A Year of Late Cornish

Trei Hansves Dedh Terdhek warn Ügens De Gwener, degves warn ügens mis Dû. Friday, 30 th  November Gellys ew mis  Dû . Gellys ew kidnyadh. Pe le? Avorow a vedh gwav en tevry. Thew an dedhyow berr ha'n nosow hir. Nag eus termyn e'n jedh dhe wil meur a whel e'n lowarth - nag eus bes termyn lowr dhe guntel emann oll an del marow. November has gone. Autumn has gone. Where? Tomorrow will indeed be winter. The days are short and the nights long. There is not time in the day to do much work in the garden - there is just enough time to pick up all the dead leaves.

Trei Hansves Dedh Dewdhek warn Ügens De Yow, nawhes warn ügens mis Dû. Thursday, 29 th  November Sqwat! E veu tros ûhel e’n nos. Pur wenjek o hei, gwens crev. Pandra wrüga nei cavos e’n mettin? Nag eus caletter et agan lowarth nei. Bes gwrewgh mires orth an nessa lowarth. Ma caletter brâs dhe’n kentrevek. Ma nebes gwedh hir dhodho et y lowarth ev. Onan anodhans a gollas hûjes scorren e’n tewlder. Nei ell gweles an brow. Na wrüg ev codha war an chei, na war bons bian, na war y vebel lowarth. Thew hedna fortüdnyes. Bes ev a dorras an neujen fôn. Res ew dhe’n kentrevek dhe drehy an predn gen hesken nerth. Crash! There was a loud noise in the night. It was very windy, a strong wind. What did we find in the morning? There is no problem in our garden. But look at the next garden. The neighbour has a big problem. He has several tall trees in his garden. One of them lost a huge branch in the darkness. We can see the wound. It didn’t fall on the house, nor on a li

Trei Hansves Dedh  Üdnek  warn Ügens De Merher, ethves warn ügens mis Dû. Wednesday, 28 th  November An liw kensa aral ew 'blou'. Res ew dhebm usya an ger ma, dhort an Frenkek 'bleu', na 'glas'. 'Blou' ew golow gen todnhes adro dhe pemp cans nanometer. 'Glas' alja bos adro dhe pemp cans ha hanter cans nanometer ewedh, po liwyow kemeskys. Blou ew pub pres an keth liw - an liw eborn heb cloudys en hav (po neb seson aral). 'Glas' ew liw an mor en awel da ha hager awel, pub dedh deffrans. 'Glas' ew liw planjow magata. Me ell perna piben a paynt 'blou' bes na aljama perna bes udn biben a'n liw 'glas'. The other primary colour is 'blou' (blue). I have to use this word from the French 'bleu', not 'glas'. Blue is light with a wavelength about 500nm. 'Glas' could be about 550nm as well, or mixed colours. 'Blou' is always the same colour - the colour of a cloudles

Trei Hansves Dedh Deg warn Ügens De Meurth, seythves warn ügens mis Dû. Tuesday, 27 th  November   Pandr’ew an liwyow Pow Kernow? Otta gwarioryon peldroos rugby ow tegy hevejyow ha lodrow owr ha dû – an liwyow Dûk Kernow. Owr rag an besons dhe dhasperna üdn Dûk dhort an Sarsyns lies bledhen alebma. Ma dhe’n gour vy colmen codna e’n liwyow na (ro dhort y ownter). Ma dû hag owr e’n brîth Pow Kernow ewedh, keffres ha gwydn ha dû rag an baner, rüdh rag gelvin ha diwarr palores, ha glas (blou) rag an Mor Brâs Atlantek. Ma dhebm scarf brîth Pow Kernow (ro dhort ow hôr wheg).     What are the Cornish colours? Here are rugby players wearing gold and black shirts and socks – the colours of the Duke of Cornwall. Gold for the bezants to ransom one Duke from the Saracens many years ago. My husband has a necktie in those colours (a present from his uncle). Black and gold are in the Cornish tartan too, as well as white and black for the flag, red for a chough’s beak and legs,

