Sarah. 🔞 Cymraes. A red-headed nerd. Disaster bi™️. Yaps about Welsh mythology, The Mabinogion, and Arthuriana, particularly about Queen Guinevere, my legal wife, and Dylan Ail Don. (profile pic by @nekomaidmordred) fics under #mywriting, essays under #themabinogion 👍
Dw i'n dysgu Cymraeg 🏴
Diolch to everybody who wished me a happy birthday/liked the post where I said it was my bday (which also counts as a bday wish too!) Had lots of fun at a nature reserve yesterday and going up to Betws-y-Coed, and, yes, I did buy books.
Fuckin crazy to me that Welsh Labour won't be the dominant force in Wales for the first time since a) the Senedd was established in 1997, and b) for the first time in 107 years, and c) for the first time since I was fuckin born. Wales is traditionally a Labour stronghold - as it were - so this is WILD.
In a way, I did expect it because Eluned Morgan and Welsh Labour have definitely not been able to really separate themselves from the events in Westminster, but it's still mad to have the Deptuy FM say on Welsh news: 'Labour won't be helming the next gov,' in the year of our Lord 2026, after they've spent so long being the dominant party within Wales.
Also, the upswing of Plaid Cymru votes is honestly really nice to see. But admittedly I think the new constituency names are a fuckin mouthful because we have just smashed the former constituency names together like a mad tongue-twister.
ANYWAY, FIRST RESULTS EXPECTED SHORTLY!!! WAHOOOOO!! FUCKING WHEE!!!
Fuckin crazy to me that Welsh Labour won't be the dominant force in Wales for the first time since a) the Senedd was established in 1997, and b) for the first time in 107 years, and c) for the first time since I was fuckin born. Wales is traditionally a Labour stronghold - as it were - so this is WILD.
In a way, I did expect it because Eluned Morgan and Welsh Labour have definitely not been able to really separate themselves from the events in Westminster, but it's still mad to have the Deptuy FM say on Welsh news: 'Labour won't be helming the next gov,' in the year of our Lord 2026, after they've spent so long being the dominant party within Wales.
Also, the upswing of Plaid Cymru votes is honestly really nice to see. But admittedly I think the new constituency names are a fuckin mouthful because we have just smashed the former constituency names together like a mad tongue-twister.
ANYWAY, FIRST RESULTS EXPECTED SHORTLY!!! WAHOOOOO!! FUCKING WHEE!!!
Fuckin crazy to me that Welsh Labour won't be the dominant force in Wales for the first time since a) the Senedd was established in 1997, and b) for the first time in 107 years, and c) for the first time since I was fuckin born. Wales is traditionally a Labour stronghold - as it were - so this is WILD.
In a way, I did expect it because Eluned Morgan and Welsh Labour have definitely not been able to really separate themselves from the events in Westminster, but it's still mad to have the Deptuy FM say on Welsh news: 'Labour won't be helming the next gov,' in the year of our Lord 2026, after they've spent so long being the dominant party within Wales.
Also, the upswing of Plaid Cymru votes is honestly really nice to see. But admittedly I think the new constituency names are a fuckin mouthful because we have just smashed the former constituency names together like a mad tongue-twister.
ANYWAY, FIRST RESULTS EXPECTED SHORTLY!!! WAHOOOOO!! FUCKING WHEE!!!
Fuckin crazy to me that Welsh Labour won't be the dominant force in Wales for the first time since a) the Senedd was established in 1997, and b) for the first time in 107 years, and c) for the first time since I was fuckin born. Wales is traditionally a Labour stronghold - as it were - so this is WILD.
In a way, I did expect it because Eluned Morgan and Welsh Labour have definitely not been able to really separate themselves from the events in Westminster, but it's still mad to have the Deptuy FM say on Welsh news: 'Labour won't be helming the next gov,' in the year of our Lord 2026, after they've spent so long being the dominant party within Wales.
Also, the upswing of Plaid Cymru votes is honestly really nice to see. But admittedly I think the new constituency names are a fuckin mouthful because we have just smashed the former constituency names together like a mad tongue-twister.
