Blogs
Join Us for an All-Day Celebration of Welsh Motherhood
Honoring Dylan Thomass Mam on the 130th Anniversary of Her Birth.
A Welsh Mam is a dragon with a huge heart... a woman you could trust with your life: a woman of pride, high standards, love and fierce loyalty. So says Annie Haden doyenne of 5 Cwmdonkin Drive Dylan Thomass lovingly-restored birthplace and home in Swansea, Wales.
And so, on April 27 from 10:30 am 4:30 pm, Annie is hosting a free tea party at the Thomas familys former home. She invites anyone in the area to drop in and share stories of a Welsh Mam. Shell supply the tea and Welsh Cakes, while visitors supply the memories - photos, recipes or reminiscences.
The celebration honoring Welsh motherhood and Florence Thomas continues from 7:30 pm with an evening of sung and spoken words that glorify the strength, pride and love of the Welsh Mam. Lorraine King and Cheryl Beer are among the poets, singers and storytellers who will participate. You can bring your own wine, if you like. Price 10.00 (approximately $16 USD) per person. To reserve, email: annie@dylanthomasbirthplace.com.
Reproduced with kind permission from David Western's Portland Lovespoon Blog
One of the best things about lovespoons is the amount of detail which can be carved into any given spoon. There really is no limit to the symbols, decorations and intimate detailing which can go on! Sadly, this abundance of riches seems to be seldom exploited in the commercial lovespoon world and many clients are under the impression they must choose a ready-made spoon or mash-up a design from a range of 'available symbols'. That may be the case when the spoons are being mass produced using pre-programmed patterns, but for someone like me (or the other wonderful hand-carvers who produce one-of-a-kind lovespoons) the sky is the limit when it comes to inventive design.
For me, probably the most exciting part of a lovespoon commission is figuring out the design. It can certainly also be the most frustrating and always has the potential to go horribly wrong...but when things go well and the client is delighted with the results, the carving part seems to always be that much more enjoyable. Sometimes, my clients really like to get involved and they come to me with loads of ideas and great excitement. THAT'S when things are really fun. We can work through their ideas and visions for the design and chip away until we've got one that really 'speaks to them'.
Sometimes, my clients will give me some basic background information to lay the design's foundation and then well step back and leave it to me to build the rest. These commissions are a double edged sword in that they leave me loads of leeway for 'artistic freedom' but they put a heavier load on me 'getting it right' for the client. Occasionally, my vision and the client's don't align and then modifications need to be made OR even the odd trip right back to the drawing board! The most important thing is that I wind up with a design the client is happy with. After all, the spoon IS for them!
It's a tricky job and frequently those designs which are just supposed to pop out of my head decide to stay firmly lodged in the 'little grey cells' until I can pry them loose. Designing is definitely not the easiest thing I've ever had to do and like anything else worth doing; it takes effort and much practice. Even though I think I design pretty good lovespoons, I love to admire some of the work by some of my fellow lovespoon carvers and am always willing to learn from them and to expand my 'vocabulary' when ever possible. It keeps the work fresh, vibrant and exciting!
It also enables me to say that commissioning a real handmade lovespoon, whether from me or some of the other fine hand-crafters out there, is an opportunity to own a unique work of art which honestly and accurately captures the essence of your life stories in a personal and intimate way which is impossible to find in any other gift. It's all in the details!!
Bernard Knight, author of historical fiction, mysteries and much more over a more than 30 year writing career has consented to give us another interview and we want YOUR questions for him!
Read our first interview with him here and let us know what you,AmeriCymru members, think we should ask Bernard Knight, what you think people want to ask Bernard Knight, we'll pick the best ones and we'll pose those questions from you!
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Hey how are you today?
Cardiff based electronic cut-and-paste wizard Conformist releases his new album, Paid To Fake available to download on the 30 th April. This follows on from the well received single, Savages Go Modern which resulted in a BBC live session and extensive coverage. Any news pieces, reviews, airplay, interview requests welcome!
