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Follow the whole nine yards here (a 95 part series) :- Half Marathon Blog
Why I am running:- West Coast Eisteddfod Bryn Seion Church
For details of how to sponsor see this post
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No Welsh blog on the subject of running would be complete without a reference to the Nos Galan . It may not be seasonal or topical but this series ends on July 4th so the Easter weekend is as good a time as any to write about it.
This is not an endurance event. It is run over 5KM ( 3.1 miles ) on New Years Eve in the town center of Mountain Ash/Aberpennar in South Wales. The winners are recorded ( by age group ) on the Nos Galan website here:- 2011 winners . At the time of writing it has not been updated with details of the 2012 event but here are the 2011 home and latest news pages which together with the rest of the site give a flavor of this unique event.
The run is held annually to celebrate the life and achievements of Welsh runner Guto Nyth Bran . I leave it to the children of Malpas Church Junior School to record his story and legendary exploits.
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And here is a video of the post race firework display in 2010. It is dedicated thusly:- "For those who couldn't make it and those who were too drunk to see it." Sounds like it was a good night.
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Meanwhile for those who are following my own shambolic progress toward the finishing line on July 4th I am pleased and proud to report that I managed to run for 15 mins today ( a total of one and a half miles approx ) Not a huge athletic achievement but a step in the right direction nonetheless. Only 11 and a half more miles to go.
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A message from Sian Ifans:-
IF You wish to see the A470 Named 'Main Road Prince Owain Glyndwr, sign the petition in the link canlynol and please pass on to one and all.
http://www.gopetition.com/ Petitions / campaign-to-the-name-A470-wales -Main-road-prince-ow.html
For our special Christmas interview this year AmeriCymru spoke to David Garland Jones - Welsh living legend, Actor, Guru, Raconteur, Poet and future Penderyn Whiskey, Welshman of The Year 2010 . David took this opportunity to introduce a selection of his groundbreaking videos on YouTube. He would also like to wish all our readers Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!
Americymru: Who IS David Garland Jones?
David: He (or should that be I. Think Ill go with I but then I am an actor sounds a bit grand and pompous). Ok, have another shot of Penderyns Finest Welsh Whiskey I (cue fanfare), am an actor, guru, raconteur, poet, and latterly male model and YouTube phenomenon. I was born on the grubby fringes of Port Talbot, South Wales in 1962. Anthony Hopkins, Ivor Emmanuel, Michael Sheen, Richard Burton, David Garland Jones what other town ever produced such a quinvirate of acting talent? as the Port Talbot Guardian (now sadly defunct) put it. A potted history of my life featuring Michael Sheen (as well as Brothers & Sisters Matthew Rhys) and can be found here:
Roger Garrick - 'The Acting Guru's Acting Guru'
Americymru: What was your first big break and how did you come to star in so many groundbreaking roles on YouTube?
David: I realised that to reach an audience I needed two things: I needed a small cheap camera (for any nerds out there I use a Flip video camera and the Power Director 7 editing suite). Three things. I needed three things. The above two things and an amiable presence to hold the camera and do all the technical stuff. So I enlisted my brother Jake. As I produce the films actually getting the leading role in them isnt so difficult. I was up against Rhys Ifans for the lead role in my epic, Grand Theft Actor, but he didnt return my call so I stepped in.
Americymru: Has fame changed you?
David: No. There are still holes in my socks, but there are still dreams in my soul. One change is that I have started acting as a guru to younger actors though in the case of Jonny Hollywood I encountered a few difficulties.
Ep 11. David Garland Jones - 'Jonny Hollywood's The Kiddie'
I also have a number one fan/stalker
Americymru: What is the current supply situation with 'David Garland Jones In A Can'? Will you be continuing this line after the holiday season?
David: Sales have been better than expected especially since our US rep, Mr Iain Sewell has been appointed. I may become the first actor who breaks America in can form. In the UK there have been reports that fake DGJIAC (for short) have been seen in marketplaces alongside fake Prada, Gucci and Calvin Klein handbags. There have been reports of other actors crudely jumping the bandwagon, or can-wagon if you prefer, e.g. Ive heard that the light entertainer, Rob Brydon, is bringing out Bob In A Bag.
DGJ In A Can #1 - 'Advert' (Spoof)
Americymru: Many of our readers have asked what really happened at the Damian Dark audition. Care to elaborate?