Trei Hansves Dedh Naw warn Ügens De Lün, wheffes warn ügens mis Dû. Monday, 26 th  November Nag ew lowr an ger “melyn” rag lymners. Me a sarchyas en    cofer et ow stûdio ha me a gavas lies piben a liw -    liwyow oyl, liwyow acrylek, liwyow dowr (dall ha boll), gen nebes ehen a “melyn”. Me a gavas nebes ehen a rüdh ewedh. Liwyow ell bos natural po synthetek (creftys). Natural liwyow melyn ha rüdh ew dhort prei liwys – gossen, tir a Siena, tir tewal. Ma horn ettans, gen monyow erol. An prei leskys ew moy dû. Da ens rag liwya tirwedhyow. Melyn ha rüdh ew liwyow “tòbm”. Da ens e’n gwel rag – mons ow tos war rag -    da rag gwelva. Na wrewgh gorra melyn po rüdh e’n gwel delher (en pelder) – drog rag perspectiv. Me a gar  û sya gossen melyn rag an treth - an liw own ew. Mars nag eus bes liwyow  tòbm en pictour ena nag eus perspectiv veth . An brith spladn ma ew gen Julia Rowlands (Krowji, Red rüdh ).    The word “yellow” is not adequate for painters. I searched in a c

Trei Hansves Dedh Eth warn Ügens De Sül, pempes warn ügens mis Dû. Sunday, 25 th  November Ma trei aval (frût) obma – aval, limaval ha limaval glas! Glas ew an aval bian ha glas moy tewal ew an limaval glas. Lymons (limavalow) ew melyn – ma liw melyn lymon! En Truru ma Strêt Lemon gen Marhas Strêt Lemon, Cay Lemon ha “Villas” Lemon. En Besow ma Rew Lemon hag en Baldû ma Deijy Lemon. Nag ens henwys warlergh an frût, tabm veth! E veu teylû brâs en Kernow dres lies bledhen – gen hanow pobel “Lemon”. Nebes anodhans a veu senedhoryon en Loundres. Devedhys ew an hanow na dhort Sowsnek Coth “Leofman” – hen’ew “caradow”. Otta pictûr coth a Gay Lemon gen dowr (Dowr Ithy) dhe’n Pons Lemon. Lebmyn thew hebma an “Piazza” – e veu gorherys en 1926.    There are three apples (fruits) here – an apple, a lemon and a lime! The little apple is green and the lime is darker green. Lemons are yellow – there is a colour lemon yellow! In Truro there is a Lemon Street with a Lemon

Trei Hansves Dedh Seyth warn Ügens De Sadorn, pajwora warn ügens mis Dû. Saturday, 24 th  November Glas (blou) ew ebòrn ha glas (gwer) ew gwels. Melyn ew tewenyow ha melyn ew flourys eythin. Anan? Nei a wel an liwyow compes ha lowen o nei. Còsel ew. Bes e’n ymach ma gen Tony Hogan ev a liwyas pub tra gen liwyow gow. Ma blou, melyn ha purpur oll e’n teleryow cabm. Ancres ew dhe’n lagajow ha dhe’n bres. Nag ew còsel. Ev alja bos planet anketh! Sky is blue and grass is green. Sand dunes are yellow and gorse flowers are yellow. Aren’t they? We see the correct colours and we are happy. It’s restful. But in this image by Tony Hogan he painted everything with false colours. Blue, yellow and purple are all in the wrong places. It’s a disturbance to the eyes and to the mind. It’s not restful. It could be an alien planet.

Trei Hansves Dedh Whegh warn Ügens De Gwener, tryja warn ügens mis Dû. Friday, 23 rd November Ma eledh ow tos dhe Truru, eledh velyn (po owriek) gwydn (po arhans) aga eskelly. Mons ow pargesy (terneyja), dres Strêt Boscawen, reb Hel a'n Coyn,  a-ûgh  dhe'n men co gen garlons a vyllys  rüdh . Oll an golowow Nadelik en Truru a veu tinys de Merher e'n  gordhûher . E veu gool - Cita a Wolowow - gen procecyon a  hûjes  lugern adro dhe'n strêtys. E veu taclow erol ow terneyja gans an eledh. Otta colom a gres ha gensy branch oliv. Angels come to Truro, yellow (or golden) angels with white (or silver) wings. They are hovering over Boscawen Street, by the Coinage Hall, above the war memorial with wreaths of red poppies. All the Christmas lights in Truro were switched on on Wednesday in the evening. There was a festival - City of Lights - with a procession of huge lanterns round the streets. There were other things hovering with the angels. Here's a dove o

