Thursday 22 December 2011

The epiphany moment

The 'epiphany moment' is one of my favourite phrases. It is relates to Christmas in so far as we celebrate the feast of Epiphany on January 6th - the 12th day of Christmas - when the Magi visited the baby Jesus and realised the enormity of what had taken place. Yet the word epiphany has taken on a wider meaning; it now tends to mean that one suddenly finds a new and profound understanding of something or other. Psychologists question the entire concept of dramatic 'new' realisations. I suppose the story of Isaac Newton with that apple falling on his head which apparently led to the discovery of gravity is the perfect example of an epiphany moment. I only write this as when out cycling on Tuesday I was asked when my epiphany moment had taken place regarding my weight loss. I didn't have an answer, but it did prompt me to examine the meaning of the question.

The Magi first see Jesus and experience their epiphany moment.

Wednesday 21 December 2011

Everton 1 Swansea 0

It is difficult to tell what this result means for Everton's season. In the end it proved to be a relatively easy victory. Swansea tried to keep the ball by endless passing movements that achieved little. After some frustrating periods of the game Everton managed to break the Swans resistance with neatly headed goal by Leon Osman. However, Everton need to find a goal scorer if they are to progress;Louis Saha looks as if he has had his best days.The blues will not face a relegation struggle, but neither will they trouble the top seven this season.

My view of the action from the upper Bullens stand.

Monday 12 December 2011

Please sir, can I have some more?

Well, yes I can. The diet is over. I have kept a record in this blog of my attempt to fight the flab. But now I have decided that enough is enough. It all started 201 days ago at the end of May, just before half term to be precise. It resulted from a conversation with the inspirational Mr Tynan. He showed me his  mobile phone application called 'Myfitnesspal'. Since that epiphany moment to the time of writing I have entered every piece of food that has passed through my mouth into 'Myfitnesspal'; the program then shows how many calories I can consume on any given day. Dear reader you know this much already. When I started I weighed 265lbs, which is around 19 stones. Over the 201 days I have managed to shed 77lbs which leaves me at 189lbs, or 13.7 stones.

The challenge now will be to maintain that weight, and to afford a new wardrobe of clothes; only my shoes still fit. One day I will tell a funny story concerning my over-sized undies, a large unsuspecting audience, and a remembrance service. But I won't tell it now.

The key figure is in the bottom right hand corner.


And the all important graph.




Sunday 4 December 2011

Jam tomorrow

Jam tomorrow?


"I'm sure I'll take you with pleasure!" the Queen said. "Two pence a week, and jam every other day."
Alice couldn't help laughing, as she said, "I don't want you to hire ME – and I don't care for jam."
"It's very good jam," said the Queen.
"Well, I don't want any TO-DAY, at any rate."
"You couldn't have it if you DID want it," the Queen said. "The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday – but never jam to-day."
"It MUST come sometimes to 'jam to-day'," Alice objected.
"No, it can't," said the Queen. "It's jam every OTHER day: to-day isn't any OTHER day, you know."
"I don't understand you," said Alice. "It's dreadfully confusing!"

This classic piece of nonsense was written by Lewis Carroll in his book  Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There.  I have come across it many times, especially relating to the austerity period around the second world war, to illustrate deferred gratification: 'Jam tomorrow'. In other words, suffer now, but the good times are just around the corner. Take the medicine, and you will soon be better. Most people are prepared to accept this rationale as we understand that suffering precedes that passage into what Churchill called 'the broad sunlit uplands'. They understood that the defeat of tyranny in the 1940s would mean sacrifice, but also that in good time a new fairer world would emerge. Jam tomorrow.

In a brilliant but disturbing piece in yesterdays Times newspaper Matthew Parris speculated that the present period of austerity may not lead to lashings of Jam any time soon, never mind tomorrow. He thought-aloud as to whether this crisis might not be heralding the collapse of the post-war prosperity and the economic security that Europe has enjoyed since the last time people worried about Jam. Parris was suggesting that we might never enjoy Jam again and what impact this that might have on social cohesion in nations used to continually rising standards of living. We may soon find out

Saturday 26 November 2011

When Everton win

At my age I should cope better, but often the quality of my Saturday depends upon how well Everton have fared. If the blues have lost then I can't face watching Match of the Day. I just can't. It is like re-visiting the painful memories of earlier in the day, whether I was at the game or not. But when they win it is a different matter: that, I'm happy to say, is the case today. I am looking forward to the programme and the time-honoured signature tune.

Match of the Day is more than just a television programme, it is part of my cultural life. I can remember first watching it back in the late 60s and early 70s during the regular Saturday night visits to my grandparents in Flint. We usually, as I recall, stayed until the programme ended. In those days not all games were shown and so it was a case of anxiously anticipating whether or not Everton would be on the line-up. And so almost half a century later and little has changed: Match of the Day and whether or not the blues have won still plays a big part in my Saturdays.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

Lloyd George on the beach

There was another theatrical gem at Theatr Clwyd this evening: The wizard, the goat and the man who won the war. It was a one man show about  David Lloyd George. The setting was a beach in the south of France in 1938. The day was his 50th wedding anniversary. His wife Margaret was taking an afternoon rest, while Lloyd George sat by the Mediterranean sea reflecting on his life. Oddly enough Winston Churchill was in the same hotel.

Lloyd George lived a full and remarkable life. He was a man that evoked great loyalty and love in some, but equal hatred from others. Lloyd George's many women, but especially Francis Stephenson and her travails, were highlighted in the play.

Yet by 1938 Lloyd George was an old man. Churchill did not call upon him to play a role in the second world war. And the French girls he had flirted with in a local shop were merely laughing at him. The man who had won the first world war was a spent force by the time the second world War had begun.

Nevertheless, his was a great expansive life. Lloyd George came closer than any other Welshman to matching the mythical deeds of King Arthur or perhaps Merlin. All of this was wonderfully dramatised in this clever one hour play. Both nights at Mold were sold out; add this to the impressive turnout for the Mostyns of Mostyn lecture on Friday in Llanasa, and the popularity of History is self-evident. Perhaps History will become the new rock and roll.



Sunday 20 November 2011

Toys for boys

Sometimes I can't help myself: I had seen these bike computers advertised recently and I knew that until I had one I could not be truly happy. Anyway, this tempting toy is the Garmin Edge 500. It weighs about 2 ounces and measures over forty things during a bike ride. Then, when the bike is put away, this remarkable toy sends all the data to the internet and all the details are set out on-line, some on graphs, others on google maps. It also records my heart rate from a strap worn against my chest. Here is just some of the data the toy records: speed, average speed, time, moving time, ascent, descent (both calculated using air pressure), cadence (the rate the pedals go round), plots the route, the route profile, heart rate, average heart rate, maximum heart rate, calories used, temperature, average temperature, will up-load routes, and other stuff too numerous to mention. I have already successfully used the toy for two weekends; the geek in me will find plenty of interest in this little device in the months to come. I am sad to say, however, that the toy does not make good toast.


