Thursday 23 December 2010

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

St Cyngar, Llangefni - 1908

St Cyngar, Llangefni - this morning

Just over a hundred years ago -- on the 24th April, 1908 -- severe snowstorms swept across the country leaving carts abandoned in the streets, forcing the cancellation of sporting events, and bringing many parts of Ynys Môn to a standstill. According to a contemporary postcard from the island written the following day, "the snow was over our boot tops". The top image was taken of St Cyngar's church in Llangefni just after the snow had come down in 1908, the one below it was taken this morning -- proving that the more things change, the more they stay the same...

...on which thought I wish you and your families a peaceful and merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year in 2011. Nadolig Llawen i chi gyd a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

See you in January.

66 comments:

Photon said...

Nadolig Llawen, Paul! All the best for 2011 - a rather important year for the Assembly - and you!

Groundhog Day said...

Seems very little has changed with the exception of the tree in the foreground Paul

Best wishes for Christmas and what many of us hope will be a succesfull 2011 for you in your venture.

Rhys Williams said...

Nagolig Llawen a blwyddyn newydd dda. A diolch.

Barrie Durkin. said...

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.
Barrie.

the outsider said...

A very happy Christmas and New Year to all you bloggers. Me and mine are looking forward to the New Year when we will be able to chat with you in the real world as well as in cyber space.

Brawd o Amlwch said...

PAUL, and Everyone.
A happy and peaceful Christmas to one and all and best wishes, and positive hopes all round, for 2011.
It will be an interesting, if not challenging, New Year.
Let us not just hope for, but be collectively proactive about, political change, at all levels of our government.
Hwyl dros yr 'Wyl !

Prometheuswrites said...

Cwl Yule Y'all

Interesting 'Times They Are A'Changing' coming for 2011.

Cai Larsen said...

Was the 1908 snow IWJ's fault too?

Anonymous said...

I would like to wish Paul the very best for Christmas, the effort that he has made in creating this Druid of Anglesey has really been a breath of fresh air, and has been a welcome addition to the new thinking of the people. I would also like to think that we have all changed, maybe this coming year will create the change that we all so desperately want.

Diolch yn fawr Paul, am flwyydyn diddordeb iawn, yn cynwyos digon o hwyl a sbort, ond diwedd y gan, yr unig ffordd ydi i fynu. Nadolig Llawen, dioch yn fawr eto a diolch am adael i fi sgwennu ar y postyn yma.

Anonymous said...

What this does but proves the point that the world has gone through different periods of weather, and will continue to so. Climate change is a myth created by our politicians as a way of taxing us to save the world. Heaven is on earth and we should be able to live our lives to full. One thing is sure you can not beat nature.
I wish you all a Happy Christmas and wonderful New Year. I wish Paul every success to bring change to Ynys Mon, don't we need from the Lost Mountain Sheep! Best of luck Paul !!!

Un o Fon

An Eye On... said...

Druid, Photon, the outsider, Prometheus, The Great Councillini, Barry Durkin, Goundhog, Braw, Jac O The North, Mam, people I have had decent debates with that I can't immediately recall their name, most of the anons (but not all)

Merry Xmas and above all a stable New Year.

And good luck Ireland - you'll need it I think

Anonymous said...

Interesting fact....certain Councillors have sent "hundreds" of Xmas cards to all and sundry, including fellow Councillors....at whose expense I ask ??....whilst others have sent none to anyone.
I'm a trifle miffed, I'm not on any Councillor's list !

Anonymous said...

"Was the 1908 snow IWJ's fault too?"

No, only the 2010 snow. He's had years as Ynys Mon's representative in Parliament and the Assembly to ensure the construction of a canopy over Anglesey to prevent a single flake falling on the island, but has he?

Anonymous said...

The snow it falleth on the just
And on the unjust fella,
But most it falleth on the just,
'cos the unjust stole the just's Umbrella.

Wot's the maths for 2011 Paul?
Paul Rogers vote+ Tory core vote+ friendly Lib/Dem vote = 11,000?

The Real Insider. said...

My Political prognosis for 2011:

David Bowles will be gone to cause trouble somewhere else.

The Alliance will have collapsed as with anything else that's built on sand.

