Newsletter No.73

August, 16th 2007

by Mike Caluan

Welcome to this months edition of the expats newsletter.

Well the Rugby World Cup is almost upon us and grown men can be found crying in their beer at the prospect of Wales not bringing home some silverware. The question on everyone’s lips is 'can Jenkins really cut it at international level?' Well the short answer is keep your eye on RugbyNation for all the latest on the World Cup. But my gut feeling? My heart says yes, but the reality is that Wales’ record in the lead up to the festival of rugby hasn't marked them out as anyone's favourites.

Nevertheless, we are rejoicing at something - summer has finally arrived in Wales! I can just see the smiles on the faces of all you expats who have chosen to lay foundations in some beautiful, idyllic part of the globe as I harp on about how bad the weather has been here.

We’ve had a bout of torrential rain leading to vast areas of central UK being flooded. This has led to the populations of whole towns and villages being forced out of their homes - casualties living in makeshift dwellings relying on daily deliveries of water and food. The media have portrayed it as a national disaster with people living in third world like conditions.

We have been lucky, except for the odd localized flood in Barry; we escaped the worst of the freak weather. I don’t know if you can call the recent weather conditions an act of God or put it down to global warming, but whatever the reason for it, it’s got me thinking about packing my bags and joining the ranks of the expats.

So without further adieu, here is this month’s bumper list of Welshness…

This month: Does speaking Welsh make you any “Welsher”? Is your national identity something you’re born with or something you choose? What is Welshness? , The legacy of Alexander Cordell and we looking back on a centenary of football in the Rhondda league.

Also this month: A community rallies in bid to save lido, a family-run cockle business waits for the tide to turn and the delights of home-grown Welsh banana ice-cream!

Finally, there's a call for Welsh battles to go on maps and we take a nostalgic look at the Leekes family business.

For all the latest news from the Bluebird's Down Under (BDU) and the latest edition of the Chicago Tafia's newsletter.

So until next month take care and enjoy the newsletter.

Don't forget to check out the Expats Changing Wales and Expats Nostalgia sections for regular updates on what's going on.

Keep those articles and stories coming in, let me know what you're getting up to over the festive season, where you'll be spending it? You can send them to me at mike.caluan@wme.co.uk

Pob lwc

Mike

Have your say on the Expats forum...

What is Welshness?
Legacy of Alexander Cordell
Centenary of football in the Rhondda league
Community rallies in bid to save lido
Cockle business waits for the tide to turn
Home-grown Welsh banana ice-cream!
Call for Welsh battles to go on maps
The Leekes family business