What @AnthonyCusack says. It was a ‘you had to be there’ moment, I think. But I’m laughing out loud again! (The few glasses of wine I’ve had might be helping…)
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I understand now! It was nothing to do with Machynlleth really! Mind, my enduring memory of being there was meeting another car on a right-angled bend and crunching slightly. We both got out, he, in strong American accent, protesting that I was on his side of the road.
I pointed, wordlessly. “Oh!”, he said.
“We are as bad as each other!”, I said, and he had to agree.
We were equally across the white line, virtually to the millimetre!
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It seems that at almost every bootcamp someone says something that becomes the catchphrase for that particular group. It only takes one person to mention the phrase and everyone falls about laughing again.
I was there for the “of all places” and it was unexpected and very funny. A great memory of a wonderful evening!
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Hollywood, here I come!
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I’m expecting a full re-enactment on Wednesday! And I’d love to see @BronwenLewis’s performance again, but it was terrifying!
Peidiwch ymosod fi!
All being recorded BUT remains available only for bootcampers of July Bootcamp (as promissed) when I finish putting together this whole thing. Just to let you know that I didn’t forget what I’ve said but I want it to be done “proffessionally” so you’d get really good piece of memory …
But, you probably remember the famous Simon and Carolyn’s sketch from Bootcamp last year (last year means 2014 tough). It was hilarious! And since @lynne_freudigmann is on the way to become Hollywood star, if she approves of course, I can put this particular sketch as unlisted (what means only those who have link can see it) online so you’d be able to see it …
Thank heavens for that!
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That is awesome Tatjana. Thank you very much. You are a star already, you don’t have to go to Hollywood.
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All being recorded BUT remains available only for bootcampers
“Beth sy’n digwydd mewn bwtcamp yn aros mewn bwtcamp” 
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Rhwybeth fel hyn, ie … 
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Sorry people, I’ve obviously occupied this topic but one selfish question: Did someone happen to record my “presentation” on Noson Llawen, so I can put it in also? If not, then there’s another “dissapointment” you can see to live … no me in this long movie.
For the record: I’m half done. I even produced some music for the whole thingy.
Oh, and one more question: If I want to write “When Toni sings …” would it be (for example)
- “Pan Toni yn canu …” or
- “Pan ei Toni yn canu …” (well, “Toni” is the name by the way - a man name equivalent to “Tony”)
or something different. Yup, sorry very beginner’s question but all of a sudden I’m puzzled and I dont’ want to write something wrong though. (Shame on me, but I can not help myself).
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I’m pretty sure it’s “Pan mae Toni yn canu”
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I’ve just got out of bed and my post-bootcamp-and-eisteddfod nap. Did I miss anything?
I must say that I enjoyed this bootcamo even more than I normally enjoy them. There were so many different characters with different levels of Welsh, different challenges and confusions, and different ways of laughing…
The noson lawen was immense (it always seems so frightening at the beginning of the week, yet by Thursday, it just seems to click), the company at the tea table and in the pub was always top notch, the singing was cool, and the way the group just got on with living (and enjoying) life, in Welsh, was absolutely how bootcamp should be, and usually is.
Diolch yn faawr i chi gyd - I can’t wait to see some of you back for another one!
And Lynne - the way you threw yourself into everything despite not always knowing what it was you were throwing yourself into, was one of the hilights. Anyone with that commitment to “just doing it” is guaranteed success at what they are doing. I hope you have noticed the difference in your Welsh!
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She did it great as I never noticed she doesn’t actually have a clue what she’s throwing herself into. … Hilarious! 
Well, iestyn in your saesneg speech at the beginning you said that the person who has the lowest ability often progresses the best. Well, I knew I was bad but I didn’t know how bad! By the end of the week I realised how bad I was! however, that was the gateway to my actual learning. Being at the Eisteddfod with Margaret was very valuable because we spoke a lot of welsh (well she spoke and I tried to understand). I had a few small conversations with people. One I will never forget. I was in a stand which was selling old books and I spoke hesitatingly to the elderly gentleman explaining that I was a learner. He was lovely and asked me questions about my learning journey. When he found out I was from Australia he jumped out of his chair and began calling friends over to meet me. I was soon surrounded by a group of obviously native speakers who were extremely intrigued to meet this oddity. I’m sure they all said lovely things to me but I was lost in a sea of beautiful welsh. Just being there immersed was more valuable than I realised even then. I bought some books and I downloaded Lingo Newydd ap which has the narratives for the levels. I bought one of those daily encouraging desktop calendars and I learn each day’s message until I can recite it. My listening ability has increased hugely. I used to try to translate as I was listening, which was not working because I would soon lose the plot. I am beginning to realise that I have to use the language in its own right and not translate. For example I know that barod means ‘ready’ and siarad means ‘speak’. I don’t need to translate them. My mind just had to shift into a different mode and leave the other mode behind. If I don’t know a word I just let it go and pick out the ones I do know. This way I can work out the gist. I’m off home next week and I am very sad to be leaving Cymru. I’m already planning my next Bootcamp next year. Iestyn and Cat, thank you soooo much for your commitment to Cymraeg and to all us SSIWers. Next time I will actually be able to talk to you!!!
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Why I cried in my soul reading this?
Probably of beauty how this is written and actual feel of your feeligs. If it happens to meet you once again I’d give you a warm hug in deed. You are a star and I hope you believe it now.
Happy and safe trip home and come back soon (sadly I probably won’t be there when you do so) … By the time you’ll be an excellent Welsh speaker just because you’ve just realized this: [quote=“lynne_freudigmann, post:93, topic:4334”]
I used to try to translate as I was listening, which was not working because I would soon lose the plot. I am beginning to realise that I have to use the language in its own right and not translate. For example I know that barod means ‘ready’ and siarad means ‘speak’. I don’t need to translate them. My mind just had to shift into a different mode and leave the other mode behind. If I don’t know a word I just let it go and pick out the ones I do know. This way I can work out the gist.
[/quote]
Now I know you’ll even more boldly go forward on your way of learning.
Happy journey it will be.
Tatjana
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Dear Tatjana, I missed getting to know you because I was not able to communicate but I will remember the joy and laughs you brought yo Bootcamp. Thank you for your encouragement. You are an example for me to follow.
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@lynne_freudigmann , I truly believe your comment quoted by Tatjana is the most helpful I have seen on the Forum, but it will not be seen by most on this thread. It reminded me of the times I could follow conversations on buses in ‘Wenglish’ and another in Punjabi sprinkled with English! A few hints give huge help!
Anyway, would you be willing for @tatjana to put your comment or link it into a ‘helpful information’ thread?
I thought this was tied at the top, but maybe its in FAQ now??
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