Ken a Lisa Markham Cefn Gwlad

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-Here I am in the middle

-of the Meirionnydd hills.

-I'm in

-the Llanfihangel y Pennant area.

-I'm on the Pennant farm

-to tell the truth.

-It's the home of Ken

-and Lisa Markham and their family.

-I'm sure you'll enjoy.

-The views here are unbeatable.

-They're glorious.

-It's the most wonderful season

-of the year. It's lambing season.

-It's the ideal morning...

-..to take a look at the sheep

-and lambs on Pennant farm.

-They graze on the slopes

-of Cadair Idris.

-Ken and Lisa have farmed here

-for eight years.

-They're very lucky of the support

-and experience...

-..of a neighbour and good friend,

-Gron Williams.

-After travelling up

-and reaching the old pens...

-..about halfway up the mountain...

-..they must leave the vehicles

-and proceed on foot.

-Which way now?

-Which way now?

-

-We'll go this way.

-I'll go up the other way.

-Alright. We'll see you later on.

-Alright. We'll see you later on.

-

-Yes, in about four hours!

-When do you start lambing?

-I think we started

-around the fourth of this month.

-We kept it pretty late.

-There's quite a lot of walking

-to be done for the lambing.

-Yes, two or three hours

-of walking every day.

-You've been doing it

-for years, Gron.

-I wouldn't like to say how many.

-I wouldn't like to say how many.

-

-Don't worry!

-I came here in 1961.

-So you two do this side

-while Ken does the other side.

-Yes, Ken's in Bodilan Fach.

-When I'm not working, I can come up

-on this side with Gron.

-She doesn't need to come every day.

-That's too much for me.

-The walking?!

-Yes!

-What's this little cottage?

-What's this little cottage?

-

-It was a cowshed.

-Was food stored there

-for the animals?

-I've been told

-it was brought up in the spring.

-They cut...

-Oops!

-Where on earth did you go?!

-You told me

-that I needed decent shoes!

-Are you OK?

-Are you OK?

-

-My behind is soaked!

-Do you have

-another pair of trousers?

-These shoes aren't too suitable.

-Lisa, you are young...

-..but it's nice to have people like

-Gron with the necessary experience.

-Yes, because to us...

-..people like Gron and Gwilym Maes

-y Pandy before him are stalwarts.

-We've had the best people

-giving us direction...

-..in our last eight years

-on Pennant and Pencoed.

-They've helped us

-understand the land.

-We're trying to learn.

-We're trying to take their lead.

-We have a lot of fun with them.

-It is a pain to think

-what we'll do after.

-We have men like Wil Hendreseifion

-and Dilwyn Rhiwogof.

-They are people

-who respect the old traditions.

-That is important.

-You can't take a bike.

-We have to walk.

-But seeing them...

-..the mothers are just fantastic.

-..the mothers are just fantastic.

-

-Oh, yes.

-The biggest problem we have then

-is catching the sheep...

-..when they have a problem.

-You use a dog but the dogs

-don't always catch them.

-You need a good dog

-in this environment.

-If you don't catch the sheep,

-you can end up in the river.

-There's a river all the way around.

-There's a river all the way around.

-

-Once they're there, that's it.

-I'd be wetter than you then!

-Do you want me to go up?

-Do you want me to go up?

-

-Yes.

-I'll go down a bit.

-There we go, I'll go up and around.

-We can go out together then.

-It's quite nice here.

-Few people know these slopes

-better than Gron.

-He did farm at Pennant until

-Lisa and Ken came here to live.

-His experience and knowledge

-have been a big help to the family.

-Was she alright, Gron?

-Was she alright, Gron?

-

-Yes, yes.

-Very good.

-Very good.

-

-It was a small lamb.

-So it's all OK. Very good.

-So it's all OK. Very good.

-

-Yes.

-Did you see any up top?

-Did you see any up top?

-

-No, everything was OK.

-It's easy

-because you don't see the corner.

-Did you used to plough here?

