Mountain fire in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

[Mike Sales]

I see that a big mountain fire has been burning in one of Britain's wettest towns!

Edited.
I remember regular fires on Bangor Mountain (the little hill above Bangor), lit by rascals. Bangor is drier than Blaenau, but fairly damp by British standards.

[Cyril Haearn]

Fairbourne has a problem with water too, the Grauniad reports that it may be the first settlement to be abandoned as the sea rises, there may be problems settling the English-speaking residents in areas where Welsh is dominant
Could they be moved en bloc to Blaenau?
I was surprised that Arthog Community has relatively few Welsh speakers, Fairbourne is the reason
The Grauniad included the customary deliberate mistake, described a model railway at Fairbourne, everyone knows it is a miniature railway!

[Mike Sales]

Fairbourne has a problem with water too, the Grauniad reports that it may be the first settlement to be abandoned as the sea rises, there may be problems settling the English-speaking residents in areas where Welsh is dominant
Could they be moved en bloc to Blaenau?
I was surprised that Arthog Community has relatively few Welsh speakers, Fairbourne is the reason
The Grauniad included the customary deliberate mistake, described a model railway at Fairbourne, everyone knows it is a miniature railway!

Welsh is dominant in Blaenau, perhaps because it is a not very attractive one time quarry town. If you look at the boundary of the Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri you will see it makes a rather pointed detour around the town to avoid including it.

[Cyril Haearn]

I find Blaenau attractive, interesting at least, used to know it well, looked at the one-inch map with old tramways far up into the hills, must be plenty still to explore

Where else might the English-speaking people settle? Is there somewhere suitable in Lincolnshire?

[Mike Sales]

I find Blaenau attractive, interesting at least, used to know it well, looked at the one-inch map with old tramways far up into the hills, must be plenty still to explore

Where else might the English-speaking people settle? Is there somewhere suitable in Lincolnshire?

I fear that the Fens might be only a temporary respite from the sea's advance.

[Mike Sales]

I find Blaenau attractive, interesting at least, used to know it well, looked at the one-inch map with old tramways far up into the hills, must be plenty still to explore

Perhaps it was not raining whilst you were there.
The tour of the underground quarry, Llechwedd, is worthwhile.
We used to have a regular run from Cwm Croesor to Blaenau on quarry tracks which takes you through some fine hill country. We did not find mountain bikes needful.

[Lance Dopestrong]

Fairbourne has a problem with water too, the Grauniad reports that it may be the first settlement to be abandoned as the sea rises...

The same newspaper that recently reviewed a Bentley in their motoring column? I'm sure the sea level dropped by an inch every time their journo revved the motor.

Perhaps Emma Thompson should work for them?

Seems to be a lot of wild grass fires of late. A wave of rampant arson, conducive climactic conditions, or both?

[Mike Sales]

Fairbourne has a problem with water too, the Grauniad reports that it may be the first settlement to be abandoned as the sea rises...

The same newspaper that recently reviewed a Bentley in their motoring column? I'm sure the sea level dropped by an inch every time their journo revved the motor.

Perhaps Emma Thompson should work for them?

Seems to be a lot of wild grass fires of late. A wave of rampant arson, conducive climactic conditions, or both?

You are very keen on sniffing out hypocrisy, and it is certainly an unattractive vice,
It has no implications though for the truth of what they publish. Hypocritical it may be, but the paper publishes more on climate change than most newspapers. Today the Observer published a long article on the implications of climate models for our future. Gloomy reading.

[Cyril Haearn]

Tonfannau Camp near Tywyn might be suitable for New Fairbourne
..
Noticed a lot of semi-pornographic material in the Grauniad recently

[Lance Dopestrong]

You are very keen on sniffing out hypocrisy, and it is certainly an unattractive vice...

Well then, if there wasn't so much cashflow generating hypocrisy out there I'd be a lot better looking.

[Mike Sales]

You are very keen on sniffing out hypocrisy, and it is certainly an unattractive vice...

Well, if there wasn't so much cashflow generating hypocrisy out there I'd be a lot better looking.

Possibly, but there would certainly be fewer voices publicising our coming problems.
Accusers of hypocrisy are always vulnerable to the charge that that would please them.

[Lance Dopestrong]

Ah, you've made yet another assumption, and you're wrong again.

I actually am a Guardian reader, but unlike you I'm not a Guardian sycophant. There's lots to like about the tome, but also lots to dislike, including hypocrisy for the mere sake of commercial expedience.

If you're fine with that, then that's cool by me. You won't find me making derogatory remarks about you simply because you happen to hold a different view. It's just a shame you appear unable to reciprocate such acceptance of other peoples views and have to resort to insults to make your point...a trait that an increasing number of Guardian columnists also seem to be sadly exhibiting in recent years.

[Mike Sales]

Ah, you've made yet another assumption, and you're wrong again.

I actually am a Guardian reader, but unlike you I'm not a Guardian sycophant. There's lots to like about the tome, but also lots to dislike, including hypocrisy for the mere sake of commercial expedience.

If you're fine with that, then that's cool by me. You won't find me making derogatory remarks about you simply because you happen to hold a different view. It's just a shame you appear unable to reciprocate such acceptance of other peoples views and have to resort to insults to make your point...a trait that an increasing number of Guardian columnists also seem to be sadly exhibiting in recent years.

Perhaps you could point out my assumptions?
I don't think that I have made derogatory, ugly accusations.
I certainly agree that the paper can be hypocritical, but I stand by my comment that in spite of this it is one of the few voices publicising climate change, and that it would be a bad thing to have that voice silenced.
I read many more comments from you on the paper's hypocrisy than on the coming climate changes it publicises more than any other organ. What am I to think? The paper has to break even to exist, and I manage to hold my nose over its failings because I am glad it continues to exist.
Is Jesus's line about the first stone relevant? We all have to make compromises to live in this world, I certainly do, don't you?

[Lance Dopestrong]

Well, I think you did, and as you were addressing me it's my opinion that counts. If you don't like what I have to say then please either be polite when responding, or block me.

[Tangled Metal]

Well if everyone is safe in that fugly town then there's some good there at least.

Visited it via little train. Wish we'd stayed on the train and not got off. Still you have to experience things and at least we now know not every town with a strong extraction industrial heritage is worth visiting. If we ever go there again it'll be my car to the out of town quarry centre and never the centre again apart from to drive through as quick as possible. That's from someone with a big interest in extraction industry and its history.

Does that town count as the ugliest town in Wales? Every nation has its ugly (by rep Slough is England's indeed possibly the whole of the UK's), which is the one for Wales?