Hi rich, I’m stefi. This is my first day on the course. I live near Leeds in Huddersfield. Is the group for everyone? I obviously hardly know any Welsh as yet! I’m an artist with M.E and learning Welsh because I love the sound of the language and a close friend is welsh. Anyway I would be happy just hearing others converse, might pick something up eventually. Best wishes steph
Croeso to SSIW - its rocket ship trip to speaking Welsh - good choice!
Yes, the meetings are for everyone - anyone is welcome to join (wherever you are)…yes, I agree, just listening and being involved helps I think.
We tried meeting online on Saturday and it was absolutely fine - so we are going to do it every Saturday - at noon - whilst the current situation continues - if you want to join the next one.
We are using Skype for this - I don’t know if you use it - not very trendy!..but takes 2 mins to set up on your phone I’ve found.
My user is Richard Bowering Harrogate if you want to search for me and give me a wave - I can then add you to the invite.
It sounds like you might have a practice partner with your friend too - fantastic!
Which course have you signed up for?
Rich 
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Helo rich, thanks for the lovely welcome 
. I’ve signed up for the six months course. Yes hoping to practice speaking with them and with you guys hopefully. I have a Skype account so will join in, it sounds great. Thank you! 
steph
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Weekly Online Meet up
It went so well last week we decided to ‘go weekly’! 
So, there will be another virtual Leeds meet tomorrow at noon - tipyn o sgwrs a hwyl - a bit of conversation and fun in these restricted times.
We are on the old school platform of Skype at the moment - and good news - Eileen has sorted out her Skype issues, so she will be joining as well!
Anyone welcome, wherever you are - just send me a wave or a connect request on Skype and I’ll add you to the meeting invite.
On Skype I’m Richard Bowering Harrogate
See you tomorrow!
Rich
Weekly Online Meet up - Show and Tell!!!
So, for a bit of fun, on Saturday at noon, we’ll do ‘show and tell’…to give everone who wants to, the chance to say a bit of Welsh about a ‘thing’ of their choosing.
It can be absolutely anything - your favourite tea pot, for example(!) - anything which you are able to say a little bit about, of your own choosing - and perhaps answer a couple of questions.
You can bring more than one if you like - but we’ll do one item each to start - and go round again for second items and so on.
Remember it’s for fun - so no stress or massive preparation required!
As usual, anyone welcome - wherever you are - Leeds, Yorkshire - or not - just send me a wave or a connect request on Skype and I’ll add you to the meeting invite.
On Skype I’m Richard Bowering Harrogate
See you Saturday at noon!
Rich
Hi Rich Only just seen your email today and would like to join on-line meetings. Chris
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Hi @chrissie
Yes, of course.
We chose Skype initially based upon ‘who had what’ already working - to minimise the chance of technology getting in the way ( we are all in the business of making do and mending in all sorts of ways at the moment aren’t we…?)
However, as the numbers on the call have increased, it became clear on Saturday that we had reached / exceeded the limit of what Skype can naturally handle.
So, we agreed we were going to have to bite the bullet…most people on the call also had zoom (with good experiences) - so we agreed to try that next time and that those who don’t have it, will try installing it…
Do you have it already (if not I can help with the setting up)?
Rich
Weekly Online Meet up - Quiz!!!
So, this week, Helen - who is one of our tamed, natural language speakers…(well mostly tamed) - is going to do…A quiz! 
This is for a bit of fun - Saturday at noon - and will give everyone who wants to, the chance to say a bit of Welsh and potentially answer a question - whether right or wrong!
As usual, anyone welcome - wherever you are - Leeds, Yorkshire - or not.
We are using Zoom this time. If you’ve not used this before I can do a 2 min meeting with you just to check it all works.
Let me know if you want to attend and I’ll send you the link to click on.
Remember it’s for fun - so no stress or massive preparation required!
See you Saturday at noon!
A big thank you to Helen! 
Rich
Hi Rich That sounds like a good idea. We have family zoom catch ups and this week we started to play 20 questions
It was chaotic but good fun! Hope you are well. Chrissie
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Leeds Online Meeting
So, we had a few technology challenges last time - but not all related to switching to zoom (mine anyway). I’m pleased to say Eileen is up and running with zoom as of last night so will be there on Saturday! 
So, Helen is going to do a quiz as we are all joining (or trying to) - let’s see who can do the best out of 2 questions each plus bonuses!
Then, why don’t we give everyone a chance to say something - if they want to: (tiny bit of structure now we have more people 
)
…but remember it’s for fun - no stress allowed
…some ideas:
- Just listen - listening is fine
- Show & tell
- Review/ recommend a Book, TV program (or place)
- ‘This helped me learn’…
- Word of the week proposal (what it is and why)
- Have you heard about…this? (Event, current affairs)
- joke, anecdote, game
- …anything really
It’s 12 noon, Saturday - let me know if you want to attend and I’ll send you the link.
Let’s give it a whirl and see what happens!
Rich
Can you send me the link. I might ‘come to’ listen. It’s a long time since I have been to a meeting. Ruth
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Hi Ruth,
Ok great, I’ll send it by PM now…,
Rich
Hi, I’d like to come on Saturday please
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Gwych! Great!
…I’ve noticed from your posts that you’ve been whipping through the challenges!
I will send you the link via PM…12 noon Sat…
I look forward to meeting you then!.. am tipyn o hwyl…for a bit of a laugh
Rich
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Ha yes, the plus side of the lockdown! I’ll have to slow down on June 1st when I go back to work.
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Leeds Online Meeting
Zoom seemed to do ok last time around - it handled the growing number of people on the call…I think Skype would have blown up for sure by now if we hadn’t switched!
So, Helen is going to do a quiz as we are all joining (or trying to) - there will a slight twist to it this week I hear(!) 
- let’s see who can do the best out of a round of questions plus bonuses!
Then, why don’t we give everyone a chance to say something - if they want to…but remember it’s for fun - no stress allowed
Based upon conversations ‘around the side’ this week we have a suggestion which is, with a growing cast on the call, everyone knowing everyone a little better.
So, how about everyone (who wants to) says a little about their Welsh.
This might simply be who you are and how long you’ve been learning - perhaps North or South?
Other options might include (as appropriate)
- just listening - listening is always fine
- how did you learn?
- perhaps why?
- how far have you got - what are you OK with?
- what can’t you do/ do you find difficult?
- what are you doing now to learn?
- what would you like to do more of?
- I could help other learners by…?
It’s 12 noon, Saturday - let me know and I’ll send you the link if you want to attend. All welcome!
Let’s give it a whirl and see what happens!
Rich
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diolch! Oedd yn braf cwrdd a chi’n . I’ll use my phone next time, see if Zoom works better on there. Gweld ti tro nesa!
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Leeds Online Meeting
So it was really interesting to hear about everyone’s learning journey last time - I think we had almost no technology issues too - with a steadily increasing number on the call - so switching to Zoom seems like it was a good move!
Quiz: So this week the Quiz will be done by Emma - as we are all joining - I wonder what difference that will make, hmm - maybe some south Walian questions 
Tell us about…
If you want to, this week you can tell us about:
+…the last time I went to Wales…
+…the next time I go to Wales…
…fact or fiction - and only if you want to - remember it’s for fun - no stress allowed
Free for all…
Gossip, show and tell, play a game, anything you like!
Eileen says she has a game - so that sounds interesting!
It’s 12 noon, Saturday - let me know and I’ll send you the link if you want to attend. All welcome!
Rich
Yes please 
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