Wild Beasts

I'd never heard of this band before until I saw their brilliant performance on last night's Later with Jools Holland.
I like them, a truly unique sound, check out their My Space site here.
Here's a track from last night's show so you can make up your own mind...This is called All The King's Men.

Cymorthfa misol - Monthly surgery

Cofiwch bydd y Cyng.Dafydd Lloyd Hughes a mi ar gael bore dydd Sadwrn nesaf, Tachwedd 7fed yn y Ganolfan Dysgu Gydol Oes (Llyfrgell, Maenofferen) rhwng 10a.m. -11.30am.
Nid oes angen apwyntiad ac os gallwn fod o gymorth i chi, yna piciwch draw i'n gweld.

Remember, Cllr.Dafydd Lloyd Hughes and myself will be available next Saturday morning, November 7th between 10a.m. -11.30a.m. at the Life Long Learning Centre (Library), Maenofferen.
There is no need to make an appointment and if you think we can help you in any way, please feel free to pop in and see us.

Plaid Cymru a merched yn y gweithle - Plaid Cymru and women in the workplace

Fel mae pawb yn gwybod erbyn hyn, mae grwp Plaid Cymru ar Gyngor Gwynedd yn benderfynol o gynnig sawl toriad a chynydd mewn cost gwasanaeth sydd yn mynd i gael effaith andwyol ar wasanaethau rheng flaen i pob un ohonom sydd yn byw ac yn gweithio yma.
O fabwysiadu rhai o gynigion Plaid Cymru, fydd y gweithlu benywaidd o fewn y Sir yn dioddef yn enbyd hefyd.
Gadewch i mi egluro...
Mae Plaid Cymru eisioes wedi neu yn bwriadu:
*Cymeradwyo codiad o 50% mewn ffioedd gofal yr henoed
*Cau cartref gofal Bryn Llywelyn ac mae nhw'n awyddus iawn i gau oleiaf 8 cartref arall.
*Cynyddu pris cinio ysgol £1 y dydd
*Torri grant o £250,000 i Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin fyddai'n golygu cau bron pob un o gylchoedd meithrin Gwynedd.
*Cau 5 o ysgolion cynradd ym Mro Dysysnni ac mae nhw eisiau cau oleiaf 20 o rhai eraill ar draws y Sir.
Ym mhob un o'r achosion uchod, merched sydd yn llunio canaran uchel iawn, iawn o'r gweithlu fydd yn cael ei hefeithio'n uniongyrchol gan y penderfyniadau yma.
Mewn llawer i deuluoedd yng Ngwynedd, does dim dewis ond i'r ddau riant weithio ac mewn amryw o achosion er nad yw'r wraig yn ennill "mega bucks" o'r engreifftiau uchod mae nhw yn ennill digon i ysgafnhau'r baich ariannol cynyddol sydd ar deuluoedd y dyddiau yma.
Os bydd Plaid Cymru yn llwyddo gyda'r cynigion gwarthus yma, pa effaith fydd hynny yn gael yn gymdeithasol? Fydd teuluoedd ifanc ble mae angen i'r gwr a'r wraig fod yn gweithio yn aros yn y Sir? Dwn i ddim? Ond yn sicir, o edrych ar y ffeithaiu yma a'i pwyso a mesur, unwaith eto fe welir yn glir nad oes gan y Blaid ddim strategaeth na dim affliw o syniad sut mae rhedeg a rheoli gwasanethau cyhoeddus yn effeithiol.
Os ydych yn ddynes yng Ngwynedd efallai y dylech ystyried o ddifri cyn pleidelisio i'r Blaid eto, gan mae'n berffaith amlwg nad ydynt yn ystyried eich cyfraniad pwysig chi i'n economi ni nac i'n cymdeithas ni.

Like everybody knows by now, the Plaid Cymru group on Gwynedd Council are determined to push ahead with planned cuts and increased charges that will have a severe effect on frontline services for all of us who live and work here.
By adopting Plaid Cymru's proposals, the female workforce in Gwynedd will be hit hardest.
Let me explain....
Plaid Cymru have already or they intend to:
*Implement a 50% increase in care charges on the elderly
*Closed Bryn Llywelyn Care Home and they want to close at least another 8
*Increase the cost of school dinners by £1 per day
*Cut the £250,000 garnt to the Welsh medium pre-school group Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin which will in essence see all their groups in Gwynedd close.
*Close 5 primary schools in the Bro Dysynni area and they have plans to close at least another 20 across the county.
In all of the cases mentioned above, women form the largest part of the workforce by a long way and it is their employment that is at stake with these decisions.
Within many families across Gwynedd, there is no option but for both parents to work and lots of families although the woman may not be earning "mega bucks" from many of the above examples, their income goes some way to ease the ever increasing financial burden that is so often put upon families these days.
If Plaid Cymru get away with implementing these disgusting proposals,what effect will they have socially? Will the young families that need both the male and female to be working, stay in the County? I don't know? But certainly by looking at all of these facts and weighing them up, once again it becomes quite clear that Plaid Cymru has no vision, startegy or a clue about running and managing effective public services.
If you are a woman in Gwynedd, maybe you should seriously consider whether or not to vote for Plaid Cymru, as they clearly do not value the important contribution that you make to our county economically or socially.

Be ydi strategaeth Plaid Cymru yng Ngwynedd? - What exactly is Plaid Cymru's Strategy in Gwynedd?

Dyna dybiwn i ydi'r cwestiwn mae llawer iawn o drigolion a busnesau o fewn y Sir yn ei ofyn wrth ddarllen y Caernarfon & Denbigh Herald a'r Cambrian News y bore 'ma.
Fel y grwp mwyaf ar Gyngor Gwynedd o bell ffordd, mae'n ymddangos i mi nad oes gan Dyfed Edwards "Arweinydd" y Cyngor a'i griw ddim strategaeth o gwbwl ond tori, tori, tori!!
Eisioes mae nhw wedi gwrthod cyfaddawdu ar fater addysg gynradd, ar warchod cartrefi gofal ac ar gyfleusterau cyhoeddus.
Yn y papurau bore 'ma, mae 'na feirniadaeth lem o'r penderfyniadau i barhau gyda'r broses cau ysgolion a'r penderfyniad gwarthus i godi cyflogau Uwch Reolwyr y Cyngor...Be ydi'r peth nesaf yng ngolwg Dyfed a'r Defaid?...£250,000 a chau Cylchoedd Meithrin a'r draws y Sir!! Unwaith eto dangos diffyg gweledigaeth llwyr!
Mae'n hen bryd iddynt feddwl tu allan i'r bocs a darganfod arbedion drwy weithio'n wahanol, tynnu'r sector breifat i mewn i gymryd cyfrifoldeb am rhai gwasanaethau, peidio llenwi rhai swyddi a.y.b yn un ffordd o ddechrau...be sydd yn bwysig ydi fod gwasanaethau rheng flaen yn cael eu gwarchod hyd eithaf...ac i mi mae'r cam addysgiadol cyntaf mae'r Cylchoedd Meithrin yn ei ddarparu yn holl bwysig.
Mae'r modd hefyd mae'r Cyngor yn bwriadu torri ar gyllidebau rhai o brif fudiadau'r Trydedd Sector yn y Sir yn warthus! Dyma i chi ble all gweithio mewn partneriaeth efeithiol rhoi gwerth am arian godidog i'r trethdalwr, ond be mae'r Cyngor yn neud? Torri heb ymgynghori gyda'r gost a'r pwysau gwaith yn syrthio'n ol ac yn cynyddu ar y trethdalwr!
Tydi rhedeg gwasanaethau cyhoeddus o safon ddim yn "Rocket Science" ond ar hyn o bryd yng Ngwynedd mae ceisio cael un grwp penodol i ddeallt a gweld hynny bron a bod yn amhosib. Dwi'm yn meddwl y byddai Einstein yn medru cael trefn arnynt...pwy a wyr be fedrai Trebor Edwards a Shep neud?
Unwaith eto felly, teg fyddai gofyn y cwestiwn..Be yn union mae Plaid Cymru yn sefyll dros ar Gyngor Gwynedd?

That's the question I imagine that many Gwynedd residents and businesses are asking this morning as they read their Caernarfon & Denbigh Herald and Cambrian News.
As the largest group by far on the Council,it would appear that the Council "Leader", Dyfed Edwards and his crew have no strategy at all but cuts, cuts, cuts!!
Already, they have refused to compromise on key issues such as school closures, care home closures and toilet closures.
In the papers this morning, there are pages of critiscism regarding the decision to continue with the schools closure programme and the insensitive decision to raise the salaries of Senior Council Officers....What have Dyfed and The Sheep got next in their sights?...£250,000 and the closure of Welsh medium nursery groups, Cylchoedd Meithrin across the County!! Once again, their total lack of vision is clear to all (but themselves).
It's high time they started thinking outside the box...bring in the private sector to run some services, stop filling certain posts when they become vacant would be a start...what is imperative is that front line services are protected by all means...and to me the first educational steps that the Cylchoedd Meithrin provide are vitally important in a child's development.
The way that the Council also intends to cut the funding it gives to some of the County's leading Third Sector organisations is shameful!This is where working in partnership could provide the taxpayer with excellent value for money, but what doe sthe Council do? Cut their budgets without having the courtesy to even consult with them!..this means that the services that these organisations provide will be cut and more pressure and costs will fall back upon the Council!
Running good public services isn't "Rocket Science", but trying to get one particular group on Gwynedd Council to see this is virtually impossible. I don't even think that Einstein would be able to get their heads around this fact....maybe Trebor Edwards and his faithfull sheepdog Shep would stand a better chance?
Once again, I think it is fair to ask, What exactly do Plaid Cymru stand for on Gwynedd Council?

Blaenau Ymlaen

Mynychais cyfarfod o Grwp Strategol Blaenau Ymlaen yn gynharach heno.
Roedd pawb mewn hwyliau da yn dilyn cyhoeddiad fod y cais am £4.5m i adfywio canol y dref wedi ei gymeradwyo.
Byddwn yn penodi contractwyr i symud ymlaen gyda'r gwaith yn fuan.
Bydd y Cyng.Bob Cole a mi hefyd yn eistedd ar Fwrdd y Prosiect unwaith fydd y gwaith yn cychwyn, felly os ydych angen rhagor o wybodaeth neu os oes gennych unrhyw gwestiynau am y gwaith, mae croeso i chi gysylltu a mi neu Bob am sgwrs.

