An Interview With Kath Rhodes Editor of 'Welsh Country' Magazine

An Interview with Kath Rhodes editor of Welsh Country: "the pan Wales magazine that is essential reading for those that are passionate about the countryside of Wales, Welsh Food, Welsh Property and the history of Wales." Americymru: What is Welsh Country magazine and what is it's mission? Kath: Our Welsh Country magazine mission is to promote the wonderful Welsh countryside to visitors and locals too. We want to ensure that everyone, wherever they live, knows what an amazing country Wales is and how much there is to do and see here. Americymru: Can you tell us about the history of the magazine, how it came to be? Kath: In November 2009 Welsh Country celebrates its fifth birthday and it's amazing how quickly that time has gone. My partner and I had been living in Wales and were in partnership with a super equestrian publication until the owners wanted to alter its direction, which we didn't think would work, so we had an amicable parting of the ways and they are still great friends of ours. So the question was: 'What do we do next?' We spent over six months researching a magazine idea and spotted a gap in the market for a pan-Wales magazine. More research, endless meetings including with Visit Wales, Forestry Commission, National Trust in fact any Welsh group or body that we thought might or should support us in our efforts!! Meetings and yet more meetings and we were still convinced that not only was there a huge market in Wales for the type of magazine with the format that we had planned, but also a massive market abroad with expats. Americymru: What does Welsh Country magazine have for its readers, what does it offer? Kath: I was looking for an eclectic mix, hoping that anyone - whatever their age, taste and passion, will find something of interest in our pages. We cover both countryside and lifestyle, all we need is a Welsh link and we'll try and cover it. We also listen to our readers and really appreciate their feedback and suggestions. Our advertisers are of course as important as our readers and we work with them as closely as possible to ensure they get the most out of Welsh Country to grow their businesses. We pride ourselves in 'thinking outside the box' which is possibly the reason so many Welsh Government agencies aren't always as helpful as they should be with us - but hopefully they'll take their blinkers off very soon and we can work together and help each other!! It's so important that we make a huge effort with our advertisers because we want them with us for the long-term and to develop good relationships with them and us. Many advertisers now sell Welsh Country magazine for us whether it is in their art gallery, farm shop or coffee shop , this is a big help in our direct distribution and also gives them an extra source of income. Again it's another way to work together and help each other. Americymru: Tell us about a typical issue, what articles and features would readers find? Kath: BBC's Mel Doel has been with us from our early days and writes her feature about what's happening in the Welsh countryside with topics as diverse as bee keeping, Post Office closures, Barry Swan Rescue Centre, how Wales is suffering in the climate change, the Welsh milk industry meltdown, Welsh piers and the allotment lottery - those are just samples of topics Mel has covered. Tom Hutton does our walking pages and encourages us to enjoy Wales on our feet. He tries to find walks around Wales and Tom's another freelance writer that was with us from the start. Occasionally we look at equestrian events and I have recently returned from Badminton following Australian Matt Ryan who has been living in Abergavenny for many years and is swapping nationality to Britain . Also riding there was Monmouthshire owner/rider Sara Squires who did amazingly well at her first attempt, actually beating Olympic Gold medallist Matt............. We have more Badminton news on our website www.welshcountry.co.uk Our fishing expert Moc Morgan takes care of those who love spending time and enjoying the peace and quiet on Welsh riverbanks. Geoff Brookes, again another writer who has been with us for years producing and preserving tales of sadness and sorrow as he uncovers stories behind old gravestones. His first book is now out - Stories in Welsh Stone' - and I'm pleased to report sales are going well. Richard Cain of Penlan Perennials is another long-term stalwart who keeps up up-to-date in the garden and takes some superb photos so we always have a really colourful and inspiring feature. Steve Judd , astrologist, star-gazes for our readers and sends in horoscopes - but maybe like me, you 'only believe horoscopes if his prediction is good!' Then of course we have Welsh food - another topic we are so passionate about. We started promoting Welsh food in our early days, really before many then got on the bandwagon. We then ran an ongoing ' Buy Local - Eat Local Campaign' that was followed by a 'Best Of Welsh' guide which lists lots of excellent food producers and I'm pleased to say many of them now do mail order, which is so important for many people living in rural areas or perhaps have just very busy lives. This guide is not only helpful for end-users, but for hotels, delis, coffee shops etc. who are wanting to show our visitors how good Welsh local produce is, whilst of course reducing food miles. One of our food producers was so delighted with the work we have done to promote local produce that she recommended me as a Local Hero in last year's Countryside Alliance Awards - I didn't win, but the nomination was a huge boost for me and my team. We also cover news in Wales, music, book reviews, beauty products, clothing, motoring, interviews and history, as I said it's eclectic........................ Americymru: How is Welsh Country different from other magazines? Kath: Although people still think we are either fully funded by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) or funded by Visit Wales, we are the only pan Welsh magazine that is not funded by WAG. Welsh Country has always been produced, published and printed in Wales. Mind you being loyal to Wales does cost though, as we could print in France and it would be far cheaper!! There is a pan Wales magazine that is very political but we at Welsh Country want to show Wales in the best possible light so we never publish any negative comment at all except in the 'Grumpy Old Geezer' feature, where he whinges about the price of diesel, the closure of Tourist Information Centres etc. That certainly does not mean that Welsh Country does not see problems within government both local and national, as we are constantly contacted by smaller businesses that are having problems with Welsh bureaucracy of one sort or another. As a consequence Welsh Country have regular meetings with both Members of Parliament that sit in London and also Assembly Members and Ministers from Cardiff. It’s good to put something back into society and I personally cannot stand big bully tactics or unfairness and if we as a small part of the independent media can make our voice heard privately, rather than in print then I feel we are doing some good. I see that as an important role for Welsh Country, our behind-the-scenes work, and the People In Power know that if we can't change and improve things by talking - then we have the option of using print........... Americymru: Do you accept freelance content or submissions from your readers? Kath: Occasionally we do, but we are restricted in amount of spare space we have. In the past we have run a feature about Welsh Abroad - why a person, with Welsh connections moved abroad, their background, when they moved and what they are doing now. Of course we need to know what they miss most about Wales too, but with our growing appreciation of Americymru maybe we should bring that feature back. So don’t hesitate to email me and you never know your story may be in print in the future. Americymru: Any advice for writers and other would-be content submitters? Kath: Yes please read Welsh Country first and then you'll understand what we are aiming for which is to entertain as well as inform. Would-be writers must get a feel of Welsh Country and only then email me with ideas first please. Americymru: What's your day like as an editor? Kath: Busy, busy, busy - oh for more hours in the day. The month after an issue has been printed and distribution has been done, we have a post-print meeting to see what queries have arisen in last few days before the printers, plus I get feedback from my team when they have at last got a copy in their hands. Then we talk about the next issue, which I will hopefully have lots of ideas for, but you can be sure my team will have lots great ideas too. A publication like ours could not survive, especially in these tough times, without the enthusiastic group of people that we have working for us - they are brilliant. I also use that month to catch up on - yes, you've guessed it - meetings. These could be with our printer, Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones, our local Member of Parliament Mark Williams, with a food festival or a producer, my list of meetings seems to go on for ever, but at least boredom is never a problem and variety is certainly the spice of life here at Welsh Country. The month before we go to print obviously gets very hectic as we are often chasing or querying features, promised images which have either not arrived, or simply aren't good enough quality for us. Our Pamper pages are photographed in-house by Tony, our talented designer, so they take some time to finalise, but feedback on those Pamper pages has been amazing, when we have been told by those in the beauty industry that we are as good as Vogue, that's a good incentive to keep us all working hard to maintain our high standards. Writing, proofing, tweaking, seems to be constant parts of my day, plus taking calls and dealing with hundreds of emails. I'd be lost without email that's for sure. Regular editorial meetings with my team are vital to keep everyone in the loop and ensure we hit our print date. Or I could be trying to sort out an interview with one of our Welsh celebrities or out with our tradestand promoting Welsh Country at Food Festivals or tourist events, it's a very varied day with no time to get bored. Americymru: How can people in the USA get subscriptions to Welsh Country? Kath: Visit our website www.welshcountry.co.uk is one way or you could tel: 00 441559 372010. Both take credit and debit card payments. Americymru: Any final message for the members and readers of Americymru? Kath: I'm so delighted to have made contact with you all at Americymru and looking forward to building a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with you as we both seem to be on the same wavelength. I know how much so many of you miss Wales and I really hope that by reading Welsh Country - your countryside magazine for Wales - we can give you another link to your homeland and you can get that longed-for taste and feel of Wales each issue. Interview by Ceri Shaw Email

