The Angel Mountain Blog

This is a record from the County Echo, dated 2 June 1898, kindly transcribed by Ann and John Hughes of Tegfan, for the Dinas Historical Society in 2012.  Here is the link to the full publication, covering the period 1894-1920 and published as "The News of Dinas". https://tegfan.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/countyechofinal.pdf There are many fascinating things about this extract. First, the Pwnc was clearly thriving in 1898! Second, that Whit Monday was the time it was celebrated. Hundreds of men, women and children took part, and there were three separate celebrations, organised by the Methodists, the Baptists and the Church in Wales. The Methodists met at Brynhenllan, where the congregations and Sunday schools from Newport (Tabernacle?), Dinas, Glanrhyd and Gethsemane sang. The Church in Wales congregations and Sunday schools sang in Nevern Chirch, representing newport, Nevern, Cilgwyn and Dinas. And finally the Baptists sang at Bethlehem, Newport, representing Caersalem, Jab...

  This is a very good summary of the Plygain tradition, with a description of how it varied in different parts of Wales: https://rcahmw.gov.uk/at-the-cocks-crow-y-plygain-an-early-morning-christmas-service-in-wales/ Here is an old BBC recording made in Newport (?): https://youtu.be/nImLSke8Pio

Just in time for Christmas, Bolinda Audio has now brought out the last in the series of eight "Angel Mountain" audiobooks. They are all available in CD, MP3 and digital download formats. If listening to audiobooks is your thing -- or the preference of somebody you love -- look no further! Get immersed in the extraordinary world of Martha Morgan, as already discovered by hundreds of thousands of readers. What they say in reviews: "A modern Welsh literary triumph... a page-turning plot, packed with adventure, treason, murder and passion." "Another great, unputdownable read by Brian John. Old and new characters come to life in his thought provoking and clever addition to the brilliant Angel Mountain stories.” "This book is filled with goodness; it is filled with caring, compassionate people. It has a message that basically the human species recognizes truth, justice, fairness and kindness. Martha dominates, with her mysticism, her meditations on the mountain,...

Gandalf, complete with long beard, flowing robes, pointy hat and magic wand.  In reality they  were not a bit like that....... Rowling and Tolkien have a lot to answer for.  In the creation of their mythical wizards, and by creating characters and narratives vivid enough to have turned their stories into massive international hits, they have made it very difficult for normal wizards to exist. In the 1700s and 1800s wizards dod not look a  bit like Gandalf.  In fact, they looked more like these gentlemen: Edward Jenner, the man who invented vaccinations. Dr Syntax, a medical man who featured in a number of popular books in Georgian England,  illustrated by Thomas Rowlandson. If Rowlandson is to be believed, doctors or physicians wore perfectly normal sombre garb, not unlike the clothes worn day-to-day by clerics.  Jenner clearly did not favour a wig, but Doctor Syntax is always shown with a white wig and a dark three-cornered hat.  He often wore ga...