Pennod 1 Pobol y Rhondda

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-Shwmae!

-I'm Sion Tomos Owen, a Rhondda boy.

-I love it here. It's full of

-possibilities for artists like me.

-I always look for different ways

-of portraying the valley in my work.

-During the series, I'll speak

-to lots of interesting people.

-I'll paint pictures reflecting

-what the valley is really like.

-I'll put them together

-to create a big new map...

-..of the lives

-of the Rhondda people.

-The Rhondda Heritage Park...

-..in the shadow

-of the valley's last mine wheel.

-It's an obvious and apt place

-to draw my first picture.

-Off we go then.

-Though I don't want to be cliched...

-..you can't talk about the valley's

-history without talking about coal.

-When you enter the valley...

-..the first thing you see

-is the big red wheel...

-..in the heritage park as you come

-through Trehafod and into Porth.

-It's what a lot of people

-associate with the Rhondda.

-Every street is different but these

-are your classic terraced houses.

-Two up, two down.

-As it's based on

-the top of the valley...

-..I'd say

-it's Brook Street in Blaenrhondda.

-They're quite small.

-From small houses

-to my small family.

-I'm back

-in the family home in Treorchy...

-..with Mam, Dad and my brother Dan.

-You saw them in the first series.

-Mam is now retired.

-But she has plenty of work

-looking after these two.

-What did they think of

-the programme? Dad wasn't happy.

-Why?

-People were coming here

-and having a look around!

-When you saw a camera crew, what

-did you think they were going to do?

-I didn't mean that.

-You said you didn't think

-anyone would watch it.

-You didn't think people would watch.

-You didn't think people would watch.

-

-No, what I said was...

-..I thought it was a background

-to a history for yourself.

-It was.

-It was.

-

-Not an in-depth look at the family.

-And, I let the side down 'cos

-I can't speak Welsh as well as you.

-No, the main thing people liked

-was that you could converse in both.

-That it was a bilingual discussion.

-In the show, we showed people

-who spoke Welsh and English.

-Most of the time,

-the people who spoke English...

-..could understand the conversation

-and chip in, like you did.

-They liked the scenery.

-They liked the scenery.

-

-Yes.

-I think they were just nosy,

-looking at the house!

-People like to see

-if they know people on telly.

-Oh, yeah.

-Oh, yeah.

-

-Or to see themselves.

-If someone walked past Vous

-when you were filming...

-..they'd say "I was on that."

-I know that when we filmed

-in The Lion, they were livid...

-..because they were howling.

-They were gutted.

-When I went out, people were saying,

-"Pobol y Rhondda, innit."

-"You're good at presenting."

-"Wasn't me, bud. My brother."

-A couple of people have said that.

-Guess what the biggest change

-has been for me since last year.

-Oh, hubcap!

-Hubcap off.

-If you saw the first series...

-..you'd know that Becky and I

-have had a daughter.

-Who are you?

-Since then...

-..Eira Lily has filled almost

-every hour of the day, and night.

-It's a lot better than I expected.

-Some babies cry all night

-and don't sleep.

-But she sleeps well.

-She plays well too. Don't you?

-She does usually.

-What do you want?

-Do you want to come up?

-At the moment, she wants to stand up

-and walk everywhere.

-She's happy walking.

-She's trying to talk.

-She likes to clap.

-Clap hands?

-Wave?

-Or make Dadi look silly on TV?

-Hiya!

-Ooh, a book.

-I know everyone says

-their child is clever...

-..but she seems to be

-enjoying books.

-Giving her a book is the only thing

-that keeps her quiet.

-She likes singing too.

-I wanted her to like jazz

-but she doesn't like jazz.

-She cries,

-which makes her mum very happy.

-Who's that?

-She likes to take photos.

-We take a lot of photos.

-We post a lot.

-Once, when we hadn't done it

-for a while...

-..people in the Post Office

-were saying...

-.."Why haven't you put another

-video up? Put more videos up."

-I said, "Of what?"

-"Not of you, is it. Of Eira."

-A couple of people know her

-down the street.

-They ignore me

-and just talk to Eira.

-She waves at everyone.

-Crossing the road.

-For Eira's first birthday,

-I wanted to do something different.

-Something I'd have forever...

-..and something that would

-hopefully be important for Eira too.

-I think I found the answer.

-I wanted to have the tattoo

-after Eira was born.

-The symbol of a snowflake

-looks nice. (Eira is snow in Welsh).

-So I started to design

-different snowflakes.

-I wanted to add stuff to it too.

-When I was in school, loads of boys

-were obsessed with tattoos.

-I've always wanted one.

-Another family member has a tattoo -

-Dan.

-He had his done when he was 14.

-But he's always looked quite old.

-I remember him coming home,

-blushing a little...

-..with a smile on his face.

