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"Sam asked Noah what was 'is business,
And t'ould chap went on to remark
That, not liking the look of the weather,
'E were thinking of building an Ark." Noah builds an ark...
There is a theory that the varied type of weather in the UK lends itself to becoming the central point of all discourse, and the great myth of British "reserve" has been compounded by the ability to talk inanely for hours without ever breaching a personal issue..... Well, I have just put that theory and therefore the statement "there is a theory" is 100% true....
It may not be a good theory, but as I wake this bright November morning and look at the rain pouring downthe bedroom window, snuggle under the bedclothes as I recall switching off the central heating last night in a vain attempt to reduce the forthcoming horrific fuel bills (and thank you Mr Cameron for deciding that we should all pay an additional 95 per household to help the energy companies invest in more green resources!!) my thoughts dwell upon mycolleaguesin the re-enactment and Live Roleplay & Fantasy Trading circles who are out this weekend trying to ply their trades.
Ludlow Christmas Fayre is on this weekend, just over the border from Wales, many still hold that it belongs to us, after all it still says "Croeso i Loegr" as you enter England, "Welcome to the Lost Lands".Many friends are there and by all accounts the rain did not let up at all yesterday and the winds were horrific. Martin, of Martin's Jerked Meat (Newport) lamented that the "Trade has gone cold" and from his ramblings I don't think that was all that was cold !!! Suddenly, finishing trading at the end of October all seemed to make a little more sense, even if the money was not coming in!! Still, Caerphilly Castle at Christmas to look forward to on 8th December - I will give them that long to get the weather sorted out again - I am not an unreasonable person. [ Link to Caerphilly Fayre ]
So, it may not be Hurricane Sandy, or even Hurricane Dai, but the weather reports show a record number of weather warnings including 4 "death threatening" levels.
Though in some senses I prefer this version which has a hint of simplicity about it ...
As I look out of my bay window in Llanelli, it is currently sunny here - I hear that my Granddaughter is holding a memorial service this afternoon for Goldie the Goldfish who sadly passed away after consistent over eating - no flowers please... monetary donations only .... and I wonder whether I should wish that it be dry for the mourners, or wet in memory of poor Goldie......
Never an easy decision for the Barkeep .....
AmeriCymru: Hi Becca and many thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by AmeriCymru. When did you start the Welsh Gift Shop ? 
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| An early Christmas present from The Welsh Gift Shop. Order unique Christmas gifts from Wales with a guaranteed 10% discount. This offer is exclusive to AmeriCymru members and readers. The discount code is 'americymru10%'. Just quote this when ordering for instant reductions. Offer lasts until December 10th. |
Interview by Ceri Shaw Ceri Shaw on Google+
Fact for t h e day... the word "Trigger" used for all our guns originated from the word TREKKER from the Dutch. [Dutch trekker , from Middle Dutch trecker , from trecken , to pull .]
T his may not seem to be a very important fact, but I was more interested that I learned it in the middle of the night while sitting at my computer, on a pop up message from a very nice and attractive young lady who had possibly imbibed a little too much of the Mead, and who decided that the early hours of the morning was a good time to contact her favourite Barkeep and discuss early century firearms. Granted that the last time I met the young lady was at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross when she pointed a very large, and unloaded I hasten to add, blunderbuss sized weapon at me - and smiled with a rather demonical look in her eye .....
It seems that it was not a blunderbuss - her weapon, which she knew with anatomical knowledge predated such a piece of mechanical engineering by a laughable number of years, and though the communication was through the little box called "Chat" upon a Facebook page, with an annoying little "Ping" sound after every T was dotted and I was crossed, it was quite clear that the tone of the missives contained an air of "You don't know even the basics !!! What kind of imbecile would make that sort of mistake !""
I'm even pre matchlock
I suppose that if you are the Barkeep to a Re-enactment and Live Action Roleplay Historical and Fantasy Tavern, then you just have to expect being delighted by the rich tapestry of people that you meet across the country - even if it also involves having the occasional weapon pointed at you.
