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Lilygreen and Maguire at Caerphilly Castle

The Welsh singer- songw riter duo Lilygreen and Maguire , who have been travelling throughout Wale s with their Big Welsh Busk, are nearing the end of their week long tour.

Thursday saw them visiting Caerphilly and Chepstow.

In the morning Caerphilly Castle pr ovided a great setting for the busking boys. There was a great response from the general public as well as friends and fans, with some attending for the second day in a row.

Being a boy from Blackwood said Jon Maguire, Caerphilly had the nearest McD onalds, and also an extremely pretty castle. It was awesome to be back, seeing some old friends, and parents of old friends who turned up to the busk.

After a brief visit to Chepstow Race Course , the duo travelled on to Chepstow town centre where again a number of old friends and a strong following from the l ocal school proved to be a dedicated audience despite the on-going April showers.

According to Jon Lilygreen Chepstow used to be my old gig hangout, and Id go there on a weekly basis. It was awesome being back here and seeing some old familiar faces. Was well chuffed with the fact that people continued sitting outside even though the rain was a bit ridiculous. Bring on tomorrow.

Friends Jon Lilygreen and Jon Maguire , have just released their debut single Come On Get Higher on the Warner Music label and will release their EP Aint Love Crazy on June 11 th 2012 .

Busking at Caerphilly Castle

The local duo has already built up a solid fan base after supporting X Factor runner-up Olly Murs on his recent arena tour of the UK and Ireland. They are also well- known within the South Wales' music scene: Lilygreen as a covers performer and Maguire as a local music producer and member of a rock band. They came together in 2009 when their talent was spotted by Warner Bros. Music who soon secured the duo with a lucrative record deal. Their debut album will be released later this year.

Lilygreen and Maguires tour started on Monday in Wrexham and their first busk was at Glyndwr University in the town.

Since then they have tr av elled to Bangor, Aberystwyth, Carmarthen , Swansea and Barry whe re they have performed on a beach , a pier, in castle grounds and various shopping centres .

The final leg of their tour sees them performing in Caerleon amphitheatre on Friday morning and in Cardiff Bay on Friday afternoon.

For further information about the Big Wel sh Busk tour visit www.facebook.com/lilygreenandmaguire

An acoustic version of their debut single Come On Get Higher can be found here http://www.youtube.com/lilygreenandmaguire

Jon Lilygreen said weve been looking forward to these gigs, to pitch up at some fantastic locations and play in the open-air. Its going to be quite a challenge visiting so many venues across Wales, including a beach, a prom, a castle and our hometown, Newport, and hopefully our fans will come and support us and cheer us on for the rest of the week, as they have been doing so far.

A duo that will make their mark in a very big way in 2012. The Mahogany Blog

www.lilygreenandmaguire.com

www.facebook.com/lilygreenandmaguire

http://twitter.com/lilygandmaguire

http://www.youtube.com/lilygreenandmaguire

SCHEDULE IN BRIEF t imes are approximate guide only

Monday 16 th April Wrexham and Bangor

WREXHAM
Photo op: Erddig House, Wrexham 10am
Busk: Glyndwr University Student Guild, Wrexham 11.30am

BANGOR
Photo op: Llanfairpwllgwyngychgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Road sign, James Pringle Weavers 3pm
Busk: Bangor city centre town clock, high street 4.30pm

Tuesday 17 th April Aberystwyth and Carmarthen

ABERYSTWYTH
Photo op: Aberystwyth Promenade 10am
Busk: Aberystwyth Promenade 11am

CARMARTHEN
Photo op: Exterior Llansteffan Castle 2.30pm
Busk: St Catherines Walk Shopping Centre, Carmarthen 4pm

Wednesday 18 th April Swansea/Mumbles and Barry

SWANSEA/MUMBLES
Photo op: Mumbles pierside/seafront 10am
Busk: Oxford Street, Swansea city centre 11.15am

BARRY
Photo op: Barry Island Amusement Park 2.30pm
Busk: Barry Island Beach 3.30pm

Thursday 19 th April Caerphilly and Chepstow

CAERPHILLY
Photo op: Exterior Caerphilly Castle 10am
Busk: Caerphilly town centre bandstand 11am

CHEPSTOW
Photo op: Exterior Chepstow race course 2pm
Busk: Chepstow town centre town arch 4pm

Friday 20 th April Newport and Cardiff

NEWPORT
Photo op: Tredegar House Newport 10am
Busk: Caerleon Amphitheatre 11.30am

CARDIFF
Photo op: Exterior Gate 3 Millennium Stadium 3pm
Busk: Exterior Millennium Centre Cardiff 4pm

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'Cappuccino Girls' extra shows added!

Cappuccino Girls is the unique theatre experience based in a purpose built cafe theatre in Swansea City Centre.

Following the incredible demand for tickets for our 'spring run' we are adding an additional 2 weeks of shows. Tickets go on sale from Monday.

http://cappuccinogirls.malpope.com/ index.php?option=com_content&view=article &id=50&Itemid=18

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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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Actually there is nothing wrong with my back....just thought I'd humor SJ who seems to be of the opinion that I am have been turning this blog into a catalog of ailments lately. Actually I am pleased to report that my knees have stopped hurting and I was able to sprint for a block earlier today to catch a bus without being out of breath. All in all my health is good and I feel positively radiant. Evidently all this shambling round the turnips is doing me some good. The only dark cloud is that I have not yet succeeded in running for more than 15 minutes. Of course that will change but I'm starting to get a little impatient.

On that note I would like to refer to an email I received today from David Western. He wrote thusly:-

I suggest you check out the Galloway method of walk/running long distance....he's an exceptional trainer and his books are well worth the $$!!

I checked out his website and it appears that he is the inventor of the run-walk-run method of training which it is claimed will increase endurance and reduce the risk of injury. I haven't had time to do much further research yet but his recommendations seem quite sensible at first sight. Clearly I would prefer to run the whole distance without a break, dance a victory jig and go to the pub to celebrate. BUT if I have to pace myself a little : punctuate my running with short walking breaks, then so be it. Certainly there is no shame in that during training and even on the day the sole objective is to complete the course. If there must be breaks then breaks there must be but no broken bones or torn ligaments.

I will investigate the Galloway method further and report back at a later date.

Meanwhile the new sponsorship arrangements ( discussed yesterday ) will be up on the site by Tuesday. I will explain , at length, how it all works then.

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Carmarthen accountant Ann Thomas is counting down the days to a marathon international bike challenge.
Ann, senior consultant with Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants in Lammas Street, Carmarthen, has signed up for the Paris to Swansea charity bike ride in August.
Its the biggest physical test Ive faced since climbing Kilimanjaro a few years back, but Im looking forward to a great challenge, said Ann, 37.
At the front of my mind will be helping to raise loads of cash for charity and I will be riding for Maggies. They are a very worthwhile UK-wide charity with a new cancer centre in Swansea.
The actual ride takes place between August 22-26 and will cover 320 miles. I will be joining a group of riders who hope to raise more than 80,000 for Maggies.
Ann is already in training for the ride and is just over a quarter of the way towards reaching her individual target of raising 1,500.
Im a keen cyclist and Ive taken part in what are described as Sportif cycle ride events in the past. But the cycle rides Ive taken part in are nothing compared to the scale of this ride from Paris.
The hard training has started and there are a few aches and pains, but I hope to be fully geared-up for the event come August.
The support I have had from work colleagues and clients has been immense and I am very grateful to everyone who has contributed to such a worthwhile cause.
Meanwhile, I have set up a JustGiving website page which makes it easy for people to donate cash.
Cycling from Paris to Swansea in four days is a challenge in itself but is nothing compared to the work Maggie's does tirelessly from day to day, helping all affected by cancer, from sufferers, to their family and their friends. They provide exceptional support and help to all that need it.
You will all no doubt have been touched by cancer in some way in your lives and can empathise with anyone that is currently dealing with or indeed has had to deal with cancer in the past. This cruel disease does not care whom it attacks and the fight to ease the pain it causes needs our support.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving. Once you donate, theyll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So its the most efficient way to donate.
JustGiving website
http://www.justgiving.com/Ann-Thomas27
Or if you want to sponsor Ann directly, call her at Clay Shaw Butler on 01267 228 500
Email - AnnThomas@clayshawbutler.com
The Clay Shaw Butler website is at
http://www.clayshawbutler.com

