It’s such a little thing, but it made me so happy! I’ve resolved to no longer say “thank you” but “diolch” now in public as I live in north Wales. The other day, I said my customary “diolch” to the bus driver as I was alighting and he replied “ti’n croeso.” I was so pleased that I’d had a spontaneous exchange in Welsh, completely naturally, and that the man recognized and affirmed my speaking Welsh!
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Yes, I’m trying that as well. I live near Swansea and work in Wales & England. I also give full more involved conversations a go if I think that the person I’m talking to is Welsh speaking.
I think that this is my best way of improving my Welsh, which I feel so far is still too basic (mostly in terms of understanding in the wild).
I don’t think it’s speed now (after the listening practices) as much as accent and vocabulary.
Last night/this morning at 05:00 (OK so I’d been up all day and night) I was talking to a colleague from Llambed. I have to say that I was slow to understand the actual words that he was saying even though I heard them all. Having said that, he then changed into English, and I wasn’t any better off. It was all ok, but on a sort of time delay.
I’m hoping it is just an accent exposure thing as I’m ok with Radio and TV.
Onwards and upwards - I’ll be in Llanelli this evening, so will be looking forward to see what happens. 
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Llongyfarchiadau. I’m a North Walian too … unfortunately we’re very close to Chester and the Wirral so find that Welsh is in short supply.
Whereabouts do you live - I’m in Holywell (Treffynnon)
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My wife Lara is a SSIWer. She’s incredibly quiet around these parts but a fair few of you will have met her from Clonc-edigion or other SSIW meetups.
Next week she starts working for Siop Y Pethe In Aberystwyth, which is a Welsh language book/craft/clothing/homeware/everything shop.
A great achievement considering Lara couldn’t speak barely a word of Welsh when we started in Dec 2016.
Full interview and everything all in Welsh!
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Llongyfarchiadau to Lara.
Maybe I can see her when and have a little chat when I’ll be in Aberystwyth in May.
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Hi Brigitte
Indeed - let us know when you’re here and I’ll try and give you some shift times etc. I think she’s going to be doing about 2-3 days a week atm
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That’s so cool! I’m very jealous! I wish I could work through Welsh every day.
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Me too!!
I’ve got two friends in work who speak Welsh but if they’re off I’m screwed!
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That’s an awesome achievement 
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I’ll be in Aberystwyth only Friday 10.May. BTW I was very sorry to read, that Y Cwps was closed. Can you recommend another pub where Welsh is spoken?
Hi Brigitte.
Don’t write Y Cwps off yet… I’ll say nothing…yet.
You’ll find a lot of pubs in Aber have a fair smattering of Welsh speakers but generally they’re a bit shy.
Y Hen Lew Du is the best option for a Welsh speaking experience at present and you’ll meet a varied mix of people there!
Scholars is very good also as most of Y Cwps regulars have moved into Scholars making it a bit of an honourary Welsh pub, there’s usually a bit of a Welsh corner going on most nights.
Hopefully maybe we may have some Cwps news by the time you’re around…
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Llongyfarchiadau mawrion mawr i Lara! 
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To Lara:-
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Waw! Archerddog, @Bob ️ Wyt ti fynd i symud i’r ardal Caernarfon?
When I started house-hunting in Gwynedd and Ynys Môn some people were very disparaging about Caernarfon and its people. I’ve been here since 2004 and Cofis are lovely!
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I guess this goes here:
Not my breakthrough and not a small one either.
About a week ago someone at work told me he was starting the 6 month course (mentioned it elsewhere).
He came up to me earlier this week and said:
Dw i moyn siarad gyda ti
I was a little bit scared at first and then he went on to ask, in Welsh, how to use the slack board and if I use it. He them switched back to English but I was so impressed!! Top notch Welsh!! Felly da iawn Andrew!
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I was thinking; “uh oh, what have I done now…”
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Another success! On St. David’s day I went into the Welsh bookshop and was able to siarad Cymraeg efo’r dynnas (speak Welsh with the woman) and be understood! I was looking at a little children’s book and said, “Dw i ddim yn gwbod sut i darllen yn y Gymraeg,” and she laughed. She said my Welsh was “yn dda iawn”! My first real Welsh exchange in the wild!
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Huge, huge step forwards!
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I remember my first conversation in a Welsh bookshop and I felt like you did! Well done!!
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