6 Nofel: Lowri Morgan 6 Nofel


6 Nofel: Lowri Morgan

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-I'm Lowri Morgan.

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-I'm from Gowerton near Swansea

-and I'm an S4C presenter.

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-I also like a challenge.

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-Welcome to Ralio.

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-I'm in my element.

-It's what makes me feel alive.

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-Now it's time to run,

-the legs are heavy.

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-Langland and Caswell are my

-favourite places in all the world.

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-They're an integral part

-of my life.

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-I've so many fond memories

-of family and friends here.

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-I've run along these paths

-countless times. I'm happy here.

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-The book which has created

-the biggest impression on me...

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-..is Si Hei Lwli by Angharad Tomos.

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-It's taken me

-on a very emotional journey.

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-Through sadness, loss, hate,

-as well as love.

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-It's no wonder

-it won the Prose Medal...

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-..at the 1991 National Eisteddfod.

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-I have to confess,

-it's only recently that I read it...

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-..on a friend's recommendation.

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-We often discuss novels at work...

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-..and she knew I'd like the author's

-simple yet effective writing...

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-..and I'd understand and sympathize

-with the themes in Si Hei Lwli.

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-I'm so happy I listened to her!

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-This is

-the sensitive and symbolic story...

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-..of two passengers

-on a car journey.

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-It also alludes to our

-chronological journey through life.

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-It's about a young woman, Eleni...

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-..who takes Bigw, her 90-year-old

-great-aunt, for a day out...

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-..to lay flowers on the grave

-of her sister, Eleni's grandmother.

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-They fall out during the journey

-and they stop at a cafe.

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-They buy flowers, they quarrel

-and they laugh together and so on.

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-But during the story,

-we learn more about Bigw...

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-..and hear about her youth.

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-It's an epic

-and significant journey.

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-"It was a nondescript cafe.

-It was clean enough and nice.

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-"But it had no character.

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-"Plastic chairs and a basic menu.

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-"It was only a cuppa we were after.

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-"'Tea, Bigw?'

-'Yes, but not too strong.'

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-"'The girl will bring it over.'

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-"Bigw searches around her cup...

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-"..until I ask her what's wrong.

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-"'I thought I'd asked for a scone.'

-'No, we only ordered a cup of tea.'

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-"'Would you like a scone?'

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-"Yes, she'd love a scone. When I

-asked for one, they didn't have any.

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-"'Years ago, you'd never

-have a cafe without scones.'

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-"'If they were running out, you'd

-go to the bakery to fetch more.'

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-"Crikey,

-this woman talks some drivel.

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-"The bill arrives.

-'I'll pay, Bigw.'

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-"'No indeed. I have it here.'

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-"But she doesn't, of course. It's

-somewhere but she has no idea where.

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-"There's nothing I can do but wait.

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-"Paying in cafes...

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-"..is her way of paying me back,

-which is very important.

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-"So I help her to the car, put on

-her safety belt and keep quiet."

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-Angharad Tomos has succeeded...

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-..in drawing me into

-Bigw and Eleni's journey.

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-I felt as if I was sitting in the

-back seat, listening to them talk...

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-..and wanting

-to share their stories.

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-The themes

-of old age and mortality...

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-..are dealt with

-simply yet effectively.

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-Sometimes I had difficulty

-putting the book down.

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-Sometimes I had difficulty

-turning the page...

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-..because I was crying

-in sympathy with the characters.

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-I regret

-not having quizzed my own family...

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-..before it was too late.

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-I used to love going to Llandeilo...

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-..to spend time

-with Mam-gu and Tad-cu.

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-And then to Ystradgynlais.

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-I never had the chance

-to sit down with them...

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-..and ask them about their youth...

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-..and what they did

-before they were old.

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-I'm filled with a sense of longing.

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-I miss

-the relationship I had with them.

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-Angharad Tomos...

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-..adeptly discusses

-a common theme...

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-..in a completely new way

-that's fresh.

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-We're told that Bigw

-moves in with Eleni's family...

