Welshman and the Great Escape

Brave: Great Escape

We have all seen the movie, The Great Escape, and cheered on Steve McQueen's character Hilts as he attempts to sail over barbed wire on a motorbike at the end (though that bit was Hollywood fiction). Certainly I was not alone in feeling a wave of claustrophobia wash over me during the tunnel scenes, as these courageous prisoners of war tunnelled their way to freedom? And who could forget the Gestapo gunning down 50 of the escapees after being told to get out of the truck to "stretch their legs" while on their way back to camp (or so they thought)?
The Great Escape has many memorable scenes and though not all based on fact, helped make it a classic. (It is easily one of Mr Jakes' favourite films). Of course the main story IS very much true and took place 70 years ago on this very day. Of those who broke out, only three reached safety, 73 were recaptured, and 50 shot. Such heroic souls! No finer example of fire in the human spirit, and may they all rest in peace.
In the photograph above, the reader can see Cyncoed~born Brian Evans (left) a Welshman who was part of this historic escape. Sadly Mr Evans was one of those men murdered by Gestapo but it fills me with pride that one of my countrymen is a figure in this glorious tapestry.

Nationalities of the 50 executed prisoners

21 British
6 Canadian
6 Polish
5 Australian
3 South African
2 New Zealanders
2 Norwegian
1 Belgian
1 Czechoslovak
1 Frenchman
1 Greek
1 Lithuanian

Fern Hill

At 1:49 you will see the esteemed Mr Jakes reading a line from Fern Hill by Dylan Thomas for the 100 year anniversary. Diolch/Thanks for watching, it was an honour to take part.

The Cravings Of A Welshman

Oh rampant pains
of a drunken Welshman
as he prowled the streets
for a simple Englishman.
To pick his bones
and lob the stones,
into pools of choir
as Myfanwy groans.

The ale and laver
does hwyl his soul,
from Felinfoel
to fields of coal.
On Burry Port
and Pembrey shores,
the Welshman
knows his cockle chores.
Gwenllian walks in Kidwelly mun,
without her head,
beyond the sun.

Cymru! Wales!
Where bards run riot
The cawl is deep
the lovespoons quiet.
Long he sleeps
on Merlin's hill,
the wizard's Welsh
stirred Bennett's Phil.

Dragon red
lift claw in pride,
three feathers comb
the pride inside.
No fear breaks
the soul of man,
storms lay shattered
by cwtches hand.

Wales! Cymru!
Ancient Celts,
mother's tongue
on dafodil belts.
Sing of old
as sing we must,
the Cymru tribes
of Swansea dust...

©Steven Francis poems 2013

Britain Rules the Sport

What a fantastic weekend of sport it has been for us Brits! Dear God, I think the beer is flowing still! First the British & Irish Lions win the Test Series in Australia with a convincing display that showed we are streets ahead of the Aussies. Then (ad this was the biggie) Andy Murray became the first Brit in 77 years to win at Wimbledon, while on the same day Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell took the French Open at the tough Le Golf National.
Fantastic! And it was even more brilliant for the still dizzy Mr Jakes because rugby, tennis and golf are my favourite sports.
Was this one of the greatest days in British sport? Its got to be in with a shout. Heck Murray getting a slam at Wimbledon makes it special without the rugger and golf but the triple whammy made for a grand three course sporting feast. And who knows? The Ashes series (cricket) against our arch rivals the Aussies begins on Wednesday and we have a good chance of winning those too. Oh so sweet is victory after a few years in the sporting doldrums! I really do believe our success at last years Olympics kick started it all, there is definitely a bit of that spirit lingering in our athletes.
However to misquote Shakespeare, the course of true sporting highs never did run smooth, and it would seem the First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond upset a few people by waving the Saltire (Scottish flag) in the Royal Box at Wimbledon. I personally think it a hulabaloo over nothing, I mean Andy Murray is Scottish, what was Salmond supposed to wave? The flag of Japan? I can assure you dear reader that if Dai Jakes ever created sporting history (I can dream!) then I would be extremely angry/saddened if the Welsh dragon, y Ddraig Goch, wasn't flying.
Still I don't want to end on a sour note when people are still buzzing from such a fabulous weekend, long may it continue, long may Britain become great once more not by the hostilities of our history but through the camaraderie of sporting events.

