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13th February 2008

My biggest challenge in the last couple of months has again been finding the time (and people) to practise with. Dewi is so right when he says that it is about getting out there and having a go. People are really supportive and don't laugh too much so that is quite motivational.

I was asked to do an interview for Radio Cymru today (in Welsh) and it was really hard. There were lots of words that I didn't know but they were so understanding and helped me get out what I wanted to say. It has also given me a new set of words to add to my vocabulary, which is always great. I am not sure when I will use them again, but you never know.

My reading has improved, but that is because when I am travelling, or sitting on a train, it is much easier to read a book. I have also been watching more of my daughters DVDs which is really funny. I got caught on the train the other day watching Sali Mali, and the person (non Welsh speaker) looked at me like I was a bit odd.

I like it, and other children's programmes because I feel that I can watch and understand but enjoy it too. Carys has gone through a bit of a phase that she doesn't want to watch them with me, so I have to pretend if friends come around that it's really her that is watching TV !!!!

I am also trying to learn more words about sport, because that is what I talk about most in English, so it would be good to try and talk about the same things in Welsh. What I found with some of the vocab that I started learning was that it just wasn't relevant to me. That made me think quite hard about what I was doing.

I used to try and learn everything that was on the page in front of me, so now I am trying to learn what is useful and then I find that it sticks better in my brain too. But it did take me a long time to figure that one out!! The real answer is just to keep going, and you never know when you brain will pull out that word you have been looking for.

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25th September 2007

Tanni filming in Cardiff city centre for The Big Welsh Challenge

I've spent the last month sorting out and buying my new Welsh books and learning lots of words about sport, which is quite funny as now I'm retired I'm not sure how much I'm going to use the words! Life has been quite busy so it's been hard to meet up with my Welsh teacher. I'm hoping I'll get sorted soon so I can crack on. Every time I learn more I realise how much I still need to do!