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The rain and the sleet was driving down this afternoon as I loaded the van for the last time, for a Crimson Moon venture under our direction. Forecast according to weather.com shows that tomorrow (Saturday) should be cloudy with sunny showers, and a temperature of 6 degrees. Let's not talk about Sunday at the moment - after all we will be on site and can't do much about it by that time.
It is the evening before that as the temperature drops, you have the opportunity to think that bed is going to seem very inviting at 5am tomorrow, as we start a drive down to Caerphilly Castle before dawn.. a long time before dawn!!
Monk's habit s ready and hanging by the door for my Alter Ego 'Brother Weaver Barrel' - the Drunken Monk, and "Nona the 'nebriated Nun's"wimple. Guaranteed to scare a random Jehovah's Witness should one be silly enough to call!! But no, I am sure that they have more sense than to be out in this cold.
On this occasion - we are not taking our own marquee, which is sitting in the living room awaiting scrutiny for replaced guy ropes and patches, but are lucky enough to have an historic tent being put in place for us (I hope they remember to put it up!!). As a result, the van looks deceptively empty, with only the boxes of Mulled Wine, Mead, a crate of plastic Ivy, gas burners and 1,000 cups.
Sad to say, our benefactor, who normally graces the Castle as the Barber Surgeon, has just had his trailer stolen containing the full contents of his Victorian Hospital, and despite circulation through Facebook Accounts does not appear to have been recovered. Roger's knowledge that the axle is broken and the frame is unroadworthy does not help him as the trailer seems to have disappeared from his South Wales home..
I may have to sympathise with a few glasses of mulled wine tomorrow!!
So Caerphilly Christmas Fayre will start tomorrow morning for two days. Our last trading days as the Crimson Moon though no doubt I will be involved in the future helping the new owners.
Also our last chance at this stage, to spend the night in our favourite castle.
If you are in the vicinity of Caerphilly - hope to see you there...
Caerphilly Castle Christmas Fayre
Nadolig Llawen
Many thanks to John Good for the following list of Welsh Christmas words and phrases. John wishes it to be known that the list reproduced below is something that he found on the internet thousands of years ago and since he can no longer remember where, he is unable to attribute it. Check out John's recording of the pronunciations in the sound file embedded below. While you're here check out John's other excellent musical and lyrical contributions to the site. You will find his AmeriCymru profile page here: John Good on AmeriCymru
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Nadolig - Christmas n.m.
Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Nadolig llawen - Merry Christmas
Noswyl Nadolig - Christmas Eve
adeg y Nadolig - Christmas time , Yule-tide , at Christmas
bwrw'r Nadolig - to spend Christmas
carden Nadolig - Christmas card
carol Nadolig - Christmas carol
dydd Nadolig - Christmas -day
goleuadau Nadolig - Christmas illuminations
mae'r Nadolig ar ein gwarthaf - Christmas is just around the corner
mae'r anrhegion i gyd dan y goeden Nadolig - all the presents are under the Christmas tree
nos Nadolig - Christmas Eve
o gwmpas y Nadolig - about Christmas time
rhodd Nadolig - Christmas present
Siôn Corn - Santa Claus
corn simne - chimney
Blwyddyn o eira, blwyddyn o lawndra - A year of snow, a year of plenty
Chwedl a gynydda fel caseg eira - A tale increases like a rolling snowball
Mor wyn â'r eira - As white as snow
aderyn yr eira - starling n.
blodyn eira - snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)
bwrw eira - to snow
cwymp eira - avalanche
disgwylir eira trwm yn y gogledd heno - heavy snow is expected in the north tonight
mae eira ar y ffordd - medden nhw - there's snow on the way - so they say
mae'n bwrw eira - it's snowing
pêl eira - snowball
anrheg - present n.f. (anrhegion) , gift n.f. (anrhegion) , gratuity n.f. (anrhegion)
anrhegu - to present v. anrheg- , to give v. anrheg- , to bestow v. anrheg-
dyma anrheg ddelfrydol i'r plant - here's an ideal present for the children
mae'r anrhegion i gyd dan y goeden Nadolig - all the presents are under the Christmas tree
Iesu - Jesus n.m.f.
eglwys - church n.f.
service - oedfa n.f. (oedfaon)
carol plygain - matin song
plygain - cock-crow n.m. (plygeiniau) , matins n.m. (plygeiniau) , dawn n.m. (plygeiniau)
carol Nadolig - Christmas carol
Yule-tide - adeg y Nadolig
gwyl - holiday n.m.f. (gwyliau) , festival n.m.f. (gwyliau) , feast n.m.f. (gwyliau)
gwyliau - holidays n. , vacation n.
Tawel Nos
Tawel nos dros y byd,
Sanctaidd nos gylch y crud;
Gwylion dirion yr oedd addfwyn ddau,
Faban Duw gydar llygaid bach cau,
Iesu Twysog ein hedd.
Sanctaidd nos gydai ser;
Mante ll fwyn,cariad per
Mintair bugail yn dod i fwynhau
Baban Duw gydar llygaid bach cau,
Iesu Twysog ein hedd.
Tawel nos, Duw ei Hun
Ar y llawr gyda dyn;
Cerddir engyl, ar Nen trugarhau;
Baban Duw gydar llygaid bach cau,
Iesu,Twysog ein hedd.
