Sun, 29 May 2016 11:30 Dal Ati

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-Good morning. Welcome to Adre.

-Today, I'm in Bangor,

-which stands near the Menai Strait.

-I'm going to a tiny house

-in Upper Bangor.

-Just kidding! This house is massive.

-Let's search for clues

-so we can find out who lives here.

-For help to follow the programme,

-use the website...

-..and download the Dal Ati app.

-This is a dramatic, theatric house.

-That tells us that the person

-who lives here is a performer.

-There are a few novels

-in this cupboard...

-..and they were written

-by the man who lives here.

-Look at this cutie!

-This little lad grew up to be

-one of the artistic directors...

-..of a successful

-performing arts school.

-Cefin Roberts and Rhian, his wife,

-live in this house.

-Together, they run Ysgol Glanaethwy

-performing arts school.

-Cefin is an actor,

-performer and novelist.

-He also writes scripts

-for TV and radio.

-Here he is,

-performing on Noson Lawen.

-# But oh, when morning came

-# The sweet boy felt such dismay

-# When he felt some strange moisture

-And a bad smell under his nose

-# What flower was it, I hear you ask

-# A pee-the-bed flower,

-the dandelion #

-LAUGHTER

-Good morning, Cefin Roberts.

-It's good to be in your lovely home.

-Welcome. It's good to have you here.

-I don't know where to start!

-You've done so many different things

-in your life.

-Where did your

-love of performing begin?

-It goes back to

-my junior school days in Llanllyfni.

-I was in the same class as Bryn Fon

-and we sang in a cerdd dant party.

-The headmaster, Glyn Owen,

-taught us to sing.

-He was really dedicated...

-..and he enjoyed

-immersing himself in Welsh culture.

-I competed in the Urdd Eisteddfod

-from an early age.

-Mam took me to Liverpool

-every Thursday for voice coaching.

-I also had piano, guitar,

-recitation and singing lessons.

-I'd sing in eisteddfodau or concerts

-every weekend, so I lived on stage.

-You went to Trinity College

-and the College Of Music And Drama.

-What was your first paid job?

-I worked as an actor for

-Cwmni Theatr Cymru for six years.

-I was then offered a part

-in the BBC drama series, Gwen Tomos.

-I was also cast in a new

-drama series by Meic Povey...

-..called Dim Ond Heddiw.

-During that period, I also worked

-with Bara Caws theatre company.

-It was a great experience

-because we wrote our own scripts.

-We also wrote our own sketches

-for Hapnod.

-I learned to be a better writer

-during that time.

-You've scripted Rownd A Rownd,

-haven't you?

-Yes, and that was after

-we established Glanaethwy.

-We set up the Rownd A Rownd

-scriptwriting team in 1995...

-..and I worked as a storyliner

-for the series for eight years...

-..and I wrote shows for Glanaethwy

-at the same time.

-When did you and Rhian

-establish Glanaethwy?

-Glanaethwy celebrated

-its 25th birthday last year.

-We started it in 1990.

-I had a vision that I'd establish

-a performing arts school...

-..when I was a boy.

-I'd just finished directing a show

-for the Urdd Eisteddfod...

-..and 60 youngsters took part it.

-We performed

-at the old Theatr Gwynedd.

-The children were crestfallen

-when the production ended...

-..and Rhian felt the time was right

-to establish our school.

-I was hesitant

-but Rhian said it was now or never.

-The school gradually expanded

-and I blame it all on Rhian!

-Behind every good man,

-there's a better woman!

-What sort of experience was

-taking part in Britain's Got Talent?

-You came third and you were robbed!

-You came third and you were robbed!

-

-I don't think we were robbed.

-I think we were very lucky

-in that competition.

-As you know, Saturday night TV

-panels of judges like those...

-..are there

-to say nasty things at times.

-Viewers like to see people

-become tearful and disappointed.

-They even like to see people

-become embittered.

-We try to teach our pupils

-never to feel bitter about losing.

-It's part of the process

-of performing.

-In this case, we lost

-in front of 11 million viewers...

-..and we had millions hits

-on YouTube.

-That's the opportunity

-a show like that gives you.

-It's not about losing to a dog,

-or to two dogs as it tuned out!

-The tour of this big house

-will take ages! Let's get started.

-With pleasure. No problem.