I attended a meeting of the Blaenau Ymlaen Strategy Group earlier this evening.
Everyone was in a good spirits following confirmation that the £4.5m funding application for the redevelopment of the Town Centre has been approved.
We will be appointing contractors to unertake the work soon.
Cllr.Bob Cole and myself will sit on the Project Board once the work begins, so if you have any quieries , questions or concerns regarding the work, please feel free to get in touch with either myself or Bob.

Adroddiad Kelly i dreuliau Aelodau Seneddol - The Kelly Report on M.P's expenses

Mae'n ymddangos pan fydd Aelodau Seneddol yn darllen adroddiad Kelly i'w treuliau ac amodau gwaith yr wythnos nesaf, bydd rhai yn mynd yn boeth iawn o dan eu coleri fel tasant newydd fwyta cyri poeth!
Mae'r adroddaid sydd wedi dod i ddwylo'r BBC yn argymell yn mysg amryw o bethau, gwneud i ffwrdd thaliadau morgais a'r hawl gan AS'au i gyflogi aelodau o'u teulu.
Mae Cymru a'r Cynulliad eisioes wedi arwain ar y mater yma gyda adroddiad Roger Jones yn gynharach eleni.
Dim ond ffyliaid fyddai yn gwrthwynebu argymhellion Kelly ac dwi'n bersonol yn croesawu unrhywbeth sydd am adfer hyder y cyhoedd mewn gwleidyddion - siawns bydd yr adroddaid a'r argymhellion yma yn gychwyn tuag at y cyfeiriad iawn i wneud hynny.

It appears that when Members of Parliment will get to read the Kelly report and its reccomendations on their salaries, expenses and terms of employment that some will undoubtedly get very hot under the collar as if they'd just eaten a very hot curry!
The report which has come into the hands of the BBC recommends amongst other things that mortgage payments for M.P.'s will be scrapped, so will their right to employ theeir own family members.
Wales and the Assembly have already led on this matter with the publication earlier this year of Roger Jones' report.
Only fools would oppose Kelly's recommendations and I personally welcome anything that will help resotore the public's faith in politicians - surely this report and its recommendations will start heading towards the right way in doing so.

Miike Snow - Miike Snow...My favourite album of the year so far

Got this album today and I think it is brilliant!
Sounds unlike anything I've heard before.
Miike Snow are a Swedish band...possibly the best thing to come out of there music wise since Abba.
Here are a few of my favourite tunes from the album....if you like these, go and part with some of your hard earned cash and buy the album as it is well worth it. I also think that it will make you feel good inside and may make you smile a little...and that can't be bad can it?
Animal

Black and Blue

Burial

Cadwch Blaenau'n Daclus! - Keep Blaenau Tidy!

Es am dro bore 'ma lawr Dolwen, i fynnu Ceunant Sych am Manod ac yn ol i lawr y Stryd Fawr am adra.
Roedd hi'n fore braf OND...mae na ddiawl o lanast ar hyd a lle yr ardal!!
Edrychwch ar y spwriel sydd ar hyd ochrau'r ffordd i lawr Dolwen ac ar faint o faw cwn sydd ar hyd y strydoedd!
Mae hyn yn warthus ac yn mater o ofid gan ei fod o'n gwneud i'r ardal edrcyh yn fler.
Gyda bron i £4.5m yn mynd i gael ei wario ar y dref yn ystod y flwyddyn neu ddwy nesaf, beth am i ni i gyd fel trigolion lleol cymryd 'chydig bach mwy o falchder ynddi.
Byddaf yn gofyn i'r Cyngor Sir a'r heddlu gymryd camau llymach yn erbyn y rhai sydd yn taflu spwriel ac yn gadael i'w cwn g***u ar y stryd. Pe byddai'r gosb am adael i'ch ci neud ei fusnes yn llawer drymach heb i chi ei lanhau efallai byddech chi yn ystyried yn ofalus ei adael i eraill - mae o hefyd yn beryglus dros ben i blant bach,felly cliriwch o ar eich holau y pobl bach bydur hunanol!

This morning i went for a walk down Dolwen hill an up through Ceunant Sych towards Manod and back down the High Street for home.
It was a lovely morning BUT...there is a hell of a mess throughout the area!!
Have you seen the rubbish that has been thrown along either side of the road going down Dolwen? And what about all the dog sh** on the streets!?
This is totally unacceptable and it is also a matter that should be of concern to us all as it makes the area look terrible and untidy.
With nearly £4.5m in the pipeline to spent on the town over the coming year, why don't we all as local residents start taking a bit more interest in looking after our area and keeping it tidy.
I will be asking the County Council and police to take tougher measures against those who throw litter and let their dogs do their business and leave it on the streets. If the penalty for dog fouling was far greater then I wonder how many ignorant and selfish owners would let their dogs sh** all over town without clearing it up? Dog poo stinks and it's also a danger for small children, so clean it up or face the consequnces you dirty, selfish people!

Pleidleisiau cofrestredig o'r Cyngor Sir - Recorded votes from the County Council

Rhybudd o gynnig gen i ynglŷn â gwarchod cyllideb ysgolion am dair blynedd.
My notice of motion calling for the education budget to be ring fenced.


O blaid / In Favour: (18) Y Cynghorwyr: Stephen Churchman(LD), Anwen Davies(LlG), T G Ellis(Ind), Simon Glyn(LlG), Alwyn Gruffydd(LlG), Dafydd Ll Hughes(LlG), Louise Hughes(LlG), Aeron M Jones(LlG), Eric Merfyn Jones(Ind), Eryl Jones-Williams(Ind), Llinos Merks(LlG), Peter Read(LlG), Gwilym Euros Roberts(LlG), Guto Rhys Tomos(Ind), Gethin Glyn Williams(LlG), Gwilym Williams(Ind), Owain Williams(LlG) a Robert J Wright(LlG)

Yn erbyn / Against (32) Y Cynghorwyr: Dyfed Edwards(PC), Dylan Edwards(PC), Elwyn Edwards(PC), Alan Jones Evans(Ind), Alun Wyn Evans(PC), Margaret Griffith(PC), Siân Gwenllïan(PC), O P Huws(PC), Ann Lloyd Jones(Ind), Dai Rees Jones(PC), John Gwilym Jones(Ind), John Wynn Jones(PC), W Penri Jones(PC), P.G.Larsen(PC), Dewi Llewelyn(PC), Dewi Lewis(PC), Keith Marshall(LD), J Wynn Meredith(PC), Linda Morgan(PC), Dewi Owen(Ind), W Roy Owen(Ind), Arwel Pierce(Ind), Caerwyn Roberts(PC), Glyn Roberts(PC), Ieuan Roberts(PC), John Pughe Roberts(Ind), Liz Saville Roberts (PC), W Gareth Roberts(PC), Dyfrig Siencyn (PC), Ioan Thomas (PC), J.W.Williams(PC) a R H Wyn Williams(PC)


(a)STRATEGAETH ARBEDION / SAVINGS STARTEGY - AILSTRWYTHURO / RE-ORGANISATION

Cynnig "Arweinnydd" y Cyngor i godi tal Uwch Swyddogion y Cyngor - The Council "Leader's" proposla regarding salary increases for Chief Officers.

(i)Gwelliant Y Cyng.Simon Glyn -Gohirio penderfyniad ac adolygu’r sefyllfa ymhen tair blynedd pan fydd mwy o wybodaeth ac eglurder ynglŷn â sefyllfa ariannol y Cyngor. / Cllr. Simon Glyn's Amendment - Defer the decision for three years so that we can fully review the situation once the Council's financial situation will be much clearer.

O blaid/ In Favour: (31) Y Cynghorydd Anwen Davies(LlG), Trefor Edwards(Ind), T G Ellis (Ind), Alan Jones Evans(Ind), Simon Glyn(Ind), Keith Greenly-Jones(Lab), Gwen Griffith(Lab), Alwyn Gruffydd(LlG), Dafydd Ll Hughes(LlG), Louise Hughes(LlG), Aeron M Jones(LlG), Brian Jones(Lab), Eric Merfyn Jones(Ind), Eryl Jones-Williams(Ind), Dilwyn Lloyd(Ind), Keith Marshall(LD), Llinos Merks(LlG), Dewi Owen(Ind), W Roy Owen(Ind), Arwel Pierce(Ind), Peter Read(LlG), Dafydd Roberts(Ind), Gwilym Euros Roberts(LlG), John Pughe Roberts(Ind), Sion Roberts(Ind), Trevor Roberts(Lab), Guto Rhys Tomos(Ind), Gethin Glyn Williams(LlG), Gwilym Williams(Ind), Owain Williams(LlG) a Robert J Wright(LlG).

Yn erbyn / Against: (35) Y Cynghorwyr Stephen Churchman(LD), E T Dogan(PC), Dyfed Edwards, Dylan Edwards(PC), Elwyn Edwards(PC), Alun Wyn Evans(PC), Jean Forsyth(LD), Margaret Griffith(PC), Selwyn Griffiths(PC), Siân Gwenllïan(PC), Huw Hughes(PC), O P Huws(PC), Anne Lloyd Jones(Ind), Charles Wyn Jones(PC), Dai Rees Jones(PC), John Gwilym Jones(Ind), John Wynn Jones(PC), R L Jones(PC), W Penri Jones(PC), P.G.Larsen(PC), Dewi Llewelyn(PC), Dewi Lewis(PC), J Wynn Meredith(PC), Linda Morgan(PC), W Tudor Owen(PC), Caerwyn Roberts(PC), Glyn Roberts(PC), Ieuan Roberts(PC), Liz Saville Roberts(PC), W Gareth Roberts(PC), Dyfrig Siencyn(PC), Ioan Thomas(PC), Ann Williams(PC), J.W.Williams(PC), a R H Wyn Williams(PC).

Atal pleidlais/ Abstained from voting (0)
(ii)Cymeradwyo’r argymhellion a amlinellir yng nghymalau 5.1-5.4 yn adroddiad y Prif Weithredwr, a’u bod yn digwydd dros ddwy flynedd oddi ar 1 Ebrill 2009 - Approve the reccomenations for salary increases outlined in the recommendations and that they occur over two years from April 2009.

