Im on a mission...
March the 1st is Saint Davids' day - the patron saint of Wales
You know, think Ireland and St Patrick..
So as you guys all pretend to be Irish on March 17th, I think you should pretend to be Welsh on March 1st
This month, I am going to coach you in all things Welsh and then I want photographic evidence that you did indeed celebrate it. Even if you just wear a red top and a daffodil, I want to see
So, whos in?
67 comments:
I am in , master, please teach me the way!
i'm in too. i have an essay due that day so handing it in will be all the more reason to celebrate.
I honestly don't own a red shirt. Really, none. I'll see if I can find a daffodil or something...
Shouldn't I wear a leek?
That's St. Crispin's Day. But you knew that already from the Henry V speech.
You can in fact wear a leek as well as a daffodil. But not a real one cos that would smell
What if you have traces of leek soup left over on your red top from where you spilled it on yourself? Would that be okay?
ewwww
Amanda, you're really not taking this seriously are you?
You have to embrace Wales, love Wales
Think getting very drunk in a pub Wales
I've been to Wales. I had a very, VERY bad experience. I'm not sure I'm quite ready to celebrate it yet.
Oh now you can't leave it there
You have to spill.
Myspace mail if you're shy...
I think for St. Crispin's Day all you have to do is wear shoes.
Well, it wasn't Wales per se. It was the people I was with. It started out with my entry to Wales from the Netherlands with my boyfriend (a Dutchman). Apparently the Welsh customs agent was particularly concerned and kept asking me "Why are you here? You're American and you've come here? Why? Why did you come here from the Netherlands? You're American? Why are you here?" He clearly didn't work for the tourist board.
We were staying with some of my boyfriends acquaintances. I'd chatted with them online, but wasn't particularly close to either one of them. She was this ginormous hideous troll like girl and she kept her house in a state of disrepair that is reminiscent of when you leave the rubbish out the night before pick up and the cats and raccoons get into it. Except it was worse. They'd gotten their bonus checks for Christmas so we went on a big expedition to the market and to Iceland. Iceland in and of itself is the topic for a blog. They spent 250 pounds on tinned goods, boxed wine, Stella, and Guinness. They were to make a curry, and when I asked about fresh ingredients such as cilantro, and she looked at me like I was insane. She did buy a whole chicken, though. It was left on the counter. Fresh ingredients do not curry make, apparently. Then after that entire night of shopping she ordered chips. A packet of chips. That's it. I passed.
A night of heavy drinking ensued, she swilled Tia Maria like it had life saving vitamins. When I used cranberry juice as mixer, she said, "Wow, my mum told me about you Americans and your juice...I just never quite believed it." As if there were ANY room for judgment here. At some point I recall we went to a goth club in Cardiff. I didn't quite care what we did. I wanted to get drunk and ignore this horrific nightmare of a trip. I looked over while I was on the dancefloor and saw her kissing my boyfriend. Hideous.
When we left the club she decided her feet hurt and she walked barefoot on the vomit stained cobblestones. We finally got a minicab and she almost lost it with her racist epithet ridden rant. He was Asian. She apparently took issue with that fact.
There is more to this story. Clearly, Wales is not at fault. But I just can't clear the image. Oooh. And the curry was finally made two days later. The chicken sat on the counter until that time. It was cooked with one half of an onion for six hours. I chose to survive on a packet of Tuc biscuits I'd hidden in my bag.
It seems wrong that I'm laughing..
She must have been a valley girl
Im sorry Wales wasnt good for you. Visit me, I'll take you pole dancing!
It's a funny story. I just remember how much I drank and it wasn't nearly enough. Ooooh I loved Tuc biscuits. I hid them so she wouldn't try to wrestle them away from me.
And what the hell is the deal with Iceland anyway?
I like Iceland!!
Well, its ok, its cheap and it delivers and as I don't drive it suits me
They do Tuc biscuits in Iceland. Daughter #2 loves them
Three words: "Frozen Meat Mince." It's true. I went into a few of them, and realized that the overall gloom and dingy surfaces were unique to the first Iceland I entered. The subsequent ones were a bit more cheery and had an amber glow as opposed to the blinking white-blue of fluorescent bulbs.
Do you "not" drive, or do you not know how? I've been given an ultimatum, and I have to learn how drive this month. The manual is so bloody dry.
