General Chat

This is what Dr Robyn Lewis said at a Plaid Cymru Rally at Pwllheli on 20 Jan 1968. I believe it is still his view today, still my view and still the view of all the radicalised extremists. And many not so radical.

“This country of Wales is a land of some two and three-quarter million souls. Let me make my views, and those of Plaid Cymru, crystal clear with regard to the Welsh people. The Welsh people – the people of Wales, I believe, include the Rhondda miner, whose parents spoke Welsh, but who is himself bereft of the language.

They include the retired Lancashire businessman, whose forebears never spoke it, and who has chosen to retire to this country for its scenery, for the golf or for the yachting.

They include the dark-skinned docker in Tiger Bay, whose ancestors once lived in a land of sunshine.

They include the ever-growing number who have learnt and who are learning Welsh as a second language; as well as those who – like myself – have had the good fortune to learn the language at their mother’s knee.

We are all one nation, and the future well-being of this land of Wales, be it our country by birth, by choice, or by adoption is the concern of all of us.

We will tolerate – I will tolerate – no second class citizens here”

All of that speech was designed for everyone who lives in Wales – for everyone to feel included as the Welsh people. All this half and half nonsense is ridiculous. You are either part of Welsh society or you are not. And there is no discrimination as far as I am aware if someone wants to live here but doesn’t want to join in – and I think all posters on here who live in Wales are joining in to make Wales a better place. I think we all enjoy living in Wales and being “Welsh”.

Holidaymakers are a different issue entirely. I doubt they will get a warmer welcome anywhere – whether visiting the North Wales resorts, the wonderful beaches of the west coast or the industrial and folk museums of the south. And Cardiff (according to my daughter who lives in England) is one of the coolest cities to chillax in. Great shops and wonderful clubs and international restaurants.

Paula, only if you twist my arm ;-)

BTW having a pulse is not optional :-P

@supercrutch. This morning I had a man come to mend the lock on the side gate. he was wearing green overalls, looked very hunky to me and he had a pulse. Do you want his number ?

I was thinking the same Santa Sue after seeing Dr Ellis mentioned on at least three posts.

Must be getting him confused with the chap who played Poldark :-D

Paula you were quick...lolol I had typed hulky but edited cos I didn't want a green bloke turning up..lmao

I would like to ask John WHY he keeps saying Dr ELLIS when the former Archdruid surname is LEWIS,
Just goes to show he doen't know what or who he is talking about..And he has done it on a lot of his postings on this thread.

Well, after reading through this thread, it is people like John who give Wales a bad reputation :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

George :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

I've been to Wales many times (as I said on a previous post my sister lived there for 20-odd years) and it's a great country. I've heard Welsh spoken a lot, but never encountered any rudeness or prejudice towards 'English'. I think shopkeepers, hoteliers etc. are too mindful of the tourist dollar for that. You can encounter rudeness and anipathy in any country. Go visit - especially the countryside and mountains!!!

I would second that motion Ann - he makes me lose the will to live - am tired of hearing of exploits/education/work experience/ religion - I am no longer C of E but an atheist!

Before i go and also have to say,that on the whole most welsh people are lovely,most of my friends are welsh,as is hubby ,children,grandchildren and parents in law.and wales as a whole is very beautiful.
But here in Anglesey the welsh language fanatics are very active which does a lot of damage to tourism on the island.

Dr Lewis the bard,is well known here for his extreme views ,as ive said before he writes for our local paper through the medium of english. :-(

Actually Ann you have just reminded me about meeting some of the Welshys from here, now they was all absoloutely lovely and we had a great weekend, however I was on the phone outside the pub talking to TW and I accidently flicked my cig ash and it went in this guys pint whilst still on the phone I said " ooo I am very sorry" he looked at me gone out and TW pointed out that he probably couldnt understand a word I was saying with my heavily northern twang :-D

Breathe Ann Breathe ...... :-D :-D

About 4 years ago we had a lovely holiday on Pembroke coast in Sept and not one bit of rain. Never heard Welsh spoken.

Old friend went to live in village just in from north Wales coast. Usual village, church, shop.post office and 2 pubs - one either end of village.

Everyone - speaking in english and changed to welsh when OH gave his order to landlord and when we left after one drink only I said to Landlord I hope they make up the lost custom you have had tonight - we are off to the other one.

I have no problem with each using their own language however this was downright rudeness. None of us wished to listen in to their conversation, we were happy with out own!

well in my neck of the woods here in Welsh Wales you are always sure of a welcome in the hillsides - whenever anyone new moves into the road in the vicinity of my house, I always introduce myself and at Christmas time pop a card through the door

The week before Christmas I noticed a young Indian couple moving into the house across the road - went over and introduced myself - they did likewise and introduced their young children - they said they were going home to India just before Christmas for six weeks - I thought about this and popped a note through the door pointing ut that as they have a glass porch, all mail and flyers will be there to indicate no one is at home and if they wished, any of the neighbours would be happy to collect the post till their return

I now have the key and check on the porch every day - they say they are bring some sweets back from India for me :-D :-D

I note from the mail that he is a doctor

and has a faint pulse!!!! :-D ;-)

I dont thinks she'll be fussed Paula as long as he can shift the garage :-D

Just checking here sweetie, do you mean a hulky or hunky man to demolish the garage :-D :-D :-D

Gawd, I daren't raise another (I thought) fairly tame topic ;-)

I have to say though there have been some really interesting posts :-D

There is nothing wrong with showing pride in your heritage but there is absolutely something bad in doing so to the point of extremism which only causes harm to the 'cause'. This also tars everyone with the same brush.

Once bitten twice shy does apply. If someone has a bad experience anywhere it inevitably does colour their view of the whole country. You can still drive through the hills near Aberystwyth and see painted grafitti which isn't very nice for English visitors to see. You may even see a household flying the Welsh flag on their very own flagpole with racist slogans.

Would this be tolerated in England? Does it happen in England? I don't know because I visit so rarely.

It's a sad world sometimes. A few making a lot of trouble for so many over an issue which is not a life or death choice.

Oh and I need a hunky man to demolish a garage ;-)

I have read the thread since the beginning but not posted but I just have to say, I always have enjoyed holidays in Wales (OH's Mother was half Welsh born in Merthyr but left there when she was 19, although her family remained. OH still has second cousins in the Glamorgan area.), We have have had about 7 or 8 holidays in Wales North and south, plus having lived on the border in the Forest of Dean we had many day trips into Wales, wonderful scenery everywhere and lovely holidays (many of them wet I might add). Only had one occasion when the changing to speaking in Welsh not English occurred in a shop, that was up near Bangor. I would holiday there any time so don't let this thread put you off Muffy.

I have to say that if you want to experience being made to feel like an interloper (amd here my experience is going back to 70s/80s not sure if it still applies) you should try living in the Forest of Dean as we did. There you were not considered a local unless you had lived there at least 25 years. Everybody was related to almost everyone else so you didn't dare speak about anyone in case it was somebody's cousin, aunt, sister. But I loved living there even if I couldn't always understand what they were talking about or saying. (a language all their own!)
There were also a lot of Welsh people living in the area having moved just over the border. :-)

Well Johns life on GR is whatever he wants it to be ... pure fabrication.