O blaid / In Favour: (37) Y Cynghorydd Stephen Churchman(LD), E T Dogan(PC), Dyfed Edwards(PC), Dylan Edwards(PC), Elwyn Edwards(PC), Alan Jones Evans(Ind), Alun Wyn Evans(PC), Jean Forsyth(LD), Margaret Griffith(PC), Selwyn Griffiths(PC), Siân Gwenllïan(PC), Huw Hughes(PC), O P Huws(PC), Anne Lloyd Jones(PC), Charles Wyn Jones(PC), Dai Rees Jones(PC), John Gwilym Jones(Ind), John Wynn Jones(PC), R L Jones(PC), W Penri Jones(PC), P.G.Larsen(PC), Dewi Llewelyn(PC), Dewi Lewis(PC), J Wynn Meredith(PC), Linda Morgan(PC), W Tudor Owen(PC), Caerwyn Roberts(PC), Glyn Roberts(PC), Ieuan Roberts(PC), Liz Saville Roberts(PC), W Gareth Roberts(PC), Dyfrig Siencyn(PC), Ioan Thomas(PC), Guto Rhys Tomos(Ind), Ann Williams(PC), J.W.Williams(PC) a R H Wyn Williams(PC).

Yn erbyn/Against: (29) Y Cynghorwyr Anwen Davies(LlG), Trefor Edwards(Ind), T G Ellis(Ind), Simon Glyn(LlG), Keith Greenly-Jones(Lab), Gwen Griffith(Lab), Alwyn Gruffydd(LlG), Dafydd Ll Hughes(LlG), Louise Hughes(LlG), Aeron M Jones(LlG), Brian Jones(Lab), Eric Merfyn Jones(Ind), Eryl Jones-Williams(Ind), Dilwyn Lloyd(Ind), Keith Marshall(LD), Llinos Merks(LlG), Dewi Owen(Ind), W Roy Owen(Ind), Arwel Pierce(Ind), Peter Read(LlG), Dafydd Roberts(Ind), Gwilym Euros Roberts(LlG), John Pughe Roberts(Ind), Sion Roberts(Ind), Trevor Roberts(Lab), Gethin Glyn Williams(LlG), Gwilym Williams(Ind), Owain Williams(LlG) a Robert J Wright(LlG).

Ar y mater ysgolion, mae'n ymddangos fod mwyafrif o'r Cyngor o blaid y startegaeth o'u cau ac mi fydd hi'n ddiddorol gweld os bydd brwydfrydedd aelodau Plaid Cymru am gau ysgolion yn parhau pan ddaw y broses adolygu dalgylchol ffug yma i'w wardiau hwy?

On the future of small schools, it seems like a majority within the Council are in favour of the closure strategy, however it will be intersting to see if certain Plaid Cymru members will be as keen to close schools when the current flawed catchment area process moves into their Ward?

Ar fater y cynydd mewn cyflogau ar gyfer Uwch Swyddogion, roedd y Cyngor yn gwbwl ranedig - er i pob un aelod o grwp Plaid Cymru oedd yn bresennol bleidleisio dros y cynnydd, dylid nodi mai dim ond "Arewinydd" grwp Plaid Cymru oedd yr unig un allan o'r 5 arweinyddion grwpiau bleidleisiodd o blaid y cynnig - pleidleisiodd 3 yn erbyn ac roedd y llall yn yr ysbyty.
Roedd Bwrdd y Cyngor hefyd yn rhanedig ar y mater, ddaru 7 allan o'r 15 bleidleisio yn erbyn, 7 Plaid Cymru pleidleiso o Blaid ac roedd un aelod yn yr ysbyty.

On the matter of increasing Senior Officers salaries, the Council was more or less split down the middle - despite the fact that every Plaid Cymru member who was present voted in favour of the increase, it should be noted that only the Plaid "Leader" voted in favour out of the 5 group leaders, 3 voted against and the other was in hospital.
The Council Board was also split on the matter. All 7 Plaid members on the Board voted for the increases, anothr 7 voted against and one was in hospital.

Chi yn unig fedr penderfynu os ddaru eich Cynghorydd chi y peth iawn wrth bleidleiso o blaid neu yn erbyn y cynnigion yma - be sydd yn bwysig ydi fod y bleildias wedi ei chofnodi er mwyn i chi a phawb arall cael gweld.

You alone can decide whether or not your Councillor was right to vote for or against these notice's of motion - what is also important is that the vote's were recorded so that you and anyone else can see exactly how we voted.

Nol adra...heb y ffon symudol! - Back home...minus the mobile phone!

Wedi mwynhau penwythnos bendigedig yn ymlacio gyda'r teulu a ffrindiau, dyma dod yn ol adra, heb y ffon symudol.
Dwi wedi colli hi ar y traeth yn North Berwick bore ddoe ac efor llanw uchel yn cyrraedd y lan erbyn diwedd y prynhawn, tybiaf ei fod bellach yn sown i glyst sgodyn ym Mor y Gogledd!
Na hidiwch diolch i yswyriant y darparwr gwasanaeth, byddaf yn medru cadw'r ry'n rhif ond mae rhifau ffon cyswllt i gyd ar goll...eek!...felly os na chlywch gennyf am peth amser, byddwch yn gwybod pam! Rhag ofn y byddwch yn pryderu, fydd y sgodyn methu a'ch ffonio gan fod y cerdyn SIM yn yr hen ffon wedi ei gloi.
Arwhan y golli'r ffon, roedd y penwythnos yn wych! Diolch yn fawr i Craig, Janis, Jess ac Amy am eu croeso cynnes.

I've had a fantstic weekend, relaxing with friends and family up in Scotland and I'm now back home minus my mobile phone.
I lost it yesterday morning on North Berwick beach and with the afternoon full tide, I imagine that its now stuck to the ear of a fish swimming in the North Sea!
No problem, thanks to the service provider's insurance, I can keep my usual contact number but...all my contact numbers are missing...eek!...so if you don't hear from me for a while, you now know why!
And just in case you may be worried, there is no need to be, the fish cannot call you as the phone and its SIM card have been locked by the service provider.
Appart from losing the mobile, the weekend was brilliant! Many thanks to Craig, Janis, Jess and Amy for their warm welcome.

Take the high road....

Seibiant bach am 'chydig o ddyddiau gyda'r teulu a chyfeillion yn yr Alban felly dim blogio am 'chydig.

Having a few days off with family and friends in Scotland so a few days blogging break.

Sgiliau Arweinyddol tebyg i Churchill - Leadership skills similar to Churchill's

Gyda 18 mis wedi mynd heibio bellach ers i Dyfed Edwards gael ei ddewis fel “Arweinydd” Cyngor Gwynedd, priodol fyddai cymryd cipolwg sydyn ar ei steil fel arweinydd.
I fod yn deg a Dyfed, mae’n amlwg iawn nad oedd fawr o brofiad fel arweinydd ganddo cyn iddo gynnig ei hun i’r grŵp mwyaf ar y Cyngor (Plaid Cymru) wedi i’r arweinydd blaenorol golli ei sedd. Yn ôl yr hyn dwi’n ddeall ni wnaeth neb arall o fewn grŵp y Blaid gynnig ei hunain am y rôl ac i fod yn deg unwaith eto a Dyfed, mae rhywun yn gorfod edmygu ei uchelgais a’i barodrwydd i gamu i’r bwlch.
Sydd yn dod a ni at ei steil unigryw Dyfed o arwain.
Yr unig ffordd i’w ddisgrifio ydi ei fod o yn debyg iawn i Churchill…na!na!na!...Nid y gwladweinydd safodd yn gryf ac yn gadarn dros egwyddor ac yn erbyn Hitler a’r Natsïaid. Na, mae gennai ofn fod arweinyddiaeth Dyfed o Gyngor Gwynedd yn ymdebygu i Churchill, y ci sydd ar yr hysbysebion yswiriant ar y teledu….’Da chi’n gweld pob tro mae’r Prif Weithredwr neu Uwch Swyddogion yn cynnig unrhyw beth, mae Dyfed yn cytuno yn syth bin ac yn ysgwyd ei ben yn union fel y ci bach ac yn dweud “Ohhh Yes!”.
A dyna ydi problem fawr Dyfed, does ganddo ddim syniad gwreiddiol i’w enw, does ganddo ddim crebwyll gwleidyddol a does ganddo fawr ddim hygrededd gyda mwyafrif o’i gyd aelodau ar y Cyngor na chanran da o aelodau o Fwrdd y Cyngor chwaith.
Mae gennai enghreifftiau lu o sut mae mudiadau allanol ac unigolion eithaf dylanwadol wedi ei gyfarfod neu wedi cysylltu gyda fo am un rheswm neu'i gilydd ac maent wedi cael eu siomi gyda diffyg crebwyll y dyn.
Rwan, fel Aelod o Fwrdd y Cyngor ac o gofio'r holl gyhoeddusrwydd ynglŷn â’r gwahaniaethau rhwng Plaid Cymru a Llais Gwynedd, byddech chi’n synnu i glywed bod unfrydiaeth barn yn aml iawn ar Fwrdd y Cyngor a’r ystod o faterion.
Ble mae’r “Arweinydd” yn methu yn llwyr ydi ei ddiffyg i allu enyn cefnogaeth, brwdfrydedd a chyfaddawd gan eraill pan fo anghytundeb. - i ddeud y gwir, tydi o erioed wedi ceisio gwneud chwaith! Er ei fod wedi cael digon o gyfleoedd i wneud hynny.
Cafwyd enghraifft berffaith o hynny heddiw wrth drafod codiadau cyflog Uwch Swyddogion gyda’r unig rhai yn cefnogi Dyfed arwahan i bob aelod o grŵp Plaid Cymru oedd dau aelod annibynnol a dau o’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol - carwyd y cynnig ond gyda'r Cyngor wedi ei hollti'n llwyr ar y mater.
Taswn ni mewn cwis a rhywun yn gofyn i mi ydi Arweinydd eich Cyngor yn un da? Fy ateb gonest fyddai Nac Ydi!
Y gwir plaen ydi fod hi’n amlwg iawn erbyn hyn ei fod o allan o’i ddyfnder yn llwyr ond tra nad oes neb arall o’i grŵp yn barod i gamu i’r bwlch neu nes byddai grwpiau eraill yn barod i glymbleidio, mae gennai ofn mai “Churchill” fydd ein “arweinydd” tan yr Etholiadau Lleol nesaf….Duw yn unig a ŵyr sut Gyngor fyddwn ni erbyn hynny?