I am sure that my friends and associated in the USA will support the principle that every young lady in medieval gown should have the right to bear arms. I certainly support that it makes for a more varied lifestyle - life does not get boring when surrounded by people who are involved in their hobby, and though this is the "down" season here in the UK, well for me at any case as I have no intention of putting up canvass and camping out in the rain and snow at the moment - (though arguably I did last year!!) it is a delight to still have access to the varied characters that have been our customers and friends over the last 10 years.
Oh, she also shared another interesting fact - it is the sort of thing that you do in the early hours of the morning - apparently a snail's orgasm lasts 30 minutes.....
Well that was sort of a conversation stopper!!!...
The decking of the traditional fir tree is one of the highlights for young and old as part of the Christmas preparations. However, there is one Christmas tree in Cardiff which will have more significance than most again this year. The Tree of Hope, located outside Stafell Fyw Caerdydd Living Room Cardiff, is being lit up at 6pm on Wednesday, 12 December 2012.
The tree offers an opportunity to attach a star enclosing a message of hope as a way of celebrating freedom from addiction, honouring persons successfully achieving recovery, to dedicate rays of hope to those still struggling in their illness and those working in the field, and to commemorate lives lost to this tragic and misunderstood disease
We would encourage as many people as possible to give an hour or two out of their day in the run up to the Christmas celebrations to help those who are recovering whilst also remembering those who were not so fortunate.
After the Tree of Hope ceremony there will be curry and carols to round off the evening.
Recovery Cymru is delighted to be part of the Tree of Hope event. We believe that celebrating recovery and the different paths we take, whilst paying tribute to those we have lost along the way allows us all to recognise how special recovery is and to share that message to others. We would like to dedicate our involvement to our dear friend Matt. We look forward to seeing you there. Love, The RC team.
To have a special message inscribed on an individual star of hope, please call Living Room Cardiff on 029 20493895 or email info@welshcouncil.org.uk by 9 th December 2011.
This event is organised by the same team that brought you the first ever Welsh National Recovery Walk in 2011.
Coeden Gobaith yn gwreiddio yng Nghaerdydd
Mae addurnor goeden binwydd yn ddigwyddiad y maer hen ar ifanc fel ei gilydd yn edrych ymlaen ato fel rhan o baratoadaur Nadolig. Ond mae un goeden Nadolig yng Nghaerdydd eto eleni gyda mwy o arwyddocd nar mwyafrif. Maer Goeden Gobaith, wedii lleoli yn Stafell Fyw Caerdydd - Living Room Cardiff, yn cael ei goleuo am 6pm ar ddydd Mercher, 12 Rhagfyr 2012.
Bydd cyfle i lynu seren ir goeden syn cynnwys neges o obaith fel ffordd o ddathlu gwellhad un annwyl, i ddangos diolchgarwch am gymorth mewn gwellhad personol, ac fel ffordd o gofior rhai au collwyd yn sgil dibyniaeth.
Gobeithio y bydd cymaint o bobl ag syn bosib yn ein helpu i fod yn llusern ddisglair o obaith ir rhai syn dal i frwydro yn erbyn dibyniaeth, ac i anfon neges o ddiolch drwy roi seren ar ein Coeden Gobaith.
Yn dilyn seremonir Goeden Gobaith bydd cyfle i ganu carolau a mwynhau mochyn wedi ei rostio.
Mae Recovery Cymru yn falch i fod yn rhan or Goeden Obaith. Rydym ni yn credu fod dathlu adferiad ar gwahanol lwybrau rydym yn eu cymryd, tran talu teyrnged ir rhai hynny gollwyd ar y ffordd, yn caniatau inni gyd sylweddoli pa mor arbennig yw adferiad. Ac I rannur neges honno I eraill. Hoffen gysegun hymrwymiad In cyfaill annwyl, Matt. EDrychwn ymlaen at eich gweld yno. Cariad. T m RC.
