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A big thank you--diolch yn fawr--to M.H., who will be atending his first NAFOW this coming week, for hunting down many of the scheduled hymns we'll be singing on youtube!. What a marvelous idea!

So, if yiou're going to Cleveland, you can practice, and if yoou can't be there, you can listen and imagine how good we'll sound!

Hymn numbers correspond to the official WNGGA hymnal, available for sale at www.wngga.org .

Hymns for the Sunday morning worship service will be:

Opening hymn: no. 30--Sanctus --All verses in Welsh -

Offertory hymn: no. 86 (J 87)-- Rhondda --All verses in English - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYpnJagS_80

Memorial: no. 26--Penpark--All verses in English -

Closing: no. 23--Bryn Myrddin --All verses inWelsh-

Hymns for the 80th Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu will be:

AFTERNOON SESSION:

Pen yr Yrfa - no.7 -------

Godre'r Coed - no.12 ------

Calon Lan - no.66 -

Rachie - no.1 -

BREAK

Maesgwyn - no.10 -

Llef - no.56

Sirioldeb - no.52 -

Sanctus - no.30-

BREAK

Builth - no.73 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgd42Smf_5s

Milwaukee - no. 6 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH10nBxw18g

Bryn Myrddin - no.23-

BREAK

In Memoriam - no.28 -

Cleveland - no.33 -----------

Mawlgan - no.106 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nnn3aLqP98

EVENING SESSION:

Llan Baglan - no.2 -----

Aberystwyth - no.17 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzjFQXb2zSM&feature=related

Sandon-no.27 -

Blaenwern - no.75 -

and

BREAK

Cor Caersalem - no.107 (J106) -------

Hiraeth - no.50 ---------

Buddugoliaeth - no.100 --------

Pantyfedwen - no.98 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoiWXCp2pMU

Price - no.53 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl0iKDTvMqw

Tyddyn Llwyn - no.74 -------

BREAK

Rhydygroes - no.19 -

Penpark - no.26 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRpFt32wutk

Rhys - no. 89 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1AuZJX29DU

Cwm Rhondda-no.40 -

and

NAFOW Past Informal Singing

2008 NAFOW -

I have a tip.If you eat 'Le Tropizienne' (sponge pastry with creme patisserie and nibs of something deliciously crackly on top (spun sugar, I think), a mille feuille stuffed with strawberries and creamand then a meringue the size of a saucer, studded with pistachio nuts,in one sitting, with no one to curb your mad, wild desires, the next day you will eat onlytwo pastries at one go, apear and frangipan tart, and coconut sponge,in my case, on my plate.

I can't help it, despite Kate telling me to go easy, we areeating a meal in a few hours, I likefeelingsatiated.

I've been away for the week. I've been to Cannes, I've tasted the food, I've seen a Bugatti Veyron slide silently by, I've felt heat so hot it's slipped under my eyelids and I've stopped examiningprice tags, realising thatmost things areastronomically priced.

Kate and family were in Monacco for the day, admiring Princess Charlene's sumptuously simple Armani wedding gown. Ffion wanted to seethe fish tank in the palace grounds again and take a boat trip to Monte Carlo and I wanted to go to the marche in Cannes, whichI did.

Before leaving home I had worked out the 'Shopper's Rough Guide'to money.A pound is worth, give or take a few cents, a euro so, first stop, a pair of yellow Italian leather sandals twenty euro, 20. A bargain.

Next,a cerise straw bag forten euros. Fantastique. I had a conversation with the seller, told himI was from 'Pays de Galle', where it was usually 'froid'. He repeated it to the manon the next stall who admired my 'chapeau'.

On to thehandbags. Oui.

'Combien le sac, si'l vous plait?', I asked the teenage vendor.

'Trente'

'Thirty?'

'Oui'.

'Can you do it for less?'

'Non, je regret, but thirty french euros are the same as thirteen pounds in British money and this bag is beautiful and at thirteen pounds it is a bargain'.

'Pardon? Tell me, how do you work that out?'

'Oh, madame, my English is not good enough'.

Really? Whenit came to creative accounting, her brain was pretty good. I decided ona fifteen euro purse and she madeno furthermention of theequivalentBritish price.

It was getting on for eleven thirty by now, the temperature was in the nineties so I returnedtothe hotel, packed away the shopping,showered for the second time that morning andchanged my clothes.

Out again,to my favourite boulangerie for a slice of aubergine tart, fruit salad and a juice, nine euros. Good value.

Apres-midi Icaught the finiculaire train that goesto the old part of Cannes, much loved by Ernest Heminway and myself. I'd changed into harem trousers for the afternoon, floral and fun and all of ten euros which I'd bought the day before - (yes, there are bargains, if you know where to look).

The hour long trip was another ten euros. We passed the Carlton, where we were staying in the Clint Eastwood suite. Through the earphones we learnt the hotelwas dedicated to someone's mistress, who was called 'La Grande Horizontale' for fairly obvious reasons.

Half way through the journey,the train stopped for ten minutesand we got out. I likegoing into 'Our Lady of Hope' church at the top of the old town but it was closedfor some reason so I wandered down a side street instead.

I won't bore you with how I showered four times that day and room servicechanged the towels each time.

