“Can we fix it?� asked Bob the Builder.
And in true pantomime fashion dozens of screaming youngsters wearing yellow had hats responded with the traditional "Yes we can!!!"
Except yesterday they were shouting, and I mean shouting, in Welsh. Yes, by now even Bob the Builder has learned to speak Welsh with a new DVD featuring all his helpers including Scoop the Digger, Muck the Bulldozer, Lofty the Crane, Wendy and Rolly the Steam Roller. The new DVD, Bob y Bildar – Cynlluniau Bob, includes a special extended episode, three brand new stories and interactive jigsaws.
Having been brought up on The Woodentops, Bill and Ben (the Flowerpot Men) and Tales from the Riverbank these characters were all new to me and I was grateful to all my new friends for putting me right.
Six year old Sion Wyn from Rhosgadfan near Caernarfon and his cousin, Dylan from Efailnewydd near Pwllheli told me that Bob these days is a very environmentally friendly builder and on the new DVD hears about plans to develop Sunflower Valley, where he used to play as a child. In order to stop the valley becoming a smelly, noisy city he wins the building contract and sets about re-using and recycling materials.
Hmmm, sounds depressingly familiar and perhaps the DVD should be watched by a few of Wales' council planning committees.
And before anyone says it I know that Sam Tan, Superted and Wil Cwac Cwac were all able to speak Welsh before they learned English, French, German and all the other languages.
The first day at the Urdd Eisteddfod, like the National Eisteddfod, is learning your way around the Maes. The United Counties Showground is compact and split into rectangular chunks by tarmaced roads so the heavy rain showers which fell during the day did not cause the mudbaths of previous festivals.
Queeing up to buy a roast lamb roll for lunch I recalled previous mudbaths with an old friend, Arwel, from sommwhere in deepest Cardiganshire.We hadn't seen each other since leaving college at Bangor nearly 30 years ago. As a secondary school teacher Arwel brought his charges to the Urdd later in the week while as a former primary school teacher I would lead my parties here on the Monday or Tuesday.
Did I remember the Newcastle Emlyn festival in 1981 he asked? Just the mention brought back the smell of pig manure. And the coal blackened soil of Maesteg in 1979 he asked. Vaguely I said. And the wind and rain of Dyffryn Ogwen in 1986? When the pavilion nearly blew away.
Oh yes. Happy days.
During the day I spent a pleasant half hour talking to Dewi Thomas. The sprightly 81-year old has attended all three Urdd festivals held in Carmarthen. He competed with an aelwyd choir in 1935 which was awarded first prize. Mr Thomas also took part in recitation competitions without the same success but was inspired by hearing the Urdd's founder, Sir Ifan ab Owen
Edwards speaking and took part in many Eisteddfodau in the following years.
Thirty years later he took on the arduous role of secretary for the 1967 Eisteddfod. He spoke with pride as he recalled the festival, then staged only from Wednesday to Saturday, broke attendance records.
Now, he told me, the festival lasts a week and there's activity from the preceeding Sunday. "There were hundreds of people here for the service on Sunday morning and the weather was awful," he said.
His experience is mirrorred by latter day Gareth James. The 28-year old deputy headteacher from Aberystwyth is this year's Urdd president. Not only is he busy presenting prizes and meeting sponsors this week but also helping to look after a dance party, musical ensemble and various soloists.
And finally - Yesterdays comment about Sir Gar being mistaken for Sir Gaer or Cheshire brought about a swift response from an online techie. Huw Evans, who normally surfs the net from his office in Dyffryn Ceiriog near Llangollen but who has brought his laptop and wi-fi connection to Carmarthen says he overheard a parent misunderstand the meaning of Sir Gar.
Sir Gar, the parent said, what's a missing Irish racehorse got to do with the Eisteddfod here?
I hope Huw put him right.