Trei Hansves Dedh Pemp warn Ügens De Yow, nessa warn ügens mis Dû. Thursday, 22 nd  November   Nag eus odhom dhewgh a voas pell en Kernow dhe weles an liw melyn. Ma eythin o plejowa en neb le, en neb ke, en pub mis.  Ma lavar coth adro dhe eythin. Mars ew eythin mes a vlouth, ena baya ew mes an gis. Nei a wel blouth eythin en gwav, gwenton, hav ha kidnyadh. En gwenton ma whath moy flourys melyn dhe vos gweles: brially ha solsow (lily an Corawys). Ma gwelyow gen milyow a flourys melyn, gonethys rag flourys trehys po rag aga crenwredhow. Ma medhegneth dhort solsow ewedh – fysek rag  sowdhan henys (dementia) .   You do not need to go far in Cornwall to see the colour yellow. Gorse is flowering somewhere, in some hedge, in every month. There is an old saying about gorse. If gorse is out of blossom, then kissing is out of fashion. We see gorse blossom in winter, spring, summer and autumn. In spring there are even more yellow flowers to be seen: primroses and daffodils

Trei Hansves Dedh Pajer warn Ügens De Merher, kensa warn ügens mis Dû. Wednesday, 21 st  November Nag eus bes üdn mis bys e’n cotta dedh. Solabres thew an gewer vel en gwav. E veu rew war veistry e’n nos (tû aves, en gwella pres). Termyn me veu flogh ma co dhebm gweles rew tû bera. An nos o pur gler ha tho an loor leun po nebes. En dew nos moy e vedh (y fedh) loor leun (henwys “Loor an Bever”). Ma arwòdh an Zodiak “An Scorpion” o corfen hedhyw. Avorow an nessa sin a vedn dalla, hedna ew “An Sether”. (Prag na sethores?)      It is only one month till the shortest day. Already the weather is wintery. There was frost on windows in the night (on the outside, fortunately). I remember seeing frost inside when I was a child. The night was very clear and the moon was almost full. In two more nights there will be a full moon (called the “Beaver Moon). The zodiac sign “Scorpio” comes to an end today. Tomorrow the next sign will start, that is “Sagittarius” (the archer).

Trei Hansves Dedh Trei warn Ügens De Meurth, ügensves mis Dû. Tuesday, 20 th  November Me a vetyas gen cothman rag cawas kidnyow en bosty Lily’s en Truru. Nei a dhabras cowl blesys sherp ha spisek, gwres a bübrednow rüdhvelyn ha caretys. Pur velyn o! Ha nei a gowsas adro dhe oll sortow taklow, rag ensampel adro dhe liw melyn. En Spayn ma hegoledhow adro dhe’n liw ma. Anfüjik ew. Na wrewgh rei dillas melyn rag ro. Na wrewgh degy dillas melyn rag dedhyow a bris (aposyansow hag erol). En ojow cres, sulffur melyn po loskven o keskelmys en bresyow an bobel gen Effarn ha’n Jowl (an Tebel El). Rag hedna, tho melyn an liw a dhrog ha drocoleth.    Rüdh, blou ha purpur o an liwyow a sansoleth ha dader. En pajerdegves cansbledhen, Giotto a liwyas Judas en pal melyn. Ev a wrüg trayta Crist gen abm. An Crist ew qweskys en blou,  bes calish ew dhe’y weles.  E’n imach ma melyn o cudha blou. Symbolieth ew - dader ew reverthys gen drocoleth. I met a friend to have lunch in Lily’s

