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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A short post today before I rush out to work ( followed by some early half marathon training ). In yesterdays blog I mentioned running for 13 miles in Cardiff back in the 80's. Basically I had two routes. The first involved running circuits around Pontcanna Fields ( see map below ). I did 8 or 9 of these and though I do not know the precise distance I believe it is about 1.25 miles around the perimeter of the field.

My second route involved running from Cardiff Castle up to the 5 mile marker along the Taff Trail . There was a little overgrown stone by the side of the path which recorded the fact that you were 5 miles from the castle. I would invariably throw in two circuits around the playing fields on my way back to make up the distance.

Clearly the distance of the perimeter around the playing fields at Pontcanna is important in both sets of calculations. Is there any kind person with an intimate knowledge of the geography of Central Cardiff ( or the ability to perform measurements from Google maps ) who can confirm my calculations? If so please post here. I'd love to know if my rough estimate was anywhere near correct.

In other news. We are now up to a total of 100 dollars in pledges ( many thanks to Peter Griffiths and Swansea Jack ). If you are minded to support me in my latest folly please go to this post and make a pledge in comments or go directly to the PayPal Donate button on this page. All proceeds go toward the West Coast Eisteddfod and Bryn Seion Welsh Church.

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I can not finish todays post without mentioning the sad death of fitness enthusiast Ged Clarke who died immediately after completing the Reading half marathon. I am sure we would all like to offer condolences to his family and friends. This was a tragic ( and extremely rare ) event and I note that nowhere in the press accounts is there any mention of the cause of death. Has anyone seen anything that I missed?

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View Pontcanna Fields allotment in a larger map

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A good time to take stock and reveal our future plans:)

The Past

• Since being founded on May 17th 2008 AC has grown from an initial membership of around 60 to well over 2500 members today.
• We have consistently added new features and content throughout this period and would like to take this opportunity to thank our many contributors and supporters for their contributions and input over the last three years.
• We have organized the Left/West Coast Eisteddfod since 2009 and this year, in association with our partners, A Raven Above Press we will be holding the biggest and best event yet in L.A. in September.
• We have consistently supported Welsh American causes and events and have done everything in our power to publicize them and to propagate knowledge of Welsh and American Welsh culture in the U.S. and abroad.

The Present

• Today, to mark the occasion of our third birthday we are adding a new 'Magazine' section to the top navbar. This section will link to the AmeriCymru blog and to its various sub-sections:- Interviews, Books, Poetry etc
• The blog has recently been re-designed and we hope you all like the new look. We encourage members and readers to visit this new section often and please feel free to leave comments.
  

The Future

• We will continue to make AmeriCymru available to the American Welsh community as an informational and entertainment resource and will continue to support Welsh American events...most notably the West Coast Eisteddfod and NAFOW.
• In the next three to four weeks we will be introducing major new features to the platform. New home page features include:- inline commenting and 'liking' of status updates ( similar to Facebook ), inline viewing of photos and videos ( which means you wont have to leave the home page to view these media ) and a built in status update feature on the front page that actually works ( unlike the rather primitive hack we added about a year ago )
• We will also be adding a new Design Studio that will make it easy to customize your page for any purpose or look that you desire. We will hold a Homepage Design competition when this new feature rolls out.

All in all it's been a busy and exciting three years on AmeriCymru. And the future promises to be even more so. Once again we would like to thank you all for your support and contributions over the last three years and finally to rededicate ourselves to serving the Welsh American community in the years to come.

Diolch yn Fawr

Penblwydd Hapus AmeriCymru

Cardiff MIND Fest is a weekend long festival featuring some amazing local and UK artists across three venues on 23rd/ 24th November 2013 .

Joining Fist of the First Man, Gwenno and Totem Terrors at Undertone on Saturday the 23 ^rd are excellent bilingual off beat pop of the Alex Dingley Band . Alex was formerly at the heart of the Texas Radio Band and released a single at the end of last year on Too Pure. R.Seiliog who presents psychedelic swells of kinder-tone synths while the night is fired up by Welsh anti-pop hero Y Pencadlys and Bristolian noise makers Repo Man .

