Anastasia Llewellyn

Release of Wales-only prison data will “enhance transparency and scrutiny of the Welsh criminal justice system” Dr Robert Jones welcomes move by Ministry of Justice after years of campaigning

NEW: The UK Govt's Ministry of Justice begins routinely publishing Wales-only prison data for the first time following a decade of research exposing issues in the Welsh criminal justice system by Dr Robert Jones. 1/3
www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/view/29...

Yn bendant!

This is great news indeed!

Happy to confirm that our new Welsh politics pod is on the way filled with informative, astute, and what I would euphemistically refer to as “robust“ debate between Lee Waters MS, Prof Laura McAllister and former Conservative Special adviser Lauren McEvatt.

We’ll be ready to share soon! #Senedd26

ER wait times are out of control, and patients avoid going as a result.

I wish we could make it a more comfortable setting

If you’re dealing with complex chronic illness, you can’t sit in a waiting room for 12+ hours without having your baseline shattered.

People will die at home without care

Yn gynnwys canlyniadau ein arolwg BARN #Cymru gyda @itvcymruwales.bsky.social a blog diweddaraf @jamesbreckwoldt.bsky.social sy'n drafod ble mae pleidleiswyr Llafur 2024 yn mynd.

Including our latest #Wales polling and James Breckwoldt's blog on where Labour's 2024 voters are going, and why. 👇

Latest ITV BarnCymru 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 poll confirms trend seen over last 6 months - neck and neck race between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK for largest party, with Labour falling to even more distant third. Evidence growing of distinct realignment in Wales 🧵

Canadian icon Robert Munsch has chosen to die by MAID Paper Bag Princess author made the choice after being diagnosed with dementia. "I have to pick the moment when I can still ask for it."

Robert Munsch, a beloved children’s book author, has been granted a medically assisted death under Canada’s #MAiD laws, though no date has been set. "I have to pick the moment when I can still ask for it."
nationalpost.com/news/canada/... via @nationalpost.bsky.social via @nationalpost.bsky.social

Siaradodd @nyedavies.bsky.social â Nick Servini ar BBC Radio Wales y bore 'ma i drafod cystadleuaeth Dirprwy Arweinydd y Blaid Llafur:

Dr Nye Davies on Radio Wales this morning, discussing the competition for the role of UK Labour's Deputy Leader and its connection with a famous Welsh MP:

Shouldn’t have checked the news before going to bed…

Back at choir this evening. Despite the HEPA filter, it’s in a stuffy church basement, so I was pleased to see that I was not the only person singing in a mask.

Cwrsllyfr porffor a choch gyda’r geiriau hwn: Uwch 2 Fersiwn 2 www.dysgucymraeg.cymru

Dyn ni’n ôl! Dw i’n mor diolchgar am yr opsiwn i gael dosbarth ar-lein. Ymlaen!

Thread about the threat of AI.

They say you should never meet your heroes, but Ken Dryden did not disappoint.

He shook my hand, looked me in the eye, and said: “Anastasia, the future of Canada, and the world is in your hands.” He probably said that to all the young people at that conference, but more power to him for using his influence for good!

I am sad to hear of the death of Montreal Canadiens legend and former MP Ken Dryden. I met him my first year of undergrad, and he seemed like someone who really cared about others, as well as being one of the best goaltenders ever.

@eggynewydd.bsky.social has done the leg work on this along with the @gwladrugby.bsky.social brains trust

It is an excellent survey and anybody interested in the future of the game in Wales should fill it in.

I’m so sorry for your loss.

I got into an animated debate with a member of the choir:
- Ti’n rhugl.
- Nac ydw. Dim eto!
- Dyn ni’n sgwrsio ers pum munud a ti’n deall! Ti’n rhugl.
- Dw i ddim yn teimlo fel rhugl, achos dw i ddim yn gallu dweud beth dw i eisiau yn syth.
- Ond wyt ti’n deall beth dw i’n dweud, a dw i’n deall ti.

Yesterday’s gymanfa ganu was the best I’ve been to yet. There is nothing like belting out your favourite Welsh hymns with a couple hundred of your new best friends—because the true highlight, along with the music throughout the week, was the people.

The audience for the noson lawen was just as enthusiastic and supportive. I had great fun performing with the Ottawa Welsh Society dysgwyr a siaradwyr, and also played some Cerddorfa Ukulele tunes solo. When else would I perform the Welsh version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”?

My talk about the history and legacy of the 1588 Welsh Bible was incredibly well received. I can’t believe I had a full house for a 9am lecture, and nearly as many for the repeat session which clashed with the Eisteddfod winners’ performance. Such a great audience!

On Sparks St., a lamppost with an overflowing flowerpot and a banner which reads “Gwlad, Gwlad, this is Wales.” A stone building with lots of windows is in the background.

A framed proclamation from the mayor of Ottawa designating this week Wales Week in Ottawa. Above it are a Canadian flag and a Welsh flag.

Côr y Penrhyn at Christ Church Cathedral Ottawa, being introduced by Tudur Owen. Large stained glass windows behind them, and greying heads in front, lining church pews.

A black table features piles of plates, and four selections of Welshcakes, along with two small bouquets of orange and red flowers.

Signs of Welshness here this week: a banner on Sparks St., a proclamation in which the Mayor designated this week “Wales Week in Ottawa,” Côr y Penrhyn being introduced by Tudur Owen at Christ Church Cathedral, and a display of Welsh cakes at the festival marketplace.

I’ve been back in Canada just over a week, but what a wonderful transition period the North American Festival of Wales has offered! Now that it’s over, I am truly feeling the weight of not being surrounded by Welshness. Still, they won’t be able to keep me away for long…

A wonderful place! The whole story is quite remarkable, isn’t it?

Former public toilet, I should say! There is a wonderful statue of Bible translator William Morgan outside the ladies’ loos at Cardiff City Hall. Since lockdown, one can no longer simply wander in, unfortunately!

Day 3 of the North American Festival of Wales is starting shortly. It’s a thrill to revisit my masters research about the Welsh Bible, and to share it with the most enthusiastic of audiences. And I’ll be adding some fun anecdotes about my travels in Wales, including a nod to my favourite public loo!

The rain was so hard that it wasn’t safe for the Urdd Dancers to perform outside, so they became Tudur Owen’s opening act.

We had a great second day of the North American Festival of Wales in Ottawa, despite a huge downpour during the outdoor WelshFest. How many jokes about Welsh weather can one festival produce?

Diolch, Richard. (I laughed a little too hard at that one!)