The Garmin Edge 500 set in scale against my Blackberry. The tiny Garmin weighs just 2 ounces.



Friday 18 November 2011

The Mostyns of Mostyn

Tonight I went to an excellent lecture on the history of the Mostyn family in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was given by Shaun Evans in Llanasa Village Hall. Shaun's presentation was first class and reflected real scholarship on his part. It reminded me of the power the Mostyn family has exerted over North Wales since medieval times. Their influence is still apparent in Mostyn (obviously) but also widely across the region, especially in Llandudno. The Mostyn family came about as a result of the union, through marriage and inheritance, of five aristocratic Welsh families in the later middle ages. This meant the family controlled lands from Caernarfon to the border counties. Papers belonging to the Mostyn family are deposited at the National Library in Aberystwyth: they are being used to extensively as part of the Mostyn Project - a joint historical and literature venture between Bangor and Aberystwyth universities.

Mostyn Hall today: still rather grand.



Tuesday 15 November 2011

Talk about the weather

No wonder we British are obsessed with the weather...just twelve months ago we experienced some of the coldest winds and iciest conditions I have known. The cold spell lasted until after Christmas. ITN even did a special snow report from Caerwys. My weather station recorded minus seven on a morning before the end of November. We may yet be in for a shock, but so far this autumn it has been unseasonably mild. However, last weekend cycling along the prom in Rhyl and Prestatyn people we were wearing their shorts and T shirts and playing games on the beach. The last three winters prior to this have been (with good reason) labelled severe; it will be fascinating to see what this years weather will bring.

Friday 11 November 2011

A History of Falling Things.

During the Second World War the Caerwys amateur dramatic society put on a remarkable play that reflected the zeitgeist by examining the cultural influence of Germany. This evening the present generation of local thespians performed an equally daring version of a History of Falling Things: a play that examined the power of social networking and indeed psychoanalysis. The two characters fell in love with each other despite the fact that their only contact was across the internet. They had in common a fear of falling things, especially satellites. Of course this created incredulous humour. But perhaps secretly we all fear irrational things, so the fact of one satellite falling made their phobia almost understandable. The performance and set were impeccable. The added use of projectors made this, for me, the cleverest production I had seen in Caerwys. I was not here in 1942.

A tour de force by the two leading performers.



Wartime productions challenged prevailing attitudes; drama in Caerwys still has the power to make one think.

Sunday 6 November 2011

The Age of Choice.

Historians like to add labels to a period of time: Age of Reason, Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution, Renaissance and so on. I wonder if this era will be labelled the Age of Choice.

Giving people choice has been the largely uncontested political mantra of the past three decades or so. It reflects a time of prosperity and growing educational opportunity. It is in stark contrast to the age of rationing and austerity that our parents were born into in the mid decades of the 20th century. Our age of 'choice' also I think contrasts equally with the state planning and nationalisation of the immediate post 1945 governments.
In theory, of course, choice is a wonderful thing. And for many things choice works - when one wants a new shirt or coat it is good to have a range to select from. Similarly with wine, and other good things in life. Choice with these items is not critical; selecting the wrong shirt is not life changing. Not liking a bottle of wine is merely an experience not to repeat.

However Choice is not always appropriate, or a positive thing. In education, health, and supply of major utilities (electricity, gas and the like) Choice has proved to have negative effects. We are not sufficiently able or informed to make those choices. It simply becomes a lottery. It increases division and inequality within society. Where competition and choice are appropriate let us have capitalism, otherwise where there is a natural monopoly, let the state take responsibility. The dividing line between the two is up for debate. To paraphrase George Osborne's slogan, we should be 'all in it together'.

Saturday 5 November 2011

Autumnal cycling

So far we have had a pretty good autumn; the met office reported that October was one of the warmest on record, and this first weekend of November has been spectacular. The air is perfectly clear and skies often blue, with some beautiful early evening sunsets. The lovely weather has made for excellent cycling conditions; this morning I rode down to the coast, and later came back to Caerwys via the long climb from Prestatyn and Gronant. With a light tail wind it was all rather easy cycling, despite the challenging gradient. The views from Rhyl were excellent. I stopped for a while to photograph my bicycle on the promenade; the colours of the railings, the sand, the sea, and blue sky were stunning.

Easy autumnal cycling

Male Voice Fest.

Yesterday evening Caerwys Male Voice Choir took part in a joint concert with Great Sutton Male Voice Choir. St Michael's Church was full and the whole event proved to be a great success. The Caerwys choir showed the progress that has been evident under our new musical director. Comparisons are often invidious, but the Caerwys choir sang without copies, whereas Great Sutton used black folders. Of course for complex pieces copies are essential, but it certainly helps if the choristers can focus on the conductor. The finale saw both choirs crowded together at the front of the church sing two popular male voice pieces. And then the whole church engaged in a spontaneous rendition of 'We'll Meet Again'. Hopefully we will.

Great Sutton on stage: photo shop stained glass filter (maybe it doesn't work)

Saturday 29 October 2011

Everton 0 Manchester United 1

A mid-day kick off might have been partly to blame for the unusually subdued atmosphere inside Goodison Park today. However, I sensed, amongst the Everton supporters, a real sense of foreboding at what this match might bring. United had been hammered by six goals to one last weekend, and a backlash was predicted. It did not happen, and despite the score Everton more than matched United. In fact a draw would have been a fair outcome. Everton had plenty of chances, but their shooting was generally weak, with only Baines' free kick against the bar managing to beat the United keeper. 

Therefore Everton go into November with only ten points, and sit uncomfortably close to the relegation places. It is usually said that 40 points is required to avoid the drop, but that looks a long way off at present. The next month will be crucial to the future of the club.


Everton lay siege to the United goal; nothing would come of it.

Friday 28 October 2011

Fighting the flab: an up-date.

The most popular blog I ever did was on an up-date to my super diet. To re-cap, I have been following the regime set by the program: myfitnesspal.com. It has suited my lifestyle, and so far in less than 150 days I have lost some 63 lb.

Each day, as I have said before, the program gives me the allotted number of calories that I can consume; the lighter one gets the fewer calories are available - I started on 2200 per day, so the present total of 1800 is not easy. In W.H.Smiths today I cast my eyes along the magazines aimed at the women's diet market. They all seem to follow a similar format; offering so many reasons to buy that particular magazine, such as ''10 ways to shed those pounds for xmas", or "25 ways to achieve the body you always wanted". The examples are endless, and all equally depressing.

