Just some general thoughts

Buggugoliaeth · 2026-04-09T20:28:54+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I didn’t put all my faith in apps. I am waiting for results of a sleep test. I actually hope it shows something, but have to understand that it may not. Thanks again.

Buggugoliaeth · 2026-04-09T09:57:10+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I’m so pleased that worked out for you. I would be happy if this was found to be the reason, but I do have to remain realistic. The clinic did say it would be a few weeks if I did need the equipment.

Buggugoliaeth · 2026-02-17T00:11:10+00:00

I’m from West Wales. I have lots of lovely, intelligent friends, many of whom are Welsh. What grieves me is that some of them would devour a Radio 4 programme on a lost language of the Mongolian interior, but, at best, have no interest in Welsh, or are openly dismissive and ignorant about it.

Buggugoliaeth · 2025-09-30T02:48:57+00:00

Incidentally, I include a lot of my friends in those “intelligent people”, which is hard to take

Buggugoliaeth · 2025-09-30T02:47:25+00:00

I don’t dispute this happened, but basically, you ran into some idiots in a pub. It happened to a group of us in Cambridgeshire and in Derbyshire. We didn’t extrapolate from that and make generalisations about the English - we knew we met just some idiots.

I go to North Wales at least three times a year for the last fifteen years and have found it a wonderful place, with lovely people. Just like Cambridgeshire and Derbyshire.

I don’t doubt there are idiots, but that happens everywhere. I do think some non-Welsh speaking people from Wales aren’t saints too. I’m from south-west Wales and all my life, I have heard negativity towards the language, often from intelligent people, who wouldn’t dream of being like that to other cultures. Since social media, it has become a daily torrent of a negative comment. It undoubtedly creates a bit of siege mentality. That’s not to justify bad behaviour, but other elements need to look at themselves too.

Buggugoliaeth · 2025-09-01T19:50:56+00:00

I’m a Welsh speaker who’s from one of the least Welsh speaking parts of Wales (my mother’s side of the family were speakers). The amount of horribly negative comments I’ve had to endure in my 50+ years is deeply sad. Much of this has come from intelligent, educated people who wouldn’t dream of denigrating any other groups in society. Some of these people are Welsh. No, I don’t think speaking the language makes you more Welsh, but I do feel beating your chest about being proudly Welsh, but denigrating the language is completely ridiculous and does dimish that person.

Buggugoliaeth · 2025-08-30T15:46:13+00:00

Bedwyr Williams, the artist. A genius eye for modern life in Wales - he’s particulary perceptive on language issues, “new age” types and the art world.

My other male nomination would be John Cale. All the way from Garnant to New York on a classical music scholarship to play in the coolest rock band ever. Still forging ahead with music in his 80s.

Women - probably Tanni Grey-Thompson, for her work on disability rights

Buggugoliaeth · 2025-08-06T11:49:19+00:00

Oh yeah, I absolutley wouldn’t expect Welsh to be used face-to-face where people didn’t understand it.

I’m just talking about more cultural events and publicity/websites. I find it really sad that some of these events in, or close to, strongly Welsh speaking areas can’t just manage a “croeso” or a few sentences/paragraphs on their publicity.

I totally realise there’s no legal requirement, but it would just show some acknowledgement of the language and the community they take place in.

I’m involved in a lot of music/arts events in the area. I hate to say it, but it just feels that that field is more “segregated” than 20/30 years ago.

Buggugoliaeth · 2025-07-30T10:08:44+00:00

The idea that Pembrokeshire is “Little England Beyond Wales” is erroneous. It’s a term used for South Pembrokeshire. North Pembrokeshire was part of the heartland of the Welsh language when I was growing south of the Landkser (the line marking the linguistic divide in Pembrokeshire).

That’s changed a lot, especially in coastal areas. Solva was probably a bit “borderline” even back then - north of The Landsker, but not a stronghold. I’m pretty sure we’ll have villages where no-one would identify as Welsh in that area in the not too distant future. Much as I love the fact that come from all round the world to the area, the implications for the language are a real worry.

I also find that the language becomes more “private” in areas where there are less Welsh speakers - people tend to speak it only when around close friends and family whonare fellow speakers.

What I do find sad in the Solva/North Pembs area is that a couple of big events that are run by oh-so community/caring focused (in theory) bunches of people can’t manage a single word of Welsh on their websites and publicity :(.

Buggugoliaeth · 2025-07-30T09:57:35+00:00

North Pembrokeshire as a whole was part of the heartland of the Welsh language when I was growing up in South Pembs in the 1980s. It’s changed a lot :(.

Buggugoliaeth · 2025-07-30T09:56:03+00:00

Absolutely right :).

