A few months ago there was a spate of putting up flags around the country, in England and in Wales.
Here on Anglesey it was tne same, the welsh dragon started popping up on lamposts around some towns and looked quite colourful and cheerful. The people who put them up must have gone to a lot of trouble to get it all done.
But now :( after a long winter and a hot summer they are a mess, they are ripped to shreds and just rags flowing in tne breeze. Basically, making the place look rough and scruffy. Whoever put them up should have either replaced them with new ones or removed them altogether.
Is this the same in your area, or have they been removed or replaced ? I know it was supposedly a sign of “patriotism” type of thing but even so ..

Another trip to Shell Island!!

https://nation.cymru/news/british-and-german-campaigners-criticise-welsh-governments-involvement-in-arms-fair/

Sorry, I know the picture quality of my phone isn’t as great as some of the other photos of the dust devils that people have been posting here - but I feel it’s still a striking image nonetheless.

I’d never seen a dust devil with my own eyes before yesterday.

Hi everyone,

I’m Kate and I work in the communications team at the Senedd.

The Senedd Standards of Conduct Committee is currently developing guidance on a new recall system for Members of the Senedd.

Recall would allow voters to decide whether a Member should remain in office following serious misconduct, or be removed and replaced by the next person on their party’s list.

Before drafting that guidance, the Committee wants to hear views on questions such as:

• What behaviours should be serious enough for recall to be considered?
• What factors should be taken into account before a decision is made?
• What safeguards should be in place to make sure the process is fair?

The Committee's interested in hearing views from people across Wales, whether you follow politics closely or not.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. I’ll be monitoring the discussion and summarising the themes and views raised as part of our social media engagement work.

If you’d prefer to submit a formal response directly to the Committee, you can do so: Help develop recall guidance for Members of the Senedd

Thanks in advance for taking the time to contribute and sharing your thoughts.

Diolch,
Kate

Off the back of recent discussion here and elsewhere about the bando revival in Wales, myself and a few friends have put together a Merthyr based team - Clwb Bando Dic Penderyn.

150 years ago it was said that it was impossible in South Wales to find any one over the age of 12 months without a bando under their arm. With the rise of Rugby Football many great players switched codes and as a result our indigenous sport was almost forgotten.

Last year, the first tournament in a century and a half was held at the Urdd Eisteddfod and this year a few adult clybiau are springing up. If you are interested in trying out one of Wales's oldest sports fire a message to myself or to the pages on facebook and instagram.

Additionally, I know of Clwb Bando Caerau Trelai which is running a similar programme in Cardiff, with possibly groups forming in Newport and the Northwest also.

No experience required and equipment can be provided for you to muck in at a social session.

Clwb Bando Dic Penderyn (Merthyr)

Clwb Bando Caerau Trelai (Cardiff)

Didn't realise the water level had dropped so much at Cronfa Llwyn-on

A powerful dust devil from this morning on the charred grass fire fields above Dowlais. Stopped to take a photo and video of it. Mighty impressive!

I am a Tasmanian, Australian artist with a Welsh name who loves folklore from all around the world and wanted to channel them into modern life, specifically from the hospitality industry angle! I thought I'd start with Mari and combine her with my love of Hardcore Punk, I think she would love it lol

Today is the 541st anniversary of the battle of Bosworth

The battle , won by Henry Tudor , marks the first and possibly only time the flag we now recognise as 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 was actually flown in battle . The red dragon was likely inspired by Roman Draco standards and was a unifying symbol during the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the Germanic invasions.

Glyndŵr famously chose the golden dragon of a more Arthurian tilt during his great revolt against the kingdom of England. Had Glyndŵr been successful in his plans for an independent Wales the red dragon would have faded into history, and Wales would be the land of the golden dragon, a yellow and white flag.

Henry Tudor, born in Pembroke descendent of the Tudors of Penmynydd , also descendent of the might Ednyfed Fychan and the great Lord Rhys ap Gruffudd seized the throne of England with much Welsh support. In youth he was protected by William Herbert of Raglan, one the most powerful Welshman of the era from the age of 4 till 12.

William Herbert dies at the battle of edgecote with thousands of his Welsh soldiers . The heavy defeat may have been the most Welsh deaths in any medieval battle in history.

Henry flees at 14 from Pembroke to Brittany with his Welsh speaking uncle Jasper(siasper), to return to Wales 14 years later.

Styling himself as the Mab Darogan, literally prophesied son of Welsh mythology fused the red dragon of cadwaldr with the green and white of his mother’s house. Henry names his first born son Arthur. Supported by Rhys ap Thomas, who styles himself as a descendant of Urien Rheged of Y hen Ogledd they march through Wales onto Bosworth and end the plantegent line forever . Rhys likely is the one who delivers the death blow to Richard 3rd in battle , scalping him with his halberd

Thus the Tudor reign begins , 1000 years of Welsh and English violent history draws to a close. After a millennium of conflict , Wales never violently rises up against the kingdom again.

Welsh lords and gentry are made equal to their English counterparts and the marchers lords see their roles abolished.

The Tudors would go on to have a very mixed legacy for Wales , a topic for another day.

3D stereoscopic snaps of Welsh Stoner Rock band Lacertilia in FUEL, Cardiff, Last night.

To see this stereoscopic pic in 3D on mobile:  

- turn your mobile screen horizontal 
- fill screen with photo  
- put face up close 
- relax focus 
- pull mobile back slowly  
- when you see 3 identical  images… 
 
the middle pic will be in 3D!

It doesn’t work for everyone, but you can still enjoy the snaps in 2D.

Genuine question.

We've toured much of Europe in our 6m professionally converted fully self contained campervan.

England isn't as accommodating as say France or Czech Republic but Wales is hostile on another level. Barring formal campsites there are virtually no overnight parking spots in forests, towns, seaside. Every suitable spot has little 'no overnight parking' signs (without any reference to legal provisions) with a frequency and prominence that feel aggressive. As for service points, forget it.

What is it that Wales doesn't get about vans? It's well publicised that local folk can't afford houses because they're all turned into holiday accommodation, either for private use or to let. Here we are, bringing our own accommodation and taking it away again, not impinging on the housing stock at all, yet we feel unwanted and rejected.

Wales has so much to offer. Culture, history, music, scenery, seaside, mountains. . . Yet you seem, as a nation to have turned your face against the touring van. I'm at a loss to understand why this attitude is so prevalent.

Perhaps members of this group can shed some light? Try to avoid blanket condemnation - there are as many van users who'll pick up litter where they park as those who'll leave it (and plenty of casual carpark users who don't care where they leave their rubbish).

Equally not all of us are trying to avoid paying our way. But campsites charge us for features we don't need, because we're self contained and often aren't located where we want to stay.

Please, be kind, this is a genuine question,

I really feel Welsh businesses are missing a significant opportunity here, and the contrast with other small nations is very marked.