they were competent, honorable and professional and we're very grateful for this resolution.Phew! Now back to the regular event planning....

Please ask Google to add Welsh to their list of languages!First, go to http://mail.google.com/support/bin/static.py?page=suggestions.cs Scroll to the bottom of the pageUnder 'I have another idea', select 'Interface and Settings'Then select 'Settings'Then 'Languages'At the bottom box, type in WelshThank you!

A new novel based on Welsh history has been reprinted within two months of its release as a result of a great response in the USA. Tongue Tied by Peter Griffiths, a Welsh author whos lived in America for many years, is set in the Tryweryn Valley, the Rhondda, and around Llanelli. It has proved to be a hit with American readers and in particular with book club enthusiasts who have praised the author as a wonderful storyteller and the novel as a wonderful story about friendship and the ties that bind.

Dewi Roberts who has reviewed the book for Gwales says: This is a powerful story which explores relationships, religion, language and identity. On the subject of national identity, Griffiths states, One is Welsh if one feels Welsh. The novel recognises the tension that arises at times between the majority of Welsh people who cant speak Welsh and the minority who can; and the divisiveness of the language in these instances is compared, with sadness, to its crucial unifying role over the millennia.

The author was inspired to write Tongue Tied twenty-five years after leaving his homeland. He says, In 2000, while driving from Heathrow to Bala, climbing the Berwyn from Llangynog, I distinctly remember being moved by the grandeur, and feeling ludicrously patriotic. How could I not write a novel glorifying Wales, its people, and its language? It would be aimed partly at my circle of acquaintances in the States, who go weak at the knees over Scotland and Ireland, but rarely over Wales.

A book signing event has been arranged for 6.30pm on 10 June at Awen Meirion, Bala, close to where the novel is set.

Peter Griffiths, who is a Welsh speaker, was born in Cynheidre near Llanelli in Carmarthenshire. He now divides his time between Swansea and Denver. This is his first novel.

There is a tradition in non conformist religions that when a person dies it is beholden on the Minister who conducts the funeral to say something good about the recently deceased.When I was a mere whippersnapper of a lad around the age of eighteen an uncle of mine passed away. Then as now, a service was first held in the deceaseds house before moving on to the internment. These services took place amid as many people as could be crammed into the parlour, living room, passage, and kitchen. In small houses the intensity of the occasion was increased tenfold by this gathering. This I thought was rather unfair on the immediate family as they were under enough stress without having to cope with the prying eyes and ears of a multitude of people who wanted the service to end as quickly as possible. However, just when you thought things couldnt get any worse there were occasions when they did. This was largely due to the selection of the Minister in charge.Ministers came in all shapes and sizes. The majority were sympathetic to the needs of the bereaved and would more often than not conduct a short low key service to spare the mourners any unnecessary grief. Not so one Carmel Jones. Jones was from the old school. He would deliver a service as though he were playing to the gallery. His voice would bellow with exhortations to the LORD a word he could hold and expand for a full five seconds. There wasnt an emotion he couldnt tap into at will and increase its intensity. The effect of this skill was to send some close mourners off into faints and levels of grief that would challenge a cult deprogrammer. And so it was in my uncles funeral that he started his mesmeric machinations.I, my cousin Tony and his father Gareth were situated in the passage of the house when the service started. It wasnt long before we got fed up with Carmels act and so we started talking amongst ourselves. I started to relate a tale about a man called John Treorchy who lived over the mountain in Hirwaun. He was a hated man and no one had a good word for him. When he died speculation was rife as to what the Minister would say about him, compelled as he would be to say something good. On the day of the funeral hundreds turned out for a man who in life couldnt have expected more than a grave digger and a preacher to bury him. As the wind and rain blew everyone strained to hear what the Minister would say about this most reviled of men. Well" the Minister said We have come to bury John Treorchy. Ill say this for him. He was a good whistler.Back at the funeral I was attending I hadnt realised that everyone in ear shot had listened to me and the effect of the tale had released some tension as everyone was trying desperately to stifle laughter. The harder they tried the more they wanted to laugh. The upshot was that we had to get out of the house as fast as possible which we did. Outside people were sympathetic as about fifteen men walked out hiding their faces and wiping their eyes. I remember an old woman saying to her friend. Duw. That Carmel Jones really knows his stuff.

