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Thanks to Richard Hope for this amazing panoramic view of Oystermouth Castle:
The Castle is now open and you can read more about it via this link.
Glass bridge up as Castle nears summer opening.
A SPECTACULAR 30-foot high glass bridge has been installed at
Oystermouth Castle as the historic attraction heads towards a summer
opening next month.
The glass viewing platform will give access to a part of the castle
called Alina's Chapel for the first time in hundreds of years. [Alina de Mowbray,daughter of William de Braose Lord of Gower, inherited the Lordship in 1327].
The chapel was added to the castle in the 14th Century and marks the
attraction's highest architectural point. It also includes a tracery
window with views over Swansea Bay.
Swansea Council is behind the conservation of Oystermouth Castle for future generations to enjoy thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Welsh Assembly Government through Cadw and the European Regional Development Fund.
The Friends of Oystermouth Castle are also actively supporting the
delivery of this project.
The first phase of the conservation scheme at Oystermouth Castle is
nearing completion and also includes upgraded visitor facilities, an
educational space and access improvements.
An event is being planned for the castle opening in July when the first
phase of works is complete. Other conservation works will then continue at the attraction.
Cllr Chris Holley, Swansea Council Leader, said: "The glass viewing
platform looks fantastic and it's wonderful news that Alina's Chapel
will soon be available for the public to see for the first time in
hundreds of years.
"Oystermouth Castle is one of our finest historic gems and this
conservation scheme means many future generations will be able to make the most of what's a fantastic attraction."
The castle currently welcomes about 5,000 visitors a year but the target is to attract many more by 2014.
A Castle Community Officer has also been appointed to engage with
community groups and deliver a wide range of community activities.
Courtesy of Ioan Richard, Lord Mayor of Swansea May 2011
Associated Article: Spooky Goings-on at Oystermouth Castle
Prendergast was a villageon the edge of Haverfordwest during Victorian times, but it has now become part of the town. It hadthe repuation for being lawless and outsiders feared to go there.
The railway came to Haverfordwest in 1853, built largely by Irish navvies, who had arrived to escape the potato faminein their homeland. Theylodged in Prendergast and spent their nights drinking in the 'Bull Inn'.
Each year,Prendergast electedits own Lord Mayor. The honour usually fell to the person who had been drunk most often during the previous twelve months.
Whit Monday was celebrated with a Gooseberry Tart Fair and the streets were lined with stalls selling thetarts. The following day, a Tuesday, more food followed but the important business was the mayor-making ceremony.
Promptly at noon, resplendent in purple and lilac, gold chains denoting hiscivic office, the local worthy appeared, cocked hat in place with asword at his side.On a decorated chair, the new Lord Mayor was carried aloft throughstreets of cheering people.
Thecivic procession stopped at every inn and tavern in the locality andthe happy duty of the mayor was to be the first to drink the health of the ancient borough.
One mayor, by the name of Jenkins, suffered from the Dick Whittington complex. When the procession reached the Salutation Hotel, wherehe had beena messenger boy and Man Friday, he became aware of his elevationin life. Refusing the jug of ale proffered, he calledfor a measure of spirits, more seemlyfor a Lord Mayor. An old man from the north of the county was heard to murmur quietly 'Druan age' (pity for him). It was a case of 'Lord, what fools these mortals be'.
This tradition ended In the early nineteen hundreds, butif reading about gooseberries has whetted your appetite, why not make some jam. (It'slate in the seasonnow for 'goosegogs' but you might come across some.)
Gooseberry Jam:
5 lbs gooseberries
5 lbs preserving sugar
Half a pint of water
Method: Boil gooseberries inwater until soft, about 40 minutes. You could sieve them, but I think it's a shame to lose the skin and seeds.
Add the sugar, stir until dissolved, bring back to the boil and boil for 10 minutes. Test for jelling by putting a spoonful onto a cold plate. Cool and pot.
Memo to the cook:
Medieval cooks served gooseberry jam with roast goose, to cut through the fattiness. This is the type of dish the cook in Roch Castle might have served to Lucy Walter and her family.
Ceri's out of town so I get to step in for him - I'll announce our winners below and Ceri will post the scores in a few days.
In first place... Swansea Jack! He wins a Gold Sheep of Excellence! 
In second place... Gillian Morgan! A Silver Sheep of Excellence to her!
