Shw mae pawb
Can I put my name down on the waiting list in case anyone pulls out please?
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Shwmae!
My name is Carys.
Tony and I have lived in York for 30 years. We have 4 adventurous children, who live in Australia, Tanzania, Lincoln and Leeds.
I come from the Wolverhampton area but have long-standing connections with Aberdyfi. My Welsh-speaking grandfather lived in Barry. He died when he was 100, but that was unfortunately before I started learning Welsh. My mother would have learned Welsh but died when I was 16.
I speak French, (rusty) German, have been learning Italian for the last year and Welsh for the last 7 years. I go regularly to the Leeds SSIW monthly group.
I have just retired (properly this time) from being a Hospital and Home teacher. Over the years I have taught languages, music, maths and most subjects to 5-70 year olds of all abilities.
In addition to foreign languages, I love hill-walking and am a member of York Ramblers. I play lots of instruments not very well, sing in a choir, lead the music in our church (with the guitar), swim and cycle regularly and enjoy gardening and reading when I have time.
I have been to Bwtcamp before. It can be hard work but is loads of fun.
Looking forward to meeting you all!
Carys
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I have a good feeling about this bwtcamp…
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Shwmae Bwtcampers !
My name is Charlie and I live in Llansawel (near Llandeilo) with my gorgeous wife Babs (she will be on here shortly), our boxer, Oli and far too many aged chickens. I am from Cornwall originally and ended up in this beautiful part of the world 6 years ago.
I want to speak Welsh because the area where we live is Welsh first language and I would love to be able to converse in Welsh in the pub !
I love the outdoors and exploring the local area but I am equally happy sitting in the window of our home watching the birds and the stunning view with a good book and a glass of red.
I’m really looking forward to the Bwtcamp but I’m nerfus iawn already and it’s five weeks away yet …
Charlie
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Shwmae pawb, great to read the posts so far and looking forward to the rest.
My name is Karen, I live in Gorseinon but grew up in a Neath valley village called Glynneath, close to the S Walian waterfall country. I retired at the end of April 2017 and live with my husband Wil. Our daughter and son are grown up now.
I want to speak Welsh because I love Wales, our language, our culture, our history - and anything else Welsh … meat, vegetables, cheese, butter, gin, whisky, everything! Proud or what… you should see me shopping and looking first for Welsh produce before settling for anything else. I did learn Welsh as a second language in school but that was more than a few years ago. Sometimes having that base knowledge makes it easier to learn/use Welsh and sometimes it’s harder
I’ve always had an interest in languages and would love to be a polyglot! Bit late now perhaps though. I love the way different languages feel in your mouth.
Since retiring I see my ‘job’ as keeping fit. However, it isn’t a chore as I love to walk and cycle, to push myself in the gym and of course the odd swim. Maybe it’s a bit late for triathlon too 
Although like everyone (I guess) I’m feeling somewhat apprehensive about Bwtcamp I am looking forward to it and to meeting all of you.
See you in September!
Hwyl!
Karen
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Hello, I’m Barbara originally from Swansea Valley and after spending 30 years living in Devon moved back to Gods country.
I want to learn to speak welsh because I just want to. I love the language I grew up with but never learned to speak, although at certain social events I have the ability to remember some welsh songs!
I work full time and spend too much time in London, it is lovely to come home to peace and sanity. In my spare time its running, swimming, walking with the husband (Charlie above) and the dog.
I am really looking forward to Bwtcamp. I have no idea whether I will sink or swim but I’m going to give it a go. If it gives me just a bit of confidence I will be very happy.
Looking forward to meeting you all and I understand there is a pub nearby???
Babs x
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Helo fellow bwtcampers!
My name is Keri and I’m originally from a small village near Brecon (Aberhonddu) but now live in Brighton with my partner Chris and two dogs, Stan and Leo.
Having missed out on several Bwtcamps due to work getting in the way, it’s fair to say that I am ridiculously excited about finally being able to make it.
I want to speak Welsh because it’s the language of my homeland and there’s a visceral feeling of completeness at the thought of being able to jabber away in my mother tongue. I’ve always had a regret that I didn’t grow up speaking Welsh (apart from saying ‘nos da’ every night to my parents…and still do whenever I see them) so am looking forward to a week of complete immersion!
I have an allotment and love nothing more than cooking up a dinner with my freshly picked booty, even if that does mean having courgettes for endless weeks in the summer!
I love cycling in the South Downs and heading off for long windy walks with the dogs in tow. I sing in my local male voice choir in Brighton and have been known to engage in a spot of tap dancing (particularly badly).
Here’s to a great week in September – can’t wait to meet you all and have lots of fun along the way!
Hwyl
Keri
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Shwmai, I’m Colin and I’m from Birmingham originally but live in the great city of Caerdydd now. My mam was from Llanrwst yn y gogledd and my dad was from Merthyr. They met at Birmingham Welsh Rugby Club so it’s no surprise I grew up feeling Welsh and loving rugby (it was the 70s). My hero was Phil Bennett so I became a Scarlets fan so I go to watch then and have had a season ticket for about the last 10 years. I too love cycling and am wondering if I need to bring my bike to bwtcamp.
