http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths Sat, 04 Apr 2026 06:04:56 +0100 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/2007/tutorial-for-adding-photo-to-a-blog-using-pc http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/2007
Using Windows Operating System.
If you want to add a photo to a blog this is what you need to do :
Understand the 3 elements involved:
Opening a up new Blog
Locating the Icon for uploading the image
Knowing where to find your image on your PC (recommeded on Desktop, unless you are happy with file and folder structures)

This image inserted below is a screenshot of the desktop - this is where I recommend you save your image - unless you are really comfortable with File/Folder structures for storing your images.

HERE ARE THE TWO SHORT VIDEOS TUTORIALS I HAVE MADE FOR MONA (& others who want to begin uploading photo's in their blogs): You can make this video fit the whole screen by clicking on the icon with 4 arrows, bottom left corner of the video panel. When finished press the ESC key on your keyboard to get back to the normal screen.
1. Shows you where to find the Icon which we need to use to upload the photo.

2. Shows you the steps you need to take again : use the Icon to upload a photo that is located on your desktop . Reinforcing the position of the image into the blog - the space around it in relation to the text.

I hope this has helped, drop me a line or add a comment below if there is anything still puzzling you about the procedure.
If you did find this useful and would like to see this Tutorial Help available as a regular feature on Americymru visit this page and vote for ParaTecVA's suggestion for a new Group here on the Americymru, GowerBizAngel and other techie-types, will do their very best to come to your assistance .
We really do want everyone on Americymru to be able to blog without having hurdles and barriers in their way. x
]]> Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:27:42 +0100 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1991/ameican-ex-pats-in-cardiff http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1991 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:00:10 +0100 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1822/evan-walters-the-coal-miner-turned-artist http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1822 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:34:03 +0100 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1801/oystermouth-castle-mumbles-nears-opening-date http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1801 Oystermouth Castle in Wales The Castle is now open and you can read more about it via this link. Glass bridge up as Castle nears summer opening.

A SPECTACULAR 30-foot high glass bridge has been installed at
Oystermouth Castle as the historic attraction heads towards a summer
opening next month.

The glass viewing platform will give access to a part of the castle
called Alina's Chapel for the first time in hundreds of years. [Alina de Mowbray,daughter of William de Braose Lord of Gower, inherited the Lordship in 1327].

The chapel was added to the castle in the 14th Century and marks the
attraction's highest architectural point. It also includes a tracery
window with views over Swansea Bay.

Swansea Council is behind the conservation of Oystermouth Castle for future generations to enjoy thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Welsh Assembly Government through Cadw and the European Regional Development Fund.

The Friends of Oystermouth Castle are also actively supporting the
delivery of this project.

The first phase of the conservation scheme at Oystermouth Castle is
nearing completion and also includes upgraded visitor facilities, an
educational space and access improvements.

An event is being planned for the castle opening in July when the first
phase of works is complete. Other conservation works will then continue at the attraction.

Cllr Chris Holley, Swansea Council Leader, said: "The glass viewing
platform looks fantastic and it's wonderful news that Alina's Chapel
will soon be available for the public to see for the first time in
hundreds of years.

"Oystermouth Castle is one of our finest historic gems and this
conservation scheme means many future generations will be able to make the most of what's a fantastic attraction."

The castle currently welcomes about 5,000 visitors a year but the target is to attract many more by 2014.

A Castle Community Officer has also been appointed to engage with
community groups and deliver a wide range of community activities.