I can't drive
I have had lessons but they could make an entertaining blog. I'm scared of lorries (trucks). I close my eyes. Plus my husband never wanted me to drive - independance away from him kinda thing
God that makes me sound such a woose
I will learn, one day..
I have no ability to discern spatial relationships, and I'm scared out of my mind of other people in cars (I don't trust them). I can't focus on that many things at once, and I'm a bit ADD and OCD. I don't think I'll ever be able to listen to the radio when I drive, because I really love to car dance.
I once drove at about 230 in the morning in my cousin's van (he is a generator technician), which lists to the right and is terribly top heavy. Also, he's 6'5" and very big around. His seat was stuck, so my ass was perched on the edge, with my hands in a death knuckle grip on the wheel. There is a reason I don't drive, which no one in this house respects or understands.
I am so there
Give me an open road, with noone else on it and I'll happily drive for hours
It's other people that scare me, they're idiots..
My dream is to have a large disposable income and hire a driver. Of course I would want a Morris Cooper. The original mini. The driver wouldn't be able to hear very well, so he wouldn't mind that I crank up the dance music incredibly loud, and I would car dance without fear of recrimination.
I always wanted a Volkswagon Beetle but Lindsay Lohan and Herbie killed that for me..
The bad thing about 2 daughters is the amount of Lohan DVDs that live in my house
Oh Christ. I can only imagine. I feel for you. Did they buy her "music" cd, too? I hope she self-destructs sooner rather than later so that you can escape any further crap she might put out. She truly frightens me.
No music - thank god
My 13 year old listens to DJ whoever crap
My 11 year old likes Girls Aloud, who I don't think have been inflicted on the US market yet. Think Barbie and Bratz singing...
I'm truly sorry. I can only imagine the horror. My parents bought my sister and I both a walkman and our own headphones in the mid80s so that they could avoid our musical tastes as much as possible. I still don't inflict my music on my parents. I think they still appreciate it.
They have MP3 players
Not ipods, Im not that nice a mother
Jess has gone out wearing my new top and my new coat. I asked if that made me cool if shes stealing my clothes
The look I got back was enough
I have never borrowed my mum's clothing. If you saw her style, you'd understand why. Brian can corroborate.
She's borrowed mine though. I would leave my clothes to go out to the needy and she would rifle through them, and the next time I saw her she'd be wearing a pair of my old jeans. The horror.
I am used to finding my make up and jewellrey in their bedrooms but now my clothes?
I once said on a previous blog it's the reason I can't have any um "toys". The little buggers rifle through my stuff too much..
Ha! The situation was reversed for me! When I lived in my uni apartment my mum would come up to visit and go through all of my shit. She always checked to see how many condoms I had in my drawer. The idea of anything battery-operated would have killed me.
Think of it this way: they might not think you're cool, but you have items which are vaguely cool...and one day it might rub off on you. It is a compliment, of a sorts. Although, it would be nice if they asked. Though, that's a tall order.
How is it that you know the West Covina crew?
How is it that you know the West Covina crew?
Do not ask Brian how I know them, you will get an answer he knows I hate..
I first met David. He worked on a website I am now a Community Leader on (oh, yes, I got power..). I mailed him once about a tech issue and we became friends. Then I bantered with Brian on Davids blog. Then he found me on Myspace and we became mateys. I met Ev through everyones blogs and Myspace and am about to invade her house when I visit the US in 4 weeks and 4 days.
So how do you know Brian?
I worked with Mrs. G and T about five years ago. The first time that I went to the Netherlands I stayed overnight at their house, where I met Brian. It was Halloween. We bonded over sweets. I told him he reminded me of Chandler from Friends. We became drinking buddies. He'd call me up from work when he worked in downtown Portland and we'd go look at naked women and drink.
Ok, so I've learnt something new
I didn't realise Brian had lived in the Netherlands
I knew of course he drank and looked at naked women
ooops. No. I went to the Netherlands (Dutch boyfriend). I lived in Salem, which is about 45 minutes to an hour away from the airport, and it was more convenient to leave from their house. So they let me stay the night before I left the US.
Ah, right, I got ya
He'll laugh when he reads this
I told him yesterday I thought it odd we were now Myspace friends.
