State of the Nation(al Rugby Team)

50,000 unsold tickets @ £100 average = £5,000,000 lost income.

Corroborated on WRU website today. Green shows unsold seats, in all 3 matches:-

We need a reset now. Clear out all the WRU management, and get in a new set. Please. 

Cwrw'r Wythnos tri deg tri

 

Red Right (or Left) Hand

One of my favourite all time songs is Nick Cave's Red Right Hand. A superb bass line, haunting atmosphere and menacing vocals. I will never forget a 10 (?) year old Hari, dressed in horror garb, performing her interpretative dance to this in Mark Warner Paleros's kids talent show. Must have been about Y2000. Fab. 

Then, of course it was famously used as the theme song for the excellent 'peaky blinders'

Vengeance & retribution indeed. 

This of course is mixed up with radical protestantism in Northern Ireland, and is still on the flag of Ulster, but comes from deep in Irish Mythology.

 I wonder what Nick was thinking when he penned it. He is of course Australian. 

According to Google AI:-

Nick Cave's relationship with religion is complex: raised Catholic, he's deeply influenced by the Bible, especially the New Testament, finding profound inspiration and meaning in Christian stories and figures, particularly Jesus, though he often explores faith as a risky, existential quest rather than dogma, viewing it as a source of creative freedom, artistic inspiration, and solace amidst chaos. He separates personal faith from organized religion, focusing on the "Wild God" and the powerful, often dark, narratives within scripture. 

Also:-

Key Aspects of His Religious Views:

Christian Influence: Cave is a voracious reader of the Bible (especially the King James Version) and frequently discusses Jesus as a central, inspiring figure in his work.

Inspiration & Art: He views love songs as songs for God and connects his shift towards more mellow music to focusing on the New Testament. Religion provides immense creative fuel and a framework for exploring deep human emotions.

Faith vs. Dogma: Cave emphasizes a personal, adventurous, and risky faith, contrasting it with the comfort of organized religion or "Christendom," drawing parallels to Kierkegaard.

Search for Meaning: He finds solace in Christianity as a way to navigate a chaotic world, seeking meaning and connection through faith, even as an agnostic or someone questioning conventional beliefs.

The "Wild God": His faith embraces tension, the disturbing, and the "fecund place of terror," focusing on a powerful, untamed divinity rather than simple moralizing. 

So, a nutter, then.

Then again, he may just be a fan of Indian cuisine, & taken a gander at the Tandoori Chef's hands. 

Cwrw'r Wythnos atodol

A special mention. 

All the way from  Lervig Brewery, from Stavanger, Norvege,

The most amazing imperial stout I have ever tried. Wow indeed. Its a pity its on draught, as I'd have bought all their stock. 

Glock 17 or 19?

 I'm trying to work out which of these two our boys away team fired off in Florida last year...

Glock 19

Glock 17

I was so impressed that I bought the hat.....

(Beer Riff pot included for size comparison only, not a recipe suggestion)

Olympic Games

Back in 2005, I blogged this:-

Im amazed that I remember doing this! Grey cells can't be that wasted by beer, yet...

Now, 20 years later, I might have the answer!

From https://greekreporter.com/

Was Olympus a Mountain or a Divine Realm in Ancient Greek Belief?

Snow on Mount Olympus.

Homer describes Olympus as a place unshaken by wind, untouched by rain, and free of snow, where the gods dwell in everlasting serenity and splendor.

Neither Homer in the Iliad and the Odyssey, nor Hesiod in Theogony and Works and Days, directly equates Olympus with a geographical mountain. 

Olympus is widely recognized today as the mountain home of the ancient Greek gods—a majestic, cloud-topped peak reigning over the mortal world. But is this modern conception how ancient Greeks themselves envisioned the divine dwelling place? Did they believe a mountain to be the abode of the gods, or something else?

