In a message dated 10/19/03 8:01:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time, WLS-CARDIGANSHIRE-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: Gareth: I'm not certain I appreciate being considered a "devil" for having (Calvinist) Methodist ancestors but the man in question has a right to his own opinion. I presume that he came to Wales and wasn't treated the way he thought he should have been. Unfortunately, some English are still doing that in Wales - my cousins who live there tell me that. I still remember the Englishman I met in a pub in Cenarth who told he had lived there for 20 years and hoped someday to be accepted. As for George Barrow's book, I recommend that every American-Welsh read that book. Although, Barrow is a bit opinionated, he writes about the countryside and what he saw. On my first trip to Wales in 1989, I had decided against going into North Wales but because I read Barrow's book, I went and saw many of the places that he did and enjoyed myself. I would think it would be must reading. Gareth, if you think the Welsh are prejudiced against or the English are, you should live in the USA - we get it all the time. If you are a native Californian, like me, its worse. I always say, if you don't like it here in California, then go home. Annie > http://home.clara.net/tirbach/HelpPagepearls.html#Description > > I'm speechless ! > > >

Annie Lloyd <Cardi2@aol.com> wrote: I presume that he [the Englishman] came to Wales and wasn't treated the way he thought he should have been. Unfortunately, some English are still doing that in Wales - my cousins who live there tell me that. I still remember the Englishman I met in a pub in Cenarth who told he had lived there for 20 years and hoped someday to be accepted. As for George Barrow's book, I recommend that every American-Welsh read that book. ================= As an Englishman who has lived in Wales for nearly 30 years, I feel qualified to comment. I think the attitude of English immigrants towards their Welsh neighbours is the main reason for they are sometimes not accepted. Harping on about how the English do things better, making jokes or complaining about the Welsh language, or even worse, treating Wales as if it were part of England, are guaranteed to cause hostility. We English have only ourselves to blame if we are not accepted when we move to a foreign land. I must say that I have never felt unwelcome in Wales. I thank no known Welsh ancestors, but Wales is my home, and whenever I go away I feel the 'hiraeth' pulling me back. I no longer think of myself as English, but rather as an adopted Welshman. Incidentally, the 19th century book which Annie was recommending is called "Wild Wales" and the author was George Borrow. Kind regards, John ---------------------------- John Ball, Ystalyfera, South Wales, UK E-mail: wfha@clara.co.uk Homepage: http://home.clara.net/wfha/ Welsh Family History Archive: http://home.clara.net/wfha/wales/ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 09/10/2003