Meanwhile on Sunday the 24 ^th on the God Is In The TV Zine stage The Moon Club a rocking bill which already includes Thee Faction, The Milk Race , and The Lash is further swelled by the addition of thrilling Cardiff-based noisepop five-piece Joanna Gruesome who released their terrific debut album Weird Sister via Fortuna POP! (Europe) this September, delightful female-fronted power pop act from Cardiff The Lovely Wars , who feature former members of The Pipettes and Victorian English Gentlemen's Club. While experimental Oxford act Salvation Bill and emerging local-psych-tykes Tarsiers are sure to warm up the stage. Proceedings for the afternoon are eased open by Bristol's Joyce The Librarian aka singer-songwriter Martin Callingham their sound is understated but undeniably beautiful, simple guitars and flashes of cello and trumpet back softly-spoken lyrics.

Downstairs on the Making Minds Stage in The Full Moon upon a bill headed by Brighton's respected artist Chris T-T , Bristol's cult former Strangelove frontman Patrick Duff and Welsh Music Prize nominee Laurence Made Cry are joined by incendiary poetic polemicist and mental health worker Patrick Jones and Cardiff based Amerciana solo-artist Joshua Caole.

They are joined by Stephen Fry approved Nia a singer-songwriter now based in London but originally from North Wales with a hell of a voice and an ear for wonderful jazz/blues flecked storytelling song-writing. Pembrokeshires Nayfe SJ whose golden voice is at the heart of the work of Valleyers and Shiny Tiger aka Joel Dear who has been making rickety pop music since he was in sixth form. His shabby, shouty style has been compared to artists like Bright Eyes, Hefner, and Jonathan Richman. They are preceded by Cardiff's Francescas Word Salad a solitary show-woman who tells lamentful tales through macabre ballads coloured by brass, The Skunk-Boy Project aka Nate Swettenham a singer-songwriter from Leicester, is a solo artist playing ukulele and piano and 19 year old Chambles a precocious South Wales talent with a distinctive tone and 18th century influenced folk sound. The acoustic bill is completed by Swansea's fiery emerging talent Sarah Passmore , and local open mic stalwart and mental health activist Dai Sharkey.

More info on acts: http://www.cardiffmindfest.tumblr.com/artists

Three local promoters ( God Is In The TV Zine, Rockpie and Red Medicine ) have grouped together to organise a two day event, with the aim of promoting awareness of mental health issues within South Wales. Working with three mental health partner organisations ( Cardiff Mind, Journeys and Making Minds) in South Wales, raising funds for Cardiff Mind.

Final acts to be announced in a last wave, shortly. Including the Rockpie Promotions stage at Four Bars at Dempseys on Saturday the 23 ^rd of November.

ANNOUNCED LINE UPS:

SATURDAY THE 23RD OF NOVEMBER

Undertone (Red Medicine Stage)

Fist of the First man

Alex Dingley Band

Gwenno

Totem Terrors

R.Seliog

Y Pencadlys

Repo Man

SUNDAY THE 24TH OF NOVEMBER

The Moon (God Is in The TV Zine stage) Stage Time: 5pm- 11pm

Thee Faction

Joanna Gruesome

The Milk Race

The Lash

Tarsiers

The Lovely Wars

Salvation Bill

Joyce The Librarian

The Full Moon (Making Minds Stage) Stage Time: 3PM-10PM

Chris T-T

Patrick Duff

Laurence Made Me Cry

Joshua Caole

Patrick Jones(Poetry Set)

Nia Roberts

Nayfe SJ (Valleyers)

Shiny Tiger

Francesca Word Salad

Skunk Boy Project

Chambles

Sarah Passmore

Dai Sharkey

TICKET INFORMATION:

Advance:

Tickets Day 6

Weekend: 10

book at: http://www.wegottickets.com/f/6715

On the weekend:

Day tickets: 8

Weekend: 14

Discounts for those on benefits/NUS.

Contact:

CardiffMindFest@yahoo.co.uk

LINKS:

http://www.cardiffmindfest.com

https://www.facebook.com/CardiffMindFest

http://www.cardiffmind.org

PARTNERS:

http://makingmindsblog.wordpress.com/

http://www.journeysonline.org.uk/

PROMOTERS

http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Medicine-Promotions/447349191994485

https://www.facebook.com/RockpiePromo

VENUES:

http://www.thefullmooncardiff.com/

http://www.undertonecardiff.com/

http://www.facebook.com/Fourbarscardiff

Summer-tinged songbirds Howl Griff take time out from recording their fourth album this weekend to play a rare London gig ahead as a warm-up for festival season.