Olympus in early Greek literature

This may come as a surprise to modern readers but no ancient Greek writer before the Hellenistic period would ever associate the place of the gods with mountains. Contrary to popular belief, early Greek writers such as Homer and Hesiod never explicitly described Olympus as a physical mountain. Instead, their references suggest a far more mystical and metaphysical interpretation of the gods’ celestial abode.

Neither Homer in his epics, nor Hesiod in Theogony and Works and Days, equates Olympus with a geographical mountain. In reality, Olympus is a radiant, divine realm beyond mortal reach. It is a plane of eternal light, tranquility and immortality. Many claim that the name ”Olympus” itself literally translates as ”all-shining”. In the Iliad, Homer describes Olympus as a place unshaken by wind, untouched by rain, and free of snow. There, the gods dwell in everlasting serenity and splendor:

“Neither shaken by winds, nor ever drenched by rain, nor does snow approach it,

but a clear and cloudless sky stretches above, and a brilliant radiance spreads everywhere.”

This portrayal aligns more closely with a metaphysical plane of existence than with a specific physical location.

Homer places Olympus in the sky

Homer also references the giants Otus and Ephialtes, two formidable figures in Greek mythology. They attempted to reach Olympus by piling mountains upon each other. This myth, found in the Odyssey, underscores the idea that Olympus was not a mountain itself. Instead it was a transcendent realm beyond physical access, connected with the sky. The futility of their endeavor suggests that Olympus was not a tangible place. It was a divine domain inaccessible to mortals or even the mightiest of giants.

Hesiod’s Theogony reinforces this interpretation, presenting Olympus as the dwelling place of the gods, characterized by eternal light and harmony. The gods’ unchanging and immortal nature mirrored the cosmic stability attributed to Olympus. This suggests a symbolic representation of divine order rather than a physical mountain.

So there!

A Dry DAAAAAAAY!

YaaaaaaaY! 
My Mindful Motorbiking resumes!

A beautiful day in the land of my fathers

Kim says I've lost weight.....

You can just make out Caldey from another angle, (no, not Angle, angle)

Monkey Business

Following our visit to Dinbych-y-Pysgod this weekend, I glanced at the webpage for Caldey & it reminded me of these horrendous stories. I knew Rebecca, and her family quite well. The abuse the girls suffered definitely haunted them from childhood right up to date, and they were certainly troubles teenagers.

I knew about the Father Tad story from the news a short while ago, but I didn't realise that one of his victims had drowned on the island. This must surely beg the question of was there more to this drowning than may have been reported. It must be devastating for his victims to know that after a potential career of abuse over fourty years, that he died before facing justice.

Also the revelation that Child sex offender Paul Ashton fled to Caldey island in 2004 came as a suprise to me. Then the subsequent news that another sex offender believed to have lived on the island is notorious predator John Cronin, and another, Rev John Shannon, was Caldey Island's parish priest at St David's Church in 2008. He was later jailed for possessing indecent images of children, having left the island.

Psychiatrists labelled Cronin one of the most dangerous sexual predators in Britain after he committed 50 offences including an attack on a woman in 1992 in which he posed as a priest.

Shannon admitted downloading 740 indecent images of children and was jailed for eight months in 2011.

Surely one may be a mistake, but 2, 3 or even 4 must suggest something worse than that.

BBC News - Caldey Island abuse: Drowned girl and sister were victims - BBC News

BBC News - Caldey Island abuse monks cruel to victims, says report - BBC News

BBC News - Caldey Island: 20 people claim monk abused them as children - BBC News

Alternate Universe - Our Town

Or if you prefer, Google Gemini's response to "Write a blog post on our town production in swansea with Micheal Sheen" 

"The Magic Returns to the Mumbles: Michael Sheen Brings Our Town to Swansea

There is something poetic about a global star returning to their roots to tell a story about the universal beauty of "the ordinary." This week, Swansea wasn’t just the "pretty city" by the sea—it became the heartbeat of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, Our Town.

With Port Talbot’s own Michael Sheen taking on the role of the Stage Manager, the production transformed the local stage into a poignant reflection of life, death, and everything in between.

