The Green Lady stalks the ramparts..............



Caerphilly Castle

Throughout my early years Caerphilly Castle was a constant presence.  It dominated the eponymous town and doubled as an adventure playground for we local children.  This was before the days of paid entry and safety constraints so we enjoyed unfettered access to the towers, ramparts, curtain walls, dungeons etc.  It was built in the 13th century by Gilbert de Clare and is almost totally surrounded by a large moat, in which we used to fish (illegally, of course, as the cost of a licence was beyond our meagre pocket money).   The castle, which is the largest in Wales and second only to Windsor Castle in Europe, is home to a restless spirit - the Green Lady.  Read on if you dare.....................

Gilbert de Clare married the beautiful Princess Alice of Angouleme, who was, by contemporary accounts, a lady of refined tastes and with a passionate nature.  Alice, poor soul, became disenchanted with her husband, who seemed to spend most of his time away from home fighting. the rebellious Welsh (hooray!).  One day, Gruffudd the Fair, Prince of Brithdir, paid a visit to the castle and, surprise, surprise, soon Alice and he were lovers. Rather foolishly, Gruffudd confessed their secret to a monk who promptly informed the cuckolded husband. A less-than-happy Gilbert sent his wife back to France and ordered his men to find Gruffudd. Meanwhile, learning of the monk’s betrayal, Gruffudd caught him and hanged him from a tree at a site known ever since as “Monk’s Vale” (Ystrad Mynach in Welsh, about 3 miles outside of Caerphilly.  The hanging was probably the last time anything exciting happened in Ystrad - it really is a dump). No sooner had he done so than Gilbert’s men caught up with Gruffudd and he, too, was soon dangling at the end of a noose. 



Green Lady mural in Caerphilly

Gilbert just had to let his wife know of his revenge and he promptly sent a messenger to France to tell Alice of her lover’s execution. Such was the shock of the news that, in the best romantic tradition, she dropped dead on the spot of a broken heart.  Ever since then her ghost has haunted the ramparts of Caerphilly Castle. Resplendent in a richly woven dress, coloured green for Gilbert’s envy, she waits in silent solitude, desperate to be reunited with her princely lover, whose flattering attentions fate has long denied her. 

Of course, knowing that there might be a ghost lurking in the dark recesses of the castle added a frisson of excitement to our play.  It also added another dimension to the scout camps we had in the centre of the castle.  Cubs and scouts would camp together and it was a rite of passage that the tale of the Green Lady would be told, with much gory embellishment, around the campfire at night.  It was also a rite of passage that, at some stage in the proceedings, someone would gasp and point at the ramparts where a ghostly figure could be seen.  It's amazing what a green blanket and a torch, combined with the right atmosphere, can do.  Oh, how we older scouts laughed when the novice cubs screamed - but it was nothing that had not been done to us when we were at that stage.  I wonder if the tradition continues?

And did I ever see the Green Lady?  I think the honest answer to this is "I don't know".  One night, after all the cubs had calmed down and gone to sleep, four of us were sitting out and talking about nothing in particular.  I distinctly remember that, as one, we turned towards the rampart that extended into the moat and saw something.  It was translucent green and hovered above the stones for a few minutes before it gradually faded away to nothing.  I've no idea what it was (no lights of any kind on a dark starless night, no beer, no wacky baccy) and neither did my friends.  All I know is that I saw something that I can't explain.  Oooo, spooky!

I don't do favourites

Every now and again I'm delighted to get a comment on one of my blogs from someone who has stumbled across it. Here's a question that came to me from Chicago in response to my piece on the Best Radio Show You've Never Heard.

Can you name your top five musical acts? One being your all-time favourite?

My answer is no.  How could anyone possibly say what their favourite piece of music is? Or their favourite book? I just don't have the inclination or energy to categorise things in this way. I know it's a really curmudgeonly answer but it's true.  The dictionary definition of 'favourite' is  a person or thing regarded with especial preference or liking.  Well, I've got lots of those, all listed in this song..................................

Many readers and just one poem

As a Welshman I suppose it's inevitable that I rate the works of Dylan Thomas very highly, especially his poem 'Do not go gently into that good night'.  I've just listened to the poet himself reading it and I found his rendition rather theatrical, almost histrionic.  Disappointingly devoid of the depth of passion I had anticipated would be in his delivery.  He's a writer and not a reader.  Am I alone in thinking this?



A good poem deserves a good reading and, I'm sorry Dylan bach, you just don't do it for me.  Out of curiosity I had a root around to see what other versions I could find and it's interesting to compare the various styles.

