Tuesday, August 16, 2011

ABC Wednesday - E

This week I've struggled to find an E with a Welsh link that I have a photo of! One of my topics was obvious though odd but first may I present to you an example of an eglwys.
This little church (eglwys) is right on the beach at Aberdaron on the Lleyn Peninsula in North Wales and many pilgrims would have stopped there to pray before they crossed the water to Bardsey Island, which has been a place of Celtic pilgrimage since the very early days of Christianity.

My second choice for E is England. Yes, I know, bear with me, and I'll explain.

A few years ago the BBC used this advert, featuring the Stereophonics, prior to what I think was then the Five Nations rugby tournament, the five nations being Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France and England. One thing the first four had in common was their desire to beat England. Of course each side wanted to beat everyone else and win the tournament but the game that really mattered was against the English.
I think it was partly to do with the arrogance of the English team at the time but there was, and is, a deep-seated truth about the words. Maybe it has its roots in history. A nation invaded, defeated and long ruled by its stronger and more powerful neighbour.

I'm Welsh through and through and I can't explain it but this is fact: as long as we beat the English that's okay. Some would say it's racist and it would be hard to argue where a joke ends and racism begins especially in light of the spate of burning of second homes owned by English people in Wales in the seventies. But I'm married to an Englishman; I have no problem with individuals. I don't even worry about Wales being beaten by England in football.

But rugby ... rugby is the sport of Wales, the red jerseys are the life blood of our nation. Which is why it was especially pleasing that Wales beat England at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff last Saturday!

7 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

A great rivalry, I guess. Don't know that it's racist per se, though I imagine it could be used that way.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Gigi Ann said...

Fun post today for E Day.

Leslie: said...

Hmm, can we still be friends? Since I have both English AND Welsh blood in me...Am I mixed race? LOL OOOOHHHH, there's also Scottish blood in there, too, that of a Lord! Ah well, I guess we all have a bit of this and that in us these days! lol

Leslie
abcw team

The Poet said...

Funny that...how everyone wants to beat the English...rugby, cricket, athletics, tennis!

The view in the first photo is amazing!

Thanks for sharing.

Evening Wind

Chubskulit Rose said...

I like that eglyws word, very nice choice.

Epcot's Spaceship Earth, please come and see.

Ole Phat Stu said...

@chubskulit,

Presumably "eglwys" was stolen from the french "eglise" (=church) during a rugby game ;-)

Shooting Parrots said...

It's just friendly rivalry between neighbours -- quite literally "keeping up with the Joneses"!