Blogs

Follow the whole nine yards here (a 95 part series) :- Half Marathon Blog

Why I am running:- West Coast Eisteddfod Bryn Seion Church

For details of how to sponsor see this post

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Pheidippides was the first man to demonstrate the sheer folly of running for 26 miles. In his defense it should be pointed out that the Greek public transport system was in its infancy in those days. This from the Wikipedia :-

The traditional story relates that Pheidippides (530 BC490 BC), an Athenian herald, was sent to Sparta to request help when the Persians landed at Marathon, Greece. He ran 240 km (150 mi) in two days. He then ran the 40 km (25 mi) from the battlefield near Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory over Persia in the Battle of Marathon (490 BC) with the word "" (Nenikkamen, "We have won") and collapsed and died on the spot from exhaustion.

Most accounts incorrectly attribute this story to the historian Herodotus, who wrote the history of the Persian Wars in his Histories (composed about 440 BC). In reality, the traditional story appears to be a conflation from several different ancient Greek sources having varying levels of authenticity.

Robert Browning gave a version of the traditional story in his 1879 poem Pheidippides.

This is one reason why I will only be running a half marathon. Being half dead at the end of ones exertions is no biggie. A bit like having a severe hangover which can be mildly exhilarating.

As I get into my stride ( groan ) in this, the longest running ( groan again ) blog series in AC history I shall rely less on wiki quotes and expound more on the joys of physical training.

Anyway....dont miss tomorrows thrilling episode:-

Why It Is Unwise To Run Into Walls At High Speed
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http://www.open.edu/openlearn/whats-on/ou-on-the-bbc-the-story-wales

This has been a great series it's still available to watch on BBC I Player...

Follow the whole nine yards here (a 95 part series) :- Half Marathon Blog

Why I am running:- West Coast Eisteddfod Bryn Seion Church

For details of how to sponsor see this post

The Background

As a new years resolution I undertook to quit smoking, give up my Friday night sixpack and run a half marathon at some point during the year. New Years Resolutions

Last week Gaabriel announced the date of my coming ordeal. Ceri's Going to Run A Marathon! OK she exaggerated a little, I'm only doing 13 miles

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The Blog

So how does this blog fit into the scheme of things I hear you ask? Well...I decided that the physical challenge wasn't enough so for the next 95 days I am going to blog every single day on the subject of running. That means i will have to think of 95 things to say about running between now and July 4th. Of course I'll throw in details here and there about our plans for this years West Coast Eisteddfod and there will be some talk of our local 128 year old Welsh church, Bryn Seion. I'm running to raise money for both.

But now as an extra incentive to sponsor you get the additional amusement of watching me struggle to find something new to say on the same topic every day for 3 months.

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SO...don't forget to tune in for tomorrow's thrilling instalment:- 'Day Two: Pheidippides - A Lousy PR Man!'

And now for the obvious video .... sorry couldn't resist

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Double celebration for Robert Minhinnick!

Robert Minhinnick finds his collection of short stories The Keys of Babylon on the long-list for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize 2012 . Roberts collection is longlisted with 30 other authors including Edna OBrien, Robert Shearman, Hanan Al-Shaykh and Tessa Hadley. Prize co-ordinator Dr Ailsa Cox, said: This is the biggest and most eclectic long-list weve ever had, with a fantastic mix of voices and styles. Clearly, writers and their publishers are recognising the significance of this prize, unique in the British book world.

The shortlist will be revealed in May and the winners announced at an awards ceremony on 5th July at the Free Word Centre in London.

Robert also has a story from this collection on the short list for the Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award 2012 . El Aziz: some pages from his notebooks is on a list with strong contenders, Jean Kwok, Kevin Barry, Emma Donoghue, Tom Lee and Linda Oatman High. Each shortlisted author receives a 1,000 award. Joanna Trollope, one of the judges, said: Short stories are difficult to pull off. What impressed me was how much these authors accomplished in under 6,000 words. The winner will be announced on the 30th March. The Keys of Babylon is available in paperback and e-book.

