BlogCymru.com

Reit, mae’n flin ‘da fi – dw i ddim wedi blogio ers sbel, ond yn fy marn i, mae’n bwysig iawn i wneud y Pethau Bychain. Mae ‘na lot o bobl sy’n nabod fi yng Nghaerdydd yn ystyried yr iaith Gymraeg fel tipyn o jôc – dydy hi ddim yn anarferol i glywed pethau fel “Don’t speak that stupid language in front of me” neu “Why on Earth are you learning Welsh? It’s a dying language, and you’re English!”. Mae’n achosi fi i ddigalonni weithiau.

Mae ‘na ormod o bobl sy’ wedi penderfynu i symud i Gymru sy’ ddim yn chwilfrydig o gwbl am yr iaith, neu’r diwylliant Cymreig, neu hanes Cymru. Mae’n anodd i fi dallt eu safbwynt nhw – dw i’n gwybod mae’r Saeson yn actio fel hynny yn aml iawn – sef pan maen nhw’n mynd ar wyliau yn Sbaen a bwyta “burgers and chips” yn lle pethau fel paella – ond, o leiaf, dydyn nhw ddim yn cwyno pan maen nhw’n clywed pobl sy’n siarad eu iaith brodorol – neu dweud pethau fel “Wel, des i mewn rhyw dafarn yn Sbaen, a decrheuon nhw siarad gyda’u gilydd yn Sbaeneg”.

Mae’n achosi fy ymynedd i fod yn anobaith weithiau…

During the late 1970’s through to the early 1990’s I was a member, a section steward, a branch secretary and a district chair of a trades union known as NUPE (The National Union of Public Employees). The union represented health service employees, local government employees, the ancillary staff of Universities and weirdly, junior Anglican Clerics and Methodist Ministers.

NUPE was affiliated to

The Electoral Commission has commented… “Participants in our public opinion research generally had a low level of public awareness that a referendum on law-making powers of the Assembly is to be held; what the referendum is about or, indeed, what a referendum is.”

Blues chaircushion Peter Thomas is threatening to cut diplomatic pies with Cardiff City bignobs Peter Ridsdale and the little oriental chap following a class action court injunction lodged by lawyers on behalf of Hornby, Subbuteo and Sylvanian Families.

With just days to go until the start of the new rugby season, the Blues could be prevented from playing matches at their home stadium in Leckwith as the ground is allegedly deemed to “infringe several patents” including Melchester Rovers’ Mel Park c.1972, Tidmouth Sheds on the Island of Sodor, and The Cow Barn at Bluebell Coppice. 

“The sad, tragic little model enthusiasts have got a very good case in my opinion,” commented a legal expert who almost certainly (well, definitely) doesn’t exist.  “The three modelcraft manufacturers on the other hand; I’m not so sure.”

Hafal Deputy Chief Executive Alun Thomas has been looking at the careers section of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) website (I know he has a box set of James Bond DVDs but…?) and points out that you cannot apply if you have ever experienced schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. This rule doesn’t just apply to secret agents but to administrators, IT wonks, general bottlewashers who never leave the building, etc. It is okay though to have been a user of heroin or similar (as long as you have been clean for just 12 months), to have a criminal record, etc. It was also okay in the last century to have belonged openly to organisations closely connected to the Communist Party as the Cambridge Five found out to their delight and surprise when they applied. Indeed when information was passed to the Service in 1950 that Anthony Blunt was a member of the CP itself they ignored this. Perhaps they were too busy checking whether any of the cleaners in their London HQ’s cafeteria had experienced a mild, one-off episode of psychosis 30 years before they applied for the job?

I will ask them about this and let you know what they say.

From Plaid Cymru




Question paper

On Saturday 11th September, at 11.30am, on the main conference stage a
discussion will take place between Elfyn Llwyd MP and Paul McKeever,
(Chair of Police Federation of England & Wales) on:

“A Separate Welsh Legal Jurisdiction: A Focus on Policing”

This unique event will be chaired by Nerys Evans AM.

