Blogs

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This is the second in an occasional series of interviews with accommodation providers in north Wales who are connected with the Celticos/AmeriCymru Trail Tour . This week we would like to thank Peter Lavin, proprietor of the Castle Hotel, Conway for agreeing to be interviewed about this superb vacation venue, its location, history and attractions. Visit the Hotel website here:- Castle Hotel

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Achingly bittersweet its hard to imagine any way Hunky Dory could get much better! Heartfelt interpretations of Seventies rock are only part of the appeal of this nostalgia-drenched high school drama. - The Hollywood Reporter

Charming a Welsh blend of Glee and School of Rock, with a great soundtrack. -The Daily Mirror

Audiences will be swept up as the greatest high school band in the history of music perform a selection of impeccable hits. -The List

DIRECTED BY - Marc Evans STARRING - Minnie Driver (Grosse Pointe Blank, Good Will Hunting), Aneurin Barnard (Citadel, Spring Awakening)

SYNOPSIS - Relive the summer of 1976 in this heartwarming British musical from the producer of Billy Elliot. Minnie Driver plays Viv, a fiery high school drama teacher determined to fire up her hormonal, apathetic students by putting on the best end-of-the-year show the school has ever seen a glam rock-infused musical version of Shakespeares The Tempest. But as the Welsh summer begins to heat up, can she compete with the typical teenage distractions of sex and drugs with some great rock and roll? Find out in this fantastic, rousing film- but remove all fears of the typical teen-pop covered high school musicals from your minds, as the songs in this film are from legendary artists like David Bowie, The Beach Boys, ELO, and The Byrds.


Available now on iTunes/VOD!

RELEASE DATE
In Theaters March 22nd, Available now on iTunes/VOD

Opening 3/22:
New York City @ AMC Village 7
Los Angeles @ Laemmle Music Hall
Denver @ SIE Film Center The Villages, FL @ Rialto Theater Gloucester, MA @ Cape Ann

Community Cinema
Opening 3/26:
Sedona, AZ @ Mary Fisher Theater

Opening 3/29:
Daytona Beach, FL @ Cinematique
of Daytona Beach

Ogden, UT @ Art House Cinema 502

Opening 4/05:

Phoenix @ Harkins Valley Art Columbus, OH @ Gateway Film Center

Opens 4/06:

Charleston, SC @ Great Park
Circle Film Society

Opens 4/15:

San Diego, CA @ Gaslamp 15

More Theaters Coming Soon!

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15th March


By Huw Llywelyn Rees, 2013-03-15

Richard_Burton_and_Elizabeth_Taylor

On this day, 1961 Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor married (for the first time) in Montreal.

It was while working on the movie Cleopatra, that Elizabeth and Richard (both married to others at the time), fell in love and their subsequent affair caused something of a scandal .   They were married in a low-key ceremony at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Montreal, with only nine people in attendance.

They became Hollywood's most high-profile couple, but it was a famously tempestuous relationship and the couple divorced in 1974.  However the following year, they secretly remarried in the remote village of Kasane, Botswana, but again things did not work out and divorced for the second time in 1976.    



Monnow bridge

Monmout h's 13th-century stone gated bridge is Britain's only preserved bridge of this design and on 15th March 2004, a second bridge was opened over the River Monnow, thus allowing the old bridge to become pedestrianised.



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Born this day, 1809 in Norfolk, Virginia

Joseph Jenkins Roberts who was the first and seventh President of Liberia

His father is said to have been a planter of Welsh origin and his mother Amelia, who is described as a mulatto ( a person who is born from one white and one black parent ), was the planter's slave mistress, Joseph Roberts was therefore estimated to be seven-eighths European and therefore classified as an octoroon, someone who could easily have passed for a white man. Amelia gave all of her children but one the middle name of Jenkins, which suggests that may have been the name of their biological father.

Amelia was freed by the planter and married James Roberts, a free black man who established a successful business transporting goods by flatboat. Roberts emigrated to Liberia in 1829 as a young man, where he established a trading store and became interested in politics.

When Liberia gained its independence in 1847, Roberts became its first president and in 1872, was elected as its seventh. His presidency is notable for Liberia attaining recognition from Great Britain, France and many German cities and for developing agriculture, shipbuilding and developing trade links for the country.