In third place... Paul Dicken! A Bronze Sheep of Excellence to him!
Bravo to all our winners and thank you for your fabulous blogs!
In 'English' classes inschool we were told to 'stick to the subject',when writingor in a debate.
In some colleges, prospective studentsare assessed on their ability to stick to the main thread of the conversation and follow it through.
All this I know and understand to some degree but, today,I couldn't help reflecting on the part 'association' plays in my mind.One idea leads to another, the thought of apple pies leads to pastry coffins, to coffins, to woollen shrouds, to apple pies with cloves, is there enough butterin the fridge to make two pies, to 'Four and Twenty Blackbirds Baked in a Pie', to Charles 11.
I was born in the Carmarthenshire countryside. My favourite fabric is scorched flannelette, (scorched because everything had to be aired properly in our house). I was wrapped in flannelette (gwlanened) blankets. (The saying 'Don't give me flannel' doesn't apply to me.)
Woolirritates my skin butI should like it becauseCarmarthen was a wool town in the early Middle Ages. By the middle of the 17th century, though, the wool trade was declining in the country as a whole.Charles 11 wanted to protect the industry andfrom 1666 to 1680 'Woollen Acts' were passed by Parliament.
These Acts required that the dead were buried inwoollen shrouds, unless theywere victims of the Plague and records for Llanddewi Brefi, mid-Wales, record this. Wool was costly but ignoring this edict was costlier,resulting in a fine.
Which brings me to pies. In former times, pies were not baked in tins but meats such as partridge, pheasant, pigeon, eggs, swan, (all manner of things, lovely or not) were wrapped in a pastry 'coffin', a sort of parcel. This pastry was discarded when cooked, merely being a container.
Developments in pastry-making included adding enough lardto makethe pastry edible. The'top table' at a banquet were servedthe toplayer of pastry, hence the term 'upper crust', denoting a social ranking. ('Below the salt' refers to the underlings, who had to wait for the salt to be passed to them).
The lower orders often had to eat pies made from liver and otherpieces of offal and, as their role was to be 'ever so 'umble', the aphorism 'eating humble pie' came about. Which reminds me, Charles Dickens' novels are full ofpuddings and pies.
Yet feasts have never beenabout food alone butextravagant entertainment, too.
A pie, with a pastry lid concealing 'Four and Twenty Blackbirds' was supposed to have been served to Charles 11 for his delectation and amusement. (Judge people by the prevailing standards of their time, I say.)
Which leaves me with an apple pie to bake, studded with cloves, because I like a 'bite' of flavour in my cooking. Bwytewch, Mwynhewch! Eat and enjoy!
Forgot to mention earlier that this film is currently released in the States.It is a "cultural" film ,not mainstream so you will have to check listing for your local specialist sinema, or failing that wait for the DVD.Pob hwyl,Les Jenkins.
Parc Tawe, a shopping mall near Swansea, is not doing so well, according to a newspaper report. I wentshopping today (not in ParcTawe) and prices were slashed in many places. 70% off is what I call good, or desperate if you're the shopkeeper. I bought some glassbeads, 30 down to 9. I didn't hesitate.
I metan older friend in one of the shops. Mairhad already chosen a dark brown skirt but wanted a blouse. Abeige blouseshe liked did not fit her and the assistant suggesteda red andyellow striped top, 50 in the sale. I could see Mair was hesitant so I pointed out thatred and yellowdid not co-ordinate withbrown. Not phased, the assistant returned with a blacktop with patch pockets, definitely notMair's style and the wrong colour, too.
After Mair had bought the skirtwe went to another shop and found exactly what she wanted: awhite blouse in fine cotton, with small silver buttons.
I often wonder about people's minds. Do they view the elderlyasa different species, if not as clothes horses, perhaps, but as 'cashcows' on whom they can foist their hard-to-sell items.
Once, and strangely I wasn't that old then, perhaps I just looked it,a Swansea shop assistant tried to flatter me by sayinga garment I Iiked was my size.
'Go and try it', she said blithely.
I had grave doubts. Granted, it wenton easily,but getting it off was another matter. My mother was with me in the changing room.I am taller and bigger than she is. I knelt on the floor and my mother started tugging. She's not that strong
Westarted laughing simultaneously, the type of laughter that doesn'tstop. I imagined the dress tearing, while my motherchecked the price tab. When I eventually wriggled out of it, I felt a bit like Houdini.