-Have you cultivated the land?

-Yes, I used to cultivate

-these open parts.

-You managed to bring

-a tractor up here?

-Yes, I did.

-That was years ago. 1976, I think.

-That was a very dry summer.

-I think that's why

-it looks so good now.

-It's very good grazing land.

-It's very good grazing land.

-

-There was a lot of bracken before.

-Was there anything down there?

-Was there anything down there?

-

-What?

-Was there anything down there?

-No, I did check.

-Nothing there?

-It would be a good place for them.

-I'm very happy.

-Are you out of breath?

-Are you out of breath?

-

-Yes.

-I'm meant to be quite fit, Gron.

-I'm meant to be quite fit, Gron.

-

-Yes, I thought so.

-I've got a half marathon in a month.

-There we go.

-I'm sure this helps.

-While Lisa and Gron

-continue with their inspection...

-..Ken is happy that everything looks

-fine the other side of the mountain.

-How was it, Ken?

-How was it, Ken?

-

-It was fine, Dai. Fine.

-Everything looked very tidy,

-I would say.

-When everything goes right,

-it's just pure pleasure.

-Yes, it is.

-It's nice to be out

-in some sunshine.

-We've had quite a good spring

-this year.

-The sheep look stronger.

-Yes, there was snow this time

-last year up at halfway.

-It works well that Gron and Lisa

-take one side and you the other.

-It's the only way we can do it.

-They come up here

-and I head toward Bodilan Fach.

-Will you do things like clipping,

-castrating...

-..marking and dipping up here?

-Everything is done up here.

-The sheep don't ever leave.

-The lambs are born here,

-we shear here.

-The only time the sheep come down

-is when they go to the sales.

-The twins go down

-to the fields in Pennant.

-They don't get anything at all.

-They're organic.

-A good pen is essential

-for an upland sheep farm.

-The craftwork that went into

-building the old walls is clear.

-You say there was nothing

-up here before.

-There was a zinc fence.

-It was an ugly thing.

-This is a yard.

-As well as being tidy,

-it's also safe.

-It was a lot of work.

-It was a lot of work.

-

-I can imagine.

-Did you collect the stones

-from the vicinity?

-Yes. We weren't allowed

-to take them all from one spot.

-No, no.

-We brought most of them

-from the area I'd cultivated.

-How long did it take

-to build this wall?

-I'm not sure in terms of time.

-I think it was two summers.

-Really?

-You can't build in winter.

-You can't build in winter.

-

-No, of course.

-There's more shelter

-on the other side!

-Moving the stones

-was the biggest job.

-A few of them are huge.

-We had an old tractor

-to load them in.

-I hear you're a musical man.

-I do like music, yes.

-I like to hear you singing.

-I like to hear you singing.

-

-You definitely like singing then!

-I've heard

-that you have a mouth organ.

-Yes.

-Come on, let's hear some of it.

-Come on, let's hear some of it.

-

-I'm not very good at it!

-The one with the mouth organ!

-I'll sing.

-Don't blame me

-if it starts raining tomorrow.

-Don't make me be out of tune.

-Get in, Dai!

-Dear me, dear me.

-Dear me, dear me.

-

-We need to start it now.

-I'll need a parachute to get out.

-OK.

-# Saviour, who Thy flock art feeding

-# With the Shepherd's kindest care

-# All the feeble gently leading

-# While the lambs Thy bosom share #

-It was difficult to sing

-and look at the hillside down there.

-It was fine this side!

-How long have you played

-the mouth organ?

-Years and years.

-Watch you don't go too close

-to the edge.

-I've driven this way

-a hundred times.

-It's my first time!

-It's my first time!

-

-You don't say!

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-Colin is the eldest

-of Ken and Lisa's three children.

-He enjoys working on Pennant farm

-at every opportunity.

-Are you at college?

-Yes, I am playing rugby

-in Llandovery at the moment.

-I want to do both -

-play rugby and farm.

