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The National Eisteddfod is a week long Welsh cultural festival held annually during the first full week of August. It moves around, one year it will be in north Wales, the following in the south, and so forth. Linked to the Eisteddfod is the "Gorsedd" - Yr Orsedd. The Gorsedd of Bards of the Isle of Britain. The members dress up in druidic looking costumes for certain ceremonies. In this picture, they are tramping across the "Maes" (the field where the Eisteddfod is held) towards "Cerrig yr Orsedd" (the "Gorsedd / Druidic Stones"). The stones are fibreglass, and move around with the Eisteddfod. But they do honestly look like ancient standing stones. There they "induct" new Gorsedd members into the organisation. It's a simple ceremony. They don't slaughter any lambs or such like, but they do have little girls performing a flower dance; and they blow horns, and have a huge sword. The person who leads the ceremonies is called the "Archdderwydd" - Archdruid, who for the first time ever is a woman - Archdruid Christine (pictured). But don't be fooled by the sudden entrance of the term "druid" - the Gorsedd has little to do with religion, and definitely nothing to do with pagan beliefs, or Stone Henge hippies and stuff like that. In other pictures, you'll notice that they wear different coloured gowns - white (top dogs), blue, green. A bit like hospital nurses; colour coded achievement. Like OBE CBE Order of the Garter and so forth in the English Establishment. Then there are some with gold bits 'n bobs, oak leaves and heaven knows what else. All these additions denote ever increasing authority or importance or achievement. The Gorsedd is the mainstay of the main Eisteddfod ceremonies - the chairing of the winning bard, the crowning of a winning bard and the like. At these times they fill the stage of the Eisteddfod Pavilion (a big pink tent) - and the Archdruid and cohorts lead the ceremonies. Colourful and enthralling stuff.
If you're reading this from London, take a walk on Primrose Hill, where you'll find a plaque denoting the first ever "Gorsedd", called by Iolo Morganwg (a laudanam addled genius) in 1792.
If you're ever around at the time of an Eisteddfod, but are slightly terrified (well, it is a VERY big sword) of entering the arena (maes), fear not. Pay. Enter, make it known (along with hundreds of others) that you require translation, and you'll be treated like royalty. Note - this is the ONLY grown-up fully Welsh language festival. It's there for the Welsh language, so all official stuff has to be in Welsh. Don't expect it to change. It's what it IS, that's why people come. That's what it's there for. And that's why they provide translation, so that everyone can understand. So, enjoy the competitions (from brass bands to operatic solos) to dancing, or sit enthralled at the pomp and ceremony of the chairing/crowning ceremonies. Or just walk around the Maes, have an ice cream, or a mortgage busting sit-down meal, buy lots of quirky "stuff" (it seemed amusing at the time), browse umpteen bookshops, do-gooder stands, watch the sports activities, listen to one band after another perform on peripheral stages, go to (at additional cost) an evening concert, see a drama, visit nearby venues for more theatre, more booze, more fringe activities. In the unlikely event that you become really bored you can always visit the Assembly Government stand, which will put your mental discomfort into perspective.
Oh, and if you're under around 22 and none of the above appeals, then you could spend all week in Maes B. But we won't go into that here.
Yes, the Eisteddfod is one heck of a week. Unmissable.
© All rights are reserved, please do not use my photos without my permission
Senior Mersey Pilot (Iolo Thomas)
Transporting dead ship from Liverpoool Dock to Lairds No 5 (Not docking down)
Name: RFA Fort Victoria
Namesake: Fort Victoria (Isle of Wight)
Ordered: 23 April 1986
Builder: Harland & Wolff, Belfast, United Kingdom
Laid down: 15 September 1988
Launched: 4 May 1990
Commissioned: 24 June 1994
Class & type: Fort Victoria-class replenishment oiler
Displacement: 31,565 t (31,066 long tons) full load
Length: 203.9 m (669 ft 0 in)
Beam: 30.4 m (99 ft 9 in)
Draught: 9.7 m (31 ft 10 in)
Newport Wetlands, photo by @nspugh.
