Very fun day

I'm now 38 and when I was young my grandfather would take me to see and spend time with his friends at 'the club' in Gelligaer, Pontlottyn, and Merthyr. Many of the men in his circle of friends had a very slow manner of speaking that would canter on lilts and melodic rhythms typical in the Valleys. Now, as an adult, I associate the cadence closely with pipe smoke and half drunk pints of bitter.

I've noticed more and more how our accent has begun to shift with the advent of the Internet and Welsh people seeing more of the world beyond the Head's of the Valleys, the ports of the cities, and the A470. I used to be able to tell if someone was from the next valley over from mine by accent alone. I'm sure I still can, but perhaps less so.

Has anyone else noticed this? Does anyone know what I'm referring to when speaking about the accents of old Anglo-Cambrian communities of the Valleys? Has this happened in the North too?

Inspired by a recent post over on r/AskUK, do you know the words to the national anthem? The national anthem is, of course, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (but feel free to talk about saving the king too, if you wish).

Or can you often hear Welsh being spoken in the bordering or nearby counties such as Merseyside, Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Gloucestershire?

Will Hayward has published his plans to create a new news network for Wales

New tourist advert for Wales!

Just kidding - it’s a print I got from artist WeFail, which I found particularly poignant after the destructive wildfires across Wales the last few months.

My daughter found this for sale in a thrift store in Toronto, Canada. Only able to post a maximum of 20 pics at one time so I will do 2 parts.

I’m putting together a historyguesser map and would love some ideas. Which moment would be most interesting to explore, and why?

Dad was born in Cwm raised in Ebbw Vale and moms a California girl.

Comments come after he visited Port Talbot today as part of his UK tour.

Earlier he called for a summit of the First Ministers (and deputy FM of Northern Ireland) of the devolved nations and himself in October. He also said he was open to discussing the Crown Estate, but not the Barnett Formula.

Seems like there may be scope to actually get a few extra things devolved, if Plaid puts a good case together. I genuinely do believe Burnham is open minded on some of these issues.

Obviously he's far more passionate about the English mayoral/Combined Authority model, but I think there might be a deal to be made with the PM around giving a few more powers to/reforming CJCs (Welsh regions) along those lines in exchange for more Senedd powers.

He also does seem a bit uncomfortable with the interplay between nationalism and devolution - hence the comments about north Wales working more with north-west England, mid Wales with the West Midlands etc.

Problem scenarios I can foresee:

1) Plaid, being nationalists and having pledged to use central control/coordination, could reject any notion of Burnham's proposals to take devolution "deeper down" outright. They could easily feel the economic devolution within Wales would undermine their star economy pledge of a new National Development Agency to direct economic development nationwide. Conversely, there's basically nothing in the 2026 Plaid manifesto about CJCs or regional devotion within Wales - beyond central bodies actually playing a bigger role in coordination. I think rejecting this would probably put the brakes on any more powers for the Senedd/WG but Plaid might want to use the lack of more devolution as a stick to beat Labour with anyway.

2) Burnham, being surrounded by devo-sceptic (at least in a Wales context) conventional Labour types, Welsh Labour MPs/Ken Skates and Whitehall types, and being uncomfortable with the idea of Welsh nationalism/nation building as driver for devolution, is eventually convinced to reject outright any further powers for the Senedd/Welsh Gov after cursory consideration (or, more likely, just offers something very minor like probation and youth justice).

3) Burnham is *really* uncomfortable with the idea of Welsh nationalism/nation building as driver for devolution. He's only willing to offer new powers (policing/crown estate) to the regional level (below the Senedd/Welsh Gov), or else demands regional devolved authorities be created that cross the England-Wales border, as hinted at in his article. Stalemate ensues unless Burnham wants to override the Welsh Gov (unlikely, I think, but could happen if Labour, Tories and Reform vote for it in the Senedd).

A deal between the UK and Welsh Governments seems much better for everyone and more Burnham's style tbf.

Policing, Crown Estate, maybe beginning some justice and finance reforms (borrowing, reserves, taxation rather than Barnett) in return for some skills, infrastructure and economic development powers going to (renamed) CJCs, or to larger local authorities who now get directly elected mayors (or some other more direct election). Seems fair to me. At the very least I'm sure there's some fudge that could be reached that keeps both sides vaguely happy.

Group of “ Mature “ Mods in Menai Bridge, Ynys Môn the other day.

A lot can happen in 100 days.

More support for schools. More help for families. Action on NHS waiting times. Backing Welsh farmers. A stronger voice for Wales.

Here are the highlights from the new Welsh Government's first 100 days:

• Increased teacher incentives in priority subjects by £5,000, up to £20,000. This will help attract and retain new teachers to help raise standards in our schools.
• Extended Free School Meals to more Year 7 and 8 pupils on Universal Credit. This is part of wider efforts to tackle child poverty and reduce inequalities across Wales.
• Expanded free childcare with all councils offering 12.5 hours for two-year-olds by March 2027. Affordable childcare can improve outcomes for children and families. This will benefit hundreds more families across Wales.
• Provided £1billion over the next three years to support farmers. This multi-year funding deal gives Welsh farmers stability and certainty. A new review has also been launched to cut red tape for farmers.
• Launched a new north-south coach service linking Bangor and Carmarthen. Preparations are in place for this autumn’s launch of a new coach service between the north and the south of Wales which will cut journey times by over an hour. Here’s what the coach looks like.
• Acted on NHS waiting times, including plans for up to 10 elective care hubs and shifted more healthcare towards primary care. Over £145million has been invested to tackle waiting times and an expert group has been established to develop options for surgical hubs across Wales.
• Announced plans to restrict smartphones in schools. Raising standards in our schools is a key priority and this guidance will strengthen and make clear the expectations for how phones are used within the school day.
• Progressed new literacy and numeracy indicators. Literacy and numeracy development is being supported in our schools through clearer expectations to give them clarity about what should be learned and when.
• Kickstarted work to set up a new Welsh economic development agency and launched a skills audit to identify future workforce needs. This is part of plans to unleashing the potential of the Welsh economy, and creating good, well-paid jobs.
• Stood up for Wales by raising the need for fair funding and further powers from the UK Government. This includes HS2 consequentials, environmental justice for coalfield communities, and the need for a new Wales Bill.

And there’s more too.

Click the link to see our top priorities for this term and track progress:

https://www.gov.wales/progress-our-priorities

https://nation.cymru/news/british-and-german-campaigners-criticise-welsh-governments-involvement-in-arms-fair/

A few months ago there was a spate of putting up flags around the country, in England and in Wales.
Here on Anglesey it was tne same, the welsh dragon started popping up on lamposts around some towns and looked quite colourful and cheerful. The people who put them up must have gone to a lot of trouble to get it all done.
But now :( after a long winter and a hot summer they are a mess, they are ripped to shreds and just rags flowing in tne breeze. Basically, making the place look rough and scruffy. Whoever put them up should have either replaced them with new ones or removed them altogether.
Is this the same in your area, or have they been removed or replaced ? I know it was supposedly a sign of “patriotism” type of thing but even so ..