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In 1864, an arrogant and ambitious sixteen-year-old steals his widowed mothers life-savings and sails from Cardiff to Australia to find gold. William Jenkins journeys into the bush only to encounter drunkards, crocodiles, outlaws and aboriginals with a reputation for cannibalism. When he stumbles into a strange community of ex-convicts, their leader tells him, Youre the one sent to us by God. William is then astonished to be offered half the profits in a gold mine. But before before returning to Wales, he discovers that there are more important things in life than riches. Though a work of historical fiction, several themes are explored which should strike a chord with modern teenagers. The binge-drinkers who crowd into city centres at night have much in common with the colonial drunkards of 1864. The story also delves into the complexities of mother-son relationships which are as fraught in the story as they often are today. William disobeys, curses and then steals from his widowed mother. Through his experiences in the bush, he comes to realise that, as Tom Davies puts it, "I do know that above all things in this world you should love your mam". The author comments, On one level, Gold Hunter is a simple adventure story about a young Welsh migrant to Australia in the 1860s, which is why I chose the Aussie-Western scene with the bound and gagged bushranger for the cover. Like many teenagers, I like an action-packed narrative and I deliberately write in a fast-paced style. But there is a deeper meaning to the story. William Jenkins discovers that the fame and fortune which he craves at the outset do not make him happy. In a world obsessed with celebrity, regardless of any talent being involved, this strikes me as a point worth making. William Vaughan was born and educated in Cardiff. He taught History and English in Leicestershire and at the Cathedral School, Llandaff, before becoming a writer of fiction for children and young adults. He is a member of Academi. William Vaughans third novel follows his success with The Black Legion, also published by Y Lolfa . |
Hot & Steamy!
The beat of Romans feet marching in cadence is heard beating for half a league. Wildlife scurried, flew or fled from hedge and field as the relentless soldier has poked sword or spear everywhere questing to fulfill Maximus order to recover his treasure. Houses and homes brutally ransacked; blood spilled to paint floor and field in the name of Caesar. The wrath of the Romans was upon the land, far and near to the great stone circle called Stonehenge. However, no traces, no hint of the foul hedge witch Cyhiraeth ( kuh-HEE-ryth ) or
the Serpentine Egg; is in sight.
Cyhiraeth was mad with frustration and furious, a watched pot never boils indeed. She stormed around her small hut hidden on the edge of the village how can water never boil. Cyhiraeth had been watching this pot (a caldron in fact) for one hundred years, never
once had it boiled. The water would become scalding hot, throwing off clouds of steam but never boiling. Cyhiraeth had felt so smug snatching away the Serpentium Egg from under the Centurions hooked nose. Such a pretty thing, it cradled in her arms like a three stone (forty-two pounds) babe, pearlescent shell with gold and silver flecks between veins of black onyx across the surface. Maximus
sent two legions to scour the Stonehenge region up to the Severn Estuary looking for the egg. The Romans never found Cyhiraeths
hut, inside and out covered in Sods Law this spell was of opposites. Whatever the soldiers wanted to see they saw the opposite when near the old round hut. Cyhiraeths fame spread but not for the good, no one wanted the Romans to know where Cyhiraeth was for their own sake not hers. A hedge witch now had the Druids treasure; but the Wrynn Egg of the Princes of Dyfed was no longer in Roman hands. Little did she realize that the spell itself kept the water from boiling for that hundred-year period. Poor Cyhiraeth never realized that casting the spell outside her hut would have done what she wanted, instead the egg kept comfortable for the hundred years.
Cyhiraeth did not take part in the grove gatherings of the Druids, or coven circles of the local Wicca. Cyhiraeth was a witch of an odd sort, she began life as a street urchin never knowing parents and scavenging in a small village, which she never left. Some traveler
from Dyfed named her Gwrach y Rhibyn, meaning Hag of the Dribble or Hag of the Tattered Vestments. In the Welsh, language a
nickname was used and this is what stuck to Cyhiraeth. The folk tale : She is often described as having long black hair, black eyes, and a swarthy countenance. Sometimes one of her eyes is grey and the other black. Both are deeply sunken and piercing. Her back was crooked, her figure was very thin and spare, and her pigeon-breasted bust was concealed by a somber scarf. Her trailing robes were black. She was sometimes seen with long flapping wings that
fell heavily at her sides, and occasionally she went flying low down along watercourses, or around hoary mansions. Frequently the flapping of her leathern bat-like wings could be heard against the windowpanes.
