Week 32 - Dolgellau school, Cardigan and Ystalyfera

I went to the Welsh dancing again.  It's always interesting.  Nigel tends to do different dances every week, which is sure to keep up the interest in the veterans, but I really can't remember any of the forms.  I got to see Elsa clog dance with the boys (Keith, Howel and Nigel).  She's so good and so naturally graceful!  I'd love to try some Welsh clogging at some point but it's on a long, long list of things to do.

Week 31 - Pencader Jam Session and a visit to Dolgellau

Steff playing the mandola

I can't remember how or why, but for some reason I made a trip to Pencader.  I think I decided to drag Gwil down there for another little jam session.  Actually, now that I think about it, this may have been the time Gwil discovered he was going to Pencader because I told Julie over Facebook that he was... even though I didn't ask him.  Funny!

Anyway, Steff showed up for part of the evening.  Man, he's a phenomenal player!

Week 30 - A Digression: The Quest to Learn Welsh

I'm not very gifted when it comes to language.  Even writing a simple email is a struggle.  I'm not like my sister who is able to write stories and poetry quite naturally.  Considering the difficulties I have with just the one language, I've realized that I have almost no natural affinity for a second and definitely none for a third.

Which is a problem as I've been on a long quest to learn Welsh, the impossible language.

I think Welsh may have always been there in the background murmurings of my childhood (for most of my youth, the English alphabet just never did look right) but my first very clear memory of the language came when I was about eight.