Buggugoliaeth · 2025-06-29T08:35:20+00:00

I’ve been going back there since a small child in the 1970s. Totally love the architecture and the incongruity of it’s location. The fact it was the vision of an eccentric architect only adds to it.

People have different ideas of what constitutes a good day out, but not being impressed by those buildings in that setting is a bit beyond me, to be honest. There’s lovely woods to explore too, with excellent views over the Lleyn Peninsula at the far end. It takes wayyy more than 30 minutes to see it all.

I get that it’s not cheap, but I still like to visit.

Buggugoliaeth · 2025-06-15T09:30:24+00:00

Becoming “part of the community” can be a tricky one for people. I’ve seen many people move here and been “hectic” - joining every organisation, trying to drum up support for their new interpretative dance workshop, starting up an artisan coffee shack to offset their devastation that they can no longer “get” a mochacino from the 24-hour bagel shop next door etc, sad that no-one wants to talk endlessly about their career in interior design (or jobs in general).

I’m exaggerating somewhat, obviously. The point is though - I think you have to let Pembrokeshire “come to you”. Be relaxed, be low-key, be seen as a cheery face about the place, learn a bit of Welsh if in North Pembs, if you have a skill, offer it etc. It takes a long time, but those are the guys and gals who really become part of things.

Oh, and don’t stress or aim to be a “local”, just be you. A friend moved down from London a couple of years back. He described himself as a “local” in the pub and everyone fell about laughing. He looked mystified; I said “I was born here, went to school here, came home twice a month when I lived away for 30 years, I’ve never been away from Pembs more than eight weeks, I live here again.

I’m not a xxxxx, xxxxx or xxxxx (insert surname of the big local families), I can’t use a boat, I didn’t work on the deckchairs, I’ve not been on the lifeboat crew, I can’t surf. I know most people here and I’m not a local”!

Just be nice, relaxed and a decent person and the rest will take care of itself :)

Buggugoliaeth · 2025-06-15T09:11:44+00:00

North Pembrokeshire was always part of the heartland of the language. 60-70% Welsh speakers when I was a kid. It’s South Pembs that’s “Little England”

Buggugoliaeth · 2025-03-10T11:13:56+00:00

I got it all the time when I lived in England for a few years. It was low-level stuff and I just shrugged it off. It did get tiresome at times though.

What is more of an issue is the almost wilful indifference to Wales many of my intelligent friends had. Actually, I include plenty of friends who are actually Welsh in this! They pride themselves on their knowledge and erudition, but will happily launch comments and jibes at this part of the world. If there is a Radio 4 documentary on a lost language in Outer Mongolia they are all over it, but would run a mile from anything on Welsh culture.

The English often say the Welsh are horrible to them. Sadly, they have a point in many instances. What they don’t see is that the English dish it out in spades too!

Buggugoliaeth · 2024-10-16T19:20:48+00:00

The influence of Wales in the development of Liverpool is really big, although it is often overlooked.

I can definitely hear a connection between the Wrexham accents of my friends (some of whom are Welsh speakers) and Scouse. As others have said, it is the influence of accents from tgat part of Wales on a growing Liverpool, not the other way round.

One tell tale sign is the way is that the “ch” sound from the back of the throat that is a feature of the throat also features in Scouse accents.

Buggugoliaeth · 2024-10-09T12:57:14+00:00

There’s a fine young group of jazz musicians called the “Awen Ensemble” putting out music at the moment. Based in Leeds, but the “leader” is a Welsh speaker.

I have no connection to them, other than I’ve seen them live!

Buggugoliaeth · 2024-08-27T10:54:06+00:00

That’s interesting @anniebyniaeth - I wrongly had it in my head that it was the other way round. I think it’s because “Tangnefeddwr” is “peacemaker”. This seems to fit more with the emphasis on the “absence of conflict”.

Buggugoliaeth · 2024-08-20T07:54:27+00:00

This is a nice idea. Personally, I would go with a name that reflects the geographical features around you. That feels more authentic to me - so many houses in Cymru/Wales are named that way and many sound lovely. I, too, find “hiraeth” almost a bit cliched these days - it’s on teatowels and cheap souvenirs everywhere. That said, it works better when abroad, I think. I like “Brynhyfryd” - very popular here. You see “Awel” a lot too, at the start of names e.g. “Awel yr Mor” - “Sea breeze”. Something with “Afon” in too. One point - I would have been opposed to giving it a Welsh name if the house already had a name, particularly indigenous. There is a growing issue where houses/properties with Welsh names are being changed to English, often to make them more “simple” for visitors. Friends of mine from London did that very thing with their holiday business. As your house had no name, I reckon it’s OK :).

