Definitions of Cornwall
First of all very many thanks to everyone who thought this worthy of a reply - 122 comments so far, even if ten of them did break the House Rules. And despite the fact that more than half the comments seemed designed to prosecute the various nats vs anti-nats disputes, there were some very good entries.
I know that by ranking them in order of my personal preference I am inviting a good (virtual) kicking. My criteria was, as I made clear, for 30 words describing Cornwall in much the same way that Orwell tried to describe England in The Lion & The Unicorn. Some of you might need to check the word-count feature on your computers, although where I think you've actually tried to enter into the spirit of the game I've simply selected the first 30 words.
Here goes:
1. At 08:35am on 08 Nov 2010, Dave the rave wrote:
Pasties, beaches, Eden, sea, sun, cliff tops, happy people, long summers, Truro cathedral, Fish & Chips, moors, farms, tin mines, Humphrey Davey, Lands End, merry maidens, Minack, Tamar bridge.
2. At 02:39am on 07 Nov 2010, Rialobran wrote:
Cornwall: A Picasso, beautifully framed (the coast/ Tamar) with a canvass full of colour and vibrance, that you can't quite make out, or put into words that give credit.
3. At 09:18am on 12 Nov 2010, Andrew Jacks wrote:
Within the boulders in a sun-baked rock pool a grand-dad can be seen standing up to his knees, lifting the net to an eager grand-daughter who awaits the next haul.
4. At 13:22pm on 10 Nov 2010, youngcornwall wrote:
The tourist trade the life blood
pumping through Cornish vein
seed sown on departure of the
Paddington to Penzance train.
5. At 10:12am on 07 Nov 2010, Mike Chappell wrote:
To my beloved Kernow
As solid as rocky Carn it is
As deep as Dozmary Pool
As plain as the surf on the sea it is
The love I have for you
6. At 10:42am on 08 Nov 2010, AccurateChronometer wrote:
The Celtic Nation and Duchy Of Cornwall - a land next to England, like Scotland and Wales, whose language is redacted and denied expression by the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú.
7. At 08:37am on 10 Nov 2010, Peter Tregantle wrote:
I look around the Cornwall I love
A joyful society
On the internet
I see radicals with nothing better to do
To Emmet's everywhere
Cornwall is a serene English Shire
8. At 15:54pm on 13 Nov 2010, Rialobran wrote:
On a rock strewn shore, on a storm filled night,
a ship is led by the wreckers light.
with wealth to spread, throughout the land,
and nothing for the Duke, and his greedy hand.
In this land of giants, saints and sinners,
For once the English, aren't amongst the winners.
9. At 12:20pm on 07 Nov 2010, Slimslad wrote:
"Next to Devon.Like Somerset"
And finally this one, despite being way over 30 words, if only for the image of firm hands fondling...
10. At 14:31pm on 12 Nov 2010, CJenkin wrote:
This a view that epitomises Cornwall for me:
Pro-Cornish but not anti anyone else ...
"Hail to the Homeland "
Hail to the Homeland,
Great bastion of the free,
Hear now thy children
Proclaim their love for thee.
Ageless thy splendour,
Undimmed the Celtic flame.
Proudly our souls reflect
The glory of thy name.
Sense now the beauty,
The peace of Bodmin Moor,
Ride with the breaker
Towards the Sennen shore.
Let firm hands fondle
The boulders of Trencrom,
Sing with all fervour, then
The great Trelawny song.
Hail to the Homeland,
Of Thee we are a part.
Great pulse of freedom
In every Cornish heart,
Prompt us and guide us,
Endow us with thy power,
Lace us with liberty
To face this changing hour.
Sorry there are no prizes, but you know how it is...and thanks again for taking part. If you want to keep it going, feel free to do so on this thread.
I'm Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio Devon’s Graham Smith, blogging on news, views and some fresh insights into West Country life, particularly the way government works locally and nationally.
Comment number 1.
At 14th Nov 2010, Saltashgaz wrote:Heres a little history for you Graham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search
Hail to the Homeland is one of the unofficial anthems of Cornwall. It was composed by the Cornish musician Kenneth Pelmear who composed and arranged many works for church and male voice choirs and brass bands. The words were written by Pearce Gilbert, of Helston, Cornwall.
Other Cornish 'anthems' are Trelawny and Bro Goth Agan Tasow.
