Welsh Icons - About Wales and all things Welsh - www.welshicons.org.uk

Tuesday 28 April 2009

Obituary

An Obituary printed in the London Times........ Interesting and sadly rather true.


'Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

Common Sense declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents Truth and Trust, his wife Discretion, his daughter Responsibility and his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;

  • I Know My Rights
  • I Want It Now
  • Someone Else Is To Blame
  • I'm A Victim


Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

read more... “Obituary”


Tuesday 21 April 2009

The Monte Dons


The Monte Dons, originally uploaded by Welsh Icons (Dom).

The Monte Dons were formed in the summer of 2008 and feature

Paul Gray (Bass) -Ex Damned, Eddie and the Hot Rods, UFO and more.
Dr Chris Allender - Guitars - Ex Sheds
Phil Blight -Lead Vocals and Guitars and occaisional Ukulele - Ex Sheds
Geoff Llewellyn - Dobro, Tin Whistle, Mandolin and Vocals
Big Al Davies - Vocals, Mandolin, Ukulele, Banjo, Melodica - Ex Sheds, Doc Savage, Caerphillybillies.

Expect the unexpected from the Monte Dons, from Country romps to Zeppelin covers, Cajun delights to Hawkwind classics, from Ronnie Lane to Ronnie Barker and all in their own inimitable style. The band have quickly gathered a following since their formation in 2008 and are working on their debut album of original material, they are headlining the Big Cheese in Caerphilly in July and will be playing at a pub near you soon! A set full of delights with impressive onstage drinking to boot. Catch them when you can!

read more... “The Monte Dons”


Monday 20 April 2009

s59 Mosaic


s59 Mosaic, originally uploaded by Welsh Icons (Dom).

Playing around with Andrea Mosaic software. Zoom in and out to see what it does

read more... “s59 Mosaic”


Thursday 16 April 2009





If you can't see the baby in the picture, don't give up.
It's really cool when it actually appears.
This is not a joke and ~ NO ~ Nothing is going to jump out at you!
You have to have an open mind.
Don't look for a Baby, and you will see the Baby!
Once you see it you won't see anything else!!!
This is so cool. Do you see the baby?


What do you see here?
Do you see the word 'LIFT'?
Or, a bunch of black splotches?
GIRLS ARE ABLE TO SPOT THE WORD 'LIFT' EASILY.
MEN FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE WORD 'LIFT'.


A face? Or the word 'liar' ?


Who is the tallest?


DO YOU SEE FOUR PEOPLE?


Look at the middle column.
Where does it end?
read more... “ ”



SEE MORE THEN ONE DEER?


HOW MANY PEOPLE ?


A PICTURE PUZZLE!


PEOPLE OR FACES ?


How many horses in this picture? You should find 7


DO YOU SEE FACES OR ALL HOUSES?













11 SHIPS OR 3 SHIPS & 8 ARCHES?
read more... “ ”


Wednesday 15 April 2009

Just another way of seeing some of my stuff

read more... “Just another way of seeing some of my stuff”


Tuesday 14 April 2009

Poor Jacqui

From a well meaning friend:

I spend my lonely weeks in London
Working for Gordon Brown
And crash out on my sister’s floor
Just as the sun goes down
On Friday nights I head back home,
My second home that is,
To spend some time with my true love
And get some married bliss

Dick’s waiting for me in Redditch,
Get me there driver soon
I want to lie in his strong arms
And go into a swoon
I want to collect his DNA
For my own database
I want to open my bursting blouse
And thrust them in his face

On Friday night when I got home
My second home that is,
Dick said he was all shagged out
And just gave me a kiss
On that fateful Sunday morning,
I read it in the press
Dick’s been watching some dirty films
And got us in a mess

It seems he’s been paying five quid
For “Dirty Debutantes”
Despite what’s bursting from my blouse
It’s not me that he wants
No Tarantino, no Scorsese,
No Bergmann, no Kubrick
You can’t beat old J Arthur
Says naughty, naughty Dick

Now I’m the two homes secretary
And hold the highest rank
But Dick he isn’t that impressed
He’d rather have a w*nk
Another Monday morning dawns
I’m heading back to town
The saddest thing is that I’ll be
Working for Gordon Brown

Oh Dick! Oh Dick! You stupid prick
I don’t mind pay to view
But you claimed it on expenses
And gave the press their cue
Next Friday when I come back home
My second home that is
I’ll be expecting rather more
Than just a friendly kiss
read more... “Poor Jacqui”


Thursday 9 April 2009

Some things never change




















Cartoon originally published in the Western Mail (Cardiff), 1898. Art and commentry by Joseph Morewood Staniforth. Dame Wales confronts riot police

read more... “Some things never change”


Wednesday 8 April 2009

My bedroom in the early 1990's


My bedroom, originally uploaded by Welsh Icons (Dom).