Ieun Wyn Jones will be out of Office at the next WAG election and Plaid's Group on the Council will be in total disarray.

A number of Senior officers will go and the Council's Legal dept will be all but disbanded.

Clive McGregor will lose the Leadership, Bob Parry will still be there sticking the knife in everybody's back and the Council will be up to its neck in litigation.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

TRI.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

re: Real Insider:

"Ieun Wyn Jones will be out of Office at the next WAG election and Plaid's Group on the Council will be in total disarray.
"

and what about Albert R.N?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The Real Insider. said...

Most definitely. All in good time.

Brawd o Amlwch said...

TRI 24th, 16.09
Interesting prognosis !
I agree DB may well be out, or on his way, but what will replace him, and how ?
It may be a MD shared with Gwynedd, and would that not be a better thing ?
The Alliance may collapse, but will be replaced by another, in some form, but a shared-responsibility coalition will be imperative.
The Assembly election will be a close-run thing, but lets hope for new blood and fresh ideas in that seat !
Its certainly time that dead wood senior officers are retired, I am sure we shall hardly miss them.
Let their responsibilities be taken over by Gwynedd officers....because thats the direction we are heading.
The Legal department will still exist....it has to exist....it has the responsibility of advising and defending its Client (IACC and its departments)....no change there !!
And Yes, there will be a change of Leader. The pin-striped one with the briefcase has been mooted, but he will not be favoured by several leading mambers, so watch this space !
For what its worth.

Anonymous said...

27 Dec 14.38:

Who's Albert R.N?

Anonymous said...

This fact I can almost guarantee, a study has concluded that the presence of the Druid and it's followers has" concluded that the Druids presence and followers in Anglesey has thoroughly demoralized the political parties of this Council"

Well done to you all.

Brawd o Amlwch said...

20.09 Is this meant as a compliment or a rebuke ??

Anonymous said...

A massive compliment, well done to you all, and the demoralizing effect has reached the corridors of Cardiff as well as Llangefni.

Anonymous said...

13.18 OK, good, so its a compliment, but it can in the alternative be interpreted as a facetious rebuke, depending who has written it ?
Let us ponder the question it raises....is it good that we have the effect, as suggested, of demoralizing those or anyone in power over us ?

Anonymous said...

13.39 raises an interesting point. Should we so "demoralize" our elected politicians by protest and constant criticism ? After all we are not in a war, and they are not our enemies........the truth is we are all part of a civilised democratic community where the common good should be paramount.
We should be careful, or we may not be represented at all ?

Anonymous said...

It goes to show that the people in Authority don't own us, nor do they control us, the attitude of the bloggers is extraordinarily self-possessed, one could say the opposite of the arrogance and over-bearing way that the Authority treats the people.

This, combined with the good impression and the support that we give to the Druid, influences the people of Anglesey in a way that should not be under-estimated. That is why we have thoroughly demoralized the political scene on Anglesey.

Anonymous said...

19.15 But, and we may not like it, they DO control and administer us, as our elected local governors !
They may not always get it right, but they do control all aspects of localgovernment administration eg. finance, rates, planning, licensing etc.
The point of the question is - do we really want demoralized governors....it does not bode well....but if so, what is the viable alternative ?

Anonymous said...

Putting our dear elected Members under the spotlight is one thing....it keeps them on their toes, hopefully, till the next election....but demoralizing them is corrosive and destructive ?

Anonymous said...

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda to you too!.

Hopefully you will be able to topple IWJ (though I would support another, better Plaid candidate).

I'm unsure who to vote for though, all I want is a better AM so I'm gonna vote for whoever has the best chance- and in the current climate it seems this is Llafur.... sorry druid!

An Eye On... said...

The elected representatives could only get demoralised of they are unable to motovate themselves. If they require their egos massaging I suggest they consider becoming rock stars.

They wouldn't get so much criticism if they actually delivered what they promised and as a result what we the people expect of them as opposed to what they feel like.

If they are feeling a little meek at the moment then I am afraid they are not going to like the upcoming elections. People are well haccked off and they are going expect - no demand - accurate answers to their questions not abstract vagueries. So when people ask when are you going to do 'X' they wioll not accept "when conditions allow" as answer - they will expect a firm date and a promise.

