One man, one language, one country - one challenge. Ifor ap Glyn explains what prompted him to start on a journey around Wales, doing Popeth yn Gymraeg (Everything in Welsh)...
"It's difficult to remember exactly where the idea for this campaign came from - back in London when I was growing up for all I know!"
But perhaps the easiest way to explain “why?” is through the following anecdotes:
I was waiting to cross the road and a girl had just parked by me.
"Di otsh mod i ar y pafin dwad?" (“Does it matter if I'm on the pavement?”) she said, locking her car. I didn't know her...
Passing a house a day later, with the occupier half way out of the door. Mouth open to greet me, then closing it slowly like a fish. "Sori, on i'n meddwl mai chdi oedd y postmon" ("Sorry, I thought you were the postman").
Extracts from conversations on the streets in Caernarfon. Strangers meeting, exchanging a few words and then going their separate ways. Nothing more than that. But I then realised the significance of these conversations. They happened in Welsh.
In Caernarfon everything is in Welsh, more or less. But how often do those kinds of conversations happen in other parts of Wales?
I decided to find out! And that was the starting point for doing Popeth yn Gymraeg (Everything in Welsh)...