Monday, June 30, 2025

Here comes the Summer!


 It's arrived! Summer hits the West Coast of Swansea at last! 



Pale sallow boys with no chest hair wearing shorts and faux Ray-bans

Kids building Sandcastles

Sun glistening on the oggin

Young girls almost wearing bikinis

Year 11 leavers roaming in tribes of boys, and separately, girls

Codgers too old to care in huts in deckchairs

Revellers frolicking in the surf

Mumbles Mums @ Mumbles corner competing for the skimpiest thong prize

Not a cloud in the sky (I lied)

Oh, and plonkers on jetskis

Bring on 2 more months of this.


Those Darned Ruskies


The story of The Rus is a great tale of adventure & derring do. 

From Wiki:-

'The Rus', were a people in early medieval Eastern Europe. The scholarly consensus holds that they were originally Norsemen, mainly originating from present-day Sweden, who settled and ruled along the river-routes between the Baltic and the Black Seas from around the 8th to 11th centuries AD.'

There is a heck of a lot more boring stuff on that page, but I'll spare you. 

Soon, the preferred term for these bloodthirsty freebooters became 'Varangians'.

'The Varangians are first mentioned in the Primary Chronicle as having exacted tribute from the Slavic and Finnic tribes in 859. It was the time of rapid expansion of the Vikings' presence in Northern Europe; England began to pay Danegeld in 865,and the Curonians faced an invasion by the Swedes around the same time.'

As well as stealing Kyiv, The Rus travelled at least as far as Constantinople, where the emperor was so impressed with their valor & fighting prowess that he employed them as his personal guard. Known as 'The Varangian Guard' these badasses were feared far & wide.

The Rus' provided the earliest members of the Varangian Guard. They were in Byzantine service from as early as 874. The Guard was first formally constituted under Emperor Basil II in 988, following the Christianization of Kievan Rus' by Vladimir I of Kiev. Vladimir, who had recently taken control of Kiev with an army of Varangian warriors, sent 6,000 men to Basil as part of a military assistance agreement. Basil's distrust of the native Byzantine guardsmen, whose loyalties often shifted with fatal consequences, as well as the proven loyalty of the Varangians, many of whom had previously served in Byzantium, led the Emperor to employ them as his personal guardsmen.

An idea of their exploits is given here by wiki, again. I love the nutty names, & the continent  spanning interconnectivity of them all. I can recommend the Wiki about them here Varangian_Guard

The Swedish king Anund Jakob wanted to assist Yaroslav the Wise, Grand prince of Kiev, in his campaigns against the Pechenegs. The so-called Ingvar the Far-Travelled, a Swedish Viking who wanted to conquer Georgia, also assisted Yaroslav with 3000 men in the war against the Pechenegs; however, he later continued on to Georgia. Yaroslav the Wise married the Swedish king's daughter, Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden, who became the Russian saint, Anna, while Harald Hardrada, the Norwegian king who was a military commander of the Varangian guard, married Elisiv of Kiev. The two first uncontroversially historical Swedish kings Eric the Victorious and Olof Skötkonung both had Slavic wives. Danish kings and royals also frequently had Slavic wives. For example, Harald Bluetooth married Tove of the Obotrites. Vikings also made up the bulk of the bodyguards of early Kievan Rus' rulers.

They even went on to create a system where mobile phones could communicate with each other. 

I think 'Vlad the Bad' Putin sees himself as the descendant of these rugged adventurers, although I'm sure that modern Swedes would want nothing to do with him. 






Sunday, June 29, 2025

Cwrw'r Wythnos #3

 


Pouring @Rebelfest this weekend, Clwb Colada is a cheeky little 10%er. The bastard son of Clwb Tropica and a bottle of Malibu, packed with truly totally tropical tastiness. A worthy beer of the week. 

Motley fools

 



Two of my favourite things. Pies & coffee. What could be better? 

Dylan & I hid from the cleaner this week @ Motley Pie & Coffee, Gowerton. I didn't realise that this was the main kitchen for the company, and only has a counter, a shelf & two barstools. Luckily, we were the only clients, so woofed down our Breakfast Pies with gay abandon. I must admit it was an excellent idea. Baked beans, sausage, bacon in a pie base, with a hash brown lid. Yummy indeed. This tickled our fancies, so two steak pies & a pork, sage & apple roll in hand, we set off to find out more. 