Cor Meibion Morlais - The Choir With A Sense of Humour

Cor Meibion Morlais performing for the Chris Corcoran Committee Meeting (comedy show) at the Muni, Pontypridd. Please see the choir's website for more details: www.cor-meibion-morlais.org.uk. Full size the video screen for full comedic effect. Americymru: The Choir is based in Ferndale in the Rhondda Valley. How strong is the choral tradition in the Rhondda in the 21st century? The Rhondda still boasts 5 Male Choirs with around a membership of 340 voices. Americymru: Can you tell us a little about the history of the choir? Cor Meibion Morlais was formed in 1928 as a chapel guild choir, in order to entertain the chapel members through the winter months. It soon developed into a capable singing ensemble , entering and winning many eisteddfodau and giving concerts throughout South Wales. The choir has an unbroken 81 year history and has only had 5 conductors throughout its existance.The choir has travelled extensively throughout the U.K together with an impressive 19 overseas tours, visiting Germany twice, Holland twice,France five times, Belgium, Spain, Ireland,Hungary, Czech Republic, Finland, Estonia,Canada twice, and the U.S.A. The choir has just secured funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to research and write a book on the choir's history. The funding also allows for the production of a DVD about the choir , together with the preperation of an archive / museum exhibition. This funding has been complimented by funding from The Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Partnership which will enable the choir to convert its own rehearsal facility, the Morlais Hall , into a Visitor / Cultural Centre . The choir's website carries press releases on this subject in more detail Americymru: Were there strong connections in the past between the choir and the mining industry in the Rhondda Valleys? At the time of the choir's formation and up until the 1950's the mining industry provided the majority of choir members. Americymru: How large is your choir, who are your members and what are their positions in the choir? Currently, the choir has 44 members, ranging in age from 19 to 75. We currently have three 19 year old members, all studying at University. Their subjects at University are Music , Law and Radiology. Conductor, John Asquith is a freelance linguist and also works with the Welsh National Opera Company as Vocal Coach in foreign languages. Accompanist, Rosalie Evans is a freelance accompanist, piano teacher and she also works for the Welsh National Opera Max as a Repetiteur. Chairman, Nigel Morgan is a Business Executive with British Gas , one of the U.K.'s largest energy suppliers. Vice Chairman, John Nash is a Director of a Training Services provider. Treasurer , Huw Jones is an Accountant. Secretary, Byron Young is retired and was formerly a Senior Manager in the manufacturing industry. Americymru: How does someone join the choir, what is your selection process? The selection process by which the choir selects new members is not too complicated. New members are usually introduced into the choir by a friend or work colleague,or sometimes they just turn up at one of our rehearsals and ask to join. Our Conductor will allow him to sit in on the first night wherever he may feel comfortable but and the end of the rehearsal ,the conductor will invite him to sing a couple of scales for him. The new member will then be told by the conductor in which section of the choir he will be singing in. The new member serves a 3 month probation , during which he will be expected to attend as many rehearsals as is possible. This also allows the choir to, learn a little more about him . At the end of the 3 months the choir's committee and conductor will review his application to join the choir and make a decision, as to whether he becomes a full member of the choir. Americymru: What kind of committment do your choir members make, what's expected of them? The choir rehearses each Tuesday and Friday from 7.30pm until 9pm. Extra rehearsals may be called whenever the demand on the choir becomes too much for the normal 2 rehearsals each week. Concert engagements vary each year but the past 2 years we have performed at 30 engagements, each year and 2009 appears to be heading the same way. Choir members are expected to attend a minimum of 50% of rehearsals but the choir accepts that family and work has to take priority over the choir. Cor Meibion Morlais performing for the Chris Corcoran Committee Meeting (comedy show) at the Muni, Pontypridd. Please see the choir's website for more details: www.cor-meibion-morlais.org.uk. Full size the video screen for full comedic effect. Americymru: What kind of events do you typically perform at? Our full concerts will last for around 2 hours but we also perform at Pre Dinner or After Dinner engagements for usually 45 minutes. Singing at Weddings are another demand on the choir. In 2006 we performed at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, in Halifax, Canada, singing at 10 performances for audiences of around 7,000 people. Being adaptable and willing to try new things are vitally important in order to change with the times. Americymru: Do you have a season or perform year round? How many performances in a year? We perform all year round and end up having to turn down engagements simply because we are an amateur choir , whose members work for a living. 2009, we're on track for 30 engagements this year. Americymru: Does the choir have standards or pieces that it's known for or gets asked to perform specifically? We are very often asked to perform items that people have heard us sing on our CDs. For special occasions we have learnt pieces of music outside our normal repertoire, The Beatles " All you need is love", Ting Tings " That's not my name", Pulp's " Common People", John Denver's " Annie's Song", to name just a few. Americymru: In 2008 you toured Finland and Estonia. Can you describe that experience for us? Our 2008 tour to Finland and Estonia was a wonderfull experience for our choristers and their wives who made the tour. The highlight was probably singing " Finlandia" in Welsh and Finnish to the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament in the Parliament Building. Americymru: Where can people obtain recordings of your performances? Our website gives details on how to purchase our recordings. Americymru: Any plans to visit the USA? We have no plans at present to re-visit the U.S.A.unless one of your readers wishes to open up discussions with us on such a proposal. Americymru: Any final message for the members and readers of Americymru? Our tour to the U.S.A. and Canada in 1996 was an unforgettable experience for those choir members and their wives who were able to make the tour. The warmth of the welcome and the hospitality we received at all of our concerts was remarkable and we were overwhelmed to find Welsh exiles and decendents having travelled hundreds of miles to be with us. Modern technology has made keeping in touch so much easier but it would be an exciting prospect to think that one day we could tour the U.S.A. for a second time.

