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PLEASE LOG IN TO AMERICYMRU AND GO HERE WELSH GIFT SHOP AND HERE WELSH GIFTS AND CRAFTS FOR THE DISCOUNT CODES. LINKS TO BOTH SITES ARE INCLUDED ON THE PAGES AND ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS QUOTE YOUR AMRICYMRU DISCOUNT CODE WHEN ORDERING
I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, if you're an American, but Christmas is coming! If you haven't already, check out our Buy Welsh for Christmas page and many 10% special deals for AmeriCymru members!
If you're a vendor of fine Welsh things and your ad should be on our Buy Welsh for Christmas page, email us at americymru@gmail.com -
The Welsh gift shop has a 10% off sale right now and they have lots of gorgeous stuff made in Wales, like this slate heart pendant:
http://welshgiftshop.com/collections/welsh-jewellery-fashion/products/necklace-welsh-slate-heart
Or Welsh Gifts and Crafts has lots of great things, coffee cups and other stuff like this great, red dragon:
http://www.welshgiftsandcrafts.co.uk/shop/ellens-dragon/
'When You Smile You'll Be A Dog No More' - An Interview With Paul Steffan Jones
By Ceri Shaw, 2012-11-17
Welsh poet Paul Steffan Jones won this year's (2012) West Coast Eisteddfod Online Poetry Competition with his entry When You Smile You'll Be A Dog No More . Read the winning entry below. AmeriCymru spoke to Paul about his winning entry and about his work in general.
Paul: Diolch. I am delighted to have won this competition. The poem is a reaction to the death of my mother in July 2011, the Gleision mining disaster later that same year and the 1938 murder of my Treherbert ancestor Thomas Picton by Spanish war criminals. It deals with grief and how it affects the personality and one's core beliefs.
AmeriCymru: How would you describe your relationship with words, with the raw matter of your craft?
Paul: My relationship with words has become more flexible, more trusting over the last two years. I am favouring a partly abstract approach to writing because I feel that what's going on at present in the UK doesn't make much sense and it's my job to reflect that feeling of nonsense to some degree in my work. It's good I feel to deconstruct a narrative so much that the narrative disappears leaving the naked and mad beauty of words that seem not to belong together but somehow work against the odds. I allude to this in When You Smile You'll Be a Dog No More. It is even more challenging when reading this type of poem to an audience. I believe it's important to try to find new ways of conveying messages, creating tension and provoking reaction.
AmeriCymru: Your blog features a number of original works. Will they be anthologised? How satisfactory/useful are digital media for poets?
Paul: Some of my blog writings have appeared in collections and others may do so in the future. I have found that having a blog has provided me with feedback that I would not otherwise have had. It provides additional encouragement in a fairly lonely genre.
Paul: A small number of copies of Lull of The Bull are available at www.starbornbooks.co.uk and a few book shops in West and South Wales.
AmeriCymru: What's next for Paul Steffan Jones?
Paul: My second collection, The Trigger-Happiness, will be published by Starborn Books in the next few weeks. A third collection, Junk Notation, has already been written, a reaction to relationship breakdown, poems punctuated by short stories. I am working at the moment on a potential book called Ministry of Loss which again deals with grief and also the massive population change in rural Wales since the 1960s. I look forward to taking The Trigger-Happiness to a wider audience. I hope that one of its poems will feature in an exhibition in Kyoto, Japan next month.
I will continue to fight the UK Coalition Government's austerity measures from within the ranks of the Trade Union movement.
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the members and readers of AmeriCymru?
Paul: There are a lot of good but unknown poets in West Wales who deserve to be heard. I'm sure that a similar situation exists in the U.S.A. I would like there to be closer links between lesser-known Welsh and American poets.
