iCambria - The Blog of Wales

EVERYTHING DOES INDEED HAVE A SILVER LINING and the up-side of all this rain is the incredible plush verdancy. I am at one with the tourists in Sion Jobbins article Gwlad! Gwlad! on the influence of landscape. Perhaps too it is this damp weather of ours which creates mellifluous Welsh voices.
Some of those voices will be on show in Lorient this year, The Year of Wales, when our country will take central position on an international stage showcasing the best of its talent and culture. Sadly, the Interceltic Festival clashes with the Eisteddfod, but it is well worth experiencing and if you have the energy you could fit both in.

Llangollen, on the other hand, brings the world to Wales, a revelation of colour and exotica.
Sometimes I have heard it said of Llangollen ‘but it’s not a very Welsh event’. Well possibly, but the International Eisteddfod was born of Wales and its ethic of promoting world peace and harmony garnered a Nobel nomination. The Machynlleth Festival, this year celebrating its twenty-first year, offers the finest music and art in a very Welsh setting. This year internationally renowned pianist Julian Drake takes over from the indomitable, indefatigable Ruth Lambert as Artistic Director.
For me the highlight of the Welsh calendar is the Eisteddfod. I love everything about it, the atmosphere, the concerts, the coming together of Welsh culture old and new, and the total immersion in the Welsh language. If you haven’t been to the Eisteddfod before, it really is something you should experience. Hywel Teifi Edwards has written (inevitably) an informative and amusing article on the history of the Eisteddfod and the significance of its coming to our capital. The Eisteddfod organisers have also brought out a Lonely Planet-style pocket-size guide for non- Welsh speakers which will be available free from Borders, Cardiff (in the David Morgan Building, the Hayes) and at the Eisteddfod Welcome Centre.
The speaking of English on the maes does not carry the same burden of shame it once did, but it is my avowed aim to be able, one day in the not so distant future, to attend and not have to resort to English. My list of excuses has grown longer but has recently been seriously undermined. For the past year or so a very nice little book has been sitting on my bedside table gathering dust: Welsh in a Year by Jen Llywelyn. A few weeks ago I spoke to her on the telephone and bleated out my usual excuses: work, children and so forth. Despite the fact that Jen had learned Welsh whilst at the same time working and doing a history degree, she managed to inspire me with optimism rather than inadequacy, and it is this coupled with great enthusiasm that makes her book so pleasurable. Not only is it about the learning of Welsh, and full of useful phrases and tips on pronunciation, but it is also enjoyable and humorous, filled with nuggets of information about Welsh life, history and culture. She even recommends Cambria! Jen will be signing books at our stand on Tuesday 5th August from 11am.
Yes we will have a stand in at the Eisteddfod. Please do come and say hello, we would love to meet you. If you are missing any back issues most of them will be available - we have just had a store clear-out and have found a few that we had thought had sold out. If you want to order them in advance and pick them up there let us know. The stand will be manned by a blend of staff and contributors, some of whom will be doing book signings. Timings for book-signings will be announced on the Cambria website. We look forward to seeing you in the capital.

July 22nd, 2008 | Tags: cardiff, editor, eisteddfod | Category: Editorial | | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL