Gair i gall - Words of wisdom

"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea".

Dafydd yn creu argraff unwaith eto - Dafydd makes an impression once again

O ddarllen y sylw isod ar blog Betsan, maen amlwg fod ein Aelod Cynulliad lleol yn dal i greu tipyn o argraff ym Mae Caerdydd...tro yma yn son am y Gwasanaeth Awyr rhwng Ynys Mon a Chaerdydd.

3. At 2:49pm on 25 Mar 2010, Len Gibbs wrote:
Betsan:
"The Presiding Officer telling his audience that he would make no apologies to the Welsh Liberal Democrats for using the airlink to fly home tomorrow."
I not only overheard the comment, I had the misfortune to have to sit and listen to it.
It was wholly inappropriate to be made in front of an invited audience at the launch of the Open University's new course. It was an arrogant and boastful remark about an alleged benefit the Assembly had brought to the Welsh public. His sad little joke about the A470 was not well received. I hope he enjoys the drive up North in his expenses paid car and takes in the beauty of Wales in the rain and mist.
Whether the North/South link was profitable or not, with or without a subsidy, the 'green' benefits of flying referred to by Lord Thomas in his speech was an astonishing claim. The only green thing about flying is Wales looks green from the air.
The problems presented by the geography of Wales makes it very difficult to provide direct surface links between different centres of population. It is understandable that North Wales want a more convenient way of travelling to Cardiff, but Valley is a long way from many of the towns especially Flintshire, If an airlink is provided through an Assembly subsidy why shouldn't an air link also be provided between Withebush and Broughton? So why Anglesy? IWJ et al perhaps?
Lord Daffydd Ellis Thomas, the Assembly's Presiding Officer has had his comeuppance this morning.

Reading the above comment from Betsan's Blog, it appears that our local Assembly Member is making an impression down in Cardiff Bay..this time its regarding the Anglesey to Cardiff air service.

Go Ape! - Dolgellau

Ydi mae atyniad diweddaraf Gwynedd wedi agor y penwythnos yma.
Cwrs rhaffau uchel Go Ape yng Nghoed y Brenin ger Dolgellau.
Bum mi yno ddoe ac fel mae rhai ohonoch eisioes yn gwybod dwi wedi mentro ar gwrs TTA ger Betws y Coed ar dau achlysur yn flaenorol ond wedi gorfod troi'n ol gan fod genai ormod o ofn.
Rwan mod i yn fy 40au, dwi'n teimlo mwy mentrys (haha!?) ac felly dyma fynd ati dan grynu, thychan a stryffaglu sgrechian i fynd ati i gwbwlhau'r cwrs newydd 'ma yn Go Ape!
Mi lwyddais OND er mod i'n falch iawn, oherwydd fy ofnau, doedd o ddim y profiad mwya pleserus i mi o bell ffordd. Serch hynny i rhai anturus ohonoch ac i'r plant hyn mi fydd hwn yn atyniad gwych i chi dreulio 2-3 awr llawn cyffro.
Felly Pasg 'ma os ydych am chydig o sbort llawn antur ac neith eich cadw chi'n heini wedi holl wyau siocled 'na cerwch am dro i Go Ape ac fe gewch weld dros eich hunain be dwi'n ei feddwl uchod...sport ond mam bach mi oedd genai ofn!Dim gormod i beidio a'i wneud o eto chwaith ;-)).

Yes, Gwynedd's latest attraction has opened this weekend.
The brand new high ropes course at Go Ape, Coed y Brenin near Dolgellau.
I went there yesterday and as some of you may already know, I've tried out the TTA Course near Betws y Coed twice before but only to "bottle out" halfway through it on both occassions due to my fear of heights.
Now that I am in my fearless forties (I wish!?) I was determined to complete this new course at Go Ape! And after much shaking in my boots, soul searching, screaming, huffing and puffing..I'm gald to say, I survived and I completed the course...just.
I did it!..BUT, although I am very pleased, due to my fear, it was far from being the most pleasurable experience of my life. For the more adventurous among you and for older children, this will be a fantastic attraction where you can spend 2-3 hours getting an adrenalin rush like no other.
So this Easter, if you'r looking for a fun filled adventure that will keep you fit after all those chocolate eggs, pop down to Go Ape and you can see for yourself what I'm referring too above...lots of fun, but boy was I scared! Not too scared that I wouldn't do it all again though ;-)).

Be nawr i Ieuan Air? - What now for Ieuan Air?

Mae'r cyhoeddiad (nid annisgwyl) fod cwmni Highland Airways bellach yn nwylo'r gweinyddwyr yn ergyd drom i'r cynllun i hedfan rhwng Ynys Mon a Chaerdydd.
Amser a ddengys os bydd cwmni arall yn cael ei ddenu i ddarparu'r gwasanaeth. Un peth yn bendant dwi ddim yn credu y dylai'r pwrs cyhoeddus sybsideiddio'r gwasaneth dim mwy na'r hyn sydd eisioes wedi ei wario ar y fenter gostus yma.

The (not surprising)announcement that Highland Airways has gone into administartion is a bitter blow to the plans to fly between Anglesey and Cardiff.
Time will tell whether or not another company may be drawn into operating the service. One thing is certain, I do not think that the public purse should subsidise the service a penny more than what it has currently spent on this pretty costly venture.

Be mae hi wedi bod yn neud!? - What has she been doing!?

Ddoe fe gyhoeddwyd fod Comisiynydd Pobl Hyn Cymru am gynnal ei hadolygiad gyntaf ers cael ei phenodi i'r swydd yn Ebrill 2008.
Tra dwi'n croesawu'n fawr y bydd hi yn edrcyh ar y ffordd mae'r henoed yn cael ei trin a'i parchu oddi fewn i'n ysbytai, mae rhaid gofyn be yn union mae Ruth Marks wedi bod yn ei wneud ers bron i dwy flynedd!?
Fe gofiwch i mi gysylltu a hi ar ran trigolion Cartref Bryn Llywelyn pan aeth Cyngor Gwynedd ati i gau y cartref ac y tro hwnnw be wnaeth y Comisiynydd? DIM!