-This is the first room you see

-when you enter the house.

-That red is lovely.

-It goes all the way up to the top.

-It goes all the way up to the top.

-

-Yes, to the mezzanine.

-This is the back door, but everyone

-uses the back door for some reason.

-It's now designed for Christmas.

-Apparently, when you view a property

-that's for sale...

-..you immediately wonder

-where you'd put the Christmas tree.

-It's part of us all, or so they say.

-Where do you put your tree?

-Where do you put your tree?

-

-Here.

-It was built this high

-so I can have a huge tree.

-You can pop up there to put

-the angel on top of the tree.

-It's a minstrels' gallery, which is

-a perfect place to sing carols.

-The acoustics are great.

-It was made

-for singing Silent Night!

-Oh, what a nice kitchen.

-Oh, what a nice kitchen.

-

-Yes, it's spacious.

-There's some lovely light coming in.

-There's some lovely light coming in.

-

-Yes, especially in the afternoon.

-The kitchen has become the heart

-of the home for a lot of people.

-Yes - people chat while they cook.

-Who does the cooking. You or Rhian?

-We share cooking duty.

-I do a lot of writing in here

-because the light is so lovely.

-It can be a good place to work.

-Rhian and I often sit there on our

-laptops before we go to the lessons.

-We close the laptops

-and head to Glanaethwy.

-Can I choose a door

-and have a snoop?

-Of course.

-This is the lounge. Nice.

-This is a cosy room

-and the view is lovely too.

-Who dusts all these plates

-and ornaments?

-Me. I do it all.

-Nobody who cleans this house

-is allowed to touch my collections.

-Do you enjoy the process

-of exploring in antique shops?

-I love car boot sales

-and antique fairs.

-Antique shops draw me in,

-like a magnet.

-It's an addiction and Rhian despairs

-whenever I go on eBay.

-Not everyone

-has a bar in their lounge.

-Are you the barman?

-Do you work behind there?

-It's certainly fun.

-I do end up there some evenings.

-I may have a tipple later!

-Where shall we go next?

-It's up to you.

-There's plenty of choice.

-Wow! This room

-is almost like a theatre set.

-The curtains are theatric and so

-are the big paintings on the wall.

-I commissioned the middle one

-from the artist Ed Povey.

-When you commission Ed

-to do a painting...

-..he sits down with you

-to discuss what you want.

-I think I'm the clown

-in that picture.

-Rhian's one of the audience members.

-That painting was created

-especially for us.

-I've just seen one of my

-favourite things - a rocking horse!

-Can I ride it?

-No - it won't take my weight.

-I adore that rocking horse.

-I'd have liked one

-when I was a girl.

-Where did it come from?

-Where did it come from?

-

-I bought it on eBay.

-It was a Christmas present

-for my grandsons and they love it.

-Tell me about that piano.

-Tell me about that piano.

-

-Rhian is the pianist.

-I write music on the piano but I do

-it by ear rather than from a copy.

-Those are volumes...

-..of Eisteddfod adjudications

-and winning literary entries.

-Yes, and I've been collecting them

-since I was at school.

-I used to go to Eric Jones's shop

-in Caernarfon to buy them.

-He stocked these volumes of

-adjudications and literary works...

-..going back many years.

-I add to this collection every year

-but I don't have the complete set.

-What about these pictures?

-What about these pictures?

-

-Let's start with these.

-Rob Piercy from Porthmadog

-painted these.

-His son was a Glanaethwy pupil and

-he asked me if he could come in...

-..and paint some portraits.

-That was our production

-of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

-This is my old home - Tyddyn Difyr.

-My first novel,

-which was called Brwydr Y Bradwr...

-..mentions pigs, hens and so on.

-This is the old henhouse...

-..which sparked the idea

-for that first novel.

-Where shall we go next, Cefin?

-Where shall we go next, Cefin?

-

-Through to the front room.

-Oh, this is nice.

-It's like an old-fashioned parlour.

-It's like an old-fashioned parlour.

-

-Yes.

-This is a good room for sitting down

-and having a chat.

-Yes - everyone facing each other.

-What do we have on the walls?

-More of Rob Piercy's work.

-I think I recognize that man!

-I think I recognize that man!

-

-Rhian commissioned it from Piercy.