For the release of the new novella, The Gospel of Us by Owen Sheers , whichis now also a film starring Michael Sheen, there will be numerous events over Easter weekend at Port Talbot, Wales. The film premiere is Sunday 8th April at the Apollo Cinema. The book will be available to buy in the cinema all weekend. (See below for more information on the book). To see a list of screenings of the new film, click here

New Titles

The Gospel of Us by Owen Sheers Owen Sheers reimagines his three day dramatisation of the Passion, set in the streets and clubs of Port Talbot. While the town awaits the arrival of the Company Man, a stranger appears in the windswept dunes, singing songs to the sea. This is just the start of three days of unearthly events in Port Talbot that see the Teacher soothe a suicide bomber and the dead rising from the walls of an underpass. Owen is one of the finest writers at work today. He always finds the sublime in the everyday and the miracle in the mundane. - Michael Sheen ISBN:9781854116222 Paperback: 8.99

The Book of Idiots by Christopher Meredith Tipsy, sick Wil Daniel tells the narrator, Dean, a tale that may be a ghost story or a romance, a farce or a tragedy. Meanwhile we get glimpses of Deans own half-lived life, and those of friends and colleagues. These threads develop into a dark, offbeat and merciless examination of maleness and mortality. Can Clive regain the triumphs he achieved at the age of nine? Will Jeff stop his swimming trunks from dissolving? You will sail through this hilarious black comedy at one sitting - Gwen Davies, Western Mail A darkly comic triumph - ShortList Magazine ISBN: 9781854115652 Paperback: 8.99

Tokens for the Foundlings by Tony Curtis Childhood and family are enduring themes for writers and Tokens of the Foundlings offers a unique entry into these subjects through moving and beautiful poems. The foreword is by author and journalist Daisy Goodwin, and the book cover features a Foundlings museum artwork by Tracey Emin. Includes poems by Gillian Clarke, Carol Ann Duffy, Helen Dunmore, Stephen Knight, Don Paterson, Elaine Feinstein, Dannie Abse, Seamus Heaney, David Harsent, Carol Rumens, Kate Bingham, Michael Longley and George Szirtes among many other, all of whom have donated their work. Tokens for the Foundlings is published for the benefit of the Foundlings Museum in London, with royalties paid to it. ISBN: 9781854115812 Paperback: 12.99

Jack the Ripper: The Hand of a Woman by John Morris In Jack the Ripper: The Hand of a Woman , author John Morris opens a new chapter in Ripperology. As a result of extensive research by Morris (and his late father, who was equally fascinated by the mystery) he believes the only satisfactory conclusion is that Jack was, in reality, a woman. In this well argued case, Morris finds evidence that it was in fact a woman who committed these horrific crimes, and can actually name the suspect. The story of Morriss research includes many twists and turns as he examines the principle players, the killers motivation, and modern day cases similar to the Ripper murders. Has John Morris finally solved the infamous murders of Jack the Ripper? (John Morris will feature in the Sunday Express on the 1st April 2012) ISBN: 9781854115669 Paperback: 9.99

Forthcoming Titles

The Flying Trapeze by Duncan Bush One of the most significant voices of his generation from Wales, a new book by Duncan Bush is an eagerly awaited event. The Flying Trapeze , his sixth poetry collection is characteristically unsentimental, tough-minded, and fiercely lyrical. Many poems are inspired by places he has lived in or travelled to including: Australia, Greece, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the United States. There is a touch of bitter political satire in pieces like Mitterands Last Supper, A Season in Sarajevo and Lahore and some fine, unexpected nature poems, which pinpoint the tension in his poetry between a sensual rapture and a knowing cynicism. The Flying Trapeze is an excellent new collection, never less than subtle, smart and true. Publication:April 2012 ISBN: 9781854115942 Price: 7.99

