Symud ymlaen - Moving on

Mae'r Rheolwr Rhawd Cymunedol dros yr ardal hon, PC Gareth Griffiths yn symud i weithio i'r Bala wedi bron i dwy flynedd yma efo ni yn y Blaenau.
Dwi wedi cael Gareth yn heddwas hawdd iawn i weithio gydag o ac mae ei gyfnod yma yn y Blaenau wedi bod yn un gweithgar ac effeithiol.
Carwn ddymuno pob hwyl iddo yn y Bala ac dwi'n edrych ymlaen i gydweithio gyda'i olynydd, y Cwnstabwl Rhys Jones sydd yn cychwyn ar ei waith yr wythnos nesaf.
The Community Beat Manager for this area, PC Gareth Griffiths is moving to work in the Bala area after nearly two years here with us in Blaenau.
I have found Gareth to be a good policeman to work with and his time here in Blaenau has been productive and effective.
I would like to thank Gareth for his help and support and I wish him well in Bala and I am looking forward to working with his replacement, PC Rhys Jones who takes over as CBM, next week.

Llongyfarchiadau! i Pete a Nic - Congratulations! Pete and Nic

Mae fy nghyfaill a fy nghyd Gynghorydd Peter Read a'i wraig Nic wedi cael mab bach yn gynharach bore heddiw. Brawd bach i Aron. Does dim enw eto ac mae'r fam a'r mab yn gwneud yn iawn.
Dyma'r ail fabi i'w enni i Gynghorydd Llais Gwynedd yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf, ar ddiwrnod Dolig ganwyd mab bach, Wil i'r Cyng. Gethin Williams a'i bartner Clair.
Yn ogystal ac amddiffyn ein ysgolion, fel y gwelwch, mae rhai o fewn Llais yn ceisio cynyddu niferoedd y disgyblion hefyd!

My good friend and fellow Councillor, Peter Read and his wife Nic have had a baby boy this morning. A little brother for Aron. He has no name yet, but mother and baby are doing well.
This is the second baby to be born to a Llais Gwynedd Councillor over the last few weeks. On Christmas Day, Cllr. Gethin Williams and his partner Claire also had a son, Wil.
As well as trying to save our schools, some in Llais are also committed to increasing the pupil numbers!

Cymorthfa Misol - Monthly Surgery

Byddaf yn cynnal fy nghymorthfa misol, bore dydd Sadwrn nesaf, Chwefror 6ed yn y Ganolfan Dysgu Gydol Oes (Llyfrgell, Maenofferen) rhwng 10a.m. -11.30am (Bydd y Cyng. Dafydd Hughes i ffwrdd ar ei wyliau).
Nid oes angen apwyntiad ac os gallai fod o gymorth i chi, yna piciwch draw i'm gweld.

I will be holding my monthly surgery next Saturday morning, February 6th between 10a.m. -11.30a.m. at the Life Long Learning Centre (Library), Maenofferen (Cllr. Dafydd Hughes will be away on holiday).
There is no need to make an appointment and if you think that I can help you in any way, please feel free to pop in and see me.

Siopa mewn pyjamas - Shopping in jimjams

Dwi'n gobeithio'n arw na fydd fy siop papur leol yn mabwysiadu polisi Tesco...Rhaid i mi gyfaddef mod i'n aml iawn yn piciad yno unrhyw adeg rhwng 6 a 7 y bore yn fy mhyjamas neu shorts, sandals a crys-t yn yr Haf i nol fy mhapurau cyn dod nol adra am y baned gynta'r dydd.
Dwi ddim yn credu y byddwn i byth yn mentro i archfarchnad fawr ynddynt nac yn wir i'r siop bapur fawr hwyrach..mae'r hogia ar ei ffordd i'r chwarel yn tynnu digon arnai fel ag y mae!

I hope that my local newsagents doesn't adopt Tesco's policy...I must confess that I often pop in there to get my papers between 6 and 7 in the morning in my jimjams or shorts, sandles and t-shirt in the Summer before returning home for my first cuppa of the day.
I don't think I'd venture to a supermarket in them or indeed to the newsagents at a later time..I get enough flack from the lads on their way to the quarries as it is!

Response to a letter in this week's Herald

This letter appears in this week's Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald by Mr Geoff Ludden, whom I've never had the pleasure of meeting but appears to have come to a firm opinion of me, without taking a balanced view of some major facts relating to dummy spitting antics of the Council "Leader" and his complaint about me to The Ombudsman. Mr Ludden writes:

CLLR Gwilym Euros Roberts doth protest too much. His statement claiming that the Leader of the Council should have referred his complaint about Cllr Roberts’ behaviour to the Council’s Standards Committee is totally misleading!
The Standards Committee does not have the power to review a complaint by one Councillor about another. The Ombudsman is the only recourse that Cllr Edwards can take to try to stop the constant personal abuse which pours forth from the notorious internet blog of Cllr Roberts.
Like others in his party Cllr Roberts seems to think that personal attacks are a substitute for policies. Cllr Edwards is right to try to stop this unhealthy trend in politics in Gwynedd.
Cllr Roberts has already announced his candidature for the Welsh Assembly seat of Dwyfor-Meirionydd in the 2011 Assembly elections and this latest stunt is part of his campaign to get elected. As an elector in that Assembly constituency I dread the thought of having Cllr Roberts as my AM.
GEOFF LUDDEN
Morfa Nefyn

My response to the above is as follows:
Mr Ludden conveniently omits even the barest of facts relating to a complaint to The Ombudsman concerning my comments regarding Gwynedd Council Leader, Cllr Dyfed Edwards and the Plaid Cymru Group, which he leads' press release on the future of the county’s Cylchoedd Meithrin.
In the statement Cllr Edwards and Plaid Cymru stated that “… Plaid Cymru will urge all councilors against including pre-schooling arrangements in a package of cuts worth £16 million, and propose a strategy to plan provision between schools, Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin (MYM) and other voluntary groups".
Naturally this stance was warmly welcomed by all and sundry not least by this newspaper that vigorously campaigned to safeguard the Cylchoedd. But when the matter came before the Council Board, and later the full Council, not a single Plaid Cymru Councillor made any attempt to save the Cylchoedd. Indeed when Llais Gwynedd proposed the Cylchoedd be removed from a package of financial cutbacks ALL the Plaid Cymru Councillors present voted to oppose the move.
I personally challenged Cllr. Edwards three times on this inconsistency in Plaid Cymru policy at the Council Board meeting but he refused to be drawn on the matter on every occasion.
One can only assume therefore that Cllr. Edwards’ press statement was misleading to the extreme and nothing more than a feeble and dishonest attempt to pull wool over the eyes of nursery teachers, parents and their children. Cllr. Edwards disagrees and is minded to put the matter before The Ombudsman. However it is his press statement that unquestionably forms the basis for my defence against a vexatious complaint and that so strongly supports my allegations against Cllr. Edwards and his Party of lying and misleading as the Cylchoedd funding is still earmarked for cutting in 2011/12 as I write.
In his letter Mr Ludden also says he dreads the thought of having me as his AM. That’s his opinion. For one thing is certain. I do not find it acceptable for politicians and political parties to deliberately mislead the public with false statements. I will always stand true to my principals and will be straight with the electorate. Sadly these characteristics have lost me Mr Ludden’s vote. Somehow I’m not unduly concerned.

Tegwch? Trylouwder? - Fairness? Transparency?