Yesterday it was announced that the respect and dignity older people have in hospital is to be examined in a review by Wales' "champion" for the elderly.
Ruth Marks said she had heard of "serious concerns that need to be looked at", including the use of mixed sex wards and the cleanliness of wards.
It is her first review since taking up her post in April 2008.
Whilst I warmly welcome this review, I'd like to know what on earth has Ms Marks been doing for the past two years until now!?
You may recall that I contacted her on behalf of residents of Bryn Llywelyn Care Home when Gwynedd Council started on their planned closure of the home and at that time, what did the Commissioner do? NOTHING!

P.C.S...taking the p.i.s.s.?

I think that today's second strike from members of the PCS is unfortunate to say the least.
The fact that the Government of Wales (Plaid Cymru and Labour) won't cross the picket line, when they (Labour in Westminster)have drawn up the policy that the PCS are striking about is also very bizarre to say the least and they are also prepared to cross picket lines in London (Both Labour and Plaid MP's).
As far as I can see it, the redundancy terms that PCS are striking over even after they have been changed are still far, far superior than those that would and could be offered by over 90% of companies and organisations within the private and voluntary sector.
We are facing tough times where frontline services to the public face severe cuts unlike any that we have seen before.
I would rather see taxpayers money being used wisely to fund those frontline services and not used for over inflated redundancy settlements for public sector workers which far outweigh what would be available to counterparts in the private and voluntary sectors.
We are all in this together, the PCS need to get real and the Government of Wales needs to do just that, grow up and govern!

Galwad unfrydol gan Gyngor Tref am ddynodiad arbennig i'r Blaenau - Town Council unanimously calls for special designation for Blaenau

Yn sgil cyhoeddi cau Chwarel yr Oakeley yr wythnos diwthaf cynhaliwyd cyfarfod arbennig o Gyngor Tref Ffestiniog yn gynharach heno.
Mae'r Cyngor wedi penderfynu cefnogi'n unfydol i alw ar y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol i ddynodi Blaenau Ffestiniog fel Parth Menter er mwyn ceisio mynd ati i greu cyfleon cyflogaeth a swyddi newydd yn yr ardal.
Cawn weld maes o law beth fydd ymateb y Cynulliad i alwad y Cyngor Tref.

Following last week's announcement that Oakeley Quarry is to close, an extraordinary meeting of Ffestiniog Town Council was held earlier this evening.
The Council has unanimously supported a call to designate Blaenau Ffestiniog as an Enterprise Zone that should aim at creating employment opportunities and new jobs in the area.
We'll now wait and see what the Assembly's response will be to the call from the Town Council.

Blaenau Ymlaen

Newydd ddod adra o gyfarfod positif iawn o Blaenau Ymlaen.
Braf gweld cynifer o fobol yno yn barod i gyfrannu tuag at y broses o adfywio ein cymuned ac mae cnoc fel cyhoeddi cau Chwarel yr Oakeley yn atgyfnerthu ymdrechion ni i gyd dwi'n credu.

Just got back from a very positive Blaenau Ymlaen meeting.
It was nice to see so many people ready to contribute to the rejuvination of our community and the setback caused by the announcement that Oakeley Quarry will close soon has only added to the determination and efforts of all of us I believe.

Sad News..."Know wot I mean 'Arry"

Trist iawn oedd clywed am farwolaeth Harry Carpenter yn 84 oed.
Fel y diweddar Reg Guttridge fo oedd llais bocsio y BBC yn yr 70au a'r 80au ac roedd ei glywed yn gweiddi wrth i Frank Bruno siglo Tyson yn ei gornest yn Las Vagas yn un o llu o atgofion sydd genai ohono.

Sad to hear about the death of Harry Carpenter aged 84 years old.
Just like the late Reg Guttridge, Harry was THE voice of boxing on the BBC during the 70's and 80's and I remember him cheering Frank Bruno on when he shook Tyson in their fight in Las Vagas is one of many fond memories I have of him.

Brandio Blaenau - Branding Blaenau

Cofiwch am y digwyddiad Brandio Blaenau sydd yn digwydd heno rhwng 6yh ac 8yh yn Y CELL.
Bydd y digwyddiad yn cael ei gynnal gan Gwmni Miller Research fel rhan o'r Cynllun Adfywio Blaenau.

Don't forget the Branding Blaenau event which is being held between 6pm and 8pm tonight at the CELL.
The event is being hosted by Miller Reasearch as part of the town regeneration project.

Rafa a Lerpwl yn methu rhoi'r eisin ar y gacen - Rafa and the Reds fail to put the icing on the cake

Newydd ddod nol o benwythnos i ffwrdd yn Swydd Efrog.
Bues yn ffodus iawn i gael tocynnau ar gyfer y gem bel-droed fawr p'nawn ma rhwng Lerpwl a Man Utd yn Old Trafford fel anrheg penblwydd.
Sut ddaru mi eistedd yn llonydd a pheidio gweiddi pan sgoriodd Torres (roeddwn yn eistedd gyda cefnogwyr Man U!), Duw yn unig a wyr.
Yn anffodus doedd hi ddim i fod, gyda United yn ennill 2-1, ac mi fethodd Rafa a'r cochion rhoi yr eisin ar gacen fy mhenblwydd.
Ta waeth, dwi wedi cael amser braf iawn ond nol i'r gwaith yfory gyda sawl her a mater pwysig angen sylw yn ystod yr wythnos i ddod.