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-..once she is too frail

-to look after herself.

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-A similar thing

-happened in my family.

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-Mam and her sisters

-looked after Mam-gu in Llandeilo...

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-..for more than 10 years.

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-I know this is

-a common situation for many people.

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-That's what makes this novel

-so relevant to our lives.

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-Angharad Tomos wrote the novel

-for the Prose Medal competition...

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-..at the Mold National Eisteddfod.

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-The Welsh-language activist

-is on her feet.

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-How did it feel, standing up in

-the Pavilion to receive the medal?

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-It was nerve-racking having to

-stand up in front of everyone.

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-I wore a Deddf Iaith Newydd T-shirt.

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-I was arrested on the Monday

-and this was on the Wednesday...

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-..so people thought I'd gone too far

-and upset proceedings...

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-..until they realized

-no-one else was standing up!

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-I often feel

-when I'm in that sort of company...

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-..that they'll arrest you on Monday

-and applaud you on the Wednesday.

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-Where does your inspiration come

-from to write such diverse novels?

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-People inspire me...

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-..as well as experiences.

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-I'm someone who has

-a genuine interest in people.

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-I couldn't have written the novel...

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-..without having known

-and lived with that person.

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-They're essentially

-my mother's stories about her aunt.

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-She lived her life, Mam recounted

-the stories and I recorded them.

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-So it's three generations

-working in tandem in the novel.

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-So the journey actually took place?

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-Yes, I asked her

-where she'd like to go...

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-..because I thought

-she'd like an ice cream in a cafe.

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-She decided

-she wanted to go to the cemetery...

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-..to see her sister's grave

-for the last time.

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-I use the car as a medium.

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-I thought

-that when you're a little girl...

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-..your mind ages,

-in the same way your body ages.

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-But this lady taught me

-that your mind can stay the same...

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-..and it's just the body

-that deteriorates.

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-Sometimes I had to put the

-book down because I was in tears...

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-..whereas other times

-I wanted to continue reading.

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-It's a book that takes you

-on a roller coaster of emotions.

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-Once I started writing it,

-I couldn't stop.

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-On the first page, I thank

-Mrs O'Sullivan of Ballygurteen.

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-I had to go to Ireland to write it.

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-I took photographs

-and letters of my aunt with me.

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-But once I'd started writing,

-I couldn't stop.

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-It's like I opened the floodgates

-and it all came gushing out.

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-It was a very intense writing period

-over six weeks...

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-..at this house in Ireland.

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-I had to shut myself off.

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-But it was difficult

-getting to sleep at night...

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-..because I was living the novel.

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-Why did you choose Si Hei Lwli

-as its title?

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-I wanted Si Hei Lwli as the title

-because it has no meaning.

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-I thought it suited this novel...

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-..because

-you can't explain life and death.

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-Si Hei Lwli is a lullaby sung when a

-person goes to sleep or passes away.

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-"Si hei lwli, the ship sails away"

-are the words of the song.

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-One of the most poignant passages...

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-..is the chapter

-in which Bigw and brother Hari...

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-..sit down and discuss the effects

-of the First World War...

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-..and their emotional responses...

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-..to their horrific

-and tragic experiences.

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-"At last they both sat down.

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-"Hari did something

-he had never done before.

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-"He held her hand.

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-"He was never one

-to show his emotions like that.

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-"She could hear his voice now.

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-"'Hold my hand, Lisi.

-Hold it tight.'

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-"It would be a long time before she

-would have contact like this again.

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-"'That's the worst part, Lisi.'

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-"'Feelings

-aren't important in that place.'

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-"'They aren't men,

-they're barbarians.'

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-"'I've seen things, Lisi,

-things I never imagined I'd see.'

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-"He couldn't express himself.

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-"'And the worst thing about it...

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-"'..is that

-I've grown accustomed to them.'

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-"He broke down and sobbed pitifully

-like a little boy.

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-"Lisi put his head on her lap

-and started stroking his hair.

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-"Suddenly,

-he tore himself away from her...