Their shop on the main street in 'Bont is a much more appropriate venue for pieophiles. It looked comfy & spacious, and was stocked with the full range of pies & baked delights. Noted down for our next pie adventure. 


Apparently they also have an outlet in Dinbych-y-Pysgod (or Tenby, to you), so new it's not on the website. Sounds like another adventure to be had.

The story behind the pies? You'll need a trip down under, to the home of the pie, & the soon to be defeated Wallabies. From their website:-

'Who are we?
Motley was born out of a love for food & coffee - inspired by a trip down under!

6 Years ago, a chance stop at a bakery just outside of Byron Bay changed the course of my life in an instant!

To any Aussie - Pie & Coffee go hand in hand as well as any classic combo you can compare to us Pommies! Fish & Chips, Bacon & Eggs, Tea & Biscuits...

And I for one couldn't agree more! Pie in one hand, drink in the other, that's the idea!

Call in & try for yourself! Feel that Byron Bay heat hit your face as you step out into the warm Welsh weather, pie in hand!'

More power to their pies, says I!

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Well heeled

Every time I pass this shop in 'bont, I want to stop & capture it here. There was a time when this was the face of town centres / high streets throughout Wales (England, too?), and it is rapidly disappearing. I wanted to save this for posterity. I guess this was when the high street served as your department store. Tailor, cobbler, butcher, baker, greengrocer, fishmonger, hardware store, tobacconist, newsagent, post office, and, if you were lucky, a cafe. Now, all this can be found in Tesco.




Since 1910 - shoes for the people of 'Bont, but sadly no more. Progress, eh?

Friday, June 27, 2025

Rebel Rebel #2. Son of Rebel

Just arrived @ Rebel Fest 25. Beer, food, & music @ Tiny Rebel's HQ in Rogerstone. Whats not to like?

Hat-Tip Owain,  blagging 2 pints of 10 / 11% monster brews for 50p! What a man. Apparently he spotted the techies setting the beer cocktail machine up, & befriend them. Interpersonal Skills are worth the world.

It's now my mission to try all the other beers on offer, barring the sours. They are for pooftas like Rob.

So far, Aggressive Negotiations, Another Happy Landing, Now This is Podracing, all being fab. Then the acceptable face of Sours, Watermelon Sugar Hi. Even I can drink this.




At this rate, I will be 'tired & emotional' by 6pm. Lightweight.

Marky Marks Marvelous Milkshake, the Mystery Machine bringing up the rear, then apparently I just Blue Myself, then couldn't Believe it's not Sabro.


Clyde is ok, Cuba Libra is minging. 10 down...

It's a hard life...

Meanwhile, Kim & Hari have pints of prosecco....


Run out of glasses, they have.



Brugse Zot Blonde, & Nightbreed. Done.

Too cold & too schizophrenic between 2 stages. Hometime.



Tri again


I love the Ukrainian Trident symbol,  So I thought I'd find out a bit more about it. There is a great article here. some extracts:-

"the trident appeared in the territory of modern Ukraine"  as far back as  "the 3rd – 4th centuries BC"

allegedly coming from  "the Atlanteans who were dressed in blue clothes with a golden trident"

Symbolism:-

"A fairly common opinion is that the trident symbolizes the messenger of heavenly justice Rarok or a falcon flying downwards. In many cultures, this bird was of great importance, as it was the personification of victory over evil, a symbol of power, invincible strength and valor. In Ukrainian culture, the falcon also occupied a special place at the top of the world tree.

Among the different versions, you can find other associations, among which the trident of Ukraine is an ancient religious symbol, a candlestick-trikyry, an anchor, a rye ear, a crown, a bow and arrow, a triune sacrifice for the victory of life over death.

Some experts in Ukrainian culture believe that the decoding of the coat of arms of Ukraine is the word “VOLIA”, the letters of which are combined into a modern trident."


It sounds like you can make of it what you like.....