The Tonypandy Terror

‎It has been one hundred years today since the birth of Wales' finest boxers (or one of them), the Rhondda born fighter Tommy Farr. Known as the "Tonypandy Terror", he became British & Empire heavyweight champion on 15 March 1937. Few (re: none) would argue his deserved lofty place in the ranks of greatest British hevyweights.

On 30 August 1937, Tommy gained the respect of the boxing world when for a whopping purse of $60,000 (a huge amount in those days), he fought world heavyweight champion Joe Louis at the Yankee Stadium in New York, and despite losing out due to a controversial points decision after 15 rounds, his place in sporting history was set forever. Never forget that the "Brown Bomber" (and these nicknames are delicious to a writer) was one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, who had knocked out 8 of his previous 9 opponents (and KO'd the next 7) but that mattered not a jot as the Bomber was mercilessly pumelled and hurt by the Tonypandy Terror in one of the hardest battles of his life.
The crowd thought Farr had won. And evidently referee Arthur Donovan did too because he was seen shaking Farr's hand after the bout, seemingly congratulating the Welsh fighter on a job well done. The 50,000 audience booed when Louis was awarded the narrow points decision.

Thanks to the wonders of video (with a nod to Youtube) you can watch it all here. Tommy Farr died in 1986 on St. David's Day aged 72 but he lives on in the hearts and memories and Welshmen and fight fans the world over. Long live the Tonypandy Terror! Cymru Am Byth.

Happy St. David's Day All!

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant hapus i chi gyd! Happy Saint David's Day everyone! Mr Jakes will sadly be missing out on the Cawl because I had more than my fair share of the Welsh Manna yesterday (and Duw it was great) but there will be Welshcakes for tea and seeing as its friday, a few pints of Felinfoel Ale for supper.

To be born in Wales,
Not with a silver spoon in your mouth,
But, with music in your blood
And with poetry in your soul,
Is a privilege indeed.

Taken from the poem "In Passing" written in 1967 by Brian Harris

God bless St. David and God bless Wales

Dai's 6 Nations Predictions

Today is the start of the rugby 6 Nations! And first game up is Wales v Ireland in the grand Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Dai Jakes wasn't too shabby last year with predictions so heres this afternoons score broght to you via Jenkins bakeries fortune pasties (good idea there mun!): Wales 19 Ireland 14.

Now let us warm up with a dance with Tom and Delilah. Mwynhewch! Pob lwc bois !!

Welsh New Year Tradition

A Mari Lwyd

A lot of countries have their own wierd and wonderful traditions on New Years Eve and we in Wales are no different. (Hope everyone has had a great Christmas by the way!) One of the most famous was the Mari Lwyd (Grey Mare) and im grateful for having attended Welsh schools (Ysgol Parc Y Tywyn, Burry Port and Strade nr Llanelli) that I remember enacting this fabulous tradition. It also appealed to my more morbid side because it involved skulls. "Skulls?" I hear you ask astounded. Yes skulls, a horse skull to be precise. What you did was somehow get hold of a horse skull, fit it with fake eyes (and maybe ears) and cover it with a white sheet/blanket and ribbons. Attach a wooden pole and voila! The Mari Lwyd was ready.
The Mari would be taken door to door in a noisy procession (while drinking.) Those who opened their doors were greeted by Welsh poems and insults and were expected to reply in the same manner in a kind of 'verbal battle'. And win or lose the result was the same when Mari Lwyd and her crowd were called in for drinks with the householders.
Alas due to the public drunkeness and insults, the chapels of the 19th century urged people to swap insults to Christmas carols and many believe that this taming of the tradition led to the demise of the Mari Lwyd as its seldom seen these days sadly.

From Cymru to Facebook and Dallas

Cymru Am Byth

Quick foreword: this is going to be one of those scatty blog posts which hop from one subject to another like im juggling hot spuds. The mouth and tail and a meeting someplace inbetween.


