Swansea

　　
　
Swansea
　
　

Karuizawa (軽井沢町)





Karuizawa is a town located in Kitasaku District, Nagano, Japan.
As of January 1, 2008, the town has an estimated population of 17,833 and has a total area of 156.05 square kilometres (60.25 sq mi).

Karuizawa is known throughout Japan as a popular tourist spot.
People from Tokyo will travel to Karuizawa to get away from the city especially in summer.
There is a Shinkansen (bullet train) station as well as a large outlet store shopping mall.
It is also known for its historic shopping street known as "Ginza dōri" or "Kyū-dō" (Ginza Street, or the Old Road).

Karuizawa hosted equestrian events in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
The town also hosted curling in the 1998 Winter Olympics.
To date, it is the only city in the world having hosted both Summer and Winter Olympic events.

---

SOURCE: Karuizawa,
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kato, I would love to be in Karuizawa with you.



That would be lovely. 　I wish I would take you to Japan Someday.

Your lady friend, Madame Taliesin, lives over there, doesn't she?

No, not always. 　You see, Karuizawa is famous mainly because wealthy and well-known people have their sumptuous summer cottages.

So, Madame Taliesin has a magnificent second home, hasn't she?

Yes, she has.





...looks like a mansion, doesn't it?



Actually, it is an expensive residential condominium. 　She owns one suite.

I'd like to see her.

You should be able to see her. 　I'll introduce her when she visits Vancouver.





I can hardly wait for the occasion.



I'm pretty sure that Madame Taliesin and you are getting along quite well.

What makes you think so?

'Cause Madame Taliesin and you have one thing in Common.

What is that?

Taliesin---the Welsh poet. 　You know Taliesin, don't you?

No, I've never heard of Taliesin before.

No kidding!

I don't recall ever hearing about his name. 　Kato, are you really sure about it?

Yes, of course, I am.

Taliesin

(c. 534 – c. 599)



He was an early British poet of the post-Roman period whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the Book of Taliesin.
Taliesin was a renowned bard who is believed to have sung at the courts of at least three Celtic British kings.

A maximum of eleven of the preserved poems have been dated to as early as the 6th century, and were ascribed to the historical Taliesin.
The bulk of this work praises King Urien of Rheged and his son Owain mab Urien, although several of the poems indicate that he also served as the court bard to King Brochfael Ysgithrog of Powys and his successor Cynan Garwyn, either before or during his time at Urien's court.
Some of the events to which the poems refer, such as the Battle of Arfderydd (c. 583), are referred to in other sources.

His name, spelled as Taliessin in Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King and in some subsequent works, means "shining brow" in Middle Welsh.
In legend and medieval Welsh poetry, he is often referred to as Taliesin Ben Beirdd ("Taliesin, Chief of Bards" or chief of poets).
He is mentioned as one of the five British poets of renown, along with Talhaearn Tad Awen ("Talhaearn Father of the Muse"), Aneirin, Blwchfardd, and Cian Gwenith Gwawd ("Cian Wheat of Song"), in the Historia Brittonum, and is also mentioned in the collection of poems known as Y Gododdin.
Taliesin was highly regarded in the mid-twelfth century as the supposed author of a great number of romantic legends.

According to legend Taliesin was adopted as a child by Elffin, the son of Gwyddno Garanhir, and prophesied the death of Maelgwn Gwynedd from the Yellow Plague.
In later stories he became a mythic hero, companion of Bran the Blessed and King Arthur.
His legendary biography is found in several late renderings, the earliest surviving narrative being found in a manuscript chronicle of world history written by Elis Gruffydd in the 16th century.

---

SOURCE: Taliesin,
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Amazing! 　Taliesin is quite somebody, isn't he?



Yes, he is a well-known bard in the literature world.

How come I didn't come to know him? 　My father was　a Welshman from Swansea---a Welsh town.

'Cause you were born and brought up in Canada, I suppose. 　Did your father tell you about Swansea?

No, not really. 　He wasn't much of a talker.

But he was a clergyman, wasn't he?

Yes, he was. 　However, he didn't tell me much about Swansea.

That is usually the case, you know. 　A father doesn't talk much about his birthplace. 　So, I looked it up in the wikipedia.

Swansea





Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan.
Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands.
Swansea had a population of 169,880 in 2001 and is the second most populous city in Wales after Cardiff and the third most populous county in Wales after Cardiff and Rhondda Cynon Taf.
During its 19th century industrial heyday, Swansea was one of the key centres of the world copper industry, earning the nickname 'Copperopolis'.

History



Archaeological finds are mostly confined to the Gower Peninsula, and include items from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age.
The Romans visited the area, as did the Vikings.

Swansea is thought to have originally developed as a Viking trading post.
Some think that its name is derived from Sveinn's island (Old Norse: Sveinsey) – the reference to an island may refer to a bank at the mouth of the river Tawe, or perhaps an area of raised ground in marshes.
An alternative explanation is that the name derives from the Norse name 'Sweyn' and 'ey', which can mean inlet.
The name is pronounced Swans-y /ˈswɒnzi/), not Swan-sea.
The Welsh name first appears in Welsh poems at the beginning of the 13th century, as "Aber Tawy".

The earliest known form of the modern name is Sweynesse, which was used in the first charter granted sometime between 1158–1184 by William de Newburgh, 3rd Earl of Warwick.
The charter gave Swansea the status of a borough, granting the townsmen, called burgesses certain rights to develop the area.
A second charter was granted in 1215 by King John.
In this charter, the name appears as Sweyneshe.
The town seal which is believed to date from this period names the town as Sweyse.