Roedd Pwyllgor Craffu Plant a Phobol Ifanc Cyngor Gwynedd yn cyfarfod yng Nghaernarfon bore 'ma i drafod dyfodol amryw o Unedau Addysg Arbennig fel gafodd ei gyfeirio ato yn yr erthygl yma yn yr Herald yr wythnos yma.
Nid oes dim ymgynghoriad o gwbwl wedi digwydd gyda rhieni y plant hyd yma, felly sut oedd yr Adran Addysg yn medru cyflwyno adroddiad i'r Pwyllgor Craffu? Onid oes gan rhieni a'r plant hawl i'w barn gael ystyried cyn i gynghorwyr a swyddogion wneud penderfyniad a'r eu haddysg!?....Bore 'ma, penderfynwyd dod ar eitem ymlaen yn yr Agenda er fod disgwyl i gynrychiolwyr o fudiad SNAP ddod yno i annerch y Pwyllgor...unwaith eto di-ystriwyd hynny ac mi ddaru nhw drafod y mater gan ddweud wrth y cynrychiolwyr pan ddarynt gyrraedd fod y penderfyniad wedi ei neud yn gynharach ond roedd croeso iddynt annerch y Pwyllgor os oeddynt am wneud hynny!
Mae hyn yn gwbwl annerbyniol ac yn engraifft arall o'r ffordd cwbwl, cwbwl gwarthus ac amhroffesiynol mae rhai cynghorwyr a swyddogion ar y Cyngor yn ymddwyn...Os mai dyma ydi democratieth...be am degwch a thrylouwder!?..Mae'r oll beth yn drewi a byddaf yn gofyn am ymchwiliad i'r ffordd mae'r holl fater wedi cael ei ddelio ag o hyd yma.

This morning, Gwynedd Council's Children and Young People's Scrutiny Committee met in Caernarfon and one of the items on the agenda was the future of Special Education Units that are located across the County as has been highlighted in this article in the Herald this week.
No consultation has taken place to date with the parents of the children, so how was the Education Department allowed to bring a report to the Scrutiny Committee? Do the parents and the children have a right for their opinions to be heard and given fair and proper consideration before councillors and officers make decisions regarding their education!?
This morning it was decided that the item would be brought forward on the agenda even though that representatives from SNAP had been due to attend the committee to speak to members..once again that was disregarded and when the represntatives did eventually arrive, they were told that a decision had already been reached however they could still make a brief presentation to the committee if hey wished!
This is totally unacceptable and sadly another example of the arrogant and contemptious way that certain members and officers within the Council behave...If this is democracy, what about fairness and transparency!?...The whole thing stinks and I will ow be calling for an enquiry into the way that this whole matter has been handled so far.

Teyrnged olaf i gyfaill ffyddlon

Prynhawn 'ma daethom ynghyd i gefnogi Carwyn yn angladd ei dad a dweud ffarwel wrth fy hen gyfaill, Collwyn Jones.
Ar ran Carwyn, hoffwn ddiolch o galon i pawb yn lleol ac o bell am pob arwydd o gydymdeimlad a chefnogaeth mae o wedi ei gael dros y cyfnod anodd hwn a hynny mor fuan wedi iddo golli ei fam 'chydig dros blwyddyn yn ol.
Diolch hefyd i Mr Arwel Jones a Miss Rhian Williams am wasanaeth arbennig ac i'r ymgymerwr, Mr Gareth Williams am y trefniadau ac i chwiorydd Capel Jerusalem am y lluniaeth.
Er ei fod wedi ein gadael ni fydd yn anghof. Diolch i Dduw amdano a bydded iddo orffwys mewn hedd perffaith hedd efo Mena.

Cyngor Gwynedd yn cefnogi Canolfan Rhagoriaeth Eryri - Gwynedd Council supports the Snowdonia Centre of Excellence

Yng nghyfarfod Bwrdd y Cyngor y prynhawn yma, cafwyd cefnogaeth unfrydol i'r cynllun yma gan nodi £100,000 tuag ato fel arian cyfatebol.
Bydd y cynllun sydd yn cynnwys Antur Stiniog, Canolfan yr Urdd Glanllyn, Llyn Trawsfynydd a Choed y Brenin yn clywed yn fuan iawn os ydynt wedi derbyn dros £2m gan Croeso Cymru i ychwanegu at y £2m arall sydd eisioes mewn lle i wireddu'r cynlluniau cyffroes yma.
Unwaith eto, dwi'n falch iawn o gael chwarae rhan fach yn symud y cynllun yma yn ei flaen ac dwi'n hyderus iawn, maes o law y bydd Croeso Cymru yn ei gefnogi.
Unwith eto, newyddion da i Blaenau ac i Feirionnydd.

At the Gwynedd Council Board meeting this afternoon, £100,000 and unanimous support was given to the proposed Snowdonia Centre of Excellence which is a joint venture between Antur Stiniog, Urdd at Glanllyn, Trawsfynydd Lake and Coed y Brenin.
The project which is worth a total of £4m will hear soon if it has been succesful in gaining over £2m from Visit Wales.
I am confident that the money will be forthcoming and once again, I am happy to have been able to play a small part in moving things forward.
Once again, good news for Blaenau and for Meirionnydd.

Dorwch gora' i hyn rwan! - Stop this now!

Roeddwn yn siomedig ac yn flin iawn o ddarllen yn y Cambrian News y bore 'ma, hanes fy nghyd Gynghorydd, Mrs Anne Lloyd Jones sydd wedi derbyn llythyr milain di-enw drwy'r post.
Dwi yn adnabod Anne ers dros degawd bellach ac er nad ydym yn gweld llygad yn lygad yn aml iawn yn siambr y Cyngor, mae hi'n ddynes dda, sydd wedi ceisio gwneud ei gorau dros pobol Tywyn.
Tydi hi na neb arall yn haeddu llythyrau milain di-enw gan crancs di-asgwrn cefn! Os oes gennych chi broblem efo Anne, ffoniwch hi, gofynwch am gyfarfod efo hi a dwedwch be ydi eich barn yn ei gwyneb hi, neu oleiaf arwyddwch eich llythyr a dorwch gyfeiriad iddi ymateb.
Does dim lle o gwbwl i ymddygiad fel yma, be bynnag ydi'r achos. Fel un sydd wedi derbyn fy siar o "fan mail" milain dros y blynyddoedd credaf fod gennyf hawl i siarad allan yn erbyn hyn....Felly os ydi'r crancs, 'sgrifennodd at Anne yn darllen hwn, dorwch gora' iddi rwan neu tyfwch asgwrn cefn a byddwch ddigon "dewr" i roi eich enw a'ch cyfeiriad ar eich llith anghynes!

I was saddened and angered to read the story in this morning's Cambrian News about the poision pen letters that have been sent to Councillor Anne Lloyd Jones.
I have known Anne for over a decade and although I don't always see eye to eye with her in the Council Chamber, I think she's a nice woman who has tried her best for the people of Tywyn.
She or nobody else deserves to receive poison pen letters from cranks, who in my opinion are spinless and pitiful. If you've got beef with Anne, call her, ask for a meeting and tell her in her face what you think, or at least be "brave" enough to sign your letter and provide an address for her to reply.
There is no room at all for such behaviour as this, whatever the case. As someone who has had his fair share of crank "fan mail" over the years, I feel that its right for me to speak out against this horrible behaviour....So if the cranks that wrote to Anne read this, stop it now or at least grow a back bone and be "brave" enough to put your name and address on your attacks!