Clueless Dogs by Rhian Edwards Clueless Dogs is the first collection of poetry by Rhian Edwards. Already a noted performer of both her songs and poetry, this book confirms her startling talent. Full of verve and humour, with a spiky syntax featuring hard-edged consonants, her language has a winning honesty and intensity. Although the author doesnt flinch from ruthless depictions in which we are often implicated by her use of the second person You, there is an underlying sweetness, an elegiac thread running throughout. Clueless Dogs is a brave and beautiful first book. Rhian Edwards is the winner of the John Tripp Award for Spoken Poetry 2011/12 An astounding Welsh poet with performances that get you in the emotional gut Ian McMillan on The Verb , BBCRadio 3. Publication: May 2012 ISBN: 9781854115737 Price: 8.99

Meet the Author

Saturday 31st March, 1 pm-5 pm. Poetry Readings, Anne-Marie Fyfe , Deborah Poe, Rigoberto Gonzalez, Floyd Chung, Quincy Lehr, Ana Bozicevic, Jane Collins & many more at 2nd Westchester Poetry Festival at The Masters School, 49 Clinton Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, NY.

Sunday 1st April, 7.30pm. Ellie Evans The Ivy Hides the Fig Ripe Duchess and Carol Rumens De Chirico's Threads will be reading at the Torriano Meeting House, 99 Torriano Avenue, London NW5 2RX. Nearest Tube: Kentish Town. Tel: 020 7267 2751 Email: leahf@blueyonder.co.uk Tickets 5.00 on the door, 3.00 in advance.

Thursday 5 April, 7.30pm. The acclaimed Welsh author, poet and scriptwriter, Owen Sheers, presents his new novella The Gospel of Us , a retelling of the Passion, based on the author's groundbreaking National Theatre of Wales play. Tickets 3 (with 1.50 redeemable against The Gospel of Us and 1.50 redeemable against any other of the authors books on the night.). A Chepstow Bookshop Event.

Thursday 5th April 7.30pm: Join us for the April First Thursday reading at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff with Christopher Meredith The Book of Idiots and Duncan Bush The Flying Trapeze followed by open mic. Media Point Room 2.50

Saturday 7th April, 1.00pm. The Gospel of Us Launch. Meet author Owen Sheers at Port Talbot Library, 1st Floor, Aberafan Shopping Centre, Port Talbot. Entry free, but booking required. Call 01639 763491 or email p.a.doyle@npt.gov.uk to reserve your place. Part of National Theatre Wales Passion Memory Event taking place in the town over the Easter period, including screenings of the film of the Gospel of Us and Q&As with Owen and Michael Sheen.

Friday 13th April 5.30pm: Mabinogion Event chaired by Peter Finch. Join Fflur Dafydd and Horatio Clare at the Laugharne Festival - The Browns Courtyard 5.30pm. Fflur and Horatio will be reading and discussing their adaptations of stories from the Mabinogion .

Saturday 14th April, 2pm: Tony Curtis presents his new anthology Tokens for the Foundlings at The Foundling Museum, Bloomsbury, with several contributors including Helen Dunmore, George Szirtes, Mimi Khalvati, Lynette Craig, Rosie Shepperd, Crystal Jeans, Dannie Abse and Lyn Hjelmgaard. Free admission but booking required. Please contact enquiries@foundlingmuseum.org.uk or 020 7841 3600.

Saturday 14th April, 10am - 5pm: Poetry Reading, Anne-Marie Fyfe at Taste of the Yeats Summer School Glucksman Ireland House, NYU, 1 Washington Mews, NY.

Sunday 15th April, 4pm: Poetry Reading, Anne-Marie Fyfe & Cheryl Moskowitz at Sunday Best, The Lounge at Hudson View Gdns, 116 Pinehurst Ave at W. 183rd St, North Manhattan, NY.

Tuesday 17th April 6.30pm: Join us for an eventful evening of poetry and fiction at The Old Crown Public House, 33 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1BH. Reading from their books, published by Seren, will be Duncan Bush , Graham Mort and Christopher Meredith .