ANYWAY, FIRST RESULTS EXPECTED SHORTLY!!! WAHOOOOO!! FUCKING WHEE!!!
Fuckin crazy to me that Welsh Labour won't be the dominant force in Wales for the first time since a) the Senedd was established in 1997, and b) for the first time in 107 years, and c) for the first time since I was fuckin born. Wales is traditionally a Labour stronghold - as it were - so this is WILD.
In a way, I did expect it because Eluned Morgan and Welsh Labour have definitely not been able to really separate themselves from the events in Westminster, but it's still mad to have the Deptuy FM say on Welsh news: 'Labour won't be helming the next gov,' in the year of our Lord 2026, after they've spent so long being the dominant party within Wales.
Also, the upswing of Plaid Cymru votes is honestly really nice to see. But admittedly I think the new constituency names are a fuckin mouthful because we have just smashed the former constituency names together like a mad tongue-twister.
ANYWAY, FIRST RESULTS EXPECTED SHORTLY!!! WAHOOOOO!! FUCKING WHEE!!!
A huge congratulations to Terror Camp 2025 presenter Kaitlyn Gorsalitz @alongblank on her contributions to the recent identification of the remains of FOUR (!!!!) new Franklin Expedition men, as part of Dr. Douglas Stenton's research team.
You can read the full scientific paper here!
And for access to Kaitlyn's presentation “When We Meet Next”: Investigating Franklin Men and Their Families, please email command [@] terror dot camp for last year's TC recordings.
John Gregory, engineer on Erebus, was identified at site NgLj-3 in 2021
James Fitzjames had previously been identified at site NgLj-2 in 2024
Three more sets of remains have been identified.
John Bridgens, steward on Erebus, was found at site NgLj-3. His full name was Henry James Bridgens, and he was probably illiterate.
David Young, ship's boy on Erebus, was found at site NgLj-2. His mandible (jawbone) is the smallest found to date and his wisdom teeth had not yet erupted. Facial reconstruction has yielded this 2D sketch.
William Orren, able seamen on Erebus, has been identified at site NgLj-1. He had at least 8 siblings.
None of these men died alone. There is one more set of remains at site NgLj-3, which is speculated to belong to a young man under the age of 25 due to incomplete epiphysis (growth plate) fusion. They were found alongside a boat which would take 20 men to haul.
In a separate paper Harry Peglar has been identified as the remains found with the Peglar papers. He was found 130km away from all other identified remains and is the only individual from Terror who has been identified.
To my Welsh mutuals: SENEDD ELECTIONS ON THE SEVENTH OF MAY, GET OUT AND VOTE, OR I SWEAR TO GOD I'LL FIND A WAY TO BRING OWAIN GLYNDŴR BACK FROM THE DEAD, AND GET HIM TO HIT YOU ON THE BACK OF THE HEAD WITH A SWORD.
*Despite a life of disappointment and adversity, Senana ferch Caradog ap Thomas ap Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd emerges from the pages of Welsh medieval history as a strong, courageous and determined woman who was not afraid to act on her own behalf at the highest level, when she saw an opportunity to redeem the unfortunate situation involving her Welsh husband and her family.
— *Gwenyth Richards, From Footnotes to Narrative: Welsh Noblewomen in the Thirteenth Century, PhD Thesis, University of Sydney (2005) / **Danna R. Messer, Joan, Lady of Wales: Power and Politics of King John's Daughter
**Nothing is known of Senana’s early years and frustratingly little is understood about her adulthood. As to when she died, this too remains a mystery. In essence, Senana is a woefully ‘forgotten queen’; a woman denied her own rightful claim to power as Gruffudd’s consort. Nevertheless, what we do know about her largely stems from a singular event, in which her role, arguably as a contender for the role of queen (against Dayfdd’s wife, Isabella de Braose), and certainly as a political diplomat remain unprecedented. Even in comparison to Joan. Senana, in fact, is the most noteworthy example of official ‘queenly’ authority in practice stemming from native Wales as a whole.