* Liberia's main airport, Roberts International Airport and the town of Robertsport are named in honour of Roberts.

* His face is depicted on the Liberian ten dollar bill introduced in 1997.

* His birthday, March 15, is a national holiday in Liberia.




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Born this day, 1910 in Cwmbran

Tom Richards, who won the Marathon Silver medal at the 1948 Olympics in London.  

An interesting note about those games was that the 333 male competitors of the GB team were each issued with two pairs of Y-fronts for “ease of movement”.  Y-fronts were invented in the 1930s and would have been regarded as a luxury item in those days.  



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Geoff Charles, who died on 15th March 2002 was a photojournalist who was born in Brymbo near Wrexham in January 1909 and educated at Grove Park School in Wrexham and the University of London.

Charles began his journalistic career at the Wrexham Star and notably broke the story that the death toll figure of 100 miners lost at the Gresford disaster was a known underestimation and published the correct figure of 266. 

Later Charles worked on the Welsh language newspaper Y Cymro and took many photographs of Welsh life and eisteddfodau.  He also covered the drowning of the Capel Celyn community to create the Llyn Celyn reservoir to supply water to Liverpool.


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Here's why (From the Wiki ):-


If England win against Wales, England will win the Championship, Grand Slam and Triple Crown.

If England and Wales draw, England wins on championship points (England 9, Wales 7).

If Wales win:

If the margin is 6 points or fewer,England win on point difference.

If the margin is 8 points or more, Wales win on point difference.

If the margin is 7 points, each team will have scored the same number of points and the team with the greater number of tries in the tournament wins, otherwise the title is shared.

Wales go into the match with 7 tries against England's 5.

Get your scoreline predictions in now:-

http://americymru.net/group/grandslam2009group/forum/topics/march-16-wales-v-england-5pm-scoreline-prediction-competition

And lets hope John Good's prediction is right :)

Try our 6 Nations Crossword Challenge here:-

http://www.storyforgestudios.com/americymru/directory/xwords/view/38-six-nations-challenge-2/16

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Volent returns with a bumper three track single Broken Promises

The collection is set for release March 25th on Dockrad Records - Listen here: URL: https://soundcloud.com/volente

See below for videos links for each of the three tracks...

Festivals for All With a quirky sideways look, Volent offers up a nightmarish feast for the imagination. Electronics and the ethereal vocals combine to create a sound world that is at once contemporary and off-beat.

Buzz Magazine Volent is a lady of musical layers. On the title track of this EP, a liquid drumnbass line underpins soaring orchestral loops and a distinctive, floaty vocal that sets her apart from other outfits in the genre.

South Wales siren Volent is set to release a trio of tracks called Broken Promises, seeing her further develop her electronic credentials. Shes already received a host of critical acclaim and champions boundary blurring creativity and imaginative creativity.

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When she isnt spending her time being a full-time mum, Volent is an extremely talented artist, with many years of experience within the music industry. These tracks are a fusion of drum n bass, jungle, electronica, classical music and R n B, with the heavy element of dubstep thrown in for good measure.

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Broken Promises is a brutally honest bittersweet anthem with soaring operatic vocals, a fusion of classical music, electronic guitar, drum n bass beats and some dubstep thrown in the mix. Second track, So Many Times is an electro-ballad which showcases Volents stunning vocal range with a hint of Massive Attack-like elements. With her effortless amazing vocal range, So Many Times really showcases Volentes ability to create totally unique songs, while remaining true to her own style. A minimal but very powerful track!

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End of Times beats and vocals hit the listener like an arrow to a target! With industrial-like hooks, a heavy sub-bass, a bit of jungle and Volents mesmerising, beautiful, haunting vocals will take you to another level. End of Time is definitely one set for the dance floor! Compared by critics to the likes of Bjork, cult indie favourites The Sundays and Kate Bush, Broken Promises, once again all produced, written, arranged and performed by Volent herself, represents Volent at her best!

Volent will be playing a host of shows to promote Broken Promises including:
Fri 22nd March Warehouse 54, Newport
Fri 12th April Dublin Castle, London
Fri 26th April Buffalo Bar, Cardiff

Watch the Videos!

