I had an amazing first day at the Maes, so am looking forward to doing it all again tomorrow and meeting more SSiW peeps.
I was just walking and thought ‘I recognise that voice’ and it was our Aran and Catrin! They are lovely.
My brain is properly SSiW fried from speaking so much Welsh. (I did slip into English a few times when chat got too technical, but bounced back).
I heard the most amazing harpist I’ve ever heard, and she was only in the under 19s section, heard a wonderful story about the giants from Cader Idris, fantastic music, saw loads of Welsh celebs ( including the bloke who runs the garage in Rownd a Rownd) and talked to them in Welsh (desperately trying not to fanboy too much) they were just happy to talk and even though it was my first time, bumped into loads of people I knew!
Also, they hand you a paper map as you go in (along with one of those plastic ponchos to keep the rain off)
brief chat with the one and only Nia Parry in the pub. The great thing
about Welsh celebrities is that they don’t see themselves as
celebrities, but Nia, maybe more than most, really doesn’t mind giving
up a little of her time for a quick chat.
I am sooooooooo jealous - still I have had a sws from her - haven’t washed my cheek since. 
Yikes, this is getting exciting! I’ve just escaped from the German visitors we’ve had for the last 4 days to think about getting my brain back to Cymraeg… My German is currently great - bad timing! (I guess it will all come out in the wash tomorrow!)
I’ve got a couple of spare blank badges if anyone wants one… I’ll be in Maes D fairly early.
10:30-ish or so?
Also, sorry for many of my mistakes in the posts. I’m typing on a tablet with keyboard connected which I’m not used to since it’s QWERTY and not KEYU, so I don’t even know where apostroph is and tablet llays tricks with me giving me 2 or more same letters which I obviously don’t spot in time.
I might have seen many celebs but I didn’t recognize them. I actually wouldn’t recognize almost anyone if they wouldn’t come to me saying hello and introduce themselves. So, celebs might be the lucky ones not be bothered by me.
So, the time has come for take off, to get a big portion of coffee first. @sarapeacock I’ll be at Nero caffee until approx 9 o’clock or so. Y Mochyn Du is closed until 12 if I saw correctly.
Now…
Ready…
Steady…
Gooooooooooooooo…
No doubt too late now, but anyone not yet en route, I totally agree that the train is the best way!! It is 13 years since I moved up here and stopped driving those roads, but even then the traffic could be terrible in the summer, even without the Eisteddfod!
Lovely to meet you, and llongyfarchiadau mawr iawn ar dy Gymraeg! You were doing excellently, and production when you’re genuinely exhausted is hugely valuable 
See you all soon 
Diwrnod bythgofiadwy yn yr eisteddfod. Just got back - full report tomorrow.
Hyfryd I gwrdd a chi ddoe. Diolch am eich croeso.
I couldn’t get over how many SSiW learners there were - we swamped Maes D! (Oops…)
Fantastic to see everyone.
What a brilliant day! Such fun to put so many faces to names! I wonder if anyone will post any photos? I thought afterwards we should maybe have had a giant group shot…
You mean you didn’t!!!
I wanted to see that with all the names listed (forum names)! I looked and looked on TV, but… well, I did wonder if I’d spotted @gruntius in the morning, outside, in a brief shot. I saw a very familiar looking beard, but if he wasn’t wearing a red cap and red shirt, it wasn’t him!! I saw someone very like @hewrop in the Pavilion in the evening, but I don’t think it could have been him, based on the time! Please, anyone with pictures, do let us have an idea of the lovely gathering! Did you get people asking about SSiW? Or did they think you were a dance troup or acting group!!! 
Someone, I don’t know who, took lots of pictures and said she would post them here. Soon, I hope.
Since my report is typically windy and may not be of interest to everyone I have posted it on the Cloud. You should be able to view it here: hewrop’s Eisteddfod report
I rarely travel with a camera and my phone only makes phone calls but I’m sure that others will have done the business (maybe even a paparazzo shot of me and Nia Parry )
Note the police - crowd control?? I haven’t got many faces in this one but @gruntius with his red hat & @ali with the red back pack.
Diolch @pippapritchard. On i’n hapus iawn i gwrdd a ti, ddoe.
I can identify @ali (a fellow member of the Magnificent Saith) with the back pack on the left. I love the shot of Aran - in full cat-herding mode.
Oh it was you @gruntius!! I looked and looked and thought it was, but I couldn’t be sure!!! Simae!!!