Facebook. Most of the time its full of self indulgent status 'headlines' and " 'Like' This If You Love Granny " type garbage. Basically it is what you should expect from a website where the majority have nothing to say. Ever. Thankfully not everyone is a self absorbed twit and this is where the site becomes an extremely useful tool. Social media is frighteningly efficient at getting messages across to the masses and because its done in a fun way (as opposed to seemingly lecture, people hate that), the message sinks in.
Of course it doesn't have to be earth shattering news worthy of Moses. It can be a simple statement spread amongst friends, bringing them closer together. You might be already be aware of it but it doesn't harm to pass it along via Facebook/Twitter. Take the 'card' above that I spotted on a friends page for instance. How glad it made me feel! Sure all my friends already knew Welsh was my first language and that as an old Strade schoolboy (Welsh language comprehensive school in west Wales), Welsh is my mother tongue but having things like this pop up at random always feels good. "Dwi'n Siarad Cymraeg ac yn falch o hynny" Translation: I speak Welsh and am glad of that. And yes by all that is Cawl and Ray Gravelle, I am glad I speak it and God help us if this ancient, beautiful language ever dies.
Dai Jakes is actually teaching a few American friends some Cymraeg (Welsh) via Facebook. Oh aye, its a little wish of mine to be able to claim I took some diolch's and da iawn's to the streets of Texas and California. Mr Jakes the pioneer taking the gospels of Burry Port and Carmarthen to the busy sidewalks of Houston and Dallas bars! And I was all set to get my pinny out too but Ann Romney has already spread the Welshcake love so America has been spared the Dai's Youtube Welshcake Extravaganza (be grateful for that at least.)
Duw all this from Facebook? Where will end mun?

Dear Rest of the World

More Bony Bum than Boney M

MTV have a new reality television show (haven't we got enough of these by now?) called 'The Valleys', and it is supposed to show real life here in Wales. Being a proud Welshman I felt it my duty to defend my beautiful country. Please world, don't be fooled! This show might be an accurate depiction of a friday and saturday night in the cities (and thats any UK city not just Wales) where trampy, self indulgent women and vain men wallow in fake tan and kebab grease, but its certainly not a true reflection on the rest of this country. And to think that even if a single person outside Wales believes The Valleys is typical of all Welshmen and women is extremely depressing.
Real reality check ~ most decent Welshies are embarrassed over this show and are weeping into our cawls that we are being portrayed as crass, lewd thickos who do nothing but dream of fame and fortune all day. One of the shows bimbos even admits that her boyfriend keeps her, while she searches for her slice of the celebrity pie. Another said, “it’s not for old people, for nannas and stuff. If you’ve got a bum like me, let me tell you it’s banging, so get it out.” Dear me, put the bony looking thing away love and where is the OFF button?
This NOT Wales. This is not real Wales. This a snapshot of the deluded minds of teenagers throughout Britain (and probably the rest of the world.) Watch it by all means, but watch it as it should be watched, like a piece of silly entertainment and not as a real glimpse of Welsh life. Think of it more The Hills Have Eyes than The Valleys.

Only Fools Lose Tongues

Readers should know that I am extremely passionate about anything Welsh and belonging to Wales, and I am opposed to anything that will harm my great country so I had to cool off before composing this little piece. Drink in hand? Then I'll begin. So the Western Mail has come out and said that we would be wasting money by spending £400,000-a-year translating meetings held at the National Assembly into Welsh. Fine, let us have everything in Welsh then, afterall this is Wales not England.
Its quite frankly idiotic for this paper to suggest such things, especially when we are haemorrhaging money for things like the London Olympics and its downright offensive to proud Welshmen/women like myself who with every fibre of our being love Welsh, are Welsh, think Welsh, dream Welsh and will die Welsh. Im glad ive never bought the Western Mail for surely if I had I never would again. Contemptable rag!
Welsh was my first language and I attended Welsh schools where english was hardly heard and I am so glad of this. I believe any parent worth their halen should have their children speaking Welsh and I look dimly on those who don't. Other countries are proud of their mother tongues and so should we and how wonderful it sounds when I walk the streets of Carmarthen and Llanelli and hear Welsh being spoken by both young and old. It warms the Penclawdd cockles of my Celtic heart., it really does.
Think on this: Italy without Italian. Japan without Japanese. Wales without Welsh. How absurd! We should all be wanting to KEEP our language and those who don't like it ought to clear off to England. When you support Wales in rugby or football (or any other sport), you are not simply supporting a team. You are supporting the COUNTRY, all of it and that means the language too. Shame on those who would like to see our language wiped off signs and the like for surely you are helping to kill off something that should be part of your spirit. Indeed its alien for me to even consider harming the culture of Wales.
Embrace being Welsh! Cherish our rich history and if you or your children don't speak Welsh then learn it! And anyone who thinks differently, you know where the bridge is. Diolch am eich clustiau.