Stream the track here:
http://soundcloud.com/soundandvisionpr/conformist-savages-go-modern
Conformist at BBC Radio Wales
"a release thats audacious and brilliant."
Whisper-in-and-holler-in
awesome track!
The Sprout
Probably the weirdest thing I've listened to since Aphex Twin
Liverpool Daily Post
28-year-old Michael Simmons is the man behind Conformist, hailing originally from the picturesque village of Dale in Pembrokeshire. Michael's musical inspiration quickened with a move to Cardiff's beckoning City lights. Conformist expertly manipulates and reassembles intricate layers of sounds, sampling from cable TV shows, shopping channels, talk shows, pornos, the dregs of TV, hacking, editing to extreme levels of complexity, cutting and pasting together a complex patch work quilt of filthy noise the soundtrack to the cities seedy post-apocalyptic underbelly! His 8 bit analogue chip-tune melodies are shuddered by post-dubstep baselines, sliced open by jagged post punk guitars, and thudded by huge 808 drums hits, which sound like a tower block collapsing. Conformist presents you with his enthralling but dizzy rush of ideas and noises.
Conformist's glum swatches of electronic sound offer a neat line in humour too, morally bereft and cutting to the punch line, exposing clich and avoiding it. Thus his work is built for the dance floor as much as it is for thought provoking head moving headphone sessions in the dead of night. In the past Conformist has been praised gained airplay on Steve Lamacq's on R1 and Adam Walton's Radio Wales show and earned the praise of local tome The Miniature Music Press and the influential Careless Talk Costs Lives magazine.
Conformist is also the driving force behind Cardiff's newest audio production facility, Smash Mastering, offering mastering, mixing and acclaimed remixes. See his work on local boys Kutosis' track 'Islands' and Bury Me in LA's 'Young Lust Seekers' these serve as a crunchy taster for his forthcoming new single 'Savages Go Modern' followed by a long player scheduled for release in 2012.
http://www.conformistmusic.co.uk
don't know who this guy is but he seems to think iIm the frontman for sicknote!
Welsh tributes as Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, resigns
By WelshAmericanPride, 2012-03-16
Welsh tributes as Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, resigns
16 March 2012 Last updated at 08:06 ET
Excerpt:
Tributes are being paid in Wales to Dr Rowan Williams for his work as Archbishop of Canterbury.
Swansea-born Dr Williams has announced he is to stand down in December after 10 years in the post.
The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said Dr Williams had worked tirelessly over the past decade to hold the Anglican Communion together.
"Perhaps his true worth will only really be appreciated by the church once he's gone," he said.
Born in 1950 in the Swansea Valley he was educated at Dynevor Secondary School before going on to Christ's College, Cambridge.
He will take the position of Master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge from January 2013, his website says.
He said stepping down had not been an easy decision and said it had been "an immense privilege" to serve as the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury... Continued at BBC:
BBC Welsh Tributes as Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, resigns
Pembrey golf professional Martin Stimson is celebrating five years as the Pro at the Ashburnham Championship Links golf course.
It a marvellous course and one which makes it a pleasure coming to work every day, said the 45-year-old.
Stimson has known the course as man and boy, being born in Pembrey and a former pupil of Glan-y-Mor School in Burry Port.
I originally came here during the time Richard Player was here in the 1980s. I trained under Robert Ryder for five years.
I went back into engineering work for a while, but then turned Pro when I was 30.
I spent some time at Milford Haven, but then came back here as Pro in 2007.
Ive known some of the members since I was a boy and they are a great crowd.
Stimsons work as club Pro involves a number of duties.
I run the club shop and, of course, I am available for lessons.
We run a service centre for power caddies, we hire out buggies and we look after all sorts of repairs.
The focus is always on looking after club members and making sure that the Ashburnham experience is one that they appreciate and enjoy.
Stimson also takes part in competitions.
As a PGA member, I compete on the west region circuit and try to qualify for The Open.
Stimson is particularly pleased with the efforts being made at The Ash to develop junior talent.