Let's start with another iconic Welshman, Richard Burton.  I'm afraid he falls into the 'very actorly' camp as well.  Too much proclaiming: too little passion.  Take it away, Dicky.

Mmm, let's see if that boyo from Port Talbot, Anthony Hopkins, can do any better.  A brave attempt, Tony, but a little lifeless for my taste.  Ever the thespian, eh?  Better stick to the chianti and fava beans.



Maybe changing continents will bring a better result?  Step forward, Tom O'Bedlam (a prolific reader of poetry via his Youtube nom de plume SpokenVerse).  A fantastic voice and, in my opinion, a very creditable rendering of the essence of the villanelle.  Full of passion and emotion, yet still spoken in the hushed tone that comes almost instinctively while in the presence of a dying light.  Good but not the best I came across.

 

 

Call me nationalistic (you're nationalistic, Parsons!) but I can't help it: only a Welsh voice can do justice to Dylan Thomas. And for me, that voice belongs to the late Philip Madoc.  An amazing interpretation and just the right blend of vocal light and dark.  I might just have chosen a reading for my funeral service!



Tamar Valley Walk: 21st February 2013

An 8 mile walk with friends yesterday in ideal conditions in the Tamar Valley.  With no rain and cool temperatures, it was a pleasure to be out and about.  Lots of daffodils and snowdrops in the hedgerows all the way around.  The route, not without the odd incline or two, was as follows:
*  Local train from Gunnislake to Bere Alston (no charge!).
*  Up the Devon side of the river taking in Gawton Arsenic mine, a protracted scramble along the steep sides above the river, the abandoned village at Newquay, the Charlotte and George Copper mine, Morwellham Copper Quay, Morwellham Woods and Chimney Rock.
*  Down the Cornwall side of the river taking in the Gunnislake Weir and the old Bude Manure Canal.

A great day out and perhaps a sign that the weather has changed?

Just a few of the hedgerow daffodils - standing out against the leafless background

The stack at the top of the arsenic flue at Gawton mine.  Local mythology has that there were two teams of bricklayers involved in building the stack and that they worked at different rates - hence the curve.

Looking back towards Calstock Viaduct over the River Tamar. Kit Hill in the sunshine in the far distance, the tower of the folly at Cotehele directly ahead and the tower of Cotehele itself in the woods to the left.

I liked the pattern of the bark on this young tree.

Confession time: I'm a feminist

It’s not without some trepidation that I wade into the choppy waters of gender politics.  In my experience, few subjects (apart from gay marriage, women bishops, immigration, the feckless poor, Posh Dave's sincerity etc) bring out quite as much impassioned and polarised accusation and irrationality. And, regardless of what I may write here, I’m sure I’ll be digitally tarred and feathered by someone at some time for my comments.  What's brought this on?  In a few moments of relaxation recently (actually it was at the Callington Health Centre whilst waiting for my annual MOT - and that went very well, thank you for asking. My GP had to reach deep into his medical lexicon to come up with his considered verdict of "you are in pretty good nick for a 65 year old".  Don't you just hate the abstruse terms that medics use?), I completed a 'Are you a feminist?' questionnaire I came across in some magazine or other.  Here are the questions (no, I didn't surreptitiously rip the page out of the magazine - I asked the receptionist if I could before I did so):

1. Do you believe men and women are equal?

2. Do you believe women have the right to self-determination?
3. Do you believe women have the right to the same access to education as men?
4. Do you believe women should not be barred from professions just because they are women?
5. Do you believe in equal compensation for equal work?
6. Do you believe a woman should not be discriminated against because she might in the distant future want to get married and have children, particularly when a man is just as likely to want to do the same?
7. Do you believe women should be judged on their abilities rather than their looks?
8. Do you believe that women should not be held in contempt for expressing the same emotions and/or behaviours as men?
9. Do you believe that women should not have to suffer from a sexual double-standard?
10. Do you believe that women should not be chronically under-diagnosed because medicine still uses men as the default universal?
11. Do you believe that a woman should be able to wear whatever she wants and not expect to get judged for it?
12. Do you believe a woman should be able to walk down a street without being expected, at the threat of verbal or physical abuse, to smile and/or flirt with any man who happens to be passing?
13. Do you believe women should not be raped?
14. Do you believe that if a women is raped, her rapist(s) should be brought to justice, without any reference to her clothes or demeanour?

Apparently as I answered 'yes' to them all, I'm a feminist. What, do I hear someone say? A male feminist? How does that work? Isn't that a contradiction in terms?  An oxymoron even?  No, of course it isn't. Think about it: feminism is both the idea and the movement that supports it.  A movement that advocates political, economic, and social equality for both men and women - the key word here being equality. A feminist is a person who believes in and supports this idea. It follows, therefore, that a male feminist is simply a man who believes in equal rights for both men and women.  There's nothing complicated or unreasonable in that and nothing that is exclusively female.