Colli cyfaill annwyl - A dear friend is lost

Yn hwyr prynhawn ddoe bu farw Collwyn Jones yn 71 mlwydd oed yn Ysbyty Cyffredinol, Llandudno. Er nad oedd ei iechyd wedi bod yn dda ers rhai misoedd doedd neb yn disgwyl hyn, yn enwedig ei unig fab Carwyn a hithau gwta 16 mis ers i wraig Collwyn, a mam Carwyn, Mena farw yn sydyn tra ar wyliau ar Ynys Wyth.
Mi roedd Collwyn yn un o hoelion with Plaid Cymru yma yn y Blaenau ac ym Meirionnydd yn ystod yr 80au a’r 90 au. Bu yn ysgrifennydd aelodaeth Cangen Blaenau pan oedd hi yn un o’r Canghennau mwyaf yng Nghymru yn dilyn Caernarfon dybiwn i ac yn aelod ffyddlon o’r Pwyllgor Rhanbarth.
Bu yn asiant i Dafydd Elis-Thomas ym Meirionnydd am o leiaf un etholiad i San Steffan ac ar ddechrau fy ngyrfa wleidyddol i, gefais innau'r fraint o’i gael yn asiant i mi.
Bron i 20 mlynedd yn ôl dos i i’w adnabod gyntaf ac yn fuan iawn mi ddoes i edmygu ei egni, ymroddiad a’i sylw o i’r manylion..”os neud rhywbeth, gwna fo’n iawn”.
Fo oedd fy asiant ar gyfer tri etholiad llwyddiannus yn y 90au ac yn fy ngwthio i’r eithaf i ddiogelu pob pleidlais posib ac i ledaenu neges y Blaid ar hyd strydoedd Stiniog.
Roedd ei ffurflenni canfasio fo yn werth ei gweld, pob tro mewn trefn a dim byd yn cael ei adael i siawns.Fel ymgeisydd doedd dim mwy i’w wneud ond cnocio’r drysau a gwerthu eich hunain, roedd yr ochr weinyddol wedi ei wneud yn berffaith ar eich rhan.
Roedd o’n ddyn addfwyn, annwyl a hiwmor direidus ac yn wastad yn tynnu coes..yn enwedig os oedd Everton (ei dim o) wedi rhoi pegan i Lerpwl (fy nhîm i).
Wrth sgwrsio i mewn i’r oriau man y bore ‘ma gyda Carwyn, mi ddaru ni chwerthin drwy ambell i ddeigryn yn hel atgofion melys.
Do, dwi wedi colli ffrind sydd wedi chwarae rhan fawr yn fy mywyd ond mae Carwyn wedi colli ei Dad, (a’i Fam) mewn llai na dwy flynedd ac mae honno yn ergyd llawer, llawer drymach.
Roedd Collwyn yn falch o fod yn Gymro, yn falch o fod yn Stiniogwr ac yn falch o fod yn Genedlaetholwr ond mwy na hynny roedd o’n falch o’i deulu ac mae o a Mena bellach yn ôl fel un.
Roeddwn i’n falch o’i gael fel ffrind ac fel un a’m cefnogodd mewn sawl ffordd ac mi fydd y llu o atgofion melys hynny gennyf tra byddai fyw.
Diolch i Dduw amdano a diolch o waelod calon am yr hwyl, yr ysbrydoliaeth, yr anogaeth a’r Everton mints…nos dawch Coll, cysgwch yn dawel.

Last night, my dear friend and former agent, Collwyn Jones died suddenly but peacfully aged 71 at Llandudno General Hospital.
His death comes only 16 months after that of his wife's, Mena who died suddenly in September 2008 whilst on holiday in the Isle of Wight.
They are survived by their only son Carwyn, to whom I extend my deepest and heartfelt sympathy.
Collwyn was an inspiration and a tremendous influence on my political life as well as being a valued friend.
I will miss his words of wisdom and dry sense of humour, but I will always cherish the many happy memories that I have from being in his company.
God bless him and thanks for everything he gave to me.

Addewid Pensiwn Plaid Cymru, Cheryl, fi a'r Tri Mochyn Bach - Plaid's pension pledge, Cheryl, me and the Three Little Pigs!

Dwi'n gweld bellach ble mae grwp Plaid Cymru ar Gyngor Gwynedd yn cael eu arweiniad ar gyfer rhyddhau datganiadau i'r wasg cwbwl gamarweiniol sydd llawn dim byd ond gimics ac addewidion gwag (cofio'r gliniaduron am ddim i pob plentyn yng Nghymru!?).
Gwelwyd engraifft perffaith arall o hynny yn y stori hon.
Rwan tra mod i'n deallt yn iawn fod miloedd o bensiynwyr yn crafu byw mewn tlodi ac yn ei chael hi'n anodd cadw dau ben llinyn ynghyd....Fodd bynnag mae gwneud datganiadau fel hyn pan mae nhw yn gwybod yn iawn nad oes ganddyn nhw unrhyw obaith o'i wireddu yn dangos pa mor sinigaidd, anghyfrifol ac amharod ydi'r Blaid i arwain can mewn band of hope heb son am arwain Cenedl neu Gyngor.
Mae genai fwy o obaith i ennill yr Eurovision Song Contest mis Mai yma yn canu clasur Tony ac Aloma, "Tri Mochyn Bach" efo Cheryl Cole na sydd gan y Blaid o wireddu'r "polisi" yma.
Be arall sydd yn taro rhywun ydi rhagrith yr holl beth. Pan mae'r Blaid mewn sefyllfa gwirioneddol i gefnogi'r henoed fel yma ar Gyngor Gwynedd, troi eu cefnau wnaethon nhw, cymerwch achos Bryn Llwyelyn..pan oedd y trigolion oedranus am aros yna, anwybyddu eu ple wnaeth y Blaid a penderfynu ei chau. Yna ar fater o ffioedd gofal, be waneth y Blaid ond penderfynu eu codi 50% yn groes i'n nghynig i (oedd digon drwg!)o'i codi 25%.
Na yn hytrach na gaddo'r byd i pobol pan fedran nhw ddim a bydden nhw ddim mewn sefyllfa i wneud dim amdano mewn gwirionedd , dylai'r Blaid gychwyn wrth eu traed a gwneud be sydd yn bosib pan mae'r gallu ganddynt!
DIWEDDARIAD
Mae'r Druid a Guto yn rhanu'r run farn a mi am y stori rhyfeddol yma...tra fod eraill dal yn LaLa Land!

I've now seen where the Plaid Cymru Group on Gwynedd Council get the audacity to release misleading statements to the press which are full of nothing but meaningless gimmicks, cynical spin and empty pledges (remember the free laptop for every child in Wales pledge!?).
Another perfect example of that can be found in this story.
Now I am fully aware that many pensioners are struggling to make ends meet and live in poverty...However, making statements and pledges like this when they have absolutely no chance of delivering on it show's how cynical, irresponsible and unfit Plaid are to lead a Nation or any Council.
I've got a better chance of winning the Eurovision Song Contest in May singing Tony & Aloma's classic Tri Mochyn Bach (Three Little Pigs) with Cheryl Cole than Plaid have of bringing this "policy" to life.
What also strikes me is the hypocrisy of the whole thing. When Plaid are in a position to make a difference for the elderly, like here on Gwynedd Council, they decided to ignore the pleas of the residents of Bryn Llywelyn Care home and closed it. And on the issue of care fees, they voted to raise them a whopping 50%, even though I had proposed an increase of 25% (which was bad enough!).
No, rather than promising the world to people when they know that they cannot and will not be in a position to deliver, they should do what they can, when they can!UPDATE
Both Guto and the Druid share my opinion on this remarkable story, whilst others are still living in LaLa Land

Erthygl yn y Daily Post heddiw - Article in today's Daily Post

Mae'r Daily Post yn adrodd heddiw am y ffaith fod Dyfed Edwards wedi cwyno wrth yr Ombwdsmon amdanaf.
I'r rhai ohonoch sydd eisiau'r cefndir go iawn i'r stori a "sail" cwyn Dyfed yna cliciwch yma.
Dwi'n disgwyl y bydd yr Ombwdsmon yn ymchwilio'n drylwyr i cwyn Dyfed gan gymryd y dystiolaeth dwi wedi gynnig iddynt i ystyriaeth.
Dwi yn hynod ffyddiog y bydd cwyn Dyfed yn cael ei gweld am yr hyn ydi o - sef ymgais rhad i geisio tawelu rhywun sydd yn barod i siarad dros y pobol a dangos nad oes lle i gamarwain y cyhoedd ar Gyngor Gwynedd a nad oes unrhyw sail o gwbwl i'w gwyn yn fy erbyn.

The Daily Post reports today on Dyfed Edwards' complaint against me to the Ombudmsan...for those looking for the inside view on his allegations against me, click on here.
I fully expect the Ombudsman to conduct a thorough investigation into his allegations taking into account the conclusive evidence that I have submitted to them.
I am certain in the fullness of time that Dyfed's complaint will be seen for what it is as being purely vexatious and I will be exonorated of any wrong doing whatsoever.

Apel Haiti - Haiti Appeal

Rydym ni i gyd wedi gweld y lluniau a clywed yr adroddiadau yn dilyn y daeargryn sydd wedi taro Haiti.
Os hoffech chi gefnogi'r ymdrechion i gynnig cymorth i'r rhai sydd wedi goresgyn y drychineb hon, yna mae modd i chi wneud hynny drwy glicio yma.