Wooden spoons? What's with that?

Reprinted with permission from David Western's blog, all material © 2009, David Western --

The other day, while she examined some lovespoons I had on display, I overheard a young girl saying to her friend, "Wooden spoons? What's with that?" Sadly, the romance and the whole love message idea of them went right over her head. Even after I valiantly tried to explain the history and meaning of them in a snappy Coles Notes version, I could tell she really didn't get it. Although the rest of the day went much better than that and the majority of visitors to my booth were effusive in their appreciation of the lovespoon tradition, that little girl weighed heavily on my mind. I'm no luddite, but I find it a little bit sad when I encounter people who would rather an Ipod or a bog-standard diamond ring to a wooden gift which has been hand made and is loaded with subtle meaning. I even understand them. Day in and day out we are bombarded with ads and propaganda telling us what to buy and what is in fashion (and let's be honest, handmade wood stuff is not particularly fashionable)...the commercial gift industry is both slick and persuasive...and after all, who wouldn't want an Ipod?

But I'm going to use the spoon shown here today to show you why some 'dime a dozen' mass produced diamond ring which may even have blood on it can NEVER compete with the power of these delicate pieces of wood.

What really makes this spoon special is something that you can't see. Rather than putting together a series of symbols or meaningful images, this spoon was designed to capture a feeling. For the couple who commissioned it, the spoon is a remembrance of a single significant event in a lifetime of memories. For you and I, it is a nice walnut spoon with a cheerful yellow cedar inlay and some nice Celtic knotwork. For them, it is the memory of a long-ago walk on a wintery moonlit night when the promises of a life-long love were made.

The spoon begins with an obvious and easily understood symbol. The heart shaped bowl signifies the unity and strength of their love joined as one. Even to those of us unaware of the true meaning hidden in the spoon, the heart lets us know this spoon is about love. The little diamond above the bowl is another traditonal theme. It is a wish for prosperity, but it indicates the kind of prosperity which doesn't come with money alone. It symbolizes the richness of a full and happy life shared with someone who has won your heart and who has given their heart in return.

Celtic knotwork is a modern addition to the lovespoon vocabulary which is often used to symbolize eternal love. While that is completely relevant on this spoon, the knots here create a valley which the couple gazed down into on that distant night. The valley came to be a significant symbol of separation for the couple when they were parted, but as they are now reunited, so the valley walls are now linked by the knotwork.

The yellow cedar inlay moon is the most significant feature of the design. Inlayed into the centre of the walnut, it is visible behind walnut knotwork from both sides of the spoon. The moon itself is carved with an 'eternal' Celtic knot to symbolize the never-ending nature of their love; its brightness against the dark grain of the walnut a reminder of the brightness and promise of that night. As the light travels down into the valley, the walnut knotwork surrounds it and acts to symbolically carry the moon's light into that winter night.

Could an Ipod or a diamond bring the magic of that night and all the feelings and emotions it holds back to our couple like this wooden spoon has? I seriously doubt it and for that I am thankful that there is wood in the world and the tradition of working it this way.

"Wooden spoons? What's with that?" Sorry kid, you're missing out.

Left Coast Eisteddfod Posters Available for Download in the New Americymru Download Center!

The first batch of Left Coast Eisteddfod posters are now available for download from our new download center. Attending a Welsh or Celtic event in the next few months? Please feel free to download our posters and print them off for display at your function. We will be adding more designs as the Eisteddfod draws closer.

You will need to be logged in to Americymru in order to download the posters and you may be asked to confirm your login email address before you access content. The new download area is available for all members to share files and you may upload any file to a maximum of 8 MB. If you have an event advertised on our events page and you want fliers to be available for distribution in the area, upload them here. You can link to the download center from any blogpost or events page on Americymru. . Welsh language course materials may also be added. In short ...anything that you want to make generally available. Dont forget that you can only share documents which are in the public domain or for which you own the copyright. All documents are subject to administrative approval before they are added to the repository. If you have any questions or comments about this new feature please feel free to add them as a thread to our new forum.

