© (h) Roger Kidd, 2006

Newsletter 14

January 2010

Cylchlythyr 14

Ionawr 2010

New Year Greetings to all our readers

Start of a new decade or the last year of the old one? Not the time to provoke the arguments put forward for treating 2001 as the first year of the new millenium. The noughties are behind us and the Trust forges ahead. Whatever 2010 may bring it has opened with a truly seasonal greeting as witness the 8 inch snow scene viewed as these notes are penned. All reports indicate our hostels too are revelling in nature's beauteous gift. One hopes there are a few intrepid souls recording it on camera for the benefit of us all and of course we have very much in mind next December's Christmas cards.

Any of you who have been fortunate enough to visit the hostels at this time and taken photographs do please let us have copies and your permission to use them and also that of anyone appearing in the photographs.

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i bob Darllenwr

Dechrau degawd newydd neu blwyddyn olaf yr un diwethaf? Pwy a wyr ond mae'r Ymddiriedolaeth yn edrych ymlaen i'r dyfodol. Croesawir ni gan olygfeydd tymhorol iawn o eira a gobeithiwn bod ffotograffwyr yn ein plith yn brysur yn tynnu lluniau. Os ydych wedi bod i'r hosteli yn enwedig, byddwn yn ddiolchgar iawn i gael copiau, a chaniatad pwy bynnag sydd yn y lluniau, i'w defnyddio, o bosib, fel cardiau Nadolig nesaf.

News of our hostels

Ty'n Cornel

A satisfying 1025 bednights achieved despite some poor weather during crucial holiday periods. Astonishingly in early October on the occasion of John Morgan's heritage walk and talk a dry spell combined with other factors to leave the hostel desperately short of water. Warden Russ Johnson however coped with the situation admirably and a number of us learnt from him more about careful water management and conservation than we had deemed possible.

As was mentioned in Newsletter 13, hostel manager Richard Hollins was concerned to tackle the woodworm infesting the dormitory bunks. He has good news to report - no the beetles have not fled never to return nor their egglaying capacity permanently impaired but, as a result of some lengthy and assiduous form filling on his part, he has obtained a grant of £2822 from 'Awards for All Wales' (an offshoot of the Big Lottery) to pay for carrying out remedial work. Well done Richard and thanks. It is intended the work be dealt with towards the end of the year.

Newyddion o'r Hosteli

Ty'n Cornel

1025 'noswaith' - er gwaethaf tywydd siomedig. Yn anffodus, yn gynnar ym mis Hydref (penwythnos Tro John Morgan), cawsom brinder dwr difrifol, ond diolch i Russ Johnson, y Warden ar y pryd, daethom i ben, gyda nifer ohonom yn dysgu sgiliau 'arbed dwr' newydd.

Fe gofiwch o Gylchlythyr 13 bod Richard Hollins yn bwriadu cychwyn y gwaith o atgyweirio'r gwelyau. Bu'n llwyddiannus yn ei gais am grant, o £2822, oddiwrth 'Awards for All Wales' (cangen o'r Loteri Mawr), felly llongyfarchiadau a diolch yn fawr Richard.

Dolgoch

A year ago we were lamenting the fact that due to adverse weather conditions no progress had been made on remaking the very poor track to Dolgoch. Happily 2009 has seen the work completed save for the final dressing which will be laid when Phase 2 work at the hostel has been completed.

Prior to the Christmas break good progress on Phase 2 had been made by the contractors, Welsh Heritage Construction Ltd. The barn adjoining the hostel now has a raised concrete floor and the dividing wall has been removed making for a lighter and large and useful storage area. The possibility of the floor flooding in extreme weather conditions has been taken care of with the provision of appropriate drainage.

The very wet summer we experienced resulted on several occasions in water welling up through the lobby floor of the hostel. This timely reminder of what could have proved a serious problem enabled us to seek through our project manager Peter Gregory the advice of the contractors who are now carrying out extensive work to remedy the problem. Inevitably this results in greater expense but the contractors have been helpful in suggesting ways in which the extra expense might be partly offset without prejudicing the overall project. However, it makes us constantly grateful for those donations small or larger which unexpectedly arrive and help us to cope with the unforeseen.

The former toilets have been converted into one though not yet fitted out and the additional toilet and two shower cubicles are in place but also require fitting out.

We expect all the projected work to be finished in time for working parties to take over and complete the many tasks necessary to ensure the hostel is ready for opening at Easter.

