Eisteddfod Gold and the Humbling of Everton
I found this year’s Eisteddfod well organised and welcoming. It reminded me of the very successful one at Newport a few years ago. It is amazing how the Eisteddfod really is Wales the national village. It is just like that cafe– Cafe de la Paix in Place de l’ Opera. In Paris .Here I believe it is said that here. If one sits with an expresso reading. Le Figaro long enough you see everybody you know walk by (or drop in I suppose) There was David Williams looking well and as incisive and amusing as ever bemoaning the fact that after years of covering matters like discussions on the impact of the asparagus directive on Wales he retires and along comes a shake up in Welsh politics ( a shifting of John Prescott’s tectonic plates) , prospects of rainbow coalitions and Rhodri Glyn as Minister of Fun ( actually he didn’t mention the last one but clearly it beats the asparagus directive).
Labour announced this week that it is launching a campaign to win back votes from areas in North and West Wales where the language and cultural identity are particularly prominent. Labour spokespeople state that they cannot understand how it has lost this support. At the same time they have no stand at the Eisteddfod… Could just be a connection there but I won’t tell them if you don’t!
I begin to favour the idea of some fixed sites for the Eisteddfod - perhaps three?
That evening Aberystwyth Town were playing Everton in a friendly at Park Avenue. Everton even fielded a couple of players who have had first team experience. Wisely Aber did the same… Aber were not overawed .Behind the away goal I had the pleasure with a group. of friends of seeing the ball hit the back of he net in the very early stages. The Mayor, Jim Griffiths our excellent town clerk and I could scarcely believe it! And so it remained until the 84th minute when Everton snatched a late equalizer. Tony Bates the club chairman was rightly proud of the team’ performance. It is a good omen for the season ahead.