I visited here in Dec 2013 after hearing about the Calm Campaign.
The large lagoons here once contained a whitish slurry made up of water and pulverised fuel ash (PFA), the residue of the coal burnt in the power station. Now they are full of open water and reedbeds, and birds and other wildlife thrive there where industrial waste was once dumped.
I notice a mole hill just on the grassy verge there, it was a pale grey in colour, had no body as such, very powdery and light in weight. I presumed this was the remnants of that said PFA.
Recently I've found out that this coal power station is due to be closed down. There a few other power stations dotted around our coasts. One going...
www.theguardian.com/business/2013/dec/20/sse-close-coal-f...
Adjacent to here on the Gwent Levels the Welsh Government are looking to build a motorway relief road, listen to what Iolo Williams had to say...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnJQjtvngqA
One of the UK’s most precious wetland landscapes is under threat from the Welsh Government's road building plans.
www.wtwales.org/wildlife-issues/m4-road-proposals
One such solution, proposed by Professor Stuart Cole, a leading transport economist, is called the ‘The Blue Route’
www.wtwales.org/sites/default/files/the_blue_route.pdf
M4 relief road: Government urged to abandon £1bn plans to adopt 'cheaper and quicker' alternative
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/m4-relief-road-gove...
I can 'say no more' on M4 relief road, says Edwina Hart bbc.in/VnCi3b
No M4 relief road reversal says Edwina Hart . Friends of the Earth Cymru has said it is willing to take the decision to judicial review unless the consultation process is restarted.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-28692055
The Calm Campaign www.savethelevels.org.uk
twitter: @CalmCampaign
I will return hopefully to illustrate the flourishing ecology.
More photos: power, land & sea
www.flickr.com/photos/65365631@N04/sets/72157638733672426/
Further Refs:
16 January 2014
M4 relief road 'broadly supported' by Newport council
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-25748541
Mae sefydliad statudol Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn mynnu nad oes 'na "rhesymeg polisi clir" dros M4 newydd
ar wastadeddau Gwent.
Statutory environmental body Natural Resources Wales states there is "no clear policy rationale" for a new stretch of M4 over the Gwent Levels.
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-government-m4...
Avebury, Wiltshire, England
June 19, 2015
©Dale Haussner
"Avebury has been adopted as a sacred site by many adherents of contemporary Pagan religions such as Druidry, Wicca and Heathenry. These worshippers view the monument as a "living temple" which they associate with the ancestors, as well as with genius loci, or spirits of place. Typically, such Pagan rites at the site are performed publicly, and attract crowds of curious visitors to witness the event, particularly on major days of Pagan celebration such as the summer solstice.
Druidic rites held at Avebury are commonly known as gorseddau and involve participants invoking Awen (a Druidic concept meaning inspiration), with an eisteddfod section during which poems, songs and stories are publicly performed. The Druid Prayer composed by Iolo Morganwg in the 18th century and the later Druid Vow are typically recited. One particular group, known as the Gorsedd of Bards of Caer Abiri, focus almost entirely upon holding their rites at the prehistoric site, referring to it as Caer Abiri. In their original ceremony, composed by Philip Shallcrass of the British Druid Order in 1993, those assembled divide into two groups, one referred to as the God party and the other as the Goddess party. Those with the Goddess party go to the "Devil's Chair" at the southern entrance to the Avebury henge, where a woman representing the spirit guardian of the site and the Goddess who speaks through her sits in the chair-like cove in the southern face of the sarsen stone. Meanwhile those following the God party process around the outer bank of the henge to the southern entrance, where they are challenged as to their intent and give offerings (often of flowers, fruit, bread or mead) to the Goddess's representative.
Due to the fact that various Pagan, and in particular Druid groups, perform their ceremonies at the site, a rota has been established, whereby the Loyal Arthurian Warband (LAW), the Secular Order of Druids (SOD) and the Glastonbury Order of Druids (GOD) use it on Saturdays, whilst the Druid Network and the British Druid Order (BDO) instead plan their events for Sundays.
