2020 Day 79

2020 Dedh Trei Ügens ha Nawnjek

De Yow, nawnjegves mis Meurh
Thursday, 19th March


"Na ellesta mos dhe'n shoppas," emèdh ow mergh. "My alja perna taclow rages." "Da via genam cawas nebes mor po grappys," mèdham. Morednow po grappys - na wrüga vy qwachas an dhew. Hei a bernas üdn gisten vrâs a vor cala (dhort Spayn) hag onan môy a rappys. "Da via genam cawas lattis ha tabm salat," mèdham. Hei a bernas dew lattis ha sagh a dhelkyow spinach, keffres ha tomatys, dew goucòmber, whegh pübryn ha kegisen wheg. "Eus whans dhis a dettys?" hei a vednas. "Mar pleg," my a worrebas. Hei a dhros tettys, tettys wheg, panes ha caretys. "Ma fowt dhen a gavach." Otta magdulans gwenton ha broccoli! Na wra nei famya.



"You can't go to the shops," said my daughter. "I could buy things for you." "I should like to have some berries or grapes,"I said. Berries or grapes - I didn't expect both. She bought one big box of strawberries (from Spain) and one more of grapes. "I'd like to have a lettuce and a bit of salad," I said. She bought two lettuces and a bag of spinach leaves, as well as tomatos, two cucumbers, six peppers and a celery. "Do you want potatoes?" she asked. "Please," I answered. She brought potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips and carrots. "We need cabbage." Behold spring greens and broccoli! We won't starve.

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

coucòmber (m) cucumber
keffres ha as well as,
kegisen wheg (f) celery
lattis (m) lettuce
magdulans (m) greens
mor collective berries > singular moren (f) >plural morednow
mor cala collective strawberries (garden)
pübryn pepper fruit
qwachas to expect, anticipate
whans (m) want, need

2020 Day 78

2020 Dedh Trei Ügens hag Etek

De Merher, etegves mis Meurh
Wednesday, 18th March

Na dal nei mos re ogas dhe berson aral. Bes da lowr ew dhe gerdhes en gwelyow gwag ha mires orth an mor. Nei a gerdhas hedhyw heb gweles kentrevogyon veth. Pur slynk ha slotterüs ew an vownder. Leun ew an gwel gen garednow cawlvleujyow trehys ha nebes turnyp ow tevy avel whenn (has kemyskys dre happ, martesen).  Na wra nei famya! Pur deg ew an gorlan - tecka vel an gwel. Ma lies brially ha ster an gwenton emesk an meyn bedhow.

We shouldn't go too close to another person. But it is alright to walk in empty fields and look at the sea. We walked today without seeing any neighbours. The lane is very slippery and muddy. The field is full of cut cauliflower stalks and some turnips growing as weeds (seeds mixed by chance, perhaps). We won't starve! The churchyard is very pretty - prettier than the field. There are lots of primroses and celandines among the gravestones.

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

corlan (f) churchyard
dre happ by chance, accidentally
famya to starve
garednow stalks
gwag empty
kentrevogyon neighbours
meyn bedhow gravestones
tecka prettier, more beautiful
turnyp turnips, swedes
whenn weeds

2020 Day 77

2020 Dedh Trei Ügens ha Seytek

De Meurth, seytegves mis Meurth
Tuesday, 17th March

En Sowsnek nei ell gelwel hedhyw "Equilux" - nag ew hedna an keth tra avel "keheja dedh ha nos". Thera dewdhek owr a wòlow dedh hedhyw hag e vedh dewdhek our a dewlder e'n nos. Howldrevel en Peran a veu hanter òja whegh ar glogh (po nebes) e'n mettin ha howlsedhes a veu hanter òja whegh e'n gordhûher. Avorow howldrevel a vedh bohes derag ha howlsedhes a vedh bohes môy diwedhes. Nei ell gweles topp an howl war an gorwel - hedna ew dalla howldrevel rag equilux. Ma cres an howl war an gorwel - hedna ew howldrevel rag kehesnos. Ha hedna a vedh en trei dedh. Bes nag ew an ebòrn dû poran ken howldrevel po oja howlsedhes - ma "mo" po "ter an dhew wòlow".  Ma dhen lies howlsedhes teg en Peran bes kelys ew howldrevel gen tewednow ha treven.