While I'm here, I ought to mention Volodymyr the great.

Volodymyr the Great (c. 958 – 15 July 1015) was Prince of Novgorod, Grand Prince of Kyiv, and ruler of Kievan Rus' from 980 to 1015. He baptized the Kyiv Rus' in 988 and was proclaimed as Saint Volodymyr by the Orthodox church.[1][2]

Volodymyr was the son of Prince Sviatoslav I of Kyiv of the Rurik dynasty. After the death of his father in 972, Volodymyr moved to Scandinavia from Novgorod as his brother Yaropolk had murdered his other brothers in order to gain the power in Kyiv. In Sweden and Norway he gathered a Varangian army and took Novgorod from his brother Yaropolk. By 980, Volodymyr had consolidated the Kyiv kingdom from modern-day Ukraine, Belarus and minor parts of modern day Russia.

The history of the Kievan Rus is fascinating, but that's for another post.


Thursday, June 26, 2025

Pensyllchfania


Bryn Mawr Cymru 

Watching the Mare of Easttown (9/10 - excellent) threw up an interesting question. Why is there a place in the US with an obvious Welsh name? Bryn Mawr = Great Hill

Bryn Mawr Pen. USA

Quite different views. So I googled a bit, & found the story of The Welsh tract. From wiki:-

The Welsh Tract, also called the Welsh Barony, was a portion of the Province of Pennsylvania, a British colony in North America, settled largely by Welsh-speaking Quakers in the late 17th century. The region is located to the west of Philadelphia.

I thought this may be due to the presence of coal in the area, so:-

One of the earliest mentions that coal might be found in the Pennsylvania area dates back to 1698, when Gabriel Thomas wrote an account dedicated to William Penn. He notes the possibility of coal because the running water had the same coloring as the water in the coalmines in Wales

Also:-

Pennsylvania became a hub for Welsh miners, especially in the anthracite and bituminous coalfields. Many Welsh immigrants settled in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area and other parts of Northeastern Pennsylvania. 

The Welsh brought their cultural traditions, such as churches, fraternal orders, and a love for music and literature, to the mining communities. While their cultural institutions often faded within a generation, a distinct Welsh American identity developed. 


Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Black Gold

My second visit to a Coaltown Coffee cafe had me wondering which town they are referring to. It turns out to be Rhydaman (Ammanford), (i.e. Ford on the aman river), just up the road from Swansea, and at the Welsh extremity of the South Wales Coal field. This follows on nicely from my post on The Big Pit.

Their website says that Coaltown Coffee is trying to do a good thing :-

Ammanford is a small former mining community where anthracite coal (Black Gold) fueled the local economy.  Back in 2003 the last of the collieries closed and with it went our town’s purpose. Coaltown’s ambition was to bring a new industry to our home, a new Black Gold, a new purpose. In 2018 we achieved just that and our town is producing again.

This time it’s a new Black Gold—Coffee.

We focus on sustainable and transparent trade with farms from across the coffee regions of the world. Our Ethos is to pay fairly for the hard work they put in so their families and surrounding communities have the finances for a better way of life.




I'm glad that by frequenting their lush, comfy, hip cafe's, I can help with this in a small way. You can help, too by buying coffee from them, either in one of their Cafes, one of the Cafes they supply, or online here.

Better to light a candle.....

Kim lighting a candle :-)

Their founder Scott James explains how it came about here in the Wales.com website

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Seal landing on top of a Landrover

From www.Walesonline.co.uk

The News of a campervan being washed out to sea recently reminded me of an exploit of our youth. I distinctly remember trying to land our kayaks on the roof of a Land rover (ice cream van?) which had suffered a similar fate at Caswell beach back in the day. I wonder if the drivers are related?

The only record I can find is again from Wales Online, and far too recent

If you can stand the adverts, here's another misadventure. And another! There are many silly people out there....

Monday, June 23, 2025

Oh, K I?

 


Hat-Tip again to Rob & Sarah for advice on protection in case all this silliness gets really crazy & we end up with a dose of radiation blowing our way. 

Taking stable Iodine can reduce the risk of thyroid cancer in a simple & really easy way.