Anonymous said...

I was watching BBC PARLIAMENT today, well someone has to, it was showing the Welsh Assembly, there were about 6 members in the chamber debating Education, a total of 6, one was the assembly leader Carwyn Jones, the other was Peter Black, the rest were unknown. Education for the future of Wales was the topic, and the attendance was poor, this to me showed the lack of enthusiasm and investment the assembly have for the future of Wales.
This is how demoralized teh political parties are.

Another example are the denyers of Human Rights abuses in Anglesey, they constantly deny that this Authority have abused the Human Rights Act by conducting Planning Pemission Experiments in Anglesey, yet they too will not be satisfied until the abuses are detailed, maybe the deniers will only be satisfied when this demoralized Authority is further ridiculed by being confronted with the truth and that the Planning Permission Experiments were a crime against the people.

A genocide of unequalled ferocity, a planning permission experiment on a scale that was unfit for the people of Wales to tolerate.

Anonymous said...

The biggest man hunt in Welsh History started today, they are searching from Holyhead to Menai Bridge, it's not our AM or MP they are looking for, apparently there's a man on the loose with a full tin of Quality Street..let's get him!!!

Anonymous said...

28th @ 20.09
Where has this alleged quotation come from.....what document ?
It is not to be believed, without evidence.

Anonymous said...

Man with quality streets tin last seen in Llanerchymedd.. man hunt continues.

Anonymous said...

The weilders of power demoralized by the voice of the people.

Brawd o Amlwch said...

QUESTION ?
What is to be done about the gigantic and deepening black hole in the Council's finances....are certain Members with responsibility sticking their heads in the sand ??
Do tell us ?

Anonymous said...

11.15......is there something called the Affordable Priorities Strategy....this means deep cuts in public services, so, watch out !
Do educate us ?

Anonymous said...

Survival after what? The financial chaos that has driven this Country to the edge!

We are all going to suffer badly, some more than others, the greatest suffering of the people is the indifference of the banks who were bailed out, and now we will all pay for their greed and financial mismanagement.

2010, has been a terrible year, and the next will be worse, but the mess we are in today, is of our own doing, it's our greed, and want that has created this hardship, but there will come a time, when we will have to say, no, no more.

If we have people who cannot look after the public purse, then we should get rid of them, and forget any compassion, they take our money and waste it, then we should stop giving them that privilege, and take back, everything that was taken from us.

It's all to do with money, so where has it all gone?

Anonymous said...

A PREDICTION !
We may expect financial disaster at IACC in 2011 !
We may expect the inept portfolio holder to be utterly shamed, and the Director perhaps to be retired, both for neglect and mismanagement ?
We may expect swingeing cuts in public services, and a rate rise, and a public backlash because of it ?
We may expect a total reshuffle of the Executive, and a new Leader..but who ?
It looks, and is, BAD !

The Real Insider. said...

"It looks, and is, BAD!"

Take the A out of BAD, and there's your answer to the one who will be very shortly cleaning the Council up,

No if's, or buts. No sentiment or compassion, just one clean sweep, bent Officers in particular.

So watch out Bowles and McGregor your days of telling lies to cover up are all but over. The winds of change are here.

An Eye On... said...

I'll make some predictions as well.

The council will not be ripped to bits by the Police or any other investigatory body, primarily because people who claim to know things won't go to the newspapers etc and be prepared to publicly state what they know (if anything at all.).

Plaid will narrowly hold Ynys Mon in the Assembly elections with both a reduced vote and reduced majority. Conservatives will come a close second after taking a large chunk of the Independent vote. Turnout will be down across Wales.

There will be no big 'rates rise' - primarily because rises are capped.

Anonymous said...

When we see Newspapers who are paid large sums of money for advertising by the Council under threat of losing that revenue if they print averse comments, what's the point of speaking to them?

That also goes for the inept Ombudsman and the Police. They all get paid by one Authority or another, Independence is nothing more than false Bullshit.

An Eye On... said...

if the newspapers thought there was any mileage it wouldn't phase them because the people that are paying them wouldn't be there anymore.