Er mwyn cael neges arbennig wedi arysgrifio ar seren obaith unigol, ffoniwch Stafell Fyw Caerdydd ar 029 20493895 neu e-bostiwch info@welshcouncil.org.uk erbyn y 9 o Ragfyr 2012.
So on this day in 1963, Dr Who first appeared on BBC 1 - a step forward in TV history that would change generations. There have been many Doctors and, like James Bond, everyone seems to have their favourite and though I am an old traditionalist and loved the original story line of a Grandfather trying to get his granddaughtera decent education in a local Earth School who kidnaps two of the teachers.
I can think of a number of teachers today who would gladly up sticks and jump into a floating Police Box and it may be that the original concept was inspired by the desire to escape the classroom.
Indeed - it has inspired the escapist fantasies of generations since that time.
Though I have watched most Doctors from the original back in 1963, the nearest we have come to the TARDIS is Caerphilly Castle a couple of years ago when we took the Crimson Moon Mead Emporium to the InnerBailey and looked up at the main tower to see a Blue Box shining in the most unlikely position!!.
It may have been a publicity stunt - but staying in the old Castle overnight - with the TARDIS as a Beacon shining down upon us was and interesting experience.
The TARDIS on the main tower at Caerphilly Castle and the view up through the arch at the Crimson Moon Mead Emporium and the North Tower.
So back to the present and we spent a night in the UK being battered by seriously strong winds. As one correspondent upon the Book of Faces commented - "We have been hit by Hurricane Dai!!"
But this morning the sun is trying to break through and thought I would not call it warm - we are not subjected to the wind whistling through the dog flap - and stealing all the heat out of the house.
A breakfast of home made bread, with home made cream cheese and home made apricot jam - may not be the most healthy in the "less fattening" style but I can be assured of noadditives, and itcertainlytastes better. A cup of coffee may not be the most healthy either, and is fairness it is not my normal drink - tea being the preference for most days, however - it seemed to be right to go with the breakfast.
So plans for the day?
Just enough time - after all it is Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey...
Taken from the .. Barkeep's Blog
As the acclaim piles up for their third LP, Anglo-Welsh-American psychedelic rockers Howl Griff give London a double-header this weekend with FREE gigs both north and south of the river.
On Friday 23rd November the band are playing at Ryan's Bar in Stoke Newington , and on Saturday 24th it's the Queen's Head in Brixton . Entry to both is free; maps and details at http://www.howlgriff.com/gigs.html
The ' Fragile Diamond ' album has been universally adored by the critics, with radio plays worldwide including BBC 6Music and being BBC Radio Wales's Album of the Week . The Line Of Best Fit said "HG sprinkle cuteness where it fits into the compositions but leave them alone when it doesnt... effortlessly marrying indie rock and endearing songwriting . In other words, you can be adorable without descending into hipster irony."
Louder Than War said " Trust me on this, you should hear this band . Its an album you should have your life will be a tiny bit shinier for hearing it" while the Western Mail said "you could be forgiven for thinking that Howl Griff are the result of some genetic experiment in a laboratory undertaking pioneering research into the creation of the perfect melody ."
Music News simply says Howl Griff are very, very good , developing their songwriting to a place that is as good as anyone around today . There isnt a duff number or a filler on the album, while Stuff magazine called it "The perfect antidote to autumn's inexorable onset, warm, fuzzy and saturated with summery charm ".
You can read more quotes and hear the album - at http://www.howlgriff.com/
Fragile Diamond follows Howl Griff's critically-acclaimed eponymous Welsh-language debut (which Clash magazine called the work of a Welsh Brian Wilson) and English-language LP The Hum which yielded much coverage on BBC 6Music including an MPFree of the Day, a BBC Radio Wales Single of the Week and being hailed as bloody lush by Lauren Laverne .
