Wales is easily reached by train from London, England. At Paddington station you can see the statue of Brunel who built the railway from London to Wales, all the way across Wales, and the ship to take passengers on to the USA. In the other direction, passengers from the USA could travel from America to England on Brunel's ship, board the train at Fishguard, and travel on to London, England.
When the train from London reaches Wales, you will see the bilingual signs on the platforms. And above the station ships and kiosks.
The trains were not running during the great storm, storm Eunice, in February 2022. But if you cannot get around or cannot get there at all, you can celebrate all things Welsh at home and online to friends worldwide.
The Welsh flag has a jolly red dragon walking on a grass green, which makes me think of the best selling novel set in Wales, How Green Was My Valley. The white sky reminds me of those wonderful white sheep.
Listen to wonderful Welsh music. From Wales, the land of Welsh harps, and Welsh male voice choirs.
Or a recording of Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood. If you are in Wales you can follow a Dylan Thomas trail.
If at home listen to a recording.
Or recite it yourself.
Portal:Wales/Selected quote/16
What can you eat in the interval? Welsh lamb. Welsh rarebit. And Welsh cakes.
As I spoon out the food I think of Welsh wooden love spoons. Carved for lovers.
In Wales, I could not afford to buy Welsh love spoons. But my budget did run to a tea-towel. I was hunting all over the net for a picture of love spoons. Then I recalled that I had a tea-towel featuring them in my kitchen!
Welsh Cakes
They are filling little pancakes filled with currants and quite delicious served hot with melting butter on top. I feel hungry just thinking about them.
If you have flour, salt, butter, an egg, some currants, and sugar, you can make these small fat pancakes, cooked both sides in a frying pan (or griddle if you have one). Basically, you mix your dry ingredients, add the butter to the flour and salt, lastly the liquid egg. Optional milk. Cook both sides.
I like to add butter on top. Others add sugar. Why not both? Sprinkle on sugar. Then a dab of butter whilst they are still hot, to melt in. Yummy.
Easy to remember in ounces. 8432. 8 for the flour. Four for the butter, Three for the sugar. 2 for the currants. Add an egg. Add salt to your flour.
I first had these at the Fishguard Bay hotel, on the Writers Holiday which I hope will take place next February, run by the helpful Hobbs family, who zoom down to the station to collect you when you phone to say, "Hello, I'm here!" if the hotel opens up again, refurbished.
Welsh singers include Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones. Names which sound Welsh, Jones, Evans, Lloyd. As in the politician Lloyd George. The double l sounds as if you are clearing your throat.
Sights to see in Wales include the Severn Bridge which you drive across from England.
The capital, Cardiff, has a free museums, and Cardiff castle. Other notable castles are Castle Coch, just outside Cardiff, with an oriental, colourful interior room.
Castell Coch, outside Cardiff.
Caerphilly has a huge moat. I went there and a a food festival was taking place.
Fishguard is literally the end of the line, where the trains end and you can catch a ferry from Wales to Ireland. The Fishguard Bay hotel is on the cliff top above the station. (Currently closed for renovation.)
The bay was the site of the filming of two great movies, Dylan Thaomas's Under Milk Wood, and Moby Dick. Liz Taylor and her twice husband Richard Burton stayed in the hotel whilst filming.
After the celebration of Wales, you could go across on the ferry from Wales to Ireland ror St Patrick's Day in March 17th. Start learning the words of Molly Malone.
Useful Websites
IRISH
https://www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/who-was-molly-malone-what-we-know-from-irish-folklore-and-songs/
WELSH
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Wales/Selected_quote
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylan_Thomas_Trail
https://recipes.fandom.com/wiki/Welsh_Cakes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_castles_in_Wales
BIOGRAPHY
Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 EH5 DL5 VC5
The Author of several books including Etiquette For Every Occasion. Wedding Speeches & Toasts. How to be the Best Man. Quick Quotations. Who Said What When. (See Amazon.com Kindle and lulu.com)
Blogs travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com
dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com
Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Club Vice President Public Relations (VPPR), Previous President
Join BHA 1st Wednesday 7pm and 3rd Saturday 2 pm Singapore time
Vice President Public Relations (VP PR) of Tampines Changkat Advanced;
Secretary of weekly online Singapore International Dynamic Toastmasters Speakers’ Club;
Member and past president of Harrovians toastmasters club, UK; Past member of HOD Toastmasters, London. Past member in Singapore of: Toastmasters Club of Singapore (TCS); Tiarel; and Senja Cashew.
More details from Toastmasters International find a club.
Regular attendee at annual Swanwick Writers’ School, England.
Regular attendee at annual Writers’ Holiday, Wales.
Contributor to poetry readings, and after tea courses on: Speaking On Radio To Promote Books; and Plots And Character.
Winner of many club and area speaking contests in the UK and Singapore.
Language advisor to Empire Toastmasters club in Indonesia.
Language and speech workshops in Singapore.
Speaker on radio and TV in England, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.
Compiler of a school course on public speaking for teachers to prepare pupils for school open days with attending ceremonies before government ministers, Singapore.
Former member of Harrow Writers’ Circle, London, and two writing groups in Singapore.
Angela is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter. She would be delighted to link up with new friends.
Books by Angela Lansbury
How to be the best man. (Ward Lock / Cassell.)
Wedding Speeches and Toasts.(Ward Lock / Cassell.)
Unforgettable British Weekends.
Poetry Workshop Workbook.
The Tailor and the Spy. (Lulu.)
Larry The Talking Labrador. (Lulu.)
Writing Poetry for fun.
Quick Quotations
Who Said What When
Next BHA meetings
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