Wales is the only place for me
DAFFODILS, singing and rugby are just some of the usual stereotypes you can expect to hear when asked about the things associated with Wales.
And in a football match in North Wales last month, one of the most famous stereotypes hilariously played itself out.
It was your typical Saturday afternoon as Llanberis took on Llandudno Junction in the glorious spring sunshine.
That was until the game had to be temporarily halted after a flock of sheep invaded the pitch.
The headline read: “Only in Wales... football match delayed as sheep invade the pitch”. “Only in Wales” – I love that phrase. It’s one I hear – and write – time and time again in work...
Only in Wales would you witness a man causing a traffic jam because he’s chasing his sheep down a busy dual carriageway (Cowbridge, May 8, 2017).
Only in Wales would you hear a rugby fan break out into a brilliant rendition of Tom Jones’ Delilah on the train journey home from a Six Nations match (Newport, March 11, 2017).
Only in Wales would a local councillor issue a warning to their local constituents about ‘psychotic sheep high on cannabis’ rampaging through the village (Swansea, May 2016).
But it’s not just the funny or quirky goings-on that embody the phrase. Nor do they all involve wandering (or psychotic) farm animals and Tom Jones. Wales is a wonderful country. And with some of the best scenery, sporting action, culture and food – not to mention some of the world’s nicest people – you can easily see why so many people would use the phrase: Only in Wales. Like our language for example. Only in Wales would you have family members like mams, mam-gus, granshss and bopas.
We all know an Auntie Brenda from Stella, an Uncle Bryn from Gavin & Stacey or a Fatty Lewis from Twin Town.
And only in Wales would you be greeted with phrases like “alright butt?” “what’s occuring” and “give us a cwtch”.
Or hear swear words like “fel rhech mewn pot jam” (like a fart in a jam jar); “rhechan fel ci defaid ar jaen gwta” (farting like a sheep dog on a short chain) and “cer i grafu” (go and scratch).
Only in Wales would you pass through a railway station with a name like Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.
And hear famous celebrities trying – and failing epically – to pronounce Welsh words and place names.
The list keeps getting longer and longer: The cast of East Enders (March 2017), Justin Bieber (April 2016), Naomi Watts (March 2015), Hugh Jackman (February, 2016) and Gary Barlow (January, 2017) – to name just a few. Iesu mawr! And it’s not just the language – the people living here also embody the phrase “Only in Wales”.
I mean, only in Wales would you meet the outrageously friendly, chatty and passionate characters who call this fine country their home.
And what’s better – us Welsh folk, we all support each other with everything we’ve got.
Only in Wales would you hear about an entire Valleys town coming together to show solidarity to a little girl fighting cancer (Mia Chambers, Merthyr Tydfil, March 31, 2017)
Or come together to support a Muslim teacher after he was removed from US-bound plane (February, 2017). Or turn out in their hundreds to save a city’s music scene with the launch of the Save Woman by Street campaign (March, 2017).
Although, we do like to have a laugh too, don’t we?
I mean, only in Wales would a group of mates organise a surprise “funeral” for their loved-up mate after he stopped going out on the lash (Rhondda, October 19, 2015).
FYI – these were actually my mates. And what about the amazing Welsh names people have? Only in Wales would you find people with names like Emyr (which means ruler), Llew (lion), Haf (summer) and Eirianwen (which means pure or bright). Or Tyler... which, I recently discovered means “door keeper of an inn”. Not as beautiful as summer – but well suited, due to the fact I can often be found at the pub. And then there’s Wales itself, of course. The country; the landscape; the place. Only in Wales would you be able to sunbathe somewhere like Barafundle Bay – a beach that’s been named one of the best in the world. Or explore a hidden cave made entirely out of seashells... or get your blood pumping whizzing down Europe’s longest zipwire.
Only in Wales will you find hulking castles that dominate the skyline or snow-capped mountains and gorgeous rolling hillsides that are a match for anywhere on Earth.
And only in Wales would you find a columnist who manages to write 800 words based solely on the phrase: Only in Wales.
But do you know what – I don’t care. I’m proud of it. Because, believe it or not, Wales is the only place I ever want to be.
We all know an Auntie Brenda from Stella, an Uncle Bryn from Gavin & Stacey or a Fatty Lewis from Twin Town