Despite the disruption to normal usage in the first and latter part of 2009 and much inclement weather in between the hostel achieved 878 bednights, a reasonable figure in the circumstances but one which we hope to improve on considerably this year. Once open do please come and view and sample the new facilities, reached by way of our splendid new track and encourage others to do so. The new Nant Ystalwyn road bridge over the Tywi is open and beckons those of you approaching from the east.

Dolgoch

O'r diwedd mae gwaith gwella'r lon sy'n arwain at yr hostel bron ar ben. Felly hefyd gosod (a chodi) llawr concrit i'r ysgubor a thynnu lawr wal er mwyn creu gofod storio nwyddau golau a mwy o faint. Gwnaethpwyd gwaith draeniad hefyd i leihau'r perygl o lifogydd yn yr hostel (fel sawl gwaith yn y cyntedd eleni) ac er yn gostus, mae'n angenrheidiol. Diolch i Peter Gregory, rheolwr y Prosiect, a'r gweithwyr eu hunain am eu cyngor a diolch i bawb am eu cyfraniadau ariannol bob hyn a hyn sy'n golygu ein bod yn medru cwrdd a chostau annisgwyl.

Mae'r ddau doiled gwreiddiol nawr yn un mawr, a thoiled arall a dau gawod gerllaw eto i'w cwblhau. Gobeithiwn orffen er mwyn agor aged y Pasg.

Cawsom 878 'noswaith' er gwaethaf tywydd siomedig ar y cyfan - felly digon derbyniol, ond gobeithiwn wella'n sylweddol y flwyddyn hon. Dewch yn llu i weld y gwelliannau a dewch a ffrindiau. Mae'r bont dros Nant Ystalwyn ar agor i'r rhai sy'n dod o'r Dwyrain.

Centenary year tree planting

This went ahead as arranged. Bill Hine provided the trees grown from local seed and organised the planting, a rowan for Ty'n Cornel with our very supportive Blaendoethie neighbours Denis and Ann Kinnaird doing the honours. We were equally fortunate at Dolgoch to have John and Mary Morgan perform the planting ceremony of a young oak tree. Suitable plaques recording each ceremony have yet to be made. Suggestions or offers anybody?

Plannu coed i ddathlu Canmlwyddiant

Diolch i Denis ac Ann Kinnaird, ein cymdogion agosaf, am blannu 'rowan' yn Ty'n Cornel ac i John a Mary Morgan am blannu derwen yn Nolgoch ac i Bill Hine am oruwchwilio'r holl beth. Mae angen plac i'r ddau le - oes awgrym gan rywun?

Electro-sensitivity

"What's that?" you may ask. At our open meeting on the 4th October Roger Moller explained that Electro-sensitivity (ES) is a condition which can develop when people are exposed to things like mobile phones and masts, powerlines, substations, computers and other domestic wiring and household appliances. Roger, a sufferer, lives at Abergwesyn where he moved from a city environment. He described the surrounding area which includes Dolgoch as one of the last refuges for people severely affected by the condition, areas of Scotland providing the next nearest haven. The wilderness he said is of paramount importance and he urged careful consideration before planning alterations which might detract from its present status. We all know and appreciate how precious 'our' bit of Wales is but Roger has added a further dimension to its especial nature as well as providing information on a subject many of us knew little about. Anyone wishing to know more about ES, its symptoms and effect, should contact the Charity ES - phone 0845 6439748

Sensitifrwydd i drydan (Electro-sensitivity/ ES)

Sef??? Esboniodd dioddefwr o'r enw Roger Moller yn ein cyfarfod blynyddol ar 4 Hydref fod y cyflwr yn deillio o fod mewn cysylltiad a gormod o drydan megis o ffon symudol, mastiau, gwifrennau, cyfrifiaduron, gorsafoedd trydan neu nwyddau trydanol y ty. O'r herwydd, symudodd Roger o'r ddinas i Abergwesyn, sydd, ynghyd ag ardaloedd yn yr Alban, yn hafannau prin lle gall dioddefwyr fod yn weddol rhydd o'u cyflwr a gofynnodd Roger i ni fod yn wyliadwrus o unrhyw newidiadau a all dynnu oddiwrth natur gwyllt y lle. Diolch i Roger am roi gwybodaeth newydd i ni, a rheswm arall dros werthfawrogi ein rhan 'ni' o Gymru. Am fwy o fanylion am ES, cysylltwch a'r Elusen ES-UK - 0845 6439748

