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I was flat out abused in the queue for clwb, and another Welsh speaker stood up for me, so I fully understand it's not all encompassing, but it has happened to me.
I've had people have a go at me for being English in Scotland and Wales (and Australia). I've also had some ****s have a go at me in Cornwall for being an outsider.
Maybe I'm just a **** and deserve it.
But I've also met loads of great Welsh and Scottish people and have several very good Irish mates so they can't be all bad.
Aussies on the other hand.... 😉
I can’t believe people still trot out that ‘switched to welsh’ bollox. It’s never happened and never will.
Sadly two of my Welsh speaking friends (one teaches Welsh!) have been known to do this to slag people off. Not against the English more against non-Welsh speaking friends of theirs. It's the only time I've come across it though.
Only time I've had a problem with being a non-Welsh speaking native is when the Eisteddfod (Welsh language festival) is around as it brings out the Welsh-only mob. Been called a 'fake Weshman' once as I don't speak the language. Got my own back though as I was there to deliver their parcel they'd been waiting for all morning but as they wouldn't speak to me in English I couldn't understand where to go to drop it off to them. Got an apology for that one.
You can't really blame the non-Welsh speakers since it was the English who tried to stamp it out for hundreds of years. My great grandparents were native speakers but in the 20s they had to bring up their daughter in their second language.
Lake Vyrnwy, with all those lovely cat 2//3/4 climbs around Bwlch y Groes?~27 years since I last visited, after briefly living there as a nipper in the early 1980s
It’s not quite the same in these days of compact chain sets and wide range cassettes. Make sure you fit a compact and an 11-23 some nostalgic low cadence grinding 🙂
FWIW lived in North wales for a few years in my teens. It’s nice to go back for short visits (holiday homes, riding, walking) but I’d not want to go back and live there.
As one of the dark, pugnacious trolls from the land of song, I’m a bit beffuddled by claims of unfriendliness to outsiders. I’ve lived in or near to Cardiff for a very long time and consistently hear visitors say how friendly it is as a city and the surrounding valley people are famously warm and kind hearted. OK, North Walians and Mid Walians (who are a small % of population because most live on M4 corridor), in common with many country folk, can exude an air of suspicion but I wouldn’t say that they’re hostile. My grandfather was beaten for speaking Welsh, by a person in a position of authority, in a practice that was not uncommon and generally accepted. But those days have gone and the perpetrators long dead and you can’t blame people for misdemeanours of the past any more. I love to hear English accents at trail centres. It’s great to share this beautiful countryside - which belongs to ALL of us - Welsh, English, European, African, whatever....and it also brings much needed revenue to areas that are often quite deprived
Cardiff isn’t really proper Wales though 😉
Live near North Wales, pretty much what Stoner said.
Cardiff isn’t really proper Wales though
Are you talking about Caerdydd or Frank Hennessey’s “Kairdiff”?
Caerdydd is the capital of Wales, whereas Kairdiff is in a parallel universe 😉
(Only locals who’ve heard “Toy mic Trevor” singing on Queen St will get my comment above 😉 )
Ma na lwyth o benna defaid yn dweud petha igon cas am yn Cymry famma. Pam? Ella sa nwn trio parchu y iaith ryw chydig a ella dysgu gair ne ddau, a mond bod yn neis efo'r bobol lleol, sa nwn gweld bod y Cymry igon annwyl a lot fawr o hwyl.
Did a little 10 day road trip to North Wales in the summer - LLangollen,Anglesey,Abersoch,Caernarfon area and every single person we encountered was courteous,polite and friendly.
Love North Wales i do,i just don't think i could live there.
Iolo writes with a North Wales accent (and is correct in what he says 😉 )
Iolo writes with a North Wales accent
Rhwy ti ddim yn anghywir 🙂 Gwaith caled i ddarllen (and I lived in Bangor for a couple of years!)
clwb ifor Bach is a special case...
Another English speaking Welshman here, there is a tiny minority of Welsh Speaker who have a bit of a chip on their shoulder - but don't worry English Men and Women, they're chippy with us too.
There are certain parts of the Arts and Media you cannot work in unless you speak Welsh, even sub contractors are treated with disdain unless you can trot out the odd Welsh word at the right time.
iolo - MemberIf the load of sheepbirds say it's not a fall for Welsh mammals. Why? She tries to respect the language sex and she learns a word, and it's nice to be with the local people, and I can not see that the Welsh are a dearly beloved and very fun.
Google Translate on point again today 😉
To be fair, there are people with chips on their shoulders all over the UK and indeed the world. My uncle has plenty of chips on his and he doesn't even speak Welsh.
To be fair, there are people with chips on their shoulders all over the UK
Hmm Brexit.
