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Archives for July 2007

Too much Welsh in Wales?

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 21:21 UK time, Tuesday, 31 July 2007

Further to yesterday's blog, Welsh debate - expect a bumpy ride - about a Â鶹Éç Radio 4 live debate next week questioning whether there is an over promotion of the Welsh language in Wales - well, Meri Huws, chair of the , decided to pull out.

And tonight it emerged that the other opposition guests had pulled out too!

Welsh debate - expect a bumpy ride

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 13:23 UK time, Monday, 30 July 2007

Book your tickets now to the Â鶹Éç Radio 4 live recording of the debate programme Hecklers in which Sir Dai Llewellyn, the 4th Baronet of Bwllfa, will argue that "Welsh language promotion has gone too far", claiming "language promotion is harming the economy, image and social cohesion of Wales".

His opponents will have something to say about that and they are Meri Huws, chair of the Welsh Language Board; Dafydd Whittall, chair of the National Eisteddfod Council; Richard Brunstrom, North Wales Chief Constable; and Nic Parry, a local solicitor and Crown Court recorder.

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New town for Flintshire?

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 09:22 UK time, Monday, 30 July 2007

There's an interesting article online at in which the local 'paper asks for people's thoughts that a whole new town should be built on undeveloped land off the A55 rather than add to the urban sprawl of exisiting communities.

Tomorrow, Flintshire Council is due to discuss the issue which is being tabled by former leader Cllr Alex Aldridge amid concerns that over developing communities, building more homes etc, will put too much pressure on the land and could cause problems such as flooding.

Pasion ni! [We passed!]

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:01 UK time, Thursday, 26 July 2007

Another Wenglish entry as dwi'n dysgu Cymraeg [I'm learning Welsh]

Llongyfarchiadau i'r ymgeiswyr wnaeth derbyn eu canlyniadau nhw ddoe mewn Cymraeg fel Ail Iaith.
[Congratulations to candidiates who received their exam results yesterday in Welsh as a second lanaguage.]

It's basically a GCSE and for some it was harder than for others - but well done to you all.

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We're under attack from insects

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 13:30 UK time, Wednesday, 25 July 2007

Is your community under attack from insects like flying ants and even mosquitoes like villagers in Rossett, near Wrexham, who are being bitten left, right and centre?

Local pharmacist Glen Thompson tells the numbers of people affected by mosquitoes is the worst he has seen in 23 year career.

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Brit music - 'revival' starts in Wrexham!

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 12:02 UK time, Wednesday, 25 July 2007

First there was Liverpool's Cavern Club and The Beatles in the '60s. In the '90s they were talking about Manchester's Brit Pop scene.

And perhaps one day soon they'll be talking about Wrexham as the birthplace of a 21st century music revolution - or perhaps not - we'll have to see!

What am I talking about? Well, according to the Government hopes to 'breathe life into British music by backing a national network of practice rooms' which started with a pilot project in Wrexham with opening the studio.

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'Latest prams & boom box chav cars'

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 13:55 UK time, Tuesday, 24 July 2007

This has to be the quote of the week as Ms K shoots from the hip in our debate about migrant workers, this time taking a pot shot at locals:

"I am tired of seeing so much of Wrexham's able, but not willing, pushing the latest prams, wearing expensive iPods, merrily shopping and smoking, and incessantly driving around town at speed in those 'boom box chav cars' - no doubt some of these are happily living off my taxes as well."

Peidiwch! [Don't!]

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:30 UK time, Monday, 23 July 2007

Another Wenglish entry as dwi'n dysgu Cymraeg [I'm learning Welsh]

Dwi'n ffindio fo'n mwy haws a naturiol i ddefnyddio Cymraeg - pan dwi'n gweiddi ar fy mhlant yn unig!

[I'm finding it more easy and natural to use Cymraeg - only when I'm shouting at my children!]

Commands - adding a throaty 'wch' at the end of a Welsh word - works a treat.

Peidiwch [Don't] is a good one when trying to keep my three year old from poking pens in the wall socket.

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'You people look miserable!'

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 11:49 UK time, Tuesday, 17 July 2007

There's certainly mixed feeling at the moment for the places we call home.

On a positive note, Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council [DVSC] has just announced the winners of its annual competition to find the best places.

They even have a category for the top 'senior citizens' estate and the 2007 award was shared between Llygadog, Corwen, and Gorffwysfa, Prestatyn. The second prize was shared between Buxton Court and War Memorial Court, both in Rhyl.

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Llan eisteddfod - thanks for the memories

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 09:46 UK time, Monday, 16 July 2007

Thanks to our contributors who submitted photos during last week's Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod to our mini site and shared photo pool on .

My favourite has to be this scene taken during the through the town centre which was taken by my colleague Alys.

Llangollen Eisteddfod

For me, the highlight was seeing the Tibetan monks demonstrate their chanting on the green outside the pavilion. What was your favourite part of the festival?

Could England train at Racecourse?

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 09:21 UK time, Monday, 16 July 2007

Just checking you saw the story by [Daily Post newspaper's Wrexham FC correspondent] who hints that the England football sqaud could come to Wrexham to train ahead of a vital European Championship match against Russia in October.