Welsh Royal Crystal

Fine wines and good scotch need, nay demand great glasses to drink them out of. Coffee mugs while great for tea and coffee, are not what a good Macellan deserves. It needs a touch of style and elegance, and I know just the place to buy what I like to call 'glass with class'. A place where the handcrafting skills are centuries old and the glass is cut with fine Traditional, Intaglio and Celtic designs, that you won't find anywhere else. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Welsh Royal Crystal! Creators of some of the most stunning glass I have ever seen (and being a lover of good scotch ive seen quite a few). When something is created with passion and dedication, you can see it in the finished work and this is certainly true of Welsh Royal Crystal. Their tumblers, wine glasses, bowls and vases are true works of art (one of my particular favourites is their 1/2 Pint Barrel Tankard) and are real stand out pieces for your Welsh dresser or drinks cabinet.
The natural beauty of the Cambrian mountains and lakes of Mid Wales, where one can find Welsh Royal Crystal, have inspired fabulous designs which all stamped with the Welsh Royal Crystal assay mark, a traditional Welsh Dragon that represents a symbol of quality. You wouldn't expect anything less from the last hand crafted crystal glass makers in Wales, which you can see in action in their visitor center with a demonstration from their Master Craftsman. There is a coffee shop too and plenty of parking so visitors can make a day of it. All this with a warm, friendly atmosphere, there is no better way to shop for crystal glass at very wallet/purse friendly prices.


Support Wales in style

The 1/2 Pint Barrel Tankard


And don't forget, Welsh Royal Crystal are winners of Theo Paphitis' #SBS (small buisness sunday) award for added coolness.
Its so good to know that Wales still has a lot of great buisnesses in this little country of ours, and Welsh Royal Crystal is truly a great. Visit them online today, or even better visit in person in Rhayader, Powys, Wales. Oh and follow them on Twitter via @WelshRoyalCryst , they are very friendly. Dai Jake's Book gives them a giant thumbs up!.

Gelert's Grand Slam Prediction

Gelert hath spoken! Let it be written, let it be done. May the God of Oval Balls bless Wales, and guide us on the path to victory on this momentous day. May all the Welsh be drinking out of winners trophies tonight, and the Grand Slam be bathed in red. May the red dragon's flight steer us into glory! Amen.

In Memory of Merv the Swerve

Merv: never forgotten

I was greeted with very sad news this morning after switching the radio on. Wales rugby legend Mervyn Davies had passed away, aged just 65. And the word 'legend' is thrown about these days as cheaply as confetti, but Merv the Swerve was a real legend. Bona fide.
One of the best captains ever, he won two Grand Slams with Wales and three Triple Crowns. Players past and present found inspiration in this proud Welshman.
Heartbreaking he should leave us on the eve of a possible third Grand Slam in seven years. Time and fate are no respectors of mortals of course but this was cruel timing and Wales has one less colourful soul in it today than when it went to sleep last night. That soul will be looking down on the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff tomorrow and inspire the team to a great win.



This is Mervyn's 1969 Wales International rugby cap. Nod da Cymro annwyl, nos da.

St David's Day Blessings

Balchder Cymru

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant Hapus Pawb! Happy St David's Day Everyone! Blessings to you from the Dai Jake's Book!
And this year we are rugby Triple Crown winners, who could be heading for another Grandslam so there is an added Celtic glow over the mugs of Glengettie and bowls of Cawl today. The Welsh spirit is indeed charged with gusto and hwyl!
The poem 'Armes Prydein Fawr' (written around 930) proves how popular St David was/is. In the poem, the poet prophesised that when all seems lost, the Welsh would follow the Saint and be victorious over the english. Check out this line from the piece ~ "A lluman glân Dewi a ddyrchafant!" Which translates to, "And they will raise the pure banner of Dewi!" Stirring isn't it? A calling of the clans to unite!
Dai Jakes is certainly looking forward to eating Cawl & Welshcakes later, whilst pounding out Dafydd Iwan singing the fabulous Yma O Hyd. He will be lost in a patriotic fog of Cymraeg and tears of sheer pride will roll down the whiskery chops.
Enjoy the day everyone! Cymru Am Byth!!

Merry Christmas

Why am I blogging on Christmas day?


Goose giblets

Quite Simply....Wales!

Win for me my boys! Welsh passion bleeds through my fingertips, and weeps into song.