*Senana was descended from a noble lineage. She was the daughter of Caradog ap Thomas, who like her husband Gruffudd was descended from the common ancestors Owain Gwynedd and Gruffudd ap Cynan, who were both great Welsh rulers. Gruffudd, her husband, was the eldest son of Llywelyn Fawr (Llywelyn ab Iorwerth) who lived from 1173-1240AD and ruled much of Wales from 1218 until his death in 1240. Although Gruffudd was Llywelyn’s eldest son, he was unfortunately illegitimate. Llywelyn had already fathered a son and daughter to a woman named Tangwystl ferch Llywarch Goch before he married Joan, the illegitimate daughter of King John in 1205. Despite the Welsh tradition that, provided the father acknowledged paternity, all sons should inherit equally, whether legitimate or not, Llywelyn took steps before his death to declare his legitimate son Dafydd his heir, to the exclusion of Gruffudd. According to David Walker ‘Llywelyn negotiated for the recognition of Dafydd as his successor over a period of eighteen years’. As a consequence of this, Gruffudd was to spend a large proportion of his life in prison, firstly because he would not accept that his brother was to be his father’s successor, and secondly because he was a threat to Dafydd.
*[...] Life for Senana appears to have become particularly difficult. She had married a man who was the heir to the royal house of Gwynedd, and her expectations must have been completely dashed when Llywelyn Fawr summarily disinherited Gruffudd. She probably encouraged Gruffudd when he rebelled against his father and also when he prepared to challenge his half-brother for the title of prince of North Wales. Unfortunately Gruffudd ended up in prison once again and she was left with her six children and no husband, and probably limited prospects for her family. There is no evidence that Senana would have been able to visit Gruffudd and Owain in Cricieth Castle, although it is a possibility, but she certainly would have been able to visit him in the Tower. As J. Beverley Smith has said, she may have been able to tell Gruffudd on one of these visits that their son Dafydd had ‘secured a small part of the territory which the king, despite his promise to Gruffudd, still denied him’.
**In May 1241, following a failed mission by the bishop of Bangor, who supported Gruffudd’s claims to the throne, Senana travelled to the English court at Westminster to appeal directly to Henry III to secure Gruffudd’s release from Dafydd’s prison. The Curia Regis Rolls record her explaining that her husband’s detainment by his half-brother was unjust and that Henry’s support in obtaining his release was vital, cleverly arguing that Gruffudd be treated as a tenant of the Crown. To confirm Gruffudd’s loyalty to Henry as his overlord, she made promises of hostages on his behalf (similar to Joan in 1211) and also professed his willingness to answer any claims that had been made against him and his case. Furthermore, Senana ensured that pledges of surety from some of the highest ranking Welsh magnates and Marcher lords were offered as a fait accompli. Although Dafydd’s own ambassadors also happened to be present in court that day – presumably to hear the case brought by Gruffudd’s sister, Gwenllian de Lacy, concerning portions of her dower that had been confiscated from her – and assured the king and Senana that they would take her case to Dafydd and appeal for justice, Joan’s son made no attempt to release Gruffudd. Senana again appealed to Henry, subsequently meeting him at Shrewsbury.
**On 12 August 1241, after a series of negotiations, Senana and the king reached an agreement, though the terms Senana had to concede to as a means of securing Henry’s favour were extreme. A promise to pay an enormously hefty sum, in coins and moveable chattels, was the least harsh of the stipulations. As an assurance that both she and her husband would adhere to the terms of the agreement, Senana was forced to submit to Henry’s demand that Gruffudd be transferred to one of his own prisons, along with three of their four sons as additional hostages. The king tempered this punitive requisite with a promise that upon an untimely death of Gruffudd, or their eldest son and heir, Owain, who was already a hostage, the two younger sons would be released and returned to her.
**Senana agreed to the terms by swearing upon holy relics. Although it is not entirely unusual that she swore upon holy relics, her undertaking differs from other examples of noblewomen in Wales who observed conditions of agreements through the act. The difference is paramount. Hers is the only known example of a royal woman giving an oath of her own accord and, crucially, in the highest political capacity possible. This, in itself, is indicative of Senana’s recognised ‘queenly’ status. Such a claim is further bolstered by the fact that she also pledged that Gruffudd would swear to the same, in writing, upon his release and used her own seal and Gruffudd’s to finalise the agreement. A number of powerful Welsh magnates and Welsh Marcher lords signed as her sureties.