21-22 August 2009 McMenamin's Crystal Ballroom
1332 West Burnside, Portland Oregon (503) 225-0047

FRIDAY NIGHT SHOWS 21 AUGUST 2009

HERE BE DRAGONS
JESUS PRESLEY
RUNAWAY NORM

21-22 August 2009 McMenamin's Crystal Ballroom
1332 West Burnside, Portland Oregon (503) 225-0047

SATURDAY NIGHT SHOWS 22 AUGUST 2009

CHRIS NEEDS
BRUCE ANDERSON
OCEANS APART
TYLER STENSON

21-22 August 2009 McMenamin's Crystal Ballroom
1332 West Burnside, Portland Oregon (503) 225-0047

ONLINE EISTEDDFOD COMPETITIONS

Now Through 20 August 2009

Poetry

Short Story

Photograpy/Digital

Image Biographical Essay

21-22 August 2009 McMenamin's Crystal Ballroom
1332 West Burnside, Portland Oregon (503) 225-0047

DAY TIME PROGRAMS

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 21-22August 2009

Welsh Market Vendors

Children's Entertainment and

Activities Welsh Authors Readings

Artists Music

History

Genealogy

Culture

Congratulate the Devil, Howell Davies, (2008) Parthian Library of Wales

Congratulate the Devil, Howell Davies, (2008) Parthian Library of Wales

This Howell Davies science fiction novel was originally published in 1939 and has been re-published in paperback by Parthian Books under their Library of Wales imprint.

Congratulate the Devil is a revelation: engaging, unique, relevant and vibrant, seventy years after its initial publication. The narrative is subtle, darkly humorous and cheerfully bitter. Davies solidly built his characters: mannerism by action by reaction, as protagonist James Starling evolves steadily and subtly, from useless playboy to doomed and unwilling witness to tragedy and, ultimately, himself its victim. Starling visits a friend from his school days, Roper, to find that Roper, now a chemist, has made the startling discovery of a new drug which gives its user omniscient control over the actions and attitudes of others. Use of the drug also alters its user and provides Davies his platform to discuss which has greater effect and so is more destructive: malignant lust or good intention.

This new edition includes a marvelous, sparkling foreward by Howell Davies' grandson, Adrian Dannatt. Rather than another writer's hopefully very interesting impressions of the book, the author and the author's style or ability, Dannatt shares with us memories of his grandfather, intimate snapshots of Howell Davies as an individual that no acquaintence or contemporary could provide.

Congratulate the Devil is a classic, "Golden Age", sci-fi masterpiece of the 1930s, easily on par with any other work of its time and which never received the recognition it deserved. Unlike its American counterparts of the Joseph Campbell era, Davies novel is not pulp, it's a novel. There aren't any spaceships, aliens or gadgets and the science in the story is not the focus, its details and particulars are barely described. Fictional science is the catalyst that directs all the characters' narrative thereafter but the characters, their interaction, their fates and how they are effected by a product of science, are the story.

Parthian's Library of Wales series features works of Anglo-Welsh literature (works by Welsh authors in English) and their catalog can be found here.

"Nothing remains for me now but to congratulate the Devil on all his works." Howell Davies (1939)

