My Welsh Class ...

I am studying Novel Two at TAFE this year and, I must say, it is nice to be back among my fellow writing wannabes. Sadly, the subject is on a Tuesday night, at the same time as my Welsh language class.

Now, I am not Hermione Granger. I cannot be in two places at once so, for one year only, Welsh will have to take second place. I will not give up on the language entirely. I have an iPod and audio lessons from BBC Catchphrase and the Rosetta Stone language program.

I will not fall behind!

In an effort to reinforce my progress, I am going to publish some of my lessons. Now I know this may alienate the majority of my readers (you know, my husband and my brother), and confound others (that’s you Fiona). But fortunately it will not seriously impact my blogging income ;-).

In the past, when I have put Welsh on my blog, I have had it corrected by my teacher, beforehand. But seeing as I now have no, official, teacher, you will see my linguistic skills in their pure and unadulterated form.

If anyone out there would like to correct my work, please leave a comment in the comment box.

Otherwise, be prepared for awe.

I am currently studying: gwers saith deg dau (that’s lesson 72 for the uninformed) It is: trafod y teulu (about the family). My prose may get tipynbach (a little) repetitive. But overlook that and – gollwch i ti, (lose yourself), in the poetry (or butchery) of the language.

Dwy enw Lisabeth – my name is Elizabeth.

Mae fy ŵr enw Andrew – my husband’s name is Andrew.

Roeddwn ni ‘n briodi am dau deg pump blynyddoedd – We have been married for twenty five years (Andrew that is your cue to make a loving comment).

Rydyn ni ‘n cael yn plant pedwar, dwy ferch a dau fab, gyda i ni – we have four children, two daughters and two sons.

Mae fy mab hynaf enw, Jack.

Mae fy merch hynaf enw, Phoebe.

Mae fy mab iau enw, Seth.

Mae fy merch iau enw, Naomi Priya.

I think you can work that out. Here are some clues: enw = name; hynaf = elder; and iau = younger.

See, Welsh is easy!

Mae Jack ‘n dau deg pedwar flwydd oedd – Jack is twenty four years old. Mae ei wraig enw Vanessa – His wife’s name is Vanessa.

Rydyn ni ‘n byw o Canberra – they live in Canberra.

Mae Phoebe yn dau deg un flwydd oedd. Mae hi’n ddi-briod. Phoebe is twenty one years of age. She is not married.

Mae Seth yn un deg naw oedd a mae Naomi yn un deg pedwar oedd– Seth is nineteen and Naomi is fourteen. Mae nhw yn ddi-briod, wrth gwrs! – they are not married, of course.

Mae fy Mam yn byw o Adelaide – my Mum lives in Adelaide.

Mae fy mrawd yn byw o Malawi, canolbarth Affrica, gyda ei deulu – My brother lives in Malawi, Central Africa, with his family.

Mae fy Mam daeth yn Gymru yn wreithiol – My Mum comes from Wales, originally.

Mae fy mrawd a i fi gawson ni ngeni yn Loegr – My brother and I were born in England.

Roedd ein Tad yn Saesneg –My Dad was an Englishman.

Fe symoddon ni yn Awstralai ym mil nawr chwech nawr – We moved to Australia in 1969.

Are you confounded?

Yes, so am I!

Mostly by the mistakes I'm certain I have made.

But I am going to put this on my blog anyway.

I hope some of my Welsh class take pity on me (an exile for the arts) and respond with corrections.

Hwyl

Lisabeth

A prayer for the still warm earth

Oh God, we are shocked by the fires that swept through areas of our state, indeed our nation.

As we sit in the comfort of our lounge, watching a flickering TV screen, we experience a roller coaster of emotion.

We feel gratitude for the roof over our heads. We feel horror at the way people have died. We ache for those who have lost everything. Words can't express the sorrow we feel for those who have lost dear friends and family. Because in our anguish, we need to feel something bigger than ourselves, we come before you on our knees.

For those who have lost people they love, we ask for comfort and a time to grieve.

For those who have lost their homes, we ask for material benefits.

For those who are even now fighting for their lives, we ask your blessing.

For those facing a long and difficult recovery, we ask courage.

For those who have only been affected from afar, we pray generosity.

For those frightened by own narrow escapes, we ask peace.

For those who may have unwittingly contributed to the damage, we ask mercy.

For those who have knowingly caused harm, we ask justice.

Lord, we cry out over the still warm earth, and ask you to hear us.