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Last week, South Wales electronic connoisseur, Volent, unveiled a video for each track on her brand new three song single, Broken Promises, which is bursting at the seams with elegant quirky, electro pop goodness.

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All three videos are shot beautifully, and offers a stunning visual to the emotionally charged tracks, Broken Promises, So Many Times and End of Time. All three were exclusively premiered last week on God is in the TV, Never Enough Notes and AltSounds.

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Watch the videos below and check out the exclusive features to learn more about each track!

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Volent Broken Promises
http://youtu.be/lxtGgr4CRiM

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Learn more about Broken Promises on God is in the TV, here:

http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2013/03/05/video-exclusive-volente-broken-promises/

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Volent So Many Times
http://youtu.be/gBjo2Z04Idg

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Learn more about So Many Times on Never Enough Notes here:

http://www.neverenoughnotes.co.uk/2013/03/nen-exclusive-volente-so-many-times/#.UTTxlTdBBhm

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Volent End of Time
http://youtu.be/kaQgTaeC7_M

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Learn more about End of Time on AltSounds here:

http://hangout.altsounds.com/features/156972-altsounds-exclusive-volente-time-official-video.html

Gigs and Festivals - "If you like Kate Bush, classical music, dubstep and beautifully written lyrics then Volente's new single "Broken Promises" is the must-have download of 2013. Boasting an exciting new sub-genre of electronic music, which intertwines drum 'n' bass beats with operatic vocals, this captivating singer-songwriter offers a chilling sound that will etch its way into your mind and seep into your subconscious long after you've finished listening"

Rogue Magazine - "A unique voice, both haunting and beguiling. One of the most interesting tracks I've heard for a while"

For more information, check out: www.volente.co.uk www.soundcloud.com/Volente www.twitter.com/Volentelloyd www.facebook.com/VolenteOfficialPage www.myspace.com/Volentelloyd www.dockrad.com

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14th March


By Huw Llywelyn Rees, 2013-03-14

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On this day 2012, it was announced that St Asaph was to be awarded city status.

St Asaph (Llanelwy) is situated on the River Elwy in Denbighshire, six miles south of Rhyl and close to the castles of Denbigh and Rhuddlan and has a population of 3,600

The earliest inhabitants of the vale of Elwy are believed to have been Paleolithic Neanderthals who would have hunted game during an interglacial period approximately 225,000 years ago. However, the modern day settlement first appeared in the sixth century around a Celtic monastery and church, later to become the cathedral, which was founded by Saint Kentigern, and passed on to his pupil Saint Asaph in 573. The existing building is largely 14th century with alterations made by Gilbert Scott in 1867-75 and has the distinction of being the smallest ancient Cathedral in Britain.

The Cathedral has had a fascinating history, Geoffrey of Monmouth served as bishop from 1152 to 1155, it was destroyed by Henry III in 1245 and  by Edward I in 1282. It was rebuilt between 1284 and 1381 and burned during the uprising of Owain Glyndwr in 1402.  During the rule of Oliver Cromwell from 1653 to 1658, the building was used to house pigs, cattle and horses.  The Cathedral also keeps on public display, the original Welsh Bible translated in 1588, by William Morgan, Bishop of Llandaff and St Asaph.

Wales soccer legend Ian Rush was born in St Asaph, as was current soccer international, Neil Taylor, other notable people associated with the city are, the first archbishop of Wales, Alfred George Edwards and explorer and journalist, Henry Morton Stanley.




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Born on this day 1969 in Seven Sisters

Geraint F. Lewis - astrophysicist, who is best known for his work on dark energy and galactic cannibalism.

Lewis, who was educated at Llangatwg Comprehensive, Neath Tertiary College and the Universities of London and Cambridge is a Professor of Astrophysics  at the Sydney Institute for Astronomy and head of the Gravitational Astrophysics Group. 

* Dark energy is a hypothetical form of energy that is used to explain observations that indicate that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate.

* Galactic cannibalism refers to the process by which a large galaxy merges with another.