An Interview With Geoff Brookes - Stories In Welsh Stone

Geoff Brookes is the author of 'Stories In Welsh Stone', a remarkable book which brings together fifteen grisly tales of murder and betrayal as revealed on the gravestones of various Welsh country churches. As the author says:-" These gravestones are not just curiosities. They represent past lives and tell stories we should not forget. We owe it to those involved to remember what happened." Americymru: We note from your profile page on Americymru that you live in Swansea. Care to tell us a little about the city for our American readers? Geoff: Swansea is officially Britain’s wettest city. What more do you need to know? It is more than enough for me! Swansea is the second city of Wales and there are about 250,000 of us here, about 40 miles west of Cardiff. It is a place with a long history. The Romans came here and it was the Vikings who gave the place its name, which was originally Sweynesse, a reference to the king of Denmark, Sweyn Forkbeard. The city sits on a fantastic bay that stretches right round from the docks in a gentle curve to the Mumbles lighthouse. It can be a lovely place. The people are loyal, friendly and inquisitive. For me it is where West Wales begins. The English language predominates although Welsh can be heard everywhere. The industries of the past, the copper and the steel, have gone. Now the city tries to promote its undoubted attractions as a tourist destination. With the decline in the industries the environment has improved beyond recognition, with better water and beach quality. Indeed there is now a small but thriving surfing culture amongst the younger generation. We now have a smart marina full of smart boats and surrounded by smart accommodation. Swansea is the birthplace of Dylan Thomas, Catherine Zeta Jones, my wife Liz and my son David. Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins were born not far away. From Swansea you can access the Gower peninsular. It is green and beautiful, with isolated bays and cliffs. It can be very busy in the summer with so many visitors. Better to go down in the winter when it is peaceful and untouched and place can feel like your very own secret. The only down side? The weather. It is generally mild and you can determine the season of the year by the temperature of the rain. It rains most in October and least in May. But it rains. I have lived here since 1981 and I still haven’t learned to accept it. Americymru: You are the Deputy Head of Cefn Hengoed Community School. What exactly is a Community School? What is its place in the overall educational system in Wales? Geoff: I was appointed Deputy Head teacher of Cefn Hengoed Comprehensive School in January 1991 so I have been there for quite a while. It is a school which inspires a great deal of affection in those who work and learn there. It serves a disadvantaged area on the eastside of the river Tawe and we teach all the children in the area between the ages of 11 and 16. As well as being Deputy Head I also teach a handful of lessons. My subject is English. It always has been, ever since I started teaching in 1973. We are designated a community school because we are open outside normal hours and our buildings are used by other parts of our local community. There are evening classes for adults, there is a family centre where young mothers can meet, and there is a leisure centre which provides sporting and leisure opportunities. There is always plenty going on throughout the day. Of course our core business remains teaching and learning for our 700 young people. We have a reputation as a caring and forward-looking school. We are successful at what we do, even though we are housed in crumbling and inadequate buildings. Some regard us as a tough school because we deal with issues associated with social disadvantage and troubled young people. But I have been fortunate to find a place where I feel I belong and where I can make a contribution. It means a lot. Americymru: How did you become involved in your 'Stories in Welsh Stone' project? What provided the initial inspiration for the series? Geoff: It is quite simple really. I have always enjoyed writing and especially the process of taking detail and shaping it into something coherent and engaging. This has always given me great satisfaction. I have been lucky because my working life as an English teacher has often focused upon writing and telling stories. It has always been very important to me. I started writing articles for journals and newspapers about educational issues. After all, I have been a teacher for 36 years so far and like a lot of teachers I have plenty to say about it. But I realised that I wanted to step outside that enclosed world and write about different things. A colleague told me about the Murder Stone in Neath, South Wales. It is quite notorious. Local children are still frightened by it, but I had never heard of it. I went to see it and I was amazed. I had never seen anything like it before in my life. I just had to find out more – and then I wanted to tell the story of what I had found. Also I wanted to pay proper respect to Margaret Williams. Now she is part of a curiosity. But once she was a real person and I think we owe it to her to try and remember her as a person who came to such a horrible end. Her story is a gripping one and still leaves unanswered and intriguing questions. In the course of my research other stories emerged that also needed to be told. The words on every headstone hint at the life of the person beneath. I believe it is our duty to remember these stories and my duty to tell them. That is what my book is – a collection of real-life stories. I have lived in Wales since 1981 but I am still, to some extent, an outsider (I was born in Sheffield in South Yorkshire). As a result the unknown and private history of Wales fascinates me. So that first visit to Cadoxton church was a turning point. Americymru: How do you find the subjects for your stories? Does a typical story begin with a visit to a graveyard or with research into local newspaper archives? Geoff: A good question. I suppose there are two ways in which I find a story to pursue. In most cases, like Sara Hughes or Louisa Maud Evans (their stories feature in the May and July editions of Welsh Country Magazine) I find a story in old newspapers and then set out to find the grave. I really need a gravestone. That is what makes the person – and the story – real. Sometimes it isn’t easy. It can be painstaking work in the long wet grass, but there is a real sense of achievement when you find a headstone that has been hidden or overlooked for so long. The stories need to be brought out into the light. So there is research and then there is work in the cemeteries. Harold Lowe, an officer who survived the sinking of the Titanic, would be another good example. His story was easy to put together. The grave was more of a challenge! I have looked a big events like the Titanic but I have always tried to focus on individuals and what happened to them. I have been working on the wreck of The Royal Charter in 1859 and written about the role the local vicar played in the aftermath. For this story we went to Anglesey and explored a number of other tales that the research uncovered. In some cases though, I find a grave that seems really interesting whilst I am looking for something else. For example, we went to see a 2000 year old yew tree and found the grave of John Price from 1826. His story appears on Page 50 of Volume One. This grave is crumbling away but it is notable because not only does it carry his name, but also the name of the man who killed him during a long-running family feud. Such discoveries however can be very frustrating. The grave can look interesting but there might not be enough for a full story. We went to Cathays Cemetery in Cardiff and, as well as finding Louisa Maud Evans, we also found the grave of Major Jacques Theodore Paul Marie Vaillant de Guelis, who died in a car accident in 1945. He worked under-cover in occupied France during the war. I am sure his grave hides a fascinating and dramatic story but I haven’t been able to find out much so far. I think I shall have to put a page on my website where I can store all such scraps and see if anyone else out there has any additional information! Americymru: How important is it, in your view, that we remember these tales of past lives? Do we learn anything from history? Geoff: The stories open a window on the past and generally what we see are real lives. They might be “Stories in Welsh Stone” but really the Welsh part is irrelevant. That is merely where the graves are. The stories are about people. They could be anywhere. Their ordinary lives are suddenly defined by extra-ordinary events, usually not of their own choosing. Look at Joseph Butler, shot by a poacher who fled to Ohio (page 100). He was doing his job and suddenly found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or Adeline Coquelin, Napoleon’s niece, drowned in a shipwreck off South Wales (page 60). The victim of a random and unpredictable event. All our lives are fragile and sometimes our luck runs out. What the stories tell us is that the fundamentals of human experience don’t change a great deal. It is humbling to remind ourselves that however sophisticated we think we are, our ancestors, wherever they were, faced the same problems as us. Americymru: Of all the stories you have done, which one do you regard as your favorite? Geoff: It is hard to say which one is my favourite story. I have a lot of affection for the story of poor Arthur Linton, possibly the first sportsman to die of performance enhancing drugs (page 136). He was world champion cyclist in 1894 and he died rather suddenly two years later. His trainer, who carried a bag of drugs with him everywhere, was the wonderfully named “Choppy” Warburton. I suppose the truth is that my favourite story is the one that comes after the one I am writing. I am always desperate to start that story! So I have been finishing off a long piece about the wreck of The Royal Charter steam clipper in 1859 but I am eager to start writing about two little girls who were accidentally killed by a servant in Caernarvon in 1844. And when I am close to finishing that one iwill be very keen to move on to the next. Americymru: In the preface to your book you give thanks to "...Kath and Ian at Welsh Country magazine who have made this book happen." How did your creative relationship with the magazine come about? Geoff: A turkey played a key part in the development of our relationship. How many others can say that? I had written about the Cadoxton murder stone because I wanted to find out more about it. Then I tried to find someone to publish it. I had no success at all. When you become more experienced as a writer you realise that is completely the wrong way round of doing things but I was naïve. It was December 2004 and we ordered our Christmas turkey from an organic farm in North Wales. It arrived and with it came a complementary copy of the first issue of Welsh Country Magazine. I liked what I saw and immediately sent off my piece via email, more in hope than expectation I have to say – and received a reply almost straight away. I imagine I sent them the right thing at the right time. The story appeared in March 2005 and I have written for every edition since then. I enjoy it very much and we have established a creative and co-operative relationship. They are genuine and honest people who want to create a quality, readable and interesting magazine about Wales and I think they are succeeding. The faith they have shown in the book is fantastic. I want the book to succeed because I believe in the material but also because of the commitment they have shown to my writing. When they said they wanted to publish it I had no idea that they were committed to such high production values for the book. I was stunned when I first saw it because it is so beautiful. Americymru: How can our American readers obtain a copy of the book? Geoff: The ISBN number is 978-0-95587350-8. The best and most reliable way of getting a copy, especially if you are outside the UK, is to order one directly from Welsh Country Magazine. Here is their website address www.welshcountry.co.uk . They will send you a signed copy if that is what you would like. Ian Mole is the commercial manager of Welsh Country and you can contact him on the Americymru site too. If you want a particular dedication then all you need to do is to contact me and I will sort it out. You can contact me on this site or you can use the contacts page on my own website, where there is lots of additional information. The link is storiesinwelshstone.co.uk . You should have no worries about using Welsh Country. They are entirely reliable and trustworthy. If you do have any difficulties then let me know and I will sort them out! I know where they live… There is a new story in every edition of Welsh Country Magazine. Volume One contains 15 stories, some of which originally appeared in the magazine, although in the book they contain more information, since there is no restriction on space. There are, however, other stories which have not, and will not, appear in the magazine – like Mary Morgan. What a tragic story that one is. Volume Two will have the same format – and the others that will come later. It will a long time before I run out of material. Americymru: How soon can we expect to see a 'Stories in Welsh Stone: Part 2'? Geoff: Ah yes, the old “Volume Two” question! I’ve have completed my bit for Volume Two. That means the stories are written but it has yet to be designed or produced. We have to sell enough copies of the first book to allow us to move on. Volume Three is intended to collect together the stories behind 15 military graves. I have written 13 of these so far and they stretch across the whole of Welsh history. There are a number of women in the book too, it isn’t just soldiers. So I need a couple more chapters and that book is finished too. Volume Four is already underway. I like the stories in Volume Two very much. I think it is a better book. I have spread the net wider than just the nineteenth century and it includes some of the oldest graves we have found. There’s the story of a stowaway who ended up in the Antarctic and the original pirate of the Caribbean. And there is the Titanic and the cholera cemetery in Tredegar… I enjoyed putting it together very much. Volumes Two Three and Four? They will look really good, all together on your bookshelves. To be honest I love it! There is so much fascinating material out there and I want to capture and preserve it. You might find it hard to believe but I haven’t earned a cent from the book so far. We haven’t yet covered the production costs. But that is largely unimportant. It is not what it is about. After all have a proper day job that pays me well enough. Believe me or not, that’s up to you. But there is a heritage in Wales that is slipping away. We can’t leave it to another generation or it will be lost forever. Americymru: Are you involved in any other writing projects at the moment? Geoff: Since Stories in Welsh Stone was published in November 2008 my other writing projects have taken a back seat. The other books I have written have been about educational issues, like a guide to the poetry of Gillian Clarke and Seamus Heaney or about the role of a deputy head. There are details of these books on my website. I still write for journals and newspapers on education, but Stories in Welsh Stone has rather taken over my life – and willingly so. We have four children. Three girls and a boy. When David was diagnosed with dyspraxia (or Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties) I was determined to find out more about the condition. As a result I have written three books about it. I have now been offered the opportunity to write another book on dyspraxia but I don’t think I will be able to fit it in. I maintain three blogs too about the work connected to Stories in Welsh Stone. One appears on this website, Americymru, one is featured on the Welsh Country website and the other is on my own website – www.storiesinwelshstone.co.uk/blog . I also stick copies of some of the material on My Space and on Sagazone. There are so many stories I am anxious to share – the story of Siwan, Crawshay Bailey, the Welsh settlement in Patagonia, a floating workhouse called the Clio, a murder in Llanblethian, a poisoning in Laleston. Oh yes there is plenty to keep me busy. Americymru: Any other message for the readers and members of americymru? Geoff: There is one message for us all I think. The next project, the next thing, drives all of us forward. But don’t forget the past. The stories of real people can tell us so much. The small acts, of love or heroism or compassion, are the things that bind us all together. We must never forget them, either in our own lives or in the lives of our ancestors. After all, it has always been the past that has shaped today. Part of my degree at University was History. But it was political history. The great moments, the big decisions. But never at any point did we engage with the experience of real people. And we should. We all should. If any of you out there on this lovely website want to ask me any other questions then I will be very happy to answer them. And you can contact me on my own website at any time if you prefer. Thanks for reading all this. I hope you have found it interesting. And thanks too to Ceri for giving me this opportunity. It must be a tough job running a social network like this when there are strange people like us out there in cyberwales! Interview by Ceri Shaw Email