Do you have a question you would like to ask of the panel? If so,
please submit in advance your question and take this form to either
the Reception Desk in Conference or e-mail to post@plaidcymru.org :

Is Britain following America’s Bad Use and Abuse of the English Language?


“Romer Calls for Less Taxes as She Departs”


Less is used for uncountable nouns e.g. money
Fewer is used for countable nouns e.g. taxes


Hopefully, readers of this blog will take account of the difference.

After the innuendo and various challenges on Guido ’s blog this week William Hague denied having had an “improper” relationship with his special adviser, Christopher Myers, who had resigned earlier
He cited “pressure” put on his family by the “untrue and malicious allegations” circulating on the Internet.
 Today David Cameron declared his “100% support” for,Hague;who  also has had the backing of his local constituency party chair
At a press conference this morning Hague refused to be drawn on his decision to appoint Myers, or respond to the suggestion that he had exercised “poor judgment” in sharing a hotel room with his assistant.He said: “Yesterday, I made a very personal statement, which was not an easy thing to do. I am not going to expand on that today.”
He was still being pushed on  Myers’s eligibility for the job, and why he had given Myers the job despite already having two special advisers.Apparently there had been unease in Downing Street at Hague’s judgment in appointing a 25-year-old graduate with little apparent expertise in foreign affairs.
Was the statement the wisest way to respond to Guido’s rumours. Somehow I think he would
have been wiser to keep quiet. Hague admitted to “occasionally” sharing hotel rooms with Myers during the election campaign. But he added: “Neither of us would have done so if we had thought that it in any way meant or implied something else. In hindsight, I should have given greater consideration to what might have been made of that, but this is in itself no justification for allegations of this kind.
Is this sort of death by pen the way we want to see society being steered. I certainly don’t.
Mr Hagues sexuality is his business.His lack of judgement is another ,and as Foreign secretary a matter that he needs to reflect on.
What about Ffion Hague in all this, is she really the sort of woman who would be a front for her husband if he was gay.I wouldn’t have thought so .She is a significant author, businesswoman and broadcaster in her own right, she’s nobody’s second fiddle.

The Pain and the Privilege, on the women in Lloyd George’s life.
It will be interesting to see if Guido backs off,especially as some big name bloggers have had a go at him over this.Or will it just spur him on.

From Brew Wales

The award-winning Boar’s Head at Tyla Garw, near Pontyclun, will be holding a beer festival this weekend, starting on friday 3rd September. Beers on sale, subject to availability are:

BREWDOG – ‘Trashy Blond’

BREWSTERS – ‘Decadence’

BREWSTERS – ‘Rutterkin’

BREWSTERS – ‘Stilton Porter’

CHEDDAR ALES – ‘Gorge Best’

CHEDDAR ALES – ‘Potholer’

CHEDDAR ALES – ‘Bitter Bully’

CROUCH VALE – ‘Amarillo’

CROUCH VALE – ‘Brewer’s Gold’

CROUCH VALE – ‘Summer Breeze’

DARK STAR – ‘American Pale Ale’

DARK STAR – ‘Hophead’

DARK STAR – ‘Sunburst’

GREEN JACK – ‘Orange Wheat’

GREEN JACK – ‘Ripper Tripel’

.HOPBACK – ‘Crop Circle’

HOPBACK – ‘Entire Stout’

HOPBACK – ‘Summer Lightning’

.HOWARD TOWN – ‘Snake Ale’

HOWARD TOWN – ‘Longdendale Light’

.LODDEN – ‘Bamboozle’

LODDEN – ‘Ferrymans’ Gold’

MAULDON – ‘Mousetrap’

MAULDON – ‘Silver Adder’

MAULDON – ‘Suffolk Pride’

OAKHAM – ‘Bishop’s Farewell’

OAKHAM – ‘Inferno’

OAKHAM – ‘JHB’

RCH – ‘Double Header’

RCH – ‘Old Slug Porter’

RCH – ‘PG Steam’

RED FOX – ‘Red Fox Bitter’

