Pick 'n' Mix

Never again… I was told, so I handed the phone over to Jon who was going to stop them in their tracks. Next thing I knew he was chatting away to the person on the other end of the phone like they were lost long buddies. Yes, he’d blown it. Here we were doing yet another interview for a paper. The positive was that we could take our own photograph, though at the last minute this was reneged upon. A professional photographer descended upon us…for four bleedin hours…. Can you just move a little to the right, you er, ummm (he just couldn’t remember our names and when he called Her Next Door Grandma, I thought his cuppa would end up over his head).

The photograph was in last week’s national paper – and I hated it! 

Back to earth with a bump after our flirtation with the paps and celebrity lifestyle (albeit double F grade), we supplied some manual labour and helped out on the village common, just tidying up really. This year though we benefited from a huge tree that needed to come down. There is still some two thirds to collect from the common land but the photos show the new wood in the store, then turning round towards the garage you see some more queueing up to go in. When it's all collected hopefully we'll be full to the brim.

Waiting wood.

Wood store slowly returning to health.

There was a great honour bestowed upon me too, I’ve been chosen to be a World Book Night giver. I’m not a great wordsmith (oh you’ve picked up on that have you?) But I do love books and reading. I’ve never had 24 pristine books in my possession before. What a fantastic treat to be able to give them away and spread the joy of reading. I have clubbed together with Maggie and Wendy to gift all our books during the morning of Saturday 28th.

Harlequin....

In between that lot, we even managed an all too short four day nuclear family break in the Easter holidays. We raced up to Aberystwyth to have a little time away. That's the main disadvantage of working for ourselves, we don't get looooong paid holidays... those sadly are just dim and distant memories. Still, we try to make the most of the time we do have instead.

Childhood - too precious to cut short?

No designer clothes for this pair.  All G10 and H10 need is friendship, sand, a bit of sunshine and coloured pencils to make a it perfect day.  Long may this continue.  I hate the fact that childhood seems to be getting shorter yet our life expectancy is getting longer. What is it about this modern rush to grow up?  It's a real mystery and I'm unable to see the Darwinian benefit of this urgency to leave those carefree days behind.

I have to admit that's why I love Pembrokeshire... there is less emphasis on having the latest gear and looking like little pop stars and believing that the only credible job in life is to be 'famous' - all so much pressure at such an early age, just to fit in.  Those stiletto heels for babies and padded bras for seven year olds make my skin crawl.  I watched a programme on TV last night about pageants for children here in the UK.  There was a very young child who had had plastic surgery to pin her ears back (her Mum admitted she didn't find her attractive at birth) and another child of seven who wears contact lenses, even though she finds glasses more comfortable. "Mummy will be cross if I wear my glasses."  I found I was catching flies, my mouth wide open in amazement that these parents (Mummies primarily) were merrily creating psychological problems for the years to come. 

I'm not the best Mum in the world - but really after that programme I felt that perhaps I wasn't too bad!

Let the children be free, run, get dirty, laugh, play, remain unconcerned about their appearance - for as long as they can.   After being an adult for more years than I care to admit, I'd change places like a shot.

Enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

Nothing to say...

I think I've got writer's block.  I can't think of anything interesting to blog about (no change there then you might think).  Either that or my life is pretty dull at the moment (and I'm really not going to admit it to you dear reader - after all, life in the blogasphere is always interesting).

Here are a couple of pictures instead (it's said a picture is worth a thousand words - so actually I've been quite loquacious in this post).  The theme over at The Gallery this week is 'Colour' - so as I can't think for myself at the moment I've decided to roll with it. 

Nothing displays the spectrum of colour better than mother nature herself.

Eisteddfod? What is it exactly?

I'm still not really quite sure.. but it comes round every year and makes you feel very patriotic and proud to be Welsh (or adopted by the Welsh). There's a lot of flags displayed, daffodils worn and Welsh spoken. This outward display of patriotism is something sadly lacking in England, (I think the English flag has been hijacked - but that's a whole other blog).

The Urdd (their full title is "Urdd Gobaith Cymru" which literally means Welsh League of Hope) is a movement for young people, from the age of 7 up to 24. The Urdd is organised into local groups whose catchment areas are based on those of the Welsh medium schools of Wales.

The children of the school join the Urdd if they wish. Once a member this then entitles them to attend the active and creative social club, stay at the residential centres and to enter the various competitions organised by the Urdd at school level, and on to county and then national level if they perform well.  Competitions organised by the Urdd include various sports and then the arts, music and literature festival, known as the Eisteddfod (pronounced; eye-steth-vod).

It's a wonderful event. Confidence in the children knows no bounds. They have little problem standing up in front of a sea of faces because they've been doing it since the age of 7. Now G10 might not always get through her competitions (but without the 'losers' their wouldn't be a competition in the first place, right?)  And I for one am always very proud of her for having a go. Entering into the spirit of things. She tries. Could I memorise a four stanza poem in Welsh? Could I play the violin?  No is the short answer to both those questions, so bravo G10.  You're always a winner to me.



Very Proud Mummy Moment.
G10 was a winner in her violin performance;
(albeit that there were only two of them in her age group).



Almost, But Not Quite

It's been one of those 'Almost, But Not Quite' episodes of my life.

I almost went out for a meal with friends... but due to bugs and funerals half couldn't make it so it was postponed.

I almost started a photography evening class... but it got cancelled at the last minute.

I almost posted on a controversial topic... but after some soul searching thought better of it.

I almost got picked to be a giver on World Book Night... (this is a lie - I missed by a country mile).

I almost went to a Welsh language social evening... but lost my mojo.

I almost sold my house... the "Sold" board went up and I stupidly really thought it was happening.

Dog 'thinks' she has won the war.

 

Finally, I've managed to sit on the couch.






Dydd Santes Dwynwen

Saint Dwynwen's Day
St Dwynwen's Day falls on the 25th January, Wales’s own day of all things related to cariad (love).  St Dwynwen, the saint of friendship and love is Wales's female equivalent of St Valentine.

The legend
St. Dwynwen lived about 500 A.D., one of 24 daughters of King Brychan Brycheiniog.

Dwynwen fell in love with a prince, Maelon Dafodrill, who wanted to marry her. The reasons they could not marry are not certain; some say that her father had promissed her to some one else whilst others say that she had decided to become a nun.

In her grief Dwynwen fled to the woods.  Dwynwen begged God to help her forget Maelon. In a dream or vision, an angel came to her and gave her a potion which was designed to erase all memory of Maelon. It also had the surprising effect of turning Maelon into a statue of ice.

God then granted Dwynwen three wishes. First she wished that Maelon be unfrozen; second that God meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers; and third, that she should never marry. All three were fulfilled, and as a mark of her thanks, Dwynwen devoted herself to God's service for the rest of her life.

Dwynwen founded a convent on what is now Llanddwyn island - Llanddwyn means Church of Dwyn(wen).  The island is just off the coast of Anglesey (Yns Mon) in North Wales.  Also located on the island is Dwynwen's holy well. The belief exists that the movement of sacred fish in the well could predicted the happiness and fortunes of visiting lovers. It is reported that if the fish movements cause the water to “boil” then love and good luck will surely follow.

One of her sayings was, "Nothing wins hearts like cheerfulness."  A saying that is as good now as it ever was then.