-It's a portrait of me winning the

-National Eisteddfod Prose Medal.

-That was my birthday present

-last year.

-I'm having such fun with Cefin!

-Join us after the break.

-Do you fancy a half?

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-Welcome back.

-We've seen the ground floor, and the

-tour of this great house continues.

-There are lots of doors

-at the top of the stairs.

-What have we got here?

-Well, we have enough doors

-to stage a good farce!

-There are three bedrooms

-and one bathroom over here.

-The old master bedroom, the new

-master bedroom the mezzanine.

-This staircase leads to the attic.

-May I see the new master bedroom?

-Oh, it's nice!

-I could soak in that bath for hours

-with a book and lots of bubbles.

-Is that the original window?

-Is that the original window?

-

-Yes, and it used to have a view!

-We commissioned one of the parents

-to create a stained glass window...

-..to match the tiles.

-You're so swish!

-Great. From the en suite

-to the bedroom.

-What a spacious bedroom!

-Wow! What an amazing view!

-Do you ever close the curtains?

-Do you ever close the curtains?

-

-No. It's like a picture, isn't it?

-This is the extension

-above the living room.

-I always wanted a step down.

-It's a step up, onto this stage.

-Well, it's very theatric.

-I've just spotted

-a rather roomy walk-in wardrobe.

-Yes, we both love clothes,

-and there's plenty of space there.

-Do you have more than Rhian?

-Do you have more than Rhian?

-

-No - we have as much as each other!

-Let's go on to the next room.

-Wow!

-I can't believe my eyes.

-Cups, jugs...

-..and more plates.

-Have you considered therapy?

-This is my therapy.

-This is therapy? Excellent.

-It's a piece of history.

-Several of these items were given

-to my parents as wedding presents.

-I could never get rid of them.

-I'm very sentimental.

-Some of my friends say being

-sentimental can be a weakness...

-..but I find it very comforting.

-What strikes me is you'll often find

-that avid collectors are untidy...

-..but this collection

-is meticulously organized and neat.

-You can't appreciate them

-unless they're displayed neatly.

-What's the point of collecting items

-if you don't enjoy them?

-Some of my friends laugh, like you,

-and others understand it.

-Here we are, on the mezzanine.

-We came in through that door.

-Do you come out here often?

-Do you eat here?

-Do you eat here?

-

-Yes, especially in the summer.

-It's a lovely place to eat dinner.

-I also come here

-when I need some thinking time.

-There are

-a few ornaments in here too!

-Yes, some of my favourite

-collections are on display here.

-I've enjoyed snooping around

-the theatre set you call home!

-Can we go down

-the spiral staircase?

-Yes, of course.

-I popped to the school

-to have a chat with Rhian.

-It's Sunday

-and it's very quiet in here today.

-It's usually noisy and lively,

-isn't it?

-Yes, it's usually

-full to the rafters.

-How many pupils do you have?

-How many pupils do you have?

-

-Around 150.

-Who can come here and

-do they have to audition to get in?

-Not at all.

-The doors are open to everyone.

-They start at six or seven

-and they're here until they're 18.

-Some stay on longer than that.

-All we ask is they come with

-enthusiasm and want to be here.

-Do you and Cefin

-have different roles here?

-I teach the young ones

-and Cefin teaches the older ones.

-Cefin does the scripting

-and creative development...

-..and I do the administrative work.

-I'm sure organizing trips, booking

-buses and hotels is a lot of work.

-Yes, and I sometimes feel

-I have endless lists.

-I have to check

-people's availability.

-It's a responsibility, especially

-when we did Britain's Got Talent.

-How many of you were on that show?

-How many of you were on that show?

-

-There were 168 of us.

-You all needed hotel rooms

-in central London?

-Yes. The group was split

-between three different hotels.

-It was a pain

-to have to pick everyone up.

-What does working with youngsters

-do for you?

-They've kept us going.

-We've had to battle several elements

-over the years...

-..but the youngsters

-made it all worth it.

-We have great memories

-of our first pupils.

-They're now in their 40s...

-..and their children

-are at our school.

-That makes me feel old!

-What three things would you rescue

-from this house if it were on fire?

-Like the collector you are,

-I see there are lots of items here.

-This is the oldest item I've chosen.

-A watch which was left to me...

-..by the daughter of the singer,

-Mary King Sarah.