Ghost of a Dog: Werewolves and ASBO's

Americymru: Who are the members of 'Ghost of a Dog'? Matthew: Ghost of a Dog are Tamzin Powell: Main Vocals, Ukulele, Matt Powell: Guitar, backing vocals Tracy Neil Elliss-Brookes: Guitar, backing vocals Jonathan Attree: Bass Marc Aird: Drums Americymru: How did the band come to be formed? Matthew: We initially got together with a few friends whilst we were still part of the Welsh folk band called ‘Wild Welsh Women’, and Ghost of a Dog was a side project in a more of a singer songwriter vein, exploring our love of American artists such as Joni Mitchell, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Crosby Stills Nash & Young etc. This project soon gained momentum and eventually became the main focus after Wild Welsh Women took an extended break after releasing and touring the second album ‘Death of the Kings Canary’. After a few line-up changes, we eventually arrived at our current line-up with Jonathan (Attree), who was also in Wild Welsh Women, plus singer/songwriter Tracy Neil Ellis-Brookes (or Neil for short) and Scottish exile Marc Aird on drums. Americymru: On your profile page on this site you say:- "A bit of cross cultural stuff going on here - we're a band from Wales playing Americana/Alt-Country/folk material (self penned)". What attracted you to Alt. Country and Americana? Any particular artist? Matthew: It’s something that myself (Matt) and Tamzin have been into for many years, probably before we got seriously interested in Welsh traditional music, and was triggered by the less heavy side of bands like Led Zeppelin which led onto an appreciation of Joni Mitchell and Neil Young etc. We have also love the fact that lyrically, Americana has been more liberating than traditional music, which tends to draw heavily on the past – nothing wrong with that of course we still have a great affection for traditional music and it’s still a strong influence for us - but Alt-country and Americana music combined with lyrics which are written about our local surroundings in Wales and the West country, create a more interesting mix (for us anyway!) The US artists that got us into in the Americana field are vast and varied but include Ryan Adams & Whiskeytown, Calexico, Shawn Colvin, and also the classic artists like Emmylou, Gram Parsons and Joni Mitchell etc. Americymru: Alternative Country seems to be very popular in the UK at the moment. Bands like Richmond Fontaine and others seem to find a ready audience. Can you think of any particular reason for this? Matthew: Yes and particularly in Wales for some reason, where we have lots of new Americana clubs and Alt-country nights popping up around the area. It could be down to the need for something other than the mass media Pop Idol/American Idol type crap that gets forced down our throats 24/7 these days, plus the fact that its such a wide open genre, taking in everything from Woody Guthrie to the Decemberists (who we love BTW) – so theres something for everybody in there and its a genre which is constantly re-inventing itself. Americymru: Most of your material is self-penned. Who does the song-writing? Matthew: This album was mostly written by myself & Tamzin, but we’re starting to write new stuff with Neil now which is quite exciting for us as we’ve not co-written with a 3rd party for a few years. Theres also one track on the album by a good friend of ours called Chris Reese, who also plays lap-steel and slide on a few of the tracks. Americymru: What is the story behind 'Full Moon Crime Spree' ( this track can be heard on the bands Americymru homepage )? Find more music like this on Americymru Matthew: It’s a bit of a fairytale/horror/’if only’ type story and it’s about a werewolf who has a sense of morality. Basically, every full moon he prowls the streets of Cardiff looking for criminals and unsavoury ASBO’s, (people with an Antisocial Behaviour Orders), and deals them their just deserts by ripping their throats out – a bit brutal, but very effective in reducing the city’s crime rate! It’s a comment on the frustration felt by many crime victims and was triggered by a story I read in the news about the crime rate increasing whenever there is a full moon, so we thought we’d twist the story a little and introduce an antidote to the problem. Americymru: Any plans or ambitions to play in the States in the future? Matthew: We’d love to tour in the States in the near future – there are no firm plans yet but its definitely something that we’d all love to do – Any offers, let us know!! Americymru: Where can people go to hear you play and buy your music? Matthew: At present we’ve been mainly UK based, mainly in Wales and around the borders, although we do the occasional gig in France and are hoping to play more extensively in Europe over the next year – keep an eye on our myspace page for up to date gig listings www.myspace.com/ghostofadoguk . The album is available to buy directly from us for UK based buyers and through CDbaby for North American sales, plus via Itunes, Napster, Lala, Tradebit and Didiom – plus shortly via Amazon. Americymru: What are your future recording and performance plans at the moment? Matthew: We’ve started writing in preparation for the next album and we’re talking to several record companies about licensing Full Moon Crime Spree, who will hopefully get involved in the next album also. Performance wise, our plans are to hit the festival circuit next year, plus some European dates and hopefully a tour in the States, when we get some sound contacts. Americymru: Any further message for the members and readers of "Americymru". Matthew: Its fantastic that Wales and Welsh culture continues to flourish across the globe, there is a great pride amongst the Welsh in Wales and around the world at present, especially amongst the younger generations. Its a real sense of clan and identity and whenever we are playing abroad and we’re asked “are you English?” the answer is 2No we’re Welsh” – and these days, people actually know the difference! Interview by Ceri Shaw Email