Why, you may ask? Well, England’s Group E qualifier at the 84,000 capacity Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow will be played on an artificial pitch identical to that which was recently installed at Wrexham’s Colliers Park training complex.

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Chirk Community Hospital upgrade

Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 09:19 UK time, Monday, 16 July 2007

An extension to Chirk Community Hospital, allowing the increase in patients that can be seen, has been officially opened. The work has doubled the space available in the day hospital area, providing more space and a more comfortable environment for patients, according to .

Cleaning up The Cut

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 09:12 UK time, Sunday, 15 July 2007

Work starts this week to clean rubbish from The Cut, the waterway between homes in Rhyl. Environment Agency Wales' Operational Delivery Team in North Wales decided to take a day out and volunteer to tackle the problem after hearing about the amount of rubbish clogging up the system, according to boating and maritime news provider .

Expect road chaos - and a giant crane

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 15:52 UK time, Friday, 13 July 2007

Expect traffic hotspots tomorrow as diversions are put in place to allow for a giant mobile crane to be brought into Wrexham to help with emergency repairs on one of the tower cranes on the Eagles Meadow redevelopment site, reports which has full details of the roads affected.

Hypnotised by monks' chants

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 13:30 UK time, Thursday, 12 July 2007

I was mesmerized by the Tibetan monks from the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery who performed one of their hypnotic and yet relaxing chants before the crowds at Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod.

Then I practically broke into spontaneous dance - not a pretty sight - when the Croatian choir, Zeljeznicar, started their rousing performance.

What music and sights have you been enjoying from Llangollen's world music festival - or are you going this weekend?

An amazing spectacle - thanks to the people of Llan

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 07:57 UK time, Wednesday, 11 July 2007

The amazing colour, sounds and even the sense of friendship that can be felt every year when the international eisteddfod comes to Llangollen never ceases to amaze me. As promised, we were there last night to film the opening parade.

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You ready? The world's waiting...

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:22 UK time, Tuesday, 10 July 2007

A record attendance of 50,000 people are expected to be on the showfield over the course of this week's Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod (July 10-15), according to .

We'll be heading down there this afternoon to film the participants as they parade through the streets from about 4pm to herald the start of the world music festival. That's always one of the biggest spectacles for me - seeing people from something like 50 different nations in their costumes singing and dancing through Llangollen.

By the way, once things get under way proper - you'll be able to watch online performance from inside the main pavilion, courtesy of .

Tornado over Prestatyn

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:04 UK time, Tuesday, 10 July 2007

One of our contributors, 12-year-old Sarah Halliday, submitted footage from her video phone yesterday showing a tornado in the sky over Prestatyn at the weekend. Sarah was out walking when she noticed the storm. Later, the village of Gwaenysgor has hit by a freak hailstorm and Sarah captured the aftermath on camera for us. Thanks Sarah.

Pubs & trams

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 15:53 UK time, Friday, 6 July 2007

We've received two fascinating local history articles and old photos this week looking at pubs of Mold - apparently there used to be 30 within five streets - and the Buckley-Connah's Quay Line which began life as a horse-drawn tramway. Take a look.

Matthew shines at rain-hit Wimbledon

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 15:46 UK time, Friday, 6 July 2007

Our very own tennis star Mathew James, 16, from Mold, has just gone out of the Junior Wimbledon Championships. Ranked 235th, he lost yesterday to world number six Greg Jones from Australia. But on Wednesday Mathew beat Brazilian world number 15 Henrique Cunha, reports .

Up goes pafiliwn pinc!

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:10 UK time, Thursday, 5 July 2007

Another Wenglish entry as dwi'n dysgu Cymraeg [I'm learning Welsh]

Mi es i ar y maes yn yr Wyddgrug bore 'ma i wylio'r pafiliwn pinc yn cael ei godi ar gyfer yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol mis nesa. [I went to the maes this morning to watch the pink pavilion going up in preparation for the Nationl Eisteddfod next month.]

Roeddwn wedi ymarfer fy Nghymraeg gorau. [I had practised my best Welsh.]

Ron i'n siwr mi faswn i angen siarad yng Nghymraeg. [I was sure I would need to speak Welsh.]

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Castle Cement - fire and fears

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:43 UK time, Wednesday, 4 July 2007

This photo taken by Vinney shows a fire at Castle Cement's works at Padeswood yesterday. Local newspaper, the says today that evacuated workers and residents looked on as black smoke billowed from the 360ft kiln, shortly after noon. says the fire was caused by a feed belt, which is used in the cement making process, which went on fire.

Castle Cement, by Vinney

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Love and loathing for home

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 09:01 UK time, Tuesday, 3 July 2007

Interesting, isn't it, that you can love a place even for its bad points - warts and all, I guess.

An anonymous poet from Flint sent us an interesting ditty today. It helps if you know the place to understand what he's referring to, calling the tower blocks 'concrete lumps' and referring to the plan to demolish the maisonettes. But he still manages to convey a love for the town.

You can read the poem below - but then tell us about the blots on the landscape that have some meaning to you. Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder...

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Home for locals?

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:52 UK time, Tuesday, 3 July 2007

That seems to be the feeling in the comments received to our previous blog posting, Homes shortage, where we've been discussing the rising price of homes in the area. What do you reckon?

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