Heritage walk

On the 3rd October with pre breakfast weather threatening to spoil the day those of us who had stayed the night at Ty'n Cornel were joined by John Morgan and his wife Mary together with other interested residents of Llanddewi Brefi for a walk led by John taking in many of the old farms of the region. What an interesting day it proved to be, helped also by the weather forgoing its early threat and shedding barely a tear. Proceeding south eastwards we reached the Doethie Fach spanned by a fine little footbridge which John himself had erected. We left the track to Soar y Mynydd to follow the winding path above and parallel to the Doethie. With frequent stops John treated us to a wealth of reminiscences and stories from his forebears' past - of the demise of the little wooden church following the collapse of its roof, the difficulties of the terrain for funeral courteges, the hard lives of the families eking out a living on the smallest of acreages, of lead mines at Bryn Ambor and Nant Llwyd, the one time sighting of a sewin (sea trout) in its passage up the river, recording transfer of ownership of a substantial farm on a cigarette packet (what a saving in legal fees at least in the short term!), word pictures of many of the former inhabitants and so much more. And so we walked on, past the clump of bracken concealing our member Rachel's bicycle - a story in itself!

Rachel, keen to attend John's walk, left Bristol by train late on the Friday evening accompanied by bike and rucksack. After a long night with a lengthy wait for a train connection at Swansea she reached Llandovery in the early morning. From there she pedalled her way northwestward along byroads, trails and footpaths until even her indomitable spirit decided enough was enough and time for shanks' pony to take over. Thus she left her bike and walked the remaining miles to the hostel arriving a minute or two before the walk was due to start. Bravo Rachel - and remember she still had the return leg to do!

To get back to John's walk - following lunch we turned northwards to climb steadily up the flank of Pen y Gurnos, resting awhile to look back and view what on sun blessed days must surely be one of the finest sights in all Wales - the Doethie winding its way between the steep forbidding sides of its valley before meeting its sister tributary of the Tywi, the Pysgotwr.

On return to the hostel and with all fortified by a good meal John again entertained us with an illustrated talk on cutting peat which at one time was the principal and for many the only means of providing heat for their dwellings and cooking. He showed us the actual tools used, now with new wooden handles turned and fitted by him. A great day for us all. Many thanks John.

Tro Hanesyddol - 3 Hydref

Diddorol iawn a diolch yn fawr i John a Mary Morgan am dywys grwp ohonom o Dy'n Cornel a rhai pobl lleol o Landdewi Brefi ar daith o amgylch hen adeiladau yr ardal - gyda hanesion difyr amdanynt... diweddglo'r hen eglwys yn dilyn cwymp y to, anhawster cludo cyrff meirw ar hyd y lonydd anwastad, bywydau anodd y tyddynwyr a gweithfeydd plwm Bryn Arbor a Nant Llwyd a llawer mwy. O'r diwedd dyma gyrraedd brwyn yn cuddio beic Rachel, un o'n grwp ni a deithiodd i'r hostel o Fryste ar y tren i Lanymddyfri, beicio cyn belled a'r man hwn a cherdded gweddill y ffordd er mwyn cyrraedd rhai munudau cyn cychwyn y Tro. Ardderchog ti, Rachel!

Ar ol swper, diddanwyd ni eto gan John a'i anerchiad am dorri mawn yn yr ardal - yr unig dannwydd i lawer ar un adeg - a'r offer gwreiddiol wedi eu trwsio ganddo fe ei hun. Diwrnod gwych John a diolch yn fawr.

Wardens' information weekend

We offer a warm welcome to our latest recruits and look forward to their helping the Trust run our two hostels. All 12 participants appeared to enjoy themselves and be keen to put into practice what they had learned over the weekend. The course was run from Ty'n Cornel, Dolgoch having been taken over by the builders. However a visit was paid to Dolgoch which proved of great benefit to the Trust. Most of the visitors having been shown round the hostel then embarked with great gusto on clearing from the Dutch barn on the adjoining Forestry land the mountain of old timber stacked there, sawing it into manageable lengths, transporting and restacking it at the rear of the hostel. A very necessary job as the Forestry Commission were anxious to demolish the barn which, because of its condition they looked upon as a safety hazard. If a token of these volunteers' enthusiasm and regard for the Trust's aims and objectives were needed they provided it in full measure.