Now that 18 months have passed since Dyfed Edwards was chosen as Gwynedd Council’s “Leader”, it’s only fair that we take a quick look at his leadership style.
To be fair with Dyfed, it is obvious that he had little or no previous leadership experience before he offered himself to the largest group on the Council (Plaid Cymru) after the previous incumbent lost his seat. From what I have subsequently learnt, nobody else within the group “stepped up to the plate” and to give Dyfed his dues one has to admire his ambition and willingness to step into the breach.
This brings us to Dyfed’s unique leadership style.
The only way to describe it that it is very similar to Churchill’s…no!no!no!...Not the Statesman who made a firm and principled stand against Hitler and the Nazis. No I am afraid that Dyfed’s leadership of Gwynedd Council is similar to Churchill, the dog on the insurance advertisement on TV. You see…every time the Chief Executive or Senior Officers make proposals, Dyfed always nods his head in agreement just like the little dog and say’s “Ohhh yes!”
That is what Dyfed’s biggest problem is. He doesn’t have an original idea to his name, he has no political nounce and he has very little credibility with many of his fellow members on the Council or a good percentage of the Council Board either.
I have many examples on a range of issues when organisations, influential individuals have met with him or contact him only to be disappointed by his lack of nounce.
Now, as a member of the Council Board and given all the media coverage highlighting the differences between Plaid Cymru and Llais Gwynedd, you’d be surprised to learn that very often at Board meetings there is unanimity and agreement on a broad range of matters.
Where the “Leader” fails completely is his inability to gain support, enthusiasm or compromise on matters where there is disagreement – to be honest he has never really tried! - Even though he has had plenty of opportunities to do so.
A perfect example of that was seen today where the Council was split more or less down the middle, with every member of Plaid and two Independents and two Lib. Dems were the only ones who voted in favour of the motion that carried to raise senior management salaries.
If I was in a quiz and I had to answer the question, does your Council have a good leader? My honest answer would be NO!
The truth of the matter is that by now he is quite clearly out of his depth but whilst no one else in his group are prepared to step into the breach or until such a time that other groups are prepared to form a coalition, I am afraid that “Churchill” will be our “Leader” until the next Local Elections….God only knows what sort of Council we will be by then?

Newyddion da i’r Blaenau! – Great news for Blaenau!

Mae Llywodraeth y Cynulliad wedi cyhoeddi y bydd £4.5m yn cael ei wario ar adfywio canol tref Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Roeddwn i a grwp Strategaeth Blaenau Ymlaen yn gwybod am hyn ers tua pythefnos ac mae cadw'n ddistaw am y peth wedi bod yn gythral o job!
Yn naturiol, dwi’n hynod falch o glywed hyn ac mae hi’n holl bwysig ein bod ni fel ardal yn gwneud y defnydd gorau posib o’r arian gan na fydd y math yma o bres ar gael am sawl blwyddyn eto.
Dwi eisioes wedi gyrru e-bost at y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog a’r Gweinidog Datblygu Economaidd, Ieuan Wyn Jones i ddiolch iddo am ei gefnogaeth i’r ardal.
Dwi’n hynod falch mod i wedi medru ac yn dal i gydweithio gyda Blaenau Ymlaen ar y cynllun yma ac hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle i longyfarch a diolch hefyd i’r Cynghorydd Bob Cole, Pryderi ap Rhisiart a Llyr Jones o Gyngor Gwynedd am eu gwaith caled yn ystod y 18 mis diwethaf sydd wedi talu ar ei ganfed gyda’r cyhoeddiad yma heddiw.
Byddwn yn symud ymlaen i bendoi contractwyr i wneud y gwaith maes o law.
Am 3.30pm heddiw bydd Ieuan Wyn Jones yn Bistro Moelwyn i gael tynnu ei lun fel rhan o’r cyhoeddiad…ni fyddai yno gan y byddaf yng Nghaernarfon ar gyfer cyfarfod llawn y Cyngor Sir, gobeithio na fydd Ieuan yn siomedig gan na fydd y cynghorydd tlysaf yn y parthau hyn yn y llun gydag ef ;-)))))!!

The Welsh Assembly Government has announced that £4.5m is to be spent on the regeneration of Blaenau Ffestiniog Town Centre.
Myself and other members of the Blaenau Ymlaen Strategy Group have known about this for about a fortnight and keeping the news under wraps has been hard!
Naturally, I am very happy to hear this news and it is imperative that the community uses this money wisely as this sort of money won’t be available again for quite some time.
I have already sent an e-mail to Deputy First Minister and Economic Development Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones to thank him for showing such support to the area.
I am pleased that I have been able to play a small part in this as I have and will continue to support the excellent work that is being done by Blaenau Ymlaen. I’d like to pass my sincere thanks and also congratulate Cllr Bob Cole and Pryderi ap Rhisiart and Llyr Jones from Gwynedd Council for their hard work over the past 18 months which has paid dividend with today’s announcement.
We will be moving pretty soon to appoint contractors to undertake the work in due course.
At 3.30pm today, Ieuan Wyn Jones will be at Bistro Moelwyn to formally announce the good news and for a photocall….I won’t be there as I will be at a full Council meeting in Caernarfon. I hope Ieuan won’t be too upset due to the fact that the best looking Councillor in these parts won’t be in the photo with him ;-)))))!!

Cic o le annisgwyl - A kick from an unexpected source

Yn dilyn y gefnogaeth annisgwyl ddoe gan y Ceidwadwyr i ymgyrch Llais Gwynedd i warchod ysgolion bach Gwynedd, doeddwn i ddim yn disgwyl gweld hyn yn y Daily Post y bore 'ma wrth iddynt son am fy nghynnig i'r Cyngor yfory:
But rural communities group Cymuned fear that the motion is a "step too far" spokesman Aran Jones said: "Llais Gwynedd were established because of discontent in the plans put forward by Gwynedd Council. They succeeded in expressing that concern in the council elections, but now is the time to find a way for all sides to work together".
Rwan dwi ddim yn gwybod os ydi Aran wedi darllen a deallt fy nghynnig? Dwi ddim yn gwybod os mai barn unigol Aran yntau barn y mudiad a'i aelodau sydd yma? Ond er mwyn i ni fod yn berffaith glir yma, mae'r hyn sydd yn cael i gynnig gan Gyngor Gwynedd ar hyn o bryd ac sydd yn cael ei gefnogi gan Plaid Cymru yn mynd yn gwbwl groes i'r egwyddorion pam y sefydlwyd Cymuned.
Mae datganiad Aran hefyd yn gwrthddweud y trydedd pwynt yn nodau ac amcanion Cymuned sydd wedi ei rhestru yma.
Beth sydd hefyd yn od am ddatganiad Aran ydi fod yr hyn sydd yn digwydd rwan yr un fath a beth oedd Gwynedd yn cynnig dwy flynedd yn ol...pryd hynny roedd Cymuned yn rhan o'r protestiadau yn erbyn bwriad y Cyngor!?
Roeddwn yn un o'r siaradwyr yn y cyfarfod i sefydlu Cymuned yn Myntho rhai blynyddoedd yn ol. Daeth cannoedd ynghyd ar y prynhawn dydd Sadwrn hwnnw....sgwn i faint o'u plith fyddai yn cytuno gyda bwriad Cyngor Gwynedd i gau dros 25 o ysgolion mewn cymunedau gwledig Cymreig?

Following the unexpected support for Llais Gwynedd's campaign to save small rural schools in Gwynedd by the Conservative Party yesterday, I did not expect to see this in today's Daily Post as it reports on my notice of motion to the Council tomorrow:
But rural communities group Cymuned fear that the motion is a "step too far" spokesman Aran Jones said: "Llais Gwynedd were established because of discontent in the plans put forward by Gwynedd Council. They succeeded in expressing that concern in the council elections, but now is the time to find a way for all sides to work together".
Now I don't know if Aran has read my motion and whether or not he understands it? I don't know if this is Aran's personal opinion or whether or not its Cymuned's official line on the matter? But let's be perfectly clear about one thing and that is the fact that what Gwynedd Council is doing, with the support of Plaid Cymru, goes totally against the reasons behind the formation of Cymuned.
Aran's comments also contradict the Aims and Objectives of Cymuned, listed here and in particular the third one.
What is also odd about Aran's statement is that Gwynedd Council's proposals are exactly the same as they were two years ago, nothing has changed. Back then, Cymuned protested with parents against the Councils proposals!
I was one of the speakers at the meeting in Mynytho some years ago which saw the beginning of Cymuned. That Saturday afternoon, hundreds packed into that meeting....I wonder just how many of them woud agree with Gwynedd Council's proposals to close over 25 schools in rural Welsh speaking communities?

Canolfan da Vinci = Eliffant Gwyn? - da Vinci Centre = White Elephant?

Mae Llywodraeth y Cynulliad wedi cyhoeddi heddiw y byddent yn rhoi £15m tuag at adeiladu Canolfan Celfyddudau a Gwyddorau Prifysgol Bangor ar safle yr hen Theatr Gwynedd.
Bydd Canolfan da Vinci (wedi ei henwi ar ol un o hoff feibion Maes G!?)yn agor ei drysau yn 2012 os bydd y Brifysgol yn gallu denu rhagor o arian i gyfateb a buddsoddiad y Cynulliad... a dyna sydd yn dod a ni yn ol at yr edefyn yma sgwenais i dros flwyddyn yn ol.
Ydi hon yn Ganolfan hyfyw? O gofio'r hinsawdd economiadd presennol ydi'r Ganolfan hon yn ddefnydd da o adnoddau cyhoeddus? Oni fyddai'r arian yma yn cael ei ddefnyddio yn well yng Ngwynedd i warchod a datblygu canolfanau celfyddydau a chreadigol eraill gyda'r Galeri yng Nghaernarfon yn "hub" i'r cyfan gyda neuaddau, theatrau a chanolfanau eraill fel yr olwyn o'i chwmpas.
Yn sicir mae Vaughan a'r Athro yn cyfeirio at amheuon sydd gan eraill a nhw eu hunain am Ganolfan da Vinci...amser a ddengys os mai eliffant gwyn arall fydd hon
Be sydd hefyd yn drawiadol am gyhoeddiad Llywodraeth y Cynulliad heddiw ydi fod dros £20m yn dod i Wynedd sydd yn amlwg i'w groesawu ond siom a gofid ydi nodi nad oes dim o hwnnw wedi ei glustnodi ar gyfer Dwyfor a Meirionnydd.?