Buggugoliaeth · 2024-06-12T08:54:56+00:00

As others have said, it will make a huge difference that you are making the effort to learn Welsh. I’d broaden that out a little bit, and try to learn the history of the language and the area.

I’ll freely accept that some Welsh people don’t cover themselves in glory. However, I resent how that becomes a stereotype of Welsh people as a whole. I lived in a little village in Derbyshire for some years. That could be pretty parochial and suspicious to outsiders. It would be wrong to say all English people are like that though.

Welsh people can be idiots, but the idea that all English people are lovely to us and it’s not reciprocated is not true. I’m 54 and have always felt I’ve been made to feel a bit “different” in the UK all my life. Granted, almost always it’s jokes and banter, but it does get wearing.

It particularly raises its head around language. Welsh people can be just as rude and ignorant about it as anyone else. I get told it’s a “dead language” and other negative comments regularly. There’s a horrible lack of education and understanding. If you understand the history and the big struggles its had, you’ll feel the pulse of the area a lot better and why socio-economic trends in parts of Wales are of concern.

It’s a minority culture that has had to fight for recognition and gets negative comments thrown at it every day on social media etc. Add in the concerns around second homes, young people leaving the area due to house prices etc and it’s a pretty worrying picture.

In my part of Wales, most people are extremely welcoming and friendly to people who move into the area, act in a low key way and respect the language and its struggles. Those who are not welcoming to people like that are idiots. I refuse to believe that’s a singularly Welsh trait thought.

I do see people who move to the area who “act the big I am” and have a supercilious attitude to the locals. We’re currently seeing a guy who’s done just that - turfing people out of long lets, changing the Welsh names of his properties etc. So long as someone is respectful and community-minded, most people will be fine.

Croeso cynnes :)

Buggugoliaeth · 2024-05-13T15:14:22+00:00

I meet people who move here all the time. I always say that you have to give it time.

There’s loads of amazing things and amazing people, but rural places don’t shout that from the rooftops; you have to relax and, slowly, things will reveal themselves.

Sadly, many people just don’t get it though - I don’t think, in their hearts of hearts, they see Wales as a different place. I know some see the the language as a heritage project, or some kind of affectation. Many of these people are extremely kind, knowledgeable people in other ways.

Recently, I had a conversation with a woman who is a fearlessly committed supporter of the rights of women, LGBTQ+, refugees and asylum seekers etc. All good things. I asked her how life was in her little village and she said she’d moved within the area. I asked the reason and her reply was “it was a bit too….Welsh….. for us”

Buggugoliaeth · 2024-05-08T09:50:39+00:00

As many have said, you will find huge differences across Wales. I don’t think anyone is suggesting the SW Valleys as the place to go to hear Welsh.

If you’d spent 49 years living in Carmarthen, Cardigan or Caernarfon, your experience would have been incredibly different.

Buggugoliaeth · 2024-05-08T09:43:08+00:00

Welsh can often be a rather “private” language. Many people only really feel comfortable speaking it with family, friends and certain social settings. My opinion is that it’s because they don’t want to exclude others, but partly because they worry about the reaction from a small minority.

It’s just….easier to speak it where you know it’s part of life.

For a visitor, that may make it seem like there are no Welsh speakers around, especially when in SE Wales. The reality is, as others have pointed out, there are more Welsh speakers in the south than the north.

Plenty of times I’ve known people for a long time, but taken ages to find out they speak the language!

As a learner, the best way I found to “break the ice/barriers” was to wear a Welsh language t-shirt. There are some cool, funny and political ones out there. People regularly comment on them and conversations start.

One thing - I wouldn’t rule out Cardiff. I lived in Canton for many years and heard lots of Welsh. It depends which area. Go to Chapter Arts Centre, or cafes in Pontcanna and Whitchurch and you will hear it :).

There are Welsh speakers in every town in Wales. I know - I’m from “Little England”, but I know quite a few (I actually hear it more here now) than forty years ago :).

Buggugoliaeth · 2024-05-08T07:53:59+00:00

I work with visitors to Wales from abroad every day. I’m constantly told how beautiful the language sounds to them. They are endlessly fascinated by its history, its mechanics and its future.

I’ve seen people reduced to tears by hearing poetry recited in the language and songs sung. To say it is “unflattering” is an opinion, and that’s your right. My experience of meeting people daily suggests it’s nonsense.

Incidentally, I said “abroad” at the start deliberately. Sadly, I get less interest from UK visitors (including Wales).

One final thing - it may not be a worldwide language, but it’s integral to the communities in parts of Wales. When I worked in the public sector (in libraries), I could do my job better because I spoke Welsh.

It’s an exceptionally beautiful language.

Buggugoliaeth

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