Mae Llaw y Gaeaf (Jenkin Morgan Edwards, 1933)
Mae llaw y gaeaf oer
Yn cloi pob nant a llyn,
A bysedd bach y coed
I gyd mewn menyg gwyn;
Ar adar wrth y drws
Yn printior eiran dlws.
Nid oes mewn llwyn na gardd
Un nodyn bach o gan,
A saif y coed yn syth
Mewn gwisg o berlau glan;
Daw dawns yr haul cyn hir
Iw troi yn arian clir.
Caraf y gaeaf byth,
Er oernii awel fain,
Am ddod a gynau gwyn
Ir coed ar llwyni drain;
Ar adar wrth y drws
Yn printior eiran dlws.
menig: gloves
oerni: [m.](n.) cold, coldness, chillness
After surviving the evil of the kitchen boiler - it is restful to be back in Wales, and and face the simple life. A little study on the internet and an opportunity to better oneself ..
It was in this spirit that I found the following picture on my researches..
Seems to sum up my day ...
That's All !!!
Some central heating systems seem to have a mind of their own. There is probably a technical term for overanthropomorphising a plumbing system, but when you are in someone else's house, and the temperature is dropping sharply, and the radiators are cold, and none of the buttons seem to work then you have to forgive me for thinking that there may be a hint of malicious intelligence in the boiler in the corner.
There is a simple white box on the wall of the kitchen, it says that the heating is on timer. Well when I say "it says" I do not mean that I have over-egged the intelligence bit by implying that it is actually speaking to me in a "we will take over the world Pinky" type manner. I mean that the little arrow is pointing to the "Timer" line in the LED display. There is a button next to it, and though it says ADVANCE HEATING, which might mean that it considers itself to be the height of technology, or that it wants you to move forward with the times, pressing the button simply switches a green light on with the letters ADV ( which implies it is doing whatever it is meant to ) but the radiators don't warm up, and the master mind which looks like R2D2 in the cupboard is remaining stubbornly quiet!!.
Looking at R2D2, there are some buttons saying plus and minus, and MODE - and the readout says 54 - which looks like a temperature - blooming cold !!!! Pressing the MODE button seems to do little. Though I was getting somewhere when I pressed the PLUS and the numbers started climbing. But when I stopped they kept on - up into the 70's and then into the 80's.
Forgive me if I admit that I panicked just a little. After all it is not my house. I did not put the evil entity into the cupboard, but I am not sure that it isn't blaming me anyway !!!. But if the numbers kept on climbing then the whole thing might explode!!! Okay, I know it is an exaggeration, and slightly extreme, but it seemed likely to me as I hurriedly pressed the minus button.... Yes... I watched the numbers drop into the single figures ......
But more important - the radiators are still cold!!!
and then - one radiator started to warm up - just to spite me I reckon!!!
I know all the radiators were on this morning so none have been switched off!!
So why is only one radiator warming up ?? And that is quite hot now - but I don't want to spend the rest of the day hovering over one radiator. While the remainder refuse to budge.
I can't hear the boiler running - so where is the heat coming from????
Ahh - the sound of a car driving up - we may solve the mystery.........
Watch this space .....
If I don't Blog tomorrow - send help... but beware the cupboard on the left....
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John MOuse releases 'Robbie Savage' a download only single for sale at one pound on the 17th of December 2012.
'Robbie Savage' is the first release from Valleys born anti-pop hero John MOuse and the follow up to the success of his 2010 album "Humber Dogger Forties". An excellent individual pop album that featured witty lyrical tales of gay incestual love duets, postpartum sex (or lack of it), a flashing 10 year old sister, crimes of passion and entrapment, all flowing from the foolish dreams of a young boy, who wants his parents to stay married until he is 18. John MOuse has been described as the following. "The Welsh Beck, "Kurt Wagner with sexual issues" and "a cross between a more aggressive Art Brut, and a less funny Half Man Half Biscuit."
Released just in time for the festive period 'Robbie Savage' will shortly be accompanied by a video depicting a touching family scene at the Davies household. Dont be mistaken, Robbie Savage isnt about the flowing locked Welsh footballer. No sir, its a gentle ode to broken families. The song claimed its title when the lyric Macho Man Randy Savage is frozen in mid air was misheard. Robbie Savage is a gentle track, with minimal instrumentation, repetitive melody and honest lyrics.
John MOuse is currently working on recording his fourth album I was a goalkeeper which is scheduled for release mid 2013.
credits
released 17 December 2012
Lyrics and Music, John Davies. Music and production, P. Pearce.
The Portland Welsh Society Annual Christmas Tea was held on Saturday December 1st at the Kenilworth Presbyterian Church in South East Portland.
After a hearty lunch the Mari Llwyd made the rounds with gifts of candy for the younger attendees and musical entertainment was provided by Owen and Amanda Hofmann-Smith.
The festivities were rounded off in traditional style with carol singing and a lively rendition of the Welsh national anthem.
For a fuller flavor of the event see the photos in the slideshow on this page ( we have more and will be adding them shortly )
NADOLIG LLAWEN
The Musical Program
1. 'The Lord's Prayer' ( guitar accompaniment )
2. 'What Child is This' ( to the tune of Greensleeves, piano accompaniment )
3. 'Ave Maria' ( Gounod arrangement, cello accompaniment )
4. 'Suite for Solo Cello' Bach
5. 'Mary Did You Know' ( piano and accordion accompaniment )
6. 'Holy Night' ( piano accompaniment )
