The bard Ifor ap Glyn travels Wales attempting to do 'Popeth yn Gymraeg' (Everything in Welsh).
Pembrokeshire
March 2, 2005
Called at Bessie’s pub in Cwm Gwaun on the way back to the hotel. She poured a pint for the crew and I, then went back to her chair by the fire where she was speaking to one of the locals. She looked in our direction remarking sotto voce to him,
“Mae’r pedwar o’nyn nhw’n siarad Cymrag – seno hynna’n digwydd yn amal.”
(The four of them are speaking Welsh – that doesn’t happen often)
When she went out the back, he turned to chat to us.
He whispered the following story about a local farmer and his wife and her husband, shouting across the street in Fishguard, as if they were either side of the farmyard at home, thereby making it possible for everyone to hear their conversation.
“Alla’i gal arian i byrnu sgitie newi?” (Can I have some money to buy new shoes?)
“Na chei” (No you can’t)
“Alla’i gal arian I byrnu sgitie newi? (Can I have some money to buy new shoes?)
“Wi di gweud ‘na’” (“I said ‘no’”)
“Na fe te – ond cofia di ma isie pedoli cyn marchogaeth!” (Oh there you are then - but remember you have to shoe a horse before you can ride it!”)
I like Pembrokeshire. The light here is amazing and there are some really original people. In St David’s I’ve seen a poster advertising someone’s services who claims to be “Greater than Dewi Sant.”
And in Narberth I saw this unusual advertisement, which offers ‘Mam-gu Bouncy Castles’ (mamgu – grandmother). Hold that thought…perhaps it doesn’t translate. Which reminds me of a story about the dangers of translating even though it had nothing to do with Pembrokeshire.
Geoffrey Howe was in Russia one time speaking at an official dinner with the help of an interpreter. During his speech, he said:
“The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”, but it was translated thus:
“The vodka is alright, but the meat hasn’t been cooked properly.”
March 3, 2005
Called at Bessie’s pub in Cwm Gwaun on the way back to the hotel. She poured a pint for the crew and I, then went back to her chair by the fire where she was speaking to one of the locals. She looked in our direction remarking sotto voce to him,
“Mae’r pedwar o’nyn nhw’n siarad Cymrag – seno hynna’n digwydd yn amal.”
(The four of them are speaking Welsh – that doesn’t happen often)
When she went out the back, he turned to chat to us.
He whispered the following story about a local farmer and his wife and her husband, shouting across the street in Fishguard, as if they were either side of the farmyard at home, thereby making it possible for everyone to hear their conversation.
“Alla’i gal arian i byrnu sgitie newi?” (Can I have some money to buy new shoes?)
“Na chei” (No you can’t)
“Alla’i gal arian I byrnu sgitie newi? (Can I have some money to buy new shoes?)
“Wi di gweud ‘na’” (“I said ‘no’”)
“Na fe te – ond cofia di ma isie pedoli cyn marchogaeth!” (Oh there you are then - but remember you have to shoe a horse before you can ride it!”)
I like Pembrokeshire. The light here is amazing and there are some really original people. In St David’s I’ve seen a poster advertising someone’s services who claims to be “Greater than Dewi Sant.”
And in Narberth I saw this unusual advertisement, which offers ‘Mam-gu Bouncy Castles’ (mamgu – grandmother). Hold that thought…perhaps it doesn’t translate. Which reminds me of a story about the dangers of translating even though it had nothing to do with Pembrokeshire.
Geoffrey Howe was in Russia one time speaking at an official dinner with the help of an interpreter. During his speech, he said:
“The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”, but it was translated thus:
“The vodka is alright, but the meat hasn’t been cooked properly.”