General Chat

Wales is a place to relax and smile. The beaches are stunning, the mountains are stunning , the people are very welcoming and love all nationalities.

Not quite sure what is meant by extremists. I painted a couple of road signs green many years ago but never thought I was being extreme - just a bit naughty and illegal. I thought extremists were those who were fire bombing empty cottages that were second homes - they got no support from us painters.

It did use to be "extremist" to vote for the Wales Party (Plaid Cymru). But that became mainstream after Gwynfor Evans was elected an MP in the 1960's and the Wales Party has remained one of the four major political parties in Wales for 50 years now. Thirteen percent of the population of Wales support that party, but many PC members were born in England, West Indies, Ireland, Pakistan, India as well as Wales.

By no definition I can think of would Robyn Lewis be called an extremist. He is a deep lover of his native tongue and has spent many many years in studying the poetry, literature and history of Wales. Many visitors (particularly those who love historical and cultural things like most Genes posters) would be intrigued by Dr Lewis - who also has a wonderful grasp of English, his second language. :-)

Like most Welsh speakers I know, he has a deep love and affection for English language and literature too.

Sue, i'm not sure if you meant me but I didn't say that learning any language was easy, as I can't speak another language I would not be so rude. Sorry if I have misunderstood your post.

I was just trying to say that the thread had had it's moments of both serious and fun posts.

intrigued by Dr Lewis!!!! I don't think so - would there be a welcome in the hillside for him for non Welsh speakers? unlikely, and would any of our GR members get an invitation to stay at yours? and if they did get one, would they take you up on it?

To the English tourist John all we can hear is blah de blah de blah..you either WANT our tourist cash or you want to behave like idiots and alienate us..and from what you've suggested...the standard English bod isn't welcome......you will reap what you sow ultimately..be VERY careful what you wish for.

see what you've done John - you have done as much damage as your Archdruid mate - just to a smaller audience

When I said extremists I wasn't thinking of terrorists but of people who take things to the extreme when really they should think about what they do and say.

I wouldn't call painting signs 'just a bit naughty' my grandchildren know not to deface others property. Nothing to brag about imo.

Ginnie, I was adressing that to his greatness...lolol

You'll use a lot of foreign words every day without even knowing that you are and I;m sure when watching TV or reading you'll understand phrases which have been integrated into the English norm. Tete a tete, menage a trois being the 2 that first come to mind but chaise longue, au gratin, cordon bleu, creme brulee, cul-de-sac, bon voyage, art deco, deja vu, en suite, grand prix, pot pouri and vol auvent.

So you speak French :-D :-D

menage a trois? ;-)

oh bugger you'd included that in your list........ppppppffffffffffttttttttttt..off to bed with the steaming'ump now lol

Oh thank you Sue I had never thought of that, I shall now tell my OH I can speak another language. :-D :-D

Good night to all.

Tourist bookings are well up this year so far. Rhyl is being done up, Llandudno boasts the best hotel in UK, hundred of miles of the sandiest beaches, beautiful coastal paths everywhere, really warm weather in the extremities of Cardigan Bay, Anglesey and Pembrokeshire. Gavin and Stacey. Castles (Welsh and English) everywhere. Bodnant Gardens. Welsh Folk Museum. Free coal mining museums like Big Pit. National Botanic Gardens of Wales. Homes to see of Dylan Thomas, Charles Tunnicliffe, David Lloyd-George, Kyffin Williams. Portmeirion....... Any Welsh person or lover of Wales could go on and on.

Why is Wales becoming more and more popular as a tourist destination? Can't be many tourists who read letters in Y Cymro by Dr Lewis and have been put off this year. Any bad publicity in Daily Mail is probably a godsend. And perhaps this thread on Genes cannot be quite as significant as we think ;-)

Edit. Oh dam* I put Y Cymro. I should have also translated as "The Welshman"
And I must point out that David Lloyd-George was born 150 years ago in Manchester - so must have been an Englishman who happened to live some of his life in Wales.

