This week

Had friends over from Canada this week. Decided to take a few days to show them Wales, went for the old and new strategy; valleys and mines, Abervan, St Fagan’s Folk museum on the first, and modern city, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Bay on the next.Nothing prepares you for the sadness of Abervan. At the cemetery, where all the children who lost their lives in Oct 1966 are buried, we found a guy called Alan putting flowers on the grave of his sister who died aged 9. His Mother died two years later of a broken heart, and now as you look around the site there are many parents who have now been reunited their children. Yes, it was a long time ago, but I believe the sadness and sense of anger is part of Wales, and a visit there paints a larger picture than just that of a terrible tragedy and disaster. The next day as you sit in the stand of the mighty Millennium Stadium, (Stadium tours well worth doing even if you have been to games there) a sense of achievement and pride engulfs those who ponder these things. It’s something to view with pride and wonder, but woe betide this Nation should it want or try to forget the price so many have paid in the past. Check this link out for another view of the peace treaty signed by the USA and Russia this week. http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0522-05.htm