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-"..got on his feet

-and walked away from her.

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-"From that moment on,

-Lisi knew that she'd lost him."

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-"Something horrific

-had happened to him.

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-"They had shattered his soul."

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-.

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-Subtitles

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-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

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-The theme of old age in the novel...

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-..appealed greatly to Meg Elis, one

-of the Prose Medal's adjudicators.

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-What's interesting is that

-the theme hasn't dated at all.

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-The theme of old age

-has become even more relevant.

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-I think it's very interesting...

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-..that Angharad dealt with this back

-in 1991 and possessed the foresight.

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-She raises issues...

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-..that should be, and are,

-being discussed today.

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-On our shortlist,

-Si Hei Lwli by Lwli...

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-..raised the bar

-to a formidable level.

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-It's easy to become

-sentimental about old age...

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-..by picturing a grandmother in the

-corner with her knitting and so on.

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-But this isn't true of this novel.

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-Angharad highlights the frustrations

-which arise in young people...

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-..when they have to deal

-with older people.

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-Ordinary things like fumbling for

-money to find the right change...

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-..taking their time

-and forgetting things...

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-..as older people tend to do.

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-But I also think she's suggesting...

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-..through the flashbacks

-of Bigw in her youth...

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-..that it's also frustrating

-for the older ones too.

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-They don't

-like being doddery and forgetful.

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-That's what I think

-is remarkable about the book.

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-The old woman who's witnessed

-almost a century of love and loss...

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-..gradually begins to deteriorate...

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-..not only physically but mentally.

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-She's angry that life...

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-..is sucking the life,

-strength and beauty out of her.

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-She's angry that the family has put

-her in an intolerable nursing home.

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-As her hope diminishes,

-so too does her spirit.

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-"The dog was her only true friend.

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-"A large black Labrador

-called Jumbo.

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-"Jumbo came to her

-at every opportunity...

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-"..and waited to be patted.

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-"Jumbo was

-the only sensible one among them.

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-"One day,

-Jumbo didn't come to her...

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-"..and she waited

-all morning for him.

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-"When there was no sign of him by

-the afternoon, she became anxious.

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-"There was nothing for it

-but to ask the matron.

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-"Slowly and steadily...

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-"..with the aid of a handrail...

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-"..she walks down the corridor.

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-"With a large sigh,

-Matron tells Julie to help Lisi.

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-"'I want to know

-what's happened to Jumbo.'

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-"The matron

-gazed at Julie and said...

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-"..'We'll have to tell her.'

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-"'Now, Miss Hughes,

-don't upset yourself...

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-"'..but he was run over

-by a car on Tuesday...

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-"'..and Jumbo

-was seriously injured.'

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-"'He had to be taken to the vet

-and put down.'

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-"It was Friday

-before Lisi heard about it."

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-"Why hadn't someone told her?

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-"That night,

-Lisi sobbed her heart out.

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-"But not so much over Jumbo.

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-"She had come to terms with that.

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-"But because she didn't count enough

-for someone to tell her...

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-"..that her best friend in the home

-had been killed."

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-Members of the Carmarthen book club

-have just read Si Hei Lwli.

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-I'm looking forward

-to hearing their opinions...

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-..and to find out more about them.

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-Tell me a little about

-the Carmarthen book club, Llinos.

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-There are 10 of us

-and we meet every six weeks.

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-We discuss

-English and Welsh books alternately.

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-It's good if we disagree over books

-- it makes for a lively discussion.

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-Let's discuss the book.

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-Some people call Si Hei Lwli

-a masterpiece and a classic.

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-What do you think of it?

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-I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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-I read it in one night

-from start to finish.

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-It flows nicely

-from one chapter to the next.

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-I think

-it's best to read it in one go...

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-..to get a sense of the flow.

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-It switches

-from past to present quite a bit.

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-The way she incorporates tales and

-descriptions is very effective...

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-..within

-the narrative of the journey.

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-When someone asked me

-what it was about...

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-..I told them it was about someone

-nearing the end of her life.