These occasions can also disclose qualities and/or skills not necessarily expected of applicants - two Welsh speakers for example, one a native Welshman and the other, Colin, an Englishman. We also learned we now have another chain saw user in our ranks who possesses the all important certificate of competence.

Penwythnos Gwybodaeth i Ddarpar Wardeiniaid - Ty'n Cornel

Mae'n debyg bod y 12 a ddaeth wedi mwynhau ac yn barod i'n cynorthwyo gyda'n gwaith o gynnal y 2 hostel. Aethom ar ymweliad i Ddolgoch ac yn ffodus iawn i ni roeddent yn fodlon casglu a thorri pentwr o goed o dir y Comisiwn Coedwigaeth a'u gludo i gefn yr hostel. Arwydd da iawn i'r dyfodol. Yn eu mysg roedd dau siaradwr Cymraeg ac un arall sydd a thrwydded llifio.

Wardening vacancies

There are 12 vacant slots at Dolgoch and 4 at Ty'n Cornel for the season April to October inclusive. Anyone interested please contact Joan Meek, telephone 01283 537440.

Wardeinio

Mae 12 bwlch ar gyfer Dolgoch a 4 am Ty'n Cornel rhwng Ebrill a Hydref. Cysylltwch a Joan Meek (01283 537440) os a diddordeb.

Fund raising

We are delighted to record that Tony Dobbs has shown interest in taking over Pearl's duties as Trust fundraiser. Tony has quickly opened his account by obtaining a set of five fire doors for Dolgoch from Fire Doors Ltd based in Mold, North Wales. A fine start Tony and our grateful thanks too to Kevin Dyer Operations Manager of Fire Doors Ltd. Trustee Arthur Osborne also deserves a mention for picking up and delivering the doors to the hostel. Thanks Arthur.

Codi Arian

Diolch yn fawr i Tony Dobbs sydd wedi cytuno ymgymryd a gwaith Pearl fel trefnydd. Diolch hefyd iddo am lwyddo cael 5 drws tan oddi wrth Kevin Dyer, Fire Doors Ltd, Yr Wyddgrug. Felly, diolch Tony, Kevin ac Arthur Osbourne am ddod a'r drysau i'r hostel.

Overnight fees

The Trust, having until now kept overnight fees at their 2006 level, have reluctantly decided an increase in 2010 is necessary and appropriate. The new fees are listed below and will come into operation on the 1st April. Having considered the charges made by other providers of hostel type accommodation we think and we hope you will feel our hostels provide very good value for money.

New overnight fees as from 1st April 2010:

Codi'r ffi

Yn anffodus, mae'n rhaid codi'r ffi am y tro cyntaf ers 2006 a hynny o Ebrill 1af 2010. Gobeithiwn bod pawb yn cytuno ei fod dal yn werth yr arian.

Dolgoch working parties

27-28 February: preliminary tidying and sorting following completion of Phase 2 work.

27-28 March: final preparation of hostel for opening over the following (Easter) weekend.

It need hardly be said how much members' help will be needed over the above weekends. All offers will be gratefully received. Please contact either Steve or Marilyn. A cautionary word - we are counting on the phase 2 work being completed in good time. If for any reason it is not, working party dates may have to be altered at short notice. Please, therefore, check with Steve or Marilyn beforehand.

Between these weekends the Permaculture Group based on Lampeter will be at the hostel on the 6-7 March to carry out fencing work. They will be followed on the 20-21 March by Newport Outdoor Group who expect to do much of the painting and redecoration required before opening. We are grateful to both groups for their services at this crucial time.

Penwythnosau Gwaith (Dolgoch)

27-28 Chwefror: tacluso yn dilyn Cyfnod 2 o'r gwaith.

27-28 Mawrth: paratoi ar gyfer agor yr hostel y penwythnos canlynol (Y Pasg).

Mae wir angen help, felly dewch plis - ond cysylltwch a Steve neu Marilyn cyn gwneud er mwyn sicrhau nad yw'r dyddiad wedi newid ar y funud olaf.

6-Mawrth: Grwp 'Permaculture' o Lambed yno yn gwneud gwaith ffens, 20-21 Mawrth: Grwp Casnewydd yn peintio ac addurno. Diolch i'r ddau grwp yma.

Annual general meeting

The original date decided upon for the 2010 AGM was the 5th June and this was the date given in the last Newsletter. Subsequent events have meant the date has had to be altered and is now the 12th June, 11.00am at the Memorial Hall in Tregaron. The AGM will be followed by the launch of our refurbished Dolgoch Hostel.