I would suggest the folk that book in sooooo far advance are in the minority.........i still want to visit wales......but really do feel put off by the extremist element .....laughed at mum and dad when they came back last summer and said *some of the Welsh are off their faces* kind of see where they were coming from now tbh NOT ALL clearly lool

Thanks Muffy, quite clearly some of us aren't extremist ,tho we love where we live and were born!
The hotel in Llandudno mentioned is actually booked up well in advance.
Can't say that for other establishments.

Better not speak Strine on the Aussie thread (the one that has more British people than Aussies on it) :-\

I have been reading back a few pages and it's a shame that the Welsh quoted on here is totally useless in every day life.

The Welsh on Shaun's thread is at least a) easy b) useable so the Welsh speakers on here really missed a trick. Giving useful phrases that will get you massive brownie points if you use them.

I'll give one because then I will have brought this thread back into the real world.

de gyda llaeth ond dim siwgr os gwelch yn dda.

tea with milk but no sugar please.

Now as long as you say de, llaeth, dim siwgr clearly and use plis insead of os gwelch yn dda, you'll get what you want even if you slur the rest...lolol

The trick is to give full instructions at the start.No good asking for a cup of tea then being asked in Welsh if you want milk or sugar, recipe for panic..lolol

Now my Welsh isn't great (I'm lazy) so I have absolutely no objection if someone wants to correct me :-)

Thanks Sue. That Welsh is fine.

You should find in Welsh speaking areas that people smile if you have a go like that. And you get your cup of te (pronounced tay or day) or coffi (pronounced same as English but just Welshify it a bit :-D)

Ble mae ty bach? (Where is little house ie toilet) is useful.

As is "gai sgod a slod plis"? May I have fish and chips please? Gai pronounced like "Guy" in "Guy fawkes". Sgod is short for pysgod (fish) and slod for "slodion" (chips). Then diolch yn fawr (thankyou) or you could use "thanciw" if not confident.

Have lived in many places in my life. But North Wales for more years than anywhere else (over 20 in Bangor, Moelfre, Llanddulas and Wrexham area) and 6 years nearly in South Wales Valleys (Rhondda). Have lived in Wales for nearly as much of my life as David Lloyd-George (an Englishman born in Manchester according to some definitions on this thread).

Am very proud of my English father who came from Wolverhampton (Radnorshire and Shropshire were his roots). My football team has always been Wolves and am proud of that city. But Welsh is what I have felt all through my life - Wales is where I have always tried to live and work. And Wales is where I will die and be buried. :-)

sits on hands ;-) ;-) ;-)

And knocks snow off Sky dish by holding broom in teeth :-D

Have edited my Welsh language post last night that your reported, AnnC. Hope that explains it sufficiently. Diolch yn fawr (ta) :-\

Oh dear, I've been trying to steer clear of commenting. Not worked.

Beautiful place to visit - mountains to long sweeping beaches; walks through marvellous countryside and parks; castles galore; and overall, not a lot of Welsh spoken routinely. Signs etc are bilingual anyway, though you may find a pub or two that label their toilets as Merched (Ladies) and Dynion (Men) [Gentlemen is the same in both languages] and leave off the male/female figures ...

Similar to Sue, my schooling involved Latin, French, English and Welsh. Later in life it was German, then some Greek, a bit of Spanish and sufficient Italian to not starve or go thirsty! Tried Portuguese, but gave up, and have been trying Irish just so I don't appear a total fool when asking directions to places whose spelling bears only passing resemblance to the pronounciation !!! (I'm talking about e.g. Dun Laoghaire, BC )

My apologies if I have upset anyone by including Welsh in my posts, it was not intended to do so and was, generally, purely a riposte.

Sue: 9/10 - It's gwelWch .

That's it from me, so

Prynhawn dda (Good afternoon)

cadw'n ddiogel ac yn iach (Keep safe and well)

cael diwrnod braf, y'all (Have a nice day, y'all !!!)

Peidiwch â gadael i'r coco / eira malu chi i lawr! (Don't let the cocoa / snow grind you down!)

Diolch i chi (Thank you)

Au revoir ....

Ciao!!!!