Courtesy of Ioan Richard, Lord Mayor of Swansea May 2011 Associated Article: Spooky Goings-on at Oystermouth Castle ]]> Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:28:35 +0100 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1772/almost-700-years-since-the-death-of-princess-gwenllian-daughter-of-llywelyn-ap-gruffydd http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1772 Er fod yna ddefodau sifalri a chanu cerddi yn y Brydain Ganol oesol yr oedd yn gyfnod o greulondeb dwys a chaledi mawr. Yr oedd Lloegr benben Chymru ar rhannau Celtaidd eraill o Brydain. Erbyn 1282, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd (ein Llyw Olaf) oedd Tywysog Cymru, yr oedd o hen linach Tywysogion Gwynedd. Yn 1278 priododd Llywelyn ag Eleanor do Montfort mewn seremoni ar risiau allanol Eglwys Gadeiriol Caerwrangon mewn briodas frenhinol. Roedd Brenin Alecsander yr Alban yno, a Brenin Lloegr, y Norman Edward 1, a roddodd anregion cymwys i ddathlur amgylchiad. Ond nid oedd parhad ir cyfeillgarwch yma.
Ym Mehefin 1282, yng Ngarth Celyn, Aber ger Bangor (maer llen dal i fod) ganwyd merch i Eleanor ar Tywysog Llywelyn Y Dywysoges Gwenllian. Tristwch fu marw Eleanor o achosion rhoi genedigaeth. Fel unig blentyn Llywelyn yr oedd i Gwenllian le pwysig iawn yn olyniaeth teulu Tywysogion Cymru, oherwydd hyn yr oedd Edward 1 yn ei gweld yn fygythiad i Goron Lloegr. Pan oedd Gwenllian yn 6-12 mis oed trefnodd Edward i Lywelyn gael ei lofruddio ger Llanfair-ym-Muallt, ac yna gorchmynodd y Brenin ir ferch fach amddifad gael ei chipio oddiwrth ei theulu.
Er mwyn sicrhau na chai Gwenllian eni plant fei hanfonwyd i Briordy o Urdd Gilbert ar dir Abaty Sempringham ynghanol corsdiroedd Swydd Lincoln, taith hirfaith o Gymru.
Bu farw yno am 54 o flynyddoedd yn lleian: yn ddi-urddas, di-wrogaeth hyd ei marw 7 Mehefin, 1337. A oedd hin gwybod pwy oedd hi? Pwy wyr?
Yr oedd Edward yn benderfynol y dylid anghofio Gwenllian, i ni, fuodd hin ddim mwy nag is-nodyn bach ar waelod tudalen mewn llyfrau hanes. Does fawr ddim oi hanes ar gael wahan i ddyddiad ac amser ei marw.
Ond yn 1991 ysgrifennodd Byron Rogers y newyddiadurwr ar hanesydd erthygl am Wenllian yn y Guardian. Darllenodd Capten Richard Turner, Caernarfon, hen longwr bywiog a phenderfynol yr erthygl, a theimlodd ir byw fod y rhan yma on hanes wedi ei gadw oddiwrthym. Aeth Capten ati i godi cofeb fach i Wenllian ar dir ger safler Priordy ger Abaty Sempringham. Mae mur gogleddol a chorff eglwys Sant Andreas heddiw yn rhan or hen Abaty.
Yn 1996 adeg marw Capten Turner, gweithredwyd ar y syniad o sefydlu Cymdeithas y Dwysoges Gwenllian; gydar nd o ofalu am y Gofeb ac i gadwr cof amdani yn fyw.
Erbyn 2001 roedd y gofeb yn dadfeilio a chodwyd cofeb newydd iddi ar yr un safle, darn hardd o Wenithfaen gadarn Gwynedd. Mae hi iw gweld ychydig ir do o Billingborough ar y ln gul syn arwain or B1177 at Eglwys Sat Andreas syn dal i ddwyn yr enw Abaty Sempringham ar lafar gwlad.
Gwaith Ieuan Rees y cain-lythrennwr byd-enwog ywr Gofeb newydd, fei codwyd mewn ymteb i haelioni pobl o bob rhan or byd: pobl sydd yn teimlo colli hanes ein Tywysoges Goll a fu mor agos cael ei llwyr angofio. Os hoffech fwy o wybodaeth ac i gefnogi'r Gymdeithas gyda tanysgrifiad o 10 y flwyddyn, ewch i'r wefan: http://www.tywysogesgwenllian.co.uk
Fe wnes i ddarganfod y wybodaeth hon mewn papurau a etifeddais gan fy mam ar eimarwolaeth . Hi oedd yn selog Genedlaethol ac yr wyf am sicrhau bod ei hawydd iledaenu'r wybodaeth hon ymhellach i ffwrdd , ei gyflawni . Nid oes gennyf enw'r awdurgwreiddiol ac felly ni allaf credyd nhw .
Ewchi wefan:mae'ncael ei lenwigydagwybodaethardderchogac rwy'ngobeithio y bydd ynysbrydolichigymaintagyysbrydolifi,aysbrydolwydfy mamger fy mron. ]]> Mon, 16 May 2011 10:15:56 +0100 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1677/swansea-universitys-innovation-centre http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1677 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:22:27 +0100 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1673/the-dylan-thomas-centre-swansea http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1673 The city is surely going to look a little bizarre, to put it mildly, in the eyes of the wider world if it is seen to have abandoned the Dylan Thomas Centre ~ Supporters' letter