We've all seen the pictures and heard the reports following the earthquake that has struck Haiti.
If you would like to support the relief effort and help those who have been affected by this terrible event, you may make a donation to the appeal by clicking here.

Pobol yn cefnogi'r Pengwern - People for the Pengwern

Roedd neuadd Llan Ffestiniog yn orlawn neithiwr ar gyfer cyfarfod cyhoeddus i drafod cynlluniau Pengwern Cymunedol i ail agor Gwesty a Thafarn y Pengwern yn y pentref.
Mi roedd cyfnogaeth unfrydol i'r cynlluniau a'r bwriad rwan ydi sicrhau £25,000 erbyn Chwefror 12fed er mwyn rhoi blaendal i mewn i brynu'r adeilad a'i ail agor ar Fawrth 1af.
Os hoffech chi gefnogi'r fenter, yna ewch i safle We Pengwern Cymunedol yma.

Llan Ffestiniog village hall was packed last night for a public meeting to discuss Pengwern Cymunedol's proposals to re-open the Pengwern Hotel and public house in the village.
There was unanimous support for the venture at the meeting and the hope now is that Pengwern Cymunedol will be able to raise £25,000 by February 12th as a deposit to buy the building and that the Pengwern will re-open on March 1st.
If you would like to support Pengwern Cymunedol, click here.

Ydi Dafydd yn Lordio hi ta be? - Is Dafydd Lording it or not?

Yn ol blog Oscar...mae'n ymddangos fod ein Aelod Cynulliad lleol yr Arglwydd Dafydd Elis-Thomas yn cael eu gludo o Orsaf Cyffordd Llandudno mewn modd digon moethus.
Yn bersonol does genai ddim problem o gwbwl os ydi'r Arglwydd yn talu am ei "dacsi" o boced ei hyn ond o gofio cyflwr truenus y pwrs cyhoeddus yn y Cynulliad ac yma yng Ngwynedd, os mai ni y tethdalwyr sydd yn talu am hyn yna mae o'n gwbwl anerbynniol ac yn warth.
Rhag ofn i fy nghyfeillion yn y Blaid ddechrau poeri plu eto,chwbwl dwi'n ei wneud ydi gofyn y cwestiwn -fedr rhywun ateb plis?

According to Oscar's blog it seems that our local Assembly Member, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas is being picked up from Llandudno Junction in luxurious circumstances.
Personally, I have no problem whatsoever if the Lord is paying for his "taxi" from his own pocket. However, given the dire financial circumstances of the public sector both in Assembly and in Gwynedd, if we the taxpayers are the one's footing the bill for this, then that is totally unacceptable and a disgrace.
Just in case my pals in Plaid start spitting feathers again, all I am doing is asking the question, can anyone answer please?

Jobs i'r hogia!? - Jobs for the boys!?

Ar tudalen 30 o'r Daily Post heddiw, mae yna hysbyseb ar gyfer swyddi gyda'r Gymdeithas Tai newydd, Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd (CCG).
Mae'r Gymdeithas hon wedi ei ffurfio yn dilyn pleidlais tenantiad Cyngor Gwynedd i drosglwyddo stoc tai y Cyngor i CCG.
Mae'r trosglwyddiad yn golygu y bydd £136m yn cael ei wario dros y 5 mlynedd nesaf ar uwch raddio'r tai yma, a credwch i mi, o'r profiad sydd genai yn fy Ward i yn unig, mae gwir angen y buddsoddiad yma.
Fel dwi wedi dweud eisioes ar y blog yma, mi ydw i o blaid y trosglwyddiad ac dwi'n bendant o blaid y buddsoddiad daw yn sgil hynny i uwch raddio'r tai.
Fodd bynnag mae gweld rhai o'r cyflogau fydd swyddogion CCG yn eu derbyn cyn iddynt gyflawni dim a chyrraedd unrhyw dargedau a sicrhau boddhad eu tenantiaid yn fater o bryder ac yn gwneud i ddyn boeni am y sioe cyn iddo ddechrau ar ei waith yn iawn...Fel tasai clywed nhw'n son am eu Cynllun Busnes 30 mlynedd ddim wedi gwneud hynny'n barod?...Mae gofyn cadw llygad ar hyn dybiwn i.

On page 30 of today's Daily Post there is a full page advertisment for jobs with the newly formed housing association,Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd (CCG).
The association has been formed following a comprehensive vote from Gwynedd Council tenants in favour of transfering the housing stock over to CCG.
The stock transfer means that £136m will be spent over the next 5 years upgrading the homes and believe you me, from experience in my Ward alone, some of them are in serious need of investment, repair and upgrading.
As I have previously stated on this blog, I am also in favour of the stock transfer and I am 100% in favour of the investment for upgrading the homes.
However, seeing some of the salaries being offered to officers of CCG before they have achieved anything, reached set targets or ensured customer satisfaction of the highest standard, is a matter of great concern and I'm worried about this new set up before it has even started working properly...As if hearing them talking about their 30 year Business Plan hadn't done that already?...It will pay to keep an eye on developments I think.

Where now for Rafa and the Reds?

Just watched Liverpool deservedly losing to a far hungrier, committed and passionate Reading side in the FA Cup 3rd Replay at Anfield (Wales' Simon Church looked a class act).
Make no doubt, the club is in crisis on and off the pitch and tonight's defeat has just added to a whole host of problems.
As an armchair supporter (I've not been through the Shankly Gates for at least 3 seasons)the situation saddens me.
The American owners have ripped the heart out of the club, which now, like so many other teams in the Premier League has massive debts.
Appart from Torres, Gerrard and Reina the remainder of the squad are passed their best (sorry Jamie Carragher..you've been a brilliant servant but it's not there any more)or just not good enough.
Rafa seems to have run out of ideas...why, oh why did he spend £20m on Aqualini!? It will cost the club a reported £10m (which they haven't got!!) to sack him..Who do you bring in to replace him? What could anyone do with this current squad? Will Gerrard, Torres and Reina stay....cos there won't be any Champions League for the club next season?
Let's not forget the glorious night in Istanbul when we won the Champions League and the Gerrard Cup Final v West Ham in Cardiff, these will only be distant memories as Liverpool don't look like a club at the moment who would win the LDV Trophy!
It pains me to say, but Rafa has to go and one can only hope that Mr Hicks and Mr Gillette follow him and some serious investment comes from somewhere to take the club forward on and off the pitch.
The next manager?..My choice?..Well,there's only one....Jose Mourinho....Or is that going into the realms of Fantasy Football?..Time will tell, but right now, this Red is feeling Blue!

Punk am Byth! - Punk Forever!

Sex Pistols; The Clash; The Damned; rhai o enwau sydd yn atgof o beth a welwyd yn ‘broblem’ ieuenctid llabystaidd yng nghyfnod y 70au a’r 80au o ble daeth mynegiant graffeg beiddgar ac eiconig. Mae’r arddangosfa hon sydd yw gweld yn Oriel ac Amgueddfa Gwynedd, Bangor rhwng Ionawr 16eg a Chwefror 20fed yn gyfle unigryw i weld casgliad preifat o bosteri, peintiadau a delweddau poblogaidd wedi’w ail greu o’r cyfnod hwn i gyflwyno i chi ‘Punk Am Byth’.
Fel un o'r plant gafodd ei enni yn y 70au a tyfodd fynu yn yr 80au, mae hon yn swnio'n arddangosfa ddiddorol iawn a byddaf yn sicir o alw heibio tro nesaf fyddai ym Mangor....Mae hefyd yn esgys i rhoi can gan The Clash ymlaen ar fy mlog!

Sex Pistols; The Clash; The Damned; some names that evoke what was seen as a thuggish youth ’problem’ in the 70’s and 80’s from which emerged bold and iconic graphic statements. This exhibition which is on at the Gwynedd Museum and Art Gallery, Bangor between January 16th and February 20th is a rare opportunity to see a private collection of posters, paintings and re-drawn popular images of this era that give you ’Punk Forever’.
As one of the children who was born in the 70's and grew up in the 80's, this sounds very interesting and I'll definately go and have a look when I am next in Bangor...It also gives me an excuse to play a song from The Clash on my blog!