Being a feminist doesn’t mean that I  have to agree with all the methods employed by all feminists all of the time. To be honest, I find some feminists too loud, too angry, too ranty, too judgey and too, ermm, feminist. Just like some men, really. But I cannot fault the objectives of feminism - what valid arguments can there possibly be against equality? Now where did I put my bra and matches?  

Track of the Day 19th February 2013: Dave Alvin

An afternoon spent in the garden clearing and burning some woody stuff: i-Pod plugged in and listening to the podcast I mentioned a few posts back.  I particularly enjoyed one track featured in an episode from 2011.  It's on Dave Alvin's album Eleven Eleven and is called Harlan County Line.  Great track.  Enjoy.

If I may pontificate...........

I really have no opinion on whether the resignation of Pope Benedict is a good or a bad thing. Time will tell as to its true impact.  However I do find the Papal Conclave election process intriguing and can't help wondering if there's something there that we could be adopting in the UK.  I haven't really thought this through yet but I think something along the following lines might work.

 

1.  Each constituency would elect a local candidate pretty much along the same lines as now, with the exceptions that party politics would not be allowed and the voting would be done via text messaging. It would be mandatory for all on the electoral roll to register their mobile numbers to be eligible to vote. The candidate with the highest number of messages wins.  Simple. LOL x

2.  These MPs will now choose a leader from amongst themselves. The ones with the ten most votes (designated the Prime Ministerial candidates) will enter something like the Big Brother House in which they will stay until they elect the Prime Minister of Britain. Every Prime Ministerial candidate will spend a day in discussion with each of the other candidates until he/she has spent a day with them all. This will take 9 days and the cameras will be broadcasting everything as it happens.

3.  There will be a Diary Room where the candidates can take refuge and share their thoughts with the world at large.  I think it would be fascinating if they were given a challenge or two to keep them occupied.  I'm not sure exactly what but given that all politicians are expert at dissembling, intrigue and deception, something that plays to these attributes would be appropriate. Cluedo, perhaps?

4. On the tenth day, each of the candidates will vote for the candidate they think is most suitable for leadership, apart from themselves. The one with the highest number of votes becomes Prime Minister and the ritual smoke signal is sent out to the world.

This idea needs further development but it has got to be an improvement on the present system, hasn't it?   
 

Always an exhibitionist............!!

We know a very talented young actress called Katherine Markwick and this morning she was interviewed on Radio Leeds about a one-woman show she is putting on in Halifax next week.  As on previous occasions we just can't make it to see her perform her show but it has got excellent reviews.  I recorded the interview and you can listen to it below - just after the synopsis of the production.  If you want more information, take a look at the Hot Ice Theatre website here.  I wonder if Ms Markwick could be persuaded to put on a performance down here in sunny Cornwall?  If so, she'd be guaranteed an audience of at least two!

Welcome to Upper Crevice. Which is near to Lower Crevice. Which is near to nowhere. You are guests at Hive Corner, Upper Crevice’s finest (and only) Bed & Breakfast. Carol Carpenter is your hostess. She loves to talk. But as Carol’s stories of local life, local people, and her lengthy marriage unfold, you may begin to suspect that things in Upper Crevice are not as comfortably cosy as first they seem…

Enough, no more............rein them in!

No doubt I'll return to the serious side of the present food chain scandal at some stage. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the bad puns and Photoshop skills on show.

*  Traces of zebras found in Tesco barcodes.
*  I wasn'’t sure what to put on my best Tesco beefburger but eventually decided on a fiver each way
*  I’ve tried Sainsbury’s and Tesco burgers and I have to say Tesco wins by a nose.
*  I think I had Tesco Horseburger last night by mistake. Never again. Had terrible night mares
*  I bet Tesco hate being saddled with this story. Their PR agency must be bridling too. They’ll just have to get the bit between their teeth.
*  The police are doing a door to door enquiries about these horse burgers. They will soon have covered the whole Neigh-bourhood.
*  Can’t believe that woman was sent to hospital after eating a horse meat burger…… Her condition is said to be stable
*  I expect this only relates to those mini-burgers you have as snacks. You know, the horse d’oeuvres.
*  Apparently Tesco now offer triple loyalty points for a takeaway burger and a full tank of petrol – They call it the “Only Fuels and Horses” deal
*  Reading the label on these Tesco burgers…. it turns out they’re fairly low in fat, but surprisingly high in Shergar.
*  Just got a batch of 200 Tesco beef burgers cheap, it only cost me a Pony
*  Despite the scandal Tesco say their burger sales remain stable
*  I’m not going to eat any more Tesco burgers…last time i had one they gave me the trots…
*  New kids food found in budget supermarket: My Lidl pony.
*  I’ve found it tough lately working on the Tesco meat counter…. I feel like I’m flogging a dead horse
*  I checked my Tesco Burgers in the fridge this morning…and They’re OffReply

*  I had a Findus lasagne last night. I’ve still got a bit between my teeth.
 