The letter states since the centre was opened 17 years ago by former US president Jimmy Carter it had delivered a programme of literary and artistic events "unparalleled for its variety and excellence by any other arts venue in the United Kingdom". It adds: "The centre has celebrated the literary arts of Wales, in addition to music, drama and the visual arts, and has attracted to Swansea a panoply of internationally renowned writers who, returning home, have burnished the renown of Swansea and Wales in all parts of the world." The signatories, who also include Hollywood actor Michael Sheen, theatre director Michael Bogdanov and Thomas's son Colm, say with the 100th anniversary of the poet's birth in 2014 a trust would be the best way to safeguard its future. "Plans are currently being laid, locally and nationally, for celebrations of the 100th anniversary," they added. "The city is surely going to look a little bizarre, to put it mildly, in the eyes of the wider world if it is seen to have abandoned the Dylan ThomasCentre on the eve of this major national and international celebration." Writers, actors and musicians have signed the letter.
Last year Swansea council and universities revealed plans to transform the centre into a "cultural and enterprise hub" for creative industries. But in response to the letter the council said it was "making serious and significant preparations" for the anniversary with the Welsh Assembly Government and other partners. "The Dylan Thomas Centre is not threatened with closure," said a spokesman. "A joint venture alongside the University of Wales will allow us to secure its future during these difficult economic times when finance is limited. We are working very closely with our partners to make sure that the Dylan Thomas exhibition is refreshed and improved ~ Spokesman Swansea council "We are working very closely with our partners to make sure that the Dylan Thomas exhibition is refreshed and improved. "The current proposal is that the exhibition will remain at the centre permanently although we are jointly working with the University of Wales on the fine detail. The spokesman added that the centenary of Dylan Thomas' birth was a "fantastic opportunity for Swansea to celebrate his life and works". ]]> Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:14:36 +0100 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1590/cor-cymru-2011 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1590 Nos Sadwrn 19:45
Nos Sul s4c.co.uk/corcymru Daw'r corau gorau ynghyd i gystadlu am deitl Cr cymru 2011 19:30
Saturday 19:45
Sunday s4c.co.uk/corcymru ]]> Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:20:55 +0000 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1553/dydd-gwyl-dewi-hapus-i-bawb-teach-your-kids-to-speak-welsh http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1553 On St David's Day 1990 my daughter had her picture taken in school to celebrate the event ... this is happening NOW in schools across Wales. Little ones are being photographed in Welsh National Costume and are being reminded of their Welsh heritage and I hope the whole of the school day is being devoted to this necessary activity. My daughter happened to be born in St John's Hospital Chelmsford in Essex because at that time I was working as a Lecturer at Braintree College. By the time she was two-and-half years old we returned to Wales because I felt very strongly that she should have the opportunity to develop strong bonds with her Welsh family, and she should learn to speak Welsh. It was an easy decision when she reached three years old, to send her to the local Welsh Nursery despite the fact she hadn't heard Welsh spoken (apart from brief visits back to Mamgu in Ystradgynlais, while on holiday) . When the opportunity arrived for her to attend full-time education at the age of three-and-a-half years old she automatically entered the Welsh School. It was amusing to hear her speak English with an Essex accent, imagine my joy and amusement then when she began to sing Welsh traditional children's songs like 'Ar Lan Y Mor' , ' Gee geffyl bach ', 'Me welais Jac a do', 'Un bys, dau fys, tri bys yn dawnsio' ! Young children are capable of incredible feats of learning if all the right factors are in place: most prominent of all is the loving encouragement of the family. At the end of the first term in the Welsh School at Rhydaman she had acquired not only the ability to speak Welsh fluently but to read, comprehend and write fluently too! Thanks to Mrs Adams athrawes dosbarth y babanod, wife of the local vet, who patiently took charge of Cerys' Welsh language education. She loved you SO much! Mission successful! I have many interesting Welsh flavoured videos to recommend to you today, to celebrate Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant.