A Local Legend in a Universal Role

The role of the Stage Manager requires a unique blend of authority, warmth, and a touch of the ethereal. Sheen, known for his chameleonic ability to inhabit roles from Brian Clough to Aziraphale, brought a distinctively Welsh soul to the part.

Instead of a distant narrator, Sheen felt like a neighbor leaning over a garden fence. His performance reminded us that while the play is set in the fictional Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, its themes of community and the fleeting nature of time resonate just as deeply in the streets of Swansea and the valleys beyond.

Why Our Town Still Hits Home

In an age of constant digital noise, Our Town is a masterclass in minimalism. The production stripped away the bells and whistles, focusing on what truly matters:

 * The Beauty of the Mundane: The clink of milk bottles, the rhythm of a choir practice, and the simple act of eating breakfast.

 * A Sense of Place: By staging this in Swansea, the production bridged the gap between a 1930s American classic and modern Welsh identity.

 * The Final Act: Without giving too much away for the uninitiated, the play’s conclusion remains one of the most powerful "gut punches" in theater history—a reminder to cherish the "now."

The Verdict: A Triumph for Welsh Theater

This wasn’t just a "celebrity vehicle." The supporting cast, featuring a wealth of local talent, breathed life into the characters of George and Emily, ensuring the emotional stakes felt real and raw.

For those lucky enough to snag a ticket, it was a reminder that we don’t need high-tech special effects to be moved. We just need a good story, a bare stage, and a voice that feels like home.

> "Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?—every, every minute?"

> — Emily Webb, Our Town

> 

Did you catch the performance at the Grand Theatre or the Arena? Share your favorite moments in the comments below!

Would you like me to draft a series of social media captions to help promote this blog post on Instagram or X (Twitter)?

I find this fascinating. Is it better than mine? You be the judge......

Ps, We just booked the last night of the run @ the Rose theatre, Kingston upon Thames. So good they saw it twice?

Our Town

I saw most of a fantastic production of  Our Town with Micheal Sheen's Welsh National Theatre Saturday night. 

A lovely story of birth, marriage & death in a small town (population 2542) transplanted to Wales. A pulitzer prize winning, "greatest American play ever written"

The set was amazing - a dozen scaffolders planks, some ladders, & some stands of wild grasses on wheels. The cast manipulated them with skill & grace, transforming them into churches, houses, upstairs windows & railroad tracks. Some of the movements were hypnotic, the dances amazing, and the lighting atmospheric. Sheen of course was brilliant, and the leads superb. Quite moving.

10/10 - as polished as any London production. Well done Welsh National! We seem to have swapped a rugby team for a national theatre.

How did they make it "Welsh"? 

Nah, a few hymns & calling main street Strydd Fawr didn't transform it for me, however, they did grasp the nettle & show the choirmaster as gay.

Unfortunately my knees disagreed with the seating arrangements, and I cried off at the interval. Still, I got to see 2/3 acts. Why can I not tolerate cramped seating? Totoro in the Barbican was similar. Should have been called Torturer... 

https://observer.co.uk/-review

Cwrw'r Wythnos tri deg dau

 

Dunno if I can justify £45 plus p&p for 12, tho

Dinbych-y-Pysgod

Off for a night out @ Dinbych-y-Pysgod. (The little fort of the fish). Or Tenby, to you.

We are staying in a hotel facing Caldey, with a room upgrade to a four poster.

Should I tell my Caldey tale now? Oh, OK then. Well. Back in the day I knew a guy who was employed as dairyman & lighthouse keeper for the Monks of Caldey. How they escaped the dissolution of the monasteries? 

1536 (Dissolution): The medieval priory was dissolved during the Reformation, after which it served as a farm.

1906 (Modern Re-establishment): An Anglican Benedictine community purchased the island and built the current Abbey, which was later sold to Belgian Cistercians in 1928–1929. 