David: Lets just say that there is now a legally enforced exclusion zone around the BBC in Cardiff which I am not allowed to enter:
Ep 6. David Garland Jones - My Name Is Damian Dark
However, I did manage a brief live appearance there:
David Garland Jones Live At The BBC
Americymru: Does David Garland Jones have any future plans for live stage appearances after the triumph at the Goldie Lookin Chain concert last year? Can you tell us how that appearance came about?
David: It was all down to Jay-Z and Alisha Keys. Thanks guys! They recorded a song called New York which was then appropriated by some Londoners and re-recorded as New-port. However, it quickly emerged that they had never been to Newport. I was in a bar one evening and someone suggested that I did a song called Aint Seen Ruthin Yet based on the classic Bachman-Turner Overdrive song Aint Seen Nothing Yet as I had never been to Ruthin. My brother Jake downloaded the karaoke track, I sang it and the rest as they say is history. To date its had over 31,251 hits. So thanks Jay-z and Alisha, if youre ever in Treforest please pop in.
But heres some more history Newports finest Goldie Lookin Chain then recorded their own version of New-port then spotted the Ruthin track and went on Sky News and mentioned it
Goldie Lookin Chain plug 'Ain't Seen Ruthin Yet' on Sky News
A relationship developed and they kindly asked me to appear with them at their big Ryder Cup gig Which Id rather not talk about, what with the booing and the heckling and the breakdown I suffered afterwards
' Who Are You? Who Are You?' - DGJ & Goldie Lookin Chain live in Newport
(However, if I was asked to perform it again I would remember the pink suitcase air guitar solo)
Americymru: More 'spoofs' along the lines of 'Aint seen Ruthin Yet' have been promised but I notice that Pontypool was not on the list. Is that because it's hard to rhyme or is there some other, more sinister, reason?
David: Someone suggested Little Jimmy Osmonds Long Haired Lover From Pontypool (formerly Liverpool) but its not even funny when you read it, let alone when you try to sing it. There will be a video in February featuring 12 of the best, Spoof Songs With Welsh Place Names In The Titles. Some of my favourites include Bostons More Than Rhydfelin, KD Laings Constant Aber-craving and my personal favourite, Odysseys How Bout Usk.
Americymru: You're a shoe-in for Penderyn 2010 Welshman of The Year , what will you do when you win?
David: Not a shoe-in, or even a shoo-in. I will need the votes of my Americymru friends first. Can I just mention that Penderyns Whiskey is the finest whiskey and the drink of kings. When, or indeed if I win, I will run naked down the lanes of Treforest ah, already done that.
M.A.D. - Mothers Against David
Americymru: After your principled stand on cigarette smoking did you succeed in getting any sponsorship money from Big Tobacco?
David: Interestingly the pro-smoking lobby group FOREST regularly blog about my work. Did they not realise that this video is actually anti-smoking? And no. No sponsorship. Nothing at all.
David's Quickies No. 7 - Cigarette Trick
Americymru: What's next for David Garland Jones? Any plans to visit the US?
David: I would love to visit the US. I have a live show which includes performing Under Milk Wood in mime. This went down really well at Treorchy Rugby Club where Max Boyce famously made his name:
Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood... In Mime
Americymru: Any messages for the members of AmeriCymru and your other fans?
David: I am an internet pioneer. Like all the great pioneers of yore I am badly dressed, ill-prepared and lacking funds. However, I am not asking for clothing, skis or money. I simply ask that you keep watching my videos, subscribe to my Youtube channel and pass the links on to your more sophisticated and cultured friends. Have a lovely Yuletide weekend and an inspiring and theatrical 2011!
www.youtube.com/davidgarlandjones
This week an author from south Wales is launching his second novel in the only existing WW1 series of detective novels. Demons Walk Among Us is Jonathan Hicks'' second book featuring military policeman Thomas Oscendale, and is the sequel to best-seller The Dead of Mametz, published in 2011 by Y Lolfa which received much acclaim.
Buy Demons Walk Amongst Us here
Read our interview with Jonathan here
The brand-new sequel, Demons Walk Among Us, finds Thomas Oscendale fresh from the horrors of war on the Western Front and on leave in the coastal town of Barry, where he is drawn into the investigation of the savage murder of a war widow. The novel paints a vivid picture of life in the trenches as well as life in the industrial towns of south Wales during the Great War.
Demons Walk Among Us is set one year on from the first novel in the series. As 2014 marks the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, there has been a burgeoning of interest in its history of this period and reviewers have noted Oscendale''s potential to develop into one of the great literary sleuths.
