Anglesey - Ynys Mon

Apologies I wrote this last year, as have neglected blog and decided to update


So Anglesey is among Simon Calder, of the Independent, top global 2011 holiday destinations, due, no doubt to the fact that Prince William and his bride-to-be will set up home there. Included alongside the island in the international must see list are Burma, Iceland, Ghana and Chile, all great destinations if you have the financial means and time to spend there. So here are some plus points that the Welsh island has over the other top destinations.

Human rights
Despite having a geriatric junta running the local authority, they don't suppress demonstrating monks in Anglesey like they do in Burma. In fact you would be hard pressed to find any monks on the island as they were all given their cards with the dissolution of the monasteries.Visit Penmon if you want a taste of the contemplative life and some solitude in a sacred place. The island also has some incredibly beautiful early churches, as well as some incredible pre-historic sites awash with atmosphere, such as Barclodiad y Gawres and Bryn Celli Ddu. The multi-layered Din Llugwy is one of my favourite spots - burial chamber, Romano-British settlement and medieval church overlooking a spectacular bay near Moelfre.

More daylight hours and better food!
Although I have visited Iceland and found the place incredible, Anglesey does offer a wider variety of local produce, unless of course puffin and salted wind-dried fish are firm favourites of yours. A visit to Deri Mon Smokery for some first class local smoked cheese, meat and fish is a must. Its worth hitting the local farmers's markets as well as the annual Anglesey Oyster festival in October.

Life's a Beach
OK, OK I know? How can this place compete with the palmed beach paradise that is Ghana? On a sunny day, easy. You can't beat the golden beaches of Rhosneigr, Trearddur, Aberffraw and Llanddwyn with the spectacular backdrop of Snowdonia and the Llyn Peninsula. If it's not warm enough for a dip, you can always take a walk on the coastal path, or don a wetsuit and hit the surf.

Mining
Chile will harvest the tourist dollar as a result of the heroic rescue of Los Triente Tres, with people flocking there from all over the world. However, the multi-coloured mineral landscape of Mynydd Parys in the north of the island has been mined since the Bronze Age. It was once Europes's biggest copper mine, minted its own coins and contributed to Swansea's rise as the world's Copper HQ .

Miscellaneous Reccommendations

Shopping

E Higgs & Son, 52 Long Bridge Street, Llanidloes, Powys SY18 6EF 01686 412369

If you are looking for shoes, then this is definitely one of the best shops in Wales. You may consider it a trek but its a shoe lover's paradise. Here you will find Italian leather boots, made by the same manufacturer as Gucci, but at a fraction of the price; sturdy walking boots and a range of sexy stilettos for all occasions.

Trecastle Antiques

Great collection of the old, utility, restored and curious to suit everybody's taste.

Eating

Pantygwydr

French restaurant in the centre of Swansea. Fab food, service and sweets to die for, try their Le Chocolat, you saw the movie now taste the product! 

Accommodation

Bythynnod Bryncaled Cottages

Fancy visiting the beautiful county of Meirionnydd, then head for the hills and get away from it all at Bryncaled. Chill out in an open-air hot tub, overlooking Bala lake and the Aran mountains whilst sipping a glass of something sparkly and gazing at the stars. Your effusive host, Sioned, will also provide some wonderful home cooking.

Llowes Court, nr Hay on Wye, Powys

 

Hays on the Way!  I visited the Hay Festival last year, Hay Festival which has grown and grown since its inception nearly 25 years ago. In that time the town itself has also changed from a sleepy town famed for its book shops to one filled with expensive antique, gift and clothes boutiques.

Its a beautiful place, perched on a hill overlooking the Wye and the rich lush farmland of the Marches. Like many other border towns, it has managed to conserve its fantastic architectural heritage. Its strange to think that these towns which were were fought over so fiercely between Welsh princes and Norman lords for years, seem to have stood the test of time and are better preserved than many other towns in Wales and England.