When You Smile You'll Be A Dog No More
I wake up
I wake up dead
I had been dreaming of cardboard
home made signs on unclassified roads
which directed me to 20,000 saints
or 20,000 whores
its hard to decide
everything is everything else
nothing is nothing
let me sleep
my bed my kingdom
Im sick of having to make sense
if theres still such a thing
the holes and the cracks
that await filling or recognition
our father gives us brown envelopes
containing our mothers careful accretion
we have all done loot
I will glory in her memory
decorate those who have managed
to live to retirement age
who have lived before death
I am overdue a bombweed and overgrown motte
Grand Tour
with a redundant cinema gravedigger hunchback
to disinter Nazis to kill them all over again
the art of leaning on a farm gate to view
wood lice jigs
the tail end of a hurricane
mould and its cousins
fungicide and its offspring
cry when miners die in the sides of hills
in the tombs of the underworld
in the caress of water
cry when they say your name
when the pain overpowers
when the clues expire
cry as men cry
faces to the wall
the tears of candles
the clowns of town down
the anti-condensation flotilla at full tilt
freelance apologists freely lancing
cwtsh into the huddle
taste her tears so near
impressing me as much
as I had expected
but not in the manner anticipated
women with bruised faces
the views from floors
fight for your smile
you know the one
and I will fight for the right to fail
and the secrets we think we are keeping
removing my shirt though its cool
nakedness of diaphragm
for what I am
the long arms of brambles through fencing
Impressionist paintings in river reflections
the source of the Nile
the source of fibre
persisting with bent nibs
everybody lies
everybody smells
everybody disappoints
this towns got much to answer for
eat what you are
food replaces sex
those poached brains
shopping as sport
lions as lambs
distance will bring us together
Interview by Ceri Shaw
With winter at its worst, it is easy to yearn for the summer: the sunshine and sea, the beach and ice cream. The coast has always attracted us, and in Gwyn Jenkins new book, On the Seashore , we have a collection of photographs that portray the relationship between the Welsh and the seaside from the mid 19 th century to the present day. From the black and white photographs of Llandudnos promenade in 1857 to the surfers braving the waves on Y Sgers beach today, you can enjoy the varied coastal views through the last centuries, in every season, and without leaving your armchair.
Over the centuries many Welsh men and women earned their living from fishing, importing and exporting, or by providing leisure activities on the shore and on the water, and the aim of On the Seashore is to reflect this aspect of our history. The book includes photographs of fishing boats that sailed from small ports, such as Porth Dinllaen on the Lln Peninsula, where there were up to 40 boats that were used for fishing herring. There are also photographs showing the development of larger ports such as Aberdyfi and Porthmadog, as well as the significant docks of Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Barry. Among the other striking photographs there is an image of Porthmadog harbour in its heyday, when the ferry would transport people between Aberdyfi and Ynys-las.
Some coastal towns, such as Aberystwyth and Tenby, developed facilities to attract wealthy visitors, and with the arrival of the railways came the development of other seaside towns for the not-so-wealthy. Thousands would come on their holidays from large cities such as Liverpool and Manchester to Colwyn Bay, Rhyl and Llandudno, and families would flock to Butlins in Pwllheli. In the south, mining families from the Rhondda would travel by train or bus to enjoy a day at the seaside in Barry or Porthcawl, where there was a fair, as well as the beach, to amuse them.
Even with the arrival of overseas package holidays, where sunshine was guaranteed, our coastline continues to attract visitors. The book includes some stunning recent photographs, including one of the more unusual visitors to Aberystwyths pier each February the starlings that flock there in their thousands at dusk to roost.
In the style of its precursor, Life in the Welsh Countryside , the photographs include the work of some of Wales best known photographers such as Geoff Charles, John Thomas, J H Lister, Tom Mathias, William Harwood, David Hurn and Keith Morris.
Gwyn Jenkins was brought up in Perparcau near Aberystwyth but has made Talybont his home for over thirty years. Before retiring in 2009, he was Director of Collections Services at the National Library of Wales. He has published several books, including the successful Life in the Welsh Countryside .
Some images from the book
Bath house Llandudno
Porthcawl picnic
Welsh Captain and Swansea City legend Ashley Williams has been through a lot in the last couple of years. From achieving Premiership status with Swansea in the play-off final to becoming captain of the Welsh national side, its been quite an eventful period for Ashley, and hes now revealing all about life with Swansea City and Wales in a new book called My Premier League Diary.
His friend Rio Ferdinand has written the introduction to what he describes as an excellent book,which gives a unique view into what it takes to be a successful footballer at the highest level.
In the book Ashley reveals the highs and lows of a professional footballer, from the pre-season trip to the Alps, the harsh lesson of the first Premier League game against Man City and then the revenge of beating the eventual Champions at the Liberty. The book also includes a poignant tribute to his mentor and former Wales boss, Gary Speed and a detailed account of his pain and sorrow following his death.
The book also gives the reader a fascinating insight into the Swansea dressing room, the banter between the players and the resolve that made that first season such a success. Ashley is also very honest about opposition players and tells his feelings about players such as Rooney, Carroll and Suarez, and lets the reader know exactly what goes through his mind at the height of his personal battles with these world class players. In addition to his honest appraisal of his many opponents, Ashley gives a detailed evaluation of his then manager Brendan Rodgers and his approach to managing Swansea throughout the season, culminating in the shock Ashley felt when he received the phone call from Rodgers, telling him that he was leaving Swansea for Liverpool. Reflecting on Rodgers exit Ashley says Brendan gave me that extra 10 or 20% which meant that when the Premier League came along, I didnt look out of place, and that improvement was testament to him. Thinking of it all now, Im just happy that I had the chance to work with him.