Apart from which I very much dount IoACC has any clout at all with proper papers just local. Certainly the Western Mail wouldn't break sweat over breaking the council's spine and discarding them like irrelevant rubbish and they aren't exactly an earth-moving paper. Either these alluded thgings have happened or they haven't and if they have and people aren't willing to go public and commit then it's them that are the bigger disgrace. If I knew anything I'd sing it loud and long and if it put me and my family under huge public pressure and scrutiny then so what - it's the fun of the fight that counts. ( but then again, 22 years in the infantry taught me fighting is fun).

Anonymous said...

30th December 08.02
What is meant by 'Planning Permission Experiment'??

Druid,
Here is wishing you a Happy and Successful New Year....I look forward to meeting you at one gathering or another.


Anglesey Islander

Anonymous said...

Yes. What is meant by Planning Permission Experiment? Sounds very ominous, please tell.

Anonymous said...

David Bowles to leave soon?
SEE PHOTONIC BLOG

Anonymous said...

http://www.nabarro.com/Downloads/Planning-Radical-planning-reform-the-localism-experiment-begins.pdf

Anonymous said...

Planning permission experiment is the topic for Paddy French's new film.

Brawd o Amlwch said...

The Localism and Decentralisation Bill does NOT apply in Wales !

Anonymous said...

Is the planning permission experiment where one applies and gets planning AFTER the house has been built?

An Eye On... said...

s the planning permission experiment where one applies and gets planning AFTER the house has been built?

No mate, that's a rip in the space-time continuem causing things to move in and out of the 4th dimension and thus making them appear to be in the wrong sequencet. They are very rare and found only on Star Trek or Llangefni.

Anonymous said...

If this is the way we treat our people what hope have we got? Isn't it true that the planning decisions made on this Island have cost us dearly in lack of jobs and investment? I for one would never invest here.

Anonymous said...

The term Planning Experiment was used and I simply
asked for an explanation. Perhaps if all those could cut the crap and leave the sensible answer to someone who knows.


Anglesey Islander

Anonymous said...

You got your explanation from Brawd O Amlwch

The Localism and Decentralisation Bill does NOT apply in Wales

You'll notoice also that of you read the document mentioned a couple of post above it mentions Pickles. You'll also have noticed that Pickles is now insisting that councils restore weekly collection of all domestic rubbish - but again only for England.

Wales is it's own master in these affairs.

Anonymous said...

20.10

If you have not seen the film, and you should, look up the title and read the poem "INVICTUS"

Perhaps it is time to change the word "I" to "WE"

Anglesey Islander

Anonymous said...

That makes no sense. The entry at 20:10 doesn't use 'I' anywhere in it so there isn't anything to change to 'we'

Anonymous said...

Thanks for suggesting that I should look at the link. Now then does anyone think Mr Pickles looks like a man who could do more with less ?? There are some good ads on telly at the moment for Weight Watchers, perhaps they could give him some suggestions of how to go about it.


AI

An Eye On... said...

The Anglesey Islander means if you read the poem Invictus but change the singulars to plurals - I/we, my/our etc.

Least I think thats what AI means. But I must also add that I don't see the relevance. But then again I can't do crosswords and anagrams either.

Anonymous said...

Come on Red Flag..If we all greed to stand firm, if we agreed not to be selfish but to be united we could Truly Be The Masters Of Our Fate.....watching each others bck instead of backstabbing

AI

An Eye On... said...

Like I said AI, I'm rubbish at that sort of thing.

Anonymous said...

The wind of change has arrived today. If your still up to it Cllr Durkin, go for it and CHOP, CHOP, CHOP.
The ball is totally in your court from now on, with the whole of Ynys Mon behind you.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 5th 12.36 You are obviously another Clap Trap speaker.

"The whoile of Anglesey...." what rot. I for one no better than to be behind such a man, though at least there one back is safer.

You say "Chop Chop Chop" more like Clop Clop Clop like an old carthorse plodding from one one (alleged) disaster to another, simply to get publicity.

Not One Of The Whole

Anonymous said...

No your not one of the whole, just one of those about to get the chop, Eh Boy'o

Anonymous said...

15.22 Not me stupid...I am miles away

Anonymous said...

Still in New Zealand I see.