General Chat

Thank goodness for DET's contribution. As usual, I must have used the wrong words. But I do not think Robyn Lewis comes out with any medals from this. The girl was Welsh speaking and he had been speaking to her in Welsh. That was why he was annoyed that she changed to English suddenly. Us old people do get annoyed in shops and on the phone occasionally, you know. And most companies train their customer staff to deal with us annoying old people. Not including Genes in this obviously.

And the cashier and the manager will not be the paragons of right that they appear to be on this thread. It takes two to tango, and the manager should have known how to diffuse the situation.

Sue. I like the word "radicalised". All I know is that I knew a bit of Welsh and believed (cos mom kept telling me) that I was Welsh and Wales was a nation.

I did get interested in Welsh politics in Bangor in 66. A village had been flooded to provide Liverpool with water, then Liverpool sold it back to people in North Wales!!. George Thomas (Minister for Wales) had no sympathy whatsoever for the Welsh language. And Gwynfor Evans became a Plaid MP. And those events interested many Welsh students, so I guess we all radicalised each other.

And perhaps still are a bit radicalised 45 years on. ;-)

if there is, I've not heard of it

Genuine question..is there some sort of law in Wales where you HAVE to speak welsh or get a welsh speaker if it's requested?

It seems to me that no one has come out of this looking good.

-Robyn Lewis for being a stubborn old man. Any bi-lingual person can switch between the 2 at a drop of a hat.
-The Checkout person for not trying to pacify him or finding someone else if she genuinely didn’t know how to say the price in Welsh. For all we know, English might have been her first language, and she was exercising her own right in bi-lingual country to speak that!
-The Manager for allowing the situation to escalate.

MUFFY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D :-D

John if what the cashier earns is of no relevance why mention £7.00 ph?

I don't care what the rate of pay is. Dr. Lewis was being an absolute idiot and obviously used the opportunity to get attention.

You appear to be the only contributor on this thread who has any sympathy for the Archdruid and it sounds (rightly or wrongly) that you were radicalised during your time in Bangor!

I cannot be bothered to cite the pros and cons of using the Welsh language and the economy, tourism or attracting overseas investment. It will be clear as day to anybody who gives it a little thought.

Thanks to everyone who added so far :-D

I didn't say Robyn Lewis was snobbish, or you for that matter, I said that I thought what you said about the cashier sounded snobbish.

As AnnC said why make a remark like that if it has no relevance.

John ...as I said I have lived in Wales for 50 years and love it...but have never felt 2nd class and why should I??
I have lots of Welsh friends ,but some are so old fashioned that they can't accept that a lot of English...and others have come in to boost the economy and not to be anti.
When I had a guest house on the sea front in the 60s,we were thought of as rich...a misconception...we just worked hard...and the whole row were run by English.

Its the minority of Welsh people who are so biased,not everyone.

No reasonable person would have behaved as he did, I think we can all agree on that.

Were they from Lisbon Lynda? ;-) :-D

What the cashier earnes is of no relevance. The point I was making is that I do not believe that anyone who wants to become a champion or martyr for the cause of the Welsh language deliberately picks on someone serving him at the checkout.

If we live on the borders of Gloucestershire, we have a right to be spoken to in Welsh for most public services. It sounds to me as if he was speaking to a Welsh speaking cashier. It is natural to expect the whole transaction In either Welsh or English.

If I had been Dr Lewis and wanted tio make a point, I would have paid, then asked to see the manager and complained. Had that not resolved the problem, I would have written to the Welsh Language Board. my As in the Wales government in Cardiff and my MP in Westminster (who I think is Elfyn Llwyd).

He is not an enemy of the English language - far from. In his 1969 book he wanted people in Wales without Welsh to feel as Welsh as Welsh speakers and not be second-class. He is not snobbish - being snobbish does not get you far in Wales. I am far from snobbish. £7 an hour is what she will earn approx - yes, that is what many of us are pleased to receive. And my son is Robyn - and that was where I first heard the name spelt the Welsh way (on cover of 1969 book).

But looks like you all had some fun after I retired last night :-D :-D

^
*wot moonbi said*

I guess it proves that age and an extended education are no guarantee of good manners or respect for others.

When I was a student I did all sorts of jobs, some of them in shops, and I hope I always treat those who "serve" me with respect. I remember what it was like to have an awkward customer. Thank goodness owners and managers no longer expect their staff to put up with the sort of thing I had hurled at me by oafs and oiks all those years ago.

Gwynne

Frail old man my arm,,,hes a pompus egoist bully.

he needs booing in the street.........


people dont call the police for nothing,,,,,,,,,,so what isnt this bully revealing.

"Whatever his audience may be".........

well this time he spoke to a cashier who spoke the price in english, so He should have replied in English, Yes? just as he had done with the BBC, Yes.

enough said,

Maggie I am glad to see that you are still nuts! :-P :-D

OMG - I'm a page late - but my cats are black and black and white - yet I'm sure their mum came from Ireland.

Perhaps her mother came from Wales - does wetness of nose make a difference?


*whispers* - one thing I have noticed with these 'ferringer' cats is their sniffing of each others' arses - never had this problem with my 'English' cats - they sniffed each others' noses.

Where's Deidre and her 'help' page when you need her???

Well who did he name his daughter after?

I await the reply with bated breath! ;-)

You're right Sue.......it's a crock of shite.the lot of it...as Uggers once said..it's like an old lady pulling down her drawers to get attention....so on that note I'll float off for the night.

zzzzzzzzzzzz

At least he said 'cashier' and not 'check-out chick'. He is doing this to cause the backlash. Do you think he really cares about Dr Lewis and his stupid stance in the supermarket? What he really cares about is being the centre of attention. Named his son after him? Rubbish.

For the record...pre children I've earnt decent money in a management role..but as it is now...I'd be dead happy to earn £7 an hour.... BUT it.wouldn't make my point of view any less relevant with a different job title and wage..I''m still able to stand my ground and fight my corner regardless of what I may or may not receive in a pay packet. How bloody condescending to judge somebody's crediblity on how much they earn..if she was a lawyer and author would that make HER point of view more believable??? I think NOT

A snippet for you:

The history and complexities of the Gorsedd of Bards of the Isle of Britain as an initiatory tradition is little understood outside the confines of Wales. Yet surprisingly it originated and first came to light in the City of London, a world apart from the gentle hills and valleys of Wales. The Gorsedd remains a mystery to those outside its ranks; the chosen few rarely speak or offer explanations as to the status and purpose of the Gorsedd, except in retaliation.

The City of London presumably got fed up with it!