Just got back from a weekend in Yorkshire.
I had been fortunate enough to get tickets for this afternoon's game between Liverpool and United at Old Trafford as a birthday present.
How on earth I managed to sit still and remain quite after Torres put Liverpool ahead, heaven only knows?(I was sat among United fans!).
Unfortunately it was only a token goal as United eventually ran out winners by 2-1, so Rafa and the Reds failed to put the icing on my birthday cake.
Not to worry, I've had a very nice time, but its back to work tomorrow with plenty of matters needing urgent attention during what's sure to be a busy week ahead.

Dwy flynedd o flogio - Two years of blogging

Rargian fawr!...Tydi amser yn hedfan pan 'da chi'n cael hwyl!?
Ydi mae'n ddwy flynedd bellach ers i mi gychwyn blogio.
Diolch i'r rhai sydd yn ddarllenwyr cyson ac yn cyfranu o bryd i'w gilydd...bydd y milfed edefyn yn cael ei bostio eleni a dwi'n edrych ymlaen i flogio'n gyson wrth i Etholiadau'r Cynulliad 2011 nesau.

Wow!...Time flies when you're having fun!
Yes, belive it o'r not, I started blogging two years ago today.
Thanks to all the regular readers and contributors to the blog...the thousandth post will be posted later this year and I look forward to another year of regular blogging as we head towards the 2011 Assembly Elections.

Hen bryd hefyd! - About time too!

Mae'r ffaith fod y Gweinidog Datblygu Economaidd, Ieuan Wyn Jones am gyhoeddi newidiadau heddiw i sut mae Llywodraeth y Cynulliad yn cefnogi busnesau ac am ddatblygu economi Cymru yn gyfaddefiad fod polisiau presennol y Llywodraeth wedi methu.
Dwi'n rhoi croeso llugoer i'r cyhoeddiad gan na fydd yn fy marn i yn mynd digon pell.
Rydym ni i gyd yn gyfarwydd efo methiant rhai o raglenni y Llywodraeth, ProAct, ReAct yn ddau engraifft i fynd i ymrafael a problemau mewn sawl ardal.
Mae angen newid strategol hefyd i'r Cynllun Gofodol ac yma yn lleol, swn i'n disgwyl gweld y Cynullaid yn cynnig mwy o gefnogaeth ymarferol i'r ardal hon yn sgil cyhoeddi cau Chwarel yr Oakeley.
Gyda cyhoeddiad ddoe mai ffigyrau diwethdra Cymru yw'r gwaethaf yn y DU, mi roedd newid yn anorfod - amser a ddengys os bydd y newid hynny'n ddigon.

The fact that the Economic Development Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones will announce today that he is making changes to how WAG will be supporting businesses and developing the Welsh Economy is to all extents an admission that current policies have indeed, failed us here in Wales
I'm giving this announcement a cautious welcome as I don't think that the "changes" will be far reaching enough.
We're all too familiar with the failure of some of WAG's programmes such as ProAct and ReAct, which are two fine examples that have failed to deal head on with serious economic problems in some areas of Wales hit by serious job losses.
Strategic change is also required to the Wales Spatial Plan, and locally here in the Ffestiniog area, I still await WAG's response to the announcement that 55 jobs are going with the closure of the Oakeley Quarry.
Yesterday's announcement regarding unemployment figures in Wales being the worst in the UK, meant that changes had to be made - we will have to wait and see if these changes will be for the better.

Tune!

This is the favourite tune on the i-pod at the moment... I had it playing on repeat as I walked up the incline earlier today to Wrysgian Quarry!..Think it helped me up there in a decent time.
Enjoy The Dream featuring Kanye West "Walking on the Moon".

Cyfarfod brys o'r Cyngor Tref - Town Council to have urgent meeting

Yn dilyn yr ergyd economaidd diweddaraf i daro'r ardal, mae cyfarfod brys o'r Cyngor Tref wedi ei alw ar gyfer nos Fercher nesaf.

Following the latest economic blow to hit the town, an urgent meeting of Ffestiniog Town Council has been called for next Wednesday evening.

Bywyd yn cychwyn! - Life begins!

Ydw! dwi'n cael fy mhenblwydd yn 40 heddiw a dwi ddim yn teimlo diwrnod dros 21 mlwydd oed!
Diolch o galon am y negeseuon o ewyllys da ar holl gardiau,
Gwil

Yes I am forty today,thanks for all the best wishes and your good luck cards!
Gwil

Dwyn yn ngolau'r dydd gan fusnesau - Daylight robbery from businesses

Mae busnes lleol wedi cysylltu gyda mi bore 'ma i nodi fod eu treth anomestic ar gyfer busnes bychan wedi cynyddu 500% ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf!!
Eleni, roedd eu bil treth anomestig yn £440.10, blwyddyn nesaf bydd eu bil yn £2084.20!
Mae hyn yn gwbwl anerbynniol a dwi wedi cysylltu ar unwaith gyda'r swyddfa briso i ofyn iddynt edrych i mewn i'r mater unigol yma yn ogystal i ofyn am gyfarfod brys i drafod hyn gan y gall cynydd o'r fath yrru canoedd o fusnesau bychan yn Nwyfor a Meirionnydd allan o fusnes ac i fod yn gwbwl glir, byddai hynny yn drychineb economaidd a chymdeithasol.

A local business has contacted me this morning to note that their non-domestic business rates for next year are rising a whopping 500%!!
This year, the business in question has paid £440.10 in non-domestic business rates, next year they are expected to pay £2084.20!
This is totally unacceptable and wholey unreasonable and I have contacted the VOA to ask them to look at this individual case immediately and to ask for an urgent meeting to discuss the whole matter as such extortionate increases will lead to hundred's of small businesses in Dwyfor and Meirionnydd to shut down and quite frankly that would be a disaster, both socially and economically.

