Three Hundred Sixty Five

Hello Friends!

A doll dressed in hand knitted traditional Welsh costume

Tomorrow {depending on when you read this}, February 28th, marks a full year since I last attended a social gathering.  Exactly year ago on that day, the Annual St David's Day Eisteddfod took place in our local City Hall, and later that evening some of us gathered at a friend's house for a pleasant evening of convivial company and cheerful conversation.  How little we knew of what was just around the corner.

For those of you who don't know, an Eisteddfod is a cultural event when the people of Wales gather to take part in a variety of competitions, mostly poetry, song, and folk dance, but in recent times all manner of things, including art and craft of all kinds and, at least in our little city, a variety of baked goods, are also presented for judging.

Our Eisteddfod is held as close to Saint David's Day, on March 1st, as can be managed, as there is an extensive programme of events for St David's Day, beside the Eisteddfod, that happen around our village sized city over four, or even five, days. People now come from far and wide, to take part, or to simply view the stage events of the Eisteddfod, or to see the other celebrations as they occur. The organisers want everyone to have as much opportunity as possible to see and attend as many things as they can. It's a time of celebrating Welsh culture, learning, and fun; as well as the Eisteddfod, there are church services; Gymanfa Ganu; pilgrim walks; markets selling local produce; the serving of traditional Welsh refreshments; a Best Cawl competition; a Best Dressed Window competition; Twmpath; concerts and more.

On a national level, the most important events at any Eisteddfod are the Chairing of the Bard  who has written the best awdl in strict Cynghanedd meter on a predetermined theme, and the Crowning of the Bard who has written the best Pryddest or free verse poem on a similarly predetermined theme, and the award of the Prose Medal.

I have competed in Urdd Youth Eisteddfodau in Welsh learners recitation and Parti Recorder {I still play a recorder}.

In our local Eisteddfod, however, the prizes are slightly different.  For First, Second, and Third place in each competition, a traditional Eisteddfod bag is awarded.  These are made from locally sourced Welsh tapestry and wool flannel by a team of volunteers.  For the highest number of points achieved in the cookery competition, the winner receives a beautifully engraved presentation wooden rolling pin.  A commemorative shield is awarded to the person gaining the highest number of points overall in the art and craft section.  Finally, a small, model chair is awarded to, and kept by, the person who gains the highest number of points across all competitions on the day.

Here are a few snaps from the programme to give you an idea of the diverse range of activities up for prizes.

As you can see, the word is definitely "diverse"!  All stage competitions, except dancing, have a Welsh and English speakers component, so it's no wonder they start early with a short break for a snack lunch, followed by a late finish.

All entrants submit craft three days before and cookery the day before so judging those is done in advance.  All entrants participate under a nom de plume, known only to the Secretary, who is responsible for collecting and holding all entry forms.

This year's competition should have taken place yesterday, February 26, but is now deferred until 2022, when it is hoped it can go ahead as planned.  The theme is "Holidays".  While I don't take part in the stage competitions, I do have lots of ideas for the craft competitions!  Maybe I'll enter a plate of Welsh Cakes, who knows?  I've got time to practice.  Mind, I'd be up against two of my neighbours and very good friends.  Yikes!  Both are previous winners, so quite a challenge!

Welsh Cakes

How long ago it all seems, but later that evening, a few of us gathered at my friend's house for drinks and nibbles.  There were two topics of conversation that prevailed.  The Eisteddfod and who won what, and the You Know What, which was just starting to get more than a little bit frightening.  We had two present who had just returned from a fortnight on Gran Canaria where an outbreak had just been declared.  I suddenly found myself social distancing before it was a thing.  Who would have thought what the coming days and weeks would bring, and how it would run into a year and more.

March 1st is Dydd Gŵyl Dewi, Saint David's Day, so I do hope you will pop back for more on that important day in Wales as I have more to share with you on Welsh tradition.  The tea kettle is on, and there'll be Welsh Cakes, fresh and hot off the griddle, with good, Welsh butter too!

Until next time,

Stay safe and stay well

Deborah xo

A New World

Hello Friends!

It's a new world, a strange world, in which we now live.  It's like waking up every morning into a reality of living in a B Class science fiction movie, and a new normal for each of us emerges as we disinfect the living daylights out of everything in an effort to destroy the hidden enemy, and we fight over toilet paper {does anyone know why?} and keep away from everyone.

In the midst of all this chaos, fear, and madness, the world still turns about us, though we may not notice as much as we did.  If we are lucky, we can still chat to our neighbours over the garden wall, strictly keeping our distance.

The clocks have sprung forward, the days are lengthening, and we cling with fervent hope to the day when this living nightmare will be over, but those days are a long way off.

My garden ticks and tocks the moments away, and although there is not much to show, there have been some moments.  Here are a few things in bloom.

Camellias, big and blousy, always boldly bright, and the pink are nearly over, the red just starting to take off

The Pieris gives a bright and bold depth of red to the border as the new waxy looking leaves grow and glow in the warm Spring sunshine

My beloved Pasque flower surprised me by suddenly opening this week.  You know I will wax lyrical over this in the coming weeks

A perfect, early Spring evening, peaceful, clear and crisp, in a darkening night sky.  The westering day fades in an ombre blue sky that seeps into shades of plum on the distant horizon.  Above our heads sat the new, crescent moon, smiling sweetly at Venus, the Evening Star, as she shimmers, a tiny and distant diamond of hope in the gloaming.

Of late, we are seeing more colour in our sunsets too, and the plummy shades tinged with mango and raspberry are delicious to watch each evening

I hope you are keeping safe in isolation.  Remember, you are not stuck indoors, you are SAFE indoors and that we are all in this together, doing our bit to help the NHS cope in the days and weeks to come.

Until next time
Deborah xo