The Welsh Assembly Government has announced today that they will be giving £15m towards the building of a new Cultural and Science Centre at Bangor University on the old Theatre Gwynedd site.
The da Vinci Centre (Named after one Maes G's favourite sons!) will open its doors in 2012 if the University is succesfull in securing further funding to match WAG's investment...and that brings is back to a blog entry that I posted over a year ago.
Is this Centre viable? Given the current economic climate, is developing the Centre a good use of public resources? Wouldn't the money be better spent in Gwynedd by developing and safeguarding other cultural centres with the Galeri at Caernarfon being the hub to all activity with other halls, theatres and centres like a wheel around it.
Certainly Vaughan and the Prof. raise some valid doubts raised by themselves and others regarding the da Vinci Centre...time alone will tell if this is going to be another white elephant?
Another striking factor about today's announcement from WAG is of the £20m+ investment coming to Gwynedd that i sof course warmly welcomed, what is sad and alarming is that not a penny of it will be spent on projects in either Dwyfor or Meirionnydd.

Cefnogaeth i gynnig addysg o gyfeiriad annisgwyl - Support for education proposal from an unexpected source

Mae'r cynnig ynglyn ag addysg gynradd dwi'n rhoi ger bron Cyngor Gwynedd prynhawn dydd Iau wedi derbyn cefnogaeth heddiw gan y Blaid Geidwadol yn y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol a'u ymgeisydd yn Etholaeth Dwyfor/Meirionnydd ar gyfer San Steffan, y cyn Aelod Cynulliad, Lisa Francis.
Rwan cyn i cefnogwyr Plaid Cymru ymosod arnaf i a Llais Gwynedd am fod y Doriaid cydd ayb...Dylid nodi mai chwbwl mae'r Ceidwadwyr yn ei wneud ydi cefnogi ymgyrch yng Ngwynedd tebyg iawn i be mae aelodau Plaid Cymru yn ei wneud yn Wrecsam,Mynwy a Chaerfyrddin...ac os ydi'n iawn i Janet Ryder A.C. wrthwynebu cau ysgolion yn Nyffryn Ceiriog yna mae'n iawn i Nick Bourne A.C. a Paul Davies A.C. gefnogi ymgyrch yn erbyn cau ysgolion yma yng Ngwynedd.
Be sydd yn drawiadol am hyn i gyd ydi pwy fyddai'n meddwl 30 mlynedd yn ol y byddai'r Ceidwadwyr yn gwneud safiad dros ysgolion yng nghymunedau gwledig Gwynedd a Phlaid Cymru y arwain yr ymgyrch i'w cau! Rhyfedd o fyd gyfeillion, rhyfedd o fyd.

The notice of motion that I have presented to Gwynedd Council thus Thursday afternoon has received support today from the Conservative group in the Welsh Assembly and their Prospective Parlimentary Candidate in Dwyfor/Meirionnydd, former A.M. Lisa Francis.
Now before Plaid Cymru supporters on the Welsh blogosphere attack myself and Llais Gwynedd as being closet Tories....It should be noted that all that the Conservative Party is doing is supporting a campaign in Gwynedd similar to what Plaid Cymru members are doing in Wrexham, Monmouth and Carmarthenshire...and if it is right for Janet Ryder A.M. to oppose proposed school closures in the Ceiriog Valley then it is also right that both Nick Bourne A.M. and Paul Davies A.M. support a campaign against school closures in Gwynedd.
What is so striking and significant about all of this is, who would have thought, indeed, who could have imagined 30 years ago that the Conservative Party would make a stand to protect the schools in rural communities in Gwynedd and that Plaid Cymru would be leading the campaign to close those very same schools! What a strange world my friends, strange indeed.

WELSH CONSERVATIVES SUPPORT MOTION TO HALT SMALL SCHOOL REORGANISATION IN GWYNEDD.

Lisa Francis, Welsh Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd and former Mid and West Wales Assembly Member, today revealed that she was pleased that the Welsh Conservative Group in the Assembly are supportive of a motion being put before Gwynedd Council later this week by the Llais Gwynedd Group.
The motion highlights the need to ring fence the County’s primary school budget for the next three years so that the Council has an opportunity to lobby the Labour / Plaid Coalition Government in the Assembly to gain parity with the sort of status, conditions and budgets enjoyed by primary schools in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. If passed, the local authority’s proposed primary school reorganisation process could be brought to a halt.
Speaking from Tywyn, where Gwynedd Council are presently consulting on the future of six schools in the area, Lisa said:
“From the meeting I at attended at Llanegryn last week, it was clear that both parents and governors were unhappy that their views on the ‘Tywyn Catchment Review’ had not been properly taken into consideration, and had even been misrepresented by the County Council. When there is such massive uncertainty surrounding plans for small schools in this area, particularly in respect of secure funding for any future proposals, and when the Welsh Assembly Government’s current guidelines on this issue are fundamentally flawed, it cannot be right to simply ‘railroad’ these proposals through.
“During the last Assembly, we can all remember how the Government tried to enforce proposed changes to rural health services before making sure that any safe and workable alternative provision was in place - now they’re putting pressure on local authorities to do this with small schools. Make no mistake, this isn’t about putting children’s best interests at heart, it’s about ill-thought out cost cutting. Too many schools in Wales are being stifled by over-regulation and centralised control and this mustn’t be allowed to happen in Dwyfor Meirionnydd.”
Paul Davies, Welsh Conservative Shadow Spokesman for Education in the Assembly said:
“I welcome this proposal being put forward by Llais Gwynedd. Welsh Conservatives believe that any plans being put forward by individual local education authorities must have the support of the communities they serve. It is essential that any proposed changes improve the delivery of education for our children. It is not acceptable that proposals are rushed through without due diligence and proper consideration.”

Be yn union da chi yn sefyll dros? - What exactly do you stand for?

Cwestiwn syml ond ofnadwy o bwysig....fedr rhywun o grwp Plaid Cymru ar Gyngor Gwynedd ateb plis? Mi fyddwn i, amryw o gynghorwyr eraill ac yn sicr miloedd o ddinasyddion y Sir yma yn hoffi gwybod.
Yn ol Cai Larsen dylem ni gyd ddilyn arweiniad y Blaid arbennig yma...Be 'da chi'n feddwl? Sa'n talu i ni gyd ei dilyn fel lemmings?

A simple but very important question....can anyone from the Plaid Cymru group on Gwynedd answer please? I and several other councillors and certainly the thousands of residents in this County would love to know.
According to Cai Larsen, we should all follow the lead of this particular Party...What do you think? Would it pay for us to follow them like lemmings?

Problemau parcio - Parking problems

P'nawn yfory byddaf yn cyfarfod gyda swyddog o'r Cyngor i edrych unwaith eto ar y problemau parcio cynyddol yn ardal Stryd Niwbwrch a Park Square yma yn y Blaenau.
Fy ngobaith yw maes o law cyflwyno cynllun parcio ar gyfer trigolion yn unig yn y ddwy stryd.
Mae sawl ardal arall yn y Ward hefyd gyda problemau parcio yn bodoli ynddynt,dwi ar ddeallt bydd llinelau melyn yn cael ei gosod yn y lleoliadau hynny cyn y Nadolig.

Tomorrow afternoon I'll be meeting with an officer from the Council to look once again at the increasing parking problems in the Newborough Street and Park Square area here in Blaenau.
My hope in time is to see a residents only parking scheme being established in both streets.
A number of other areas in my Ward have experienced parking problems, I am aware that following a consultation period that is nearly finished that yellow lines and restrictions will be in place in these areas before Christmas.

TV Treats

Sky 1's latest American comedy Modern Family is an absolute laugh out loud show.
This week also sees the annual BBC Electric Proms returning to our screen every night this week from Tuesday until Saturday and if it will be anything like last year's event it will be well worth seeing. Check press for details but I think its on nightly at 11.20pm on BBC2 just after Newsnight.
Both of them are on series link on the Sky+.

DIM RWAN YDI'R AMSER I GODI CYFLOGAU!! - NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR SALARY INCREASES!!