Diwedd cyfnod ac ergyd drom - End of an era and a savage blow

Yn gynharach heddiw, clywais y newyddion drwg fod Chwareli Gloddfa Ganol a'r Oakeley yn cael eu cau o fewn y mis gan gwmni Welsh Slate am rhesymau dearegol ac economaidd - bydd 55 o swyddi yn cael eu colli yma yn y Blaenau, er bydd rhai ohnynt yn trosglwyddo i Chwarel y Penrhyn , Bethesda.
Dwi wedi siarad efo Rheolwr Gyfarwyddwr y cwmni ac yn dilyn y sgwrs hynny, dwi wedi e-bsotio swyddogion y Cynullaid Cenedlaethol a Chyngor Gwynedd yn gofyn am gefnogaeth brys i'r chwarelwyr a'r ardal yn sgil yr ergyd drom yma.
Mae llawer o gynlluniau cyffroes ar y gorwel yma yn lleol ac dwi'n croesawu ac yn cefnogi hynny'n fawr OND mae hefyd angen buddsoddiad uniongyrchol i ddiogelu a creu rhagor o swyddi yma ac dyna sydd ei angen arnom RWAN.
Mae fy meddylaiu p'nawn ma gyda'r rhai sydd yn colli eu swyddi ac byddaf yn parhau i weithio'n ddiflino i greu a denu cyfleon gwaith i'r ardal.

Earlier today, I heard the bad news that both Gloddfa Ganol and Oakeley Quarries will be closing within the month with the loss of over 55 jobs in Blaenau, although half of those losing their jobs will be offered work at Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda.
The news was confirmed to me during a telephone conversation with the Managing Director of Welsh Slate. Following which I e-mailed officers from both the Welsh Assembly Government and Gwynedd Council asking for their immediate support for the quarrymen who are losing their jobs and the wider area which will suffer from this bitter blow.
There are a number of exciting plans in the pipeline at present for the town HOWEVER there is also a need for direct investment that will safeguard and create new job opportunities in the area and we need that investment NOW.
My thoughts this afternoon are with the people who are losing their job and I will be even more determined than ever to create and draw in new jobs for the area.

Gwasanaethau cyhoeddus i wynebu argyfwng - Public services to face crisis

Mae adroddiad Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru, sy'n cael ei gyhoeddi heddiw, yn rhybuddio y bydd £1.5 biliwn yn llai ar gael ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus am dair blynedd o fis Ebrill 2011 ymlaen.
Mae hyn yn mynd i greu sefyllfa o argyfwng nid yn unig i wasanaethau a ddarperir gan Gynghorau ond hefyd gan yr awdurdodau iechyd a'r gwasanaethau brys.
Os bu i chi erioed fod angen tystiolaeth pa mor ddrwg ydi'r sefyllfa araiannol yn y wlad yma, yna dyma ydi o.
Be mae Gordon Brown a'i griw yn gwneud? Defnyddio'n arian NI i dalu am fethianau'r banciau. A be mae'r diawliaid di-egwyddor yn y banciau yn neud? Defnyddio'r arian hynny i dalu taliadau bonws anferth iddyn nhw eu hunain am eu methiant!
Mae rhywbeth mawr o'i le gyfeillion a gorau po gyntaf wneith rhywun ar y lefel uchaf o lywodraeth fagu chydig o geilliau a dweud "digon yw digon" a cymryd yr arian yn ol a'i fuddsoddi mewn gwasanaethau cyheoddus rheng flaen.

Public services in Wales are facing cuts that will cause "considerable pain", according to an official report.
Gillian Body, the auditor general for Wales, said the NHS, councils and the police may need to cut staff hours and encourage part-time working in order to save in excess of £1.5bn from April 2011 onwards.
This will undoubtedly lead to a crisis situation within the public sector in Wales.
If ever you needed proof of how bad the financial situation of this country is by now, then this is it!
What's Gordon Brown and his crew doing about it? Using OUR money to bail out the banks after their culture of gambling failed so badly. And what are the unscrupilous scumbags in the banks doin? Using that money to pay themselves massive bonuses for their failiour!
Something is so very wrong about all of this and as soon as someone at the highest level of Govrnment has the balls to say stop this nonsense and takes the money back to invest in frontline public services, the better I say.

Casgliadau siomedig i adroddiad rheilffordd - Disappointing conclusions to railway report

Cefais gyfarfod prynhawn yma gyda swyddogion o'r Cynulliad, TRAC, Taith, Cynghorau Gwynedd a Chonwy, Network Rail a Partneriaeth Cymunedau'n Gyntaf i drafod yr adroddiad terfynol i uwchraddio Rheilffordd Dyffryn Conwy.
Mae'r casgliadu yr adroddiad yn siomedig gan eu bod yn nodi ar hyn o bryd nad oes gwerth economaidd cynnaliadwy i sefydlu gwasanaeth cludo nwyddau yma yn y Blaenau gan nad oes unrhyw gyfle i ddenu buddsoddiad o'r sector breifat i'r fath fwriad ac gan nad oes gofyn gan y sector breifat am fath wasanaeth ar hyn o bryd.
Serch hynny mae'r adroddiad yn nodi sawl ffactor pwysig y dylid mynd yn ei gylch sydd yn ymwenud a chludo teithwyr yma ac oddi wrth yr ardal hon ac byddaf yn pwyso ar y Cynulaid i sicrhau gwellianu yn y ddarpariaeth o wasanaeth a safon y cerbydau er mwyn uchafu'r budd i'r ardal yn sgil rhai o'r datblygiadu cyffroes sydd ar y gweill yma ar hyn o bryd.
Felly, fel mae un drws yn cau am y tro, dwi'n mawr obeithio y byddwn yn agor un arall maes o law.
DIWEDDARIAD: Dwi bellach wedi ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog Trafnidiaeth, Ieuan Wyn Jones i ofyn am welliannu i'w gael ei wneud i wasanaethau cludo teithwyr ar y rheilffordd.