-They go hand in hand.

-You're fortunate

-to have young parents.

-You could enjoy years of playing

-rugby before returning to the farm.

-Yes, it's because they're young...

-..that I've had this chance

-to go and play rugby.

-I'll be trialling

-for the Scarlets in the summer.

-When I'm ready

-and when my parents are ready...

-..I hope to return to the farm.

-Where are you taking me now?

-Where are you taking me now?

-

-I'm taking you to the pool room.

-You have one of those!

-Tom is Colin's younger brother.

-He dreams of becoming

-a professional footballer.

-He wants to earn enough money...

-..to improve the road

-that leads up to the farm.

-Aside from football,

-he's also a keen pool player.

-Here's the pool table.

-Do you have a club at school?

-No, I just enjoy playing pool

-after school.

-After I've finished my homework.

-You've got the real deal here.

-Yes, I know.

-You are the second

-of three children.

-Yes.

-Where do you go to school?

-I attend Ysgol Uwchradd Tywyn.

-I'm in Year 8.

-I'll sit over here and watch you.

-You have plenty of cues here.

-Off you go. Let me see you play.

-That was a great shot!

-That was a great shot!

-

-Thank you.

-Located a mile or so

-from Pennant farm...

-..is Ken's original home,

-Bodilan Fach farm.

-His mother still lives here...

-..and Ken and Lisa

-farm alongside her.

-There's a lot of upland

-in this area too.

-There we go.

-We've reached the top.

-Is it the more mature sheep

-which are up here?

-Yes. These have all lambed before.

-Two-tooth sheep that are

-lambing for the first time...

-..are on the fields

-next to the house.

-These have all lambed

-for a second or third time.

-Between Pennant and here, there's a

-lot of shepherding work to be done.

-Yes, there is.

-How far from the house are we now?

-How far from the house are we now?

-

-Just over a mile.

-You have been here

-since you were a child.

-Yes, I was born here and so were my

-father and grandfather before me.

-My father was in his element

-coming up here.

-He wanted to be buried here.

-I remember Dad saying he'd spoken

-to a friend of his, Robin Dysefin...

-..and that Rob had asked my father,

-who was an Englishman...

-.."Are you going on holiday?"

-My father told him

-he didn't go on holidays...

-..and preferred to go up Graig Lwyd,

-sit on a rock and cut thistles.

-Dad was born

-with a scythe in his hand!

-Although she is now in her eighties,

-Ken's mother, Mrs Hefina Markham...

-..still keeps a beady eye

-on the accounts.

-Mrs Markham, you're like

-a young lady doing that work!

-You must be very used to doing it.

-Ken and Lisa will soon be able

-to do the work on the computer.

-You haven't started using one then?

-I won't have to do them here.

-501.

-I talk to myself while I work.

-Even when your husband was alive,

-you did the accounts.

-Yes.

-They'd bring the accounts

-home with them from the sales.

-You have to keep the bills together

-to get the VAT on them.

-We claim that.

-That's a lot these days.

-That's a lot these days.

-

-Yes, it's 20%.

-Our accountant lives in Dolgellau.

-I write out the bills, the VAT

-included, and then send them to her.

-She then sends them online

-to wherever they need to go.

-You're in your eighties

-but you have such a quick brain!

-And you speak so freely.

-It's been an experience to meet you.

-Who's there?

-Go over to the wall.

-Blimey, these are tame.

-Considering what they live on,

-they have great backbones.

-Yes, Dai.

-This is where they remain.

-Yes, all winter.

-They've had no fuss, no food.

-Look at how they lift their feet.

-She's extremely tame and gentle.

-He can be a little devil.

-They've been registered.

-Yes, Section D.

-They're lovely animals.

-They're in great condition

-considering where they are up here.

-Yes, they look great, don't they?

-Naturally, Catrin loves horses.

-She also knows a lot

-about local history.

-You've been kind enough to

-bring me here to Mary Jones' home.

-This is Ty'n y Ddol.