About the ride:
Sarn Helen Events, Action Bikes and the South Wales Evening Post have teamed up to raise money for Maggies Cancer Caring Centres.
Pedal Paris2Swansea bike ride is a fantastic charity challenge starting from the capital of France, through rural countryside, over the channel, into sleepy England, and on to the heart of South West Wales, finishing at Morgans Hotel in Swansea.
Itinerary
Day 1 Travel To Paris
Day 2 Paris to Val de Reuil 75 miles: Early morning departure cycling west out of Paris, bells ringing. Along the River Seine, taking in the beautiful Vernon Gardens all the way to Val de Reuil.
Day 3 Val de Reuil to Le Havre 75 miles: The Seine is again our passage after breakfast, cycling through quiet rural roads, to the source of this magnificent river. Le Havre crossing to Portsmouth arrival approx. 21:30
Day 4 Portsmouth to Bristol 80 miles: Riding through the New Forest, and the English countryside to the spiritual home of Brunel.
Day 5 Bristol to Swansea 85 miles: Leaving Bristol under the Suspension Bridge, we cycle through Cardiff, and home to Swansea for the celebratory ride down Fabian Way.
Website -
http://www.sarnhelensportif.org/events/paris-to-swansea

About Maggies:
Maggie's has opened its first purpose built centre in Wales. Maggie's South West Wales, located beside the Singleton Hospital in Swansea is set to provide anybody affected by cancer with support that complements the treatment provided by the hospital.
Maggie's South West Wales' position next to the South West Wales Cancer Centre allows it to support the South West Wales Cancer Network. This region currently sees more than 3,000 new cases of cancer of diagnosed each year.
We are open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5pm for information, psychological and emotional support and benefits advice. We have a clinical psychologist, a cancer support specialist and a benefits advisor on hand for drop-in and pre-booked appointments and courses.
If you are affected by cancer please drop in to see us at our centre beside Singleton Hospital, Sketty Lane, or phone 01792 200000.
The network covers approximately 900,000 people within the regions of Aberystwyth, Haverfordwest, Swansea, Powys, Carmarthen, Llanelli, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend. In this area, there are over 3,000 new cases of cancer a year and 20,000 people living with cancer.
Uniquely, Maggies South West Wales will be the first centre to collaborate with the cancer genetics service to offer information and practical support to people who are at risk of cancer, based on family history.
For more information about supporting Maggies South West Wales, please contact Andy Watts, andy.watts@maggiescentres.org or Vicki Jones, Community Fundraising Coordinator, vicki@maggiescentres.org or telephone 01792 285682.
http://www.maggiescentres.org/centres/southwestwales/introduction.html

A view of the Pont y Pair bridge (or of three more pubs depending on your viewpoint I understand that people jump off this thing into deep water below. Next up, Carreg Samson.

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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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I did not run today because I was not due to. My schedule involves running every other day. But I am still concerned about the rather persistent ( if mild ) pain in my right knee that I have experienced ever since I started training. I am going to investigate a better pair of running shoes and abandon my old daps ( see earlier post ) which are on the point of giving up the ghost anyway. I will also look into buying one of these knee supports with adjustable straps. Does anyone know how effective they are?

On a fund raising note....we were thinking of running the marathon pledges as a Kickstart appeal. Basically the levels of sponsorship would be on a per mile basis BUT there would be rewards built in as well. Supposing that we were aiming for $1500 in total donations the incentives would be roughly as follows:-

Personal Sponsorship

$1/mile e-copies of Gaynor Madoc Leonard stories
$2/mile tickets for Dave Western spoon
$3/mile level both of the above
$4/mile all above plus signed event poster

Website/Commercial or Community Sponsorship

$5/mile spot ad on event pages
$10/mile free admission to event and larger ad on event pages

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This is a rough first draft and we are open to suggestions for other prizes and/or other prize donations. In a few days time we'll run the appeal embed either on this blog or in the right hand column. It will be similar to the one on this page for the St David's Day L.A. appeal. That way people will be able to follow our progress and make their pledges all in one place without having to navigate to old blog posts or send emails. What does anyone think? Any ideas or suggestions?

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Following the success of Penmon Point , Peter Walkers first short collection of poems, the St Asaph diocese vicar has been busy composing his second volume, Old Men in Jeans , which will be published this month.

Revd Peter Walker is an Anglican priest working in the Church in Wales and has been writing poetry since his teenage years, but it is only since joining the Diocese of St Asaph that hes started publishing his work.

The poems in Old Men in Jeans have been built on the theme of Christian legacy and spirituality in Wales, and the collection includes some personal reflections and experiences as a priest. I think that Ive found my personal voice in Old Men in Jeans , said Peter Walker.

One of my concerns is the language of church, because as secularism takes more of a hold, people are losing the vocabulary of church, and so its a question of how do we connect with the post-modern world.

What I have therefore tried to do is connect with people in two ways, Peter explained. Firstly, Ive tried expressing the core values of the Christian faith, which tend to get lost in the individualism and assertiveness of today's world. Secondly, Ive taken inspiration from our Celtic heritage of personal Godliness, and the way we are called to discover our inner spirituality.