In English we can call today the "Equilux" - that is not the same thing as "equinox". There were twelve hours of daylight today and there will be twelve hours of darkness in the night. Sunrise in Perranporth was half past six (almost) in the morning and sunset was half past six in the evening. Tomorrow sunrise will be a bit earlier and sunset will be slightly later. We can see the top of the sun on the horizon - that's the start of sunrise for equilux. The middle of the sun is on the horizon - that's sunrise for an equinox. And that will be in three days. But the sky is not exactly black before sunrise or after sunset - there is twilight or dusk. We have many lovely sunsets in Perranporth but sunrise is obscured by dunes and buildings.

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

ar glogh o'clock (you can also use eur)
bohes slightly
derag earlier
golow dedh (m) daylight
gorwel (m) horizon
kehesnos (f) equinox
mo (m) twilight (before dawn)
môy diwedhes later
po nebes almost (literally or a bit)
tewlder (m) darkness

2020 Day 76

2020 Dedh Trei Ügens ha Whetek

De Lün, Whetegves mis Meurh

Monday, 16th March


Trûedhek o vy. Nag o vy lôwen. Na ellama gweles ow flehes wydn terebo gellys covid 19. Therama en bagas peryl ûhel, car dre hevel. Na dal vy travalya en kytterinyow. Ma boos lowr e'n copart rag lebmyn. Òja (wosa) hedna nei a wra pernassa (prenassa) war linen. Ma'n brâssa radn ow howetha/howethesow owth omgavas pecar, "en lester kehaval". Na vedh cuntellyan bagas art e'n mis ma, ha na vedh disqwedhyans naneyl. Na ellama desky Kernôwek en tavern coffy. Na ellama mos dhe'n leverva po gwithty. En gwelha pres ma dhebm lies lever war ow stylednow (estyllennow). Ma dhebm gwalgh a daffar art ha gweyth najedh (naswedh) magata. My a dal gwil nebes marthys. E'n men termyngwenton ew ha ma meur a whel dhe wil e'n lowarth.

I am sad. I am not happy. I cannot see my grandchildren until covid 19 has gone. I am in a high risk group, apparently. I shouldn't travel in buses. There's enough food in the cupboard for now. After that we'll do on-line shopping. Most of my friends are similarly situated, "in the same boat". There won't be an art group meeting this month, and there won't be an exhibition either. I can't teach Cornish in a cafe. I can't go to the library or museum. Fortunately I have lots of books on my shelves. I have a copious supply of art materials and needlework as well. I should make something wonderful. Meanwhile it's spring and there's a lot of work to do in the garden.

Deg ger rag hedjyw: Ten words for today

copart (m) cupboard
gwalgh (m) copious supply, sufficiency, surfeit, glut, etc.
gweyth najedh (m) needlework
gwithty (m) museum
marthys wonderful
omgavas to be situated, find oneself < cavas to find
pernassa to shop, go shopping < perna to buy
stylednow shelves < singular styllen/estyllen (f)
terebo until
trûedhek sad

2020 Day 75

2020 Dedh Trei Ügens ha Pemdhek

De Sül, pemdhegves mis Meurh
Sunday, 15th March

Ma geryow nowydh en tavas Sowsnek. Alja nei aga threylya en tavas Kernôwek? Govydnys ew tüs goth ha benenes coth dhe dhiberrhe aga honan rag voydya cleves covid-19. A dal nei bos diberthhes a'n bes et tien? Eus res dhebm a vewa avel ermyt po ancar pecar'a Peran? Pana dermyn a dal vy bos en enesecter, diberthys? Martesen pajar mis. Res ew pòrres dhe wolhy diwla gen diwysycter ha na wrewgh tòchya agas bejeth. 

  
There are new words in the English language. Could we translate them in the Cornish language? Old men and old women are requested to self isolate to avoid covid-19 infection. Should we be completely cut off from the world? Must I live like a hermit or anchorite like St Piran? How long ought I to be in isolation, in quarantine? Perhaps four months. It is essential to wash hands with thoroughness and do not touch your face.