Hail to the Homeland,
Great bastion of the free,
Hear now thy children
Proclaim their love for thee.
Ageless thy splendour,
Undimmed the Celtic flame.
Proudly our souls reflect
The glory of thy name.
Sense now the beauty,
The peace of Bodmin Moor,
Ride with the breaker
Towards the Sennen shore.
Let firm hands fondle
The boulders of Trencrom,
Sing with all fervour, then
The great Trelawny song.
Hail to the Homeland,
Of Thee we are a part.
Great pulse of freedom
In every Cornish heart,
Prompt us and guide us,
Endow us with thy power,
Lace us with liberty
To face this changing hour.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 14th Nov 2010, AccurateChronometer wrote:An English tries too hard to have the last word - plus ça change, plus c'est la meme chose!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 14th Nov 2010, Rialobran wrote:Two in the top ten, cheers Graham :)
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 15th Nov 2010, Peter Tregantle wrote:I thought Graham was a man of creative writing and would have spotted Conan's blatant plagiarism, lost his deposit at the last election when he stood for MK I believe.
Personally I liked Slims I though it captured the humour lacking in the nats rampages
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 15th Nov 2010, Graham Smith wrote:CJ never claimed the words were his own. But you are correct Peter, to point out that I wouldn't have known.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)
Comment number 6.
At 15th Nov 2010, P_Trembath wrote:Peter Tregantle wrote:-
"Personally I liked Slims I though it captured the humour lacking in the nats rampages"
Well, there you go, a "man" from the North of Cornwall choosing contributions from a "man" from the North of England in a competition to describe Cornwall, (who dislikes it when a man from somewhere in England makes a "nationalist" point, on the grounds that they do not come from Cornwall). On the basis that "he" thinks the contributions from those "he" calls, and derides as, " nats" are lacking in humor.
That one will keep me laughing all day, thanks Mr. Tregantle.
Oh, and if I ever need a demonstration of hypocracy, I will know where to go.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 6)
Comment number 7.
At 15th Nov 2010, Peter Tregantle wrote:Just pointing out "Pearce Gilbert" should be accredited, as we should not be handing out awards to people for plagiarism, we have plenty of that already from those inventing an enemy they call anti-nats which I presume means 99.999% recurring of humans on planet earth who are not Cornish nationalists, about the size of the task they have.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 7)
Comment number 8.
At 15th Nov 2010, Dave the rave wrote:Many thanks Graham, I'm top of the pops!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 8)
Comment number 9.
At 15th Nov 2010, P_Trembath wrote:Peter Tregantle wrote:-
"...we have plenty of that already from those inventing an enemy they call anti-nats which I presume means 99.999% recurring of humans on planet earth who are not Cornish nationalists,..."
Enemy is a rather emotive word, and one that only seems to be used by you and your fellow "anti-nats", or Kernowphobes. Incidentally, your presumption is totally flawed, and indicative of one who is attempting to make their prejudice beliefs have far more validity than they actually do.
Anyone following this blog with an open mind, will see that it is you, and your fellow Kernowphobes who are trying to invent enemies.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 9)
Comment number 10.
At 15th Nov 2010, youngcornwall wrote:Thanks Graham for choosing one of mine.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 10)
Comment number 11.
At 15th Nov 2010, P_Trembath wrote:Graham, I'm hurt.
Fancy not choosing mine.;)
Personally, I quite like the introduction that CJenkin used for his contribution.
"This a view that epitomises Cornwall for me:
Pro-Cornish but not anti anyone else ..."
Which despite what the Kernowphobes would attempt to portray, is what Cornish Nationalism is all about.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 11)
Comment number 12.
At 15th Nov 2010, Tynegod wrote:Thank you, Graham.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 12)
Comment number 13.
At 15th Nov 2010, Andrew Jacks wrote:I am sure it could not have been easy Graham, very diplomatically handled, shame only a few observed the basic rules, had I been given free reign and the ability to nick other peoples work I am sure I would have won
Not sure we have learnt as much as I suspect you hoped it would, looking at the comments being removed on another thread where a certain community are pretending they can cover the fact Kingsand and Maker were in Devon meaning the Tamar is not a historical border as they love to make it, it would seem the same old games are being played
Complain about this comment (Comment number 13)
Comment number 14.
At 16th Nov 2010, rickracoon wrote:No e in Humphry,no e in Davy.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 14)