-She was my father's cousin.

-They came from Cornwall originally,

-hence the surname Sarah.

-She won the solo for sopranos at

-the Caernarfon National Eisteddfod.

-She went over to America

-with Penrhyn Male Voice Choir.

-She was their guest soloist.

-She then settled in America.

-When she came back to Wales

-on her travels...

-..this watch was presented to her.

-'This watch and chain was presented

-to Mary King Sarah...

-..by friends and inhabitants of

-the Nantlle Valley, December 1909.'

-Evelyn King, her daughter, brought

-the watch back here in the 1960s.

-My mother told me to stand on

-a chair and sing for Evelyn King...

-..to show her there were

-still singers in the family.

-That's when

-she gave the watch to me...

-..and said, as I would take up the

-family's musical baton in future...

-..I should be the one

-who keeps this watch.

-I think it's important

-that I rescue this from a fire.

-The second item also reminds me

-of someone who's very dear to me.

-Norah Isaac, my drama lecturer

-at Trinity College.

-When Norah died...

-..all her friends were invited

-to choose one item from her house.

-This is Math Fab Mathonwy...

-..with Goewin, his foot-holder.

-Math had to rest his feet in her lap

-at all times...

-..other than when he was at war

-and he had to protect his country.

-That's when Gilfaethwy and Gwydion

-brutally attacked Goewin.

-It's an important story.

-Norah told us the story and this

-is more than a piece of porcelain.

-It's a fond memory.

-As it's next to the novel,

-I may know what's in this box.

-Yes. This is the National Eisteddfod

-Prose Medal which I won in 2004.

-It brings back

-some wonderful memories.

-Ray Gravell

-was the Sword Bearer back then.

-I remember Ray Gravell laughing...

-..because I sat down before I was

-invited to do so by the archdruid.

-I thought I'd heard Ray

-telling me to take a seat.

-That's not what he said

-but I sat down anyway...

-..and made a mess of the ceremony!

-Never mind. I enjoyed it.

-Winning one of

-the Eisteddfod's main prizes...

-..must be

-the pinnacle of your career...

-..and you won it

-for your first novel.

-Yes. I wrote a show

-for the school every year.

-I jotted down ideas that year and

-I realized it wouldn't make a show.

-I didn't know

-where it was taking me.

-I chatted to a few authors

-who live locally...

-..and Geraint, my neighbour, told me

-he thought it was a short novel.

-The writing created

-a different world from the stage...

-..and, slowly but surely,

-this novel grew from that.

-The Eisteddfod asked for a novel

-with an agricultural theme...

-..and I entered my novel,

-just to get some feedback.

-I'm proud that the adjudicators

-deemed it a worthy winner.

-Thank you, Cefin.

-I really enjoyed myself.

-Thank you for sharing

-your collections with me.

-My pleasure.

-Well, I had a lovely morning

-with Cefin and Rhian Roberts.

-Join me next week to snoop around

-the home of another celebrity.

-Until then, goodbye.

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-Hello! I'm Nia Parry.

-Can you guess where I am today?

-Yes - Dolgellau,

-in Snowdonia National Park.

-Welcome to Milltir2.

-I'm in the town of Dolgellau,

-on the banks of River Wnion.

-Dolgellau is a market town with

-a population of just under 3,000.

-In this area,

-65% of people can speak Welsh.

-Agriculture is important to the area

-and to the town for centuries.

-River Wnion's source is near Bala...

-..and it runs south-west

-to the town of Dolgellau.

-Just outside the town,

-River Wnion joins River Mawddach.

-The rivers meet

-near the old Cymer Abbey.

-Cymer means 'where two rivers meet'.

-The source of River Mawddach is

-in the mountains north of Dolgellau.

-The river runs through Coed Y Brenin

-where there was once a gold mine.

-The River Mawddach estuary

-is near Barmouth.

-A ten-mile cycle path

-goes from Dolgellau to Barmouth...

-..along the old railway track.

-South of Dolgellau is a beautiful

-mountain called Cader Idris.

-This area is popular

-with walkers and climbers.

-As you walk around the town...

-..you see the local stone,

-called dolerite.

-Here are Aled Sam

-and Greg Stevenson.

-For help to follow the programme,

-use the website...

-..and download the Dal Ati app.