RED FOX – Hunter’s Gold’

RED FOX – ‘IPA’

RED FOX – ‘Wily ‘Ol Fox’

SARAH HUGHES – ‘Dark Ruby Mild’

.SPRINGHEAD – ‘Bare Bones’

SPRINGHEAD – ‘Charlie’s Angel’

SPRINGHEAD – ‘Roaring Meg’

THORNBRIDGE – ‘Craven Silk’

THORNBRIDGE – ‘Jaipur IPA’

THORNBRIDGE – ‘Kipling’

TRIPLE FFF – ‘Stairway to Heaven’

TRIPLE FFF – ‘Moondance’

WOLF – ‘Granny Wouldn’t Like It’

WOLF – ‘Straw Dog’

WYE VALLEY – ‘D.G. Golden Ale’

WYE VALLEY – ‘Butty Bach’

WYE VALLEY – ‘HPA’

.YORK – ‘Guzzler’

YORK – ‘Yorkshire Terrier’

CIDER :

HECKS – ‘Single Variety Cider’

MOLES / THATCHERS – ‘Black Rat’

WESTCROFT – ‘Cider’

Boar’s Head, Tyla Garw, Pontyclun, CF72 9EZ, 01443 225400

A less than 10-minute walk westwards from Pontyclun railway station, brings you to the Boar’s Head, unmistakable with it’s old Fernvale Brewery sign outside, a former Welsh brewery that closed in 1970. The walk is a bit difficult as it involves crossing the Bailey Bridge, walking through an industrial estate and almost missing a hidden path with metal fencing around it. Clue – turn right at the stones and carry straight on past the new housing estate. The Boar’s Head is on the left hand side, by the level crossing. There is a car park at the rear of the pub if you choose to drive here.

Entering the door of this pub, with its stained glass windows, you could be forgiven for thinking that nothing has changed since the pub was built in 1875, however a few years ago, the Boar’s underwent a sympathetic refurbishment with the bar now becoming the centre of the pub and the surrounding rooms were retained rather than knocked through into one. The pub was originally built by the Trecastle Estate for the nearby tinplate workers.

Six real ales are always available on the bar here, together with Budvar Dark Lager from the Czech Republic. The beer range varies but brewers such as Hydes of Manchester, Archers of Swindon and Mathews of Bath are often seen on handpumps alongside Fullers from London and Welsh breweries such as Heart of Wales from Powys. This is an unusual beer range for South Wales, made possible by the fact that the Boar’s Head is a free house and not tied to any particular brewery. However the popularity of some of the brews with customers means that Mathews Brassknocker, a golden, hoppy ale of 3.8% ABV, has become an almost permanent feature on the bar.

The Boar’s Head is panelled throughout in wood and gleaming copper pans hang over the bar. Another reminder of the old days of Welsh brewing is the old Ely Brewery poster in the bar.

There is a pleasant outside drinking area to the rear and a choice of rooms in the pub to eat or drink in. There is Welsh food on the menu in the form of Celtic Pride beef burgers and Welsh Black Beef Curry. Special offers run throughout the week on the menus with Tuesday being steak night and Wednesday curry night. Bookings are recommended for Sunday lunch. Food served Mon-Sat 12-2.30, 6-8.30

Every room in the Boar’s has its own character, with long table and settles or more traditional dining tables in the restaurant section. Every room also has its own fireplace, ideal for those winter evenings. The Boar’s Head is a pub that offers something for everyone and is a well deserved winner of the Mid-Glamorgan Branch of CAMRA Pub of the Year 2009.
Google Map:

View Larger Map

Traveline Cymru
The pub is short distance from Pontyclun Railway Station

.

The Electoral Commission has just published its report on Cheryl Gillan’s proposed question for the referendum on primary lawmaking powers, and ended up by making a suggestion of its own.

     Summary of Report
     Full Report

However the question they have come up with is, quite bluntly, wrong.