Friday 20th & Saturday 21st April: John Hewitt/Glens of Antrim Spring Festival at Londonderry Arms, Carnlough, on the Antrim Coast. Featuring Mavis Cheek, Hector McDonnell, Eoghan Walls, C.L. Dallat, Heather Richardson, Martin Mooney, Moya Cannon, Bernie McGill, Anne-Marie Fyfe & Kapka Kassabova.

Thursday 3rd May 2012 6.30pm: Join Christopher Meredith The Book of Idiots and Graham Mort Cusp ,for an evening of fiction and poetry AberystwythArts Centre Book shop, Aberystwyth University.

Thursday 3rd May 2012 7.30pm: Join us for the May First Thursday at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff with Rhian Edwards Clueless Dogs and Robert Minhinnick The Keys of Babylon . Followed by open mic. 2.50 Media Point Room.

Poem of the Month

Arawn, lord of Annwn

This is the story as it must be told,
the boy twisting away from you
through the summer wood, becoming man,

becoming Prince of Dyfed. And this
is the story as it must be told, the prince too
stepping his horse out of birdsong,

the tangling of hounds. The blood
slick on the grass, the antlers rearing
as the shadow of a god. This is the story

as it must be told, the prince
meeting himself among the foliate faces
of a book; and turns, mouth opening

to cry to you: no.
This is the story as it must be told,
the boy, the prince, the summer wood.

Blood on the grass, the shadow
of horns. And in the half-face of a god,
islands of glass. His opened eyes.

From Regeneration by Meirion Jordan (Seren 2012)

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This is the Pont Briwet bridge near Penhryndeudraeth on the Cambrian Coast Line. Network Rail and Gwynedd Council are inviting quotes for a new structure. The cost is likely to be 20 million. So, if you have a construction company here is a good opportunity for you. (Steam Railway Magazine, No. 399).


BTW you will also find my crosswords in this magazine - unashamedly a plug.

I'm finally able to report that part one of myhistorical novel "Silver Fox" ~ about Owain Glyndwr's War of Independence ~ is now available for purchase from Amazon as a Kindle upload. Yay!

I'm also delighted to mention (modestly) that I've been short-listed for the Welsh Tir na n-Og Award for my latest teenage novel "Full Moon".

I'm just back from another tour (earlier in March) of South Wales visiting schools and libraries talking about writing and books to and with approximately 700 pre-teens. I'm off again in May and again in July.

Annwyl Gyfeillion,

Please go to this link and sign the petition set up by Professor Myron Evans of Craig Cefn Parc, which is situated in the Mawr constituency Ward of Abertawe/Swansea.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/against-development-in-mawr-community.html

Mynydd y Gwair, A large and beautiful mountainous Cymric plateau located within this Ward is currently threatened by plans to build a gigantic wind farm on it. See the following link for news and background history on this issue: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-17385189 and Professor Myron Evans, who lives in the Ward is vehemently against this plan as are we.

Whilst the above is going on, there are also proposals before Swansea Council at this very moment in regards to housing developments in Craig Cefn Parc. The MA007 plan aims to develop the Commonland of Gelliwastad. This is illegal! MA008 aims to build houses on the land of Ioan Richards. These plans are very heavily opposed. Ioan Richards is the current County Council candidate, also Independent, and although, the overall majority in the Ward is against these developments, and although he already has two houses in the ward, he obviously intends to go ahead with his private housing development which will make him a multi millionaire.

The petition is open to anyone world wide to sign so, if you agree with Professor Evans and us that these private development plans should be opposed on the ground that they are for profit and not for the local community then PLEASE, PLEASE sign the petition and pass the link on for others to sign. Diolch yn fawr.

Professor Myron is standing against Ioan Richards in the coming County Councils elections in May and I and Embassy Glyndr will support and campaign on his behalf. So, if you have family or have friends in this Mawr Ward, please advise them to vote for Professor Evans as an intelligent sound Cymric patriot with good sound Cymric principles.