-There's no better starting point

-for a programme about Dolgellau...

-..than on the church tower,

-in the centre of town.

-We can look down at everyone,

-except the gentry houses up there.

-This is a very Welsh town.

-It's below a mountain and there are

-stone buildings everywhere.

-Local dolerite stone

-is used in almost every building.

-This is a handsome town

-and I mean handsome, not pretty.

-Are many of these buildings listed?

-Are many of these buildings listed?

-

-Yes, over 200 of them are listed.

-We're in Snowdonia National Park...

-..so the town's character

-can never be changed.

-This house

-is really close to the cemetery.

-Is it linked to the church

-in some way?

-This path leads to the cemetery.

-The house is called

-Tan y Fynwent (Below the Cemetery).

-It's older than the present church.

-It's one of Dolgellau's

-oldest buildings, as we can see.

-There are clues about its age here.

-The stone dormers are significant,

-as is the rough stonework.

-More recent, Victorian buildings,

-have smooth stones.

-It's a Victorian porch but you

-can see it isn't a Victorian house.

-This 17th-century house

-has some interesting plasterwork.

-It's quite primitive

-and I'm very fond of it.

-This oak door

-dates back to the same period.

-This is called Bolection moulding...

-..and it was fashionable

-in the late 17th century.

-The staircase is remarkable.

-This is an early 18th-century

-oak staircase.

-It stretches over three floors.

-There are

-three types of balusters here.

-These are splat balusters.

-This is the most primitive

-and the cheapest of the three types.

-It's a late 17th-century design.

-There are turned balusters...

-..and some fancy balusters at

-the bottom, where the family lived.

-This bannister is wonderful.

-This bannister is wonderful.

-

-Yes, the craftsmanship is good.

-It's a wide staircase

-made of oak, from top to bottom.

-What's next, Greg?

-We go from a 17th century house

-to a 17th century bridge.

-Have you seen Minti?

-Centuries ago, this must have been

-Dolgellau's most important feature.

-This bridge made it possible

-for people to cross the river.

-Yes, this 17th century bridge

-was widened in the 19th century.

-The top section was also rebuilt

-after the Great Flood of 1903.

-The top end was extended

-to accommodate the railway...

-..which was

-where the main road lies today.

-It must have attracted visitors here

-to see this untamed countryside.

-Yes. Tourism began to flourish

-in the 1930s and the 1940s.

-It only took five hours to get

-to London from here in the 1930s.

-It would take five hours

-to drive to London from here today.

-Here we are,

-in a street called Wtra'r Felin.

-Wtra means "narrow lane"

-and Felin means "mill".

-This narrow lane leads to the mill.

-This is the town's industrial area.

-There were several

-woollen mills here.

-Dolgellau's wealth was generated

-by the wool and leather industries.

-There were several tanneries here.

-The mills must have been very noisy

-and the tanneries were very smelly.

-The tanneries used water

-from the river, down there.

-The evidence

-of this town's industrial past...

-..lies in old mill buildings

-and warehouses, like this one.

-There are doors on each floor

-and a roof for the winch.

-Dolgellau has several

-mill buildings.

-The word Wtra is fascinating.

-There are several examples

-of roads called Wtra in Dolgellau.

-The word Wtra comes from an English

-word from the Shropshire area.

-People in Shropshire

-use the word out-tracks.

-Dolgellau people probably

-did business with Shropshire people.

-The word out-track filtered

-across the border and became Wtra.

-Wtra. That's a nice word.

-I've never heard it before.

-Look who's here with me!

-The TV presenter and author,

-Bethan Gwanas.

-Are there any other words

-which are unique to this area?

-The first one

-which springs to mind is chav.

-Our chav existed long before

-the English called people chavs.

-I think it stems from the time

-when the gypsies came here.

-It was common to hear people greet

-each other with, "Reit dde, chav?"

-People say dde, not dda here.

-We say E not A, but it's harder

-than the E you hear in Machynlleth.

-My grandmother said, "Brwsh bres"

-and "Y geth".

-When I'm with my Dolgellau friends,

-I say E not A.

-What's the situation

-of the Welsh language in this area?

-It was once totally Welsh-speaking.

-Centuries ago, people started to

-think Welsh was inferior to English.

-That's a common tale.

-That feeling

-has never left Dolgellau.