Adfywio Canol y Dref BLAENAU FFESTINIOG Town Centre Regeneration

Dwi wedi bod yng nghyfarfod cychwynol ail rhan o'r cynllun ar gyfer adfywio canol y dref bore 'ma gyda Miller Research a'i partneriaid.
Dyma'r rhan fydd yn arwain i fynnu tuag at cyflwyno cais cynllunio ffurfiol i gwneud y gwaith ffysegol fydd dwi'n gobeithio yn cychwyn cyn diwedd y flwyddyn hon.
Yn sicir mi fydd hon yn flwyddyn gyffroes i Blaenau a'r gobaith mawr yw y bydd rhagor o newyddion da i adrodd yn fuan.

I've been at the start up meeting for the second phase of the work aimed at the regeneration of the town centre with Miller Research and their partners this morning.
This is the phase that will lead up to securing planning permission for the main body of building work that I hope will commence before the end of this year.
2010 looks like being an exciting year in Blaenau and the hope is that there will be more good news for the own in the near future.

Peint yn y Pengwern rhywun? - Pint at the Pengwern anyone?

Dyna fydd y cwestiwn fedrwch ei ofyn yn fuan gan ei bod hi'n ymddangos fod cwmni cydweithredol Pengwern Cymunedol yn y broses o brynu'r gwesty sydd wedi ei leoli yng nghanol pentref Llan Ffestiniog.
Mae'r pentrefwyr i'w llongyfarch am eu dycnwch ac dwi'n mawr obeithio y bydd y fenter yn llwyddiannus.
Os oes gennych ddiddordeb mewn cefnogi'r fenter yna ewch i'w safle We nhw yma, neu mae Cyfarfod Cyhoeddus yn cael ei gynnal, nos Wener yma, Ionawr 15ed am 7y.h. yn Neuadd Llan Ffestiniog lle bydd cyfle i chi glywed rhagor am gynlluniau'r Cwmni - welai chi yno.
Pob lwc i Pengwern Cymunedol!

That's the question that you may be able to ask soon as it appears that the efforts of a local community co-operative, Pengwern Cymunedol may have paid off as they are now in the process of buying the hotel that is located in the centre of Llan Ffestiniog.
The villagers are to be congratulated on their endevour and I sincerely hope that the venture will be a success.
If you would like to support the venture in any way, you can click on their Website here or even better, a Public Meeting will be held this Friday night, January 15th at 7p.m. at Llan Ffestiniog Village Hall, where the Company will outline their plans - I'll see you there.
Good Luck to Pengwern Cymunedol!

Arweinydd yn chwarae plant wrth i'r cyhoedd ddioddef - The Leader play's silly games as the public suffer

Gyda Cyngor Tref Blaenau yn camu i'r adwy i wneud rhywbeth am yr eira a rhew ar hyd y strydoedd yma'n lleol a cyflwr strydoedd a phalmentydd ar hyd a lled Gwynedd yn hynod beryglus, byddai rhywun yn meddwl mai blaenoriaeth Arweinydd Cyngor Gwynedd fyddai sicrhau rhagor o graean ac adnoddau i'r Sir i ddelio gyda'r materion yma.
Ond na, wythnos yma, mae Dyfed Edwards wedi bod yn brysur yn cwyno i'r Ombwdmson amdanaf i.
Dyma baragraff o ddatganiad i'r Wasg rhyddhawyd gan Grwp Plaid Cymru a Dyfed Edwards ar Dachwedd 23ain,2009:
"Mae'r cyngor yn ystyried opsiynau drafft i leihau ariannu grwpiau chwarae cyn-ysgol a newid gofynion mynediaid i ysgolion prif-lif. Bydd Plaid Cymru yn gofyn i bob cynghorydd beidio â chynnwys trefniadau cyn-ysgol mewn pecyn o doriadau gwerth £16 miliwn, gan gynnig strategaeth i gynllunio darpariaeth rhwng ysgolion, Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin (MYM) a grwpiau gwirfoddol eraill".
Pan ddaeth y mater ger bron Bwrdd y Cyngor a’r Cyngor Llawn er mwyn ei drafod, NI ddaru Aelodau Plaid Cymru gynnig tynnu’r toriad posib allan o’r rhestr i’w ystyried. Yn wir pan ddaru aelodau Llais Gwynedd gynnig tynnu’r toriad posib allan o’r rhestr, ddaru aelodau Plaid Cymru pleidlesio yn erbyn hynny. Mae’r toriad yma dal yn y rhestr i’w dori yn 2011/12a 2012/13 hyd heddiw. Felly mae’r datganiad uchod gan Dyfed Edwards a Grwp Plaid Cymru yn gelwydd ac yn gwbwl gamarweiniol!! A HYN YW SAIL DIAMWYS FY AMDDIFFYNIAD YN ERBYN EI GWYN AMDANAF, A SAIL FY NGHYDDIAD YN EI ERBYN O A’I BLAID!
Mae croeso iddo ef, yr Ombwdsmon a unrhyw un arall ddadlau yn wahanol, ond dwi'n meddwl fod y ffeithiau yma yn ddamniol ac y dylai Dyfed bellach ystyried ei sefyllfa yn ofalus iawn. Mae Gwynedd yn haeddu gwell.

With Ffestiniog Town Council stepping into the breach to clear the ice and snow from the pavements and streets locally in this area and the pavements and minor roads in other areas still in a trecherous condition, one would imagine that securing more grit and resources to deal with the severe conditions within the County would be a top priority for the "Leader" of Gwynedd Council this week.
Sadly not! Dyfed Edwards has been too busy complaining to the Ombudsman about me and the fact that I have exposed him and his Plaid Cymru Group of telling lies and misleading people on this blog.
Here is a paragraph from a Press Release which was released to the press by the Plaid Cymru Group on Gwynedd Council on November 23rd 2009.
"The council is considering draft options to reduce funding to preschool playgroups and alter entry requirements to mainstream schooling. Plaid Cymru will urge all councillors against including pre-schooling arrangements in a package of cuts worth £16 million, and propose a strategy to plan provision between schools, Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin (MYM) and other voluntary groups".
When this matter came before the Council Board and later the Council to be discussed, NO Plaid Cymru members proposed to remove this item from the proposed package of cuts. Indeed, when Llais Gwynedd members proposed that it was removed, Plaid Cymru voted against its removal and that is why the item is still earmarked to this very day as being considered for cutting during 2011/12 and 2012/13. Therefore the above statement from Dyfed Edwards and his Plaid Cymru Group is a lie and totally misleading!! AND IT IS THAT STATEMENT THAT UNQUESTIONABLY FORMS THE BASIS FOR MY DEFENCE AGAINST HIS COMPLAINT AND SO STRONGLY SUPPORTS MY ACCCUSATION AGAINST HIM AND HIS PARTY!!
He, the Ombudsman or anyone else for that matter are welcome to argue differently however this evidence is damning and I think that Dyfed should consider his position very carefully. Gwynedd deserves much better.

At last!...Snow that I am looking forward to seeing.

In the middle of this cold snap and with lots of ice and snow around I've managed to catch a terrible head cold, which I hope doesn't progress into man flu!
If I am honest, I really don't like this weather!
However, I've been cheered up a little due to the fact that I've been able to get tickets to see my favourite band Miike Snow, playing live next month.
To say that I am looking forward to seeing them and to getting rid of this damn cold would be an understatement!
Here are Miike Snow performing "Burial" live....good aren't they!?

Cyngor Tref yn camu i'r bwlch - Town Council steps into the breach

Ohewrydd fod adnoddau'r Cyngor Sir wedi eu hymestyn i'r eithaf yn sgil y tywydd rhewllyd diweddar, mae Cyngor Tref Ffestiniog wedi penderfynu cyflogi contractwyr lleol i glirio eira a rhew oddi ar palmentydd a strydoedd yr ardal yn ystod yr wythnos hon.
Mae'r Cadeirydd. Is-Gadeirydd a'r aelodau wnaeth y penderfyniad yma ynghyd a'r Clerc yw llongyfarch am gamu i'r bwlch yn ystod cyfnod anodd i bawb yn lleol.

