Member: cuffindell

Thanks for the link - interesting.

I got back from Ireland a couple of weeks ago - we were there for 11 days. Not long enough to see everything I wanted to see, but a good reconnaissance. I might go back again in April to check specific localities. I've got 3+ chapters done so far, and Gwernin is about to set sail. ;-)

Glad to hear you're making progress, and like the progress you're making. I am still working 40 hrs. a week, so I hear you about time problems.

posted by gwernin at 2:40 pm (EST) on Nov 4, 2009

Finding time to write is always a problem :-(

I've started working on the next book, the first one in the second trilogy. It's set five years after The Ash Spear, and takes Gwernin to Ireland. In pursuit of which, I'm going to Ireland myself for about 10 days in October ;-) Should be fun!

posted by gwernin at 10:39 am (EST) on Aug 21, 2009

You probably know about this already, but just in case.... There is going to be an eisteddfod in Portland in August!
http://americymru.ning.com/Wpage/page/sh...

posted by Gwendydd at 8:37 pm (EST) on Jan 15, 2009

It's currently sitting on my bookshelf so I'm claiming the nine-tenth's rule, but I'm willing to compromise. /grin

posted by brntcrsp at 6:01 pm (EST) on Dec 31, 2008

Glad you got it. It's a pleasant little book and should at least give you some ideas about the Welsh attitude to feasting. Unfortunately what either of us would like - detailed descriptions of what was eaten in Wales in our periods of interest and how it was prepared and served - don't exist (well, Gerald of Wales has some comments, but it's always hard to know who he's talking about - nobility vs "noble savage" peasants, etc). This is a situation extremely familiar to recreators in general and Welsh enthusiasts in particular ;-)

posted by gwernin at 2:06 pm (EST) on Sep 3, 2008

Other books I've been reading - well, dipping in and out of several as usual. I got the one you mentioned the other day, From medieval to modern Wales, through interlibrary loan (my sister works at a college - very handy ;-) The chapter you mentioned about houses is pretty good, with some nice diagrams. What I found most interesting, however, is that although they have now found several hundred houses in Wales that are at least partially medieval, none of the wooden ones dated by tree rings are earlier than 1420 - all post Glyndwr's Rebellion. I would expect, though, that at least some of the techniques are earlier... Not sure if I'm going to buy a copy of this book; it's well written but more than half of it is much later than my span of interest (which diminishes after 1283 and tapers off almost entirely after 1415).

Another book I just got and am finding interesting is Anglo Saxon Weapons and Warfare, which is aimed in part at reenactors and has some very useful pictures of people fighting ;-)

posted by gwernin at 11:12 pm (EST) on Aug 28, 2008

Hi there - re your comment the other day regarding "Traditional Food from Wales", have you seen this one: Food of the Bards http://www.librarything.com/work/3165300...
It's a smallish pamphlet, currently out of print and unavailable so far as I can see, a pleasant combination of quotes from bardic poetry (in English translation) regarding food, and modern redactions of appropriate recipes. I think you might find it useful - if you can find it, of course ;-) It's the only reference I'm aware of for specifically medieval Welsh cooking (but I'd always be happy to hear about more).

posted by gwernin at 9:39 pm (EST) on Aug 21, 2008

I just remembered another link you might find useful:
http://larsdatter.com/sitemap.htm

posted by Gwendydd at 7:28 pm (EST) on Aug 20, 2008

Hello! I have seen your user name on LT a lot, but didn't look at your profile until you added me to your interesting libraries. It's great to run into another Medieval Wales enthusiast, and you're in the PNW too! I live in Seattle, and my sister lives in Portland - maybe we can meet up some time to discuss Welsh stuff. Your novel project sounds like fun - I will get around to writing historical fiction one of these days...

Good to meet you here!

posted by Gwendydd at 7:15 pm (EST) on Jul 27, 2008

Brothers of Gwynedd - on the whole I did enjoy it, though of course some parts of that story are hard to take. I certainly recommend it.

I'll look forward to seeing what you do with him ;-)

posted by gwernin at 8:13 pm (EST) on May 7, 2008