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?

Home Schooling vs Gin Lane 2011

Its been revealed that thousands of children in Wales are being taught at home instead of at school. I cant say Ive given much thought to this because before last September I was childless, but since the birth of my daughter I have thought quite a bit about school and I have to admit, im all for this. I know some say children will miss out on the social side of things and making chums but when you consider some of our schools are filled with illiterate chavs who care more about reality tv than Dickens, its no bad thing.
Im a pretty cultured creature at the chore (I hide it reasonably well by excursions into tattoo parlours and alcoholic storms) and it frightens me to think that my beloved daughter could become 'infected' with some of the rotten habits a lot of youngsters seem to have these days. (Most of it heaped onto them by foul parents I hasted to add.) I think we've all seen them; little boys with tight cropped hair and going around kicking litter bins like tiny thugs, or girls, horrifyingly young dressed up like hookers with make up and revealing clothes. And all of them writing in 'text' speak and swearing like sailors.
The parents of these urchins quite willing for television and videogames to be their electric nannies while they themselves wallow in lager and cigarette smoke. Its the Gin Lane of 2011, it really is. Utterly depressing. No hint of poetry and great literature, these children exist on soap operas and Big Mac diets making me actully fear the future, filled with the ignorant. There is no inspiration anymore, most children wanting to be 'famous' when older to follow in the footsteps of that wretched Katie Price who might be financially well off but is still cheaper than a jumble sale.
Also I don't trust schools themselves. There is no way they can cater for each child individually and im sorry but I want, nay demand that my daughter is given privelage over the other children. Wont happen in a school so im afraid thats another tick for home tutoring.
Addressing the social aspect of this is simple to my thinking. A school isn't the only place where children get together. There are lots of clubs and activities for them to be getting involved in. The religious ones even have church or chapel. When I was young I joined the Boys Brigade, a young ornothologist club, a canoe club and a club for young sub~aqua divers. I was never short of things to do outside school.
No doubt there are very good schools in this country but alas there is distrust of them. It is sadly the way of things at this moment in time. I hope things improve before the lights are extingueshed completey but I won't hold my breath.