However, not to be out-done, I will offer my own version of how to get rid of unwanted weight. Feel free to ignore this - it is merely  my experience since May based upon myfitnesspal.com:
  • losing weight is simple: eat less, exercise more; weight watchers and slimming word have invented complex means of achieving the same outcome
  • dieting  is painful, so find foods that offer the same buzz without calories: I recommend the following
  1. diet coke or pepsi max
  2. strong coffee
  3. nice tea
  4. gin and diet tonic
  5. vodka and diet tonic
  6. low fat yoghurts
  7. crunchie bars
  8. iced buns
  9. fruit pastilles
  10. various fruit juice based lolly ices
  • exercise: I have cycled endlessly and this has gained me extra calories when I have needed it
  • be honest with myfitnesspal.com; If anything I underestimate what I have eaten
  • take vitamin supplements - it will help your body maintain resistance against bugs
  • avoid buffets
So there it is: follow this advice for the body you have always wanted. That is, of course, nonsense, but losing some weight can only help one feel better.  I feel physically fitter than I have done for 20 years, but losing weight is a bit like seeking gold at end of the rainbow.


Thursday 27 October 2011

Everton 1 Chelsea 2 (after extra time)

Baines lines up to take Everton's penalty kick - it was saved.

The penalty was only one of several incidents that made this a pulsating Carling League Cup game to watch. Chelsea also missed a penalty; there were even two players sent off. That is not to forget three decent goals and the nerve-wracking period of extra time. At least it did not go down to penalties.

For us Everton fans it proved ultimately to be another evening of frustration. Over the game Chelsea probably just deserved the win, but Everton had plenty of chances, and at times truly dominated the play. Yet at this level of football if chances are not taken then one cannot complain that results don't 'go your way'. Rather like life itself, I imagine.

During the game I kept a close eye on Everton's new 'on-loan' signing from Real Madrid, Royston Drenthe.  I am not sure what to make of him: he appears to be one of the most athletic players around - his pace is very impressive. No one can doubt his commitment to the cause; he makes things happen with some outrageous skill and shooting from distance. However there is another side to his game: his passing is poor, often resulting in significant advantage for the opponents. I was trying to think of a word to describe him, and the best I can do is mercurial;  this volatility was in evidence towards the end of the game when he was given a red card for a dangerous tackle.

Monday 24 October 2011

Disillusioned (but in a good way).

In the Caerwys civic service held yesterday at St Michael's church the new Rector gave an excellent sermon, in part of which he reflected upon disillusionment with our elected politicians. He cleverly turned the word upside down by arguing that 'disillusionment' was a positive state of mind, especially as the opposite is to be under an 'illusion'. So being disillusioned allows one to view the world in a more realistic way, especially in terms of civil government. So next time I hear someone say they are disillusioned, I will quietly think to myself: 'that is all well and good'.

Sunday 23 October 2011

Westminster politicians

The following is a direct quote from Alex Salmond, the leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party, at their annual conference yesterday:
"The days of Westminster politicians telling Scotland what to do or what to think are over. "The Scottish people will set the agenda for the future."
What the Scots decide to do is pretty much up to them, but the phrase 'Westminster politicians' is disingenuous and part of  nationalist propaganda. In fact there is only ONE Westminster politician, and I just googled to find out who it is; the answer is Mark Field (Conservative, since you ask). Why does Alex Salmond so fear this single Tory MP? He does not, of course, it is merely sneaky  (but dangerous) nationalist propaganda to create division and fear. I have heard the right wing 'Tea Party' movement in the USA refer to 'Washington politicians'; they really mean they hate Obama. What does Salmond really mean?

All the other 600 nor so MPs represent areas other than Westminster, from Truro to Aberdeen (in Scotland, oddly enough). All of them democratically elected.  Alex Salmond uses the term 'Westminster politicians' in a derogatory sense to further the cause of Scottish separation from the UK. In doing so he debases his cause by deploying the language of fear. It may turn out to be a risky political game to play.



Modern art.

For me modern art is a bit like jazz: I know I should like it, but no matter how hard I try I don't. Anyway, I am not qualified to write about modern art or jazz, but in Theatr Clwyd the other evening in the exhibition area I spotted this painting - my apologies for the poor quality of the photograph, but you will get the idea:

Let me help by describing this piece in detail: a black canvass with a white horizontal smudge. I was instantly intrigued with this image, and then even more so when I noted the sale price at over fifteen hundred pounds. I suppose the artist might say that piece has caught my attention more than a 'chocolate box' image ever would, and has led me to write this blog. Therefore the art works. They may have a point.



Saturday 22 October 2011

The Clwyd Gate Audax

Two weeks ago I struggled to complete the Shropshire Lad audax; rashly, despite the pain of the Salopian hills, I entered another ride, which took place today. This event was longer and hillier than the Shropshire ride, but I had a plan.Today's challenge was 138km and involved climbing well over 7000 feet, in other words up Snowdon twice. In Shropshire I tried to do the cycle and maintain the diet regime, today I tried to balance input and output. I sought advice from friends that do endurance events; as a result of their advice I filled my pockets with jelly babies and my bottles with flat coca cola.

It worked. The ride turned out to be one of my successful bicycling adventures. The first leg followed the River Dee towards Llangollen and ended with a climb up the horseshoe; no problem - I flew up to the Ponderosa Cafe. The next stage was down to Llanarmon yn Ial and on to Ruthin, again I had wind in my wheels, as they say. From Ruthin it was up the vale of Clwyd to Tremeichion and next along the hidden valleys around Bontnwyedd. Then to Abergele for chips. The final section was the toughest with around 32km of climbing up to the Brenig resevoir, and I did struggle here for a short time, before the jelly babies came to the rescue. The last 20 km were down hill to Corwen and the car. All in all it was a great bike ride on a perfect October day.




Friday 21 October 2011

Animal Farm.

The current production of Animal Farm at Theatr Clwyd is well worth catching. The set is hugely impressive; in the end it reminded me of a piece of Bolshevik art - which I suspect was the intention. The actors as animals was inventive and worth the admission price to see.

I do have a reservation. It is presented as a musical. The songs are not especially memorable, but that is not vital. My point being that a 'political novel' made into a musical has to be a risk. It risks trivialising supremely important themes. I saw Ibsen's Enemy of the People done in the same theatre and recall being far more affected. I even heard someone speculate whether Schindler's List could be adapted as a musical. Animal Farm almost becomes Old MacDonald.