I was a Cardiff City season ticket holder for a number of years. LOADS of anti-English chants in every game. Bit depressing now I think back- loads of should know better men and impressionable teenagers chanting "**** off England, **** off England" "Same old English, always cheating" etc etc
Plymouth Argyle fans gave a fantastic retort once: "You're always speaking English, you're always speaking English"!
Spend more time with the Welsh and you'll be cured!
I struggle to see how comments like this are acceptable
Replace "Welsh" with "Muslims" in these posts and re read.
Another English speaking Welshman here, there is a tiny minority of Welsh Speaker who have a bit of a chip on their shoulder - but don't worry English Men and Women, they're chippy with us too.
I find these kinds of comment depressing. I'm not a Welsh speaker either and I understand how complex things can be in Wales in terms of language and culture.
But it seems virtually impossible for Welsh speakers to use their/our language in public areas without sparking accusations of being 'chippy' or as a way to secretly abuse non Welsh speakers.
I find these kinds of comment depressing. I'm not a Welsh speaker either and I understand how complex things can be in Wales in terms of language and culture.But it seems virtually impossible for Welsh speakers to use their/our language in public areas without sparking accusations of being 'chippy' or as a way to secretly abuse non Welsh speakers.
Nah, it's not that, I have two issues.
1) Welsh 'The Media and Arts' - their are certain areas in which you CANNOT work unless you speak Welsh. I was offered a Job, which involved picking up and moving things in a bi-lingual office and the offer was subject to me taking Welsh lessons in my own time and becoming fluent within a year. Any job above the menial requires you to be fluent, no ifs no buts, to be Finance Officer you need to be able to speak Welsh. Having worked with this industry it's nothing more than a 'closed shop' agency workers and subbies seem to manage working there despite being English only speakers.
2) Road Signs, this has been a bit of a hot potato on Twitter and it's caused me to fall out with an old work mate. Static signs giving names, distances directions etc fine. I'm not sure I'd consider it 'important' but it's certainly a nice to have thing - but we've got these huge road side electronic billboards on the Motorways (like most places I guess) occasionally you'll be driving along and there will be this huge warning on it - and underneath a word in Welsh, the next one - a mile or so later down the road will be in English, but you would assume if it's important enough to light up a massive video wall, it's worth making it readable for 100% of drivers, not 5%. Yes most of them are common sense, you don't see a 40Ft sign to tell you it's foggy, or wet, or icy - but then we've got the signs, someone must have worked out they were worth having, so why make every other one useless for 95% of people who see them.
It's not the above that really annoys me, it's the bile and abuse you get if you dare to question it. Twitter mostly.
Wrightyson- I moved from Belper to mid-Wales a little over three years ago. It's ace.
Been adopted by the locals, including some top ride buddies. Local pubs, bars and restaurants are on first name terms.
Fantastic road and mtb riding from the door. Within an hour to Machynlleth, Abergavenny, Crickhowell, Nant yr Arian etc.
Good roads and infrastructure.
Not in a big Welsh language area, but there is some about.
Mrs is first language Welsh speaker, from Machynlleth area, and the welcome we get there is always friendly. Including from some of the old "activists" types.
Love it here. No plans to move away.
1) Welsh 'The Media and Arts' - their are certain areas in which you CANNOT work unless you speak Welsh. I was offered a Job, which involved picking up and moving things in a bi-lingual office and the offer was subject to me taking Welsh lessons in my own time and becoming fluent within a year.
I understand about the first point as I've worked in the Welsh media and there were lots of jobs that I couldn't do. But that's not the fault of the language or Welsh speakers.
In my opinion, that's the fault of a country which only teaches a minority of its people how to communicate in the national language. I was taught Welsh as if it was a foreign language - how to ask directions to the post office etc.
As a hybrid Wenglish person who lives and works in Wales, my experience is that it is not so much "English" as some elements of "Englishness".
When I see people strut into the pub with their collar turned up and start loudly mocking the assumed lack of WIFI, running water etc, and yells for drinks in TV-American (can I get...) before they've greeted anyone and then hog the fire with their backs to the regulars they get a different response to someone who is polite and pleasant and interested in where they are.
One of my local pubs was being dissed on here for being unfriendly, based only on the fact that people look up at the door when the sneck goes. Far from being unfriendly, this happens because in some months you are 90% likely to know the person coming in, and if you don't, you'll be fascinated who has found their way there and what they are up to, but really in a good way.
You think North wales is bad, try Anglesey!! 😆
{Former Cemaes Bay resident] Even the Welsh think we are weird 
Imagine a Welsh Craggy Island....
All nationalities do it though.
Had so many occasions with Spaniards. The look or surprise is priceless when you comment on their conversation subjects...
Growing up as a “halfblood” the “real Rom’s“ loved to talk behind your back.