I had a meeting this afternoon with officers from the Assembly,TRAC, Taith,Gwynedd and Conwy Councils, Network Rail and The Communities First Partnership to discuss the final report into the possible upgarding of the Conwy Valley Railwy line.
Whilst the conclusion and recommendations within the report are somehwat dissapointing as it notes that there would be no identifiable economically sustainable case for the development of such a service at present.
However the report does highlight a number of important factors that could and should be looked at closer with regards to passanger transportation on the line to and from this area. I will now be pressing upon the Assembly to make improvements to the service as well as to the standard of rolling stock on the line in order to maximise any potential benefits to the area from the substantial investment already being made in the area by WAG and its partners.
So as one door shuts for the time being, I sincerely hope that we will open another in due course.
UPDATE: I've now written to the Transport Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones asking for improvements to be made to passanger services on the railway

SPLAT!

Mi fyddai yn 40 dydd Iau yma felly ddoe daeth criw o ffrindiau a'n nheulu at eu gilydd i ddathlu'r achlysur gyda mi.
Yn y bore, buom ni'n peltio paent (paintballing) ac cafwyd digon o hwyl..roedd yr olygfa ohonof yn rhedeg drwy'r coed gan sgrechian wrth i'r peli fy nharo yn aros yng nghof rhai o'm ymosodwyr (galw eu hunain yn ffrindiau!?) am hir iawn - mae genai ambell i glais i'n hatgoffa i o'r profiad hefyd.
Yna yn y prynhawn aethom i wylio'r gem i un o dafarndai Caernarfon, ac er fod y canlyniad yn siomedig cafwyd p'nawn digon hwyliog.
I gloi'r diwrnod, aeth 38 ohonom am fwyd i bwytu FU's yn Doc Fictoria ac fe gafwyd wledd bendigedig.
Roedd o'n ddiwrnod gwych, llawn chwerthin ac er mod i yn tynnu am y 40, dwi'm yn teimlo diwrnod hyn na 21! :-))

This Thursday I'll be 40 years old, so I spent yesterday with family and friends celebrating the occassion.
In the morning, we went paintballing, which was fun...the sight of me running through the forest screaming as the paintballs hit me is a vision that will remain in the memory of many of my attackers (call themselves friends!?)for quite some time - I also have the bruises as a reminder.
In the afternoon, we went to watch the match in a Caernarfon pub and although the result was dissapointing, the afternoon was enjoyable.
To finnish the day off, 38 of us went to the FU's resteraunt in Victoria Dock where we had an absolutely amazing meal.
It was a great day, filled with plenty of laughter and although I am fast approaching 40, I do not feel a day older than 21! :-))

Blaenau a'r Parc Cenedlaethol

Rhaglen radio Manylu ar BBC Radio Cymru yn trafod y bwriad i gynnwys y dref o fewn y Parc Cenedlaethol yn gynharach yr wythnos hon.
Os hoffech wrando cliciwch yma er mwyn ei glywed ar BBC iPlayer.

Rhywbeth ar gyfer y penwythnos -Something for the weekend...

Mae peth amser ers i ni gael tipyn o gerddoriaeth ar y blog 'ma....dwi'n meddwl fod hwn yn ardderchog.
Its been a while since we had some music on the blog.....I think that this is truly stunning.

Highland Fling!?

There's an article in this morning's Daily Post which throws the Ieuan Air link between Anglesey and Cardiff into doubt.
Once again, I think this show's the utter ineptitude of WAG when it comes to dealing with the private sector.
Sadly the service's premium user and his officials seem to have "cocked-up" the tendering process and the struggling Highland Airways may now be grounded by the whole fiasco.
It will be very interesting to see how matters will unfold...and what actions if any the Minister will take to safeguard his weekly commute from home to the office

CCTV yn y dref yn fuan - CCTV in town soon

Yn ei gyafrfod arferol heno, mae Cyngor Tref Ffestiniog wedi argymell gosod y cytundeb i rhoi system CCTV yn y dref.
Felly mae'r ymgyrch gychwynais misoedd wedi'r etholiad yn 2008 bron a chael ei gwireddu.
Hoffwn ddiolch i fy nghyd gynghorwyr am eu cefnogaeth ac i Heddlu Gogledd Cymru sydd yn cyfrannu at hanner y gost o'r system.
Dwi'n mawr obeithio y welwn ni'r system yn ei lle yn fuan ac bydd yn helpu i atal troseddu ac ymddygiad gwrth gymdeithasol yma yn y Blaenau.

At its ordinary meet tonight, Ffestiniog Town Council has approved a recommendation to enter into contract with a company to provide and install a CCTV system in the town.
Therefore, a campaign that I started a matter of months after the election in 2008 will come to life within the next few weeks with any luck.
I'd like to thank my fellow councillors for supporting my call for CCTV to be installed in the town, and I''d also like to thank North Wales Police who are funding 50% of the cost.
I hope to see the system up and running within the near future and I am convinced that it will act as a deterant against anti-social behaviour and law breaking in Blaenau.

Gadael, yntau cael ei wthio? Leaving or was he pushed?