Follow me too! My Business Website 1 My Business Website 2 My Posterous Blog ]]> Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:01:58 +0000 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1532/around-the-world-in-welsh-copper http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1532 When did copper become such big business in Wales? Parallel developments in several industries led to Welsh copper being put on the map and its trade taking off on a global scale. New technologies such as the introduction of the reverberatory furnace, which could produce refined copper in quantities that were commercially profitable, in addition to the deregulation of metal mining by the Crown (towards the end of the 17 th century) led to increased prospection and the reopening of the old copper mines in north and central Wales. The Anglesey mines on Parys Mountain from the 1760 were to become the largest copper ore producers in the world in the late 18 th century. The world-famous Cornish and west Devonian tin mines were also accompanied by large-scale copper production, and this drove much of the early growth in the industry they were early adopters of steam-driven technology (beam engines) to gain access to a massive wealth of metal ore miles underground. Some of these Cornish mining magnates, such as the Vivians, became the famous copper families of Wales as they invested in, and established, smelting works in Neath and Swansea. Neath, Swansea, Llanelli and other urban centres all had access to sea-going coastal and international trade routes, as well as access to the all-important coalfields in the valleys to the north, and so they proved to be the most strategically important centres for copper smelting from the 18 th to the early 20 th centuries as. Towns like Swansea were also well-placed to profit from the large-scale export of coal abroad. Between 1760 and 1890 the Lower Swansea and Neath valleys became the pre-eminent centres for producing the world's smelted copper, and during the late-18 th century up to 40 per cent of this output was exported to overseas markets, notably in Asia and the Atlantic world. In turn, the growing demand for copper encouraged prospecting overseas and by the mid-19 th century new ores were being brought to Wales from as far away as Chile, Cuba and South Australia. What impact did the copper industry have on Wales and the rest of the world? The trade in ores and refined copper grew hand-in-hand with other British maritime commerce. Swansea copper barques circled the globe to bring ore from Valparaiso, Santiago de Cuba, and Adelaide. Refined copper also formed an important part of the East India Companys international trade. Swansea sailors were known as Cape Horners in recognition of their long voyages around Cape Horn (the most southerly point of South America). But there was a darker side to the success of this global commerce. Demand for copper also fuelled the Atlantic Slave Trade. Slave labour was employed in New World mines, particularly in Cuba, many of which were financed by Welsh industrialists who demanded cheaper ores for import to the smelting works in Wales. The canal and rail network connected producers, manufacturers and consumers like never before, multiplying the opportunities for entrepreneurship and profiteering. Copper-bottomed ships gave the British navy the ultimate advantage at Trafalgar as the sheet metal made them more manoeuvrable and protected the timbers of the hull from deterioration. The early days of telegraph communication relied on copper wire for long-distance contact (and we still largely rely on it today). The refined copper was essential to other industries such as tinplating (which also took place in South Wales, centred at Llanelli), and even its by-products were used, such as sulphuric acid for removing impurities and corrosion from steel, copper and other metal sheets (known as pickling). The copper slag that was produced after smelting formed useful building materials as it was dense and hard. You can see this dark, hard stone in many of the walls and houses in and around Swansea, for example. It was not just industrial products that benefited from this copper. Mass production techniques which were developing elsewhere in Britain revolutionised consumer products and drove more demand for materials. Two such centres were Birmingham and Sheffield which produced items such as moulded copper saucepans, ormolu ornaments, brass buttons and silver plated cutlery. This made desirable possessions available to a much wider variety of people, particularly the growing middle classes of the Industrial Revolution period. These finished products were also exported to Japan, Italy, France and beyond. Welsh copper could also be found in much of the coinage of the day, particularly that produced at Birminghams Soho Mint. This gradual globalising of the Welsh copper industry had a very profound impact upon the social, cultural, and urban development of South Wales. Swansea was the crucible of this industrial development and it enjoyed a pre-eminent status as a world industrial centreit is still referred to as Copperopolis today. The Lower Swansea valley area has been described by one historian as hosting the most highly concentrated major British industry in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and it is arguably as significant as Coalbrookdale in the history of British economic development. The wealth that was created from copperworking made a big contribution to the cultural heritage of Wales, particularly in the urban centres. Planned workers housing, provided by copper magnates to their workers is still lived in today. Singleton Abbey, built in the Victorian Gothic style, and the founding building of Swansea University in 1920, was originally built as a mansion for well-known copper magnate John Henry Vivian. The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery in Swansea city centre was founded by Johns fourth son, Richard Glynn Vivian in 1911 after he bequeathed his extensive collection of fine and decorative arts to the city. When did copperworking fade from the landscape? As new coal sources were discovered overseas, particularly in North America, new smelting centres were set up nearer to the sources of copper in being produced in South America and Australia. The quantities of ore coming into Wales for processing began to decline from the last decades of the 19 th century. Much of the expertise and skilled work needed for this caused a wave of migration from Wales to Australia and the USA. Unlike other industries, the decline in smelting activity was gradual. The last copper smelting company in Wales, Yorkshire Imperial Metals, finally closed its doors at the Hafod Copperworks site in 1981, but the heritage of the metallurgical industries still remains in South Wales, most notably at Port Talbots steelworks, now owned by the Indian multinational, Tata Steel. However, much before this time, communities who lived near copperworking began to realise the devastation that the industry had caused to the environment and landscape. The industrial health hazards associated with smelting prompted a string of litigation against owners from the latter half of the 19 th century onwards, and by the end of the Second World War, very few people cared about the once great status enjoyed by copper-producing areas. In Swansea, this led to a campaign of reclamation (the Lower Swansea Valley Project) which began in 1961. The moonscape left by the smelting processes was slowly greened. Today you can see conifer plantations and lush green grass covering the once parched hills and river banks. The river is home to fish and aquatic species again, and is no longer the orange slick it once was. Ironically, amongst all this foliage, a few remains of the old copperworkings in the city can just be seen and are in danger of collapse, and so there is renewed interest in the history of the industry and the impact it had on Wales and the rest of the world. *The United Nations determines the status of industrial nations by comparing the numbers of people who work in industry (such as mining, processing, manufacturing and transportation) with those who work in agriculture. When the numbers in industry outweigh those in agriculture, a nation can be defined as industrialised. The 1851 census suggests that this happened in Wales before anywhere else Read all about 'Copperopolis' Hafod, Landore, Swansea our heritage in copper smelting and exporting, from an interactive source on the CCS website. ]]> Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:22:43 +0000 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1376/events-of-18th-december-damage-limitation-to-person-and-property http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1376 EARLY MORNING SUNLIGHT BRAKING ON THE FARM TRACK - OH'S FOOTRPINTS IN SNOW WHEN I SAW THE ROAD LEADING TO OUR FARM TRACK I REALISED OH HAD NOT DRIVEN HOME, OR TAKEN A TAXI HE HAD WALKED HOME! MIST AND SNOW ON MOORLAND OUTSIDE THE FARMHOUSE. I took these photo's with my iPhone so they aren't the best quality photos but too good not to share with you. It's a beautifully sunny day now so I expect we will attempt to take the three Yorkies to the beach a little later for a full blown blast to get rid of some of their energy: otherwise we'll have to endure their antics indoors while they expend some of it by racing from room to room chasing each other! Wish us luck either way! ]]> Sat, 18 Dec 2010 13:23:58 +0000 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1337/not-many-people-know-this-fact-a-great-daughter-of-wales http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1337 J. K. ROWLING ! ! !
Joanne Kathleen Rowling left Wales to head for the lights of Exeter, and a place at University aged 18 years old!
The rest is history as they say ....