As a girl, she began listening under the windows of the three village witches to learn what she could. Every spell, incantation and brew she stored in her head, it made her feel more powerful. She spied on the field trips the witches took to gather natures bounty for their art; herbs, plants and charms collected to brew and chant over.
Then after ten years of collecting, practicing witches work, she approached the village three. Who is your mother? They asked. I do not know who my mother is, replied Cyhiraeth. Cyhiraeth
abandoned as a toddler on the path through the village, lived wild and free. The witches of the village turned her away from their huts without references they would not teach her. Cyhiraeth had desired friendship, companionship and even love but all was denied her. Any of the youth of the village who got close enough to notice Cyhiraeth were not on the downwind side of her. Well she did
go to the pond once or twice a year, why so fussy. Bitterness boiled, envy raged and malice moldered in a once healthy young heart.
Pliny the Elder wrote in Historia Naturalis xxix about his fear of Druid magic and use of the eggs.
Cyhiraeth remembered sitting outside the village Inn in the night and hearing tales of power, fortune, luck and love for the possessor of the Serpentine Egg. The Romans were fearful of the bearer of any dragon egg because any bearer could influence the magistrate and no edict could be issued unless the bearer of the egg wished it so. Druids with dragon eggs were hunted down and slain by the Romans. Ah, Cyhiraeth pictured herself in the finest of gowns, a handsome druid on her arm to do her bidding. Of course, the Druid would think her a beauty beyond measure. Druids had become very secretive and blended into the peasant population, as guardians
of the eggs no one knew what would quicken an egg. Alas all the effort of stealing the egg, keeping a day and night watch over it in the caldron left Cyhiraeth without hope of ever seeing the water boil. The dragon inside had never been quickened, Cyhiraeth had not carried the egg close to her breast as she should have, plus the Sod Law spell not letting the water boil.
As Cyhiraeth stomped down the dirt path from the village to her hut a most magical wagon rumbled up to her. Two giant draft horses pulled big, bright yellow with red trim and covered by a pink canvas hooped to cover the wagon. The leathery and rangy man on the seat
wore a cap on his head of bright yellow with black bands around it like a bumble bee. A big ball of material hung on the end of the tail and bounced at his waist. With a grin as wide as his face, the apparent tinker spoke to Cyhiraeth.
Good fair lady called the tinker. Have need of anything to buy or barter? The corners of the tinkers eyes were like crows feet and added to his merry appearance, and his voice was kindly. Cyhiraeth was tired after sleeping under the window of the Inn the night before. Instead of biting off his head as was her wont with strangers she simply replied. I have no coin and know not what I have to barter. The tinker looked down at her with the same smile and
replied. Cyhiraeth do you not still have that old Serpentium Egg? The moment he spoke to Cyhiraeth, she begun tingling from head to toe. Even so Cyhiraeths blood froze, how did he know what she had? Could he have her arrested for having a stolen object? But today all Cyhiraeth could squeak was and if I do?
Well I can offer this barter then replied the tinker. I have here a parchment which grants the holder full living accommodations at the Wick Inn near Aquae Sulis the old Roman Bath resort (Now Bath). Tis a small circle of witches living in rest and retirement. The tinker gave a broad grin and seemed all the merrier as he made his offer.
Cyhiraeth was befuddled and bewitched by this generous offer. A place to call home, companionship, cooked meals; was she really being offered this? She reached into the folds of her worn cape and produced the egg without even thinking about it. The tinker took and placed the egg in an ash colored bag and placed it under his seat on the wagon. As his hand returned from under the seat, he in turn handed Cyhiraeth the parchment scroll banded in colorful ribbons. The tinker also gave her a large pouch of gold coins and said. A wagon with two wheels and a driver shall pick you and your possessions up within the hour; take with you what you will.
