Tuesday, June 12, 2007

No Welsh please we're British

While visiting my parents for a few days I received a phone call from a colleauge saying that John from the Courts Service in londan had rang, wanting me to call back urgently. I've been called to do jury service next weekDwi wedi cael fy nghalw i fod ar reithgor yn yr wythnosau nesaf. The bilingual letter came informing me, and I naturally completed the Welsh side and returned the form. I then received an info pack which was mainly in Welsh, apart from a bilingual leaflet and a loss-of-earnings form in English only. As I work in a work place where Welsh is the normal language, I e-mailed (in Welsh) asking if I could have the Welsh version of the form. Anyway I rang john back and this is our discussion:
Me: It's Rhys Wynne here, I understand you called my work wanting to speak to me
John: Yes, you've sent us an e-mail but it's in Welsh and we don't understand Welsh
Me: I was under the impression that I'm allowed to contact the Courts Service in Welsh if I prefer to.
John: But then we have to send it to be translated and it takes time. What does the e-mail say?
Me: You've sent me a loss of earnings form in English, I work for organisation that operates through the medium of Welsh and I'd like a form in Welsh for my employer.
John: I don't think we've got one in Welsh
Me: Oh (I wasn't in an arguin mood)
John: I'll see what I can do
Fi: Thank you very much
Typical me, and typical of most Welsh speakers - I phone them, get told to translate my own e-mail, then hear it's unlikely that I'll get a form in Welsh and then I THANK the guy!

Anyway, by the time I get back to Cardiff, a Welsh form was waiting for me on the mat (sent from their Cardiff office). Ok, so everything worked out fine in the end, but again one has to go through some hoops just to get something really simple in Welsh.

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Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Eisteddfod 2007 gigs announced

Cymdeithas yr Iaith's gigs (scroll down for line-ups) are going to be held at Mold Rugby Club

Maes-B gigs will be held at Maes B (obviously!), the youth site which will be situated near the main Maes on Wrexham Road.

Thinking of going along?
It depends what you like of course, but I'd recommend trying to see the following:

Radio Luxemourg (physycadelic/pop/rock)
Euros Childs (pop/rock/alt-folk)
Sibrydion (indie/electro rock)
Cofi Bach a Tew Shady (hip hop) - check out the 'Gobzilla' video
Fflur Dafydd (acoustic/blues, also jazz when with band)
Mattoidz (indie/rock)
Cowbois Rhos Botwnog (pshyco-billy)
Derwyddon Dr Gonzo (funk/ska/FUN!)

Some video's from the above on my YouTube favourites.

If you're thinking of going to some of the gigs, or to the Eisteddfod itself in the daytime, feel free to leave any questions in the comments.

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