Azerbaijan 0-1 WalesRob Earnshaw congratulates Wales goal-scorer Dave EdwardsDave Edwards' second international goal was enough for a young and depleted Wales side to secure a narrow World Cup qualifying win in Baku.The Wolves midfielder made the most of panic in the box three minutes before the break to fire into an empty net.He was free to strike as the Azerbaijan defence failed to deal with Robert Earnshaw's right-wing cross.Azerbaijan had chances through Branimir Subasic and Vugar Nadirov who were denied by keeper Wayne Hennessey.Despite the win, Wales still need nothing short of a miracle to qualify from Group Four for next year's tournament in South Africa.But the young side will take heart from a solid, if not inspiring, performance against their hosts who could see under-fire coach Berti Vogts sacked following the defeat.Toshack pleased with youngstersCredit to Azerbaijan though who were more threatening at times in the second half and put Wales under pressure particularly in the closing stages.It was a stark contrast to the first 45 minutes that offered very little from both sides.The only two pieces of action of note came in the final three minutes, first when Edwards clinched what turned out to be the winner.And then on the stroke of half time, Zeynal Zeynalov tested Hennesey with an effort from outside the box, but the Wolves stopper saved comfortably.Hennessey was more active after the break and did well when he had to turn substitute Subasic's close range shot around the post.Then he was able to easily collect Elmar Bakhshiyev's deflected shot before denying Vugar Nadirov's far post header with 13 minutes to go.Wales rarely threatened Farhad Veliyev in the Azerbaijan goal and looked to tire in the last 30 minutes.But they held out for a morale-boosting win.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Azerbaijan: Veliyev, Shukurov, Rashad Sadygov, Nabiyev (Huseynov 50), Melikov, Levin, Bahshiev, Zeynalov, Ramin (Subasic 45), Javadov, Akhtyamov (Nadirov 60).Subs Not Used: Mehdiev, Pereira, Maharramov, Jalilov.Wales: Hennessey, Eardley, Williams, Morgan, Nyatanga, Gunter, Ledley, Ramsey, Edwards, Church (Tudur Jones 83), Earnshaw (Vokes 70).Subs Not Used: Myhill, Price, King, MacDonald, Allen.Booked: Morgan.Goals: Edwards 42.Att: 26,728Ref: Markus Strombergsson (Sweden).HEAR WHAT JOHN TOSHACK GOT TO SAY BY CLICKING THE LINK http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8087374.stm

Why is ROAR necessary? It is estimated that 98% of disabled children, many with complex needs live at home and are supported by their families, who can ill afford the costly care they require.The needs of children, young people and their families are likely to be many, varied and complex. Many clinicians report that children and young people requiring medical care are facing longer periods in poorer health. Parents often carry out much of the care themselves, but find that the support available from their local statutory services is limited.What we can doHelp disabled children and those with life-limiting illness, ROAR will work to give these children comfort, dignity and where possible, greater independence. R esponding to specific identified needs O f disabled children and those with life-limiting illnesses A ssisting them by supplying a wide range of equipment R eacting quickly in the realisation the child's life could be shortTo raise more funds, in order to meet the requirements of an increasing number of children with life-limiting illnesses throughout South Wales.PLEASE PASS THIS WEBSITE ONTO YOUR FRIENDS ON AMERICYMRU..... www.ieuanthelion.com