Mae'r newyddion fod Alan Murray, Prif Weithredwr Ymddiriedolaeth Ambiwlans Cymru yn gadael ei swydd yn gwneud i ddyn ofyn cwetiynau am yr holl fater.
Yn sicr fel y gwyddoch, dwi ddim yn ffan mawr o'r ffordd mae o wedi rhedeg y gwasanaeth ambiwlans yn union fel ac y mae amryw o'r dynion a'r merched sydd yn gweithio oddi fewn i'r gwasanaeth.
Bu meddianu mawr yn y gwasanaeth yma yn ardal Stiniog tua dwy flynedd yn ol, ac rydym yn dal i ddisgwyl i'r addwydion a wnaethpwyd gan Mr Murray pryd hynny i ddod i fodolaeth.
Tydi'r Cynulliad heb ei fai yn fan yma chwaith, gan unwaith eto gwelwn engraifft arall o wasanaeth ddim yn cael ei gyllido'n ddigonol ganddynt.
Fedr rhywun ddim ond gobeithio y bydd olynydd Mr Murray yn well am gadw at ei addewidion ac y bydd y Cynulliad yn rhoi rhagor o arian i'r gwasanaeth.

The news that the Welsh Ambulance Trust's Chief Executive, Alan Murray is leaving his job can only lead me to asking a few questions about the matter.
As you'll all be aware, I've not been a fan of the way that he has ran the ambulance service, jusrt like the many men and women who work within the service.
The systematic failigs in the service locally in the Blaenau area about two years ago, were quite frankly unforgivable and we are still waiting to this day for promises that were made to us at that time to be realised.
The Assembly are not without fault here either, as the ambulance service is another example of the establishemnts failure to fund services properly.
One can only hope that Mr Murray's successor will be better at keeping to their word and that the Assembly will start funding the service properly soon.

Cyfarfod gyda NASS yn Aberdyfi - Meeting with NASS at Aberdyfi

Newydd ddod adra o Aberdyfi ble gafwyd cyfarfod cyhoeddus hynod bositif gyda Mervyn Benford o'r Gymdaithas Genedlaethol ar gyfer Ysgolion Bychan (NASS).
Mae Mervyn yn addysgwr o fri ac yn gweithio yn y maes fel athro, pennaeth, arolygwr ac uwch arolygwr ysgolion ers dros 50 mlynedd.
Da o beth y byddai i swyddogion o Adran Addysg y Cyngor a'r cynghorwyr o rengoedd Plaid Cymru sydd yn gyrru'r agenda i gau ysgolion yn ei flaen fod wedi clywed be oedd gan Mervyn i'w ddweud.
Roedd ei gyflwyniad yn ysbrydoledig ac mae'r ymgyrch i atal cau ysgolion Bro Dysynni ac ysgolion bychan mewn rhannau eraill o Wynedd yn parhau!

I've just got back from a meeting in Aberdyfi which was addressed by Mervyn Benford from the National Association of Small Schools.
Mervyn has over 50 ears experience in education as a teacher,headteacher, inspector and senior inspector of schools and his presentation tonight was inspirational.
Some of the officers from the Education Department and the Councillors from Plaid Cymru who are pushing this closure agenda forward should have been present to hear what he had to say.
His presentation was inspiring and the campaign to stop the closure of schools in the Tywyn area and other parts of Gwynedd goes on!

Bore hyfryd o Wanwyn - A glorious Spring morning

Dyma codi'n gynnar a mentro am dro i Gwmorthin yna i fynnu uwch ben chwarel y Gloddfa ac am y tro cyntaf erioed, i lawr llwybr "zig-zag".
Mae chydig o haul yn neud rhywun deimlo'n sionc ac yn edrych ymlaen at yr haf wedi gaeaf mor hir a mor oer.

So I was out of bed early and I ventured for a walk up to Cwmorthin, then up again above Gloddfa quarry and down the zig-zag path.
I have lived in Blaenau for most of my life and I'd never been down that path before.
Having the sun out, puts a spring in the step don't you feel?..I'm certainly looking forward to summer after the long and cold winter we've just had.

Newyddion cymysg o'r maesydd chwarae - Mixed fortunes on the sporting front

Yn dilyn y gymorthfa bore ma, es i draw i Ddolawel ble roedd Bro yn chwarae'r Wyddgrug.
Dyma i chi gem o ddwy hanner, gyda'r tim cartref yn mynd i mewn ar yr hanner ar y blaen o 25-8.
Roedd yr ail hanner yn fater gwahanol gyda'r Wyddgrug yn sgorio 10 pwynt heb ildio dim ond diolch i'r drefn, bu Bro ddal allan i ennill o 25-18...Da iawn Danny a'r hogia!
Canlyniad siomedig i'r Amaturiaid oddi cartref yn Conwy ar y maes pel-droed gyda Conwy yn ennill o 4-0.

After this morning's monthly surgery, I went to see the rugby at Dolawel where Bro beat Mold by 25-18. Well done Danny and the lads!
On the footballing front, after a run of good results, the Amatures went down to a heavy defeat by 4-0 at Conwy United.

Croeso i'r mesur iaith.....ond?

Tra fedr rhywun ddim ond croesawu'r mesur iaith newydd, fedrai ddim ond cytuno gyda Chymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg a gofyn pam na allai'r mesur wedi bod yn gryfach?
Hefyd, fel dwi eisioes wedi nodi ar y blog 'ma, pam fod angen Comisiynydd Iaith pam fod gennym ni Fwrdd yr Iaith yn ei le gyda staff ac arbenigedd yn barod yn y maes i wneud y gwaith fydd y ComCym yn ei wneud.
Gyda toriadau yn gwynebu'r pwrs cyhoeddus, mae'r swydd hon yn un y fedr ei gwneud heb ddi... a be fydd y gost?...Fydd y ComCym ddim ar ben ei hyn, faint o staff fydd ganddo ef/hi tybed? Fel dwi'n dweud, fyddai wedi bod llawer gwell,llawer mwy effeithiol a llawer rhatach rhoi'r cyfrifoldeb yma i Fwrdd yr Iaith...a hynny ar unwaith!