She's one of my favourite children's authors. I was first introduced to her when my own daughter was absolutely bewitched by her books. She would sit and read without pause for food or drink, until the book was finished ... you could say she was totally obsessed with J K Rowling and her Harry Potter stories.
My involvement in teaching IT to Primary School children in an After School Club gave me the perfect opportunity to delve into the world of Harry Potter too. I used the online chat room and gaming website, produced for fans of HP by WarnerBros, to teach my students how to used IT skills safely. My students loved the experience of playing Quiddich online and chatting to other school children in the States, who were equally involved with the Harry Potter phenomenon.
Did you know JK's formative years were spent in Wales, so I'm inclined to call her a 'Cymraes', .... anyone know if she learned to speak Welsh?
I took a quick look at her Social Media presence but it's rather disappointing on Twitter @jk_rowling ... nothing happening there at all!
N.B. I am taking someone, who is probably the only-living-soul-on-the-planet who hasn't read one of her books or watched one of her films, to the cinema in 2 hrs time to see the new film called "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows".
Excitement mounts ....... for me anyway! ]]> Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:49:12 +0000 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1329/of-all-the-blogs-that-i-have-posted-this-is-the-most-important http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1329 But this is something we should not allow to pass us by.
We wouldn't allow our children to talk to strangers and share personal details about themselves to strangers, but everyday young children, some as young as 10 years old are doing just that ... right under the noses of their parents.
I'm not about to make judgements about the quality of parenting taking place.
I just want to implore you to pass this video information on to your family and extended family. If you are a grandparent or a parent please sit down with your grandchild or child to watch this short video and TALK through the issues with them.
In the UK we have CEOP (Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre) and there are numerous agencies in the US along with individuals who lead the cause such as Chris T Burgess and Mary Kay Hoal .
These are very good starting points if you are concerned about the danger to our children ... they are all our children really, and we need to watch out for them, because sometimes they get themselves into serious danger very easily. The Internet is a wonderful resource but children need intensive education from a very early age in order to become SAVVY and SAFE.
The video below should hit the message home to your young children ... but only if they see it!