Just taking one 130mg KI tablet within 24 hours of exposure can increase your chances of not getting cancer enormously, with very little negative effects. This is especially useful for the under 40's.

How to take KI




Annibyniaeth

Ok, so here's the skinny on Welsh Independence.


We had an interesting debate on recently @ our El Grupo Libros meet, about Welsh independence. Both Rob & David had anecdotal evidence of where the Welsh government had, in their opinion/experience let down the people of Wales by performing worse than the decisions made in Westminster for the rest of the UK. 

I had to admit to being at a loss to be able to back up my assertion that Wales would manage at least as well as an independent nation, as under the shackles of Westminster. I stated that Denmark, Iceland & Ireland manage quite well. So, I guess I'd better back up my gut feeling with evidence, or at least some views founded on proper research. Here goes:- 

From Google AI ( not the most academically rigorous source I admit, but an an overview) :-

Yes, Welsh independence is a viable possibility, but not a certainty. Some experts say an independent Wales is feasible, though it would face short-term economic challenges. Plaid Cymru actively advocates for independence, while other parties hold varying views on the matter. Support for independence is growing, but it remains a minority view in Wales. 

Arguments for Welsh Independence:

Viability:

Recent reports suggest Wales could sustain itself as an independent nation, with a fiscal deficit comparable to European norms. 

Control:

Independence would allow Wales to make its own decisions on key issues, such as the economy, environment, and culture. 

Growing Support:

Public support for independence has increased in recent years, with pro-independence marches and growing "indy-curious" sentiment. 

Economic Opportunities:

Independence could create conditions for green and inclusive economic growth. 

Arguments Against Welsh Independence: 

Economic Challenges:

An independent Wales would face challenges in raising sufficient tax revenue for public services in the short to medium term. 

Economic Underperformance:

Wales' economy has historically underperformed compared to the UK average, making the economic leap to independence potentially more difficult. 

Historical Ties:

Wales has strong historical and cultural ties to the UK, and a significant portion of the population favors remaining in the union.  

In conclusion, 

The question of Welsh independence is a multifaceted issue with strong arguments on both sides. While an independent Wales is a viable option, according to some reports, it would require careful consideration of the potential economic and social implications.

The Independent Constitutional Commission was launched by the Welsh Labour government.[92] Led by Professor Laura McAllister and former Archbishop of Wales, Rowan Williams, it will examine Wales' future relationship with the rest of the UK and will consider Welsh independence as well.

The Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales presented its final report to the Welsh Government on 18 January 2024.

Plaid Cymru called the commission the "most wide-ranging national conversation about Wales' future". The interim findings of the commission outlined three viable options for Wales including independence, to be explored in more depth in 2023. The report outlined the option of a Free Trade Association during a transition period to independence where an agreement could be made for e.g England responsibility for matters such as defence. The report also identified a confederation of Britain and Ireland as a potential option and key questions on independence to be addressed in 2023. The report concluded that there are "significant problems" with the way Wales is currently governed within the Union of the United Kingdom and independence is a "viable" option.

The whole report is here. I must admit to not having read it, as I have a life.

Digging down on the issue of financial independence, I found an interesting article by 

https://economicsobservatory.com

some quotes:-

"For example, despite comparable rates of unemployment, gross value added per head– in Wales was 73% of the UK average in 2019. This compared with 92% in Scotland. In West Wales and the Valleys, the figure was as low as 63% of the UK average."

there is also "a big gap between the tax revenues raised in Wales and the level of public spending – at least as far as these can be geographically determined."

"These differences indicate the relative underperformance of the Welsh economy over decades. This has real consequences: for example, Wales has long had a higher incidence of limiting long-term illness than any English region; and the former Welsh coalfields have been the worst performing area in the UK in terms of socio-economic outcomes. Yet the extent to which this is a ‘London and the South East versus the rest’ rather than a Welsh issue is underexplored." 

In summary:-

Interpretation of these numbers is where those in favour of Welsh independence and those against diverge. Proponents of the Union argue that they are evidence that Wales could not ‘survive’ alone, or at least would suffer significant economic and wellbeing losses if it were to become independent. 

