Forum Activity for @gaynor-madoc-leonard

Welsh Coast Magazine

General Discussions ( Anything Goes )

I've just tried looking at their website (welshcoast.org.uk) but my PC didn't accept the web address. It comes under www.borderpublishing.com for people who want subscriptions but, as I said, there's no mention of overseas availability which I think very shortsighted. They could do an online version for a reasonable sum which would promote Wales overseas. It may be a small, family-run firm but that doesn't mean they can't embrace technology.

Welsh Coast Magazine

General Discussions ( Anything Goes )

I hadn't realised you can read the back editions - that's excellent. Please do add whatever you wish. For people in the UK, there's a special deal on at the moment - if you take out a standing-order subscription for Country and Border Life, you get Welsh Coast free. This costs 19.99 for a year. Unfortunately, they don't publish prices for overseas subscriptions but if you can see the magazine online, it isn't really necessary.

Welsh Coast Magazine

General Discussions ( Anything Goes )

Yesterday I bought the July edition of Welsh Coast which has a very interesting feature on The Oyster Catcher in Rhosneigr, Anglesey. This restaurant has been set up by John Timpson, Chairman of Timpson shoe repair and key-making stores. Mr Timpson and his wife, Ann, have, over 30 years, fostered 90 children and adopted 2 as well as having 3 of their own; helping disadvantaged young people is a part of their lives. Having transformed The White Eagle at Rhoscolyn into a successful business, they were approached by people who were concerned about The Maelog Lake Hotel. Their eldest son had visited Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Restaurant in Cornwall and suggested that the Timpsons might use this as an inspiration. 16 young people from Anglesey were chosen to train at the new Chefs' Academy at Coleg Menai and a year later 9 of them graduated and have been taken on at The Oyster Catcher, a new building, on the site of the hotel, created by Huf Haus of Germany to be as eco-friendly as possible. The tables and chairs were hand made by inmates of HM Prison Frankland.

In addition to this article, there's a great deal of information in the magazine about places to stay all around the coast of Wales, both catered and self-catering, as well as suggestions about what to see and do. The best part is about ice cream.

Also, if you want to buy a house in the Tenby area which has a striking water feature, an outdoor hot tub and computerised controls, this is the magazine for you!

updated by @gaynor-madoc-leonard: 11/11/15 10:38:18PM

The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price Purveyor of Superior Funerals, by Wendy Jones

Welsh Literature

I've just read this book and enjoyed it although, once again, I've thought to myself as I've been reading that both the hard-working author and the reader who has spent money on it deserve a properly edited book with no spelling mistakes or other errors. As it is published by Corsair, an imprint of Constable & Robinson, there is no excuse.

Wilfred Price is, as the title suggests, a funeral director. He lives in Narberth and the year is 1924.Wilfred, who was warned by his mentor Mr Auden about "fancy business with the ladies" and "lustful thoughts", is having a picnic with Grace Reece, daughter of the local doctor, and suddenly finds himself asking her to marry him. In fact he has no desire to marry her but it's too late as she accepts his proposal. After a prolonged period of avoiding her, he tells her that the engagement is off and, of course, she is upset. In due course, we realise how upset and why but, in the meantime, Wilfred has conducted a funeral for Mr Edwards of the forge and has become beguiled by Flora Edwards, the daughter of the forge.

What might just have been an amusing and charming tale takes a sinister and unexpected turn as Wilfred is bullied and tricked into marriage.

I have no idea if Wendy Jones has any Welsh ancestry but there are a few Welsh spellings that need tidying up. For example, "Flora Myffanwy Edwards" - I have never seen Myfanwy spelt like that. And why "Bara brith" with an upper case "B" when "clogau" is spelt with a lower case "c"? Other odd spellings include: "Mrs Hewyll Russell", "bora da" and "tyatas", the last presumably being potatoes or tatws. Other oddities are: "Flapper" with a capital "F" in the middle of a sentence; "shilling note" which I don't believe has ever existed; "scully" which I assume is supposed to be scullery; "turnups" and "cabages" and "the round shilling" which I would think should be the full shilling.

I know that makes me seem like an unbearable pedant but it's insulting both to the author and the reader to have glaring errors in the text, particularly from a large and reputable publishing house.

updated by @gaynor-madoc-leonard: 11/11/15 10:38:18PM

Saving a village - Brechfa fights back

Welsh History

Good idea! I think the local vicar in Brechfa serves more than one church, something which happens quite a lot these days. Not sure if that's because of the small number of parishioners, the Church trying to save money or the dearth of men and women wanting to be priests. Maybe a mixture of all three.

Saving a village - Brechfa fights back

Welsh History

Robert

I askedmy mother this morning about your family in Llanegwad and she remembers them well. Next time I'm in C'then I'll have a look through the photos as I remember one of Datcu Edwards with the vicar and wardens, I'm sure. Datcu was something or other at the church too. I never knew him, sadly.

Gaynor

Saving a village - Brechfa fights back

Welsh History

I'm really sad to read about their failure. I do hope the person who is buying the pub will have the grace to speak to the villagers and try to work something out. If I had only won the wretched lottery!

It is a lesson to other villages in Wales (and elsewhere come to that) though.

Saving a village - Brechfa fights back

Welsh History

He might have known my grandparents then, Edwards of Llwynfortune.

Saving a village - Brechfa fights back

Welsh History

I dare say some publicity in the States might help. Llanegwad Church (where my parents were married) was saved by a very generous and kind American's donation.

Saving a village - Brechfa fights back

Welsh History

Ceri, I've spent a bit of time trying to find a contact e-mail address. Very frustrating. Although the village has a website of sorts (with a link that took me rather surprisingly to something about Jessica Alba and her baby), the best I could find was the e-mail address for the local churches. The priest in charge is Rev. Lynn Chambers and the address is bromihangel@yahoo.com. I've no doubt that the Rev Chambers will be taking a strong interest.