A recent televisonprogramme featuredan old lady who had losther life savings to a 'cowboy' builder.The 'granny annexe' she had wanted turned out to be an electrical nightmare and the plumbing was no better.It took twenty minutes to empty the walk-in bath, so she had to sit there while it drained.The programmeended with a warning tothe 'elderly and women on their own' to watch for'sharks'.
It's not going to stop me shopping.I like it, but I'll be watching for the 'big white hunters' in future.
The wife and I went to see Mr Nice at the Tivoli herte in stLouis MO on Saturday. I highly recommend this film to anybody Welsh[or not Welsh for that matter].Without giving the plot away, it's about a young Welsh teddyboy in the early 60's[Rhys Ifans]who does so well at school in the Valleys that his headmaster recommends him to take the Oxford Uni test.He passes and goes to Oxford where he soon becomes a hippy. He then graduates from Oxford after passing all his exams for teaching but then circumctances change and he becomes[true stori apparently] the most notorious drug dealer in the UK outwiting the British Gov. for a couple of decades.Great drama combined with wonderful wit.The nostalgic backdrop of Wales and London with period cars and lorrys highly entertaining too.Les Jenkins.
ps I won't say anything about Bangor Cities 1st venture into the champions league.
When the then Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive Roger Lewis said in an interview, Rugby reaches out in so many ways and is so much more than just a game its the glue that holds communities together., he could never have imagined how that would resonate with Welsh people. Welsh international Gareth Edwards, voted by international rugby players as the greatest player of all time, put it even more dramatically, Rugby is part of the DNA of Welshman and woman across the globe. It is at the heart of our very essence, defining us as individuals and as a nation.
Stirring images of iconic Welsh singers like Bryn Terfel, Kathrine Jenkins, Aled Jones, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones and Shn Cothi leading the crowd in Mae hen wlad fy nhadau at the Millennium Stadium might make an observer wonder why anyone would doubt that rugby was more than just a game. However, beyond the 80 minutes of passionate play and the subsequent period of bragging rights or drowning of sorrows, a case to question this assertion can be made. Looking under the skin of the role of rugby in Wales, it is quickly evident that the vast majority of Welsh people neither participate in rugby nor follow it beyond the international matches, particularly the matches between Wales and England, Ireland or New Zealand.
The questions then arise: how, when and why did rugby assume an iconic identity for Wales. Fixing an exact date and place when anything became an iconic image of a country seems an unlikely circumstance, but a noted historian of rugby, Gareth Williams, fixes the date on which rugby assumed that role in the hearts and minds of Welshmen firmly as 16 December 1905 at Cardiff Arms Park. That was the day when Wales beat a hitherto undefeated New Zealand All Blacks team by three points to nil. Although a small margin of victory, it had to be seen in the context of New Zealand scoring 800 points and conceding only 27 against the other British teams on their UK tour that year.
It was certainly a golden age for Welsh rugby winning the triple crown six times in 12 years between 1900 and 1911 was a magnificent achievement for a tiny nation and an opportunity for pride, both for Welshmen in the old country or those dispersed throughout the world. Wales was making a major impact in rugby, to use a boxing analogy, punching well above her weight. At the time of the victory against New Zealand, Wales was at its zenith industrially with Welsh steel in the construction of much of Europes shipping, and its coal firing the boilers of those ships. Historian John Davies linked rugby closely with the industrialisation of Wales and reinforced it as a powerful symbol of the nations identity. He suggested sport, but not necessarily rugby, had become the new religion of the Welsh people rather than Christianity and Gareth Williams suggested that the ebb and flow of Welsh rugbys fortunes coincided with similar cycles in the Welsh economy and in the confidence in Wales as a nation. Whilst there is clearly a case for sport in general and rugby in particular being akin to a religion for some, a case might be made for the National Health Service taking the place of Christianity as a cherished value. Similarly, whilst the economic situation has been poor in Wales since 2008, Wales rugby has done quite well.