If there is anything more you need to know please feel free to ask me. Be assured everything we speak about will be in the strictest confidence.
I am a busy entrepreneur but nothing is more important to me than protecting our children in cyberspace from predators and from bullies.
I can provide you with more useful contacts in the US through my friends in the field, so please do ask.
Warmest wishes.

]]> Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:29:34 +0000 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1323/devolving-more-powers-to-the-welsh-assembly-is-a-necessity http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1323 ]]> Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:20:03 +0000 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1300/sinners-on-fairwood-common http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1300
I love driving over Fairwood Common where our local airport is to be found and where there is a fair amount of activity despite it being closed to passenger traffic. It still takes private jets as and when required, and no doubt this is where Catherine Zeta lands hers when she pops over the pond for a quick visit to the family in Mumbles.
This is where the Air Ambulance Service resides. I think it's the main base in South Wales. It is very reassuring for residents of Gower to know that the AAS is close at hand: it would take a NHS ambulance 20 - 30 minutes to arrive from Singleton Hospital depending on traffic. The service recently came to the assistance of a neighbouring farmer when he accidentally tipped over a quad-bike that he was driving over his land, it resulted in his leg being trapped and crushed by the vehicle. I called the AAS and they arrived less than 5 minutes later. Within 12 minutes Mr Farmer was in surgery having an operation to save his leg.



You need lots of luck if you are a wild animal roaming on Fairwood Common. The Commoners on Gower graze their livestock on the land, a right that is passed down through the generations. The Commoners cattle and horses roam at will and move from Fairwood Common through the lanes to other favourite grazing and watering holes. Here on Welshmoor we find more than a dozen wild ponies and a herd of cattle numbering between 15 - 20.
It's a sin: there isn't a traffic speed limit on the Fairwood Common. This results in carnage ! Last month two beautiful wild ponies were killed by vehicles. It seems that when drivers hit the Fairwood Road they think they're on Highway 66 - sight of the expanse of road ahead appears to send their brains into a whirl and feet automatically hit the 'gas'. I know this feeling, it surges when crossing the cattle-grid in Upper Killay and one has to rein it in else the 'demon speed-king' takes over where common-sense should prevail.
I am glad to say I haven't been involved in an accident involving one of the commoners animals, but I have had a close call.



This herd of wild horses loves to graze outside my front farmyard gate.
I am a very careful driver, travelling at about 30 mph on the A4118 because I know commoners animals graze on Fairwood. However despite this caution I had a very near miss when a beautiful jet black horse leapt from the two-foot bank of earth which runs alongside the Fairwood Road, and flew across the bonnet of my Fiesta, to land on the opposite side of the road. It was late at night and I was travelling with headlights on full beam, so I truly believe that that horse could see me approaching.
I didn't see it in the coal-black darkness of the night, as it took-off from the small bank of ground to my left, cleared the bonnet of the car and landed safely in the opposite lane! The horse seemed to time the jump to perfection. It glided over the bonnet, it was so close that I could see it's fully-stretched body glistening with moisture.
I have to admit I was shaken and in a state of such disbelief that I turned the car around and went back to check that the horse actually existed and wasn't a figment of my imagination! I found it grazing with the rest of the group and it appeared quite unperturbed.
Gower is now much quieter than in the height of the tourist season and so I hope that this means those people who drive along Fairwood Common are predominantly locals travelling to work and back again. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the 'surf dudes' who play at Llangennith, Caswell and Langland will keep a cool head when travelling to their favourite surfing haunts too, in order to 'catch a wave'. Both these groups of people should know that there are huge risks awaiting them on the A4118 if they persist in driving at great speed. And for the visitors to Gower? They will have to wait until Swansea Council takes the danger more seriously and places a road-side alert at the entrance to Gower.





