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Reply | Aberfan _ Thursday BBC4
at 08:56 22 Oct 2016
Watched the outstanding 'The Green Hollow' on BBC Wales tonight. Should rank with 'Under Milk Wood'. Owen Sheers created poetic brilliance and the stellar cast plus local children brought his words to life so powerfully.
Was at the Service of Commemoration in Merthyr Thursday night. I lived in Merthyr at the time of the disaster and had close friends who lived in Aberfan. Brought it all back - the utter silence in the town on that awful Friday - people standing around in shock, the silence punctuated by the sound of the ambulance bells as they carried victims to St Tydfil's hospital. Also went to Merthyr Vale on the Sunday to help in a 'soup kitchen' and looked across the valley at that iconic scene of the black mass engulfing the school and Moy Road and helpers like ants moving across the tip. The people of Aberfan have behaved with great dignity, courage and indomitable spirit and showed the world how to stand up to authority and not be cowed or bowed. No wonder the valleys produced such great boxers.
I hope that a minute of remembrance has been arranged prior to today's game - that is the very least we can do to show respect and solidarity with this remarkable community. |
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Reply | Everyone hates the Welsh language
at 18:42 27 Sep 2016
I was brought up in a totally Welsh speaking home - when I started school and came home speaking English I quickly realised that my mother would not respond to me unless I spoke Welsh. I have continued to speak Welsh (and perfect English) but when I went to work in a Welsh medium school in the Gwent valleys I was looked down upon by other staff members (most of whom were from Cardiff) as I spoke with a local dialect and did not speak 'BBC Wales' Welsh - fortunately I gave them the 2 fingers and continued to speak with my local dialect which, linguistically, was perfectly correct.
Unfortunately today the Welsh language is seen as a means to an end - to get a job in the media or government. I also feel that it is being forced on us in official communications and in business when the need really is n't there and we have to pay for that privilege : Asda self service tills now have a choice for using through the medium of Welsh and how many use the Welsh option on ATM machines ? I don't and I am a Welsh speaker !.
Parents send their children to Welsh school, not for the sake of the language, but they believe the standard of education is better and their offspring will have better career prospects. How sad then that so few children use the language outside the school environment and therefore only associate it with school and not as a means of communication. And by the way, I still speak Welsh with a local dialect but am ashamed how it's been manipulated.
Hope the Welsh Language Police have n't got a spy on Planet Swans !! |
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Reply | Question Time in Neath
at 10:48 27 Sep 2016
These programmes are a stitch up. Viewers think that the audience ask 'ad hoc' questions when in fact all questions have been scrutinised, possible chosen to reflect the political views of the production team and those chosen to ask questions are carefully positioned around the audience to make it appear a random selection.
I was asked to attend a programme on the same lines some years ago in that edifice to Cardiff's greed (Senedd (for God's sake - and I'm a Welsh speaker) in Kaaardiff Bay where that ubiquitous Welshman Huw Edwards put questions from the audience to the 4 party leaders in Wales (at the time Rhodri Morgan was Welsh 1st minister). All those asking questions (both main and supplementary) had been carefully selected beforehand to eliminate the danger of any controversial questions being raised. So since then I am highly sceptical of these programmes.
Bet Neath will be filled with Labour faithfuls with a smattering of 'others' just to give the shiny patina of being balanced. |
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Reply | OT - Good dog obedience classes
at 22:48 19 Sep 2016
I took my rescue lab/collie cross who was very challenging to an excellent class in Craig Cefn Parc community centre run by a lady named Wendy. After it was recommended to me I went up to the centre and it was advertised on the board outside. Hopefully it is still running as I found it so beneficial and completely transformed my relationship with my dog - I learnt how to boss her and not the other way around. Well worth the effort as life with her is a constant joy.