This should not de-value this polished production. The quality of productions in Theatr Clwyd are beyond reproach and we are unbelievably lucky having a theatre of this quality on our doorsteps. Basically, see everything! It is just the political part of me wants these issues dealt with more seriously.



Sunday 16 October 2011

Occupy

The anti-capitalist movement 'occupy' is gaining momentum; throughout the world people are occupying areas of our great cities associated with finance, from Wall St to the City of London. The occupy movement has its roots in Spain, where youth unemployment is at astronomic levels. They have my full sympathy; speculative capitalism has failed. No wonder the people are angry. However, I hope it wont be like the referee in the football and rugby matches I have recently written about. In those blogs I claimed that the incident might divert attention from the true cause of defeat, missed penalty kicks or reckless tackles and so on. The banks and financial institutions are only the 'incident', part of the system if you like. During the good years we were only too glad to benefit from 'cheap money'. How many of us took out loans? How many saved? Exactly. So while the protests are well-intentioned and in the right direction, I hope they will appreciate that it is finance capitalism that needs changing. We the people must make our elected governments prevent banks from gambling with our money; and that must be only the start. Free markets certainly create wealth, but so many markets are not free. They are tilted in favour of the rich and powerful. Radicalism is in the air.

'RS' again.

With the on-going angst following Wales' exit from the rugby world cup, and my recent flirtation with the poetry of that curmudgeonly R.S.Thomas, I would like to post a link to another of his creations. This time a poem entitled 'Welsh Landscape' in which the lines 'There is no present in Wales, No future, Only the past brittle with relics' are read by 'RS' himself.

The sentiments of this poem match the despair of those that hoped for victory against France. However, the powerful words of this most gifted anglo-welsh poet should not be used by Welsh people today. The future must not be that which 'RS' predicted with such beautiful but melancholy tones. Rugby, after all, is only a game.

Listen to the priceless words of R.S.Thomas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb8mK3Ccsl0

Saturday 15 October 2011

R.S.Thomas: a new view for me

This morning I went to a mini lecture on the Anglo-Welsh poet R.S.Thomas. For reasons I cannot accurately recall, I was prepared to dislike his work. From what I knew of 'RS' he was a cantankerous old man with little positive to say about modern Wales; indeed he appeared to dislike so much about modernity that I largely ignored his poems. Further I resented his regret at being an 'Anglo-Welsh' poet - I sense he would have preferred to write in Welsh. Which is all well and good, but regretting that is to regret what a majority of his countrymen and women have - the English language as their mother tongue. Anyway, the lecture this morning forced me to look again; we were introduced to the poems written by 'RS' after the death of his wife in the early 1990s. They were truly moving. I have searched on You Tube for a reading that can give an indication of the power of his poetry and this is the best I can do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TaedssoNfE&feature=related

The unbearable cruelty of sport.

Today Wales lost to France in the semi-final of the rugby world cup. The sense of anguish and despair across the the land is almost palpable. Two weeks Everton lost to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby; I am only just getting over that disappointment. Apart from the experience of loss, both games had something else in common - a bitter sense of injustice. In the Wales game Sam Warburton was sent off for an alleged dangerous tackle:
A dangerous tackle and the referee send Warburton off and ended Wales' hope of defeating France.
In the Merseyside derby a similar incident took place when after just 17 minutes Jack Rodwell was shown red for an alleged reckless tackle on the Liverpool midfield player Suarez. As can be seen from this photograph, Rodwell was incredulous, and the television replay later showed he had played the ball fairly:

Rodwell saw red.


The point being made is that in each case it appears that vital games have been decided by poor refereeing decisions. The sense of injustice felt by the supporters of each team (Wales and Everton in this case) will last for years; it will become part of the folklore of these sports.

Winning really matters. Reason hardly comes into it; the supporters in both cases cannot take a broad view of the game, rather that the incident (here Rodwell and Warburton) explains everything. The incident becomes the reason for failure.

Yet a rational evaluation points to a different view of these events. Rodwell showed lack of experience making such a lunging tackle, and other Everton players committed worse offences without receiving cautions of any kind. Warburton (as can be seen from the photograph) tackled the French player in the air, which is strictly forbidden as it can lead to horrendous injuries. The referee (who I hope does not have a Facebook account with Welsh friends on it) was merely protecting the life and limb of professional sportsmen.

So a different interpretation is possible in both of these high profile sporting events. Nevertheless, the desperate disappointment - the unbearable cruelty of sport - is masked if one can find an excuse or reason for failure.

A bit like Hogwarts.

In other parts of this blog I have reflected reflected upon my time at Bangor during the 1980s. Today I took my daughter to the open day at the university, and in particular to the English department. I was thoroughly impressed. There has been massive investment in the university, both in the halls of residence (which can hardly be bettered anywhere else), and the teaching areas. The new students' union building and arts centre open next year and together they will place Bangor University in the forefront of higher education provision in Wales. However, despite the new developments, it is the old Top College building that still dominates the city. Top College, now well over 100 years old, apes the oxbridge architecture being based around 'quads'. The library at Top College is still inspiring and continues to motivate students to higher things. The Shankland Room is perhaps the best example; earlier today I popped in and took this snap.

A bit like Hogwarts.





Friday 14 October 2011

Politics and me

I spend my life teaching politics. I am entirely positive about politics and politicians; I always say that the alternative to politics is chaos, where bad people will abuse their power and we will all suffer. In addition, I have the greatest respect for politicians. They give a great deal and dedicate their lives to public service; I could not do it. Yet two pieces of news this week about our senior politicians are beyond my comprehension. First Dr Liam Fox. Whatever what might think of Fox he had achieved a serious Cabinet post, one with huge responsibility. Having achieved such a status why did he risk it with such an obviously dubious friendship. Did nobody warn him? What went wrong? Then there was Oliver Letwin doing his work in the park and then blithely dumping papers and letters in the nearest bin. Apparently they were not top secret (merely letters from constituents and the like), but even so it is hardly what one might expect. I find both of these events hard to explain to those eager to learn about politics. However, I suppose it does add spice to the soap opera that is our government; yet to my mind this is serious and  both of these men have brought politics into disrepute.

Tuesday 11 October 2011

Caerwys and the Great War

I gave a talk yesterday evening to the Caerwys WI on life in the town during the Great War. As the 100th anniversary of the war rapidly approaches it may become a topic that interests more and more people. I appreciated the chance to share my research and thoughts on the impact of the war on this small Welsh community. The talk was accompanied by some of the well-known images of the period from 'Caerwys Since Victorian Times' book. I ended by reading some extracts from the diary of the teenage William Herbert Lloyd of Hyfrydle, Caerwys. Lloyd kept his diary in 1916 and it provides a fascinating insight into life in the town during those tumultuous years. The diary has added poignancy as Lloyd, who became eighteen before the war ended, was called up to serve in France. Tragically he was killed just weeks before the armistice. The talk appropriately took place in the Memorial Institute - a building erected to commemorate those that did not return to Caerwys after the war. William Herbert Lloyd's name is on a stone plaque near the entrance doors.