In contrast, supporters of Annibyniaeth see Wales’s economic performance as evidence that the nation has been held back in an unequal, England-dominated union. They would argue that given economic and political autonomy, Wales would prosper, as have, for example, the small Baltic republics since the collapse of the Soviet Union. 

Another factor to consider is as mentioned previously, Wales will be changing to P.R. I'm glad of that, as I don't believe the 'first past the post' 'two party system' is now fit for use. I for one am tired of the good guys/bad guys dipole, swinging the country from left to right & back again, as the electorate tire of the current government. 

So I guess that's the fairest view. Nobody knows, and won't until it's tested. I feel that as a welshman & observer of the chaos a bad government in Westminster can cause, we should become independent.

Further reading:-

www.iwa.wales/agenda/

We are a think tank and charity, independent of government and political parties. By bringing together experts from all backgrounds, we conceive ambitious and informed ideas which secure political commitments to improve our democracy and economy. We provide platforms for debate, opportunities for people to make their voices heard and agenda-setting research. We are funded by our members, income from our events and training sessions, and supported by trusts, foundations and other funding bodies. We are a proud Living Wage employer.

Our aim is to make Wales better.

Wikipedia on Welsh independence:-





Sunday, June 22, 2025

Watching flowers in the rain

Off to Singleton Park this morning, or more precisely Singleton Botanical Gardens therein, to buy some more plants for project 'nice garden'. The nice things about buying here, is that all the profits are fed back to the gardens, and it's staffed by volunteers.




Fuchsia, future, geddit?

Our Garden now looks wonderful! Hat-tip Kim



Beer of the week #2

 


Got the Louie this week. I'm not a major fan of Witbier, but this was just perfect on a summer's evening @ BeerRiff. Fresh, lemony, quaffable, but still a respectable 5.2 abv. All the way from Lewes, I must say that it travelled well. Hat-Tip Beak brewing 


Saturday, June 21, 2025

Big chief Mounjaro of the Skinnifitti tribe

 Before:-





After:-



What a difference MJ makes; 24 little kilos...

DCLH & Myself have now lost over 24Kg in 3 months. The main difference has been the silencing of the 'food natter' in our minds. Sometimes we forget to eat. Hopefully this will lead on to fitter, healthier little soldiers. Work in progress, so watch this space.

All praise the MJ!

UPDATE:-

NHS England roll out Mounjaro prescriptions to 220k people today. NHS Wales have not matched this yet. I'm assuming that it's a funding issue, and without knowing the details I'm not going to assume this as a Pro or Con for IndyWales.



p.s. kudos for anyone working out the joke on the last T-shirt; reply below

Friday, June 20, 2025

Iron Zion Lion


Gutted that the lions tour will not be shown on Gringo TV. But happy that it's on Taff TV. Phew. I guess that we will have to turn the volume off & the radio up :-) 
Tough news for people outside Wales. Yet another reason why independence for Wales makes sense. 

P.S. I wish I hadn't bothered. It looked like none of the Lions had been introduced to each other, looked at the gameplan, and forgotten how to pass. I hope they get some team sessions in between now & the first test, or it could be a very sad affair.

Positive Postscript from the BBC:-

Connor writes off the Lions before they arrive - New Zealand 1971
It was Barry John's tour but it began badly. Hungover from an almighty boozing session in Hong Kong, the Lions took a hellish flight to Brisbane for a warm-up game against Queensland. Exhausted from the high-living and heavy travelling, they played appallingly and lost.

"I wanted to lie down and die," said lock Gordon Brown. "We had no idea what time, day or place it was," remarked Gareth Edwards. "I wouldn't say I was playing, but I was on the field," said McBride.

Des Connor was the Queensland coach. As a player he had won 12 caps for Australia and another 12 for the All Blacks. With the Lions now heading to New Zealand for the tour proper, Connor was euphoric.

"These Lions are hopeless," he trumpeted. "Undoubtedly the worst team ever to come here."

Er... By the mid-point of the tour the Kiwi public were shocked at how mesmeric the Lions were and by the end-point, with a historic first and still only Lions series win on New Zealand soil, they were eulogising them as the greatest team they'd ever seen.