Samurai Philosophy And Songwriting in Finsbury Park

Debut novelist Jayne Joso spent the major part of her youth in North Wales, starting at primary school in Bangor and growing up around Port Penrhyn and then moving to the foothills of Snowdonia. “I can’t imagine a more vivid and inspiring landscape to have grown up in, the North Wales coastline and the rolling hills and mountains are a gift to the imagination and soothe the soul in much the same ways as music and literature, which is an important theme of the novel. I guess those childhood influences run deep.”

Soothing Music for Stray Cats, predicted on 23 April by Ian Thomson in the Times Literary Supplement to be “one of the great, eccentric London novels”, is a reflective novel set in central and north London. Even though the author is a young woman, the novel will appeal to a youthful male readership and NME fans, with its themes of male suicide, Samurai philosophy, male bonding, songwriting, and its first person male narrator. Driven by its distinctive colloquial voice, wacky monologues on subjects as diverse as Mike Skinner, Ellen MacArthur and Nelson, its philosophy is upbeat, committed to a world in which strangers still help each other, even though we can seldom intervene when it really matters. Catcher in the Rye meets Kenzaburo Oe’s An Echo of Heaven, by way of Anne Enright’s The Gathering, the text is framed by two suicides, but the messages are positive, in favour of altruism, male friendship, and the camaraderie of strangers in straightened circumstances (the latter a topical theme for the Credit Crunch era). Set in a chilly February in Finsbury Park and central London with its tourist landmarks, the author’s background as an architecture journalist shows through in her strong sense of atmosphere and city spaces. Literary aspects include the shadowing of Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway, and beautiful imagery ranging from cricket, London Tube lines, failing shoes on city streets, naval heroes and monuments. Carrying cover endorsements from comedian and broadcaster Natalie Haynes and journalist Joe Moran, this is a contender for literary prizes, including the Orange.

The novel’s cover carries endorsements from top journalist Joe Moran (Skilfully melds the esoteric and the everyday, the surreal and the banal, to create a strangely gripping narrative full of dark humour, and comedian and broadcaster Natalie Haynes (An unexpected and moving story about the redemption of misfits and the consolation of strangers), as well as artwork by Japanese artist Hiroke Godengi, reflecting the author’s Japanese connections. Having lived and worked in the country, and continuing to write extensively on Japanese arts & culture, Jayne Joso explains the Eastern inspiration for the novel’s character, manic student Kazu, struggling to survive as a lonely and isolated student in London,

“I came across The Way of the Samurai when I was living in Japan. For Kazu, the single biggest influence on his life is Hagakure – the code of the Samurai. But it was a British work of fiction that first enticed me to the country: Angela Carter’s “Fireworks”. This short story about a young Englishwoman and her Japanese lover in Tokyo, captivated me as much for its descriptions of space and environment as for the erotic elements.” Fiction, and fiction reading indeed, are the main themes of Soothing Music for Stray Cats, with songwriting being included under the same banner. “In the protagonist, Mark, I wanted to show a character both sub-consciously and consciously engaging with ideas and thoughts – even snatches of sentences - presented in fiction. Great songsters such as Leonard Cohen and bands like The Clash and The Verve also help him face the crisis following his best friend’s suicide.... Another recurrent theme in my work, however, because of my tremendous passion for architecture, will always be “finding the right place”, be it geographical, physical or psychological.”

Jayne Joso has written extensively on Architecture, including for Architecture Today magazine, and on Japanese arts & culture. Her first children’s book, How Do you Feel? was recently published by Benesse in Japan, and her first play, China’s Smile, commissioned for China’s Children’s Day, enjoyed a long theatre run and was later televised. This is her first novel.

Jayne will be signing her books at Llandudno Waterstones, Monday 18 May at 11am and 3p

‘Diaries From Hell’ – Bronson diaries from ‘Monster Mansion’ published

In the year in which a film about his life was produced, Aberystwyth born Charles Bronson is now publishing a new book called Diaries From Hell - his diaries from ‘Monster Mansion’ in Wakefield Prison. As one of the most notorious prisoners in the UK these new diaries show what life is really like and how difficult things are for him to fight for justice in such grim conditions.