The tinker further informed Cyhiraeth that she would have a room on the third floor facing the Avon River, and two meals a day in the dinning room for all the residents. With that the tinker gave a cluck to the horses and rumbled on down the path past the hut.
Cyhiraeth stood in the middle of the path watching the tinker as he pulled out of sight. What just happened to me? she thought. Then before she could even answer herself, she heard the clop, clop, clop of a horse drawn wagon coming right up behind her. The driver was a large kindly woman in a midnight blue cape with stars sprinkled all over it. The large well-padded woman beamed at Cyhiraeth, if you be Cyhiraeth you had best get up here on the seat dear, we have no time to waste the Wick Inn is 175 leagues from here. Cyhiraeth head spinning as she climbed onto the wagon seat was welcomed by Moresentia (the driver: Witch Queen of Wick Inn) who asked if she had anything she wanted to take with her. So a short time later Cyhiraeth saw the last of her hut as she stowed her sack under the seat of the wagon.
The other seventeen witches occupying the old mansion welcomed Cyhiraeth into the Inn and her room. The next night she met Gladius the retired Roman soldier in charge of the Temple and the Baths. Much work had been done by the coven to restore the baths after the Romans left. So Gladius keep the gate open to the friends to use late at night all by themselves. Cyhiraeth was encouraged to go almost nightly for the first few months she was there.
And so Cyhiraeth lived out her days in peace and comfort with the companionship of the coven at the Wick Inn. Wait a minute you say, what happened to the egg? Well there are many tales about the Serpentine Egg and this wee tale was but one. The end of Cyhiraeths story was that after a hundred years of being hard steamed the heart within the egg was warmed by her attention. The dragon within the egg communicated with the Druids of Stonehenge and made the arrangements himself.
Moral of this Serpentine tale a Hot & Steamy relationship of one hundred years can produce a happy ending.
( 1) Nemeton The Sacred Grove, Copyright 20052008, Dyfed Lloyd Evans
My name is Ryan Wagner, and I'm the Associate Artistic Director of the Coeurage Theatre Company in Los Angeles. We're a brand new company in the middle of our first season right now. This summer, we'll be doing Dylan Thomas' "Under Milk Wood", and I want to make sure that we do it well. I've already read a small mountain of books and watched anything I can find on YouTube, but I'm looking to get a little more indepth.
I'm looking to dialogue with any Welsh people, in person or over Skype, who would be interested in educating an American about Welsh culture, behavior, and the many references within the text of Milk Wood. The last thing I want to do is "Americanize" the beautiful work that Dylan Thomas created, and I'll be eternally grateful for anyone who can help me out.
To anyone in Los Angeles specifically, I'd love to find a Welsh church or pub...especially if there's a rugby game on
Thank you all in advance!!
Ryan
www.coeuragetheatre.com
www.arketta.com
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This year, for the first time, Welsh readers will be able to prepare for the World Cup with an original book which is as attractive as anything available in English. In the past, adaptations of English books on the championship have been published, but this year, due to new funds made available by the Wales Books Council for the designing of Welsh books and visual materials, a new full-colour book will be published by Y Lolfa on 5th of May. Cwpan y Byd 2010 will include a foreword by John Hartson, a free wall chart of the matches and a Welsh perspective on the event along with text by an experienced author, Gwyn Jenkins. The new funding from the Wales Books Council means that the book has been professionally designed by Elgan Griffiths