-I asked, "What's wrong with you?"

-"I've had a tattoo!"

-He turned round, bent over,

-dropped his trousers...

-..and showed his tattoo

-on his bum cheek!

-I just thought, "My brother's

-cooler than me already."

-It did look brilliant.

-A lot of friends

-don't expect me to have one.

-I'm going to have one though -

-I know which one I want.

-Shwmae!

-Alright?

-Alright?

-

-Good, thanks.

-Gavin and I were at school together.

-He opened this tattoo shop

-in Ton Pentre five years ago.

-He travels to Japan regularly

-for training.

-I'm in safe hands therefore.

-You have options.

-I'm a bit nervous...

-..because I can see the ink

-and stuff.

-It's like being at the barber's.

-It's like being at the barber's.

-

-A little.

-Cleaning the skin.

-As you said,

-as long as it looks good.

-Are you ready?

-Yes.

-No longer a virgin!

-How does it feel?

-It's odd. It isn't how I expected.

-So the blob goes down...

-..and then you make the hole

-and it absorbs.

-So it goes in the holes.

-So it goes in the holes.

-

-It's osmosis.

-So the needle goes in the skin.

-When it comes out,

-the skin closes...

-It closes on the ink.

-It pulls the ink into the hole.

-Have you ever refused to do any?

-That's a difficult question.

-I'm not...

-I'm not wearing it.

-So you're not prejudiced

-towards the design.

-I try not to be but it's hard...

-..because it's my reputation

-on the line.

-A tattoo -

-you're taking it to the grave.

-I'm really pleased with it.

-It's a lot better than

-what I envisaged when I designed it.

-There we are. OK.

-Just going to clean it up.

-Cool!

-It's hard thinking about it.

-Two hours ago,

-there was nothing there.

-Now there is something

-and it's permanent.

-Hopefully, anyway.

-Hopefully, anyway.

-

-Yes.

-Welcome to the team.

-The Black Gold gang.

-Yeah. I'm part of the tribe.

-Thank you.

-Cracking.

-In the next part, I'll try to keep

-these bonkers lot in check.

-I'll carry on painting

-in the Heritage Park...

-..and I'll impersonate Frank Sinatra

-with The DB Big Band.

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-During the series, I will paint

-seven different pictures...

-..which will create a big new map

-of the Rhondda.

-This part

-represents Penpych mountain...

-..with its roots

-deep underground...

-..down to the coal itself.

-But it's people that make a place.

-The faces that flow like a waterfall

-down the mountain...

-..represents the people

-who make the Rhondda what it is.

-Up to Treherbert next

-in the upper part of Rhondda Fawr.

-I'm meeting Rhian Jones

-and her furry friends.

-Hello! Come in.

-Hello! Come in.

-

-Thank you.

-Come and meet the dogs.

-Are there lots here?

-Are there lots here?

-

-Only three today.

-Flippin' 'eck!

-Flippin' 'eck!

-

-Back! Back.

-You're alright.

-They're fine.

-Yeah?!

-Hello!

-He's off already!

-He's off already!

-

-He's seen the mice.

-There are mice there.

-In her home, Rhian runs

-Doctor Dolittle's Dog Grooming.

-She looks after dogs

-when their owners go on holiday.

-These dogs definitely seem

-very much at home here.

-The people come for a meet and greet

-first of all.

-They bring the dog,

-look at the house and talk to me.

-We check if my dogs

-are OK with their dog.

-Do they leave dietary tips

-or say you have to do this or that?

-There are lots of forms

-for them to fill in.

-I go over them.

-They fill in what the dog eats,

-when it eats...

-..any medicine they take,

-whether they bite.

-Anything.

-The more I know,

-the better it is for the dog.

-One person wrote three A4 sides!

-"My dog s***s. My dog does this."

-Everything!

-I just need to know the basics

-so I know what to do.

-Is it hard to stop them

-running about?

-Or do you let them do it?

-There are baby gates

-around the place.

-So if you're making food...

-Even for Beau?!

-Even for Beau?!

-

-Oh, yeah.

-I saw a trampoline.

-They don't go on that, do they?

-Oh, yeah.

-A lot go on the trampoline.

-I was on it yesterday thinking

-I'd have peace and quiet.

-No, the Labrador went boing

-and landed on top of me!

-I was trying to go through my diary

-and the Labrador was sitting on me.

-Come here! Lie down!

-Come on. Grub's up.

-Mealtimes are hard

-because they want to swap.

-You have to stand over them

-or have one in every room.

-When you're eating chips,

-someone else's chips are nicer.

-After having a bellyful of food,

-the dogs are bursting to go out.

-But who's leading who?!

-It might be better to let her

-walk through the door...

-..because

-she'll pull you through it!

-Which way?

-After all that, time for a rest.