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On this day, 2010, Welsh rugby international Andy Powell was arrested near Junction 33 on the M4, in possession of a stolen golf buggy

Brecon born Andy Powell was charged with drink driving after he allegedly took and drove away a golf buggy, in the early hours following a rugby international between Wales and Scotland.  The golf buggy was taken from the Vale Hotel in the Vale of Glamorgan where the Wales team were staying.  Powell later told police that he took the buggy to get some breakfast at the nearby motorway services and apologised without hesitation, saying that it had been a misjudgement.  Powell was banned from driving for 15 months and fined £1,000, he was also dropped from the Welsh squad for the remainder of the championship.



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Killed in action, this day 1916

Lou Phillips - former Welsh rugby international, who also won the Welsh Amateur Golfing Championship in 1907 and 1912.

Phillips was killed in action at Cambrai, on 14th March 1916, during World War I, whilst serving as a Sergeant in the Royal Welch Fusiliers.   



Barry-r-clarke-books-list-u3

Born on this day 1959 in Llanwrtyd Wells

Barry R. Clarke - puzzle designer, theoretical physicist, comedy sketch writer and Shakespeare authorship researcher.

Clarke has written and directed several award-winning short films and comedy sketches for "Alas Smith & Jones" and "Little and Large".  He also writes puzzles for several newspapers including The Daily Telegraph and also Reader's Digest.

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Marshmallow Thoughts


By Gillian Morgan, 2013-03-13

I couldn't get a signal on the telly on Sunday night. After I twisted the setabout for a while I saw the aerial lead had come out so Istuck it back (into the wrong socket), so still no signal. I called Peter who saw immediately I'd put it in the wrong place.

Well, I've always known we have differentsorts of brain.Ifind it hard to be objective, leave alone technical.

Telling my younger daughter about this she came up with an explanation: women who are exposed to high levels of the female hormone oestrogen when in the womb think in a feminine way. If they have a high dose of testosterone (the male hormone) they have masculine brains.

It figures. I've never wanted to join the army, wear uniform (I hate prickly fabric next to me) or bark orders at anyone (my voice is quite quiet so I'dneed a loud hailer). I've never wanted to be a man.

TheTimes this week has been full ofwomen who struggled back to their jobs after having babies. (They didn't need the money, so I'm not pitying them.) Don't know their levels oftestosterone butthey think they're smashing through the so-called 'glass ceiling', but I'll not go into that now. Instead, I'll talk about a trait I've noticed in 'successful' women. They like blackor navy blue.

I won't go near black or navy blue if I can help it. I was sitting in the sunshine inCarmarthen recently and noticeda celandinehad pushed through a crack in a nearby wall. A young woman passed meand the first thing I noticed was the black suit and shoes. It was two o'clock and I guessed she'd had a mid-day break and was going back to wherever she worked.

I do not want to be reminded of the colour of working uniforms, though I realise they are useful, corporateand necessary. Careerwomen are dressing in a similar way to men because they want the identification with work that these colours give.

In Indian medicine, if you suffer from gallstones (I have) you should look at the colour orange, drink from an orange glass, sit on an orange cushion and eat orange food. (I'm fine now).

Now, back to masculine women again. Pink is a healing colour, the inside shade of a baby's ear, the blush of a rose petal:what I'm wondering is, how does the colour pink affect people's perceptions?

If career women had a good dose of pink would it cure them of wanting to fight their way to the top and make them more contenttolook after their own children? Honestly, I'm not being sexist.

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13th March


By Huw Llywelyn Rees, 2013-03-13

Cowbridge

On 13th March 2004, the town of Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan celebrated the 750th anniversary of the granting of its charter in 1254. 

The history of Cowbridge goes back to Roman times but its first Charter was granted in 1254. At this time, long and narrow strips of land known as burgage plots, some of which are still visible today, were laid out and leased to the inhabitants and the town was surrounded by Town walls, with four gates.

There is also a memorial plaque for Iolo Morganwg, the 18th-century inventor of the modern day Eisteddfod, situated in Cowbridge, where he had established a shop.  



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Born this day, 1913 in Cardiff.

Tessie O'Shea - entertainer and actress.

As a young girl, Tessie was billed as the "The Wonder of Wales" and by her teens, she was a regularly performing on Radio Wales. In the 1930s, she adopted the name "Two Ton Tessie from Tennessee" and was a frequently a headline act at the London Palladium, also appearing regularly on BBC TV's variety show, The Good Old Days.  