Due to the fact that the County Council's resources are stretched because of the severe ice and snow which has hit the area recently, Ffestiniog Town Council has decided to appoint a local contarcator to clear ice and snow from the pavements and roads in and around the town during this week.
The Chair, Vice-Chair, members and Clerk who have made this decision are to be congratulated for stepping into the breach at a difficult time for everyone locally.

By The People: The Election of Barrack Obama

Rhaglen hynod ddiddorol ac ysbrydoledig oedd ymlaen neithiwr ar BBC 2. Roedd yn dilyn ymgyrch Obama i fod yn ymgeisydd y Democratiaid ac yna ei ymgyrch i fod yn Arlywydd America.
Os ddaru chi fethu'r rhaglen, cliciwch yma i'w gweld ar wasanaeth iplayer y BBC.

A thoroughly enjoyable,interesting and inspirational programme on BBC 2 last night. The programme followed Barrack Obama's campaign to become the Democratic Party's Presidential Candidate and then his campaign to become the 44th President of the United States of America.
If you missed it, click on this link that will take you to the programme on the BBC's iplayer service.

"If you can't stand the heat, you better get out of the kitchen!"

Dyna oedd geiriau anfarwol Harry S Truman.
Mae'n ymddangos y dylai "Arweinydd" Cyngor Gwynedd a "Gwleidydd Lleol y Flwyddyn", Dyfed Edwards cymryd sylw ohonynt....Pam? meddai chi.
Bore 'ma dwi wedi derbyn llythyr gan Swyddfa'r Ombwdsmon yn datgan fod Dyfed wedi gwneud cwyn yn fy erbyn am fy mod wedi torri Cod Ymddygiad Cyngor Gwynedd (yn ol ei farn o) ac yn ol rhai (meddai o) wedi ei enllibio fo drwy ysgrifennu'r canlynol ar y blog hwn.
Rwan er mwyn i ni gael bod yn berffaith glir, mae'r bygythiad i gyllideb Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin dal yn bodoli ac oherwydd hynny, dyfodol amryw o Gylcheodd Meithrin Gwynedd.
Dwi yn dal yn gadarn wrth fy natganiad gwreiddiol os yw Dyfed neu unrhyw un o'u gyfeillion yn meddwl mod i wedi torri'r cod ymddygiad yna dorwch cwyn swyddogol yn fy erbyn i'r Pwyllgor Safonnau, hyd yma nid yw hynny wedi digwydd ac felly onid yw yn rhyfeddd ac yn gynamserol braidd i gwyno at yr Ombwdsmon? Os ydi Dyfed a'u gyfeillion yn amau fy mod i wedi ei enllibio mewn unrhyw ffordd, yna ar pob cyfri, ewch at gyfreithiwr a ewch a fi i'r Llys...Fel arall gai awgrymu'n garedig i chi fy nghefnogi i ddiogelu cyllidebau ar gyfer y Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin i gynnal y Cylchoedd i'r dyfodol er mwyn lles y Gymraeg ac er lles plant Gwynedd...Pan ofynais y cwestiwn yn Bwrdd y Cyngor i Dyfed TAIR gwaith os oedd yr arian ar gyfer y Mudiad yn ddiogel..ei ddewis o oedd PEIDIO ateb tair gwaith...gwnewch chi o hynny be fyno chi.
Ar gyfer y record, dwi'n dal i gredu fod Dyfed wedi dweud celwydd ac fod datganiad y Blaid i'r wasg yn un camarweiniol.

Those were the immortal words of Harry S Truman.
It appears that Gwynedd Council's "Leader" and "Local Politician of the Year" Dyfed Edwrads should take them on board..Why? you may ask.
This morning I have received a letter from the Ombudsman stating that Dyfed has made a formal complaint against me on the grounds that I have (in his opinion) broken Gwynedd Council's Code of Conduct and that some people beleive (according to him) that what I have written about him in this posting is libelous.
Now let us be clear, as things stand today, the budget earmarked by Gwynedd Council to Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin is still under threat and threfore the future of many of the Cylchoedd Meithrin across the County.
I am standing firm behind my initial statement, if Dyfed or anyone else feel that I have broken the Code of Conduct, then can I suggest they submit a formal complaint to the Standards Committee, so far that has not happened, which I find strange before going staright to the Ombudsman. If Dyfed and his friends feel that I have libled him in any way, then on all accounts, he should contact his solicitor and take me to court....Otherwise, can I suggest that they support me and ensure that the finance for the Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin is protected and in the same way, safeguarding the Cylchoedd for the future, thus benefiting the Welsh language and benefiting the children of Gwynedd.
When I asked Dyfed on THREE occassions at a recent Council Board meeting if the money for Mudiad Ysgolion Feithrin was safe, he REFUSED to answer the question three times...make of that what you will.
For the record, I still believe that Dyfed Edwards has lied and that Plaid's press statement was misleading.

Cymorthfa misol gynta' 2010 First monthly surgery

Er gwaetha'r tywydd garw bydd y Cyng.Dafydd Lloyd Hughes a mi ar gael bore dydd Sadwrn yma, Ionawr 9fed yn y Ganolfan Dysgu Gydol Oes (Llyfrgell, Maenofferen) rhwng 10a.m. -11.30am.
Hon fydd ein cymorthfa gynta' eleni, nid oes angen apwyntiad ac os gallwn fod o gymorth i chi, yna piciwch draw i'n gweld.
Mae gweddill dyddiadau cymorthfeydd eleni wedi rhestru isod.

Despite the terrible weather Cllr.Dafydd Lloyd Hughes and myself will be available this Saturday morning, January 9th between 10a.m. -11.30a.m. at the Life Long Learning Centre (Library), Maenofferen.
This will be our first surgery of the year, 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.
The dates for the rest of our surgeries in 2010 ar listed below.

Dyddiadau Cymorthfeydd 2010 Surgery Dates
Chwefror/February: 6ed/6th
Mawrth/March: 6ed/6th
Ebrill/April: 9ed/9th
Mai/May: 8ed/8th
Mehefin/June: 5ed/5th
Gorffennaf/July: 3ydd/3rd
Awst/August: DIM CYMORTHFA / NO SURGERY
Medi/September: 4ydd/4th
Hydref/October: 2ail/2nd
Tachwedd/November: 6ed/6th
Rhagfyr/December: 4ydd/4th

Eira man, eira mawr 2! - Snow joke 2!

Mae'r sefyllfa yma yn ardal y Blaenau yn dal i fod yn ddrwg yn dilyn eira mawr echdoedd a tymherdd rhewllyd.
Does dim ffyrdd bach na phalmentydd wedi cael eu graeanu mewn sawl rhan o'r ardal a gan fod prinder halen cyffredinol o fewn y Sir, fel rhanau eraill o Brydain, mae'n anhebyg iawn y byddwn yn gweld newid mawr am rhai dyddiau.
Pwyll pia hi felly, os nad oes angen i chi fentro allan, swatiwch. Tra'n derbyn nad yw'r sefyllfa yn ddelfrydol o bell ffordd, mae rhain yn amgylchiadau eithriadol ac mae gweithlu'r Cyngor wedi bod wrthi yn gwneud eu gorau efo'r adnoddau sydd ganddynt.Hyd y gwn i, mae ysgolion yr ardal i gyd wedi cau eto heddiw a dwi'n rhagweld na fyddent yn agor tan dydd Llun ar y cynharaf oherwydd diogelwch staff a disgyblion. Cofiwch hefyd i gadw golwg allan am gymdogion a pherthnasau oedranus.

The situation here in the Blaenau area is still quite bad following Tuesday's heavy snowfall and subsequent sub-zero tempretures.
Hardly any minor roads, side streets and pavements have been gritted in many parts of the area due to the shortage of salt as in many other parts of the UK, therefore it is highly unlikely that these will be gritted for some days to come.
Care and caution must be taken therefore and if you don't need to go out, stay warm and stay indoors. Whilst I accept that this situation is far from ideal, these are exceptional circumstances, the Council's workforce have been doing theirbest with the resources available.
All of the area'schools are closed again today as far as I am aware and I cannot envisage them opening back until Monday at the earliest in the interest of staff and pupil safety.
Please remeber to keep an eye out for your elderly neighbours and relatives.

