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The Doctor's New Companion & Eisteddfod Virginity

Amelia Puddle
Hello folks, this week has been full of big announcements and much artiness! Peter Capaldi as the next Doctor has been met with cheerful warmth in our little cottage and sighs of relief that it wasn't someone alarming like the smug student from the BT ads or Shane Ritchie (as my friend upsettingly threw into the rumour mix). Our personal hopefuls were Ben Wishaw, 'Johnson' from Peep Show & Zawe Ashton (the fabulous 'Vod' from Fresh Meat) but Peter C is certainly ok by us. Even more excitingly, The Doctor's new companion was unveiled today, rather unbelievably, at the national Eisteddfod in Denbigh. As pictured, the producers requested a cut-price Amy Pond type so hurrah, it is I! I'm planning a bilingual effort after doing surprisingly well in my recent Welsh exam (most surprising perhaps to the people who have tried to chat with me 'ym Cymraeg'). Sadly, my make-me-look-cooler oversized sunglasses have broken so I'm looking more ill at ease & squinty than would have been desirable.

After the official photo call, I was at leisure to explore my first Eisteddfod. It was a bit like Edinburgh's Royal Highland Show but with no gigantic tractors, sheep shearing or excitable goats. Still, this is the best comparison I can make and it proved a good one especially as hubbie's neice & nephew did a grand job of collecting as many freebies as they could charm from stallholders. The impressive collection they amassed, reminded me of childhood days spent at the RHS with my brother on a mission to source free pens, stickers & those fuzzy pom pom creatures you can annoyingly stick to things. Sometimes those Army & Rare Breed Society pens still turn up in the backs of drawers etc.

Eisteddfod Pavilion

While various family members were participating in the singing & lecturing events, me & hubbie enjoyed the food and explored the art & crafts. We gleaned fascinating insights from Alison Craig (another Helfa Gelf artist) in the exhibition hall about a young artist's large and intricate lino print illustrating a wealth of Welsh stories and admired her intriguing sketched/printed bones. Onwards then to the Y Lle Celf (art place/tent) to admire a few works & be bewildered by many. Theresa Nguyen's breathtakingly intricate silver smithing was a highlight, all sinuous, organic beauty with clearly much skill involved. I liked Susan Adams' bizarre weeping satellite dish and pretty much loved all of the ceramic work (various artists) and I always enjoy seeing Morgan Griffith's collages (at the start of the exhibition). Here's a link to him & the other artists www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english/2013/y-lle-celf-artists Now, I don't like to be too negative (especially as in North Wales, it's possible you may meet the artists at some point) but let's say I'm off to drag old editions of the The Guardian out of the recycling bin and paint over various pages/ cut bits out. Afterwards, I'll rummage in the winter clothes drawer for some woolly gloves. We'll be regarded as hip, note-worthy artists v soon...


Also a highlight this week was the opening night of Heledd Robert's (heleddroberts.co.uk) fashion photography exhibition at Bocs Gallery in Caernarfon. With the lure of tiny cakes, free wine, opportunity of chatting to the artist and generally feeling a bit arty (without prentiousness), this was Thursday night treat. The photos are impressive especially for a young, emerging artist (she's really nice too which is always a bonus) and the gallery is pleasantly bijou and relaxing. Locals, do go and see the exhibition and support this lovely little gallery www.facebook.com/BocsCelf
Ooh, shiny new Moo business cards!

Briefly other news: a big thanks to all those attending last Saturday's craft fair @ Galeri (Caernafon). You can keep track of when the next one will be on our FB page www.facebook.com/Crefft-Cyfoes-Caernarfon or twitter @CrefftCyfoes. Lastly, I was most excited to get my new business cards delivered in time for the fair, please admire pic (humour me, my family does). Ta Da!


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