Nia Greville, Elliot Anderson and Bobby Phillips are all great youngsters coming through the system here at The Ash.
We have a good batch of 13-14 year-olds coming through, which will be the next generation of golfers here at The Ashburnham. Ive even got my son into playing the game!
The Ashburnham remains Stimsons favourite course, but, when pressed, he will admit that he also admires St Enedoc in Cornwall.
He rates the Woodhall Spa course in Lincoln as the most challenging course he has played.
Stimson added: As far as The Ash is concerned, my favourite thing is the challenge it provides and the stunning location. Ive been playing it since I was 14 and still find it provides a fresh challenge every day.
From my perspective, the most demanding hole on the course is the 6th, a challenging par 3. Its probably on the list of most challenging holes for members as well.
You can contact Martin Stimson by email at pro@ashgolf.co.uk
The Ashburnham Golf Club will host a number of top events over the coming years
2012 Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play Championships
2013 Mens Welsh Amateur Championships
2014 Ladies British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championships
2015 Mens Welsh Stroke Play Championships
The Ashburnham is the course where the great Welshman and winning Ryder Cup Captain Dai Rees won the PGA title in 1959. It has long been regarded as one of the best links courses in Britain.
The Ashburnham takes its name from the 5th Earl of Ashburnham, who once owned the land and became the clubs inaugural President in 1894.
Two other Ryder Cup Captains have been successful in their playing careers at The Ashburnham in the shape of Bernard Gallacher, who won the Schweppes PGA Championship in 1969, and Sam Torrance, who won the Martini Tournament in 1976.
The Ashburnham has a proud history of hosting many of the major amateur tournaments, having first held a Welsh Amateur Championship in 1904.
Last year, The Ashburnham was the venue for the Mens Home Internationals.
For further information about The Ashburnham Golf Club, contact -
The Clubhouse, Cliffe Terrace, Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, SA16 0HN
Tel:01554 832269
Fax:01554 836974
Email:admin@ashgolf.co.uk
Website - http://www.ashburnhamgolfclub.co.uk
The legal team at Redkite has beaten off stiff competition to win the right to represent the new legal super brand called QualitySolicitors in Camarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
Redkite will now be rebranded as QualitySolicitors Redkite.
The name changes, but we remain your local solicitors for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, said QualitySolicitors Redkite managing partner Luke Smith.
Our very strong identity, with staff who care passionately about the community and the people of West Wales, stays very firmly in place.
But the new branding will give us benefits throughout the region by being part of the biggest new brand in the legal market in the UK.
QualitySolicitors is expanding fast to becoming a household name, with strong media and television campaigns.
The game changing group now has 220 branches across the UK and has ambitions to be present in every major UK town and city.
We are extremely proud that Redkite has been chosen and even more so because it is our clients feedback that was a major contributor to us being chosen.
Its fantastic news for us and also for the local area, which will benefit hugely from having a QualitySolicitors firm providing legal services throughout the region.
Mr Smith said: Our customers will appreciate that this branding change does not alter the way we do business with them.
We remain the same team of friendly and professional staff. Existing relationships and continuing services, such as will storage, remain the same. The Redkite office infrastructure remains the same.
Mr Smith added: We still hold our core values of providing that personal service to our customers. We are able to offer specialist advice across a wide range of legal disciplines at very competitive rates. You can always be sure of receiving advice you can really trust and, of course, many of our partners and staff members are familiar faces to the people of South West Wales.
The QualitySolicitors expansion comes as the legal market continues to undergo massive changes.
These changes, dubbed Tesco law, allow banks and retailers to provide legal services for the first time a move likely to have a dramatic impact on independent law firms.
To stay ahead of the competition, QualitySolicitors firms are required to commit to providing the highest levels of customer service, including a free first consultation and a same day response service..
The Chief Executive of QualitySolicitors, Craig Holt, said: We will ensure using QualitySolicitors is as familiar and easy as dropping in at your bank or local opticians and we are working hard with our partner firms to transform the service we provide to customers and to make legal services accessible to everyone in a friendly and relaxed environment.