Mae'r stori ynglŷn â'r argymhellion ar gyfer codiadau cyflog i rai o Uwch Swyddogion Cyngor Gwynedd wedi taro'r wasg y bore 'ma gyda'r erthygl yma yn y Daily Post.
Gan mai fi yw Arweinydd Portffolio Adnoddau Dynol y Cyngor, mae fy ffon wedi bod yn boeth ers dydd Iau pan ddaeth yr argymhellion yma yn gyhoeddus ond dwi wedi gwrthod gwneud unrhyw gyfweliadau am y tro ar y mater ond dwi wedi rhyddhau'r datganiad canlynol i roi sylw ar y mater:
"Whilst I fully appreciate and value the work that our senior management team undertake, particularly during what has been and will continue to be a very difficult period for Local Government and public services in general.
I feel that adopting a policy that will see increased salary levels at the highest level whilst we are also having to make tough decisions regarding cuts such as school closures and increased charges for care as being unwise and insensitive. When you add to this, the poor financial settlement from the Assembly Government (1.1%) and the Chancellor's recent statement regarding a pay freeze for public sector management, I believe that this is unacceptable.
It was for these reasons as Portfolio Leader for Human Resources on Gwynedd Council's Board that I refused to make the proposal to the Council and I have subsequently been over ruled on the matter by the Council Leader and Senior Portfolio Leader who have both decided to make the proposal to the Full Council on Thursday".
Mae hyn i gyd yn deillio o'r ad-drefnu o reolaeth y Cyngor ddigwyddodd cyn y Nadolig llynedd a gwelwyd arbediad o dros £1m yn sgil hynny. Wedi gwneud hynny, roedd y Prif Weithredwr yn awyddus i gomisiynu adolygiad annibynnol o'r strwythur newydd gan gynnwys edrych ar delerau ac amodau a chyflogau'r Penneithiad Gwasanaeth i gyd. Cytunais i hynny ddigwydd ar yr amod nad oedd dim rheidrwydd na gorfodaeth i'r Cyngor wneud dim yn dilyn yr adolygiad.
Ganol yr haf, daeth yr adolygiad gan gwmni Haye yn ôl a dyma sydd yn cael ei gyflwyno i'r Cyngor dydd Iau nesaf gan "Arweinydd" y Cyngor, Dyfed Edwards (Plaid Cymru) ac Uwch Arweinydd Portffolio Adnoddau, J.R.Jones ( Dem.Rhydd).
Dechrau Medi roeddwn wedi derbyn cyngor cyfreithiol gan fod rhai o'r swyddogion yma wedi derbyn cyfrifoldebau ychwanegol y byddai well i mi gynnig yr argymhellion a phryd hynny, mi ddaru mi gytuno gyda'r farn hynny.
Dewch flaen mis yn ddiweddarach i ddechrau Hydref pan gyhoeddwyd y byddai’r Cyngor am gau 5 ysgol, gwneud toriadau sylweddol iawn i gyllidebau mudiadau gwirfoddol, cod pris cinio ysgol o £1 y dydd ac fe gafwyd y ddau gyhoeddiad yma ….Ffactorau oedd yn fy marn i yn newid popeth ac ar nos Lun, Hydref 5ed mi ddaru mi ddatgan yn glir mewn e-bost at "Arweinydd" y Cyngor a'r Prif Weithredwr nad oeddwn bellach yn cytuno gyda'r argymhelliad i godi'r cyflogau ac yn wir bu i mi ymbil arnyn nhw i beidio â gwneud hynny o gofio'r holl doriadau sydd yn ein hwynebu a chyhoeddiadau Andrew Davies ac Alastair Darling.
Atgyfnerthais y neges hynny eto dydd Llun diwethaf gan ofyn unwaith eto i’r “Arweinydd”, Uwch Arweinydd Portffolio a’r Prif Weithredwr i beidio â rhoi'r cynnig hwn ger bron y Cyngor. Anwybyddwyd fy nghais, ac mewn cyfarfod yn dilyn Bwrdd y Cyngor dydd Mawrth diwethaf, dywedwyd wrthyf fod Dyfed Edwards a J.R.Jones yn cynnig y codiadau yma i’r Cyngor llawn dydd Iau nesaf am eu cymeradwyaeth.
Mae hyn i gyd yn fy marn i yn ansensetif ac yn rhoi'r swyddogion yma mewn lle cas ac yn eu cyfaddawdu wrth iddynt orfod trafod toriadau gyda'r cyhoedd, mudiadau allanol a staff is o fewn ei adrannau.
Os bydd hyn yn cael ei dderbyn yna bydd o'n adlewyrchu yn wael iawn ar y Cyngor.
Mae un peth yn sicr, mae'n berffaith amlwg erbyn hyn fod "Arweinydd" y Cyngor, Dyfed Edwards allan o gyswllt yn llwyr gyda realiti a gyda barn dinasyddion Gwynedd. Dwi’n mawr obeithio y bydd fy nghyd aelodau yn rhannu fy mhryder am y symudiad anffodus yma.

The story regarding the proposed salary increases for Gwynedd Council’s Senior Management Team has hit the headlines with this article in today’s Daily Post.
As I am the Portfolio Leader for Human Resources on the Council Board, my phone has been red hot since these recommendations became public knowledge on Thursday, but so far I have refused to be interviewed on the matter and I released the following statement to the press:
"Whilst I fully appreciate and value the work that our senior management team undertake, particularly during what has been and will continue to be a very difficult period for Local Government and public services in general.
I feel that adopting a policy that will see increased salary levels at the highest level whilst we are also having to make tough decisions regarding cuts such as school closures and increased charges for care as being unwise and insensitive. When you add to this, the poor financial settlement from the Assembly Government (1.1%) and the Chancellor's recent statement regarding a pay freeze for public sector management, I believe that this is unacceptable".
It was for these reasons as Portfolio Leader for Human Resources on Gwynedd Council's Board that I refused to make the proposal to the Council and I have subsequently been over ruled on the matter by the Council Leader and Senior Portfolio Leader who have both decided to make the proposal to the Full Council on Thursday".
All of this dates back to the re-organisation of the Council’s senior management structure that took place last December, which saw the Council making a saving of over £1m. Following that restructure, the Chief Executive was keen to commission and independent review into the new structure that would look specifically at roles, duties and salaries – I agreed to this review being undertaken without any preconceptions that we would have to act on all or any of its recommendations.
In the middle of the summer, the review had been undertaken by Haye and it is the recommendations from that report that are being proposed for acceptance to the Council next Thursday by the Council “Leader” Dyfed Edwards (Plaid Cymru) and Senior Portfolio Leader for Resources J.R.Jones (Lib.Dem).
At the beginning of September I had received legal advice telling me that I should propose the salary increases due to the fact that some senior officers had taken on new additional responsibilities- at that time I accepted that advice and I was prepared to make the proposal.
Fast forward a month to the beginning of October and the Council announces that it wants to close 5 schools, make significant cuts to the voluntary sector budget, increase the price of school meals by £1 a day and these two announcements were also made….Factors, in my opinion changed everything and on Monday evening, October 5th I stated clearly in an e-mail to both the Council “Leader” and Chief Exec that I no longer agreed with the proposed increase to the salaries of Senior Management and indeed, I implored them both not to do it given the seriousness of the proposed cuts that face us and the announcements made by Andrew Davies and Alastair Darling.
I re-iterated that message again last Monday and I asked the “Leader”, Senior Portfolio Leader and the Chief Executive not to put these recommendations before the Council. My request was turned down and at a meeting on Tuesday this week following the Council Board meeting, I was told in no uncertain terms that both Dyfed Edwards and J.R. Jones would be proposing the salary increases for senior management to the Full Council next Thursday.
In my opinion, this is insensitive and it totally compromises the officers as it will be much harder for them to engage with people, organizations and their own lower ranking staff if they were to be seen to be accepting above average pay deals whilst at the same time having to make tough decisions like cutting services, funding and jobs.
If all of this receives the support of members on Thursday and is adopted as Council policy, it will reflect terribly on the Council.
One thing is certain, the Council “Leader”, Dyfed Edwards is completely out of touch with reality as well as the citizens of Gwynedd,.
One thing I sincerely hope is that on Thursday, my fellow members will share my concerns regarding this proposal.

Buddigoliaethau gwych i'r Amaturiaid ac i Bro!- Great wins for both the Amateurs and Bro!

P'nawn 'ma oddi cartref, mi chwalodd Amaturiaid y Blaenau, Nantlle Vale o 5-0,da iawn Mel a'r hogia!
Aeth Bro Ffestiniog i Rhuthin ac fe gwasant hwythau fuddigoliaeth wych hefyd o 22-19,felly da iawn Danny a'r hogia!
Mae'r ddau dim yn chwarae gartref y penwythnos nesaf ond yn anffodus byddaf i ffwrdd yn Yr Alban am 'chydig ddyddiau ac efallai fyddai ddim yn gallu blogio'r canlyniadau...serch hynny da chi byth yn gwybod efo'r dechnoleg diweddaraf, mae unrhyw beth yn bosib!

Both the Amateurs and Bro Ffestiniog had away matches today. And they both won!!!
The Amateurs hammered Nantlle Vale 5-0 at Penygroes, so well done Mel and the lads!
Bro faced a difficult match away to Ruthin, however they will return with the spoils with an excellent 22-19 win. I'm sure Danny and the lads will be well chuffed as not many teams will go to Ruthin this season and come away with a win.
Once again, a great weekend on the sporting front for the Blaenau area!
Next week, both teams will be playing at home, however, I'll be away in Scotland for a few days and may not be able to blog the scores. Mind you, with modern technology, anything is possible!

War Child

War Child is a small international charity that protects children living in the world's most dangerous war zones.
They are currently working in Iraq, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The proceeds from the the single "I Got Soul" by a collective of new artists performing under the name Young Soul Rebels will all go to the charity.
The song is a special War Child arrangement of The Killers' song "All These Things That I've Done".
If you can, please support this worthy cause.

Mwy o ragrith o'r top - More hypocrisy from the top

Bore 'ma mi es draw i Lanberis i Gyfarfod Blynyddol a Ffair Gyllidwyr Mantell Gwynedd, corff ymbarel sydd yn cynrychioli mudiadau cumunedol a gwirfoddol (Y Trydedd Sector) ar draws Gwynedd.
Yno cefais gyfarfod a chynrychiolwyr o sawl mudiad gwirfoddol ar draws y Sir ac mewn rhai achosion codywd pryder gwirioneddol am y ffordd gwarthus mae "Arweinydd" y Cyngor, Arweinydd Portffolio Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a phennaeth un gwasanaeth penodol wedi bihafio yn ddiweddar tuag at y sector.
Be oedd wrth wraidd hyn medda chi?
Mae'n ymddangos fod y Cyngor heb unrhyw drafodaethau gyda rhai o brif fudiadau'r Sir yn mynd i dorri ei cyllidebau yn llwyr neu mewn achosion eraill canran helaeth o'r cyllidebau. Bydd hyn yn golygu na fydd y sector yn gallu cynnig gwasanaethau a chefnogaeth i rhai o'n pobl mwyaf anghenus a difreintiedig ni.
Golyga hynny, bydd rhagor o bwysau yn mynd ar adnoddau prin y Cyngor gan fod y sector yn cynnig gwerth anhygoel am arain yn ogystal a safon arbennig iawn o gefnogaeth heb fyddin o swyddogion a biwrocratiaeth di-angen yn agos i'r holl beth.
Yn ol sawl sgwrs ges i, doedd gan ru'n o'r unigolion dwi wedi cyfeirio atynt uchod, y cwrteisi i drafod y mater gyda chynrychiolwyr y mudiadau yma, gafodd wybod y newyddion fod y torriadau yma ar fin digwydd drwy hap!
Mae hyn yn mynd yn gwbwl groes i'r ateb(Gweler Item 5, tud.2 ac ymlaen i tud.3) rhoddodd "Arweinydd" y Cyngor i mi pan ofynais gwestiwn iddo yn ddiweddar ar llawr y Cyngor ynglyn a'r ffordd mae'r Cyngor yn cydweithio gyda mudiadau gwirfoddol.
Fel arfer, geiriau gwag oedd ei ateb gan fod yr hyn sydd yn digwydd go iawn yn gwbwl groes i'r hyn y dywedodd o...Peidiwch a cymryd fy ngair i ar y mater yma, holwch rhai o beneithiaid prif fudiadau gwirfoddol y Sir.