William Herbert Lloyd

Saturday 8 October 2011

A Shropshire lad's audax

Audax UK is the organisation that controls long distance cycling: audax uk
 I have been a member for many years, but this has primarily involved reading their excellent magazine (Arrivee) that describes the derring-do activities of those that cycle remarkably long distances. In my years as a member I have actually completed 23 events, and failed to finish a few others (most famously I packed after 190km of a 205km event due to the combination of exhaustion and the eating of too many Refresher sweets). Today I added another to my list when I rode 100km in Shropshire.

The definition of a 'long distance' event is not precise; but if they are shorter than 100km it is because they are very hilly. My event today was called the 'Shropshire Lad' and sub-titled 'The Land of Lost Content'; for added realism the Marshall at the half way point was reading a collection of Houseman's poems. There are no better counties for cycling in than Shropshire (except for Flintshire, obviously). The ride followed the direction of the Wenlock Edge hills as far as Acton Scott - the farm used for the TV series Victorian farm. Audax riding involves following a pre-set route in a given time; in this we partly failed as a group of riders mistakenly relied on one who professed local knowledge, this error led to a steep climb over Wenlock Edge, and then and even steeper one back again, thereby adding at least an hour to the ride.

The ride ended on the flat lands around the River Severn and very impressive Attingham Park National Trust property. Being much lighter than on previous Audax events I had hoped to find the hilly sections of the ride easier, but it was not noticeable. Before such rides I need to eat a bit more. So overall an excellent day.

A montage of my completed Audax cards; each one tells a story and not one was easy.

Sunday 2 October 2011

A year of inconsequential blogging

This weekend marks the first anniversary of my Blog. I had no idea of how it would develop, or what I would find to write about. Yet in the last twelve months I have written nearly 200 entries, and had almost 12,000 views. I have approached the Blog as though I were writing a series of postcards, with pictures whenever possible. I have tried to avoid putting in internet links; facebook and twitter seem to be the place for that.

Looking back over the year I think that many of the Blogs are nonsense, however I am pleased with a small number of them. My favourite individual blog was from back in January when I wrote a piece entitled 'Aw Bless' in which I criticised the current Boots the Chemist advert for being flippant about men's health. A close second favourite was one from June based upon a news report that I came across on my great grandfather's funeral.

Taken together, they represent a reasonable summary of my life in the last year. Rest assured, I will continue to Blog for a little while yet. 

Gwyl Famau 2011: Cor Meibion Caerwys

Last evening at a concert held  in Capal Gad Cilcain, Cor Meibion Caerwys performed for the first time under the direction of Ruth Evans. It proved to be a great success. The concert was part of the Gwyl Famau festival: http://www.gwylfama.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57%3Aprogramme-of-events-2011&Itemid=27&lang=en
There is a real sense that future of the choir is moving in a positive direction after the turbulence of recent times. 

Saturday 1 October 2011

Everton 0 Liverpool 2

I had been looking forward to this game all week; the pre-match build up was amazing, and as the Everton team took to the field the roar was deafening. For the first twenty minutes all went according to plan. Then Jack Rodwell got sent off for an inoffensive tackle on Luis Suarez, the Liverpool attacking player. Suarez is a man of immense talent, but he lacks sportsmanship. He fell to the ground and rolled around in agony, enough to convince the referee that Rodwell should get the red card. In reality the dismissal of Rodwell meant that Everton could not win and despite desperate defence it was inevitable that Liverpool would eventually score. Suarez was, inevitably, one of the goal scorers. The mood of the fans soured; it had all turned on a poor referring decision. The post match comments on the radio compared football to rugby where a 'video' referee would help make key decisions. It maybe the way forward, but football is such a fast game that the constant halting of the action might not be acceptable. However, it might have prevented the ruin of a big game on Merseyside today.

My view of the action; it was one of the warmest October days ever recorded with the temperature around 26 degrees.

Friday 30 September 2011

John Lloyd of Caerwys

This evening the Caerwys Historical Society held its first meeting of the new season. It proved to be an excellent occasion with Dr Paul Evans lecturing on John Lloyd of Caerwys. John Lloyd is something of a forgotten figure in Caerwys, and it is his daughter Angharad Llwyd that has achieved far more fame. Lloyd was Rector in Caerwys during the second half of the 18th century and deserves far more recognition for his scholarly works. He supported Thomas Pennant on his well-known Tour of Wales, and was widely consulted by authors across Wales. Lloyd fathered no less than ten children and his ancestors are still in the Caerwys area. The only point of embarrassment came when Dr Evans informed the audience that John Lloyd was buried in Caerwys church, and that he was sure we would know exactly whereabouts. Blank faces proved this was not the case; therefore finding Lloyd's grave was set as homework for the Caerwys Historical Society.

The famous daughter: Angharad Llwyd, eisteddfod winner in 1832, but her work was based upon the scholarly research of her father John Lloyd.

Thursday 29 September 2011

Dixie and Kenny

Dixie and Kenny are name synonymous with the Merseyside football giants of Everton and Liverpool. This weekend I have a ticket to see the derby match between these two ancient rivals. To get myself in the mood I have watched the DVD of a film entitled 'Dixie and Kenny' about  neighbouring families, one supporting the blues, the other the reds. Predictably they take their fanaticism to extremes by spraying red flowers in the garden blue, and even having blue tomato sauce. I suppose following a football club is another in the line of Things that Divide us, but despite the extent to which Dixie and Kenny take their support of the teams, most of us know that in reality it is only a game.
 
Bill Shankley: 'Football is not a matter of life and death; it is far more important than that'.

Things that divide us.

It took me seconds to come up with this list of things that divide us:

Liverpool or Everton
Black or white.
Rural or urban
Protestant or Catholic
Religious or atheist
English or Welsh.
Fat or thin.
Men or Women
Private sector or public sector
Tory or Labour.
Tabloid reader or broadsheet reader.
Educated or uneducated
Employed or unemployed.
Christian or Muslim.
Smoker or non-smoker.

I'm sure that there are many more. It is a bit depressing to be honest; I am aware many are just fun and not serious. But many are taken to an extreme point of view and have the potential to destroy.

So what unites us? One thing above all others: Common humanity.