In praise of: The Best Radio You've Never Heard

Musical taste is a very personal and subjective emotion, made more complicated by the fact that, for most people, what you like can be very dependant on your mood at the time.  Something that would be soothing in the morning might grate if listened to in the afternoon.  At least that's the way it works for me: my musical tastes are extremely eclectic but very contingent on how I'm feeling or what I'm doing at the time.  Hence the difficulty I have in saying what my favourite genre or piece is. I love variety as I've got a butterfly mind that flits from one thing to another. And musical variety is the key feature I appreciate in a podcast I've been listening to since around 2006. It's called The Best Radio You Have Never Heard and is produced by Perry Bax in Chicago. 

Each podcast (free to download and released as regular as clockwork twice a month on the 1st and 15th) comprises a compilation of around 90 minutes of intriguingly mixed rock and rock-based songs from an eclectic variety of artists who, in other contexts, might be considered incompatible. Genres, rhythms, moods and artists are seamlessly blended together to produce a mix that I find fascinating - hence the fact that I've downloaded all 202 episodes (a total of around 8 days of solid rock!). BRYHNH includes favourites and new discoveries from both familiar artists and those I would not have come across by any other means. Listening has not only expanded my rock education but also consolidated my high opinion of the giants of the 60s and 70s. Ladies and gentlemen: I can heartedly commend BRYHNH to you. And if you need convincing, here are a couple of track listings.

The current volume: Lover's Leap #202: issued 1st February 2013, featuring an excellent Stones track at #1 and the new Bowie single at #8, about which I'm ambivalent.

1. Midnight Rambler (live) - The Rolling Stones w/ special guest, Mick Taylor.
2. Sway (live) - Alejandro Escovedo.
3. Feeling Brave - Blue Sky Riders.
4. Come And Get Your Love - Roger Daltrey.
5. When Will I See You Again? - Anders Osborne.
6. Cry To The World - Renaissance.
7. Starship Trooper (live) - Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe.
8. Where Are We Now - David Bowie.
9. Rubber Ring (live) - The Smiths.
10. Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town (live) - Pearl Jam.
11. The Chain (early) - Fleetwood Mac.
12. Touch Me (alt/early) - The Doors.
13. Bold As Love (early) - Jimi Hendrix Experience.
14. Blind Spirit - The The.

And a classic from the archive (Volume 22: 1st May 2006), The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is one from the back catalogue that I keep returning to.  And not only for Tracks 6, 14 and 17. It's a feast of compare and contrast rock styles: just take a look at the track listing.

1. Good Night Saigon - Billy Joel
2. Red Rain - Peter Gabriel
3. Stan - Eminem
4. Tom Sawyer - Rush
5. Lysistrata - Utopia
6. Tommy Gun - The Clash
7. Accidents Will Happen - Elvis Costello
8. Who's Landing In My Hangar - Human Switchboard
9. You're Gonna Miss me Baby - 13th Floor Elevator
10. Livin' on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
11. Babooshka - Kate Bush
12. School - Supertramp
13. Smell Like Team Spirit - Nirvana
14. Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
15. Enter Sandman - Metallica
16. The King will Come - Wishbone Ash
17. The Revolution will Not be Televised - Gil Scott-Heron

Fresh air - and no rain!

 

A 5.5 mile circular walk along local lanes today with the Gunnislake U3A Walking Group. Starting outside the church in Linkinhorne and taking in Brouda, Plusha Bridge, Rilla Mill and Rillaton. A crisp day and one that was a joy to be out in. We beat the rain!

 

Seen at Plushabridge. Apparently Roman, which I very much doubt. It just doesn't fit in with what we know about the Romans in Cornwall.

Not a roadsign we see that often around here.  It refers to a local target shooting club - I hope.

Well embedded in this tree.  Beats having to fix it with string.

Lots and lots of snowdrops in the lanes and alongside the streams.

Not that many daffodils yet.  I think these are the wild type rather than a cultivar.  They are not that common.