I thought you were too smart for me..
Nah, as Brian can attest, I'm a dumbass. Of that, I can most certainly assure you.
It's a beautiful thing, that's why we're all on the space, so that we can make friends. Although, is it wrong that I get some sort of pleasure out of hitting the deny button? Perhaps especially when I actually know the person asking? (Which is why I rarely ask for friends, because surely they too must feel that way. And how horrible to be rejected on the Internet. So cold and heartless.)
I seem to attract the pervs.
I used to forward their mails to Brian for his entertainment but now I have Dr B as a friend too I sometimes forward it to the wrong one
Im sure Dr B thinks Im a raving loony sending him mails from middle eastern men offering to do sex on cam..
Yeah, I got some weirdo called Bright from New Zealand and I couldn't figure out how to forward it to Brian, because I too find it confounding. Could Dr. Brian not do us a massive service and rechristen himself "Dr. Brian" on the Space?
Bright wanted to tell me that he was about to erase his profile until he came upon my smile, and that's when he knew true beauty in a woman existed. He's had some troubles with women, but we'll get into that later when I contact him via his personal email or chat with him on Yahoo Messenger (he was so forceful, I just love that in a man).
Strangely, I just wanted to laugh at him and forward it to everyone I knew, sort of like that Englishman who sent an email to a woman he met at a party and ostensibly ask her to the Tate Modern, and prattled on for days about how when he was in the thickest bout of depression and on his blackest days, he'd just think of her smile. And she just thought he was an idiot and the email ended up all around the world and in the news.
Ok, which picture did you have up when you got that?
I attribute the naffness of my mails to the pic I have up. Braids is popular, the South Park pic Brian made for me gets ziltch
I got a marriage proposal from a guy who said his mom would think I was nice..
The one that I felt looked like a mail order bride picture, but the Brians thought was the cover of a porn. All shiny and smiley.
How'd they get those southpark pic, anyhow?
I never really get any sexual proposals. I just get crap band requests. I wish they'd do themselves a favor. I have NO bands as my friends. None. Not even bands whom I enjoy. If they want to be my friend, perhaps they should look at my musical tastes. If I don't list a preference for whiny singer-songwriter bullshit with blues steel guitar, then perhaps I do NOT want you to be my friend.
I dunno, I told Brian I wanted a south park pic like his and he made me one then laughed cos I didn't like it. He said he couldn't make a 35 year old woman out of 12 year old boy parts and I should be thankful
I get lots of Middle Eastern fan mail. I can see the British Visa signs in their eyes. I think, who would take in this crap and then go on their profile and its full of sad middle aged women posting glittery sexy comments
*sigh*
I have a couple of bands. Davids of course and Dr Steele, I think thats about it
I've been sitting here for the past half hour, refreshing the page and watching the comments update-- I feel like I'm eavesdropping on a live conversation!
I had a GREAT time the one time I was in Wales-- despite the rain, I had no end of fun surprising Lisa and actually getting to go out on a pub crawl with her :-)
I have to say Lisa, they do have nice showers in the hotels in Wales :-D
Reds not really my colour, but I may just wear it for you on the day :-)
Oh yeah-- and I remember how proud you were of me for wearing a red shirt on St. David's Day last year (yes, I did wear a red one specifically in honor of the day), so I shall strive to do the same this year.
And as daffodils are my favorite flower, shouldn't be too hard to get some that day, as well :-D
I'm thinking now...
I could get my mum to make a huge batch of Welshcakes and bring them over
Do you think Id get through customs?
Or past the sniffer dogs, Shaun....
You couldn't just make them yourself once you get to the US?
Oooh, and I want the recipe. I had a lengthy conversation about fairy cakes, barm cakes, crumpets, and scones today with my friend from the north of England. I loved baked goods. I also love a good nerdy conversation about them.
Well I could invade Evs kitchen but my mum has an iron griddle which is the best for making them
Recipe
125g cold unsalted butter, diced
250g selfraising flour
75g caster sugar, plus more for dusting
quarter teaspoon ground all spice
100g sultanas (or currants or mixed)
1 large beaten egg
7.5 crinkled round cutter
smooth griddle or cast iron frying pan
Rub the butter into flour. Stir in sugar, spices and dried fruit. Add the egg to make a soft but not sticky dough. Form a disc, refrigerate for 20 mins
Roll out on floured surface to a thickness of 3 quarters of a cm, cut out the cakes and reroll, blah blah blah...