Following is a bio pic of Professor Myron Evans in which there is a link to his website where you will also find his Election Manifesto.

Myron Evans, Independent, Mawr

Myron Evans was born in Craig Cefn Parc in the same house where he lives now, a house built by his great grandfather William Newlands, and also the house of Thomas Elim Jones, head Deacon of Elim Baptist Chapel. he went to Craig Cefn Parc school, Pontardawe Grammar School and University College of Wales Aberystwyth. He earned a B. Sc. (First Class) in 1971, a Ph. D. in 1974 and higher doctorate, D. Sc. (Scientiae Doctor) in 1977. He went to Oxford in 1974 and returned to Aberystwyth, Bangor and Swansea, then to IBM as a full professor and to Cornell in New York State. He became a full professor in North Carolina, and now is a scientist of the Civil List, a high honour similar to Order of Merit for his work in science. He was raised to Armiger in 2008 with his own coat of arms. He is strongly against the wind turbines that threaten to destroy Mynydd y Gwair and Mynydd y Betws. His website is www.aias.us and he is also a bard, poet and author. His complete manifesto is on the blog of this website, together with many campaign messages and hundreds of messages against wind turbines. He descends on his father's side from Prince Bleddyn ap Maenarch Brycheiniog and on his mother's side from the Tudor era Hopkin and from the Havard Families of RhyndwyClydach and Cwm Cerdinen.

Further Info:

This daily report illustrates some of the work done as AIAS Director by the Independent Candidate for Mawr, Myron Evans. This is a report of the number of leading universities worldwide and similar that visit www.aias.us every day. The Alpha Institute for Advanced Studies (AIAS) was founded by Myron Evans in 1998 and is run from Mawr, being fully international, and judging by the tremendous international interest in its work (feedback software), is one of the world's leading institutes of theoretical physics, established under the Newlands Family Trust (Est. 2012). Yesterday there were 3,024 hits from 610 distinct visits, 15% spiders. Scence and Technology Research Institute Ministry of Defence Government of Argentina UFT166 (Spanish); Austrian Institute of Technology general; University of Linz Austria UFT177; Bulgarian University of Agriculture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy LCR resonant; Physics University of British Columbia Canada UFT18; University of Muenster UFT140; Arizona State University UFT178; Faculty of Arts and Science Harvard University UFT157; Simons Center for geometry and Physics State University of New York Stonybrook UFT41; University of Illinois at Chicago UFT75; School of Public Administration University of New Mexico UFT38; Computer Science and Engineering University of Washington general; Wheaton College Essay 26; Engineering University of Wisconsin UFT38, essay24, UFT174; University of Caen Normandy photon B3; University of Poitiers general; US Government National Institutes of Health Educational notes 1 and 2, O level section; Indian Institute of Technology Madras infinite solenoid; Indian Institute of Astrophysics UFT208; Milan Polytechnic University UFT29; Physics University of Utrecht Netherlands UFT109; University of Vest din Timisoara Romania UFT175; Lulea Technical University Sweden UFT175 (Spanish); National Tsing Hua Univeristy Taiwan UFT99; Brunel University UFT99. Intense study all sectors internationally of all material on www.aias.us . This occurs every day continuously around the world.

Here are three links to short films that we at Embassy Glyndr have produced so far as part of our contribution to the campaign against the Windmilling of Cymru. These films were taken on Mynydd y Betws. Another on Mynydd y Gwair will be ready to release around Easter.

Diolch.

Sin

I am really gutted. For two years I have been planning a trip to the States for our 30th wedding anniversary which is to include an Amtrak journey from Chicago to San Francisco with a two week stay in Colorado. The highlight of the journey was to be the climb from Denver through the spectacular Rocky Mountains to Glenwood Springs. Amtrak informed me yesterday that Union Pacific are doing some maintenance work and now we will make the journey on a bus on a Interstate freeway. Yuck, trust my luck as I cannot change the dates of the vacation.