Although Manchester born, I have lived here in Mid-Wales for 10 years. 40% of the population are Welsh speaking and, although I went to night school for two years, I failed to become fluent, and only understand a little, enough to know that people talking in shops aren't being rude about me, but discussing the weather!

I'm close to the border, here, and on the tourist route from Birmingham to the coast. I get to hear very little welsh folk music, as country and western is the most popular. I love the choral singing, and can hear the chapel congregation from my garden on a Sunday.

There's not a lot of choir singing in the pubs, because most choirs have copyrighted their arrangements, and don't do them for fun.

We do, however, have a session every Saturday afternoon in Welshpool market hall, mostly english at the moment, but Welsh very welcome.