Alongside its usage as a sacred site amongst Pagans, the prehistoric monument has become a popular attraction for those holding New Age beliefs, with some visitors using dowsing rods around the site in the belief that they might be able to detect psychic emanations."
"Daeth 15 ohonom ynghyd ar ôl y Nadolig sef John Arthur, Gwyn, Gwyn Chwilog, Anet, Iolo, Gerallt, Haf, John Parry, Carys, Dafydd Meurig, Geraint, Meira, Twm, Beti a Delyth. Roedd y tywydd yn sych wrth i ni gerdded o gwmpas Llyn Dinas. Aethom dros y gamfa ac i fyny at fwthyn Hafod Owen, a chawsom baned gerllaw. Yma y daeth y dringwr John Menlove Edwards i fyw tua 1941.
Roedd digon o fwd ar y llwybr wedyn cyn cyrraedd Lôn Blaen Nantmor. Gwelsom yr hen olwyn ddŵr ger Pont yr Injan. I fyny â ni ar hyd llwybr Watkin, heibio'r nant fyrlymus at Garreg Gladstone, a chael cinio yno. Er bod y gwynt wedi codi ymddangosodd yr haul wrth i ni gerdded i lawr y llwybr a gwelsom ddau alpaca yng nghae Hafod y Llan. Ymlaen â ni heibio Llyndy Isaf ac o gwmpas y llyn."
Adroddiad Delyth Evans
Hanes John Menlove Edwards : wbo.llgc.org.uk/en/s2-EDWA-MEN-1910.html
Mel, Richard, Jamie Pattullo wearing a World War 1 German helmet, Iolo and Basil with our much loved go-cart made for us by Uncle Desmond
É uma colina no norte de Londres, de onde se tem uma bela vista da cidade. Londres, Inglaterra.
It's a hill in North London where one can have a great view of the city. London, England.
Primrose Hill is a hill of 256 feet (78 m) located on the north side of Regent's Park in North London, England, and also the name for the surrounding district. The hill has a clear view of Central London to the south-east, as well as Belsize Park and Hampstead to the north.
Like Regent's Park, Primrose Hill was once part of a great chase appropriated by Henry VIII and became Crown property in 1841. In 1842 an Act of Parliament secured the land as public open space. The built up part of Primrose Hill consists mainly of Victorian terraces. It has always been one of the more fashionable districts in the urban belt that lies between the core of London and the outer suburbs, and remains expensive and prosperous. Primrose Hill is an archetypal example of a successful London urban village, due to the location and the quality of its socio-historical development. In October 1678 Primrose Hill was the scene of the mysterious murder of Edmund Berry Godfrey, and in 1792 the radical Unitarian poet and antiquarian Iolo Morganwg (Edward Williams) organised here the first meeting of Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain.
Cranes nesting on the Gwent Levels for the first time in 400 years. The proposed new M4 would destroy the site. See also Iolo Williams video on Gwent Wildlife Trust Youtube channel.
The Gorsedd is a Celtic gathering of bards and druids, first convened by Iolo Morganwg (Edward Williams) based upon his research into Welsh history. Although he falsified much of his research findings, his influence on modern-day Welsh and Celtic culture was immense.
The stone at the top of Primrose Hill has the head of Iolo Morganwg (also known as Edward Williams) who was a Welsh poet and literary archivist.
......our theme for this term has been 'If you go down to the woods'
Well this was our trip today, we went to the woods and had a special treat, we met Iolo Williams,(TV Wildlife Presenter) back in April we were trying to think of things to do for our topic, I jokingly said wouldn't it be great if we could get Iolo to come and do a nature walk & chat with the children - well to our great surprise, he agreed - So this morning we took children from year 1 & 2 up to Castle Coch and there we met him.
What a fantastic time we all had and what a wonderful man Iolo is, the children and us adults thought he was fantastic. He spent ages answering all the questions the children asked him. He too, asked the children lots of questions and helped them with the answers. I think the highlight for me was when he held hands with a few of the children and started skipping along the woodland path....We had a fabulous time, just want to say a Big Thank You to Iolo, if he should see this.