Cyfarfod positif i drafod Ysbyty Coffa - Positive meeting to discuss Memorial Hospital

P'nawn 'ma es i Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor i gyfarfod a Mrs Mary Burrows a Mr Geoff Lang o Fwrdd Iechyd Lleol Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr i drafod dyfodol yr Ysbyty Coffa yma yn y Blaenau gan y bydd yr adolygiad hir ddisgwyliedig ar ddyfodol yr ysbyty yn cychwyn o fewn yr wythnosau nesaf.
Gyda mi roedd Cyng.Linda Wyn Jones, Cyng. Arthur Holland Williams, Mr Gwilym Price a Mr Arwel Jones.
Cawsom ni dros awr o gyfarfod ac fe gafwyd trafodaeth agored iawn ac rwyf yn fodlon iawn gyda'r ffaith na fydd y cyfeillion yma yn mynd ati hi i ymgynghori gyda'r gymuned yn y ffordd cwbwl wallus aeth y cyn Fwrdd Iechyd ati tua tair blynedd yn ol.
Mi roedd Mrs Burrows a Mr Lang i weld yn fobol digon diymhongar ac yn naturiol byddwn ni i gyd yn lleol yn edrych ymlaen i gyfranu i'r adolygiad a thrafod ymhellach gyda hyw wrth i'r gwaith fynd rhagddo.
Yn sicir mi roedd cyfarfod heddiw yn gosod seiliau i adeiladu arno a mawr obeithiaf y medrwn maes o law ddod i gytundeb fydd yn gweld yr Ysbyty Goffa nid yn unig yn cael ei gwarchod ond yn cael ei datblygu hefyd.

This afternoon, I attended a meeting at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor with Mrs Mary Burrows and Mr Geoff Lang from the Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board to discuss the impending review into the future of Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital.
With me at the meeting were Cllr.Linda Wyn Jones, Cllr.Arthur Holland Willaims, Mr Gwilym Price and Mr Arwel Jones.
The meeting, which lasted over an hour was open and frank and I am satisied that these people will not conduct a cack handed consultation regarding the hospital's future in such a way that their predecessors did some 3 or 4 years ago.
Mrs Burrows and Mr Lang seemed to be genuine people who understood some of our concerns and naturally, all of us locally look forward to having further discussions with them in the near future in the hope that we will not only be able to save the hospital but also see it being developed further to meet the community's needs in the future.
This afternoon's meeting has certainly set the foundations for positive dialogue and I hope that the spirt for such openess will remain for the future.

Diwrnod prysur heddiw! - Busy day today!

Cyfarfod i drafod mater cynllunio bore 'ma yna nol i'r swyddfa i ddal fynnu efo hyn a llall.
Draw i Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor erbyn 4yh i gyafrfod Prif Weithredwr y Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol gyda ymgyrchwyr lleol i drafod dyfodol Ysbyty Coffa Ffestiniog.
Nol i'r Blaeanu wedyn i gyfarfod llywodraethwyr Ysgol Maenofferen ac yna panel CCTV y Cyngor Tref.
Diwrnod llawn ond diwrnod cynhyrchiol gobeithio.

Meeting this morning to discuss a planning matter, then its back to the office to catch up with various bits and pieces.
Over to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor by 4pm for a meeting with the Local Helth Board's Chief Executive and local campaigners to discuss the future of Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital.
Back to Blaenau then for a meeting of Maenofferen School Governors and then its the Town Council's CCTV Panel.
A full and productive day I hope.

Cyngor Cymuned Llandderfel a Siambr Fasnach 'Stiniog - Llandderfel Community Council and Blaenau Chamber of Commerce

Dyna lle fues i neithiwr.
Derbyniad cynnes gan y Cyngor Cymuned yn Llandderfel oedd yn cyfarfod yng Nghwmtirmynach gyda chwestiynau gan yr aelodau yn ymwneud a'r economi ac amaeth yna yn ol yma i'r Blaenau ar gyfer diwedd cyfarfod Siambr Fasnach y dref.

That where I was last night.
Received warmly by Llandderfel Community Council which was meeting at Cwmtirmynach. Questions by the members relating to the economy and agriculture, then it was back here to Blaenau for the end of the town's Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Dyfodol cymunedau gwledig yng Nghymru - The future of rural communities in Wales

