Cyril Haearn wrote:pwa wrote:Paulatic wrote:I struggle with Wales and Welsh people. I occasionally try with it again and again. I've discovered some bits I've enjoyed but they've been on a day trip out of Shropshire. Maybe my experiences have been unfortunate.
1957 :A weeks holiday in Llandudno and it rained heavily every day.
1972: A college advisor was working closely with my flock at the time. She was from Sth Wales and was friendly enough. One day she had her mother with her. Both could speak English but the whole visit they spoke Welsh to each other. Fair enough it was their language but I couldn't help but find it off putting.
1976: I read "I bought a Mountain" by Thomas Firbank. Inspired by the book we set off one day to visit Snowdon and see the farm. First stop was a shop in Conwy to buy stuff for a picnic. It was obviously ' a local shop for local people' and we couldn't get out fast enough. Second stop, a heavily puddled gravel are, for a picnic. A miserable farmer type turned up and wanted 40p for the pleasure. Third stop we thought we'd take the kids up the mountain railway until we saw the price and the wait. Thankfully there was a cheaper one along the flat.
2005: A bike ride got me to Connaghs Quay.Found a cafe and I didn't think I looked that odd but I'm sorry now to have troubled them.
2016: Had the caravan at Chirk and I was beginning to warm to the area. Best pork pies ever! However a visit to Chirk castle altered things slightly. We walked in from Chirk arriving a back way and bypassing the Car Park. A very Welsh lady met us and insisted we must have walked past a sign. No matter how pleasant I tried to remain she was adamant. Even to this day I doubt she would admit she was wrong. I double checked my facts on the way out.
So I hope you can see,from the experiences I've had, my point of view.
I'm going to stay near Chepstow in a few weeks time ......fingers crossed
Relax a bit and it will be okay. Mostly English around Chepstow anyway!
I've lived in South Wales, near Bridgend, for about 26 years. Very little Welsh is spoken down here.
.. .
It's a bit different at the "top" of Wales. The people are friendly if one bothers to pronounce the place names properly. And more Welsh is being spoken in the south, all the children learn it in school
I dont agree with that, apart from certain areas with bilingual or Welsh medium schools they are merely taught Welsh but do not learn it.