A fairly self-explanatory question, really; how do you all feel about people using the word "Cymru" instead of "Wales" in English-language conversation or correspondence? Whether that's from an official organisation based in Wales (like the government or the FAW) or just casual conversation?

Read a transciption here:

https://thomaspaine.org/historic-newspapers/wales-commemoration-of-thomas-paines-birthday/

Thought this may be helpful to share this blog post for any parents out there during half term looking for free things to do as life is so expensive right now - these are open all year round. Also, if you have any other suggestions, I would love to hear.

Some unforgettable days up in North wales 🐑🐏🐏🐏🐏😝😝🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Such a beautiful place

When we think of Welsh links to Polar expeditions, we usually think of the Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole, which set out from Cardiff and has a rather nice memorial in Roath Park. But another doomed Polar expedition has a Welsh connection:

The flagship of the Franklin Expedition, which attempted to find a North West Passage over the top of Canada, was built in West Wales. Like the Terra Nova Expedition (which in addition to sailing from Cardiff, flew an early form of the Welsh Flag) it all ended in disaster - but I like to think that wasn’t to do with us.

Gandalf Watercolour by Joshua Morgan, Sketchy Welsh
Tolktober day 24 - Gandalf
Mae’r Gymraeg yn perthyn i’r pridd hwn, i’r ynys hon:
yr iaith hynaf trigolion Prydain -
ac mae’r Gymraeg yn hardd.”

“Welsh is of this soil,
this island,
the senior language of the inhabitants of Britain: and Welsh is beautiful.”
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Haven't been able to stop thinking about North Wales since. My favourite landscape in the UK without a doubt, and everyone I met there was so nice.

By Joshua Morgan, Sketchy Welsh
Stormus: stormy
Bwrw hen wragedd a ffyn: raining old women and sticks (akin to raining cats and dogs)

Diolch bawb!

An archive digital copy of the Guardian UK's front page on Saturday 22nd October 1966, the morning after the Aberfan disaster.

"The third and final day of the Tour de France 2027 Grand Départ will take place in Wales, for a challenging leg south from Welshpool in Powys to the finish in Cardiff.

Eight categorised climbs line the route, with six in the final 80 kilometres of racing as the race winds its way through and over the South Wales valleys.

These include the Côte de Rhigos and the popular Côte de Caerffili in the closing kilometres, that will likely be decisive in the deciding the stage victor in Cardiff and the destination of the final yellow jersey to be presented on British shores in the men’s race."

Looks like they've chosen a great route too, that actually provides some early challenges and opportunities for the General Classification race. These opening weekends outside of France can be fairly straightforward, but this looks like it could be a great attritional early stage to attack before a rest day with 8 categorised climbs covering 3,000m of ascent across a 223km ride.

Basically I have a heavy metal playlist and I was wondering if there are any welsh language metal bands?

On the playlist so far so you get the vibe:

- Kublai Khan tx

- Day to Remember

- SOAD

- Leathargy

- Plot in You

- Volumes

- Boundaries

- Limp Bizkit

- Slaughter Prevail

I'm not after hair metal eg. Guns and Roses, Iron Maiden.

Diolch!

Adding Thank you all for the suggestion, there are some real goodies here that have been added to the list!

Diolch yn fawr

A by-election was held today (22nd October) for the Saron ward on Carmarthenshire County Council. The results were:

Plaid Cymru WIN (previously Labour)

- Plaid Cymru - 397

- Reform UK - 253

- Labour - 159

- Conservatives - 44

- Independent - 41

- Liberal Democrats - 11

Turnout: 26.58%