]]> Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:57:17 +0000 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1297/winner-of-the-2010-gower-shutterbugs-competition http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1297 Alan is a landscape gardener by craft and works for the local council on their estate lands and urban community gardens. He's a very modest kind of guy who has taught himself the skills of photography in his spare time. He absolutely loves Gower that is obvious from the collection of his photographs that capture Gower landmarks. His other passion is orchids and he's in the very lucky position of being able to photograph those that are to be found in the Swansea Botanical Gardens at Singleton Park, because this is where he is based as a landscape gardener.
He is a very keen amateur photographer who doesn't display his work in a gallery or on a personal website - though some of his work can be seen on Flickr .
Something tells me that pretty soon he's going to have lots more light shining on his work as a result of winning the Gower Shutterbugs Competition.

This is what you have been waiting for, the winning photograph:




If you would prefer to view it in a separate browser window click here. Then click back in the browser to return to read on.
Peninsular Business Services Ltd (that's me) sponsor and organiser of the competition collaborated with The Bay Bistro Coffee House Rhossili where Alan Gregg's photograph will hang for all to see. Alan and his wife will enjoy dinner here as part of his prize.
The Bay Bistro is a favourite of visitors to Gower who pilgrimage to The Worm's Head to take in it's power and beauty. I imagine ten's of thousands of photographs exist of this phenomenon, how many are equal to Alan's shot, not that many methinks.
So today 29th October we met at the bistro to award Alan his Certificate of Achievement and it was kindly presented by His Worshipful The Lord Mayor of Swansea, Cllr Richard Lewis. The South Wales Evening Post newspaper covered the event.

Please comment and share your views on this winning photograph. I will pass on all your kind wishes to Alan and prompt him to set up a profile here on Americymru so that you can view future images from his portfolio.
Many thanks to Americymru (Ceri Shaw) for partnering with Peninsular Business Services (me - aka @LadyBizBiz on Twitter) for this great event.
There - all done for this year - now I'm off to begin considering which establishment might partner with me for next years event - somewhere in Mumbles perhaps, or Cheriton, or Stembridge, or Port Eynon ..... or ......

]]> Fri, 29 Oct 2010 19:11:27 +0100 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1270/heres-one-i-shot-earlier-at-caswell-bay http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1270 We have been making the most of the glorious late Autumn sunshine here on Gower.
As soon as the dog-ban is lifted on the wonderful beaches we take the three Yorkies down to the local beaches for a blast on the expanse of sand at low tide. Many are less than 10 minutes drive by car.
The fishermen were hoping to catch Bass on Caswell Bay .... yesterday we talked to fishermen on the pier alongside where the Cork Ferry docks in Swansea Docks, and they were catching Ray, Plaice and Eels!
I love this photo and I hope you like it too!
Rhianne ]]> Tue, 12 Oct 2010 22:45:00 +0100 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1185/epitaffy http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1185 When I'm getting ancient and fading away,I'll think on those fine views across Swansea Bay.First is the one from the Western Dock,right across the bay, towards Knab Rock.Then there's the view from Oystermouth,That'll draw your eyes to north, east, and south.I'll steal a glance at Mumbles' bright lightthat guide ships home throughout day and night,then look inland towards Blackpill,past the Civic Centre and up to Townhill.There's the classical front of Swansea Museum,where famous bones merit queues just to see 'em.But I'll forego a view of the Centre of Leisure -it's not an image of Swansea I treasure,with imitation waves that no one can ride -what's wrong with the real ones, just outside?I'll picture the sands and the open sewer -for hundreds of years the bay hasn't been pure.There's the outfall pipe polluting the oceans,where some daily swam (or went through the motions).These views inspired poets who stood on this shore -Watkins, Thomas, Jenkins, Landor.This panorama to us meant so much,before some moved east, at fame for to clutch.So give me these views in my final hourof Swansea - my hometown in Wales, and my Gower.
Dai Verse, June 2009 altered~ from the 'Gower Society Newsletter' Spring 2010]]> Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:26:59 +0100 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1184/edgar-evans-of-gower-south-pole-explorer-18-january-1912 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1184 A hundred years ago in June, a Gower man sailed on a voyage from which he never returned. Not a rare occurrence sadly, as many graves in Gower churches testify. But this particular man was part of what has been described as 'one of the most heroic exploits of the British race'. He was of course Petty Officer Edgar Evans from Rhossili, who sailed from Cardiff in the Terra Nova on 15 June 1910, and was among the five men, including Captain Robert Falcon Scott , who stood at the South Pole on 18 January 1912, before all perished on the return journey to their base camp.
There are memorials to Edgar Evans in Rhossili church and in Swansea Museum. He is the subject of articles in Gower journals volumes 7, 44,and 45, and the Gower Society brought out an illustrated publication Edgar Evans of Gower in 2008. In similar format to the publications about Churches, Caves, and Castles of Gower, it is available in local shops or from the Gower Society Website .
This extract appears courtesy of The Gower Society.
Evans is also the subject of the book Swansea's Antartic Explorer, on sale at West Glamorgan Archives in the Civic Centre at 7.50.
Interesting images below: 'Scott's Expedition 1912' by Allan Hunter
]]> Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:28:05 +0100 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1174/blas-or-maes-national-eisteddfod http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1174 Blaenau Gwent a Blaenau'r Cymoedd yw cartref Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru eleni. Yr Eisteddfod yw un or wyliau celfyddydol mawr y byd, ac fe'i chynheir o 31 Gorffennaf i Awst yn y Gweithfeydd, Glyn Edwy.
Blaenau Gwent and the Heads of the Valleys is the home of this year's National Eisteddfod - one of the world's greatest cultural festivals - held at The Works, Ebbw Vale, from July 31 to August 7.
Yn gerddoriaeth, dawns, celf, perfformiadau gwreiddiol, gwethgareddau teuluol neu'n gystadlaethau, mae rhywbeth i bawb o bob oed yn yr Edisteddfod Genedlaethol, a chyda thros 160,000 o ymwelwyr bob blwyddyn, mae'n lle arbennig o dda i gyfarfod a hen ffrindiau - a gwneud ffrindiau newydd!
Music, dance, visual arts, original performances, family activities..., there's something for everyone at the National Edisteddfod, and with more than 160,000 visitors every year, it's a great place to meet up with old friends and make new ones.
Gallwch ein dilyn ar Facebook ac ar Twitter .