Ymateb arferol blogwyr PLAID CYMRU Bloggers and their usual response

Mae neges Flwyddyn Newydd gan Arweinydd Llais Gwynedd, Owain Williams wedi derbyn ymateb arferol gan flogwyr Plaid Cymru.
O ddarllen ymatebion Cai, Guto a Dyfrig fyddech chi'n meddwl fod Plaid yn wych ac nad oes unrhyw argyfwng yn gwynebu cymunedau gwledig Gwynedd.
Fedr rhywun mond gobeithio y wneith y tri cyfaill ddeffro fel ddaw y Gwanwyn yn nes!?
Yn y cyfamser, nid ydynt yn barod i glywed, gweld na siarad unrhyw feirniadaeth o'u Plaid fach perffaith.

The New Year Message of Llais Gwynedd Leader, Owain Williams has received the usual response from Plaid Cymru bloggers.
From reading Cai, Guto and Dyfrig's responses, you'd think that Plaid was perfect and that the rural communities in Gwynedd were not facing a crisis.
One can only hope that the three friends will wake up as Spring gets nearer!?
In the meantime, they are clearly not in any mood to hear, see or speak any criticism of their precious Party.

Gordon druan! - Poor Gordon!

Credwch o neu beidio, dwi'n dechrau teimlo dros Gordon Brown!
Efo mater o wythnosau tuag at yr Etholiad Cyffrediniol a'r ymgyrch i pob diben wedi cychwyn yr wythnos yma, mae hyn yn digwydd.
Efo ffrindiau fel rhain does dim angen gelynion arno. Tybed a fydd hyn yn arwain at Etholiad Cyffredinol yn gynt, fel mae rhai yn darogan?

Beleive it or not, I'm starting to feel sorry for Gordon Brown!
With a General Election a matter of weeks away and the campaign all ready under way to all extent and purposes, this happens.
With friends like these, he doesn't need enemies. I wonder if this will now lead to an earlier General Election as some might be predicting?

With all due respect Sir..pay the money back now!

Gwynedd Council was one of the UK Local Authorities who got caught up in the Iclandic Financial Crisis last year when Landsbanki went under.
The Council has around £4m owed to it from the Iclandic Government...not an insufficent sum of money in any terms...indeed given the fact that the Council is having to make £16m in cuts over the coming year or two, £4m would be a lot of help right now.
I was less then impressed therefore to see the Iclandic President taking a very ungentlemanly stance on the matter of repaying the U.K. and Dutch Governments.
If we are to get the £4m back into Gwynedd coffers, then its vital that the U.K. gets its money back....So Mr Grimsson, do the honourable thing and pay the money back now!

Neges Flwyddyn Newydd LLAIS GWYNEDD New Year's Message

Cyhuddwyd y prif bleidiau gwleidyddol o lunio a gweithredu polisïau yng ngefn gwlad Gwynedd sydd ag effeithiau fydd yn ymdebygu i Wacáu Ucheldiroedd yr Alban yn yr 1800au.
Mewn Neges Galan dywed Llais Gwynedd, gafodd ei sefydlu’n bennaf i ymgyrchu’n erbyn cau ysgolion gwledig, for cymunedau byw a hyfyw’r ardaloedd gwledig yn cael eu dileu’n fwriadol wrth i doriadau mewn gwariant cyhoeddus gael eu hystyried yn bwysicach na gwasanaethau lleol hanesyddol a llwyddiannus.
“Mae ardaloedd gwledig angen mwy nid llai o wariant cyhoeddus os ydynt am fyw drwy galedi economaidd a chymdeithasol y dirwasgiad,” meddai Arweinydd Llais Gwynedd, y Cynghorydd Owain Williams.
“Ond mae Plaid a Llafur yn parhau gyda chanoli eu cynlluniau sydd yn gwneud dim ond dwysau all-lifiaid a gwanychu ymhellach gadarnleoedd yr iaith Gymraeg,” ychwanegodd.
Mae Llais Gwynedd, sydd â 13 aelod ar Gyngor Gwynedd, yn galw am gynlluniau rhyngweithiol er sicrhau dyfodol cymunedau gwledig a phentrefol.
“Buasai rhoi o’r neilltu gynlluniau cau ysgolion gwledig yn erbyn dymuniad y cymunedau y meant yn eu gwasanaethu’n le da i ddechrau,” ychwanegodd y Cynghorydd Owain Williams.
“Ac yna dylid cyflwyno cyfres o ddatblygiadau gyda’r nod o gryfhau gwead economiadd, cymdeithasol a diwylliannol y cymunedau hynny a gwella ansawdd bywyd y trigolion.”
Yn ôl Llais Gwynedd mae’r polisïau presennol yn hyrwyddo diboblogi ardaloedd gwledig ac yn amddifadu pobl ifanc o’r cyfle i fagu eu teuluoedd eu hunain yn eu cymunedau eu hunain.
“Dyma’r union fath o bolisïau arweiniodd at wacáu ucheldiroedd yr Alban 150 o flynyddoedd yn ôl,” meddai Owain Williams.
“Mae hyn yn gyfle unwaith ac am byth i sicrhau na fydd hynny;’n digwydd yng nghefn gwlad Cymru ond yn anffodus mae Llywodraethau Lleol a Chanolog Plaid a Llafur yn dewis anwybyddu realiti’r sefyllfa.”

The main political parties are being accused of formulating and executing policies in rural Gwynedd and beyond that have effects possibly akin to the “Scottish Highland Clearances” of the 1800s.
In its New Year message Llais Gwynedd, which was primarily established to campaign against the closure of rural schools, says living vibrant communities in rural areas are being systematically wiped out as cutbacks in public spending takes precedent over long established and successful local services.
“Rural areas need more not less public spending if they are to survive the economic and social hardships of recession,” said Llais Gwynedd Leader, Councillor Owain Williams.
“But both Plaid and Labour continue with their centralised strategies that will do nothing but accelerate emigration and further weaken already diminished Welsh language heartlands,” he added.
Llais Gwynedd, which has 13 members on Gwynedd Council, calls for pro-active initiatives to safeguard the future of rural and small town communities.
“A moratorium on rural school closures without the consent of the communities they serve would be an excellent place to start,” added Councillor Owain Williams,
“Followed by a series of programmes aimed at strengthening the economic, social and cultural fabric of these communities and increase the quality of life of their inhabitants.”
Llais Gwynedd says that present policies are promoting the de-population of rural areas by depriving young people of the chance of staying of raising their own families in their own communities.
“This is exactly the sort of policies that lead to the Highland Clearances of Scotland 150 years ago,” said Owain Williams.
“This is a once only opportunity to ensure this will not happen in rural Wales but unfortunately the present Plaid Labour establishment in central and local Government choose to turn a blind eye to the reality of the situation.”

Cyfle ola' i fy noddi - Last chance to sponsor me

Bydd tudalen We 509 yn cau o fewn y dau ddiwrnod nesaf felly dyma'r cyfle ola' i chi fy noddi os ydych yn dymuno gwneud hynny.
Diolch i pawb sydd wedi fy noddi ar lein ac ar bapur...byddaf yn casglu'r arian sydd wedi ymrymo'n barod ac yn cyhoeddi faint yn union ddaru fy ymdrechion godi tuag at Ty Gobaith ar ddechrau Chwefror.

The 509 Web page will be closing within the next couple of days, so now's your final opportunity to sponsor me.
Thank you very much to all of you who have already supported my efforts on behalf of Ty Gobaith.
I will be collecting the pledges that have been made during this month and I will announce the final total that I have raised for this great cause early in February.

Eira man, eira mawr! - Snow joke!

Mae'r eira mawr sydd wedi disgyn ar hyd a lled y wlad yn creu problemau mawr ac tydi ardal Stiniog ddim gwahanol i nunlle arall.
Mae'r Cyngor Sir yn gwneud eu gorau glas i graeanu'r priffyrdd yn ogystal a ffyrdd eraill ond o dan yr amgylchiadau anodd fydd cyrraedd pob twll a chornel.
Felly pwyll pia hi ac os nad oes angen i chi adael y ty, swatiwch yn gynnes....cofiwch hefyd os oes gennych gymdogion neu aelodau o'r teulu sydd yn oedranus neu yn dioddef anhwylder i gadw golwg arnynt a sicrhau eu bod nhw'n iawn.

