The main AmeriCymru page on Facebook is has recently changed its name from AmeriCymru - Left Coast Eisteddfod to Ameri Cymru - West Coast Eisteddfod and is growing rapidly. Help us reach the 2000 members mark this week!!!

Join Ameri Cymru - West Coast Eisteddfod here:-

https://www.facebook.com/AmeriCymru?ref=hl

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Gododdin : The Earliest British Literature published by Gomer Press is Professor Gwyn Thomass classic translation of the odes, or awdlau as they are known in Welsh, that commemorate the encounter of 300 Britons with a vast army of Angles at Catraeth. This conflict, which occurred towards the end of the sixth century, ended in the defeat of the Britons. But this was a glorious and heroic defeat and the poems include a series of elegies to the brave Britons who died fighting an army of thousands.
As well as being the title for these collection of poems attributed to Aneirin, Gododdin also refers to both the kingdom in Yr Hen Ogledd, the Old North (southern Scotland and northern England) and the tribe of British people living there.

Gwyn Thomass rhythmic rendition conveys the raw emotional power of the original Primitive Welsh text and along with his enlightening and authoritative Introduction, the author and poet offers a memorable perspective on this resonant poetry of European significance. There is much debate between scholars as to when exactly Gododdin was composed but it could be argued that some of these odes are the oldest British literature of all.

A former National Poet of Wales and Emeritus Professor of Welsh at Bangor University, Professor Gwyn Thomas is a prolific author and poet. He has published 19 volumes of poetry, several volumes of work as a literary and cultural critic and commentator as well as volumes of adaptations and translations of medieval Welsh tales.

Gododdin: The Earliest British Literature is available from

all good bookshops and online retailers.

For more information, please visit www.gomer.co.uk

It is with great pride and pleasure that we feature the work of David Western in this post. He is a lovespoon carver from Cardiff, currently residing in Vancouver B.C., and has just published a book on the art of creating the lovespoon, Fine Art of Carving Lovespoons: Understanding, Designing and Creating Romantic Treasures , Fox Chapel Publishing (October 1, 2008).

Pictures of some of his beautiful work are on our Pictures tab and can be seen below:

Just the thing for St. Dwynwyn's Day or, if you must, St Valentines, or even Christmas for that special someone. You can contact David or leave him comments on his Americymru page here .

David's website gives his bio:

"I was born in Cardiff, Wales but now live in Victoria, BC, Canada. A graduate of the University of British Columbia and a cabinetmaker by trade, I hold City and Guilds Certification in both cabinet making and furniture design from the UK and Canadian Inter-provincial Certification in joinery. I have been carving for over 20 years; my spoons are found in collections throughout the world.

"My lovespoons are carved entirely by hand using only domestic North American woods. I feel our native timbers easily rival any tropical hardwood for beauty and colouration. Using sustainable, easily grown lumber such as alder and maple allows me to avoid contributing toward the denuding of tropical rain forests.

"Lovespoon carving is my passion. I constantly strive to expand the boundaries of design while creating unique and innovative carvings which respect and honour the tradition of the Welsh lovespoon. My lovespoons are not souvenir trinkets; they are art which also celebrates both my client's personal stories and my hard-earned skills as a craftsman and designer. I believe the romantic, thoughtful, hand-crafted lovespoon still has an important role to play in our increasingly sterile and pre-fabricated society. My goal is to continue the tradition of the lovespoon while introducing it to as wide an audience as possible both within and beyond the Welsh community."

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY TO ALL OUR MEMBERS AND READERS!

WELSH GIFT SHOP - CLICK HERE

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 bit late and a little under prepared today. I've been out working the light rail all day to raise funds for the WCE ( see latest announcement HERE ). Sometimes I resort to petition signature gathering to raise extra revenue for our events BUT I am not here tonight to talk politics. No...my subject is footwear!

When I was younger 'trainers' did not really exist, they were called 'daps' and they cost less than a fiver ( GBP ). I have never really joined the branded footwear revolution as you can tell from the picture of my current 'daps' at the bottom of this page. They came from Goodwill, cost less than 10 bucks and are ok for work and I have run in them a few times as well.

But lest anyone supposes that I don't take the subject of running shoes seriously I should add that I realise the pitiful specimens pictured below are woefully inadequate for a 13 mile run. In fact I am seeking recommendations. What's good and what's cheap? Any and all advice gratefully received.

And finally an overdue explanation of the title of this post. I have seen the Grangetown Dap Dance alluded to on the backs of album covers and in obscure online forum posts but have NEVER, despite all my best efforts, been able to discover anything about it. Does anyone have any information? Does anyone know the steps? Does it have any steps?

If it is at all practical ( or physically possible on the day ) I hereby pledge to dance the Grangetown Dap Dance ( for a few seconds at least ) at the end of my 13 mile run. I will be suitably attired in my running daps of course and there will be a Video camera or Iphone present to capture the historic moment

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