-A chance for us to look over

-the highest part of the valley.

-That's the basin.

-Penpych, Blaencwm and Blaenrhondda.

-Are Pixie Bridge and the station

-down there?

-Pixie Bridge is behind that tree.

-Pixie Bridge is behind that tree.

-

-Right.

-Pixie Bridge goes up towards

-that big black crack...

-..which we used to call

-King Kong's Bum.

-There are two meanings

-to the wheel in the picture.

-It represents the mine wheels,

-the valley's past...

-..and inside it is an image

-of the tattoo I have on my arm.

-That represents Eira

-and the valley's future.

-I love all types of music.

-There are superb musicians

-from the Rhondda.

-Owain Harris is one of them.

-He's a music teacher and is also

-the conductor of this big band.

-# Almost Like Being in Love #

-# What a day this has been,

-what a rare mood I'm in

-# Yes, it's almost

-like being in love #

-Owain, I've just heard

-The Dave Barry Big Band.

-No, it's been renamed -

-we're now The DB Big Band.

-We used to be called Dave Barry.

-Barry is over there somewhere

-and Dave has now left the band.

-They started the band.

-Were you a founding member?

-Were you a founding member?

-

-Yes, in 2003.

-I played with some of the men

-in the band some years before...

-..while I was still at school,

-in 1995/96.

-The band was formed

-out of another band in 2003.

-It's me and two or three others that

-are left from the original band.

-154, sing, sing, sing!

-We don't have a committee

-in contrast to other brass bands.

-That was decided

-in the first rehearsal.

-You're a democracy.

-You're a democracy.

-

-Of sorts.

-It's a dictatorship/democracy!

-Somewhere in the middle!

-# Sing, Sing, Sing #

-Are there professional musicians

-in the band?

-Yes - some are teachers,

-some have retired...

-..there are lorry drivers, insurance

-salesmen and college lecturers too.

-Does the repertoire change

-according to who's in the band?

-Or does it change with the times?

-Or does it change with the times?

-

-It changes with time.

-It depends.

-We play Lady Gaga

-and stuff like that.

-It varies.

-We try and play

-a bit of whatever's current...

-..especially when we do weddings...

-..and corporate gigs

-in Cardiff and so on.

-We have to vary what we do.

-People still love swing music.

-Claire, how did you end up

-singing with The DB Band?

-Owain and I

-had been friends for years.

-He said he was playing in a band

-but they had no singer...

-..and asked if I was willing

-to sing with them one evening.

-I replied, "Brilliant.

-What type of band is it?"

-"A big band."

-I said, "What?!" It's

-a 17-piece big band. "Yeah, OK."

-I've been with the band

-just about from when it started.

-I've seen the band

-grow, develop and improve.

-# And I learned how to carry on

-# And so you're back

-from outer space #

-It's quite a shock when you sing...

-..because the sound hits the back

-of your head and you think, "Wow."

-It's a wall of sound.

-It's a great experience.

-It's brilliant.

-# Go on now, go

-# Walk out the door #

-I was raised in Porth.

-Mam and Dad live in Porth.

-All my family live in the Rhondda.

-I'm a Valleys girl through

-and through and proud of it.

-Have you had any memorable gigs -

-good or bad?

-Yeah, we've played

-at grand country houses in England.

-You just sit there thinking,

-"Why are we here?"

-I remember once walking in and quite

-a posh Englishman says to us...

-.."My, how have you managed

-to cobble together...

-"..such a group of musicians

-from the Valleys?"

-We just sat there smiling, thinking,

-"OK, they're paying us."

-But, yeah...

-Is there a chance

-I could play with you?

-I can sing but I've never sung

-in such a big band.

-No problem, yeah.

-Choose a song. It'll be fun.

-What do you fancy?

-I like singing

-Frankie and Deano numbers.

-Frank Sinatra. New York, New York?

-Frank Sinatra. New York, New York?

-

-Yeah, or That's Life.

-We'll do That's Life.

-It has a nice guitar solo too.

-# That's life

-# That's what all the people say

-# Some... Riding high in April,

-shot down in May

-# But I know

-I'm not gonna change that tune

-# When I'm back on top,

-back on top in June

-# I said, that's life

-# And as funny as it may seem

-# Some people get their kicks

-stompin' on a dream

-# But I don't let it,

-let it get me down

-# 'Cos this fine old world

-it just keeps spinnin' around #

-I'm quite happy with it

-now it's finished.

-I'd be forever touching it up

-if I stayed here.

-I'm pleased with it.

-It looks like

-how I wanted it to look.

-# And I can't deny it

-# Many times

-I thought of cuttin' out

-# But my heart

-just ain't gonna buy it

-# But if there's nothing shakin'

-come this here July

-# I'm gonna roll myself up

-in a big ball

-# And die

-# My, my #

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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