and includes photographs from the Press Association. Lefi Gruffudd from Y Lolfa said: Its great to be able to commission an original book for the World Cup with an author and designer of such high standard. It will look as good as anything else available in any language. It is also good that the text will put a Welsh tilt on things and a different perspective than the often biased material seen in the English press. Elwyn Jones, Director of the Wales Book Council, said: Its great to welcome the first product of the extra funding made available for Welsh books by the Assembly Government this year. Its good to have an original Welsh book about the World Cup, and for that book to be as colourful and lively as this one. Congratulations to Y Lolfa for taking advantage of this opportunity. The book, Cwpan y Byd 2010, will surely be a great aid to anyone who wishes to keep track of all the countries and players who will be competing in South Africa this year. It is packed with facts and figures, including details of all the matches, fantastic photographs of the players, a foreword by John Hartson and a free wall chart. The author, Gwyn Jenkins, published the first Welsh book on football for children, Gl (Y Lolfa 1980) and this is another volume that will prove to be essential to supporters of the worlds most popular sport. Gwyn Jenkins also edited Llyfr y Ganrif. The book will available in Welsh bookshops from the 5th of May for 4.95. Cwpan y Byd Llawlyfr Cymraeg Am y Tro Cyntaf Am y tro cyntaf erioed eleni mi fydd darllenwyr Cymraeg yn gallu paratoi ar gyfer Cwpan y Byd gyda llyfr gwreiddiol sydd mor ddeniadol ag unrhyw beth a geir yn Saesneg. Yn y gorffennol cyhoeddwyd addasiadau o lyfrau Saesneg am y bencampwriaeth, ond eleni, oherwydd arian newydd i ddylunio a deunydd gweledol mewn llyfrau Cymraeg gan Gyngor Llyfrau Cymru, mi fydd llyfr newydd llawn lliw yn cael ei gyhoeddi gan Y Lolfa ar Fai y 1af. Bydd y llyfr Cwpan y Byd 2010 yn cynnwys rhagair gan John Hartson, siart am ddim or gemau a gogwydd Gymreig ar bethau gyda thestun gan yr awdur profiadol, Gwyn Jenkins. Maer nawdd newydd gan y Cyngor Llyfrau wedi golygu bod modd cael dyluniad proffesiynol gan Elgan Griffiths a defnyddio lluniau Press Association. Yn l Lefi Gruffudd o wasg Y Lolfa: Maen wych o beth gallu comisiynu llyfr gwreiddiol ar gyfer Cwpan y Byd gydag awdur a dylunydd o safon mor uchel. Mi fydd yn edrych gystal ag unrhyw beth mewn unrhyw iaith. Maen dda fod y testun hefyd yn cynnwys cyfeiriadaeth Gymreig a safbwynt gwahanol ir holl ddeunydd unllygeidiog a welir yn y wasg Saesneg. Dywedodd Elwyn Jones, Cyfarwyddwr Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru, ''Mae'n braf iawn croesawu ffrwyth cyntaf y nawdd ychwanegol a ddaeth ar gyfer llyfrau Cymraeg gan Lywodraeth y Cynulliad eleni. Gwych o beth yw cael llyfr gwreiddiol Cymraeg am Gwpan y Byd, a hwnnw'n llyfr bywiog a lliwgar. Llongyfarchiadau i'r Lolfa am fanteisio ar y cyfle.' Mi fydd y llyfr newydd Cwpan y Byd 2010 yn siwr o fod yn gymorth ir sawl sydd am bwyso a mesur yr holl wledydd ar sr a fydd yn cystadlu yn Ne Affrica eleni. Maen llawn ffeithiau, yn cynnwys holl fanylion y gemau, lluniau gwych or chwaraewyr, rhagair gan John Hartson, a hefyd siart am ddim. Cyhoeddodd yr awdur, Gwyn Jenkins, y llyfr Cymraeg cyntaf i blant ar bl-droed, sef Gl (y Lolfa 1980) a dyma gyfrol arall a fydd yn hanfodol i gefnogwyr gm fwyaf poblogaidd y byd. Gwyn Jenkins oedd hefyd golygydd Llyfr y Ganrif. Lansir y gyfrol ar Fai 1af yn y Fedwen Lyfrau, Llanrwst. |
Win A Copy of 'Onwards & Upwards' - Support the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal
By Ceri Shaw, 2010-05-02
This months giveaway competition on AmeriCymru marks a new departure for the site. At the request of one of our members ( David Webb ) we are inviting you to answer one simple question for a chance to win the superb Welsh Guards Reunited Afghanistan Appeal " Onwards & Upwards ". CD.