Tuesday 27 September 2011

An Indian summer

The temperatures are soaring, and the newspapers are using the phrase Indian Summer. Many years ago a friend wrote a silly story about me called 'Eddie's Indian Summer'; I won't explain why. So whenever we have warm weather at this time of year I think of that time. However, I had assumed that the term Indian Summer came from the Indian sub-continent, but it instead it refers to the American Indians. Etymologists cannot agree to the origin of the phrase, suffice to say that it is an American import, like pepsi. I suppose after the cool summer that has just gone the notion of an Indian summer is tinged with irony. Indeed there was an item on the radio where a cook was offering advice for suitable foods to use on an October barbecue. I just try to make the most of it; last year severe winter weather arrived well into November, so make hay while the sun shines.

The view from Caerwys earlier this evening looking west across the golf course.

Sunday 25 September 2011

Remember the 1930s

Every now and then I get to thinking about a particular decade. Earlier in the year it was the 1950s, now my attention has strayed to the 30s. Most people think of the 30s as the wasted decade, or 'the devil's decade'. They picture the Jarrow crusade and the hunger marches. The spectre of the Means Test still plays a part in the mythology of the age. Of course desperate poverty was certainly a feature of those years; unemployment reached nearly 3 million and remained persistently high until rearmament brought hope to those blighted industrial regions of the nation.

However that is far from the full picture as in many ways the 30s were a decade of national growth that would be put into the deep freeze when war broke out. Paid holidays were granted legal status for all employees during this decade. Mass tourism began and the holidays camps (like Butlins) were built to accommodate this new demand. In Caerwys this social change became apparent with opening of the White River Holiday Camp. I will quote from my book 'Caerwys Since Victorian Times':

By the 1930s businesses in Caerwys had begun to cater specifically for tourists. The ‘White River’ Camp was perhaps the first Caerwys ‘holiday’ camp to cater for large numbers of visitors. It was designed for the cycle and motor cycle tourists from the major cities of the North West of England. It advertised ‘Excellent Accommodation, Dining Rooms, Recreation Rooms, Latrines, Lavatories, Sports Fields (9 Acres)’. It claimed to have covered accommodation for 250. Interestingly the advertising brochure perhaps suggested it was a place to meet members of the opposite sex. The brochure claimed that ‘White River’ Camp was ‘A complete “Social Rendezvous” where you can arrange TO MEET YOUR FRIENDS (No Irksome Restrictions). It went on to list the added attractions of ‘Dancing, Concerts, Music, Piano, HMV Gramophones’.  In a post card sent to cycling clubs, the owners of the camp described the situation as amidst the ‘LOVELIEST SCENERY in the BRITISH ISLES’. The ‘Camp Log’ offered tourists advice as to what they should bring: ‘Campers should bring their own Towel, Soap, Boot brushes and Polish, also Hair Brush and Comb’. The Camp Log has a number of so called ‘Appreciations’ from satisfied customers; one entry gives an idea of the type of holidays some campers achieved: ‘We walked all day and we slept all night, and at the ‘White River’ Camp its sure all right, not forgetting the girls at Caerwys’.  The price for breakfast, dinner, tea, supper, and a bed was the sum of £2-2-0.

Saturday 24 September 2011

BMI

After another successful week with 'myfitnesspal' (minus a further 2 lbs) I have reached a personal landmark - a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 29.1, which means that I am officially no longer obese. I can celebrate the fact that I am merely 'over-weight'. I think I deserve a four cheese stuffed crust Chicago Town pizza to mark the occasion. Party time.

I think this is very funny.

The end of history

When I was writing my thesis on Herbert Lewis my main sources were letters, diaries, and newspaper-cuttings. Lewis was a prolific letter writer; he even kept drafts of letters he sent to give an even fuller picture of his correspondence. Lewis' papers are kept at the National Library in Aberystwyth and at the Flintshire Record Office in Hawarden. Anybody can go along and read them, and then offer a different interpretation on his political career than I managed to do. That is history. However, an article by Hunter Davies in The Times entitled 'Lovebirds need letters, not fleeting tweetings' reminded me of the difficulties future historians will have when they try to piece together an interpretation of this age. Davies has published an edited volume of Alfred Wainwright's letters and is now working on a collection of John Lennon's correspondence. He makes the point that  letter writing has virtually ceased with the advent of the email and the text. Unless these are printed out (and hardly any ever are) they will be lost to future generations of researchers. In future the hieroglyphics  found on walls inside the pyramids will be more accessible that the musings of men and women made in 2011.

Thursday 22 September 2011

Lib Dems: your country needs you.

The Liberal Democrats have been in conference this week and they make easy targets for ridicule. Rarely has a party collapsed so completely in the polls. Yet it is too easy to sit back and enjoy their discomfiture as a strong 'Liberal' or 'liberal' or even 'centre' party is essential to the preservation of our democracy. Left to themselves the two main parties may well slide towards the extremes - especially, I think, a populist Tory party fuelled by millions of Daily Mail reading voters. The historical parallel I would draw is the destruction of Germany's Liberal party at the hands of Bismarck in the 1880s. It left a void at the heart of German politics for two generations that would eventually be filled by bad men. The consequences we know only too well. So for now we may pour vitriol on the likes of Clegg, Huhne and company but if the Liberal Democrats are wiped off the political map we may all pay a heavy price in the long term. I therefore trust that the guardians of the party will seek to rescue it from the ignominious fate that seems to face the Liberal Democrats next election by reasserting their vital principles.

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Spy

Like most people, I can trace my life through the books I have read. The release of the film based upon John Le Carre's novel 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' reminded me of my passion for his work at around the age of 18, and perhaps a little younger. I managed to read most of his books, many of which had wonderfully evocative titles, such the 'The Naive and Sentimental Lover' and 'The Honourable School Boy'. Le Carre's first description of George Smiley, the main character, still impresses me: 'Small, podgy and at best middle aged, he was by appearance one of London's meek who do not inherit the earth. His legs were short, his gait anything but agile, his dress costly, ill-fitting and extremely wet'.

My 30 year old copy of the novel; Alec Guinness was the perfect Smiley

Saturday 17 September 2011

Moel Arthur

If you have not explored north east Wales then you really are missing something. The beauty of this area never ceases to amaze me. This afternoon V and I walked to the top of Moel Arthur in the Clwydian range of mountains. Moel Arthur has the remains of an iron age hillfort still clearly visible. Part of the walk took us through the enormous ringed defence system built some 2000 years ago. The photograph is of me at the top: it miraculously stayed dry for the walk, but I have used the watery filter on Photo Shop to create this effect to celebrate the dramatic showers that have blown across this locality today.