An early morning walk along the Wye to Hay from Llowes was definitely one of the highlights. A 3 mile stroll between emerald fields of cereals, rows of potatoes and bright, yellow rape and the lazily, meandering river Wye. The only company being the ancient oaks and weeping willows, low flying herons and startled ducklings.

But the best experience  by far was a visit to Llowes Court, a medieval house, situated near the bank of the Wye. This yellow washed gem is home to the inspirational Susan Briggs, who has transformed a working farm and builder's yard into one of the most amazing gardens in Wales.

Not once was a tape measure used in the planning of the garden, she paced and paced the surrounding land, bringing it all to life in her imagination. Transforming her dream into reality. Creating magical grottoes, willow mazes, box sculptures, wooden bridges that hover between earth and air. Paths, pools and running water entice you into a labyrinth of willow and a rose scented walled garden that you never want to escape from.

Herbs, vegetables and flowers sit snugly in their box hedged beds. A gate, sculptured to look like a fig tree deceives the eye. An ancient pillared ruin in a dark hollow, surrounded by ferns and gunneras looks like some exotic slice of central America. The lines of poplars and light become an optical illusion. There are no blousey rhododendroms and other flamboyant plants you see in the gardens of large country houses, all is subtle but stunning.

The original family of Llowes were the Fychaniaid (Vaughans) whose court was praised in a poem by the late medieval bard, Lewys Dwnn. Mrs Briggs deserves such an accolade, her garden is a paradise regained.

Mrs Briggs

The garden is only open to the public on special occasions to raise money for good causes, - motorbikes for Timbuktu in this case. But keep an eye out for Llowes this year, if you are in the area. It's an opportunity not to be missed.

Six Bells

Public art can be a BIG hit, or a VERY BIG miss. But in the case of the Six Bells Colliery Disaster Memorial , the local community have come up trumps. The Guardian stands at the entrance to the small village of Six Bells , standing sentinel on the site of the mine that exploded in 1960, killing 45 colliers, fathers, brothers and sons.

Designed and built by sculptor Sebastien Boyesen, it is a fitting memorial to those who lost their lives in the disaster. From a distance it looks transparent, silhouetted against the light but as you approach the figure of the miner, it seems to turn into a solid mass. A Christ like figure with his arms outstretched, the working man turned redeemer, physical perfection manifested in ruddy iron.

Whilst you are in the area its worth winding your way up a narrow and very steep road to the atmospheric mountain church of Llanilltyd. There are some stunning 360 degree views of the Gwent valleys from here, and the mountain road leads over the high, open moorland to Ebbw Vale. 

Go there see it for yourself. en route call in at the Cynon Valley Museum & Gallery, which houses a charming museum documenting the rich history of the Aberdare area and a wonderful collection of contemporary art, crafts and fantastic jewellery.

Work ethic

"Gizza us a job” was the infamous catchphrase from the iconic series Boys from the Blackstuff, in the 1980's. 30 years later I find myself reliving this era, ie,being unemployed.

In the 80's newly graduated with a humanities degree, finding a job in west Wales was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. After a series of dead end, badly paid, part time jobs I eventually landed a job in the media. Obviously I had all the right criteria for that sector thanks to spending the best part of a year frazzling kippers on a daily basis in the microwave of a local hotel (No, I have never got to grips with that particular piece of kitchen equipment); and the afternoons, looking for postcodes in a local bank.

Anyway, fast forward 30 years, and its just not the tasteless fashion of the 80's which has made a come back, no for our sins we have the Tories, recession, street riots, Buck's Fizz and … Dallas.

So am I better equipped for unemployment in west Wales this time around? A sense of humour gives one more resilience especially when faced by the various scenarios I have found myself in over the past year, the most memorable being interviewed by a transsexual opera singer who resembled the Welsh prop Adam Jones.