I took loads of photos, but I can only post the ones with no children in so thats not many :)
Bob had a Lava Lamp for Christmas, Iolo is completely fascinated by it, he has now been watching for about 40 mins, not even a treat will distract him!
Watching Tuesday's the MAY ISLAND's SEALS reminded me we've GOT OUR OWN COLONY at ANGEL BAY in PENRHYN BAY, so, the SEASON FOR Pregnant Females giving Birth and BULLS FIGHTING OVER FEMALES should start there SOON !
ALSO, IN THE WEDNESDAY PROGRAMME, IOLO will be on THE GREAT ORME in LLANDUDNO checking out the KASHMERE GOATS made famous IN THE VIDEO of them ROAMING THE QUIET STREETS IN THE TOWN.
If YOU'RE ANYWHERE NEAR NEWBOROUGH FOREST on ANGLESEY the SQUIRRELS THERE, released there from BREEDING CENTRE @ PLAS NEWYDD, SHOULD BE VERY ACTIVE STOCKING UP FOR THE WINTER !!!!!
"Daeth 15 ohonom ynghyd ar ôl y Nadolig sef John Arthur, Gwyn, Gwyn Chwilog, Anet, Iolo, Gerallt, Haf, John Parry, Carys, Dafydd Meurig, Geraint, Meira, Twm, Beti a Delyth. Roedd y tywydd yn sych wrth i ni gerdded o gwmpas Llyn Dinas. Aethom dros y gamfa ac i fyny at fwthyn Hafod Owen, a chawsom baned gerllaw. Yma y daeth y dringwr John Menlove Edwards i fyw tua 1941.
Roedd digon o fwd ar y llwybr wedyn cyn cyrraedd Lôn Blaen Nantmor. Gwelsom yr hen olwyn ddŵr ger Pont yr Injan. I fyny â ni ar hyd llwybr Watkin, heibio'r nant fyrlymus at Garreg Gladstone, a chael cinio yno. Er bod y gwynt wedi codi ymddangosodd yr haul wrth i ni gerdded i lawr y llwybr a gwelsom ddau alpaca yng nghae Hafod y Llan. Ymlaen â ni heibio Llyndy Isaf ac o gwmpas y llyn."
Adroddiad Delyth Evans
Hanes John Menlove Edwards : wbo.llgc.org.uk/en/s2-EDWA-MEN-1910.html
n 1536, the Act of Union between England and Wales led to the creation of the shire of Glamorgan, and Cardiff was made the county town. It also became part of Kibbor hundred.[citation needed] Around this same time the Herbert family became the most powerful family in the area.[30] In 1538, Henry VIII closed the Dominican and Franciscan friaries in Cardiff, the remains of which were used as building materials.[31] A writer around this period described Cardiff: "The River Taff runs under the walls of his honours castle and from the north part of the town to the south part where there is a fair quay and a safe harbour for shipping."[31]
John Speed's map of Cardiff from 1610
Cardiff had become a Free Borough in 1542.[33] In 1573, it was made a head port for collection of customs duties, and in 1581, Elizabeth I granted Cardiff its first royal charter.[30] Pembrokeshire historian George Owen described Cardiff in 1602 as "the fayrest towne in Wales yett not the welthiest.",[30] and the town gained a second Royal Charter in 1608.[34] Disastrous flooding led to a change in the course of the River Taff and the ruining of St Mary's Parish Church, which was replaced by its chapel of ease, St John the Baptist.[citation needed] During the Second English Civil War, St Fagans just to the west of the town, played host to the Battle of St Fagans. The battle, between a Royalist rebellion and a New Model Army detachment, was a decisive victory for the Parliamentarians and allowed Oliver Cromwell to conquer Wales.[33] It is the last major battle to occur in Wales, with about 200 (mostly Royalist) soldiers killed.[30]
In the ensuing century Cardiff was at peace. In 1766, John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute married into the Herbert family and was later created Baron Cardiff,[30] and in 1778 he began renovations on Cardiff Castle.[35] In the 1790s a racecourse, printing press, bank and coffee house all opened, and Cardiff gained a stagecoach service to London. Despite these improvements, Cardiff's position in the Welsh urban hierarchy had declined over the 18th century. Iolo Morgannwg called it "an obscure and inconsiderable place", and the 1801 census found the population to be only 1,870, making Cardiff only the 25th largest town in Wales, well behind Merthyr and Swansea.[36]
Iolo very bewildered by my Mums trees, they are Wellingtonias and have soft bark, Iolo discovered that they are great for squirrel chasing - he could get good purchase on the bark and got a few feet off the ground- unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me at the time!