Friday 16 September 2011

My fitness pal: up-date

My fitness pal is an application for my Blackberry; it sets the number of calories I can eat each day based upon my weight and the amount of exercise I do. For the past 110 days I have followed it religiously, even becoming a diet bore to those that still care to listen. It has been a relatively easy diet to follow as no foods are prescribed; the only rule being that one must not go beyond the daily limit given by the program. Additional calories can be gained through exercise. I have written about this before, but today I reached the landmark figure of having shed 50lbs. I will continue for a while yet before trying to stabilise my weight by adjusting the programs settings. I will try later to formulate a blog on the impact losing so much weight so quickly.

The screen shot from  myfitnesspal showing the landmark 50lbs figure.

Autumnal graves

This has not been a very mellow autumn so far: storms and high winds have been the main feature of the weather. However on Thursday the morning dawned fine with the heavy autumnal dew everywhere creating the impression of diamonds as the sun slowly dried the grass. I took a detour through Caerwys church yard and managed to catch this image; I have altered it using Photo Shop


Euro Billions.

To my mind one of the most noble political initiatives of the 20th century was the creation of the European Union (under its various names). Three European wars in 75 years - often spurred on by nationalism - has been countered by economic unity, primarily between France and Germany. It had been an outstanding success. The European Union has brought prosperity and peace to this once divided continent. The financial crisis of recent years has brought the great challenge to the future of this visionary political experiment.The populist response to the present financial crisis has been for nations look inwards; nationalist and separatist movements have become vogue from Scotland to the Mediterranean. I hope that from somewhere a movement will grow supporting the European Union, even perhaps suggesting that Britain should now make plans to join the single European currency.  This is an important time in the history of Europe.

Wednesday 14 September 2011

My greatest cycle ride: the D Day landing beaches

I have enjoyed my cycling more this summer than I have for years. However it was two years ago that I completed my best ride ever. I entered a solo challenge to ride 200 km in Normandy taking in the main D Day landing beaches. I drove down to Portsmouth and caught the night ferry to Caen. With only a brief sleep I began the first leg of the cycle to Bayeux: that proved a magical experience spinning rapidly through the flat Normandy countryside and seeing the twin towers of the cathedral appear from the morning mists. To prove I did the ride I had to get my card stamped and timed at various shops and offices en route. The rest of the ride went well apart from a spell near Juno beach when I was hopelessly lost and my attempts to get directions in French were laughable and embarrassing. As darkness fell I pedalled back into Caen (or more accurately the port town of Ouistreham) to celebrate with beer and cakes. Then it was the night ferry once again back to Portsmouth.

Countless memorials can be seen marking the allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944.

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Capel y Mynydd Fflint

On Sunday evening Cor Meibion Caerwys performed at Capel y Mynydd Fflint. It was the first time that the choir had sung under their new musical director Ruth Evans. The harvest Cymanfa Ganu held in this chapel is a regular event for the Caerwys choir and is always well attended. The chapel itself dates from the 1890s and, although well looked after, has little changed from that time.

The lights from Capel y Mynydd Fflint have called locals to worship every Sunday evening for nearly 120 years.
Cor Meibion Caerwys is ideally suited to these Cymanfa type events. There appears to be a new confidence about the choir and the audience seemed to appreciate our rendition of around eight popular Welsh hymns. The programme for the choir is set through to Christmas; our next public appearance will be at the Cilcain festival on October 1st.

Cor Meibion Caerwys in fine voice tonight.

Sunday 11 September 2011

My university challenge

Two years ago I brought my son up to Bangor to start his university career. This afternoon I drove him there once again so he can begin his final degree year. Seeing him off to Bangor has become fairly routine, yet the day we brought him for the first time lives in my mind. His leaving home was not a gradual process, rather it happened all at once one Sunday afternoon in September. When we got home he was not there but instead beginning a new life away from everything that was familiar. In the weeks that followed I phoned and text too often; it took me a year to come to terms with it. Of course everything has turned out well: he has enjoyed university and is successfully tackling his academic work. To all of you that will go through a similar experience in the next weeks my best wishes and I trust you will deal with it better than I did.

Saturday 10 September 2011

The perfect storm

Caerwys does not do hurricanes, but if it did the sky might look as black and threatening as it did earlier. I got my obliging passenger to capture this image of the approaching storm. Actually our weather at present is being influenced by the remnants of the major league hurricanes that have blasted the east coast of north America in the last few days. It does produce some dramatic skies so I must be sure to keep my camera with me at all times.

This was taken at around 6.30pm as I approached the Caerwys junction.

Everton 2 Aston Villa 2

This does not feel like a football club in crisis; yet today there was a  protest march before the game by a group called 'Blue Union'. They complain that Everton does not have enough money; they want Mr Bill Kenwright, the owner of the club, to find a rich buyer so that the blues can compete with the premier league billionaires. Nobody it seems wants to invest millions in Everton. Personally I would rather have Kenwright as an owner than some Hedge Fund that did not care about the game or the club. Kenwright comes to every game and is an Evertonian to the core. When his face was shown on the large screen monitors the vast majority of fans applauded.

Everton dominated the game. They deserved three points, but luck was not on their side. The match was pulsating, played at an amazing pace, with skill shown by both sides. It is expensive to watch premier league football yet it is entertainment of the highest order. Somewhere recently I heard football described as opera for the common man: indeed there are villains, heroes, and the unlucky. Like opera it is played on a grand scale and emotion is often raw and visible. All this was on show today and I rather enjoyed it.

Look closely: Baines slots home Everton's second goal from the penalty spot.

Friday 9 September 2011

September cycles

The freedom to cycle where and when I choose went with August. Now it is a quick dash before dark while tea is in the oven. To compound matters this year we have not been granted an Indian summer. Even so there is still wonder to be had from the moody skies and the briefest moments of sunshine. As I pedalled along this evening I noticed a beautiful light set against a perfectly dark sky. I tried to capture it on my mobile phone camera; this is the result enhanced by the jiggery-pokery of photo-shop.

Hillside view of a field just north of Caerwys.

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Always Everton

I don't know what made me an Everton fan;whatever the cause, it began at an early age. I can remember wanting my room decorated blue and always wanting to be in on a Sunday afternoon to watch the football highlights on Granada. I  can't remember the name of the programme, but Gerald Sinstadt was the presenter. Going through some old family photographs I found this shot of me aged 6 wearing an Everton hat. Supporting a football team is a life-long thing (for better or worse).


Sunday 4 September 2011

More hill climb tales.

To prove that I am not just a 'lap-top' cyclist (make of this what you will) I decided to try the route I described in my recent blog entitled 'A wheeler's paradise'. My riding partner MF proved to be a stronger rider so I certainly felt the miles in my legs by the time we finished.