Living in a cage in ‘Monster Mansion’, Wakefield Prison is as hard as it gets. Living with people like Robert Mawdsley (described as our own hannibal the canibal) leaves you in no doubt that these really are “diaries from hell”. ‘Monster Mansion’ is the ideal place to study ‘Loonyology’ – the phrase created by Bronson for the crazy world we live in. The loonyology of the prison system that he’s fought for 35 years would drive most people mad and to give up. But not Bronson, who continues his battle for justice in one of the most difficult conditions imaginable.

In these diaries, written in his own words, follow the thoughts, battles and dreams of Britain’s most famous prisoner in 2008. During this period he follows the production of the film, Bronson and meets the actor Tom Hardy who plays him in the film that was released to such great acclaim in 2009. You also get to know his friends and family who are so dear to him and share the joy of their visits and letters.

Diaries From Hell is also a book of ‘loonyology with a soul’ and shows how proud Bronson is of supporting charities in all parts of the world. It shows Bronson as a man of warmth and talent, and includes numerous great art works and poems produced in his lonely cage in ‘hell’. It has been rumoured that Charles Bronson will settle in Aberystwyth, where his mother and brother still live, when he is released from prison.

Diaries from Hell is published by Y Lolfa on 10th of May, and copies can be ordered online from www.ylolfa.com.

Left Coast Eisteddfod - An Interview With Runaway Norm

An interview with Runaway Norm who will be appearing at the Left Coast Eisteddfod in Portland Oregon 2009. The Left Coast Eisteddfod is a Welsh performing arts festival. It's purpose is to provide a shop-window for contemporary and traditional Welsh culture in the North Western USA. It should also be one helluva party.

Americymru: Ok...who is Norm and why is he running and who from?

Geoff: Norm is a 10 year old Golden retriever who during our first couple practices loved to runaway in pursuit of female canines in the local neighborhood. A real Romeo he is. We once lost him for a few days as he chased tail only to find him through an online search of the county animal controls web site. Poor guy been picked up by the animal control so like a good friend we bailed him out.

Americymru: How did the band come to be formed and how long have you been playing together?

Geoff: We've been together for about four years now. Put together through a series of six degrees of separation. Tygh Colton (Guitar/Vocals) and Geoff Gillam (Drums/Percussion/Vocals) started their friendship in Jr. High School where each played in the school band but then went on to different colleges. Tygh met Matt Lavoie (Lead Guitar) at Oregon State where Matt and Tygh became Sigma Chi fraternity brothers and eventually played in a band together. The fraternity connection continued as Tygh was introduced to Nick Montgomery (Lead Vocals) through another chapter of Sigma Chi at University of Oregon. Fast forward to a Monday night in March 2005 and our first open mic performance. Tygh had called Geoff to play percussion for a 2 hour acoustic set with Nick, Matt, and himself. Through the fraternal networking of friends we brought about 100+ people. We played through a lot of nerves but had good feedback and the pub booked us for a weekend gig that night. Through another fraternity connection we found our missing link in Mike Yesenofski (Bass) and really took shape as a full band. Mike brought so much more musically to the group with his music experience and studio production background. We started writing more music, playing more shows and eventually purchased our own studio where we record and self produce all of our material.

Americymru: Who would you count amongst your foremost musical influences?

Geoff: I grew up with Jazz and 80's pop. Tygh was influenced with Steve Miller and Boston. The rest of the guys would probably mention anything from Oingo Boingo to The Beatles and Guster. I'd say the five of us really see influences in our own music through groups like Led Zepplin, Dave Matthews Band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Guster.

Americymru: How do you rate the current music scene in Portland? Would you say it was healthy? What more could be done to gain exposure for local bands?

Geoff: The Portland music scene is growing everyday. We've watched groups like Calobo play at the Crystal Ballroom and in the last year The Decemberists and The Shins. It seems like each year we hear another local group opening the ears of the nation. I think Portland's got a good music scene especially on the Indie side. Locally a lot of bands know each other and support each other. We play at the same spots and have crossover fan bases. If you can grow the fan base through word of mouth you know you're doing something right. The media outlets available to network are a great start but I would also love to see more local music festivals. There are some good opportunities through the local media to gain exposure but it's all about growing your fan base and music festivals are a great way to bring the cross over fan bases together.

Americymru: Several band members are of Celtic heritage ( Irish/Welsh ). Are there any Celtic influences in your music?

Geoff: Let's see, we have a mandolin and drink Guinness and Jameson on occasion. Oh, and our first gig was at a place called "The Dublin Pub". Coincidental influences? Maybe?

Americymru: Who writes most of the bands material?

Geoff: We all contribute to the writing process. Mike tends to write a lot of our melodies but we have each introduced a song of our own at one point or another. If a song doesn't have lyrics Nick and I (Geoff) usually work through that process. New music is one of the best parts of being in this group. The excitement of creating a new song and playing that for the first time for someone is always a highlight.

Americymru: Any plans for live performances in the near future ( A plug for the Eisteddfod is perfectly acceptable here.....lol )

Geoff: You can find all of our show dates on line at www.myspace.com/runawaynorm.com. We're very excited to play at Eisteddfod this year. To play at the Crystal Ballroom and share our music with the crowd and other artists will be a great experience for us. Get ready to dance on air with Runaway Norm.

Americymru: Any ambitions to tour in Europe?

Geoff: If we all toured Europe I'm not sure we would end up in the same country or even bring any instruments. One guy might be in the Alps with a backpack, another in Ireland with a set of golf clubs, maybe a glass of wine in France or Italy. Our music aspirations in Europe are not on the horizon but that's not to say if the passports and opportunities aligned we wouldn't board the plane. If we do tour Europe we'll defiantly have bring Norm a treat when we get home.

Americymru: Where can people hear/purchase your music?

Geoff: You can find the music of Runaway Norm on iTunes, CDBaby.com, or on MySpace as well as our live shows.

Americymru: Any other message for the members and readers of Americymru.

Geoff: We hope you enjoy our music and come raise a pint with us Friday, August 21st, 2009 at Eisteddfod in Portland, Oregon.

Interview by Ceri Shaw Email