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

ancar (m) recluse, hermit, anchorite
cleves (m) infection
diberrhe to isolate (rr written instead of rth)
diberthys in quarantine, isolated (silent th)
diberthhes a'n bes cut off from the world (silent th)
diwysycter (m) thoroughness
enesecter (m) isolation
ermyt (m) hermit
govydnys verbal adjective asked, requested
res ew pòrres it is essential

2020 Day 74

2020 Dedh Trei Ügens ha Peswardhek

De Sadorn, pajerdegves mis Meurh
Saturday, 14th March

Ma chei brâs ogas dhe Falmeth, derevys en maner Godhek a Oos an Vatêrnes Victoria. "Chei Trefusis" henwys ew ev. Teylû Trefusis a dheuth e'n pow ma gans an Normanow. Üdn "Arlodhes" an teylû a fondyas Gool Mûsek Kernow en mil naw cans ha deg. Cans bloodh ha deg ew ev e'n vledhen ma. Ma comparyansow rag menstrels, canoryon, keuryow, bagasow menestrouthy ha'n ger cowsys (Kernôwek ewedh) - pub skians, coth ha jonk.  Ma lies powas. E'n gwettha pres delatys ew ev e'n vledhen ma, rag gwil vry an virus covid 19. Na ellama redya ow gwersyow dhort Matthe II.

There is a big house near Falmouth, built in Victorian Gothic style. It's called "Trefusis House". The Trefusis family came into this country with the Normans. One "Lady" of the family founded the Cornwall Music Festival in 1910. It's 110 years old this year. There are competitions for instrumentalists, singers, choirs, instrumental groups and the spoken word (including Cornish) - every ability, old and young. There are many prizes. Unfortunately it's cancelled this year, on account of the covid 19 virus. I can't read my verses from Matthew II.

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

a Oos an Vatêrnes Victoria Victorian
arlodhes/Arlodhes (f) lady/Lady (also used for duchess)
comparyans (m) competition
delatys cancelled
derevys built
fondya to found
Godhek Gothic
gwil vry a to take account of
menstrel (m) instrumentalist
ogas dhe near (to) 

2020 Day 73

2020 Dedh Trei Ügens ha Tardhek

De Gwener, terdhegves mis Meurh
Friday, 13th March

Da ew genam bestas. Coth o vy, etho theram ow remembra lies anodhans et ow bownans. Ow kensa cov ew dew ficher ow tas wydn. Anjei a veu rag cacha cònidnas. (Kig a godhas scant e'n Bresel.) Thera cath, ewedh - my a wrüg gwary gîk ganjo. Termyn my veu cottha nei a chânjyas chei ha thera chonsys dhebm dhe varhoga. (Na ora vy marhoga lebmyn!) Thera pub termyn kei gwydn ha dû dhe'm hôr vy - prest henwys "Brogh". Hei ha hy gour a withas yer rag aga oyow - ha cülyek rag kidnyow Nadelik. Hedhyw e'n jedh thera vy ow qwitha diw gath ha diw logojen vrâs (rag ow mergh).  Terweythyow ma hy hei ow tos òbma ewedh. En termyn eus passyes thera dhebm üdn ficher gwydn ha dew yewgen, trei hònin, pajar hogh Gyny, pemp kei, whei logojen, seyth hamster ... ha lies prev gwelen! Saw na veu oll en kettermyn - ha na veu besca dhebm edhen en cawal edhen.    

 I like animals. I'm old, so I remember lots of them in my life. My first memory is my grandfather's two ferrets. They were for catching rabbits. (Meat became scarce in the War.) There was a cat, too - I played hide-and-seek with it. When I was older we moved house and I had chances to ride. (I can't ride now!) My sister always had a white and black dog - always called "Badger". She and her husband kept chickens for their eggs - and a cockerel for Christmas dinner. Nowadays I look after two cats and two rats (for my daughter). Sometimes her dog comes here too. In the past I had one white ferret and two polecats,  three rabbits, four guinea pigs, five dogs, six mice, seven hamsters ... and lots of stick insects! But they were not all at the same time - and I never had a bird in a birdcage.



Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

brogh (m) badger
chânjya chei to move house
codha scant to become scarce
cülyek (m) cockerel
ficher (m) ferret
gwary gîk  to play hide-and-seek
gwitha to look after, mind
hedhyw e'n jedh nowadays
kig (m) meat
marhoga to ride (horse)