tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118320.post3942147892526166787..comments2008-04-28T13:05:29.747+01:00Chris Copehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802450324154596848james.christian.cope@gmail.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118320.post-64400017855879274132008-04-28T13:05:00.000+01:002008-04-28T13:05:00.000+01:00<I>His happy voice should be piped into all the trains in Wales, making us all feel that the places we are going are special and important; making us eager to visit those places that are just down the road.</I><BR/><BR/>That wouldn't work in Blaenau FfestiniogOrdoviciushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14179754312089269085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118320.post-47755657794208571872008-04-23T15:39:00.000+01:002008-04-23T15:39:00.000+01:00O yeah, maybe the town has the worst life expectancy in Britain (and probably highest unemployment, sickness and teenage pregnancy ratesetc), but a few years back, results from a survey wasn't all that bad news (or was it?):<BR/><A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2701837.stm" REL="nofollow">White sock sales soar in valleys town</A><BR/><BR/>"A superstore in the town has sold 73,000 pairs in the last year, which works out at one pair every four minutes."Rhys Wynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17524815272093960511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118320.post-40540693415903512652008-04-23T15:07:00.000+01:002008-04-23T15:07:00.000+01:00It's quite grim really, but at least they've got Rhymney Brewery (which is confusingly in Merthyr, not in Rhymney). A pub called the Echange sells it on the top end of the town.<BR/><BR/>My friend Phyl runs the '<A HREF="http://www.merthyrtudful.com/cymraeg/siopyganolfan.php" REL="nofollow">smallest Welsh bookshop in the World TM</A>' there (which no-one knwos about as it's down a side alley and there's very little signage to it.Rhys Wynnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17524815272093960511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118320.post-21152599596965938812008-04-23T01:27:00.000+01:002008-04-23T01:27:00.000+01:00I went to Merthyr in a similar curious state as Chris in 1998. Merthyr was playing Forest Green Rovers at Penydarren park in football it was a crucial promotion league match. Some dodge english football league. It's a great place plenty of pubs and all I remember within the 2,000+ crowd was the police had to separate Swansea and Cardiff fans fighting each other!!!Any other place in the world when fans from clubs not involved in the game come together for a fight!??!?!<BR/>The things that make me proud of my homeland!!!<BR/><BR/><BR/>Isn't that famous fashion designer from Merthy as well!Carwyn Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01491027790698132167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118320.post-89465011594509461772008-04-22T14:55:00.000+01:002008-04-22T14:55:00.000+01:00Yep.Owen Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288526519470574008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118320.post-24095884048283728072008-04-22T14:33:00.000+01:002008-04-22T14:33:00.000+01:00I've been to Merthyr twice, but driven past it on the way to Brecon (and beyond) many times - I actually quite like the place. Funnily enough, the thing I most despise about it is the retail park that blocks the view of the town below. Cyfarthfa Castle is also a nice plus point in the area, in its dominant location where uber-rich Englishmen once looked down upon their workforce.Curlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01493649501300408383noreply@blogger.com