Comparison with Christianity is important because the Nonconformist chapels ultimately contributed a significant role in its growth. They placed a seal on the iconic role of rugby in Wales with their late-in-arriving but nevertheless positive affirmation and endorsement. Although an Anglican College, St Davids at Lampeter, had led the introduction of rugby to Wales, the Nonconformist chapels were initially vociferous in opposition, associating the game with intemperance, blasphemy and Sabbath-breaking. The religious revival of 1904 led to a marked decline in the sport in Wales and the (at least, temporary) closure of many clubs. However, the dramatic victory of 1905 made a rapid reversal of this process which led Gareth Williams to state that, [Rugby] would now play the role that religion had once enjoyed as a popular mass activity.
Eventually the ministers and deacons began to take a pragmatic view and reluctantly began to be more positive. Some even constructed sermons from the discipline that the teams showed in playing successful games. A century ago the Chapel still held significant sway in the communities of Wales and so the removal of disapproval and then affirmation of the game gave tacit permission both to be participants and to spectators of rugby.
Christianity still features, possibly only for historical reasons, in rugby. The stands still ring out with hymns like Cym Rhondda and Calon Ln amid secular songs today. Interestingly, rugby matches in south Wales where Welsh language is not widely used are still occasions when songs like Sospan Fach and Calon Ln may be heard in sometimes shaky Welsh. Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg may take some comfort!
Max Boyce, ex-miner from the Valleys and popular comedian and folk singer wrote a number of songs that captured the intrinsic Welshness of rugby. A more reflective song, Ten Thousand Instant Christians juxtaposes the almost religious fervour and devotion of rugby fans in an ironic contrast with the closed and boarded former Chapels echoing with the hymns of yesterday.
When He sees the Hope and Anchor
Where we sang before the game
Where Cwm Rhondda and Delilah
First sounded both the same
The bar was filled with singing
Hymns came on a tray
Saturday was Sunday
I wonder what Hell say
A more upbeat song of Max Boyces which inevitably features at every international Welsh rugby game is Hymns and Arias, a nod to the combination of sacred and secular singing at matches. Possibly its enduring success is because it is an account of a coach trip from south Wales to Twickenham to watch Wales play the great enemy, England. Of course, Wales won and so the somewhat worse-for-wear Welshmen were able to join in the rousing chorus:
And we were singing hymns and arias,
Land of my Fathers, Ar hyd y nos
Contained within that good-natured snipe against the English is a deeper issue. The long-standing rivalry between the nations is read by some as enmity and mention is made of any real or perceived injustice to Wales from Edward I, through exploitative pit, steelworks and quarry owners, to the Welsh Not placard that children heard speaking Welsh in some schools were forced to wear in the late 19 th century. Others will say that the enmity lasts for the duration of the match with peace being declared in the bar after the game. South Wales rock group Stereophics even brought out a song in 1999 with the title, As long as we beat the English, (we dont care).
Welsh rugby gives Welsh men and women an opportunity for pride, particularly in individual players who have excelled. There can be no better example than Gareth Edwards, voted the greatest player of all time by his peers in a 2003 poll in Rugby Magazine and by former England rugby captain Will Carling as the greatest player ever.
National Eisteddfod organiser Hywel Edwards controversially suggested that rugby shirts might be a more appropriate Welsh national costume for girls than Lady Llandoverys tall hats, shawls and aprons, or boys dressed as colliers for St Davids Day celebrations. He said, Images of children in lace aprons and colliers clothes beamed around the world on St Davids Day created an image of Wales as a backward country stuck in the past.
However, active participation in the game of rugby in Wales is not high. Compare Wales with New Zealand, a similar size nation.
| Wales | New Zealand | |
| Population | 3 million | 4 million |
| Male rugby players | 70,000 | 142,000 |
| Female rugby players | 2,000 | 6,000 |
Source: Sports Council Wales
Similarly, home attendance at Welsh regional rugby matches during 2006/07 was between 5, 000 and 10,000, whereas home attendance at Cardiff City FC was 15,000 and Swansea City 12,500. English Premiership attendance 34,000 and Manchester United FC 76,000. Sports Council Wales reported that rugby came ninth in a list of participation sports in Wales, whereas football was third.
A YouGov/Daily Telegraph poll in 2005 looked at the proportion of sports fans in Wales/Midlands taking an interest in a number of sports. Football came top at 68% and rugby was mentioned by only 48% less than half the respondents.
Despite these low proportions, Welsh people demonstrated their commitment to their national team with a quarter of the population watching rugby on TV a higher proportion than in any other country. A 2009 Wales v England international was watched by 55% of Welsh viewers but only 18% of English viewers.
