Sounds like me at the book fair in Torino! 
Wow, even 9! 
Thatâs good. Well, not too sure how many of the artists will suit my taste, especially in the main area⊠(plannin to see Meinir Gwilym at the moment - probably not Eden 
) but maybe some of the Maes B bands will play in the Festival tooâŠ
I think over the week we played Maes B, Cymdeithas Yr iaith, a piece for an S4C programme, different stages/stalls on the Maes on various days and local pub gigs too. It was a hell of a week! But the average for the different bands I played with was probably closer to 3 or 4 gigs, and that one eisteddfod was an exception (thank goodness!)
Oes cynlluniau i gwrdd ar y maes eleni? Mwynheais i fe y llynedd, oedd yn dda rhoi enwau i wynebau. Af i iâr Eisteddfod nos Sul (i weld Yws Gwynedd!) ac wedyn holl ddydd LlunâŠ
Are there plans to meet on the field this year? I enjoyed it last year, it was good to put names to faces. Iâm going to the Eisteddfod on Sunday night (to see Yws Gwynedd!) and then all MondayâŠ
For those of you interested in the Dysgwr y Flwyddyn competition, the final four will be speaking in Maes D (the learners pavilion) at 12:00 on Wednesday 7 August, and the Winnerâs Ceremony will take place afterwards at 14:10 in the main Pavilion.
I hope no one minds me giving a little plug hereâŠ
Iâm going to be leading a session in Maes D on Thursday 8 September at 2:30, where Iâll be talking to the very lovely Aleighcia Scott about her Welsh learning journey, and also to the equally lovely Mali Ann Rees (who supported Aleighcia on Iaith ar Daith). I am always nervous about speaking Welsh in public, and doubly so at the Eisteddfod. So it would be lovely to see some supportive SSiW folk there if anyoneâs planning to be on the Maes that day 
Hi all - if any other SSIWâers are looking to meet up and swap parsnip stories, Iâm stewarding Wednesday (Maes D), Thursday and Friday - and also Iâll be around on the first Saturday afternoon. Itâd be great to meet up if anyoneâs around those days.
Sometimes previous years weâve done a recurring general âif anyone happens to be outside Maes D / X oâclockâ type gathering so people there on different days or unpredictable shcedule can catch up.
Ikve there on and off all week. And Maes D has the cheapest coffee
If there are any other sad coffee snobs out there apart from me (!) I found last year that the best quality/cost trade-off was on the Panad o GĂȘ stand (with the additional trade-off of being able to browse books while waiting). I donât know if theyâre bringing the cafe set-up again this year, but Iâll be heading straight there to find out.
But I donât want to detract anyone from Maes D, which has such a lovely set-up and great activities planned
Hi Phil,
I will be there on the first Saturday and heading for Maes D.
May see you there?
Kev
Iâll be there on and off from about 12 - itâs quite a good day in Maes D looking at the programme - so yes, thatâd be great.
VERY IMPORTANT!
If youâre going to the Eisteddfod at all, please consider visiting some of the local Pontypridd businesses and maybe buying your meals there?
They are reporting itâs much quieter than usual and they are losing business, which is NOT the effect that holding an Eisteddfod is supposed to have. One local food business has had to throw away loads of food!
Letâs support local businesses and show that Welsh speakers care!
Iâm absolutely gutted that I canât be there for the next few days at least, because Iâve just tested positive for Covid 
I was there on Saturday and the town was looking lovely, and I was so looking forward to going out and investigating (couldnât on Saturday as I was with my elderly mother who isnât very mobile).
Please support the local businesses, and use a bit of Welsh as you do!
Really sorry to hear that, Sara! Take care and I hope youâll be able to go along as soon as possible.
Went on Sunday afternoon, and during the day on Monday - blown away. It was brilliant, llawer o gyfleoedd i ymarfer Cymraeg! Pontypridd itself looking bustling too - you can come and go from the Eisteddfod if you want to visit the town (they stamp your arm so you can get back in easily).
Having recced the first half of the week I can recommend so far âŠ
Crymru Chippy, on the street directly opposite the non-main entrance. Very good chips cheapest option
Cortile Coffee also directly opposite secondary entrance open late
Rhiâs Cafe further into town also cafe style food also open into early evening.
Cafe Cwtch near library a d main entrance, huge breakfasts, part of the YMa complex.
Istanbal kebab - pizza quarter the price of the maes!
Zucco. Posher pizza with nice outdoor seating and often live music. Same street as chippy.
Storyville books. Also that street. Good Welsh language selection if youâre not already bookshopped out on the Maes!
Everywhere in the indoor market especially the welshcake stand. Also Real Toilets.
Akslo "Purple Shoots efo allai have a stand - coop local crafters to sell their wares. Lovely things
Shâmae pawb! Anyone going on Saturday 10th?
I am and even though im from ponty, none of my friends or family are available to come with me!
Would love to meet anyone from here and maybe ymarfer siarad cymraeg gyda rhywun!
Iâll be there for part of the day and Iâm sure thereâll be a few others as well
I went on Sunday and Monday, great atmosphere and, as one who lives the wrong side of the Severn, just lovely to be immersed in Welsh language and culture. Highlights were Yws Gwynedd, Gareth Bowen Rhys -and bumping into Elin Fflur on a deserted street! So I got to tell her how much I loved âSgwrs dan y Lloerâ!
I also liked Mereid Hopwoodâs description, not of âdysgwyrâ, but âsiaradwyr newyddâ; I think thatâs how Iâll describe myself from now on ;-).
Not relevant to Ponty 2024, Iâm sure, but does anyone know a poem by Les Barker about leaving the Eisteddfod and trying to find his car in the car park? I saw a video of him performing it a few years ago - very funny and some clever word play in Cymraeg - but I canât find it anywhere now.