Reg No 161035. 79 reg tons
Built of steel at Mistley by Horlock 1929.
Owners M.F.Horlock & Co. Ltd.
Motorbarge 1949, laid up 1967 as lighter. Bought by James Stewart in 1985, when she was a rusting hulk and her bottom was wafer thin. Her bottom was renewed by James & Stone, and restoration works to 1993 included a new lining, new mast, new rigging (including new chain plates), the permanent sheeting of her holds, new aft deck, the complete replacement of all deck gear (except the main horse) and many other details.
Berthed in Chamber Dock 1987, but has recently changed hands and is now owned at St. Katharine's Dock by Iolo Brooks, and she is now active.
Photgraphed on the Thames between Tilbury and Gravesend
Iolo and Tegid received this fab gift from a FB friend in the Welsh Terrier Fab Club today. A little while ago we send a Welsh flag bandana to their little pup Woodson, for his birthday. This was the surprise gift we reieved in return the dogs love it.
"Daeth 15 ohonom ynghyd ar ôl y Nadolig sef John Arthur, Gwyn, Gwyn Chwilog, Anet, Iolo, Gerallt, Haf, John Parry, Carys, Dafydd Meurig, Geraint, Meira, Twm, Beti a Delyth. Roedd y tywydd yn sych wrth i ni gerdded o gwmpas Llyn Dinas. Aethom dros y gamfa ac i fyny at fwthyn Hafod Owen, a chawsom baned gerllaw. Yma y daeth y dringwr John Menlove Edwards i fyw tua 1941.
Roedd digon o fwd ar y llwybr wedyn cyn cyrraedd Lôn Blaen Nantmor. Gwelsom yr hen olwyn ddŵr ger Pont yr Injan. I fyny â ni ar hyd llwybr Watkin, heibio'r nant fyrlymus at Garreg Gladstone, a chael cinio yno. Er bod y gwynt wedi codi ymddangosodd yr haul wrth i ni gerdded i lawr y llwybr a gwelsom ddau alpaca yng nghae Hafod y Llan. Ymlaen â ni heibio Llyndy Isaf ac o gwmpas y llyn."
Adroddiad Delyth Evans
Hanes John Menlove Edwards : wbo.llgc.org.uk/en/s2-EDWA-MEN-1910.html
A Bristol Old Vic, the egg, Bath, Dukes Playhouse and Theatr Iolo production. This play was part of a double bill and was our third collaboration with Bristol Old Vic. The plays highlight the beauty and strength of young people in extraordinary circumstances. (c) Mike Kleinsteuber featuring Dean Rehman and Géhane Strehler
Gyda Choed Cadw (the Woodland Trust) ar safle cyn bwll glo Maerdy, ar gyfer rhaglen deledu Cwm Glo Cwm Gwyrdd. Mae'r rhaglen yn cael ei wneud gan gwmni Green Bay Productions, ac mae'n mynd allan ar S4C am 8.25 Nos Iau. Gweler: www.treeforall.org.uk/Cymru/News/1000_o_goed_yn_y_Maerdy.htm a www.s4c.co.uk/cwmglocwmgwyrdd/c_index.shtml
Iolo Williams gets planting with the Woodland Trust on the site of the former Maerdy colliery, for the Cwm Glo Cwm Gwyrdd TV programme. The programme is being made by Green Bay Productions and is going out on S4C at 8.25pm on Thursday evenings. See: www.treeforall.org.uk/Wales/News/1000_trees_in_Maerdy.htm and www.s4c.co.uk/cwmglocwmgwyrdd/e_index.shtml