Peter Walker is originally from the West Midlands, and taught Modern Languages for many years before working for a time in a parish in Telford, Shropshire. He now lives and works on the Welsh coast in the diocese of St Asaph, and is married with a daughter, and an agoraphobic cat!

Old Men in Jeans is Peter Walkers second collection of poems following on from Penmon Point , which was published in 2011. Both publications are available to buy directly from Y Lolfa or The Welsh Books Council .

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"Life-affirming, well worth a listen, it'll put a spring in your step" - The Independent
"A new band we love. Bloody lush!" - Lauren Laverne, BBC 6music (More press: http://howlgriff.com/press.html )

GIGS, FESTIVALS & an MPfree

Quick note to say that Howl Griff are headlining Camden's Dublin Castle on Thu 19 Apr.

The Welsh-Anglo-American psych-pop-punk-alt-rockers will be celebrating finishing the mixing of their third album.

There's also a new free MP3 download at the site, as there is every month.

http://www.howlgriff.com/freemp3s.html

That's it. Thanks!

Gigs & festivals :

http://www.howlgriff.com/gigs.html

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Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HowlGriffBand
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/HowlGriff

Merchandise: http://howlgriffshop.spreadshirt.net

We are: Hywel Griffiths, Nick Moore,
Gary Parkinson, Steve Kennedy and you

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April 16, 2012

Wild Garlic, freshly foraged.

Wed met Stephen Powell, one of the forces behind the Community Forest Farm at Llwyn Ffranc, several weeks before at his stall in the Abergavenny Farmers Market. Knowing he was the wild garlic man, and expecting to see baskets of white and pink bulbs, we were surprised when Stephen pointed to a pile of rich green leaves spread out on the table. Wild Garlic. Lovely to meet you. Now what do I do with you?Stephen explained that, like many herbs, wild garlic is perfect in stews, sauces and especially mashed potatoes. Paul grinned immediately, licked his lips, and before you could say Llwyn Ffranc, a white paper bag containing the shining leaves was in our hand.

Yes, laced with the chopped wild garlic, the potatoes were delicious. But we knew there was something more exciting ahead as Stephen had invited us to go foraging during the Wild Garlic Celebration.

Hence, the drive north of Abergavenny, to the base of the Skirrid Mountain. There, we parked the car in a field and headed to the stone house to await our guide who would take us into the woods! An assorted group gathered, all properly prepared to hike into the hills, and all carrying bags to fill with their harvest. For a city girl like me, THIS WAS EXCITING!

I must mention, Paul and I have tried many times to plant and harvest our own vegetables. My tomato plants came with large green worms attached. Pauls potatoes got rot. Our mint, known to take over a garden if you let it, shriveled up and died. We love the thought of planting and harvesting, but actually being successful at it is beyond our talents. So, foraging someone elses field is a perfect pastime for us.

Up the hill we marched, keeping to the tail end of the group as Pauls gout and other maladies afflicting the elderly (!) were acting up. Slopping through mud, inching up the inclines as if we had skis on our feet, and totally messing up my new wellies and their leopard-trimmed inserts, we finally made it to the wild garlic fields.

Heading for the hills!

The green carpet of leaves was so lush I wanted to lie down and roll in it, but that would have been frowned upon Im sure. So I contented myself by squatting and picking the leaves, placing them gently in my bag, and moving over and across the ravines weaving in and out of the hillside.Soon the group was ready to climb back down the mountain, but this time, we led the brigade and slid our way down, stopping now and again to admire the bluebells and buttercups, the baby lambs and to listen to the silence. A forest is a wondrous place.

Up close and personal!

A warm cup of tea was waiting for us as we approached the farmhouse, followed by a cauldron of nettle and wild garlic soup, wild garlic pesto, squirrel pate (yes, I DID try it!), and apple and sloe jam. These were new experiences for this Yank, and as the sun slowly slid behind the Skirrid, I know Id had an afternoon to treasure.A footnote to our day: we couldnt get out of the field when we tried to leave. The mud had gotten soggier and our tires dug deeply into the muck. It took a team of fellow foragers to push our little car out, but not before soaking us, and them, in the rich, brown soggy earth that provides the nutrients for the wild garlic. We hit the car wash, wallowed in a bubble bath when we got home, and made mashed potatoes and wild garlic to go with our dinner! That, and a glass of wine, rounded out our experience of foraging on a mountainside. What a heavenly day!

Umm, what do we do now?