This morning I went to Llanberis for Mantell Gwynedd's AGM and Funder's Fair (Mantell) is the umberella body that represents the voluntary and community groups (Third Sector) accross Gwynedd.
Whilst I was there I had the opportunity to meet with a number of representatives from various voluntary groups from across the County, some of who raised some serious issues with me regarding the disgraceful way that the Council "Leader", The Social Services Portfolio Leader and one specific head of service have behaved recently towards the third sector.
What's made people so angry you ask?
It appears that without any dialouge or formal notification that the Council is going to either cut its entire budget allocation or a significant percentage of it to a number of key third sector partner organisations.
This will undoubtedly mean in some cases that these organisations will not be able to deliver their services and support to some of the most vulnerable and socially excluded people within Gwynedd. This responsibility will therefore fall back on limited Council resources which is crazy given the fact that the third sector offers excellent value for money, a high standard of service without an army of officers and needles buraucracy anywhere near to it.
In almost all the conversations that I had, not one of the individuals I have reffered to had the decency to contact the organisations who are being effected to explain what was happening and to discuss the impact of such drastic measures on the organisations and more importantly on the service users. In each case, they became aware of what is being proposed through a third party!
This goes completely against the answer that the Council "Leader" gave to me on the floor of the Council when I asked him about the Coucil's relationship with the Third Sector.
As usual, his reply (see Item 5, bottom page 2, cont. page 3)has been proved to be nothing more than empty words and meaningless platitudes as what is really happening at the moment is so far removed from the rosey picture he tried to paint.....Please don't take my word for this, ask some of the heads of the County's largest voluntary sector organisations.

Arian troseddwyr i drwsio difrod i fynwent - Ill gotten gains to pay for cemetary damage

Diolch i ymdrechion y Sgt.Lisa Jones o'r Heddlu yma yn y Blaenau, mae £15,000 wedi ei diogelu o raglen Community Cashback y Llywodraeth.
Bydd yr arian yma yn cael ei ddefnyddio i drwsio rhai o'r beddau gafodd eu malurio gan y diawliad bach drwg a chwalodd nhw yn ystod yr haf - achos ysgwydodd y gymuned gyfan i'w seiliau.
Bydd yr arain hefyd yn cael ei ddefnyddio i wella diogelwch yn y fynwent.
Gan i mi a teuluoedd rhai o'r rhai oedd wedi cael effeithio gan hyn i gyd, gyfarfod gyda Lisa yn ystod yr haf i drafod hyn i gyd, dwi'n sicir bydd y newyddion yma yn cael ei croesawu'n fawr ganddynt ac yn mynd peth o'r ffordd i leddfur boen mae'r holl ddigwyddiad wedi achosi iddynt.
Byddaf yn cael cyfarfod pellach bore Mercher nesaf gyda'r Heddlu i drafod y ffordd ymlaen.

Thanks to the efforts of Sgt.Lisa Jones here in Blaenau, £15,000 has been secured from the Government's Community Cashback scheme.
The money will be used to repair some of the graves that were damaged by the little scumbags that desecrated the graves earlier this summer - an incident that shook the whole community to its core.
The money will also be used to make the cemetray more secure.
As I and some of the families affected by all of this ahd met up with Lisa before she presented the bid to discuss this, I am sure that this announcement will be warmly welcomed by them and will go a little way to ease the pain and heartache that the whole incident has caused them.
I will be having a further meeting with the Police on Wednesday to discuss the way forward.

'Da chi'm o ddifri!? - You cannot be serious!?

Mae na gymdeithas sydd wedi ei leoli yn Llundain wedi dechrau ymgyrch er mwyn ceisio cael y ddau adeilad mawr yn Atomfa Trawsfynydd wedi ei rhestru gan CADW! Dwi oddifri, wir yr!....Ia dyna chi, y ddau adeilad concrit mawr sgwar 'na.
Mae'n amlwg fod gan rhywun tua'r ddinas mawr ormod o amser ar ei dwylo dybiwn i, dyma un o'r syniadau mwyaf dwl dwi wedi clywed ers peth amser.

The London-based Twentieth Century Society has started a campaign to get the two large concrete buildings at Trawsfynydd Power Station to be given listed status by CADW! I'm serious!...Yes, that's right those to big square concrete buildings.
It's clear that someone in the big city has far too much time on their hands, this has to be one of the daftest ideas I've heard for quite some time.

Tunes!

Here are a couple tracks that I'm really into at the moment.

Just like the Rev. Aled Edwards, I like a bit of Jay Z and I think his latest offering, "Empire State of Mind" which he's performing here,live at Madison Square Garden in New York is on a par with my previous favourite by him "Hard Knock Life".

The second tune is the long awaited return of Whitney Houston with her new single, "Million Dollar Bill". I hope she's rid herself of her demons and that she makes a succesful comeback. This is a great start and she'll be performing this song live on Sunday night's X-Factor results show at 8pm on ITV1.

Priffyrdd, Twristiaeth a Phlant - Roads, Tourism and Children

Mae 'di bod yn wythnos prysur iawn hyd yma ac tydi fory ddim gwahanol.
Cyfarfod gyda'r Asiantaeth Cefnffyrdd am 9.30a.m ac byddaf yn pwyso unwiath eto am linellau melyn dwbwl mewn manau yn y dref yn enwedig yn Manod ble'r oedd 'na ddamwain go ddrwg ger y Dingle yno bore Llun.
Yna i Ysgol Maenofferen erbyn 10.30a.m. i fynd o amgylch yr adeilad i weld ei gyflwr ac i weld yr ysgol wrth ei waith.
12.00 cyfarfod i drafod Canolfan Croeso i'r dref o Ebrill nesaf ymlaen ac yna am 2pm cyfarfod gyda mudiad Barnardo's i drafod gwaith y mudiad yn lleol, cyn mynd a'r mab i dorri ei wallt ar ol ysgol am 3.30pm.
Dwi'n cael gyda'r nos adra...ond mae fy swyddfa mewn angen dirfawr o gael ei dacluso felly bydd rhaid dechrau ar y gwaith hynny rhywbryd.

Its been a really busy week so far and tomorrow's no different.
I've got a meeting with the Trunk Road Agency at 9.30a.m and during it, I will be pressing for double yellow lines to be placed at various points in the town, particularly in Manod near the Dingle where there was quite a nasty car accident on Monday morning.
Then its to Maenofferen School by 10.30a.m. to have a look at the building and see how the school works.
At midday its a meeting regarding the proposed location for the Tourist Information Centre in the town from next April and then its to Caban Bach by 2p.m. for a meeting regarding the work that Barnardo's undertakes locally.
And to finish the day, I need to take my boy for a haircut after school at 3.30p.m.
I have a free evening to spend at home - but alas my office is in a shocking state and in need of tidying up, so I imagine that I'll at least make a start on that.

Setliad sal i Wynedd - Gwynedd gets poor settlement

Mae Llywodraeth y Cynulliad wedi cyhoeddi ei setliad ariannol ar gyfer Awdurdodau Lleol Cymru ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf.
Fel arfer, yr ardaloedd gwledig fel Gwynedd sydd wedi derbyn rhai o'r setliadau gwaethaf am 3ydd blwyddyn yn olynol!
Mae Ynys Môn, Gwynedd a Phowys yn derbyn 1% a Gwynedd yn derbyn 1.1% o'i gymharu gyda Casnewydd a Wrecsam sydd yn cael 3.1% a Chaerdydd sydd yn derbyn 3%!
Mae'r gwhaniaethau yma yn anghyson ac yn anheg ac mae'n cynnig rhagor o dystiolaeth nad yw Llwywodraeth Cymru yn Un yn gweithio.
Mae un rhan o'r Llywodraeth hynny,Plaid Cymru unwaith eto wedi cael ei dangos i fod yn gwbwl anefeithiol wrth geisio sicrhau arian ac adnoddau cyfatebol i rhai o'r ardaloedd tlotaf a mwyaf gwledig yng Nghymru ac yn benodol yma i ni yng Ngwynedd.
Mae hefyd yn amlwg fod y rhaniadau a gwahaniaethau hynny rhwng De a Gogledd a gwlad a thref yn fyw ac yn iach a gyda setliad mor anobeithiol a hwn, mae'n amlwg nad yw'r Llywodraeth ym Mae Caerdydd am wneud dim i newid hynny!
Diddorol fyddai clywed barn ein Aelod Cynulliad lleol ar hyn - tybed ydi o yn meddwl fod Gwynedd yn cael ei thrin yn deg?

The Assembly Government has announced its settlement for Welsh Local Authorities for the next financial year.
As usual its the rural areas like Gwynedd that have had the poorest settlement for the third year running!
Both Ynys Môn and Powys get 1% whilst Gwynedd gets 1.1%, this compares with 3.1% for Newport and Wrexham and 3% for Cardiff!
This settlement is unjust and unfair and it is further proof that the One Wales Government just isn't working.
One half of that Government is Plaid Cymru, who once again have been proved to be utterly ineffective in securing finance and additional resources for some of the poorest areas of Wales, and in particular here in Gwynedd.
It is also clear that the divide between North and South and town and country is growing and will coninue to grow here in Wales and the Assembly Government seems totally incabable in doing anything about it!
It would be good to hear the views of our local Assembly Member on this - I wonder whether or not he thinks that Gwynedd is treated fairly on this issue?

Cyfarfod Heno yn Llanegryn - Tonight's Meeting at Llanegryn

Daeth tua 40 ynghyd i'r cyfarfod heno, ffigwr digon siomedig ar y cyfan ond nid i'w anwybyddu gan fod teimladau cryf iawn yno yn erbyn yr hyn ma Cyngor Gywnedd yn argymell ar gyfer dyfodol addysg gynradd yn ardal Tywyn.
Ar mwy nac un achlysur cafwyd honiadau gan aelodau o'r gynilleidfa oedd wedi bod yn rhan o'r panel cau ysgolion...sori, panel adolygu dalgych, fod y Cyngor wedi anwybyddu tystiolaeth a barn lleol.
Os bydd y Cyngor yn penderfynu symud ymlaen gyda'r bwriad heb ddwys ystyried y tystiolaeth i gyd, synwn i fawr os na fydd her gyfreithiol gan oleiaf un o'r ysgolion sydd dan fygythiad...symudiad y byddwn i yn bersonol yn ei gefnogi.