I've just discovered Reason. Bit of a leaning curve but mind blowing

read more... “My bedroom in the early 1990's”


Tuesday 7 April 2009

Brew Wales: Pub closure video

read more... “Brew Wales: Pub closure video”


Still editing

Just taken a quick break and popped down to the corner shop.

The lad behind the counter asked me if I was working today. I replied that I was and I worked every day. His response was what about Saturdays and Sundays. Again, I responded that I also worked on Saturdays and Sundays. I then gave him an indication of how many hours a week I work, though I failed to mention the number of hours a week I put in actively seeking paid employment (as required by the DWP for me to get my Job Seekers Allowance).

If I was to get minimum wage for the time spent working on the website promoting Wales, all things Welsh and events in Wales I would be quite well off.

I cannot afford to eat in most of the places I list let alone stay a night in even some of the more modest B&Bs on the site let alone the hotels. Come to that, I cannot even afford to pitch a tent at one of the many campsites listed.

I sometimes wonder when everyone is planning their Easter activities why I bother when I can't even afford to leave the house this week.
read more... “Still editing”


Artstation at the (on the) Vulcan

Artstation presented TXT2. Using real-time communication,social networking texts and images. Projected on the Vulcan public house, Adamsdown, Cardiff.

This is my pseudo-time-lapse of jsut a small part using a Nikon D50, a tripod (thanks Scott) and just standing there pressing the shutter every 15 or so seconds. Processed in Photoshop CS2 and assembled in Photoshop Elements

read more... “Artstation at the (on the) Vulcan”


Monday 6 April 2009

Printing Photographs

For the past year or so I've been struggling with and elderly HP DeskJet printer to output my own digital photographs. Having been brought/dragged up in a household where we had a fully fitted professional darkroom I have always struggled with getting prints I'm really happy with.

The cost of ink cartridges is horrendous and the nightmares I've had getting refills is beyond belief.

Today I bit the bullet and went to see Davies Colour http://www.daviescolour.co.uk/ just down the road from me. A nice man (a very nice man) took pity on me and demonstrated how they worked. I had already downloaded their Color Profile from their website and applied it to two test shots.

My test prints will be ready at 2pm and I'm very much looking forward to seeing the results.

At just over a quid (plus VAT) for a 10" x 8" it seems to make sense.

Watch this space for more details
read more... “Printing Photographs”


Would you Adams and Eve it?

I went to see a client this afternoon (No names, No pack drill), and gave them an invoice for the forthcoming year for the costs of running their website. The invoice was for £120* (just £10 a month) and their response was they thought that all hosting costs were FREE forever as they had paid for the creation of the site. The site is now hugely popular, has been running for a year and I DID make it clear from the start that after the 1st year hosting costs were involved, even stating the amount.

For the tenner a month they get:

  • Web hosting
  • Email Accounts
  • Search Engine Optimisation
  • Monthly Search Engine Submissions
  • Links from some of my other sites
  • Promotion through Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites
  • Uptime monitoring
  • Monthly reports
  • Up to 10 additional pages/page changes a year

Am I being unreasonable?

*If anyone from the DWP is reading this the £120 a year does not even cover my costs of providing this service. The are an out of town site and even my travel costs are not covered
read more... “Would you Adams and Eve it?”


Sunday 5 April 2009

Sicknote


Sicknote, originally uploaded by Welsh Icons (Dom).

read more... “Sicknote”


Doghouse


Sicknote, originally uploaded by Welsh Icons (Dom).

Cheers for the Cider

read more... “Doghouse”


Skint and fed up

I have spent the last week carting the cameras (on foot - I can't afford the bus fare) around Cardiff trying to capture various aspects of Cardiff life. All this is available on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/welshicons for FREE under the Creative Commons License.

When not out and about I have been updating the Welsh Icons site http://www.welshicons.org.uk another FREE resource for anyone wanting to know more about Wales and the Welsh.

So with over 3 million hits a month what have I got out of it - well, a glass of Scrumpy from Doghouse of Sicknote, a pint from Liz, the Landlady of the Vulcan and very bad feet.

I sometimes (like now) wonder if it is worth it. Digital technology allows you to create and share cheaply but what's in it for the originator of the works? I was talking to Jason of Tantrum Records last night who give away most of their material for FREE. He said he'd explain it to me sometime but he's skint as well.

Sorry to sound negative but it is still a week to go before I get my next Job Seekers allowance payment - even then, with the bloody bank holiday it could be longer.

In the meantime if anyone wants an event covered cheaply by a competent photographer just drop me an email. As for thoses who have told me recently to get a job, you try in this economic climate. It is not as if I sit around all day doing bugger all!
read more... “Skint and fed up”