The island is known for the ancient St. Illtud's Church and the 13th-century Old Priory, while the modern monastery is inhabited by the Cistercians of the Strict Observance: OCSO (Trappists)

So, it turns out that Caldey is a daughter monastery to the monastery of Chimay. Yes, the one that makes the beer. And, this chap became friendly with the Abbot of Chimay, so much so, that he came to stay with him in Port Eynon. As a thank you, he would bring 3 cases of the abbey beer, the 7% ABV Red (Première), 9% ABV Blue (Grande Réserve), and 8% ABV White (Triple). Now, this chap didn't like beer, so I generously offered to relieve him of this burden. 

It turns out that the phrase "blind drunk" is rooted in truth. On the way home from his, after sampling each type, several times, I lost my ability to see, and had a very difficult trip back to my pit. I don't think I have ever been so drink before or after.

This is Spinal Tap

If you come from the sixties, and have followed Rock & Roll, then you will understand the true genius of this mockumentary. So many references to stuff we used to take seriously. Flower power, Psychedelic Rock, Prog Rock, Glam Rock, Heavy Metal, the "Concept Album" & even The Beatles (the black album). It's all parodied beautifully. 

Tufnel explains that his custom Marshall amplifiers are louder because their volume knobs go to 11, whereas standard amps only go to 10, famously stating, "It's one louder, isn't it?

The amplifier knobs

The metal detector scene @ airport 

The dancing gnomes @ Stonehenge

The flower power phase

Qi Gong's flying teapot

 

Actually, no flying teapots were seen over Clyne Gardens today, but there was one group of 14 ladies of a certain age, Yours Truly, and a Leader, swaying rythmically in the cool January breeze, performing the ancient Chineese practice of Qi Gong:-

"Qi" refers to vital energy, while "gong" means skill or cultivation

(we didn't look like this - Imagine greyer people in duvet jackets & gloves)

Qigong is a 4,000-year-old Chinese mind-body practice that blends gentle, flowing movements with deep, rhythmic breathing and focused intention (meditation) to balance and cultivate "qi" (vital energy). It is used to reduce stress, improve overall health, and increase mobility. 

I bloody loved it! It seems like a great way to take the boredom out of my recently prescribed exercises to strengthen my wasted back muscles. Lots of the movements were identical to both. We stood amongst the trees at the top of Clyne gardens, amongst the sound of birdsong & the breeze rustling leaves, with the leader's two dogs wandering amongst us & occasionally snuggling in. I found it quite hard to complete all the exercises, especially constantly raising the arms. I'm sure this will get easier with time. 

I am now converted. 

Will the real Grockle please stand up

 But which is the real one?

Grokles

Since the  60's, eh? wow

Which leads on to Cummers/Cwmmers/Comers. Probably from Cwm = valley therefore Valley folk? - how we would describe the people who descend on the Gower in our youth.

MC Hammer

 

Dylan has recently discovered the joys of Warhammer. Whilst on PGCE placement @ Bont Comp, he went along to the lunchtime Warhammer club, and has been a devotee since.

The hook, or sprat to catch a mackerel, was to give him a free starter booklet & some miniature figures to paint. During the club time, the kids paint miniatures in remarkable detail, for use later in their battles against each other. I can see that this is calming and relaxing, and you end up with a product that you have created and then can go on to use. 

It's nice to see a British company taking the world by storm:-

a-gaming-success-story-how-warhammer-became-one-of-britains-biggest-companies

Ive not experienced the gameplay yet, but will report back when I have. 

More Culture than Tesco's

Swansea now officially has more culture than Tesco's after a Φάγε delivery. 

The London production of Mamma Mia last weekend, 

The National Theatre Live does Hamlet @ the Taliesin midweek, 

Then Our Town with Micheal Sheen's Welsh National Theatre next weekend!

Aren't we lucky?

I must admit I fancy National Theatre Live - THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD.  Coming to the Taliesin soon.

by John Millington Synge

A young man walks into a pub claiming that he’s killed his father. Instead of being shunned, the killer becomes a local hero and begins to win hearts, that is until a second man unexpectedly arrives on the scene… A gripping and sharply funny classic brimming with secrets and twists, starring Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) and Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls).