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I'm really pleased to see that A Mind to Kill, the excellent TV series starring that superb actor, Philip Madoc (no relation!), is now on DVD. The English language version, that is. The Welsh-language one was filmed separately and, as far as I know, is not yet available on DVD.
Oddly, I have a strong memory of seeing it on my hotel-room TV in Paris once, dubbed into German! No doubt Philip Madoc did his own dubbing for that as he speaks German fluently. I seem to remember that it was said that when he appeared in a BBC version of The Last of the Mohicans, he learned to speak Huron for his role, but that may be apocryphal!
Those of you who like Dad's Army will remember him as the German U-Boat captain captured by the Home Guard. "Don't tell him, Pike!"
Gaynor
For anyone interested, there's a report on Lleucu Meinir's protest against the police's "tokenism" toward the Welsh language. The URL is so long that I suggest you go to www.walesonline.co.uk and do a site search under Lleucu Meinir. This will give you the report.
Gaynor
The above article illustrates well the monstrous nightmare that our welfare system has become. A great and humane idea has been abused and misused.
I bought this book (published by Gwalch) at the Eisteddfod. I was interested to see that Abraham Lincoln and John Adams, amongst other politicians and military people, had Welsh ancestry. Obviously, George Bush Jr is not included; as you may recall, he asked Charlotte Church which state Wales was in.
Still on the subject of books, anyone visiting Caerdydd might like to go to these two bookshops: The Wellfield in Wellfield Road, Roath (No. 58 bus from the centre of Cardiff) and Y Caban at 169 King's Road, Pontcanna. To get to the latter, you can take any bus that goes up Cathedral Road from the centre of town and there's a stop near to King's Road (rather a pleasant street).
All the best
Gaynor
Dateline 3rd August 2010 CE, Caerdydd Canolog (Cardiff Central Station). Your reporter arrives in a business-like fashion to catch the train to the Eisteddford. Ticket purchased, she looks for the appropriate platform and notes that the display shows 0 (zero). There is a platform 0 at Cardiff and this lends a Harry Potterish air to the entire enterprise. On time, we set off up the valley, stopping at tiny stations along the way.
A journey of less than an hour brings us to Ebbw Vale, where everyone on the train disembarks and heads for the shuttle bus. It's raining - what else did we expect? Fortunately, there is only a short wait for the bus and, once settled, your intrepid reporter digs into her bag for her publicity material and hands over Carmarthen Underground postcards.
I'm not really familiar with the Valleys and this was my first in Ebbw Vale. What struck me first was how lovely the surrounding countryside was, deeply green and carrying no visible scars from the long-gone industries. Granted, the Eisteddfod was placed on what is now a big building site, but, once among the booths and tents, the atmosphere was terrific. Of course, had I come on the Monday, I would, no doubt, have seen hordes of druids in their little wellies, and perhaps even the new Archdruid, Jim Parc Nest. Sadly, during my visit, there was a dearth of druids so I was very disappointed. Still, chwarae teg, I enjoyed the day.
I had a good wander around, amused at the various signs and impressed at how adaptable Welsh can be when faced with words like "noodles" for translation. There were booths selling exquisite hand-made jewellery, harps in a variety of sizes, two women playing the harp in one booth, art, crafts of all kinds, so much literature in both Welsh and English and, always in the background, chatter in the language of heaven. Young and old people, all enjoying themselves as the rain receded and and sun came out.
Having found Y Lolfa's booth, I introduced myself and went for a Welsh cake at the very cafe across the way before settling down to sign some books. Afterwards, I took my postcards and handed them out to passers-by for a time, then went for a long walk around the maes to give them out to all and sundry. While I was there, two copies sold so there was great excitement! One of the copies was sold to a lady I'd met on the bus and who, after so kindly buying the book, took a photo entitled "Desperate Author in front of Bookstand"! Note to self: coercion obviously works when selling books.
Anyone famous spotted? Well, there was beth-chi'n-galw who used to be in Pobol Y Cwm (and may still be, for all I know); then there was the multi-talented Dewi Pws, who, whether he liked it or not, had one of my cards thrust into his hand.
At about 4.15, I was weary and made my way back to the bus for the journey to Cardiff. It had been a wonderful day and great feeling to be even a really tiny part of it all.
Because of my experience, I was doubly astonished at a letter in the Western Mail the following day (Wednesday). The writer, living in Cardiff, seemed to be a "glass half empty" sort of person. He described the festival as a celebration of a dying language in a dying landscape (or words to that effect). This couldn't have been further from the truth as far as I was concerned and it's definitely not the sort of attitude to be encouraged. I, for one, am looking forward to going again; hopefully, there'll be some druids about!
A message to any members likely to be in Wales during Eisteddfod week. I'll be very glad to see you at the Eisteddfod on Tuesday 3rd August. I'll be at Y Lolfa's stand from about 2pm and, even if you don't want to buy a book or have one signed, come and say hallo so I won't be lonely!!
Best wishes
Gaynor
After a marathon reading session yesterday, during which I almost resented going out to lunch in the spring sunshine because I wanted to carry on reading, I would like to thank Peter Griffiths for a powerful and engrossing story.
Tongue Tied is more than that though; it manages to be informative about Welsh religious and political history and it illustrates the strong emotions inspired by the beauty of the Welsh landscape in the collective heart of the Welsh people.
I have made a note in my diary that I must buy Halley's CD and Huw's short stories when they come out. Halley's interview tells me that Celtic culture is alive and kicking, even so many thousands of miles away from its roots. That's so cheering.
Huw mentions Cambria magazine, which I take. It is mostly in English but there are Welsh articles too.
Blowing my own trumpet for a moment or three, I was so pleased to see further reviews of The Carmarthen Underground in Y Wawr, the magazine for Merched y Wawr, and on the GWales site, both of which were favourable. So keep 'em coming, folks! I need all the help I can get as the main bookshop in the UK (at least at my last visit) has not been stocking it. The Carmarthen branch of Waterstone's was enthusiastic about promoting the book, prior to publication. Now the company appears to have problems, probably because it was trying to take over every bookshop in the country. At the beginning of February, I wrote to the managing director but have not, thus far, received any acknowledgement. Fortunately, I can rely on the lovely little Siop y Pentan in Carmarthen market and it's available online in a number of places. I must also thank Trinity College, Carmarthen, for taking some publicity material for its students' union.
As I type from rainy Llundain, the north of the country is being attacked by blizzards. However, my front garden has hyacinths, daffodils and snowdrops - all harbingers of spring.
Good wishes to all,
Gaynor
