I've just resurfaced following the Tegeingl (teg-ENG-ul) Festival weekend in Mold, N. Wales where a good time was had by all once again.

It might be that Les was passed over for the Poet Laureate position but please note that the gentleman in question WON Tegeingl's poets' Stomp.

I'm sure many of you know how seriously the Welsh take their poetry and poets. The central prizes of our Eisteddfodau right up to National levels are for poetry, and the winners are head-line news, at least in the Welsh language press.

A Stomp is a slightly different affair. 9 invited poets - generally ones who have won a major Eisteddfod prize and/or are 'Names' in literary circles - compete in two rounds, reading their poems selected for the occasion. (Usually humourous, satirical, or comments on current events.)

Well - Les competed, in Welsh, against some pretty Big Guns of the Welsh language poetry scene and won! He's got a little model Chair to prove it - a purpose-built Chair being the traditional prize for a major poet. I've got a very poor Blackberry photo up on the trac Facebook page if you need proof.

We're dead chuffed for him! Hurrah Les. Who needs a Poet Laureate anyway?

sian