Mae Aelodau Cynulliad yn trafod adroddiad sy'n codi pryderon am ddyfodol tymor hir cymunedau gwledig Cymru.
Adroddiad Arsyllfa Wledig Cymru sy'n ystyried oblygiadau byw mewn ardaloedd sydd dros 30 milltir o drefi sydd â phoblogaeth o 10,000.
Cyhoeddwyd y gwaith ymchwil ym mis Rhagfyr.
Yn ystod y drafodaeth ym Mae Caerdydd ddydd Mawrth mae disgwyl i Weinidog Materion Gwledig Cymru, Elin Jones AC, gyhoeddi ymateb Llywodraeth y Cynulliad.
Mae'r arolwg yn cyfeirio at bedwar maes: darpariaeth band llydan, trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, prisiau tai a chyraedd gwasanaethau.
Mae mwy na 90% o'r cymunedau gafodd eu hastudio yn dweud eu bod yn fodlon ar yr ardal fel lle i fyw a bod 94% yn dweud bod ansawdd bywyd yn "dda iawn" neu yn "weddol dawel".
Ond mae'r adroddiad yn codi "pryderon cyffredinol" am ddyfodol tymor hir y cymunedau.
Mae'n nodi nad oes 'na gymhellion i bobl ifanc i aros o fewn y cymunedau yma na chwaith i bobl ifanc symud i fewn.
Dwi'n cael hyn i gyd yn dra eironic yn yr ystyr fod rhai o bolisiau Llywodraeth y Cynulliad yn arwain yn uniongyrchol at golli gwasanaethau gwledig yn ogystal a symud cyfleon gwaith o gefn gwlad i'r ardaloedd trefol.
Mae sawl engraifft o hyn i gael:
Y Cynllun Gofodol ar Gyfer Cymru - Yma yng Ngwynedd mae'r cynllun yma am weld canoli twf yn ardal Mon/Menai, ardaloedd weddol trefol, sydd yn gwneud yn dda iawn allan o'r sector gyhoeddus yn nhermau swyddi a budd economiadd. Cyn i neb ddweud dim, dwi yn gwybod fod yna bocedi hynod o dlawd yn ardal Bangor a Chaernarfon, ond methiant y Cynulliad a'r Cyngor i fynd i ymrafael a'r problemau sydd yno yw'r ffactor mwyaf am hynny.
Fel dwi wedi ei ddweud eisioes, onid fyddai wedi bod yn llawer mwy uchelgeisiol ac heriol petai'r Cynllun Gofodol wedi datgan Dwyfor a Meirionnydd fel ardal twf, fel bod adnoddau ac arian yn cael eu glystnodi er mwyn creu gwaith ac ymateb i'r angen am dai fforddiadwy a thrafnidaieth integredig effeithiol? Mae pawb yn gwybod yn iawn nad yw'r Blaid Lafur yn ffrind i ardaloedd gwledig (edrychwch yn y gostyngiad sylweddol yn yr economi amaethyddol ers iddynt ddod i rym)- ond mae Plaid Cymru yn rhan o'r Llywodraeth ac wedi eistedd yn dawedog ar y diawl a gadael i'r tranc yma ddigwydd!
Mae adolygiad ar ddyfodol Ysbyty Goffa Ffestiniog ar fin cychwyn mis nesaf. Mae'r ysbyty yn gwasanaethu ardal wledig o Ddolwyddelan i Drawsfynydd cawn weld faint o ymrwymiad fydd gan y Llywodraeth i warchod y gwasanaeth pwysig yma maes o law.
I gloi be am bolisi Plaid Cymru ar Gyngor Gwynedd i gau ysgolion gwledig ac hydynoed y pethau mwya elfenol fel toiledau cyhoeddus? Unwaith eto, tynnu gwasanaeth o'n cymunedau a'i gwneud yn llawer llai deniadol i deuluoedd ifanc fyw ynddynt.
Oes mae angen arsyllu ar adroddiad yr Arsyllfa ond mwy na dim mae angen gweithredu i atal tranc ein ardaloedd gwledig. Hyd y gwelai, yma yng Ngwynedd, dim ond un plaid sydd wedi ymrwymo i wneud hynny a Llais Gwynedd yw honno!

Fears have been raised in a report about the long-term future of rural communities in Wales.
The research raised concern about the incentives for younger people to stay in or move to rural communities.
The Wales Rural Observatory highlights four areas of concern: broadband provision, public transport, house prices and access to services.
The Welsh Assembly Government has said it had started work on addressing the issues raised by its report.
The assembly government said the report highlighted a "trend towards the withdrawal of retail outlets and the centralisation of services in general" as issues of concern among people living in rural areas.
There was also concern over limited public transport, little affordable housing, more expensive vehicle fuel and the higher prices in local shops.
Residents also felt that they received less value for money and lower levels of service provision for their council tax than urban and more densely populated areas.
I find all of this ironic to say the least as some of the Welsh Assembly Government's own policies have and continue to contribute to the erosion of rural communities, socially and economically by cutting vital services and moving employment opportunities away from the rural areas into areas in and around large towns and cities.
Examples of this can be found in the Wales Spatial Plan which has centred economic growth within Gwynedd on the Mon/Menai Hub in the Bangor/Caernarfon area, which in all fairness is doing very well in employment and economic terms from the thousands of public sector jobs already centred oin the area. Before anybody tells me that there are areas that are very poor and deprived in that area too, I know that, and some of the issues to that again relate to the failure of WAG and Gwynedd Council to tackle those problems.
As I have said on numerous occassions in the past, would it not have been better for WAG to concentrate on Dwyfor/Meirionnydd as its economic hub within the Spatial Plan . This would have been far more ambitious and it would have made a far greater contribution socially and economically to the very communities who's problems are highlighted in the Observatory's report.
Everyone knows that Labour is no friend of rural areas (look at the dramatic drop in the farming economy since they came to power), and now whilst they are partners with them in the WAG, Plaid Cymru are also guilty by association of letting our rural communities down...you only need to go to the Lleyn Peninsula or the Tywyn area to find that out for yourselves.
Next month, a review on the future of Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital will begin. The hospital provides a service for a rural area from Dolwyddealn to Trawsfynydd, the fnal decision will lie with a Labour minister and her colleagues in Government - how much committment will we see then to rural health care?
Finally, what about Plaid Cymru's policy in Gwynedd to support and advocate the closure of toilets, care homes and schools in rural communities, on the schools issue in particular..how many young parents would consider living in a community with no school?
Yes it is important that those in Cardiff Bay observe and discuss this report, however it is even more important that they take positive action's NOW to save our rural communities and the services within them.
Here in Gwynedd,only one party is committed to that agenda and that party is Llais Gwynedd!

Cymorthfa Misol - Monthly Surgery

Bydd y Cyng.Dafydd Lloyd Hughes a mi ar gael bore dydd Sadwrn yma, Mawrth 6ed 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.

Cllr.Dafydd Lloyd Hughes and myself will be available this Saturday morning,March 6th 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.

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus - Happy St.David's Day

Ar ddydd ein nawddsant, cyfarchion cynnes atoch i gyd.
On our patron saint's day, warmest best wishes to you all.