I have already written about the first of the three major climbs at Middle Mill Road. The second climb over 'London Bridge' proved relatively straightforward, apart, that is, from the dreadful state of the road on the descent which made it a little treacherous at times.

London Bridge.


After the gentle lanes of the Vale of Clwyd the next climb called 'The Shelf' awaited. This proved the be the most difficult; the climb is well named with some tough sections followed by short plateaux for a brief respite. The climb took about 20 minutes and these photographs show me approaching the top and the relief having finally made it.

Approaching the top.

Finally off the Shelf.
The final section of the ride over the Llandegla moors was fast and uneventful. My riding partner described the ride as a classic; this maybe hyperbole, but it was amongst the best this region has to offer the road cyclist and I will aim to tackle the route again before too long.

Monday 29 August 2011

Hill climbs in Flintshire: Middle Mill Road

In the previous blog I wrote about some of the best hill climbs to test the adventurous cyclist. One of my favourites is a climb that starts just outside Northop on the old A55 and ends up in Rhosesmor by the Blue Bell Inn. It is hardly Alpine in scale, but the geography is markedly different at the top  compared to the pastoral landscapes at the foot of the climb. The height gained is only around 400 feet, but that does not tell the whole story of the climb. The ascent is not continuous, but rather a series of steep sections followed by plateaux, or even short descents. It took me around 16 minutes to complete earlier today. However I enjoy this climb not for the challenge it presents (which is not great for a decent rider) but for the varied topography and splendid views over Liverpool Bay. The terrain at the top of the climb which has been shaped by centuries of lead mining is equally fascinating.

The only way is up.

Sunday 28 August 2011

A wheeler’s paradise: cycling in north east Wales




Anthony Hunt’s excellent article (Riding High) on the growth of cycling in Wales, made special reference to south east region; in doing so he has inspired me to consider the state of the sport in my corner of the country. Over the past month or so during my staycation I have pedalled well over 1000 kilometres exclusively in Flintshire and Denbighshire; it has been little short of paradise.

On any given Friday during the summer months stand near the A55 and you will see hundreds of bicycles heading into Wales. All are mounted on motor cars destined, I imagine, for Snowdonia, Anglesey, or the Lleyn. They rarely stop in north east Wales, yet if they did they would discover a cycling paradise.

Apart from the A55 itself, and one or two busy trunk roads, there are hundreds of miles of quiet lanes to explore, with some challenging hill climbs. Cycle clubs from Merseyside and beyond certainly know the delights of cycling in this region as hundreds of wheelers head this way each Sunday. Indeed the annual Wild Wales cycle challenge organised by the Merseyside branch of the Cycle Touring Club draws hundreds of cyclists to Bala during the August Bank Holiday weekend.

There has been significant investment in cycling across the region. The coastal cycle path is well-advanced linking Chester via the Dee cycle track to the north Wales coastal towns. In Rhyl earlier this summer I witnessed the opening of the Marsh Tracks outdoor road cycling track. It is a 1.3km circuit that hosts numerous races for riders of all ages (http://www.marshtracks.co.uk/). In addition there is a high quality BMX track. All of this makes a fine memorial to those Rhyl riders that died in 2006 when Britain’s worst cycling accident took place only a mile or so from the newly built track.

Mountain biking is also well-catered for in north east Wales. The jewel in the crown for the fat tyre brigade is the Llandegla mountain bike centre (http://www.oneplanetadventure.com/). It has a number of graded tracks culminating in the feared black route; it is an extremely popular facility, and not just because the café at Llandegla makes world class bacon sandwiches. Away from Llandegla there are numerous mountain biking opportunities on the Clwydian hills; these are best covered in http://www.ridetheclwyds.com/ .

The investments made in cycling infra-structure are wholly welcome and reflects the ‘explosion’ in cycling that Anthony Hunt referred to in his article. However for me part of the joy gained from cycling is getting away from designated paths, planning my own routes, and appreciating the diversity of my home patch. In short, the freedom the ride wherever I wish.

I will describe a ride that encompasses the best the region has to offer the road cyclist. The ride starts and ends in my home town of Caerwys and includes three challenging hill climbs; it covers some 80 kilometres on relatively quiet roads. From Caerwys the rider navigates the narrow lanes through Babell and Lixwm, before crossing the A541 to Nannerch. It is from here that the first major hill climb begins: the road crosses the Clwydians from Nannerch to Llangwyfan. Cyclists from across the region and even north west England know the climb as ‘London Bridge’; I have never been able to find out why it is called this name. The climb from this direction is the easy way and the rider is soon recovers from the exertions of ‘London Bridge’ and is spinning along the Vale of Clwyd heading east towards Ruthin. The Vale of Clwyd with miles of quiet lanes and gently undulating terrain is perfect cycling country. After Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd a short section of the Mold to Ruthin road is required before re-joining the lanes towards Graigfachen and the next major hill climb. This, for me, is the most climb difficult on the ride. The climb is known as The Shelf. The name fits the hill: some steep sections then short plateaus to recover before changing down to the lowest gear on the bike for another lung busting ascent. Once the Shelf has been conquered the ride crosses the Llandegla moors descending through various lanes to the east of Nercwys to the town of Mold, the only urban part of the ride. Cake and coffee is plentiful in Mold. Once refreshed, the careful cyclist should avoid the Mold to Denbigh A541 road and instead plan the final leg of the ride over the Halkyn mountains and one more challenging hill climb. Leaving Mold, head towards Theatr Clwyd and through the village of Sychdyn and on to Northop. At the lights in Northop turn left on the old A55 passing the horticultural college and soon turn left onto Middle Mill Road. So begins the final climb of the ride, and this is my favourite. The foot of the climb is in pastoral Flintshire, but the top brings the rider onto mountain terrain scarred by centuries of lead mining. The remainder of this cycling odyssey is across the Halkyn hills down towards Brynford and the Franciscan friary at Pantasaph, before the easy last two or three miles back to Caerwys.

This description is not meant to be a detailed guide to a cycle ride, but rather an illustration of the type of cycling available to anyone wishing to explore this corner of our nation. A characteristic of this area is the way the scenery changes itself within only a few miles: the up-land farming of the Clwydian mountain range, the rich pastoral scenes of the Vale of Clwyd, the moorlands around Llandegla, and industrial heritage of the Halkyn mountains. The same diversity is true in cultural terms, with the southern section of the ride passing through still Welsh speaking communities, whereas the northern loop touches upon the anglicised settlements which geographically and culturally look towards the great city of Liverpool. The joy for me is that all of this can best be appreciated on the bicycle.