Back in the late sixties Prince Charles was being put on display for the Welsh people in anticipation of his investiture as Prince of Wales. As fate would have it he was attending some official military engagements in the South Wales valleys accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan. Their journey took them from Bridgend at the bottom of the Ogwr valley through Nantymoel and over the Bwlch mountain road into Treorchy where they could make their way directly to Pontypridd and Cardiff.On reaching Treorchy the Lord Lieutenant realised they were running ahead of time and he asked Charles if it would be allright to stop in the village for a while as the landlord of the Red Cow Hotel was an old friend of his as they had served in the RAF together during the Second World War. Charles agreed and accompanied the Lord Lieutenant to the pub. They were both wearing full dress ceremonial uniform.When they went inside there was no one there except Mrs Matty Evans and Mrs Dilys Lloyd who were employed as cleaners. The Lord Lieutenant enquired after the landlord who went by the name of Terry Vaughan. He was told by Mrs Evans that Mr Vaughan was upstairs but she could get him if they liked. And so she did. To save herself a climb up the stairs she stood at the base of the stairway and screeched TERRYYYYYYYYYYYYY. She did this a few times until there was a reply. What do you want Matty. Im busy doing the books. Matty indignantly replied Will you come down here please. A couple of your friends from the Cory Band are here and they want to see you.

USA (3) 15Tries: Tuilevuka, Gagiani Cons: DeBartalo Pens: DeBartaloWales (27) 48Tries: M Jones, J Davies 2, Pen try, James, Cooper Cons: Robinson 3, James, Biggar Pens: Robinson 2--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jonathan Davies scores the first of his two triesWales ran home six tries as they ended their tour of North America with a comfortable win against the United States in Chicago.Gloucester-bound Nicky Robinson marked his return to international rugby after a three year absence by scoring 12 points with his boot.Mark Jones, Jonathan Davies (two), Tom James, Gareth Cooper all got across the try-line, along with a penalty try.The US scored two tries through Alipate Tuilevuka and JJ Gagiani.Wales could have marked their 600th game with a more comfortable win had they not been guilty of making needless errors.Robinson kicked twice in a minute to give the tourists an early 6-0 lead after the United States were first caught offside and then penalised for failing to release.That lead was halved on 13 minutes with Gavin DeBartalo sending a huge kick from the left between the posts.But just two minutes later, Wales grabbed their first try when their forwards spread the ball quickly across for Mark Jones to cross in the corner, his first international try since 2007.Robinson converted to make it 13-3 and it did not take long to reach the 20 point mark when he popped the ball over to second-cap Jonathan Davies to race through and over.It was not all plain sailing though. Before the second try, Wales lost captain Ryan Jones after he failed to recover from a first minute challenge by Eagles prop Will Johnson.Cardiff Blues' Sam Warburton won his first cap as Jones replacement before openside flanker Robin-Sowden Taylor was the next casualty with a hamstring injury.It did not hamper their cause as an already uphill task for the United States was made even tougher when Louis Stanfill was yellow-carded seven minutes before the break for pulling down the maul.Captain Ryan Jones is treated after the first minute challengeAnd it was not long before the lead was extended to a 27-3 half-time lead after a penalty try was awarded.The US made a strong start to the second half and got their first try 13 minutes in when Alipate Tuilevuka burst through with DeBartalo converting.Wales were guilty of making needless mistakes which helped keep the US in the hunt.But they grabbed the fourth try just after the hour when Cardiff Blues' Tom James booted a loose ball which low down the line and he ran unopposed to touch the ball down. Robinson converted to make it 34-10.In the closing stages Gareth Cooper added a fifth try from Dan Biggar's punt and it was Biggar who took the score past the 40-point mark with the conversion.Davies added his second late on with Biggar converting before JJ Gagiani got a second for the hosts at the death.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------USA: Wyles, DeBartalo, Tuilevuka, Suniula, Swiryn, Malifa, Petri, Moeakiola, Biller, W. Johnson, van der Giessen, Smith, Stanfill, Dahl, N. Johnson.Replacements: McClanahan, MacDonald, Mackay, Gagiani, Usasz, Hercus, Sifa.Wales: Evans, M. Jones, Davies, Bishop, T. James, Robinson, Peel, Yapp, Williams, D. Jones, D. Jones, Gough, D. Jones, Sowden-Taylor, R. Jones.Replacements: Hibbard, Mitchell, Charteris, Warburton, Cooper, Biggar, Spratt.Ref: Matt Goddard (Australia).

As if you didn't already know I thought Wales did better than they did in Toronto but there were a few good moves from the US side as well. It never really seemed like the final result was in question and the match underlined the fact that we need to get behind Rugby more in the US and maybe put some more money into the game.