Later that evening, as we went for a meal, Ffion andI walked together.In front of us was a man of about twenty with his girlfriend. He was around six feet four inches, with light blond hair and pale skin and was wearinga white shirtwith grass green silk knotted cuff links andcanvas trousers in the same shade, with a yellow belt and black suede shoes. I whispered to Ffion that perhaps he was a model.

Later, when wesat in the dusk overlooking the bay, a tall woman went by. Her hair and skin were dark and she was dressed in a short black frock but with a long lace train. As we watched her, the breeze swirled the lace above her head, as though she was some fabulous creature from the sea. Catching our admiring glances, she turned to smile.

I knew then I'd spottedthe god and goddess of the Croisette that night.

The reason for such a long silence from me here is twofold. Firstly, ever since getting mobile again I have been gradually catching up on all sorts of work around the house and in my study that had been either totally ignored or half done before I gave up. I've made a lot of progress and things are returning to normal. I shall get even more done when 3 weeks have passed as my lovely helper, Emma, will be back from her summer occupation of running workshops on garland making at various festivals. Mind you, I shan't have her for long as she and Phil are getting married in September.

Secondly, I have been very busy editing a collection of poems by Hedd Wyn for publication by Merilang Press. I am not a native speaker so had to be very careful with typing and also checking after scanning. I checked it all myself and then a good friend who is a Cymraes proof-read the whole thing. My neighbour, who is hedd Wyn's nephew gave me a few more poems that had never been published. Altogether it has been stressful and time-consuming but very interesting. Have learnt a lot more Welsh but not of the kind one could yse for chatting in the pub. I have just finished contents and alphabetical index of first lines. Now just need to add titles for photos. and await a foreword from a bardd who is a Hedd Wyn expert.

Maybe then I'll have time to do some writing of my own.

Looking forward to seeing you there, Ceri, and everyone else who is coming. It's not too late to decide to attend. Go to www.nafow.org for last minute details. Register on-line or on-site. Ceri will be in the marketplace, which is the gathering place at one time or another for everyone there. I'm sure he will be other places as wel. You can come for 1 event, 1 day or the entire festival, Sept. 1-4. Cymru am byth.

Ceri Shaw of AmeriCymru with Ninnau editor Arturo Roberts at the 2010 NAFOW in Portland

(Beginning time is 2:30 p.m., but plan to arrive much earlier for a good seat. There is always a large crowd!)August 28, 2011 Pickett2:30 p.m. 89th Gymanfa Ganu at Peniel Chapel. Session followed by te bach. Director Jay G. Williams (Clinton , New Yor ) Organist: Rev. Tom White, North Fond du Lac. Pianist: Sarah Conrad. Te bach will follow the gymanfa ganu. Directions: On Cty FF 1/2 mile west of Hwy 26, north of Rosendale.

AmeriCymru recently received the following communication from Joseph Alajemba at the Welsh Centre for International Affairs:-

I am writing to you as the Diaspora Research Intern at the Welsh Centre for International Affairs. The Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA) is a charity and a national forum for the exchange of ideas on international issues, based in Cardiff, Wales. It seeks to promote international understanding and to engage people in Wales with international issues.

The WCIA works with organisations across Wales on its projects and is keen to increase engagement and dialogue on international issues with diaspora communities in Wales and Welsh communities and organisations outside Wales .

To this end, as a representative of a Welsh association/organisation outside Wales we hope that you can help us complete this research by:

• Distributing the questionnaire to your members to complete as well which they can then email back directly to us.

This will enable us to learn more about the lives and interests of members of Welsh communities living outside of Wales; their migratory patterns, their history and their thoughts on being Welsh as well as their geographical locations and numbers.

The overall aims of the research project are:

1. To map out Welsh Diaspora groups/communities living outside Wales and diaspora communities living across Wales

2. To develop an understanding on how the WCIA could engage with these communities to promote a wider, more global Welsh perspective and voice on international issues

The questionnaire only takes a minute or two to fill out. If you've got a bit of spare time on your hands please help the WCIA with their research.

DOWNLOAD QUESTIONNAIRE HERE
( .docx ) and HERE ( .doc )

Email your completed questionnaire to volworker@wcia.org.uk as an attachment.

Diolch

AmeriCymru

Last Few Weeks of the Blodwen Summer Sale - With an EXTRA 10% OFF

The Summer Sales are in full swing and Blodwen has been busily rummaging through her stock of beautiful artisan wares at her General Stores in Cardigan Bay, to find some amazing bargains for you.

Amongst the rails of stuff, youll find :

Clothing a wide range of sample garments some now available at half price
Textiles sumptuous blankets , quilts , throws and cushions and some stunning vintage pieces again all reduced by 50%
Books , music , accessories and footwear are all heavily discounted for a Summer clear-out.

So come and take a look and get a beach bag full of treats products with provenance handmade with care in Cardigan Bay.

Click here to go straight to the sale section at blodwen.com .

Blodwen - Bringing thecraftman's way of life to your way of living

Hi, I notice that there is a small fan base for Tom on this site and would be very grateful if anyone could give feedback as to whether they would visit Tom's home town in Pontypridd if there was a decent attraction based there - this might include tours, video's about the History of the area Tom was born and of course lots of music by Tom. If an attraction was based in Pontypridd what would people like to see there? I would be very grateful for your comments.

Thanks. Louise