I have many reasons for wanting to speak Welsh, mam was first language, I spend at lot of time watching the Scarlets and a lot of my friends speak it, but I think my main reason is that my great grandmother didn’t speak English and it feels wrong that I wouldn’t be able to talk with her if by some weird chance we ever met.
In addition to cycling I like running and enjoy walking too. I enjoy going to the pub and find my ability to speak Welsh increases by the pint.
I’m really looking forward to bwtcamp as I feel it will give me the impetus to get me going as a proper Welsh speaker. Like everyone else I’m bach o nervous as I know my head will feel like exploding after a week heb Saesneg.
Can’t wait to start now.
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Pob lŵc i gyd. Wish I was coming too. Just finished 6m course and visited Eisteddfod. Living speaking my mother tongue with so many supportive people is amazing. Just signed up for level 3 and also work paying for night class so hope to improve enoug to see you all soon! Of ever any of you are in Pembs on holiday we have a ‘Clonc a Pheint’ bob Nos Llun - Begelly Arms 6 - 8pm. You’d receive a warm welcome if you are around!
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Shwmae pawb.
My name is Robert(Bob to my friends,my mother hated me being called Bob when they called for me"you mean Robert she would say!!)
I live in Ipswich (Suffolk)with my wife Shirley who was born near Flatford mill which to you artists is the birthplace of John Constable.I was brought up in Tredegar,Blaenau Gwent which is a town in the Sirhowy valley,west of the Rhymney valley where Iestyn was born.I moved to Ipswich ago to take up a post as a microbiologist in the Ipswich hospital after working in St Tydfil’s hospital,Merthyr.I regularly visit my father and brohers who still live in Tredegar and Cardiff.
One of the reasons I wanted to learn Welsh was that my friends and working colleagues couldn’t understand why I could not as a Welshman born and brought up in Wales speak my native language.I met up with 2 fellow Welshmen in the Ipswich area and was encouraged to use SSIW to iniatiate and become addicted to learning about the culture,music and language of Wales.Also when I retired they say learning a language is good for the brain.
I took up sailing 5 years ago and sail a Mirror wooden dinghy(named after my mother Menna)on the River Deben at a small town called Woodbridge.I also try to play classical guitar and strum along to some Welsh folk songs Ben Waun Tredegar,Titrwm Tatrum by Gareth Borello(Gentle Touch)etc.May fetch guitar along!!
One activity I have enjoyed until this year is working om my allotment.However this year as been very unproductive due to the very dry spring and hot summer and the only benefits were plenty of fresh air and socialising with people from different nations.
I am really looking forward to meeting you all in Tresaith and I am positively sure that we will all benefit from our time together.,that is if I can navigate successfully from Tredegar to Tresaith via Black Mountains,Brecon Beacons etc. Hwyl
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Hi ‘Bob!’
Pleeeeease bring your guitar?!
Everyone who plays and has an instrument, please bring it/them, I love a good old ‘sing-song!’
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Dim problem Ali made mistake band is Gentle Good ,Gareth Bonello ,have you listened to any of their songs?,atmosfferig iawn
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Hey Bob
Definitely bring the guitar. I might manage a comb and paper
Karen
Looking forward to a good sing with you all by the sound of it! 
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Shw mae,
My name is Owen, sorry i’m a little late posting but I didn’t get the email, hope it’s not an omen!
I’m from Cardiff originally, where I still work as a dentist, but now live in Defynnog, with my wife and daughter. My daughter, Elin, has just had her third birthday and this September will start Welsh medium preschool. I have wanted to speak Welsh for many years and am conscious I risk living my dream through her, so thought I’d better pull my finger out! I also believe, ‘ceneol Heb iath, ceneol heb galon’ (a nation without language is a nation without heart… dw’n meddyl!). I had Welsh speaking grandparents who passed away when I was young and with them the language in our family died.
I enjoy the outdoors, nature, rugby, and a pint. Not necessarily in that order. I also enjoy singing (not much in Welsh though) and play guitar occasionally, badly! I’m slightly concerned about bwtcamp as I’ve only completed level 1 and a bit of level 2 SSIW, and still freeze up when trying to speak in the wild. However, I’m excited and enthusiastic so I’m hoping it will get me through! Failing that my guitar playing might improve.
Look forward to meeting you all soon.
Owen.
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You will be fine in bwtcamp Owen. Trust the system use your welsh and drink the beer. Going for a pint every-night can’t be a bad thing. 
:black_flag::black_flag::black_flag::black_flag::beer:
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Bore da campers (I’m trying desperately to avoid an image of Gladys Pugh when I say that). A quick question for Iestyn…does the dim saesneg rule extend to not calling home or texting?! I’ve suggested that I text yn gymraeg and Google translate can sort it out the other end!
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That’s how some people get around it 
and it seems to work OK.
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And the other half of the conversation will google translate before they send messages to you?
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