Q. What Heavenly body did Capt Mendoza, US Army, Kuwait, compare Welsh singer Bethan Myfanwy to in the following quote from 2005. ( Bethan has 2 tracks on the Album )
"Our spirits will never be the same, by sharing your gift of music withus, you are truly an ---------- of the Battlefield"
A. Was it:-
a. angel
b. cherub
c. sprite
Not too difficult we think you'll agree For anyone who doesnt want to wait till the end of the month to check whether their entry was the winner we would urge you to go to this site Welsh Guards Reunited and purchase a copy direct. We have reproduced the objectives of the appeal from the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal site. below. Anyone wishing to make a donation should go to THIS page.
The deadline for entries is May 31st 2010 and the lucky winner will be announced on the site on June 1st. Please remember that we will only accept one entry per email address and duplicate submissions will be disqualified. Email your answer to :- americymrucontest@gmail.com
| Objectives of the Appeal
* Support to those wounded on operations, particularly those who have had to leave the Army, to assist in finding them new employment and to help them become active family and community members.
* Support to the families and dependants of those seriously wounded or injured in prolonged recovery situations.
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Congratulations and enjoy the books!
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AmeriCymru member Elly Roberts has been a local and international DJ for over 30 years, having performed in Greece, Holland, Spain and Los Angeles, USA. He has been a music lover since he was a child, and considers himself a lapsed musician since giving up playing the piano as a teenager. His love of music has never waned, and by having his own show on Calon FM , hes realising a life-long ambition to be a presenter. AmeriCymru spoke to him about his work on Calon FM and elsewhere. Elly: Calon FM offers all kinds of support to the local community, from free open access training courses for anyone with an interest in radio (provided in conjucture with Glyndwr University), to supporting a multitude of local businesses and, crucially, giving airtime to local and national charities. Calon works with people from a huge range of backgrounds and skill sets. From complete novices to to experienced journalists and the technically minded, from university graduates to those just beginning their training. Being part of this environment is one of the many joys of being involved in community radio were always approachable and can usually offer something for everyone. Americymru: What kind of programming does the station put out? Elly: Many, many different kinds. Theres currently at least 80 hours going out live every week and this is really only limited by the imagination of the presenters. Cookery, comedy, local news, multi-lingual shows, poetry, local interest (very important), whilst every genre of music is represented throughout the week. Finding free time to put out all of the programming is definitely a challenge. Americymru: Do you broadcast in Welsh? If so what proportion of your broadcasts are in the Welsh language? Elly: The station puts out shows not just in Welsh but a variety of languages that include Spanish, Chinese, Polish, and German. Calon FM are always on the lookout for Welsh language presenters and our current bilingual host Michelle Murphy broadcasts for 4 hours each week. The terrific thing about Michelles style is her inclusion of the English audience too. As a result the overwhelming majority of listeners understand whats being discussed and can get involved with the programme, and in doing so pick up elements of the Welsh language. Americymru: Can you tell us something about your show "The Plug". Elly: THE PLUG - My mission. The Plug name itself was purposely designed to be short and memorable, like the television music show The Tube back in the 80s. I chose the name because the programme is designed to plug (good) music that may not necessarily be heard on the radio. At one time a plugger was employed by an artist or band, and even by record companies themselves, to go around the radio stations across the UK , promoting their artists, persuading stations to air their music. On The Plug playlist itself, it includes both new ( and pre-release) singles by up-and-coming artists and album tracks. Each week theres an Album of the Week, where I play 2 (or sometimes 3) tracks from it. Older music can be used as a hook (a musical term) to reel-in the listener at the beginning on the show, generally something anthemic. During the 2 hour show there can be two features, like Dusted Down, that includes a back-catalogue classic, forgotten gem, or an obscure song. Another feature is Flashback, where I play a song that (hopefully) brings back happy memories, but sometimes sad ones too. Music has a knack of taking people back to a certain time, place and event, creating a soundtrack to our lives. Depending on time etc, other mini- features may be explored in the future, building-up a considerable body of work that appeals to both younger and older listeners. By definition, the PLUG is a no boundaries show that aims to be the most eclectic on the airwaves, where one minute youll hear rock, then jazz, then soul, then folk, etc. all sitting nicely next to each other, due to careful planning. There are possibilities of including genre specials like a soul, rock, jazz, Americana, and country theme. In addition, topical themes can be introduced like, say Mothers Day selections, or a dedicated show to a recently deceased artist, paying homage to their work. Americymru: You also appear on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru. When can our readers listen to you on those stations? Elly: This is a tricky one. Since 2004 I have been making freelance contributions to BBC Radio Wales, and BBC Radio Cymru since 2005. Due to the nature of those contributions, I can be called at any time in advance about a musical topic, say The Beatles for example, and I will then do the link nationally (Wales) from the BBCs studio here in Wrexham. Unfortunately, I never know when I will receive the call, so its totally unpredictable. The same applies with BBC Radio Cymru, but their contributions are normally done on the telephone. BBC Radio Cymru has also given me the chance to make none-music contributions such as local or national issues. The latter brought me the opportunity to guest on BBC Radio 2s Jeremy Vine Show on 12 April this yea, with a listening audience of approximately 8.5 million, the largest in Europe. I was contacted by producers in London, who said they had been tracking my contributions on both of the Welsh channels.