Lead single Fragile Diamond sees the band swinging melodically through a song that examines the fragility of life against a backdrop drenched in lush three-part harmonies . Elsewhere, theres the epic Meet My Maker (based on singer Griffs experiences of going blind while driving down the fast lane of the M4), the blistering riff-based 70s rock of She Walks On By The Flame , thumping disco beats of Sharkfins In The Sky (with more real-life lyrics, this time about a murder at an ice rink underneath the bands studio) and "maritime cowboy" anthem Rose of Emily (must be the influence of the Texan bass player). More track info and lyrics can be found at http://www.howlgriff.com
Howl Griff are:
Hywel Griffiths, lead vocals and guitar
Gary Parkinson, guitar and backing vocals
Steve Kennedy, bass and backing vocals
Nick Moore, drums and percussion
Press/photos: Ffion Davies at AltPR
ffion@altsounds.com 07889 355 051
TV / Radio Promotion: Ron McCreight
ronmccreight@btinternet.com 07775 663 537
Record label: Dockrad
post@dockrad.com www.dockrad.com 07950 938 227
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MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/HowlGriff
Merchandise: http://howlgriffshop.spreadshirt.net
We are: Hywel Griffiths, Nick Moore,
Gary Parkinson, Steve Kennedy and you
Gododdin : The Earliest British Literature published by Gomer Press is Professor Gwyn Thomass classic translation of the odes, or awdlau as they are known in Welsh, that commemorate the encounter of 300 Britons with a vast army of Angles at Catraeth. This conflict, which occurred towards the end of the sixth century, ended in the defeat of the Britons. But this was a glorious and heroic defeat and the poems include a series of elegies to the brave Britons who died fighting an army of thousands.
As well as being the title for these collection of poems attributed to Aneirin, Gododdin also refers to both the kingdom in Yr Hen Ogledd, the Old North (southern Scotland and northern England) and the tribe of British people living there.
Gwyn Thomass rhythmic rendition conveys the raw emotional power of the original Primitive Welsh text and along with his enlightening and authoritative Introduction, the author and poet offers a memorable perspective on this resonant poetry of European significance. There is much debate between scholars as to when exactly Gododdin was composed but it could be argued that some of these odes are the oldest British literature of all.
A former National Poet of Wales and Emeritus Professor of Welsh at Bangor University, Professor Gwyn Thomas is a prolific author and poet. He has published 19 volumes of poetry, several volumes of work as a literary and cultural critic and commentator as well as volumes of adaptations and translations of medieval Welsh tales.
Gododdin: The Earliest British Literature is available from
all good bookshops and online retailers.
For more information, please visit www.gomer.co.uk
HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY TO ALL OUR MEMBERS AND READERS!
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| And an early Christmas present from The Welsh Gift Shop. Order unique Christmas gifts from Wales with a guaranteed 10% discount. This offer is exclusive to AmeriCymru members and readers. The discount code is 'americymru10%'. Just quote this when ordering for instant reductions. Offer lasts until December 10th. |
'Once On A Cold And Grey September' - An Interview With Brendan Gerad O'Brien
By Ceri Shaw, 2012-11-22
Brendan Gerad OBrien . was born in Tralee, on the west coast of Ireland and now lives in Wales with his wife Jennifer and daughters Shelly and Sarah.As a child he spent his summer holidays in Listowel, Co Kerry, where his uncle Moss Scanlon had a Harnessmakers shop.The shop was a magnet for all sorts of colourful characters. It was there that Brendans love of words was kindled by the stories of John B. Keane and Bryan MacMahon, who often wandered in for a chat and bit of jovial banter.Once on a Cold and Grey September is his first thriller. AmeriCymru spoke to Brendan about his writing and future plans.
AmeriCymru: Hi Brendan and many thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by AmeriCymru. Care to describe your first novel 'Once On A Cold Grey September' for our readers?
Brendan: Hi Ceri. Thanks for asking me to be interviewed for AmeriCymru - its an honour to invited.
My first full novel Once on a Cold and Grey September is a 130,000 word alternative-history action/ thriller, set in Wales in 1940.
The German army is massed along the French coast, poised to invade Great Britain. Only the ferocious resistance of Winston Churchill makes Hitler hesitate.