The agency were adamant that she had a glittering career ahead of her, which I was told could be verified on Wikipedia. The interview was rather bizarre to say the least. When I mentioned acoustics, she gave me a rather confused look and proceeded to tell me she was a descendent of the 19^thcentury opera diva, Adelina Patti; that Bette Davies was her god-mother, and, wait for it - Anthony Hopkins was her cousin. I know, I know, “How can she be related to all those people?” but its like that down here, we're all related to each other. That's totally credible, her hitting the top C certainly wasn't.

The other week I cycled for an hour to attend an interview, got there, adrenalin pumping, feeling good, then felt my energy and lifeblood sapping away from me as I entered the foyer. Yes it was another encounter with the vampires who suck the life out of enthusiasm, dynamism and initiative - the Welsh public sector. By the time I was halfway through the interview I felt I had been taken out by the baddies in an episode of Twilight. I was slowly, slowly, vanishing, wilting away. Losing the will to live.

I've been interviewed by a couple of private sector companies who were looking for experienced people to work for them and offered me the average wage of ... 1983. I politely suggested that they look to the Philippines if they required to expand their staff numbers.

Oh well back to the drawing board. A glimpse at the local paper raises my spirits ... umm" looking for an accompanist/conductor for a local choir"; "experienced lamb puller required"; numerous personal assistants to care for the elderly that have taken over rural Wales ... or what about resorting to blackmail? High income low outlay, now there's a thought?

Demograffeg

Argle mawr - ymunais a dosbarth ysgrifennu creadigol yn ddiweddar - beth allai ddweud? Dylen i wedi gwybod yn well, o brofiad blaenorol. Roedd yr ystafell yn llawn i'r ymylon gyda'r White Settler.

Yn un cornel roedd Ms Hunt Saboteur gyda'i gwallt pinc a modrwy drwy'i thrwyn, yn y gornel arall, y fam dduwies, oedd yn ymddiddori mewn derwyddiaeth a'r gwyll Celtaidd. Draw yn y gornel arall llanc ifanc o barthau Swydd Essex neu Chaint a weithia'i yn "ops room" y gwasanaethau argyfwng. Yn anffodus, roedd e'n  methu ynganu enwau llefydd fel Abergorlech (Abergok). Sut ddiawl oedd hwn yn mynd i gyfeirio yr ambiwlans a'r frigad dan i achub trigolion Brechfa neu Gwernogle rhag tan a brwmstan tase'r coedwigoedd yn llosgi'n ulw! Ac i goroni'r cyfan y fenyw hoyw gydag anabledd a'i chi , pobl oedd yn dal i brotestio yn erbyn treth y pen a chomin Greenham, a fi, y bolshi Welsh Nat!

Ta waeth pwnc trafod y noson honno oedd stori fer gan Emyr Humphreys yn son am weinidog yn mynd i'r carchar am wrthod talu'r drwydded deledu. Roedd anwybodaeth y giwed yn anghredadwy - dim syniad am hanes a gwleidyddiaeth diweddar Cymru na'r cyd-destun ieithyddol, roeddwn i ishe dweud - "Forget the writin' go home you misfits and read a bloody Welsh history book."

Chuggers

Have you recently spotted a chugger, or more than likely been accosted by one in your local town centre? Chuggers are one of the most annoying manifestations of 21st century life.

You will be walking down the street, minding your own business or wondering how you are going to skive off work early. When you suddenly realise that you are being stalked by a friendly, dread-locked youth in the most unsubtle way, wearing a purple or orange reflective bib. He's make a b-line for you, skipping across the precinct, gurning away and waving his arms around like some village idiot. It's too late you been chugged, cornered and there is no escape. He's got you in an arm-lock and is trying to sign you up for a monthly direct debit for some charity or other. Water for Africa, fodder for unwanted veal calves, or a shelter for battered hedgehogs with rare skin conditions.

Are they actually working on commission in a town like Llanelli? Some lunchtimes it’s like sniper avenue or trying to breach an alligator swamp in the Everglades. Personally I’d like to see the local greyhound sanctuary unleash their hounds on the lot of them and drive them down the M4 to wherever they originate from. Come to think of it, where do they originate from?  Answers on a postcard please.