Elly: Yes, I have performed in all those countries, and in most cases just one offs, like my friends wedding party in Enschede, Holland, in 2000. But by far the most thrilling experience of all was in LA and Santa Barbara, California. It was dream come true. I was invited over to LA, by my old friend, to back-up his then embryonic new musical Rock venture, a favour I was more than happy to oblige. He needed an experienced DJ that could handle anything thrown at him, in this case me. Due to my vast CD collection, I can pretty much handle any type of gig, tailored to specific needs, though they are few and far between nowadays, and tend to be favours for friends. Before leaving for LA I carefully selected the relevant CDs. The plan was to top n tail the gig with back-up during the participant switch over during the presentation. Initially, we did two house party warm-ups in Beverly Hills, leading to a proper public performance in Santa Barbara, 90 miles north of LA. During my three week vacation, I met several actors, musicians and show-biz types. I have been invited back to LA, sometime in the future, with a planned visit back to Holland this summer. Americymru: Where can listeners go to tune in to Calon FM? Elly: Locally with an approximate radius of 15-20 miles from Wrexham in north-east Wales, CALON FM can be found on the 105 FM band. Globally, or even locally, using a computer, it can be found at www.calonfm.com My show can be heard between 2 4 PM each Monday via the Listen Live link, with a Listen Again facility up-and-running by Wednesday afternoon, which can then be heard any time if you miss the Monday slot. If your readers go to the CALON FM homepage at www.calonfm.com theyll find my showpage under Shows. Americymru: Any final message for the members and readers of AmeriCymru? Elly: Yes. Via the internet, I genuinely hope that listeners in America will follow all shows on CALON FM at www.calonfm.com because the station can provide listeners with a flavour of what the station is all about and keep abreast of events in our thriving community here in Wrexham, and surrounding area. Despite Wrexhams close proximity to the English border - about 5 miles away - there continues to be a an ever present and long established Welsh speaking community in and around the town, particularly in my own native village of Rhosllannerchrugog, barely 3 miles outside Wrexham. Calon FM also provides a bi-lingual (Welsh-English) programme fronted by presenter Michelle Murphy, a show called Hanner Reis Hanner Chips ( Half Rice Half Chips) on a Friday afternoon between 2 3PM UK time, again with a Listen Again facility for anytime listening. This show will be invaluable for Welsh learners and fluent speakers in America. One final request. I would very much appreciate if your readers could SPREAD THE WORD about both the radio station and my show, which is now listened to online, in USA, Canada, Brazil, Spain, Holland, Japan and the UK. The Plug feedback is more than welcome at the CALON FM email addresses info@calonfm.com or the studio directly at studio@calonfm.com Your readers, if they wish, can contact me directly now at either my new email address ellyr@ellyr.co.uk (and/or elly2000@freenet.co.uk for the next 6 months) As I have a string family connection with Wisconsin and America, I hope your readers will follow my show on a regular basis. If you Google Elly Roberts, youll learn a lot more about what I get involved with. Thank you for your kind interest.
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