A Year of Late Cornish day 319

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. People were happy to see a postman coming with their letters.  The first Christmas card was sent by Sir Henry Cole in 1843.  They were soon very popular – and they are still much loved. There are many legends about the robin and Christmas, and soon there were robins on Christmas cards. Here they are still, with a red postbox.

A Year of Late Cornish Day 318

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 background, semi-abstract. “People walk past flowers,” she said, “and they don’t look at them.” She did look at her flowers with great attention. My friends like to paint flowers as well.

A Year of Late Cornish Day 317

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 emerôd) – 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 colours, to produce a bright image (the seaside).

A Year of Late Cornish Day 316

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.

A Year of Late Cornish Day 315

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 ha dowr a villys - a veu en Loundres.

Red 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 cascade and river of poppies - was in London.

A Year of Late Cornish Day 314

Trei Hansves Dedh ha Peswardhek

De Sül, üdnegves mis Dû.

Sunday, 11^th November

Otta nebes geryow rag can meurgerys Pete Seegar:

Ple ma oll an flourys wheg, pell tremenys?

Ple ma oll an flourys wheg, pell dhe'n eur-ma?

Ple ma oll an flourys wheg?

Cuntellys gen mosy teg.

Pe eur vedh deskys da

Messach an geryow-ma?

Ple ma oll an mosy teg, pell tremenys?

Ple ma oll an mosy teg, pell dhe'n eur-ma?

Ple ma oll an mosy teg?

Demedhys dhe vebyon yonk 

Pe eur vedh deskys da

Messach an geryow-ma?

Ple ma oll an vebyon yonk, pell tremenys?

Ple ma oll an vebyon yonk, pell dhe'n eur-ma?

Ple ma oll an vebyon yonk?

Gellys rag soudoryon. 

Pe eur vedh deskys da

Messach an geryow-ma?

Pe le ma’n soudoryon, pell tremenys?

Pe le ma’n soudoryon, pell dhe'n eur-ma?

Pe le ma’n soudoryon?

En corffladnow, pubonan.

Pe eur vedh deskys da

Messach an geryow-ma?

Ple ma oll an corffladnow, pell tremenys?

Ple ma oll an corffladnow, pell dhe'n eur-ma?

Ple ma oll an corffladnow?

Leun a flourys, pubonan.

Pe eur vedh deskys da

Messach an geryow-ma?

A Year of Late Cornish Day 313

Trei Hansves Dedh ha Terdhek

De Sadorn, degves mis Dû.

Saturday, 10^th November

Pes misva a law a wrüg codha e’n seythen eus passyes? Da via genam godhvos. Ma meur a dhowr oll adro! E’n hav tho an gover en Melinjy isel, ha cler lowr o an dowr. Ma scantlyn/scauntlin war an ladn. Na wrüg an dowr bes hedhes never dew ha nag o an fros pur üskis. Hedhyw, òja meur a law, ma dowr down etto – ha tewl ew an dowr. Gorherys ew pub never dadn seyth ha ma’n gover o resek pur üskis. War an treth ma’n gover o fedna adres an tewes dhe’n mor.

  

How many inches of rain fell in the past week? I’d like to know. There’s a lot of water around! In the summer the stream in Bolingey was low, and the water was quite clear. There is a gauge on the bank. The water only reached number two and the current was not very fast. Today, after a lot of rain, there is deep water in it – and the water is murky. Every number under seven is covered and the stream is running very fast. On the beach the stream spreads across the sand to the sea.