-Ever since I can remember,

-the townies tend to speak English...

-..or half-Welsh, half-English.

-I'm just going to get the children

-from yr ysgol.

-They can speak Welsh

-but they choose not to.

-Yes. I'm not sure why and

-I doubt they know why either.

-I went to school with people whose

-parents spoke Welsh fluently...

-..but they chose to speak English

-with their siblings...

-..and with their school friends.

-The Welsh speakers

-are out on the farms?

-Yes, people in villages and on farms

-speak Welsh all the time.

-Dolgellau must be

-close to your heart.

-What makes it so special?

-When I was at school,

-I couldn't wait to leave the place.

-I thought it was an absolute dump.

-But, having been away

-and lived abroad...

-..I realized

-that it's a lovely place to live.

-I didn't realize just how beautiful

-it is until I left.

-I don't think there's anywhere

-more beautiful than this area.

-No other place

-has so many shades of green.

-We have more greenery

-than other areas.

-My roots are here

-and that's incredibly strong for me.

-I come from a farming family and

-I'm related to lots of people here.

-I enjoy walking about the square

-saying "Hello, chav!" to everyone!

-I don't really say that!

-What about community events?

-Are many events

-held through the medium of Welsh?

-Yes, cyfarfodydd bach -

-small eisteddfodau - are held here.

-They preserve our Welshness,

-as do agricultural shows.

-At Rhydymain Show,

-we make bilingual announcements...

-..but it's held

-through the medium of Welsh really.

-Sesiwn Fawr is another thing

-which boosts Welshness.

-I have great memories

-of Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau!

-Describe Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau.

-Describe Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau.

-

-It's a music festival.

-Bands play in the streets

-all weekend.

-People have a chance to hear

-Welsh bands and that's vital.

-It's important to respect the music

-of people who speak your language.

-Thank you, Bethan.

-Join me after the break

-for more from Dolgellau.

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-Subtitles

-Welcome back to Dolgellau.

-Next, we meet Karen Goswell.

-She moved to the area

-and learned Welsh.

-She has also gone on to establish

-her own wool business...

-..but with alpacas, not sheep.

-My name is Karen.

-I'm half-Welsh

-and I live in Gwynedd.

-I'm learning online

-with Say Something In Welsh.

-I've been learning for two years.

-I've just started

-going to a Welsh class in town too.

-It's an advanced

-conversation course.

-I really enjoy it.

-I think it's really important

-when you're learning Welsh...

-..to reach the point where you can

-talk to people as soon as possible.

-Once you reach that point,

-everyone becomes your teacher...

-..and speaking Welsh is fun.

-I was working in America

-two years ago.

-I lived in America for a long time.

-I lived there for almost 15 years.

-One day, I met an alpaca

-for the first time.

-I fell in love with his big eyes!

-That's when I decided

-I wanted to keep alpacas.

-And here I am!

-Alpacas are mountain animals.

-They're really happy

-on the mountains in Snowdonia.

-The alpaca

-comes from South America originally.

-They're hardy,

-so it's easy to take care of them.

-Alpacas are friendly animals

-but they're not too friendly.

-They want to

-come and see what's happening.

-If you walk down the field,

-the alpacas come close to you...

-..but not too close.

-We shear them once a year.

-I send the fleece to the mill.

-When I get the wool back, I sell

-balls of it in the shop in town.

-I make all sorts of things

-in my knitting room.

-I use a knitting machine.

-It's quite an old machine.

-It was a hi-tech machine

-back in the 1980s!

-It still works and I enjoy using it.

-The alpaca has big, beautiful eyes.

-Their fleece is soft, like cashmere.

-They're very valuable too.

-The plan

-is to expand the alpaca herd...

-..until it reaches

-around 100 animals.

-That's plenty for us.

-I love living here.

-I look out of the window every

-morning and think how lucky I am.

-For help to follow the programme,

-use the website...

-..and download the Dal Ati app.

-People have come here to climb

-Cader Idris for more than 200 years.

-Dolgellau is now a popular

-outdoor pursuits centre...

-..as Iolo Williams discovers.

-My trip starts with someone

-who likes being outdoors.

-He's waiting for me down the road.

-Ifan, the Mawddach Trail

-is great for cyclists, isn't it?

-Yes, it is. It's flat.

-It appeals

-to a wide range of people.

