Daily Post: "SNOW and ice caused traffic chaos on the A55 stranding thousands of motorists some for up to five hours."
I was wrong; no mention of shock!
There's some snow coming tonight. What do you reckon tomorrow's headlines will be? "Traffic chaos caused by Arctic blast", "Britain grinds to a halt as freak weather hits"? The way we deal with the 'annual shock' could be a valuable source of amusement to those who live in the colder parts of the world!
I wonder if there'll be panic buying at the supermarkets? Get down there NOW before all the milk and bread goes!
Disclaimer: I hereby disown myself from any any panic buying, or bread crisis.
John: I've gained a valuable insight from the replies that I received to a blog that I started as a consequence of this conversation. To summarise, it boils down to emphasising what doesn't exist in the USA and talking about the positive social aspects. I've been on a few cruises onboard American cruise ships and visited New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, and LA, so I know exactly what is meant when it comes to the 'welcoming' aspect . We really could do with a customer service 'upgrade' and a healthy dose of self-belief. Cymru am byth!
I've got to say, the 'Chinese query' tickled me pink! I absolutely agree with your observations and this subject is one that I often find myself ranting about whenever we go abroad. I recently started trying to capture north Wales in photographs and I tried to steer away from the 'obvious' views. When you look at things as a tourist, it soon becomes apparent that we are surrounded by turquoise seas, vast sandy beaches, jagged mountains, birds of prey, dolphins, stunning sunsets, and ancient castles. It is so good that cruise ships visit Anglesey more than six times a year, Prince William lives here, and the wealthy spend their weekends on the Lleyn and Anglesey. Now that is most definitely not the image that we portray, but it is absolutely 100% true of course, all of it- and I have the photos to prove it!
That of course is just part of north Wales, our members in the mid and south will be able to add a whole load more! Perhaps we should take a leaf out of the books of places like the Turks & Caicos islands. They actually have very little to offer, other than a beach, but they sound mega-luxurious and people will spend spend spend to get there. I know that Puffin Island doesn't have quite the same ring about it, but my point is that what is missing is an 'aura'.
It's also true that in North Wales we don't have a mining industry, no heavy industry at all in fact. However, we do have high-tech operations that make the latest car engines and wings for the biggest, most advanced passenger aircraft in the world. One of the largest wind farms in the world is about to be built and Anglesey has chosen to become an Energy Island with a massive focus on renewable energy. Things are changing- rapidly.
Surfing at Porth Neigl on the Lleyn Peninsula; in winter!
Perhaps we need to be selective about what we choose to tell people about Wales?
Lleyn Peninsula from Harllech, not Barbados!
I know it was only a fleeting moment, but yes, the sea really was that colour!
Red Wharf Bay at 3.30 am
If this was Scotland, maybe it would be associated with Whisky, camp fires, and excellent sea food?