The National Assembly for Wales:
what happens at the moment

The Assembly has powers to make laws on 20 subject areas, such as:

•  agriculture
•  education
•  the environment

•  health
•  housing
•  local government

In each subject area, the Assembly can make laws on some matters, but not others. To make laws on any of these other matters, the Assembly must ask the UK Parliament for its agreement. The UK Parliament then decides each time whether or not the Assembly can make these laws.

The Assembly cannot make laws on subject areas such as defence, tax or welfare benefits, whatever the result of this vote.

If most voters vote ‘yes’
The Assembly will be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for, without needing the UK Parliament’s agreement.

If most voters vote ‘no’
What happens at the moment will continue.

Question
Do you want the Assembly now to be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for?

Yes
No

It is misleading because, even after a Yes vote, the Assembly will not be able to make laws on “all matters” in the 20 subject areas it has powers for.

There are, in fact, many things within those 20 subject areas that the Assembly will still not be able to pass laws on. There is a long list of exceptions and exclusions, as set out in Schedule 7 of the GoWA 2006.

As one example of this, look at Highways and Transport (Subject 10). The basic area of competence seems clear enough:

Highways, including bridges and tunnels. Streetworks. Traffic management and regulation. Transport facilities and services.

But then we get the exceptions:

Exceptions—

Registration of local bus services, and the application and enforcement of traffic regulation conditions in relation to those services.

Road freight transport services, including goods vehicles operating licensing.

Regulation of use of motor vehicles and trailers on roads, their construction and equipment and conditions under which they may be so used, apart from regulation of use of vehicles carrying animals for purpose of protecting human, animal, fish or plant heath, animal welfare or the environment.

Road traffic offences.

Driver licensing.

Driving instruction.

Insurance of motor vehicles.

Drivers’ hours.

Traffic regulation on special roads, pedestrian crossings, traffic signs and speed limits.

International road transport services for passengers.

Public service vehicle operator licensing.

Documents relating to vehicles and drivers for purposes of travel abroad and vehicles brought temporarily into Wales by persons resident outside the United Kingdom.

Vehicle excise duty and vehicle registration.

Provision and regulation of railway services, apart from financial assistance
which—
(a) does not relate to the carriage of goods,
(b) is not made in connection with a railway administration order, and
(c) is not made in connection with Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1191/69 as amended by
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1893/91 on public service obligations in transport.

Transport security.

Railway heritage.

Aviation, air transport, airports and aerodromes, apart from—
(a) financial assistance to providers or proposed providers of air transport services
or airport facilities or services,
(b) strategies by the Welsh Ministers or local or other public authorities about provision of air services, and
(c) regulation of use of aircraft carrying animals for purpose of protecting human, animal, fish or plant heath, animal welfare or the environment.

Shipping, apart from—
(a) financial assistance for shipping services to, from or within Wales, and
(b) regulation of use of vessels carrying animals for purpose of protecting human, animal, fish or plant heath, animal welfare or the environment.

Navigational rights and freedoms, apart from regulation of works which may obstruct or endanger navigation.

Technical and safety standards of vessels.

Harbours, docks, piers and boatslips, apart from—
(a) those used or required wholly or mainly for the fishing industry, for recreation, or for communication between places in Wales (or for two or more of those purposes), and
(b) regulation for the purposes of protecting human, animal, fish or plant health, animal welfare or the environment.

Carriage of dangerous goods (including transport of radioactive material).

With such an extensive list of exceptions it is ludicrous to make out that the Assembly will be able to make laws on all things that fall under the subject heading of Highways and Transport. Yet the EC’s question clearly states that the Assembly will “be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for”.

It even puts the “all” in bold letters. It’s their emphasis, not mine.

-

So I despair. To put the question in this form is misleading. As I’ve said before, there is no way in which any form of question can encapsulate the complexity of the primary lawmaking powers the Assembly will get after a Yes vote unless it makes reference to Schedule 7 of the GoWA 2006.

Yes, I do recognize that they are attempting to make the question understandable—and that, of course, is a good thing—but they are in fact doing exactly the opposite. They are fuelling confusion.