-It attracts families and people

-who can't cope with steep climbs.

-When did you start cycling?

-When did you start cycling?

-

-I started in 2005.

-I'd had enough of playing rugby

-and always getting injured.

-I thought I'd do something new.

-I knew about the Mawddach Trail

-and places like Coed y Brenin.

-I hadn't noticed them previously,

-so I bought a bike.

-You realized you're a natural.

-Yes, I took to it straightaway

-and then started racing.

-I reached a fairly high standard,

-and raced across Wales and Britain.

-I had a good time.

-I had a good time.

-

-Well done.

-And what a wonderful place to train.

-As well as being a cyclist,

-you're a mountain runner.

-That's a silly sport, if you ask me.

-Yes, I suppose it is.

-I leave my brain at home and go.

-What made you start?

-Did it go well with cycling?

-Yes, but I had also hurt my hand

-in a work accident.

-I couldn't ride a bike

-because I was in plaster.

-I had to do something

-to keep myself fit.

-After my first race,

-I found that I was a good runner.

-You've represented Wales.

-I ran the Snowdon Race this year.

-I ran the Snowdon Race this year.

-

-How did it go?

-I finished 18th out of over 500.

-I kept up with

-the international runners.

-Let's take a breather here.

-My backside's aching a little!

-Obviously, you're a good cyclist.

-You excel at running too.

-Which would you prefer

-if you had to choose?

-From a fun perspective,

-I'd say the bikes.

-It's much faster, isn't it?

-Even so, I'd choose running first,

-because of my success...

-..but it's impossible

-to think about not cycling.

-Dolgellau has Coed y Brenin

-and the Mawddach Trail.

-I'll always be on the bike.

-We still have a long way to go,

-but I'll race you!

-Ready? Three, two, one, away!

-The village of Brithdir

-is just to the east of Dolgellau.

-I went there some years ago

-to meet Edna Griffiths.

-Santa Claus gave me a hat

-for Christmas one year.

-I thought I looked

-the bee's knees in it.

-It brings back fond memories.

-I'll never forget it.

-Edna Griffiths has been designing

-and making hats for eight years.

-Why do hats appeal to you?

-I like styles, colours,

-co-ordinating...

-..and finding the right hat

-for the weather.

-How often will you wear a hat?

-I always wear a hat in the winter.

-I always wear a hat

-when I'm out and about.

-I come in

-and throw the hat on the floor.

-If there's already one on the floor,

-I pick it up and put it on.

-I would love to go to the races.

-I haven't been yet,

-but it's an ambition of mine.

-I'd definitely wear a hat

-to go to the races.

-The very first hat I made

-was pink and black.

-It was a cloche.

-A cloche is a hat which comes down,

-over your face.

-It comes down, over your face,

-or with an upturned brim.

-It's a 1920s style hat.

-This is my cupboard, Nia.

-This is my cupboard, Nia.

-

-I'm sure it's full of hats.

-Wow! There are so many different

-styles and colours in there.

-Where shall we start?

-Let's start at the top

-and work our way down.

-This is a good hat for you, Nia.

-Felt and a little bit of knitwear.

-You must have known

-what I'd wear today!

-Teal is the fashionable colour

-this season.

-Is it, really?

-I'll try this one.

-Wow! You look like a cockerel.

-Yes, that's right.

-What else do we have here?

-Let me see.

-What on earth

-inspired you to make that hat?

-I'm as mad as a hatter!

-That's the only answer

-I can give you.

-This is the very first hat

-I made myself.

-This is your first attempt

-to make a hat, using this material.

-Yes.

-I'll model it for you.

-This is the front.

-What material is that?

-What material is that?

-

-This is sinamay.

-It's actually made of the wood of

-a tree related to the banana tree.

-It's called the abaca tree.

-It comes from the Philippines.

-Here's another hat,

-made from sinamay.

-I had gained more experience,

-by the time I made this one.

-This is sinamay and straw.

-As you gain experience,

-you can combine materials?

-Yes.

-Try it on. Go on! Go on!

-Let's have some fun.

-The first thing you want to do

-when you see a hat is try it.

-How should I wear this hat?

-Forward, like this?

-Pull the brim down.

-You look like a shady lady,

-who's off to the races!

-S4C subtitles by Eirlys A Jones

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