-The place has been featured

-in the news recently.

-Yes.

-She was born in 1784 and lived here.

-One day,

-Mary decided she wanted a Bible.

-However, she would

-have to go to Bala to buy it.

-Her mother thought she was mad...

-..because there was no way

-of her getting to Bala.

-She walked to Bala

-but when her shoes started to rub...

-..she took them off...

-..and walked barefoot

-over the mountain.

-She bought a Bible and walked home.

-She died in 1800.

-As well as the farming duties,

-Lisa also works at Tywyn Library.

-That's a good book.

-Crikey! I've aged!

-This is a lovely place, Lisa.

-You look smart.

-I try to make an effort.

-Are you here every day?

-Some part of every day.

-It works perfectly

-around the children.

-It's shut on Wednesday.

-Ken tends to keep

-all the big jobs for Wednesdays.

-I also work on Saturdays.

-It's good to see local women...

-..working throughout the building.

-Definitely.

-Many local people never use it.

-We do things like yoga lessons

-for toddlers on Tuesdays.

-Many locals come in

-for the arts and crafts sessions.

-If we get them in as youngsters,

-they tend to keep coming back.

-If it's a nice experience.

-The minute Lisa mentioned yoga...

-..I had a feeling

-I knew what was coming next.

-What do you do first?

-I started about fifteen years ago.

-Mam was starting to get ill

-and this just helped me to relax.

-It taught me how to relax.

-Then I started running.

-The stretching from the yoga...

-..meant that when I ran marathons,

-I never pulled any muscles.

-I thought

-there must be something to it.

-I've kept it going.

-I think a little session

-would do you good.

-I won't be running any marathons.

-You are a busy man.

-You are a busy man.

-

-Is it good for your health?

-It looks after your spine

-and keeps your posture correct.

-Let's get going.

-You don't need the stick.

-Would you mind removing

-your shoes and socks?

-No-one's watching.

-Stand on the mat to start.

-Before you do anything...

-The dog's been there.

-Look at me and stand square. Lovely.

-Let's get the feet, knees,

-hips, shoulders all in line.

-We need good posture.

-Stand straight

-and drop your chin a tiny bit.

-Not too much.

-Warm up by copying me.

-We're just doing this

-to the shoulder.

-Up the other side.

-Down the other side.

-Get onto the tips of your toes

-and feel the stretch.

-Right up.

-And down. Fine.

-Bring the arms down and be aware

-of the arms coming down.

-Slowly.

-Yoga is about breathing and moving.

-You unify the mind

-with the breathing and the movement.

-Next time I'm here, I'll be able

-to join that bird on the wire.

-A stone's throw from Bodilan Fach

-is a cottage called Maes y Wennol.

-The family rent it out now but

-it was Ken and Lisa's first home.

-All the stones are from the valley.

-Most from the farm itself.

-A local craftsman

-did all the stonework.

-He told us he wasn't sleeping

-at night for thinking about the job.

-Where every stone would go.

-It wasn't slapdash.

-It wasn't slapdash.

-

-He needed peace.

-He wanted me to mix up

-some cement in the morning...

-..and then he wanted me gone.

-This is where

-all the children were born.

-All three children born

-within sight of Craig Yr Aderyn.

-They were indeed.

-Great.

-I've been desperate to ask you

-where the Markham name came from.

-My grandfather

-came from Northampton.

-My father was very young...

-..when they moved to a farm

-in Llanfachreth, Dolgellau.

-There was a tradition at the time

-to move to a Welsh mountain farm.

-They moved from Northampton

-to rent that farm in Dolgellau...

-..and then Bodilan came on

-the market and they bought it.

-Dad left the school in Dolgellau

-when he was thirteen.

-He farmed from then onwards.

-When I was going off

-to run somewhere, he'd say...

-.."Lisa, you're always

-chasing moonbeams."

-He'd also say, "Ken would be a

-better man if you stayed home more."

-She's stayed home since then.

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