Well done you for taking on a rescue dog - the rewards will far outweigh any work you may have to put in on training. Good luck. |
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Reply | Dogs. Disease carrying animals
at 21:35 2 Sep 2016
What really annoys me is that I am not allowed to take my dog on to Swansea beach - from the breakwater up to St Helens - yet when I walk the prom the amount of litter left by the scum who bring their cans/plastic bottle/ disposable barbecues(which are not disposed of)/liquor bottles and dump on the beach. All these can cause harm, especially broken bottles. During the 'dogs allowed' period I always carry those ubiquitous plastic charity bags constantly delivered through my letter box and do my own litter pick but it's a futile task as its all there again by my next visit. All I can say is that the culprits must have a lot more money to waste than brains and sense |
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Reply | Books: what's everyone reading?
at 21:19 2 Sep 2016
Just finished 'Dominion' by C J Sansom. An 'alternate history' where the novel is set in 1953 in a Britain that signed a peace treaty with Germany in 1940 and is now under German control. Beaverbrook is prime minister and Churchill leader of the underground Resistance. Very chilling and dark scenarios with plenty of food for thought. |
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Reply | Plaid going up in the rankings ?
at 18:46 30 Aug 2016
Have also read that since Leanne became leader there has been virtually no increase in membership. So how does that compute with them moving up the rankings ? Would have thought that any party that propounded the idea of an independent wales would get short shrift from the electorate - other than that they offer very little. |
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Reply | Hungary v Belgium
at 21:48 26 Jun 2016
Any chance we can hatch a plan to kidnap hazard & de bruyne before Friday lol ! |
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Reply | Labour about to collapse.
at 17:11 26 Jun 2016
Philip Hammond Foreign Secretary was on Robert Peston's programme this morning. What he had to say was a wake up call for those who vote Leave making clear that compromises would have to be made when negotiations take place. |
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Reply | Leanne and plaid - what happens now
at 14:56 26 Jun 2016
The words 'wales' and self sufficient' are light years apart from each other. If wales had any chance of being self sufficient would it have needed so much EU funding to plug the enormous gaps that existed because
1. WAG concentrates everything in the golden circle of SE Wales
2. the rest of wales, especially the valleys and the west are now designated deprived areas because of the lack of investment and, more importantly, interest from the self-serving, complacent, gravy train passengers who can see no further than cardiff bay.
And god help us all if the drive for 'self-sufficiency' and 'independence' is led by that 't.rt with a heart from the valleys' who has lost no time in cosying up to carwyn. Maybe she wants to join him on his private jet to see waaales play footie. Imagine how the voters in the Rhondda feel - they told leighton andrews what to do with his socialist/labour politics and have now got exactly the same but it wears a frock. |
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Reply | Dog help
at 09:23 10 May 2016
I took on my third rescue dog 5 years ago (lab/collie/springer X - what a combination !). found the first year very challenging as she had never had any form on training in the 9 months prior to her arriving. After taking her to brilliant dog training class in Craig Cefn Parc community centre run by fantastic lady called Wendy we sorted out who was boss (Me !) and life became so much easier. Also found that the 2 vets at Forest Vets in Skewen are very in tune with dog behaviour and offer great advice.
Dont give up on your dog - we have no idea of what it has gone through before coming to live with you. Stick with it and once the problem is resolved (which it will be with the right advice) the rewards will be immeasurable. |
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Reply | The upcoming election for the assembly
at 12:14 1 Apr 2016
How long does she need to come to ?
All 4 were emailed on March 26 (Peter Black replied on 27th) so if she has been on a bender for so long how can she be doing her job as AM effectively ? Also emails were sent long before Tata bombshell was dropped so no excuses for being busy responding to steel crisis |
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Reply | The upcoming election for the assembly
at 11:29 1 Apr 2016
I emailed the 4 current candidates with specific questions:
1. What have you done in the Assembly to secure WG investment for south west Wales ?
2. Have you conveyed dissatisfaction (if indeed you are) with the disproportionate WG investment in Cardiff and the south east of Wales in relation to the south west and the rest of Wales ? How was that dissatisfaction expressed ?
3. What will your party do to redress the enormous amount of public money that is poured into Cardiff and the south east resulting in the rest of Wales being disadvantaged, under resourced, under invested and a poor relation ?
The only reply I received (within a matter of hours) was from Peter Black (Lib Dem). who clearly answered all queries.
Neither Bethan Jenkins (PC), Suzy Davies nor Altaf Husseain (both C) have had the decency to respond which has not created a very positive impression especially as there is no other way to confront these on their record as AM's. |
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