The book is written with Swansea sports writer David Brayley, an experienced author who has written two other books, including the autobiography of Tony Cottey and delivers a sports literacy scheme for schools in Swansea. The book will be launched at the Liberty Stadium shop at 6.00 pm on Wednesday 21 November where Ashley will be signing his book.
There will also be a book signing at Waterstones, Swansea between 2-4 p.m on Saturday 24 th of November. Ashley Williams: My Premier League Diary is published by Y Lolfa and priced at 14.95. It will be avialable in book shops and from www.ylolfa.com .
Great poets and authors have always pushed the boundaries of what may be considered good taste.
The following poet is no exception. Many of you may find his poem morally offensive and therefore I would like to make the following observations:
1. 'Glyn Scott' is NOT my pen name. He is much older and uglier than me. Pictorial evidence is provided below.
2. No penises were harmed or compromised in the making of this poem.
3. If you are easily offended (or female) please DO NOT READ BEYOND THIS POINT.
4. No money exchanged hands in the promotion of this poem (yet).
PICTORIAL EVIDENCE in support of my previous observations.
PLEASE DO NOT READ BEYOND THIS POINT IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED.
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
HERE GOES. . .
The Counter Revolution.
We march like ancient warriors
along the rugged track,
To another field of battle
There is no looking back.
Our hearts are strong and wilful
Our hopes continue on
We are the veterans rugby team
Whose muscles have all gone.
The game begins and in no time,
we are praying for a rest
No violent scrums we settle in
like hens upon a nest.
The referee has abandoned hope
of controlling this debacle,
Our collective aim is to a man
avoid having to tackle.
Spectators few in number
There for memories sake
Stand and issue platitudes
Like mourners at a wake.
Our wives abandon us to chance
Of ever coming back
They see the pain that has no gain
and give us constant flack.
They say we men are obsolete
Mars usurped by Venus
Our worth is measured only
by the short length of our penis.
They demean us daily
saying boys they will be boys,
then replace us in the marital sack
with a range of sexual toys.
Yet we will fight on valiantly
sod our feminine side
We owe it to our brave young sons
To avoid the manhood slide.
So hardy veterans every where
Play on, theres no game finer.
Against the ever growing threat
The march of the vagina.
So get up off your knees, man
Support your local club.
If she says be home by six
her demanding you must snub.
Give her both barrels, my son
Reduce her to a pallor
and you and I will one day share
a brew in old Valhalla
Glyn Scott
The Ruptured Bard.
P.S. I f by some remote chance some of you enjoyed this poem let me know and I'll buy Glyn a pint next Monday when we meet for lunch.
If, as I strongly suspect, you find the tone of this poem morally reprehensible please forward me your comments on a blank 20 note and I will ensure the poet is made aware of how much he has offended your sensibilties.
I canhowever personally vouch for the fact that he was severely ruptured while researching this poem. Great poets must be prepared to suffer for their art.
# flirtingatthefuneral Doing an author-appearance at Aberystwyth University Bookfest on Monday, December 10th. Be there! WOOP! WOOP!
Not a big deal for members of the site BUT it will certainly be of some use to me in my ongoing efforts to keep AmeriCymru spam and troll free. We get a number of applications to join at the moment from twerps masquerading as hairdressers e.g. Black Hairstyles Long Extensions . Possibly they are concerned at the condition of SJ's coiffure ? I dont know...but I suspect that they want to deluge us with offers of cheap 'gas cards' and worse. Anyway I now have a new tool to deal with dodgy 'hairdressers' and other online parasites. Oh happy day 
A message from John Charles:-
"Garth Celyn was the home of the Princes of Wales before the English conquest of the independent Welsh Nation in 1282. There are some 4000 years of archaeological remains under its soil.
29 acres of land surrounding what was the Palace has come onto the market for sale.
The Trustees want to purchase this landholding, which is of the greatest historical importance, to protect and preserve the unspoilt landscape, and to save it from the threat of development."
CATHERINE ZETA JONES SUPPORTS GARTH CELYN
'A Place that holds the souls of a nation' - Gwynfor Evans
Garth Celyn. Pen y Bryn, Bryn Llywelyn, Aber, Gwynedd.
Photograph taken by Brian Gibson Wikimedia Commons
Today we are pleased and proud to announce that we are partnering with the Welsh Gift Shop to bring you a wide range of Christmas quality and novelty gifts at a 10% discount for AmeriCymru members and readers. View the slideshow below ( or go to the album page here ) for a small selection of the goodies on offer. To get the discount code please email americymru@gmail.com Diolch and Nadolig Llawen
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