Trei Hansves Dedh Dew warn Ügens De Lün, nownjegves mis Dû. Monday, 19 th  November Lowen o vy hedhyw. Ma omweler dhen – agan mab. Ev a wrüg doas rag pedn bloodh o gour. Ha ma dres ganjo nebes skeusednow/fotos. Ev a veu gans y wreg deg ha y dhew vab wheg e’n eglos rag bejedh an vebyon. Gevellyon ew an flehes. Thera cantolyow melyn ha cantolbrednyer owr drefen boas Pask.  I am happy today. We have a visitor – our son. He has come for my husband’s birthday. And he has bought some photos with him. He was with his lovely wife and his two sweet sons in the church for the christening/baptism of the boys. The children are twins. There were yellow candles and gold candlesticks because it was Easter.

Trei Hansves Dedh Onan warn Ügens De Sül, etegves mis Dû. Sunday, 18 th  November Rüdh ew üdn kensa liw ha ma dew aral moy, melyn ha glas (blou). Na ell anjei boas gwres gen liwyow erel kemeskys warbarth. Ma taklow rüdh o tastewydnya golow rüdh (todnhes adro dhe seyth cans nanometer). Ma taklow melyn o tastewydnya golow melyn (todnhes pemp cans nanometer ha trei ügens ogasty). Ha ma taklow glas/gwer o tastewydnya golow glas/gwer (todnhes berra vel pemp cans nanometer). Da ew genam melyn, flourys melyn dres ehen – thera vy o pedery adro dhe wolow an howl. Thew eythin pecar’a wolow an howl en ke, ke via tewal an gewer. Owr, an metol melyn, ew spladn ewedh. Meurgerys ew hedna – ha kerys o va rag termyn hir kens lebmyn. Ha ma tegednow melyn ewedh – whei ell degy badna howl! Red is one primary colour and there are another two more, yellow and blue. They can’t be made by other colours mixed together. Red things reflect red light (wavelength about 700 nm). Yellow things

Trei Hansves Dedh hag Ügens De Sadorn, seythdegves mis Dû. Saturday, 17 th  November   Jowal pur deg, pur rüdh ha pur dalvosek ew an rûby. Meurgerys o anjei en termynyow eus passyes. Ma gwersyow e’n Beybel adro dhodhans. Ezêkiel 27:16 emedh “Syry a wre negyssya genes, dre reson a’n abùndans a’th wara; y fedhons ow keschaunjya rag dha wara emerôs, purpur, brosweyth, sendal, coral ha rûbys.” (Meur ras dhe Nicholas Williams rag an treylyans nowydh ma.) Proverbys 8 (radn) emedh “Bedhens o descans en le arhans dhewgh, ha skians en le owr pur, rag f ü rneth ew gwell es rûbys …”  Eus pedn bloodh dhewgh en mis Gorefan? Agas men genesigeth ew an rûby. The ruby is a very beautiful, very red and very valuable jewel. They were much loved in bygone times. There are verses in the Bible about them. Ezekiel 27:16 says “Syria did business with you because of your abundant goods; they exchanged for your wares emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies. (Thanks

Trei Hansves Dedh ha Nawnjek De Gwener, whetegves mis Dû. Friday, 16 th  November En nownjegves cansvledhen letherwesyon a oos an Vaternas Victoria  o gweskys en cottys rüdh. Tho an post “Post Real” ha rüdh o an liw real - hag ev a veu war vaner an Sowson. (Whei ell perna an imach ma war linen.) Letherwas a veu creies “rüdhek” drefen boas rüdh ascra rüdhek ewedh. Lowen o an bobel dhe weles letherwas o toas gen aga letherow. An kensa carten Nadelek a veu danvenys gen Ser Henry Cole en mil eth cans trei ha dogans. Scon o anjei pur dha gen an bobel – ha whath ens meurgerys. Ma lies henwhedhel adro dhe’n rüdhek ha Nadelek, ha scon thera rüdhogyon war cartednow Nadelek. Ottons y whath, gen kist post  rüdh.     In the 19 th  century Victorian postmen were clad in red coats. The post was the “Royal Mail” and red was a royal colour - and it was on the English flag. (You can buy this image on line.) A postman was called a “robin” because a robin’s chest is red as well. Peop