Customers of QualitySolicitors can find out about legal services by contacting their local branch, or by visiting our website.
A recent legal survey has shown that 60% of consumers say they would be tempted to try a new service provider when asked about future legal needs.
Mr Holt said: By providing a recognised and trusted brand name, we will end the need for the time consuming and often stressful task of having to choose between lots of different local firms.
QualitySolicitors has committed to invest substantial amounts to build its distinctive pink and black identity and promote the legal brand.
The history of Redkite
Redkite was established in 2011 through the merger of two long-established law firms in South West Wales Lowless & Lowless and Morris Roberts.
Lowless & Lowless was formed in 1898 and, since its centenary year, saw significant expansion which included the acquisition of a number of practices including Paul Settatree & Co, Walter Williams Solicitors and Rogers-Haggar.
Morris Roberts was formed on the 1st of April 1999 following the merger of two established Carmarthen firms, Morris Lloyd and J C Williams and Roberts.
The team at QualitySolicitors Redkite can be contacted on 01267 239000 and 01437 763332 or through the website at www.redkitelaw.co.uk
The firm has 15 partners and a total headcount of 120, with seven offices spread across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.
Find us on Facebook at Redkite Law.
Find us on Twitter - @RedkiteLaw
QualitySolicitors
QualitySolicitors was launched in 2009 by Craig Holt and Saleem Arif.
Palamon Capital Partners, a private equity firm with a 700m fund, invested in QualitySolicitors in 2011.
Combined group turnover is already 250m, giving QualitySolicitors the largest market share.
QualitySolicitors has legal access points in over 160 high street WHSmith stores.
Web address www.qualitysolicitors.com
Twitter account @Qual_Solicitors.
Pictures: QualitySolicitors Red Kite staff pictured at a staff meeting. Also, managing partner Luke Smith.
Reproduced with kind permission from David Western's Portland Eisteddfod Lovespoon Blog
Occasionally, I will visit a certain well-known internet product retail website and have a read of the customer comments regarding my book, "The Fine Art of Carving Lovespoons". One comment in particular always gives me a good chuckle, even though it is a bit scathing in its condemnation of my artistic abilities. It refers to a couple of my more 'simple' pieces, generally spoons where I have let a particularly beautiful piece of wood do the talking while I stay in the background supplying only a few selective cuts and some elbow grease at polishing time. To my eye, these are some of my most beautiful spoons, to my critic, they are a failure to do something worthwhile with my carving abilities.
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The picture to the left is the one that I think is responsible for the largest lashings of my critic's vitriol. As he/she describes it, "it honestly looks like a block of wood." To me it looks like one of the most beautiful pieces of figured broadleaf maple I have had the good fortune to have encountered. Now I'm a pretty good carver, but trust me, there is nothing I could have done to this wood that would have made it any more beautiful than it already is. I put an elegant bowl and a little heart on it and called it a day, content that this was one of my most beautiful lovespoons!
THIS is a perfect example of the adage "Less is more".
Unfortunately, we carvers are an odd lot and many of us are motivated by a desire to be as complicated as possible...we equate complexity and difficulty with beauty and art.
Too often, carving which is 'simple' is looked down on as it is viewed as a failing of the carver's artistic skill and his carving abilities. But it aint easy to make a really simple spoon that looks as beautiful as some of these ones you see here today. I'm not bragging or showing off, but I have to confess that making spoons like these is every bit as difficult as coming up with one of the Celtic knot eye-poppers I am more known for. These spoons are the Stompin' Tom Connor (ZZ Top for my American readers) tunes of the spoon world! They are little 3 chord beauties with a catchy hook and easy to remember lyrics that seem so simple that anyone could do it...but which very few actually can.
Could I do this without many years of experience? Certainly not consistently. I might get the odd lucky bounce and make a good one by accident, but it has taken me long time to learn enough carving and art skills, enough self-confidence and most important, enough restraint to take spoons like this on.
Honestly, these aint no blocks of wood!