Preheat the griddle or pan and cook for about 3 minutes each side until golden brown . Sprinkle with sugar
I'm not such a big fan of baked goods, but I have to say, I REALLY enjoyed my first taste of Yorkshire pudding when I was in the UK in November. Scrumptious! :-9
Oh, and because it was made famous by Wallace and Gromit, I HAD to try some of that Wensleydale cheese while I was there, as well. It was um, a little overrated...
God, you better watch out for those bloody sniffer dogs at the airports.
The one I encountered went mental over a little left over pizza in my luggage :-/
A cast iron skillet (the American English variant of griddle)? That's fairly easy. That looks good! I can't wait to make that. I'll let you know how it goes. Oh, and if you do make it, castor's sugar is British English, the equivalent in AmE is confectioner's sugar or powdered sugar. Oh. And treacle is NOT the equivalent of molasses. I learnt that the HARD way.
Through Lisa and Shaun, I have learned time and again that contrary to popular belief, English is NOT a universal language!!
yeah, let's not even get on to the word "fanny" O.O
yeah, Ive been warned not to ask any American guys to put their dick in my fanny when Im over as I'll get a surprise.
You can guess who told me that..
I love learning proper English. It's lovely. I remember in Japan I bought an Oxford English dictionary (the abridged paperback version). In America, they only have the American Oxford English dictionary, and it's crap. I prefer BrE, as it makes far more sense to me, and it's more clever. I love that "cloak and dagger" is in the dictionary. (Yes, I read the dictionary. I also like etymology. But I do not understand predicates, split infinitives, or direct objects. I just like words.)
I speak Wenglish
There are Wenglish books, they're hysterical
Hmmm. Don't tell me these things. It's too dangerous! I love learning obscure languagey things. Do you have a website example?
ok, heres the wiki on it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wenglish
theres a link to the talk tidy page on there
and go here
http://wenglish.org/
and click on the dictionary..
Wait. Does the "only gay in the village" speak Wenglish?
I haven't seen a lot of him, but I guess he probably does
Brian picks me up on it sometimes when Im talking to him. Shaun gets confused too and hes English
Is Shaun an expat or is he still in England? And you can't even distinguish what people are saying from county to county, so that doesn't really surprise me.
Shaun's in England
Dont you get dialect differences from state to state?
I mean, christ, you have Texas..
Yes, there are dialects and accent differences. You should listen to people from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It's really horrible. Well, most American accents are. Hideous.
Now that's where I differ
I think the American accent is dead sexy but all my American friends think the brit accent is sexy
Its all about difference I guess
And its 230am here, I need my bed..
Yes, I will confirm, Amanda is, in fact, a dumb ass...
Thank god I don't really have an accent as such. I would hate to have a "Brummie" type one.
When I first heard Lisa speak I thought she sounded more like she was from "cyder country" than Wales, but I guess it's only just over the other side of one of the many bridges near her :-P
Well, you and my cousin's husband are in small company. He's French and said that he thinks the American exactly "eez eegstreemley seksee." I don't necessarily like accents, I like intelligent men with a gift for banter. That doesn't always mesh well with an American accent.
Ive just read Shauns comment way back again and just want to make clear he didnt shower with me...
Ive just read Shauns comment way back again and just want to make clear he didnt shower with me...
At least he'd get the right "fanny"... ;-)
I always miss them.....=)
Red is my favorite color. I work right next to the floral department. I work IN the produce department.
I shall wear red whilst holding daffodils AND leeks!
Now, this whole "wenglish" thing is a different matter entirely. You know which word I am in awe of...no need to say it again.
I completely forgot that I had account here before this morning. I haven't used this blog in over a month! Oops.....and I've been told by my southern friends that I have a very mideastern accent. I wasn't aware that Michigan was really in the mid or the east, I thought it was just me. Who knows. Maybe I'm just a little crazy because we've gotten 28 inches of snow here in 2 days and now the temps have fallen below 0 and the snow is still coming down. You SURE you don't want to come live in Michigan with me? We get plenty of rain in the springtime too--remind you of home. =P
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