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-She weaves in stories

-effortlessly...

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-..during the soliloquy.

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-I thought of my own grandmother.

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-I used to give her lifts

-and take her places in the car.

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-I felt sad reading it

-because it brought back memories.

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-When Mam-gu died, we found a box

-of her diaries from years ago...

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-..detailing her life

-before I was born.

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-Like that little message she wrote,

-"Don't get too drunk".

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-Yes, that's right.

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-I love that scene

-because it says it all.

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-The scene when her brother

-returns from the War...

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-..is very powerful.

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-It's been well written.

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-That's one of the best passages

-describing the atrocities of war...

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-..I've ever read in Welsh.

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-Has the book

-made you think about old age?

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-I read it over 10 years ago

-but I enjoyed it more this time...

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-..because I'm older...

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-..and I've lost my own grandparents.

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-It captures the fragility of life.

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-It captures the fragility of life.

-

-It made me feel very positive.

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-It's strange

-because it's a sad story.

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-But the fact that Eleni says,

-"Go on, keep going," in the end...

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-..makes you think that old age...

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-..doesn't have to be

-about sadness and withering away.

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-What didn't you enjoy

-about the novel?

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-It was a little too confusing

-for my liking.

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-The passage of fantasy

-at the beginning...

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-..isn't fair on the reader.

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-I didn't think

-it started with fantasy.

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-I didn't realize it was fantasy.

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-It describes Bigw in her youth...

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-.."with a young body,

-nubile and full of spirit."

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-She wasn't talking

-about the old Bigw then, was she?

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-It's meant to be symbolic.

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-For me,

-it's not fair on the reader...

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-..to start with something

-so symbolic and fantastical.

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-It's Eleni's imagination, which

-works well in other passages...

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-..but not right at the start.

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-The synopsis describes

-two girls on the same journey...

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-..but at different speeds.

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-Although one is old and Eleni's

-young, they're still two girls.

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-Something unites them.

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-I liked it because it doesn't

-give you the story on a plate...

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-..at the very beginning.

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-Thank you, Lowri,

-for reintroducing the novel to us.

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-And introducing it

-for the first time too. Thanks!

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-By the end of the novel...

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-..it becomes clear that Eleni is

-recounting Bigw's last car journey.

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-They both arrive at the cemetery.

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-Bigw has

-overcome obstacles to get there...

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-..and lay flowers

-at her sister's grave.

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-Despite the sadness

-of the situation...

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-..it's also an epic

-and significant conclusion.

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-"At last I saw the grave.

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-"It was in the second row

-beside a small hedge.

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-"I was finally there.

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-"'Eleni?' 'Yes?'

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-"'I can't see what's on the stone.

-Could you read it for me?'

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-"'Here lies William Rowland Edwards,

-1888-1969...

0:21:110:21:17

-"'..and his beloved wife,

-Hannah Eluned.'

0:21:180:21:21

-"'1890-1977.'

0:21:210:21:25

-"'Gwilym, 1921-1922.'

0:21:250:21:30

-"'Lest we never forget.'

0:21:300:21:33

-"In a while, Bigw looks at me,

-raises her eyebrows...

0:21:330:21:38

-"..and intimates

-that it's time for us to go.

0:21:380:21:42

-"I'm a little unsteady on my feet

-and I hold on to Bigw.

0:21:420:21:47

-"All of a sudden, I feel her might.

0:21:480:21:50

-"So powerful and brave.

0:21:510:21:53

-"Her strides

-are strong and purposeful.

0:21:540:21:57

-"I notice that Bigw is now standing

-tall and I am nothing by her side.

0:21:570:22:02

-"She saw it all

-and kept her head above water.

0:22:020:22:06

-"'Go, Bigw. Go.'

0:22:070:22:10

-"'Don't wait for me.

-Don't look back.'

0:22:110:22:14

-"'Go forward and keep going.'

0:22:150:22:17

-"'You'll reach your journey's end.'"

0:22:170:22:20

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

0:22:440:22:46

-.

0:22:470:22:47

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