Welsh Author and Humorist Awdur Cymraeg a Hiwmorwr

Wales is often associated with Singing, Rugby , Slate and Coalmines........we must not forget the sheep. Wales is also known for its characters such as the Dai's and Will`s of the valleys, the Ianto`s and Evan`s of the mountains, and of course Mari fach who gets everywhere with Marged and Myfanwy. Without these characters Wales would be just any other place in the Universe.

These people are true Welsh characters, not to be confused with the village idiots, because these characters are full of wit and humour, often they seem to be serious, but pride themselves as being to be able to laugh at themselves.

Any similarity to anyone you may think you know in the books is purely coincidental, with exception to Ianto, Dai, Myfanwy, Twm, Megan and other Welsh people and sheep from your villages and/or area.

The Welsh have maintained their sense of humour throughout the year's despite being faced with hard times. Once whilst on my travels around Wales, I encountered a railway porter, and I commented on the rather long road to the station, to which he replied "Sir, if it was any shorter, it wouldn't reach the train!"

Whilst staying in a hotel near Llandrindod Wells, I noticed two statues of Alsatian dogs on top of the pillars at the entrance to the driveway leading to the Hotel. I winked at the porter and asked him how often did he feed the dogs. Without hesitation he replied "Only when they bark Sir!"

With so many Dai's and Ianto`s around, the popular way of distinguishing them was by the use of nicknames like Dai the milk, or Dai cream top, normally the milkman or his son, Dai the bread or Dai Crust and so on. The local baker once met the Prince of Wales; he became Dai Upper Crust, and the Vicar of Cwmtwrch was known as `Evans above`, and as for Evan, he came from a musical family, even the sewing machine was a singer.

However, during their lives, even the characters of Wales have, at some time or other made a visit to a surgery or hospital, be it at the beginning, middle or end of their lives. Even then in their hour of pain, they still remember their sense of humour.

One thing is certain; even members of the medical profession have to have a good sense of humour. It is said humour promotes health and wellbeing by stimulating a playful discovery, expression or appreciation of the absurdity of life's situations.

Humor is a social tool that is often used to ease and diffuse tense and difficult situations. By laughing at problems a person can ease stress and other painful emotions. For example when a person or group of people need to carry out difficult, or disturbing tasks, like dealing with trauma or death, then occasionally making a comment that isn't as reverent as perhaps the task requires is a thing that nearly everyone involved knows is a way of keeping the horror at bay, at maintaining some kind of even keel in such surroundings, by creating more pleasant ones.

Black humour is a way of keeping a mental distance between themselves and what they are doing, and will always be ever present. It is not actually meant to be derogatory or disrespectful, even though it may sound that way to others at that moment, it is merely a way for any person to deal with a difficult situation. Black humour should be contrasted with sick humour. In sick humour, much of the humorous element comes from shock and revulsion. In black humour it usually includes an element of irony, or even fatalism. A very good example of black humour is, picture the scene, a man takes off his belt to hang himself, and his trousers fall down.
Unpredictable bursts of laughing, like lightning, relieve the tension and clear the atmosphere.

Did you know…
-Laughter can reduce stress?
-Laughter can boost your immune system
-Laughter can help reduce your blood pressure
-Laughter can exercise certain muscles (diaphragm, abdominal, facial, neck, back, and leg)
Looking for a quick easy way to 'work out'? Laugh! Did you know that laughing 100 times is the equivalent to 15 minutes on an exercise bike or 10 minutes on a rowing machine? Yes… it is? Amazing isn't it?
Just enjoy it

Some claim that these stories are true and actually happened to them and indeed, many contributions have been made by friends and colleagues and as I am married to a retired nurse, I have overheard the anecdotes, stories and observations and some really funny happenings, some perfectly true stories, names changed, and others,……well!, see what you think?

Dilwyn