Cyfarfod Blynyddol

Wedi newid o Fehefin 5 (fel a gyhoeddwyd yn y Cylchlythyr olaf) i Fehefin 12fed am 11.00 yn Neuadd Goffa Tregaron. Yn dilyn y cyfafod bydd agoriad swyddogol Dolgoch ar ei newydd wedd.

Dates for your diary

Sat 6 Feb 2010 (1030 hrs), Open Meeting (Ty'n Cornel)
Sat 27 - Sun 28 Feb, General working party (Dolgoch)
Sat 6 - Sun 7 Mar 2010, Permaculture Group (Dolgoch)
Sat 20 - Sun 21 Mar 2010, Newport Outdoor Group (Dolgoch)
Sat 27 - Sun 28 Mar 2010, General working party (Dolgoch)
Sat 12 Jun 2010 (1100 hrs), AGM (Tregaron Memorial Hall)
Sat 24 Jul 2010, Challenge Walk from Dolgoch,
        Family Walk from Ty'n Cornel

Dyddiadau i'w cofio

Sad 6 Chw 2010 (1030 hrs), Cyfafod Agored (Ty'n Cornel)
Sad 27 - Sul 28 Chw, Gwaith cyffredinol (Dolgoch)
Sad 6 - Sul 7 Maw 2010, Grwp 'Permaculture' (Dolgoch)
Sad 20 - Sul 21 Maw 2010, Grwp Casnewydd (Dolgoch)
Sad 27 - Sul 28 Maw 2010, Gwaith cyffredinol (Dolgoch)
Sad 12 Meh 2010 (1100 hrs), Cyfarfod Blynyddol (Neuadd Tregaron)
Sad 24 Gor 2010, Tro Menter o Ddolgoch
        Tro i'r Teulu o Dy'n Cornel

Contacts

Steve Griffith, Chair
  26 Claigmar Gardens, Finchley, London, N3 2HR
  0208 833 7409,   chair@elenydd-hostels.co.uk

Marilyn Barrack, Vice-chair
  7 Azalea Close, Cyncoed, Caerdydd, CF23 7HR
  02920 732 289,   vicechair@elenydd-hostels.co.uk

Janet Hollins, Secretary
  16 Amesbury Road, Newton Tony, Salisbury, Wilts, SP4 0HN
  01980 629 259,   secretary@elenydd-hostels.co.uk

David Bicker, Treasurer
  7 Hartlebury Road, Halesowen, West Midlands, B63 4PL
  0121 550 3814, 07771 763 097,   treasurer@elenydd-hostels.co.uk

Derek Edwards, Newsletter
  Gimble Porth, 6 Newleaze Gardens, Tetbury, GL8 8BY
  01666 504 393,   editor@elenydd-hostels.co.uk

Cysylltiadau

Steve Griffith, Cadeirydd
  26 Claigmar Gardens, Finchley, London, N3 2HR
  0208 833 7409,   chair@elenydd-hostels.co.uk

Marilyn Barrack, Is Cadeirydd
  7 Azalea Close, Cyncoed, Caerdydd, CF23 7HR
  02920 732 289,   vicechair@elenydd-hostels.co.uk

Janet Hollins, Ysgrifennydd
  16 Amesbury Road, Newton Tony, Salisbury, Wilts, SP4 0HN
  01980 629 259,   secretary@elenydd-hostels.co.uk

David Bicker, Trysorydd
  7 Hartlebury Road, Halesowen, West Midlands, B63 4PL
  0121 550 3814, 07771 783 097,   treasurer@elenydd-hostels.co.uk

Derek Edwards, Cylchlythyr
  Gimble Porth, 6 Newleaze Gardens, Tetbury, GL8 8BY
  01666 504 393,   editor@elenydd-hostels.co.uk

Previous newsletters

September 2009
April 2009
January 2009
September 2008
July 2008
May 2008
January 2008
October 2007
June 2007
January 2007
November 2006
September 2006
July 2006
May 2006

Cylchlythyrau blaenorol

Medi 2009
Ebrill 2009
Ionawr 2009
Medi 2008
Gorffennaf 2008
Mai 2008
Ionawr 2008
Hydref 2007
Mehefin 2007
Ionawr 2007
Tachwedd 2006
Medi 2006
Gorffennaf 2006
Mai 2006