Available from all good bookshops and via Amazon on the author''s website:
WARNER MUSICS DUO LILYGREEN AND MAGUIRE ANNOUNCE DEBUT WELSH OPEN-AIR TOUR - THE BIG WELSH BUSK
FREE GIGS ON A BEACH, A STATELY HOME, A CASTLE AND AN AMPHITHEATRE
AINT LOVE CRAZY EP RELEASED 11 TH JUNE 2012
Welsh singer-songwriters Lilygreen and Maguire will bring their melodic, acoustic sound to communities across Wales from 16 th April - 20 th April in a series of free, open-air gigs at some of the countrys most famous locations and landmarks, including a beach, a stately home a castle and an amphitheatre.
Friends Jon Lilygreen and Jon Maguire, both from Newport, south Wales, who have just released their debut single Come On Get Higher, on the Warner Music label, will begin their Big Welsh Busk tour in Wrexham city centre on Monday 16 th April 2012 and will play their final gig at their hometown of Newport. They will also play at 8 other venues across the length and breadth of the country including:
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THE BIG WELSH BUSK:
- Monday 16 th April : WREXHAM AND BANGOR
- Tuesday 17 th April: ABERYSTWYTH AND CARMARTHEN
- Wednesday 18 th April: SWANSEA AND BARRY
- Thursday 19 th April: CAERPHILLY AND CHEPSTOW
- Friday 20 th April: CAERLEON / NEWPORT AND CARDIFF
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The pair who are both in their early twenties have already built up a solid fan-base after supporting X-Factor runner-up Olly Murs in his recent arena tour of the UK and Ireland. They are also well known within south Wales music scene: Lilygreen as a covers performer and Maguire as a local music producer and member of a rock band. They came together in 2009 when their talent was spotted by Warner Bros. Music who soon secured the duo with a lucrative record deal. Their debut album will be released later this year.
Further information about the Big Welsh Busk tour visit www.facebook.com/lilygreenandmaguire An acoustic version of their debut single Come On Get Higher can be found here http://www.youtube.com/lilygreenandmaguire
Jon Lilygreen said: These gigs are going to be great fun for us and our fans. I cant wait to grab my guitar, pitch up at some fantastic locations and play free acoustic music in the open-air. Its going to be quite a challenge visiting so many venues across Wales, including a beach, a prom, a castle, a mountain and our hometown, Newport, hopefully our fans will come and support us and cheer us on.
Jon Maguire added: We love writing and performing our songs and thought wed like to give our fans a special preview of some of the songs that will be on our album. Weve played in front of thousands of people in big arenas but this Big Welsh Buskwill be quite different well be up close and personal with our audiences and that will be an intimate experience.
A duo that will make their mark in a very big way in 2012. The Mahogany Blog
www.facebook.com/lilygreenandmaguire
http://twitter.com/lilygandmaguire
http://www.youtube.com/lilygreenandmaguire
SCHEDULE IN BRIEF times are approximate guide only
Monday 16 th April Wrexham and Bangor
WREXHAM
Photo op: Erddig House, Wrexham 10am
Busk: Glyndwr University Student Guild, Wrexham 11.30am
BANGOR
Photo op: Llanfairpwllgwyngychgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Road sign, James Pringle Weavers 3pm
Busk: Bangor city centre town clock, high street 4.30pm
Tuesday 17 th April Aberystwyth and Carmarthen
ABERYSTWYTH
Photo op: Aberystwyth Promenade 10am
Busk: Aberystwyth Promenade 11am
CARMARTHEN
Photo op: Exterior Llansteffan Castle 2.30pm
Busk: St Catherines Walk Shopping Centre, Carmarthen 4pm
Wednesday 18 th April Swansea/Mumbles and Barry
SWANSEA/MUMBLES
Photo op: Mumbles pierside/seafront 10am
Busk: Oxford Street, Swansea city centre 11.15am
BARRY
Photo op: Barry Island Amusement Park 2.30pm
Busk: Barry Island Beach 3.30pm
Thursday 19 th April Caerphilly and Chepstow
CAERPHILLY
Photo op: Exterior Caerphilly Castle 10am
Busk: Caerphilly town centre bandstand 11am
CHEPSTOW
Photo op: Exterior Chepstow race course 2pm
Busk: Chepstow town centre town arch 4pm
Friday 20 th April Newport and Cardiff
NEWPORT
Photo op: Tredegar House Newport 10am
Busk: Caerleon Amphitheatre 11.30am
CARDIFF
Photo op: Exterior Gate 3 Millennium Stadium 3pm
Busk: Exterior Millennium Centre Cardiff 4pm
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