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Born this day, 1942 in Solva, Pembrokeshire

Meic Stevens, Singer-songwriter, often referred to as the Welsh Bob Dylan.  



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Born this day, 1981 in Newport 

Ryan Jones, Wales and Lions rugby international.

Jones is one of a small group of Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams, being also captain of the 2008 Grand Slam side.  As a player he showed resilience to both injury and being replaced as captain, returning to become one of Wales's most respected players and a true warrior.    



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On 13th March 1601 - Sir Gelli Meyrick, executed for his part in the Essex Rebellion, which was an unsuccessful rebellion led by Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex against Elizabeth I of England and the court faction led by Sir Robert Cecil to gain further influence at court.

Born c.1556, Meyrick was the eldest son of Rowland Meyrick, bishop of Bangor. At an early age, he became a soldier and became acquainted with Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, who owned property in Wales.

He joined in the campaigns under Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester in the Low Countries and went with Essex on the expedition to Portugal in 1589, two years later to Normandy and the Capture of Cádiz in 1596, after which, he was knighted and presented with the manor and castle of Wigmore, Herefordshire, which he made his chief country residence.

When in January 1601 Essex had decided on raising an insurrection in the city, Meyrick armed many of his country friends with muskets and defended Essex House. The rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful and Meyrick was arrested and held in the Tower of London. He was sentenced to death on 5th March 1601. He declared himself willing to die, and explained that he merely acted under his master's orders. He was hanged at Tyburn on 13 March.

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Ceri told me to do this!


By gaabi, 2013-03-13

I like being in the background but I have to learn to do otherwise. I suck at blowing my own horn or even acknowledging that I have one. So Ceri gets to be the front man and I just work in the back and make stuff and stuff.

I started a site for things that I make and do and I resisted putting it up here because it's either things that are already on AmeriCymru or have nothing to do with Wales but some of them are interesting and if you want to know what else I do in addition to AmeriCymru - here it is - it's in progress and not complete yet, only a few things are on it but it'lll grow as I have time to work on it:

http://randomgaab.blogspot.com

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Lemon Adrenalin


By Gillian Morgan, 2013-03-12

If I lived in days of yore I'd be making my will, packing my bags and preparing to go ona long and hazardous pilgrimage to Rome any day now.

Instead, the snow and odd burst of sunshine have affected me in another way and, instead of indulging in the fever of spring cleaning, I am refurbishing.

Ignoring Peter's 'It's fine as it is -I don't know why you're bothering,' I've had the cloak roomtiled in mosaic mirror tiles; I've not got the disco ball but an Art Deco glass lampshade. (If I could put pics on I'd post a photo.)

I've also had a new bath panel tiled with grey glass mosaic tiles and one wall of the bathroom mirrored, so now every time someone calls I pull theminto thedownstairs loo before rushing them up to the bathroom.

That's not all: heavy new curtains in the bedroom resulted in the curtain rail crashing down, thus requiring athick new curtain pole. Then I hada large painting fixed on the wall behind the bed. Pleased as punch with myself, I am, andI do like having a handyman with various drills and screw drivers about the place, (not Peter; he hates DIY).

There was a time when UK television was fill of make-over programmes. I particualrly liked this American 'House Doctor' lady who told dirty Brits it was 'chavvy' not to clean theirhouses. She wrought near miracles by telling people tochuck out their junk and scrub, scrub, scrub,as though their lives swung on it.

WhereI disagreed with her was over the 'pot-pourri' she was so fond of (the sort of stinkystuff available in 1 shops). Some fresh flowers would have looked a whole lot better, but I suppose cut flowers die and thewater smells if it is not changed each day and you can't expect a whotoo muchfrom people who, like Quentin Crisp, don't notice the dust after a few years.

I was ruminating about this programme with afriend andshe said she and her partner used to watch 'House Doctor' when they'd just got together andwere doing up their house.

When theseries endedtheylost the intimacy they had developed, flopping onto the settee with curried prawns and lager each week. No other programme cut the mustard for them like that one. Who ever would have thought that you could spritz up your relationship by watching others cleaning?

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