What explains these inconsistencies? Welsh rugby was, and still is a classless game where its players were historically as likely to be consultant surgeons or GPs as they were to have been from the pits or the steelworks. That level playing field has contributed to Waless embracing the game to her heart.
Kenneth Morgan asserts that Rugby was, and remains, an attractive aspect of the national identity of Wales, but points out that nationalists feel preoccupation with rugby diverts people from the greater priority of national independence. That reservation by nationalists does reflect some other issues. The heartland of nationalism, north and west Wales is largely rural, other than some medium size towns on the north Wales coast. They are also areas with the greatest concentration of Welsh language and a very different focus of sport: walking, climbing, mountain biking use and sea-based pursuits. Theres no historic tradition of rugby in these areas and many football fans in north Wales look to the great football clubs of north-west England which are easily accessible. The large Magners League clubs are all based in south Wales: Cardiff, Newport, Llanelli and Swansea.
If culture, geography, language and sports interest were the sole factors that determine the role of rugby as an icon of Wales, then one could make a stronger case for rugby being more than a game predominantly in south Wales. The huge crowds on the terraces, at least of international matches, are united in their commitment to their national team, becoming a huge corporate sixteenth player.
Rugby (in reality, international rugby) brings people together with a mixture of nostalgia, pride in a nations achievement, a reflection of Welsh values and a history of great success in an environment where the Welsh language features in a non-divisive way and it can genuinely be described as more than a game.
(I wrote this a year ago as part of my Welsh History studies at Bangor University but thought rugby fans and haters alike might be surprised at the true interest in Welsh rugby. References, sources and bibliography are available on request.)
Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue . . . theres a wonderfully varied line-up at The George Hotel during the Brecon Jazz Festival.
The hotel is staging a significant Fringe programme during the three-day festival which starts on August 12.
The programme is being presented by the owners of The George Hotel, the award-winning Evan-Evans brewery of Llandeilo.
Headlining on Saturday, August 13, will be the legendary Mike Harries Root Doctors.
The veteran Welsh musician is 78 years young and is living proof that music is always the best medicine.
Saturday also sees the spotlight fall on Li Harding (above), whose powerful, gospel-tinged vocal style wins over crowds wherever she performs. She will perform with The Gary (Amigos) Phillips Trio.
Last up on Saturday will be one of the Rhondda Valleys favourite sons, Morty (Gareth Mortimer of Racing Cars fame), who will take the stage with The Frantics.
The weekend programme has been assembled by music promoter David Brockwell.
The 2011 Fringe programme includes something for all music lovers over the course of the weekend, Mr Brockwell said.
The George has a wonderful line-up this year with a strong emphasis on Welsh favourites and rising stars with Steely Scam (UK Steely Dan tribute band), Gypsy Jazz guitar sensation Remi Harris and 10-piece party showstoppers She Tasted Good among the 17 weekend acts, with further events continuing on Monday and Tuesday.
Its also a fabulous venue in its own right, slap bang in the middle of the town, with indoor and outdoor stages, so it will be at the centre of the action
The best bit of it all is that The George and many fringe events are free, running alongside a terrific Brecon Jazz Festival programme. If you love music, then come to beautiful Brecon!
Pictures attached of Mike Harries Root Doctors, Li Harding, The Remi Harris Trio and She Tasted Good.
Full line-up
Friday 12th
7.00pm Tasha
7.30 The Sunshine Band
9.30 Call Me Albert
Saturday 13th
12.00noon Just Harrie
1.00 Li Harding & The Gary (Amigos) Philips Trio
2.45 Wonderbrass
3.30 Mike Harries Root Doctors
6.00 The Numbers Racket
8.00 Loose Change
10.00 Blue Traffic
11.00 Morty (Racing Cars) & The Frantics
Sunday 14th
12.00 Sarah & H Quartet
2.00 The Remi Harris Trio
4.00 Steely Scam (UK Steely Dan Tribute) with The Division Horns, featuring Odette Adams
6.30 The Albino Frogs
8.30 She Tasted Good
10.30 Nik Turner Project 9
Weblinks
http://www.breconfringe.co.uk/
http://www.hayfestival.com/breconjazz/index.aspx?skinid=13
http://www.george-hotel.com/
http://www.evan-evans.com/
http://www.rootdoctors.co.uk/