Then a persistent rumour that Churchill has died demolishes the resolve of the British people and a deep, bitter rift appears within the Government itself. Hitler seizes the opportunity and launches a devastating attack.
Danny OSheas house in Newport is bombed and his wife is killed. His ten-year-old son Adam has learning difficulties. Terrified of what the Nazis will do to him, OShea is determined to take him to the safety of neutral Ireland, and they head for the port of Fishguard.
On an isolated road in the Brecon Beacons, they witness a random attack on some German trucks by local insurgents, whore astonished to find theyve captured an awesome new weapon taken from a secret laboratory near Brecon.
German Captain Eric Weiss, responsible for the weapons safe transfer to Berlin, desperately wants it back.
But, following a major disagreement amongst the insurgents, the weapon disappears.
Then O'Shea goes to the aid of a dying woman, and suddenly everyone thinks shes told him where the weapon is.
Now O'Shea and his son are running for their lives, pursued by both the furious Germans and the fanatical Welsh insurgents
AmeriCymru: How did you get started as a writer?
Brendan: Probably when I won my first writing competition. I was about eight years old and I was so excited I ran all the way home. The Fun Fair was coming to Tralee - our little town on the West coast of Ireland - and apart from Duffy's Circus which usually came in September, this was the highlight of our year. Our English teacher asked us to write an essay about it, and I won the only prize - a book of ten tickets for the fair.
There were eight kids in our family so everyone got a ride on something. Even the Mammy herself had a go on the dodgems.
So writing was in my blood from a very young age. I loved writing essays and studying English literature.
AmeriCymru: You also write short fiction. How would you compare the creative processes - novel writing and short story writing?
Brendan: Ive always preferred writing short stories but I cant say I ever asked myself why. Perhaps it stems from when I was a child - as I said; there were eight of us and in those days we didnt have a TV, so we tended to sit around the fire on the dark winter evenings and make up stories. If your story didnt grab everyones attention pretty quickly, someone else butted in and blotted you out, so it was imperative that what you had to say was short and sharp. Also the story couldnt be too long because everyone wanted a conclusion before we were herded off to bed. But writing the full novel was a wonderful experience - I enjoyed the fact that when I sat down to write the next chapter it developed a mind of its own and took me off in numerous directions. It was originally twice as long as it is now, but on the advice of some good friends I whittled it right down so that it was tighter and less rambling. On reflection, not everyone wanted the deep and meaningful details about the politics of the day, they just want to enjoy the story.
AmeriCymru: What are you currently reading? Any recommendations?
Brendan: Boy Soldier by Andy McNab - I read everything by Andy McNab. I like thrillers that are fast and furious.
The last four I read were; The Reaper by Steven Dunne, Vanished by Tim Weaver, Against All Enemies by Tom Clancy, and Catch Your Death by Louise Voss & Mark Edwards.
AmeriCymru: Where can people go to purchase your work online?
Brendan: Amazon for Paperback and Kindle;
Brendan Gerad O'Brien on Amazon
Smashwords.com for eBooks;
Brendan Gerad O'Brien on Smashwords
AmeriCymru: What's next for Brendan Gerad O'Brien?
Brendan: Im on Chapter Twenty of my next novel Cassidy and Criddle which is a thriller set in Ireland in 1942 and concerns a Garda sergeant Eamon Criddle and a beautiful but flaky - even treacherous - girl called Amanda Cassidy. Criddles step-son is shot in a pub in front of a crowd of revellers, yet no one sees a thing. Then his step--daughter is found dead in the park. Suicide, or murder? Lots of twists and double dealing.
Ive also done the rough draught of a few short stories.
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the readers and members of AmeriCymru?
Brendan: Im so pleased I found AmeriCymru - its such a friendly and welcoming site. I only hope I can contribute to it and make everyone in the USA - and anywhere in the world, for that matter - with Welsh blood in their veins feel a little bit closer to home.
Interview by Ceri Shaw Ceri Shaw on Google+
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