100% Wales

Balchder Cymru!

Wales, Cymru fach, my beautiful country of birth is currently making Welsh rugby history after getting into the semi finals of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. We got through the 'pool of death' unscathed, almost beating the South Africans in the process and we beat a fine Irish side last saturday, (who themselves were playing well in the touranment).
So Ireland, Scotland and England are all out but Wales march onward! And this saturday (15/10/11) we face France, Le Bleus, in what is going to be a great semi final game of rugby. I can feel it in my Dragonbones! Can we do it? We are but one game away from being in the final of a rugby world cup, a mere 80 minutes! Can we do it? I am pretty confident that we can. I believe that my beloved Wales can triumph over the French and meet either New Zealand or Australia in the final. In my Welsh heart of hearts I have faith we will do it! Our team is young, fit and hungry. There is a sharpness to the boys that I can see even from thousands of miles away. It was there when Wales won the 2005/2008 Grandslams and its there again out in New Zealand.
There is a wonderful atmosphere in this country at the moment. Everyone is buzzing with excitement and anticipation of what could be should Wales defeat the 'froggies' this weekend. (And when I say froggies, I mean it only as harmless banter, certainly no disrespect is intended).
Wales the fearless! This is how we have played in this tournament, the youth and fitness making us fear nobody and giving us an edge. When you have youth on your side you will always believe that you are undefeatable of course; the young believe they are all immortal and there is danger in this as much as there is strength because it can lead to recklessness, but we have a few experienced boys in the squad and they will provide the needed discipline. We will be victorious!
And if we aren't? Well then its been a fantastic journey that has put the country in great spirits and Wales will have still proved that once again we are a rugby force to be reckoned with.
And I will say it here and now so that I cannot be accused of jumping on the 'I-knew-Wales-would-win-all-along' bandwagon further on down the winning road. We are going to beat France this saturday and make it to the final. And we can win that too. Cymru Am Byth!

Cariad Coch (Red Love)

Welsh and beautiful

As a passionate Welshman who loves women (not in a pervy way honest), I got to wondering who would be a great example of typical Welsh beauty. It wasn't that easy because all Welsh women are fabulous looking and I could have gone the easy route and picked someone like Katherine Jenkins but that would have been too obvious. And I hate obvious.
So my vote goes to actress Sue Roderick. Most will only know her from playing Lucy Cartwright in Twin Town but she's appeared in Welsh soap opera Pobl Y Cwm and the fantastic Welsh language comedy series Licoris Olsorts.

Happy St David's Day

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant hapus I pawb! Happy St David's Day to everyone!
Yes its that day again where I thank the Lord I was born Welsh! I do give daily thanks for this to be honest but today is such a special day. Forget about sex, drugs and rock and roll, today is all about cawl, leeks and cwrw!
As I tap this blog out im sitting in my Welsh rugby jersey and red dragon beanie cap, looking out at the lush green countryside that Cymru is famous for and I feel my heart and soul swelling like cockles in the frying pan.
Puts me in mind of the poem Armes Prydain which was written sometime in the early to mid-tenth century AD. In it the unknown poet says that the Cymry (the Welsh people) will unite and join an alliance of fellow-Celts to crush and repel those foul Anglo-Saxons, under the banner of St David. A lluman glân Dewi a ddyrchafant! (And they will raise the pure banner of Dewi!)
Duw I can feel the stirring in my blood!


Never prouder to be Welsh

All of these make me glad to be alive ~ Owain Glyndwr, Grav, Tom Jones, winning the Grandslam, Barry John, Dafydd Iwan, Felinfoel ale, Grandslam film, Eisteddfods, lovespoons, Ryan a Ronnie, Brecon Beacons, Tenby, Penclawdd cockles, Steven Francis poetry, Swansea market, T Llew Jones, Pembrokeshire, S4C, Laverbread, Max Boyce, Stradey Park, Richard Burton, Haverfordwest, Solva, Pembroke castle, Carew market, Welsh cakes, Calon Lan, and rugby.

I will not hide.
My Welsh race
I will not disgrace.
My Welsh blood
flows hot and true,
my Welsh people
I will stand by you.
Through thick and thin
until the day we die,
our Welsh flag
will fly up high!

I hope everyone is filled to the gills with cawl and cwrw (beer) and is now cwtching up to watch Max Boyce ~ Live In Treorchy....Again on the telly.
Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant pawb!