The 6music-approved Welsh-Anglo-American three-part-harmonisers have been holed up at their Cariad studio it translates as love, strong affection or darling recording tracks for the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Fragile Diamond LP (BBC Radio Wales Album of the Week, BBC Radio Wales Single of the Week, etc). But they're emerging into the sunshine to play in Richmond on Saturday night.

The good-causes gig, at The Basement Door on The Vineyard (TW10 6AQ), starts at around 7.30pm with Howl Griff playing an extended set from around 9pm before hitting the festival fields later this summer. Catch them while you can, London...

PRAISE FOR HOWL GRIFF

A new band we love... bloody lush.
Lauren Laverne, BBC 6music

Pop/folk, rock-flavoured life-affirming songs, well worth a listen. It's an album that'll put a spring in your step despite the November rain.
The Independent

They deal in lush, gorgeous harmonies and warm 60s melodies, and the result is quite lovely.
Stuff magazine

PRAISE FOR THE FRAGILE DIAMOND LP

"HG sprinkle cuteness where it fits into the compositions but leave them alone when it doesnt... This careful equilibrium carries over into the lyrics... clever puns push the song beyond aww-shucks novelty... further validating Howl Griffs way with cuteness that their peers seem to lack... effortlessly marrying indie rock and the endearing songwriting. In other words, you can be adorable without descending into hipster irony."
The Line Of Best Fit

"Trust me on this, you should hear this band. Its an album you should have for the car for that interminable drive to work, it should be playing as you look out of the window on a cold winter's day holding a mug of tea. Its there for you to hear, and your life will be a tiny bit shinier for hearing it."
Louder Than War

"Brandishing more hooks than Abu Hamza, Captain Hook, Peter Hook and a massive cloakroom, 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."
Western Mail

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Celticos , in partnership with Golygfa Gwydyr , are today launching a new tourism service in North Wales.

This bespoke tour is designed to give visitors a true taste of Welsh rural life outside of the hustle and bustle of the current major tourist destinations. Tourists will have the opportunity to experience first-hand how people live and work in Snowdonia and find out about traditional local skills and what gives the people of this area a sense of connectedness to the land, a pride of place and cultural heritage. The life of Welsh hill farmers is unique and challenging, a tradition that has been passed on from generation to generation for hundreds of years.

The two day tour will include pick up from designated accommodation providers in Llandudno, Conwy and the Lower Conwy Valley and the services of a local personal guide. A highlight of the tour will include a visit to meet celebrity farmer Gareth Wyn Jones on his hill farm, this will give our guests an excellent insight to both the beauty and hardship of hill farming in Snowdonia; a way of life where agriculture, livestock and the cycle of the seasons are ingrained.

Welsh Hill Farming Experience - two day event

Date 31st Aug & 1st Sept

Day 1 -Conwy Valley, Snowdonia.

Heavy Horses - you will have a chance to witness a demonstration of the skill in handling heavy horses, tacking up and harrowing.

Sheep Dog Handling - this amazing skill with dogs will remain a talking point long after your visit.

Welsh Hill Farming - an introduction to traditional fencing, hedge laying and gate making.

Barn to Table - sample Marylyn's pies and meats at a buffet lunch. The tour will make a quick stop by Marilyn's original family home and shop at Tal y Bont where they had a turnkey operation, raising and hand picking all livestock locally, processing and selling to the community

Day 2 -A guided scenic mini bus tour of Snowdonia, Anglesey & the Menai Straits.

The day will provide a comprehensive overview of the contrasting farming methods of the area followed by a visit to Llanfairfechan the coastal gateway to the Snowdonia National Park.

High in the mountains we visit the hill farm of celebrity farmer Gareth Wyn Jones. This will be an excellent opportunity for our guests to experience for themselves the harsh and demanding life style of Welsh hill farmers. Gareth will join us for a personalised tour and enthral us with his many interesting stories.

The tour ends with a fantastic opportunity to visit the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre located at Furnace Farm. Set in beautifully restored 18th century farm buildings, this centre celebrates Welsh local produce at its finest.