Trei Hansves Dedh hag Etek De Yow, pemdhegves mis Dû. Thursday, 15 th  November Teller en Pentir ew aswonys en Kernow rag y flourys. Ma Porth Lojowek ogas dhe Langorrek ha, en mis Efan, thew an prasow leun a villys cogh teg ha bothednow. Meurgerys ens gen skeusenoryon ha lymners. Lymnores moyha kerys vy ew Georgia O’Keeffe. Hei veu Americanes. Hei a wrüg liwya hûjes flourys, millys cogh ha du comprehendys, heb gwel, hanter anpeth. “Ma tüs o kerdhes dres flourys,” emedh hei, “ha nag üjy anjei mires ortans.” Hei a wrüg mires ort hy flourys gen meur a rach. Da ew gen o hothmans liwya flourys magata. A place in West Pentire is known in Cornwall for its flowers. Polly Joke is near Crantock and, in June, the meadows are full of beautiful scarlet poppies and corn marigolds. They are much loved by photographers and artists. A favourite artist of mine is Georgia O’Keefe. She was American. She painted huge flowers, including scarlet and black poppies, without a backgr

Trei Hansves Dedh ha Seytek De Merher, pajerdegves mis Dû. Wednesday, 14 th  November E veu gordhûher pur leun a liw dhebm hanath. En Ty war’n Heyl thera golowow liwys (rüdh ruby ha blou cobalt) o cregy war welynny reb an treth. Nena, en Truru, et o bagas art, nei a wrüg gwary gen crayons oyl – liwyow pur spladn ha crev – ha pur bloos. Nei a dhalathas gen “majenta” (ehen a rüdh), nena nei a addyas y liw contrary (gwer  emer ô d) – liw a dall dhodho war ros liwyow. Ha, wor’tiwedh, whath moy liwyow, dhe wil imach spladn (an tre'vor). I had a very colourful evening this evening. In Perranporth there were coloured lights (ruby red and cobalt blue) hanging on poles by the beach. Then, in Truro, in my art group, we played with oil pastels – very bright, strong colours – and very messy. We started with magenta (a variety of red), then we added its complementary colour (emerald green) - the colour opposite to it on the colour wheel. And, finally, yet more

Trei Hansves Dedh ha Whetek De Meurth, terdhegves mis Dû. Tuesday, 13 th  November   Broas ew an men cov bresel en Truru, ha qwethys hedhyw gen garlons. Ma nebes tüs o redya an toknys warnodhans. Ma semblans lowen dhe’n soudor war an men co. Rag fra (Praga)? Ev a dalvia boas trist (trûedhek) – mar veur galarow ew causys gen bresel ha lies den dhort Truru a veu ladhys. Whath moy garlons en termyn eus passyes – moy nowedh o an covyon . The war memorial in Truro is large, and covered today with wreaths. Some people are reading the labels on them. The soldier on the memorial looks happy. Why? He ought to be sad – so much suffering (grief) is caused by war and many men from Truro were killed. Yet more wreaths in time gone by – the memories were fresher.

Trei Hansves Dedh ha Pemdhek De Lün, dewdhegves mis Dû. Monday, 12 th  November Millys cogh ew an flourys rag drei dhe’n co oll an düs ha’n benenes ladhys en breselyow. De a veu De Sül Cov. Millys cogh a veu degys gen pub onan ha garlons gwres a villys a veu settys war veyn co a’n bresel. Ma men co a’n bresel en pub pluw, gen rôl a soudoryon pluw. E’n corfflan Lannberan ma nebes meyn bedh üdnek e’wedh. Terweythyow ma stallacyons gwres a lies mill. Hedna - golitha cogh ha dowr a villys - a veu en Loundres. Scarlet poppies are the flowers used to commemorate all the men and the women killed in wars. Yesterday was Remembrance Sunday. Red poppies were worn by everyone and wreaths made of poppies were laid on war memorials. There is a war memorial in every parish, with a list of local soldiers. In Perranzabuloe churchyard there are several individual tombstones as well. Sometimes there are installations made of many poppies. This one - a scarlet cascade and river of pop