Connor's epic mind game fail was a reminder that judging the Lions on early performances is unwise. It was daft in 1971 and, after Friday night's loss to the Pumas, Andy Farrell will be hoping that it's just as daft more than a half a century later.

Thursday, June 19, 2025

When is a pint not a pint? - Public Service Information #1




From the excellent, if verbose, Money Saving Expert:-

You're entitled to a pint filled to the brim, or the line if your glass has one.

You should get at least 95% liquid.

If you don't want up to 5% to be head, you can ask for a top-up.

Not sure whether your pint meets the 95% liquid to 5% head ratio? You can use the width of a standard Biro pen as a rough yardstick for what 5% looks like – though of course, it'll depend on the size and shape of your glass.


or, if you want the long answer:-

When it comes to the pouring of the humble pint, and the size of its head – the layer of frothy foam on top – the law is unfortunately about as clear as a hazy IPA.This is why industry body the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) introduced its own guidelines – as agreed with the Department of Trade and Industry (since replaced by two newer departments) – back in 1993.So, let's not beat around the bush bar. Here, at a glance, are your pint rights according to those guidelines:

You're entitled to a pint filled to the brim, or the line if your glass has one.

You should get at least 95% liquid.

If you don't want up to 5% to be head, you can ask for a top-up.

Not sure whether your pint meets the 95% liquid to 5% head ratio? You can use the width of a standard Biro pen as a rough yardstick for what 5% looks like – though of course, it'll depend on the size and shape of your glass.

Unsatisfied with the pint you've been served?

If your beer doesn't measure up, simply head back to the bar – before taking a sip, clever clogs – and ask for your glass to be filled up.

The BBPA's guidelines state that pubs should be happy to top you up, so don't worry about bar staff thinking you're causing a fuss – you're only asking for what you've paid for, after all.

If you're refused, the BBPA says to try talking to the management. City of London Trading Standards, which ran a campaign on asking for top-ups back in 2018, says as a last resort you could complain to your local trading standards office. But before going that far, try to settle things in person or, failing that, in writing. 

You could also take to social media, which can be a powerful tool when it comes to consumer rights, but remember that many pubs are struggling at the moment. BBPA figures show that, across England and Wales, six pubs a week closed for good last year, so maybe err on the side of restraint.

Whether you decide to pursue your complaint privately or publicly, try to be polite and stick to the facts, even if you're frustrated – and who isn't when they're left disappinted (sorry).

As mentioned in the previous section, the law provides a similar level of clarity as someone who's had a pint too many.

Let's start with the basics. The Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016 No. 1153 state that pints can be measured by the brim of a pint glass or a line measure – that's the line you get on larger glasses which indicates where a pint comes up to.

So if you buy a pint, you should get a full pint – but sadly these regulations don't say whether that pint should include the head. And that's the real question. The debate over whether a pint measure includes the head has been raging for decades, if not centuries – it was even discussed in the House of Lords back in 1984.

There's some law on this too – when the Weights and Measures Act became law in 1985, part IV, section 43 declared that "in ascertaining the quantity of any beer or cider... the gas comprised in any foam on the beer or cider shall be disregarded."

That seems to suggest you're entitled to a full pint of liquid plus head – but confusingly, this section was then repealed in 1994, so the legislation no longer stands.

The BBPA told me this was because while some drinkers don't see the head as an important part of a pint, others see it as essential and also a sign of how good (or not) it is.

Since the 1960s, various legal cases regarding short measures of beer have ascertained that the head is intrinsic to a pint, but what hasn't been nailed down is the extent of that head.

As you may remember from when we set out on this search for truth, justice and sufficient beer, due to the lack of clarity on pints rights provided by the law, the BBPA has its own guidelines for pulling a pint, more formally known as the Guidance Notes on the Dispense of Draught Beer by Free Flow and Hand Pull.

While the BBPA encourages the 20,000 pubs it represents to follow these, it says they're best practice and intended as reasonable guidelines that can be comfortably adopted across the broader hospitality industry. This is why they're backed by its fellow trade bodies, the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA) and Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA).