The heavy snowfall is causing problems across the Country and the Blaenau area is also bearing the brunt and is no different to anywhere else.
The County Council are trying their best to grit the roads and keep them open, however due to the difficult conditions, it will be impossible to reach everywhere and minor roads and some streets will undoubtedly be trecherous.
So please take care and unless your journey is neccessary, then stay at home, safe and warm. Don't forget if you have elderly neighbours or family members, check up on them to see that they are also safe and warm..its at times like these that the elderly are most vulnerable.

Colli Cawr o Gymro - Marwolaeth yr Athro Hywel Teifi Edwards

Tristwch o'r mwyaf oedd clywed am farwolaeth yr Athro Hywel Teifi Edwards neithiwr. Er na chefais erioed y fraint o'i gyfarfod, bu mi ei edmygu fel Cymro, Cenedlaetholwr a gwr di-flewyn ar dafod ers blynyddoedd. Roedd ei gyfraniad i drafodaethau a dadleuon ar y teledu a radio yn werth eu gweld a'u clywed ac yn ganol y difrifoldeb (ac ambell dro y diflastod) byddai cyfraniad Hywel a'i hiwmor unigryw yn dod a pawb yn ol at eu coel.
Mi fydd colled mawr ar ol Hywel i'r Genedl gyfan a'i filltir sgwar yn Sir Gaerfyrddin ond i'w deulu a'i llu o gyfeillion fydd y golled fwyaf ac ar yr adeg hynod drist yma, hoffwn estyn fy nghydymdeimlad diffuant iddynt i gyd yn eu colled. Heddwch i'w lwch a diolch amdano.

Last night, esteemed Welsh academic and patriot, Professor Hywel Teifi Edwards, passed away aged 75. I never had the privilage of meeting Hywel, but he was a man I admired greatly for being forthright and fearless in his passion for everything Welsh.
His passing is a tremendous loss to Wales and an even greater loss to his family (Hywel's son is Huw, BBC News anchor man). To Hywel's family and friends, I extend my deepest sympathy at this very sad time. May this giant among Welshmen rest in peace.

Deiseb Ysbyty Coffa BLAENAU FFESTINIOG Memorial Hospital Petition

Yn ystod mis Ebrill eleni, bydd y Gweinidog Iechyd yn y Cynulliad, Edwina Hart AC yn lansio adolygiad i ddyfodol ein Ysbyty Coffa ni yma yn y Blaenau.
Fel mae rhai ohonoch yn gwybod, mae peth amheuaeth wedi bod ers rhai blynyddoedd bellach am ddyfodol ein ysbyty lleol. Bu i'r cyn fwrdd iechyd lleol, Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol Gwynedd geisio ei chau hi tua pedair blynedd yn ol ond oherwydd gwrthwynebiad lleol ofer bu ymgais y Bwrdd y pryd hynny.
Gyda ad-drefnu'r gwasanaeth iechyd yn ddiweddar, mae Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol Gwynedd wedi diflannu a bellach, Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr sydd yn gyfrifol am ysbytai ar hyd Gogledd Cymru.
Dwi wedi bod yn chwyrn yn erbyn unrhyw fwriad i gau'r ysbyty ers blynyddoedd a gan mai fi bellach ydi'r Cynghorydd Sir dros y Ward ble mae'r ysbyty wedi ei leoli (er ei bod yn gwasanaethu ardal llawer ehangach), dwi yn teimlo ei fod hi'n ddyletswydd ac yn flaenoriaeth i mi wneud popeth o fewn fy ngallu i sicrhau fod yr ysbyty a'r adnoddau sydd yno yn cael ei warchod a'i ddatblygu ar gyfer y dyfodol.
I'r perwyl hynny, dwi'n lansio deiseb ar lein ac yma'n lleol er mwyn sicrhau fod llais a dymuniad y gymuned hon a phawb sydd yn cefnogi gwasanaethau iechyd cymunedol yn cael ei glywed a'i ystyried yn fanwl pan fydd yr adolygiad ar ddyfodol yr ysbyty yn cychwyn ym mis Ebrill.
Fedrwch chi gefnogi'r ymgyrch i warchod a datblygu Ysbyty Coffa Ffestiniog drwy arwyddo'r ddeiseb yma.
Byddwn hefyd yn croesawu'r ffaith pe byddech yn medru e-bostio eich cysylltiadau i gyd i ddenu ei sylw at yr ymgyrch hwn.
Mi gafodd yr ysbyty hon ei adeiladu er coffad i'r rhai a laddwyd mewn rhyfeloedd gyda arian prin ein cyn deidiau, mae yna ddyletswydd moesol i ni felly i sefyll yn erbyn unrhyw fwriad i'w chau neu ei is-raddio.
Heb os, bydd yr ymgyrch i warchod a datblygu ein ysbyty lleol yn un o'm prif flaenoriaethau i ar gyfer 2010. I'r perwyl hynny byddaf yn cyfarfod gyda Phrif Weithredwr y Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol, Mrs Mary Burrows i ddatgan yn glir beth ydi dymuniad y gymuned o fewn yr wythnosau nesaf, fel pan fydd yr adolygiad yn cychwyn bod ystyriaeth llawn yn cael ei roi i'r dymuniadau hynny.

In April this year, the Assembly Government's Health Minister, Edwina Hart A.M. will launch a review into the future of our local Memorial Hospital here in Blaenau Ffestiniog.
As many of you will already know, there has been some doubt over the past few years about the hospital's long term future. The former Gwynedd Local Health Board tried to close the hospital about four years ago, however those plans were suspended due to strong local opposition.
Following the recent re-organisation of the health service, Gwynedd Local Health Board has dissappeared and has been replaced by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board which is now responsible for hospitals across North Wales.
I have been opposed to any attempts to close our local hospital for many years and now that I am the County Councillor for the Ward in which the hospital is located (although it serves a much wider area), I feel it is both my duty and a priority for me to ensure that this hospital and the facilities that are there is safeguarded and developed so that it may continue to serve this area for many years to come and I will do everything that is within my power to do that.
For that reason I have started an online petition and I will also be collecting signatures locally to ensure that the wishes and the voice of this community and those that support community healthcare provision is heard loud and clear and given full and fair consideration when the review begins in April.
You can support this campaign by signing the petition here.
I would also be very grateful if you could e-mail all of your contacts to draw their attention to this campaign.
Our hospital was built as a memorial for those killed in conflicts, with the hard earned money of our forefathers, there is therfore a moral duty for us to stand firm against any proposals to close it or downgrade its status.
Without doubt, the campaign to safeguard and develope our Memorial Hospital will be one of my top priorities during 2010. For that reason, I have already organised a meeting with the Chief Executive of the Local Health Board, Mrs Mary Burrows which will be held in the next few weeks in order to have a frank and open discussion at which I will make the wishes of the community abundently clear to her so that when the review does begin in April that they will be given fair and proper consideration.

Mr Dafydd Whitall

Gyda thristwch clywais am farwolaeth cyn gyfarwyddwr addysg Cyngor Gwynedd, Mr Dafydd Whitall yn 62 mlwydd oed.
Roedd Dafydd yn Gymro i'r carn ac yn un o garedigion yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol gan wasanaethu fel Llywydd y Llys.
Heb os bydd colled enfawr ar ei ol.
Estynaf fy nghydymdeimlad dwysaf i'w wraig, Bethan a'i feibion Aled ac Euros ar eu colled trist.

BLWYDDYN NEWYDD DDA! - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Gobeithio y cewch chi i gyd flwyddyn iach, hapus, llewyrchus a da yn 2010. Dyma 'chydig luniau ddaru mi dynnu yn ystod prynhawn diwethaf o 2009. BLWYDDYN NEWYDD DDA!
I hope that you will all have a healthy, happy and prosperous year in 2010.
Here are a few photos that I took on the final afte rnoon of 2009.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!