Gay marriage: in perspective

Well, the votes were cast last night and, after due process through the Lords etc, gay marriage will be legalised - hooray.  Despite the dire warnings of the naysayers, I think the above graphic probably sums up its long-term impact upon our society.  I'd forgotten that I have been to a gay marriage ceremony a long time ago - it was in North Carolina around 1995 and, quadruple shock horror, the officiating priest was female (way before we had them in the UK).  I'm sure we'll reach the same position over here when such events are seen as the celebration they are, rather than a step on the ladder to societal collapse.

 Having said all that, I must admit that my opinion could have been swayed if I had come across the following cogently argued case against gay marriage a little earlier.  I just love the way the author's bigotry, racism and misogyny are so skillfully conflated.  I do hope he remembers to take his medication today.


1. Marriage is eugenic, feminism dysgenic.
2. More female MPs proportionately will support gay marriage than male MPs, calling into question their moral judgement and ability to think rationally and independently.
3. The fact that more female Tory MPs will support gay marriage than male Tory MPs is evidence of their moral judgement and ability to think rationally and independently.
4. Our political classes do not respect marriage.
5. Our political classes do not know how to respect marriage.
6. If our political classes respected marriage, they would see the necessity of privileging married couples over unmarried couples.
7. Currently, not a single political party you will have heard of proposes privileging married couples.
8. Marriage is for the rearing of children and so is exclusively for male-female pairings who are not in the prohibited degrees of consanguinity capable of procreative sex.
9. Just because there are childless married couples does not detract from the original nature and purpose of marriage.
10. Catholics could have their marriage annulled (ie treated as it never happened) if one of the couple is infertile, which demonstrates the original purpose of marriage, which is to have children.
11. Gay marriage is immoral because it is not necessary.
12. Gay marriage is not necessary because same-sex couples already have the civil partnership, allowing them to take free of inheritance tax which starts at 40%.
13. It is not necessary in the long-term national interest to legalise gay marriage.
14. It is destructive to the long-term national interest to legalise gay marriage because if gay marriage is an option then more people will avail themselves of it.
15. If more people avail themselves of gay marriage then there will be fewer children being born to husbands and wives.
16. If there are fewer children being born to husbands and wives then there will be a labour shortage.
17. If there is a labour shortage more immigrants will be allowed in
18. If there is even more immigration people will get even more alarmed and resentful causing social unrest and anarchy.
19. The reason why married couples should be treated as a degree above same-sex couples, all things being equal, is that married couples are the ones whose children are most likely to be brought up in an environment that produces well-adjusted adults capable of becoming useful citizens.
20. Same-sex couples do not produce offspring with their civil partner.
21. Same sex couples do not undergo the sacrifice, burden and inconvenience of rearing the next generation.
22. If same-sex couples were capable of sexual reproduction only then would it be moral to have gay marriage.
23. It is as well to acknowledge that it was feminism that was the thin end of the wedge that led to gay marriage. For some reason, most women do not mind about gay marriage. It is either because marriage was the invention of a man and they spitefully wish to destroy his creation, or because they are too stupid and irresponsible to grasp the pivotal role of marriage in regulating human relations.

The gay marriage issue

I have absolutely no time for homophobic bigots and I agree with Posh Dave's stance on gay marriage. But he is having a hard time from some of his right wingers.  Here's a couple of well reasoned quotes from one of the loonies in his party.  As they say, with friends like these, who needs enemies?

"It (marriage) is a delicate mechanism that must not be tampered with by the ignorant and the immoral, the frivolous, the irresponsible and the venal, as you would expect someone to be who has become British Prime Minister without knowing what Magna Carta is".

"The fact that a Conservative Prime Minister can propose such an immoral and insane piece of legislation and have so much support is indicative of the degeneracy and dementia of the British".

Working Time Directive under the spotlight

For most of my career, I was fortunate in working for a very employee-friendly, some would say paternalistic, company.  Even so, I always had the protection of a contract that said, stripped to the basics, "we will give you £x if you do the following".  Such a contract was not unreasonable and both parties knew exactly what was expected of them.

'My' company was not unique in the way it cared for its employees but it was certainly not in the majority.  Hence the need for legislation to protect workers' employment rights.  Such rights were a long time coming and were only gained after many struggles by the ordinary working man: they were certainly not introduced by benevolent bosses.  Nowadays these rights are enshrined in the Working Time Directive from the EU and, in my opinion, gives employees reasonable protection against exploitation by unscrupulous employers.  These are amongst the rights that we stand to lose if the Euro-sceptics get their way and we pull out of the EU.  These are one of the good things we get from the EU and should be preserved.  Which of them do you think is unreasonable?  Which of them would you miss if it was taken away?  What do you think it would be like to work in a job without their protection?