About 40 came to tonight's meeting, a disappointing turnout on the whole...however not to be ignored as there were strong objections and valid grounds for concern regarding the whole "consultation" process that Gwynedd Council has undertaken and the reccomendations that have come from the sham.
On more than one occasion those who were present and had been on the school closure committee - sorry schools review committee acussed Gwynedd Council of blatantly ignoring their evidence and viewpoint in favour of their schools.
If the Council decides to proceed with these planned closures in the Tywyn area without giving all facts, fair and proper consideration, I wouldn't be surprised that in at least one school that there would be a formal legal challenge aganst the closure plan....such a move, I would support wholeheartedly.

Cyfarfod Cyhoeddus Nos Yfory LLANEGRYN Public Meeting Tomorrow Night

I drafod dyfodol ysgolion cynradd ardal Tywyn, Neuadd Llanegryn, nos Lun, Hydref 12ed am 6.30y.h.
Os ydi dyfodol yr ysgolion o bwys i chi, byddwch yno!

To discuss the future of primary schools in the Tywyn area, Llanegryn Village Hall,Monday, October 12th at 6.30p.m.
If you care about the future of the schools, be there!

Arian Ewrop - European Funding

Mae'r edefyn yma gan yr Athro Dylan Jones-Evans yn dda iawn.
Dwi yn cytuno efo'r hyn mae Dylan yn ei ddweud gan fy mod yn bryderus iawn nad ydym wedi gweld fawr ddim newid yma yn economiadd yng Ngwynedd ers Amcan 1 ac Arian Cyd-gyfeiriant.
Gyda'r cloc yn tician nes bydd yr ffynhonell yma o gyllid yn dod i ben, mae'n amser i ni ofyn o ddifri os ydi'r holl arian sydd wedi dod i mewn i Wynedd wedi gwneud gwahniaeth? Ac os ydi o, pa mor gynnaliadwy yn economiadd ydi'r cynlluniau hynny ar gyfer y tymor hir?

This posting by Prof.Dylan Jones-Evans is very good.
I agree with what Dylan is saying as I am concerened that we've not capitalised as we could and should have from both EU Objective 1 and Convergence Funds.
With the clock ticking towards when this source of funding comes to an end, it's time for us to seriously ask if all of the money that has come into Gwynedd from Europe has made a real change? And if it has, how economically sustainable are those projects that received funds for the long-term?

Colled trist...Stephen Gately...a sad and tragic loss

Mae'r newyddion fod y canwr, Stephen Gately wedi marw tra ar wyliau ym Majorca ac yntau ddim ond yn 33 mlwydd oed yn amlwg yn sioc i bawb.
Be bynnag ydych barn chi am Boyzone, mae rhai o'u caneuon yn hyfryd ac mae nhw i gyd fel Stephen yn ymddangos ar y wyneb yn hogia iawn.
Roedd ei benderfyniad yn Mehefin 1999 i ddweud ei fod o'n hoyw yn un dewr iawn o gofio agweddau cyl rhai o fewn y diwydiant cerddoriaeth a'r wasg.
Gadewch i ni felly ei gofio fo am beth oedd o yn ei wneud orau...dyma fo efo Boyzone a'r gan hyfryd..."Better"

The news regarding the sudden and tragic death of Stephen Gately from the group Boyzone at the age of 33 whilst on holiday in Majorca will be a terrible shock to many as they wake this morning.
Whatever your opinion may be about Boyzone, some of their songs are beautiful and all of the band members, like Stephen seem like nice guys.
Hs decision to go public in 1999 that he was gay was both brave and admirable, given the narrow mindedness that some people have within the music industry and the media.
Let us remember him then for what he did best....here he is singing the lovely song, "Better".

Bro yn chwalu Dinbych - Bro hammer Denbigh

P'nawn ar Y Ddol oedd hi p'nawn 'ma i wylio Bro yn rhoi eu perfformiad gorau o'r tymor hyd yma.
Dinbych oedd yr ymwelwyr ond roedd y tim cartref yn gwbwl ddigyfaddawd ac fe gafwyd 6cais gan y tim cartref a rhedodd allan yn ennillwyr cyfforddus.
Bro Ffestiniog 38 - 7 Dinbych.
Doedd gan yr Amaturiaid ddim gem y prynhawn ma ond byddent ymweld a Nantlle Vale dydd Sadwrn nesaf tra fydd Bro hefyd i ffwrdd yn Rhuthun.

I spent the afternoon watching Bro give their best display of the season so far.
Denbigh were the visitors, however the home team were relentless and scored 6 tries and ran out deserved and comfortable winners.
Bro Ffestiniog 38 - 7 Denbigh.
The Amatures didn't have a match today, however they're back in action next Saturday when they visit Nantlle Vale and Bro are also away at Ruthin.

Ffilm gwerth ei gweld.. UP.. a film worth seeing

Mae'r pythefnos diwethaf wedi bod yn annodd iawn yn y ty 'ma. Mae fy mab a merch, fel cannoedd o blant eraill ar hyd a lled Cymru yn ol pob son wedi bod yn sal iawn gyda feirws cas.
Dwi'n falch o ddeud fod y ddau yn gwella rwan ac fe fyddent yn ddigon da i fynd yn ol i'r ysgol bore Llun.
Mi roeddynt a'r fin dal y salwch arall na sydd yn ein taro pan rydym wedi bod yn y ty rhu hir.."Cabin Fever!", felly yn gynharach heno dyma benderfynu mynd allan am dro bach ac yna i'r sinema i weld ffilm diweddara Disney Pixar, UP.
Mae hon yn ffilm deuluol gwych gyda animeiddio o'r safon ucha' posib.
Yn bendant mae hi werth ei gweld ac mi roedd yr hysbus cyn y ffilm ar gyfer "A Christmas Carol" yn codi blus arnai ar gyfer gweld honno dros gwyliau'r Nadolig.
Os ewch chi a'r plant i weld unrhyw un o rhain, dwi'n sicir y gwnewch chi gyd fwynhau.

The last two weeks have been difficult in our house. Both my son and daughter have been terribly unwell like hundreds of other children across Wales (by all accounts) with a terrible viral sickness.
I'm glad to say that they're both getting better now and should be back at school on Monday.
However, they were both in danger of catching another illness, "Cabin Fever!", so earlier this evening we went out for a little walk and then headed for the cinema to see Disney Pixar's latest film, UP.
This is a brilliant family movie and the animation is simply amazing.
It's certainly well worth seeing and the trailer for Disney's "A Christmas Carol" also registered as a "must see" for the Christmas holidays.
If you and the kids get to see either of these films, I'm sure that you'll all have a good time.

Gwobr haeddianol? - Deserved prize?

Fel mae darllenwyr y blog yma'n gwybod yn iawn, mi'dwi'n edmygwr mawr o Arlywydd America Barack Obama.
Roedd ei fuddigoliaeth yn yr etholiad llynedd yn arwyddogaol ac yn ysbrydoledig.
Wedi dweud hynny, dwi'n meddwl fod y ffaith ei fod o wedi ennill y Wobr Nobel am Heddwch, nid yn unig yn chwerthinllyd ond mae'n difrio'r wobr - dim ei fai o ydi hynny dwi'n gwybod.
Mae'r America yn dal yn brwydro mewn rhyfeloedd yn Irac ac yn Affganistan, ac mae son y bydd Mr Obama yn gyrru miloedd mwy o filwyr yno o fewn y misoedd nesaf - dim byd yn heddychlon yn hynny, be' bynnag ydych barn chi am y rhyfel.
Teimlaf fod hyn yn mynd i greu problem iddo yn y dyfodol wrth i Iran ddatblygu eu arfau niwclar a Gogledd Corea dangos eu hunain fel grthryfelwyr yn y Dwyrain pell.
Na, fel mae penderfyniadau yn mynd, mae hwn yn un rhyfedd ar y diawl.

As the readers of this blog undoubtedly know, I'm a big admirer of US President, Barack Obama.
His victory in last year's election was both significant and inspirational.
However, having said that, I think that the fact that he has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today is not only laughable but it also greatly demeans the award - that's not his fault of course.
The USA are still at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the talk is that Mr Obama, the Commander in Chief of US Forces will soon be sending thousands more troops to the frontline over the next few months - regardless of what our opinion may be about these wars.
I think that by receiving this award that it will create a problem for him as Iran developes its nuclear arms programme and North Korea start to flex its muscles in the Far East.
No, as decisions go, this one is strange to say the least.

Cymorthfa bore 'fory - Surgery tomorrow morning

Cofiwch bydd y Cyng.Dafydd Lloyd Hughes a mi ar gael bore yfory yn y Ganolfan Dysgu Gydol Oes (Llyfrgell, Maenofferen) rhwng 10a.m. -11.30am.
Nid oes angen apwyntiad ac os gallwn fod o gymorth i chi, yna piciwch draw i'n gweld.

Remember, Cllr.Dafydd Lloyd Hughes and myself will be available tomorrow between 10a.m. -11.30a.m. at the Life Long Learning Centre (Library), Maenofferen.
There is no need to make an appointment and if you think we can help you in any way, please feel free to pop in and see us.

Cyngor Tref yn cefnogi'r alwad i'r Blaenau gael ei gynnwys ym Mharc Cenedlaethol Eryri - Town Council back call for Blaenau to be in the Park

Yng nghyfarfod y Cyngor Tref heno, mi ddaru fy nghynnig i yn galw am gynnwys y Blaenau oddi fewn i ffinnau Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri ennill o fwyafrif.
Cafwyd drafodaeth da a bywiog ac mi roedd rhai prydron a gwrthwynebiad ond yn y diwedd pendrfynaid y Cyngor oedd cefnogi yr alwad.
Bydd y Cyngor rwan yn ysgrifennu at Awdurdod y Parc Cenedlaethol i ystyried y cais ac os bydd cefnogaeth gan yr Awdurdod byddwn wedyn yn cynnal refferendwm yn lleol er mwyn i pobl y dref gael penderfynu cyn symud ymlaen i wneud cais ffurfiol i'r Cynullaid Cenedlaethol a Chyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru.

At tonight's meeting of Ffestiniog Town Council, my proposal calling on for Blaenau to be included within the boundery of Snowdonia National Park was accepted by a majority vote.
An interesting and open debate was had and it is fair to say that some members had concerns whilst other objected the proposal.
The Council will now formally write to the National Park Authority asking them to consider the request and if it receives the Authority's support a referendum will then be held locally so that the people of Blaenau will have the final say prior to a formal request being made to the Assembly and the Countryside Council for Wales for the town's inclusion in the Snowdonia National Park.