]]> Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:58:55 +0100 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1172/celtic-manor-hotel-ryder-cup-2010 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1172 THE CELTIC MANOR HOTEL : Sir Terry Matthews
He thinks it's worth spending 30 million on bringing the Ryder Cup to Wales. The economic benefit to Wales is difficult to measure, suffice to say, it will bring a huge influx of visitors and their cash.
The global entrepreneur is currently in Wales attempting to deal with the planning application which has been refused on the ancient house known as Little Bulmore Farmhouse. It sits adjacent to the 2010 Golf House, soon to be home to the largest names in golf.
The public spat with the council over the ruin has hit the headlines in all the Welsh press . I visited the site two weeks ago to look at the ancient Little Bulmore Farmhouse and I have to admit it does sit very close indeed to the golf house. Unfortunately it appears to have had an incredibly unsympathetic extension added at some stage in it's past which is completely hideous. I cannot fathom why such an extension on a 17th century building, could have been acceptable to the planners at that time. The planning application applied for by Celtic Manor to demolish the building before the Ryder Cup, was refused, read the Planning Application here .
The building is totally overgrown with shrubs and climbing plants and it looks at some stage to have been set alight as the exposed roof trusses are charred black. The front of the building ( visible here ) with it's stone mullioned windows, is in my opinion, very interesting indeed, and could certainly have been enhanced by a sympathetic architect.
I really don't understand why the Folk Museum haven't shown an interest in this Grade 2 listed 17th centuary farmhouse. Why didn't they agree to take it away and re-build it at Amgueddfa Werin Cymru ? So, will this be resolved before the Ryder Cup, who knows?
I may be day-dreaming but when the Americans arrive, what do you imagine they will think of the historic listed building, because I think they'll find it quite charming!
]]> Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:52:38 +0100 http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1084/well-did-you-ever-my-home-town-choir http://americymrunet.jamroomhosting.com/rhianne-griffiths/blog/1084 My mother Mair Griffiths of Glanrhyd, before passing away a few months ago, was a President of the choir and one of their biggest fans, travelling all over the world to support the boys from Ystrad. I have attended a fair few concerts myself too and have known many of the choir members all my life. I lived next to Rhydian Griffiths the Secretary for more than 7 years and what a stirling job he has done over the years in organising the concerts we all love.
Oh! to be able to attend their forthcoming concerts in the States .... I can highly recommend them and despite being smaller in number than at any time in their recent past - numbers once reached 100+, they will give you a night to remember for a very long time!
xXx to the boys (now mostly retired gents actually), from Ystrad!
Rhianne Griffiths
This is an interesting link that people might like to look at: photo's of Ystrad Past and Present ]]> Thu, 13 May 2010 21:33:35 +0100