The guidance, which is based on the use of more traditional fill-to-the-brim glasses, states: "A measure of a beer served with a head must include a minimum of 95% liquid."

Now, if like me you like a good head on your beer, that's fine. But if you don't, then for every, say, 10 pints you buy, you're actually only getting nine and a half.

Or to put it another way, if you pay the average price of £5.17 for a pint of draught beer as calculated by The Morning Advertiser, you're losing 26p in beer.

Ouch.

But the good news is that the guidelines also state: "Requests from customers for top-ups should be received with good grace and never refused, subject to avoiding spillage of liquid."

That sounds more like it.

So there you have it. Enjoy your (full) pint and, of course, as we always say, please be Drinkaware.


Wednesday, June 18, 2025

RastaSwansaii

Swansea is honoured to have been visited by a living god. 

Apparently Hailie Selassie visited this god's country several times. He popped in to see his nephew who was studying at the bible college Wales just up the road on Derwen Fawr. 

Honoured as a living god by some Rastafarians, he enjoyed camping here in '39 & '40. From wiki:-

Rastafarianism, is a relatively young religion that originated in Jamaica during the 1930s. It's an Abrahamic, Africa-centered faith with strong ties to social and political activism. Rastafarians believe that Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, is God (Jah) incarnate, and that he will lead people of African descent back to Africa. 

I want to claim a connection, also to another Howell linked to this story of Rastafarianism. Leonard Howell was instrumental in its genesis.

Leonard Percival Howell, also known as The Gong or G. G. Maragh, was a Jamaican religious figure. He was one of the first preachers of the Rastafari movement, and is known by many as The First Rasta.

I love that he was known as "the Gong". I think as from now I wish also to be known as the gong.

Although Leonard P. Howell suffered much abuse for the foundation of Rastafari, his legacy as a perceived true hero and leader in anti-colonialism took root throughout Jamaica and the Caribbean and eventually globally. Ironically, the same government who sought his continual persecution has in 2022 awarded L.P. Howell or 'Gong' with an Order of Distinction.

I can't claim any relationship to him, apart from the vague & shameful tradition that black slaves often took their surname from their white owners. I know several Welshmen were complicit with this crime against humanity, perhaps the most notable amongst them being General Picton of waterloo fame. I guess a Howell was one, too.

Amazingly, yet another Howell is involved in this story. Rees Howells (note the added 's'), was instrumental in the setting up of The Bible college, Wales.

 Rees Howells was director of the college until his death in 1950.[10] He was succeeded by his son Samuel Rees Howells who led the college until a year before his death in 2004. In July 2009 the Bible College of Wales saw its last graduation.

The story of the Bible College of Wales is fascinating itself, but for another post

 


Tuesday, June 17, 2025

El Grupo Libros



Off to Pigshire to meet up with Rob & David for El Grupo Libros - Nick is now excused due to his death. We have been meeting since Jan 2005 - some 20 years, off & on.

Here are some old posts from Stuff & Nonsense mentioning the book club:-

el-groupo-libros.

el-grupo-libros

The story-so-far

el-grupo-libros

top-10-books

Here are some of Nick's posts re: El Grupo

Rebel Rebel

Following from my postChapeau Tiny Rebel, the cutest big little brewery in South Wales. They make a huge range of interesting beers, from Jam doughnut ales, to Frambuzzi raspberry sour

To date, they have launched hundreds of new beers, with Cwtch, and Clwb Tropicana (renamed tropica due to legal threats from Pepsico who seemed to own the word tropicana) being prize winning favorites, to Stay Puft marshmallow ale, Frambuzzi, Electric boogaloo, Cali pale et al. Current range here. I have tried 107 of them :-//. See below

They never fail to impress, whatever crazy combinations they try. Oh, and the logo is cool, too. 

Owain & I went on a brewery tour a few years ago, & had a brilliant time, being shown around by a passionate member of their team. 

Long may they brew. 

I have tasted:-












107 entries in 'The Beerhunter'. 5% of my list. Impressive.

We visited the brewery tap on Father's day, & added another 4 to the list. Halves of course.