Following the Norman Conquest, a marcher lordship was created under the title of Gower.
It included land around Swansea Bay as far as the River Tawe, the manor of Kilvey beyond the Tawe, and the peninsula itself.
Swansea was designated chief town of the lordship and received a borough charter some time between 1158 and 1184.

---

SOURCE: Swansea,
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You know what?...My Welsh given name is "Myfanwy."



Really?

Yes, it is. 　As you know, I always jot down "Myfanwy" in my mail. 　so I thought you figured it out.

No, I didn't. 　I thought that "Myfanwy" was your handle name. 　So you're a Welsh-Canadian, aren't you?

Yes, I am. 　By the way, Kato, how come you call her "Madame Taliesin"?

A good question, Diane...There is a theme park called "Karuizawa Taliesin" in Karuizawa. 　She loves and visits the park quite often. So I call her "Madame Taliesin."
　　
　
Karuizawa Taliesin
　
　

　
　


I see. 　Then how come the theme park is called "Karuizawa Taliesin" in the first place?



In Middle Welsh, "Taliesin" means "shining brow." 　In the Celtic mythology, Taliesin also means a wise man, who is related to a fairy, called "Taliesin", who promoted the art. 　Frank Lloyd Wright, an American architect, called his work place "Taliesin" and produced a lot of creative works. 　Sympathetic to the architect's idea, the creator of the theme park in Karuizawa also called his park "Karuizawa Taliesin" and wanted to make it as a base for new cultural power.

It's a long story, huh?

Yes, it is. 　You know what, Diane? 　You can see the same kind of facility in Swansea.

What is it?

It is called Taliesin Arts Centre.

Taliesin Arts Centre



The Taliesin Arts Centre is owned and managed by the University of Wales, Swansea and is located on the university campus. The venue hosts a broad programme of events including cinema screenings, an average of ten visiting exhibitions per year, and a variety of live performances, from dance and drama to jazz and world music. Taliesin Arts Centre also houses the Egypt Centre. The two-storey gallery contains an important collection of antiquities from Ancient Egypt.

The Taliesin provides a service to both students and the people of Swansea and acts as a regional centre. Performers in recent years have included Jamie Cullum, Clare Teal, Billy Cobham and Paco Pena.

In addition to hosting regular touring exhibitions, the Taliesin’s Oriel Ceri Richards Gallery also stocks a range of greetings cards as well as jewellery, ceramics and other craft items, and includes a café bar.

---

SOURCE: Taliesin Arts Centre,
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wow!... Taliesin seems prevailing all over the world, doesn't it?



Yes, indeed, it looks like it.

Kato, you're telling me about my ancestors, aren't you?

Yes, I am. 　Your forefather was a bard just like Taliesin, and liked to stroll in the Welsh woods with a lovely fairy.

What makes you think so?

'Cause you wore a fairy costume on the night of Halloween. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ...

【Himiko's Monologue】



Wow! Diane's Halloween night costume!
How lovely it is!
Did you enjoy your Halloween party?
I wish I could see the Halloween night like this.



What a fascinating illumination!
Halloween is one thing; romance is another.

Come to think of it, I've never met a decent man in my life.
How come I'm always a loner?
I wish I could meet a nice gentleman at the library in my town as Diane met Kato.
Well, they say, there is a way where there is a will.

Have a nice day!
Bye bye ...

If you've got some time,

Please read one of the following artciles:


■"Cleopatra"

■"Queen Nefertiti"

■"Catherine de Medici"

■"Catherine the Great"

■"Mata Hari"

■"Sidonie Colette"



■"Marilyn Monroe"

■"Hello Diane!"

■"I wish you were there!"

■"Jane Eyre"



■"Jane Eyre Again"

■"Jane Eyre in Vancouver"

■"Jane Eyre Special"

■"Love & Death of Cleopatra"

■"Nice Story"



■"Scrumdiddlyumptious"

■"Spiritual Work or What?"

■"What a coincidence!"



■"Wind and Water"

■"Yoga and Happiness"

■"You're in a good shape"



■"Hellelujah!"

■"Ecclesiophobia"

■"Uncorruptible"

■"Net Travel & Jane"



■"Net Love"

■"Complicated Love"

■"Electra Complex"

■"Net Début"

■"Inner World"



■"Madame Riviera and Burger"

■"Roly-poly in the North"

■"Amazing Grace"

■"Diane in Paris"

■"Diane in Montmartre"



■"Diane Well Read"

■"Wantirna South"

■"Maiden's Prayer"

■"Bandwidth"

■"Squaw House and Melbourne Hotel"



■"Tulips and Diane"

■"Diane in Bustle Skirt"

■"Diane and Beauty"

■"Lady Chatterley and Beauty"

■"Victoria Prudery"

■"Diane Chatterley"

■"From Canada to Japan"

■"From Gyoda to Vancouver"

■"Film Festival"

■"Madame Taliesin"

■"Happt Days"

■"Vancouver Again"




Hi, I'm June Adames.

Have you been to Wales?

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom in the south-west of the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west.

It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km² (8,023 square miles).

Wales has over 1,200 km (746 mile) of coastline, including its offshore islands.

It is a lovely part of the island of Great Britain as you see in the following video clip.



Here is Welsh National Anthem you might as well want to hear.



Lovely, isn't it?



ところで、愛とロマンに満ちた

レンゲさんのお話をまとめて

『レンゲ物語』を作りました。

もし、レンゲさんの記事をまとめて読みたいならば、

次のリンクをクリックしてくださいね。

■『愛とロマンのレンゲ物語』



とにかく、今日も一日楽しく愉快に

ネットサーフィンしましょうね。

じゃあね。