I was lucky bein good with languages and a grandad who hated bullies so it did t take long to tear the chavs apart
The OH’s daughter is in a welsh school.- the only time they use English is when parents are in or if one of the kids doesn’t know the word for something. Then is said along imwith the welsh one and they carry on.
In Welsh!
Only time I’ve been insulted up here is being called a cripple - but then I am and he was fat and ginger 😆
Replace "Welsh" with "Muslims" in these posts and re read.
You are welsh because you are born in Wales - so you have no choice over the matter.
If you are muslim then you have a choice and it is your choice to follow that religion (even if your parents did their best to indoctrinate you into their cult, it is still your choice to remain in it).
Therefore in my book an anti-welsh sentiment is a much higher level of wrong than an anti-muslim sentiment.
If you are muslim then you have a choice
That wasn't my point at all.
Isn't one a race and the other a religion?
Or am i missing something?
That wasn't my point at all.
what was your point then?
Best anthem in 6N to especially when "we" are visiting Cardiff. One of my dreams to do - be at Cardiff for Wales v Eng just to hear that added passion to the anthem.
Best anthem in 6N to especially when "we" are visiting Cardiff. One of my dreams to do - be at Cardiff for Wales v Eng just to hear that added passion to the anthem.
Words can't describe the pride when that beautiful song is [i]your own[/i] national anthem.
As others have said, there are dickheads everywhere. To the people who didn't get a very nice welcome: sorry but, while it was definitely the case in some areas in the 80s (but so was bad hair in pop videos), that's not my lifelong experience as a Welsh boyo who sounds English or the many immigrants I know in North and Mid Wales. My advice is not to bother with the place - any of it - leave it for the locals to [s]enjoy[/s] fester in their own resentment. This will coincidentally help keep the trails in better condition for those who don't seem to have the same issues as you.
I'd avoid Scotland for the same reason, it's populated mostly by Scottish people who f..king hate the English too. 😉
mrblobby - Member
Cardiff isn’t really proper Wales though
Similar to the exodus from London by Londoners in the 70's and 80's ...
My inlaws retired to Angelsey and by all accounts had a terrible time with the locals who made it obvious they werent welcome.. After round two years they sold up and came back to Notts just down the road from me!! Something I'll never be able to forgive the Welsh for 😀
Alternatively I spend quite a bit of time in north wales for sailing competitions and have never had a bad experience.. although I must say I rarely heard a single person with a welsh accent much less any Welsh being spoken. Must be a coastal thing.
You may or may not know that a lot of NE Wales accents sound much like NE England.
My inlaws retired to Angelsey and by all accounts had a terrible time with the locals who made it obvious they werent welcome.
That can happen anywhere. It's just that when they are 'different' in some way you ascribe that behaviour to that particular trait. Welsh, Muslim, black, American etc.
Incomers can be a problem for many of areas, distorting house prices and so on.
My mate was a civil engineer building one of the major roads into north wales from England and he reckoned he had to keep it quiet from the locals to avoid abuse because he was increasing the links between them and England.
Said entering the local pub in work gear was like the pub scene in An American Werewolf in London.
I spend a good portion of my working life and free time in Wales and really don't ever come across any more hostility there than anywhere else.
There seems to be a bit of paranoia from some people here.
Welsh folks talking Welsh in Wales. How very dare they. 🙄
Im welsh and lived here my whole life but dont speak welsh and the one time I visited angelsey I was made to feel like a foreigner 😆
Definitely an exception to the rule though
Im welsh and lived here my whole life but dont speak welsh and the one time I visited angelsey I was made to feel like a foreigner
Doesn't that just mean that they spoke Welsh in your vicinity?
I had the opposite experience. Back in the 80s I was in North Wales on a climbing trip. My mate and I went into a village shop.The one other customer and the staff were talking in Welsh until they heard our Scottish accents at which point they switched to English for the rest of the time we were in the shop.
An Englishmen living in North Wales here. Thing is, what some might be missing, is that the first language of many here [i]is[/i] Welsh. I've found folk (inc. on Anglesey) to be remarkably generous in that most folk tend to switch to English once they realise a monoglot is in their midst. On life here, I love it - probably more than I know. Biking is second to nowhere in the UK, especially when you know the homecrafted trails that don't get listed in the magazines. Love the roady stuff here too. Fewer Starbucks and Gap stores, but who g...
I grew up in south Wales in a non-Welsh speaking family. The town itself is very much English-only speaking. My next door neighbours spoke Welsh though. The woman wouldn't let the little boy play with us initially. She gave up eventually and he spent a lot of time at our house. There was always a separation though. Fast forward 20 years and committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree. Don't know what this says apart from the fact that there are clearly bigger things to worry about than the language you speak.