*It is not known whether Senana had indeed paid the 600 marks when Gruffudd was released into the custody of the king by Dafydd. Since Gruffudd died before he was released from prison the proposed negotiation for his share of the patrimony did not take place and his financial position presumably remained as it was prior to the commencement of Senana’s attempt to obtain his release. Senana did receive financial assistance from the crown because as early as October 24, 1241 she was paid ten marks ‘of the king’s gift’. Smith mentions records of other payments to her as well in Issues of the Exchequer and Cheshire Pipe Rolls. Perhaps she was receiving financial assistance because of her husband’s continued incarceration. Technically, the king did obtain Gruffudd’s release from Dafydd’s custody. On August 29, 1241 Dafydd agreed to release to the king Gruffudd and Owain plus the other Welsh prisoners being held with them. The charter states that it will be the judgment of the king’s court whether Gruffudd ‘ought to be kept captive’ and whether he should have a portion of his father’s land. Unfortunately there seems to have been no attempt to give Gruffudd the promised judgment of the king’s court and he was just kept in confinement [in the Tower of London as a prisoner of Henry III]. Tragically for Senana, on April 30, 1244 it was reported that Gruffudd had unfortunately broken his neck and was killed when he fell from the Tower while trying to escape.
**Senana’s involvement as the second party in the creation of an agreement with the king of England in 1241 is significant in terms of understanding how Welsh queenship may well have been both practiced and accepted [...]. Senana’s participation in 1241 is seminal. First and foremost, that she was a native of Wales presents a singularly Welsh slant to the construction of our understanding of the roles and expectations concerning native queenship. Although evidence survives of ‘queenly’ economic agency – namely through land transactions that highlight the types power that married royal women could wield within dynastic lordships, such as Joan signing over lands to her daughters on their marriages – there is no Welsh paragon concerning records of practice and a woman’s direct involvement in, or influence over, political diplomacy, save for Senana. Further, Senana’s documented activities shed light on how female agency was likely exercised with women acting as heads of familial lordships during the absence of their husbands, a stark reality a number of medieval women found themselves in, Joan, herself, included.
**[...] Senana is the first and only recorded royal Welsh women (for all intents and purposes, we could argue a Welsh queen without a throne) to actually sign a peace treaty with a king of England. In fact, the settlement that Senana negotiated is the only surviving document of its kind, relating to the power and authority of Welsh royal women. [...] The Welsh chronicles remain silent on Senana’s involvement in 1240–41, which, indeed, may have been a pointed commentary in itself.
**[...] While it is impossible to identify contemporary attitudes towards Senana’s high-level political activities, it seems more than probable that she was encouraged by her husband’s supporters. Certainly, the variety of powerful Welsh and Marcher lords named as sureties in the 1241 agreement attest to Gruffudd’s own distinguished royal status. […] Crucially, the support from these figureheads attest to Senana’s own royal authority in context. This is further reinforced by one particular surety that stands out: the renowned Maredudd ap Rhobert, lord of Cedewain, who was the ‘eminent’ or ‘chief counsellor of Wales’. That Senana either garnered, or in the least maintained the support of these powerful men, and Maredudd ap Rhobert’s in particular, is worthy of note. In the least, such support is indicative of the acceptance of her rule as lord in her husband’s stead.
*Senana was active in taking responsibility for, and caring for her family while her husband was incarcerated, and she continued with her duties after his death. She would have had to assume part of the masculine obligations in her husband’s absence. She is said to have been present when her son Dafydd was invested as lord of the commote of Cymydmaen on July 11, 1252. He would have been aged about fourteen years and considered to be of age under Welsh law. Her position should certainly have improved with the rise to power of her second son, and the last great ruler of native Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. [...] Llywelyn ap Gruffudd was at his most successful during the latter period of Senana’s life from about 1258 to 1263, so that despite the perceived difficulties and disappointments which dogged most of her life, the last five years at least must have held their compensations.
**There is proof that Senana played such an important administrative role and held a position of authority within her own familial lordship on the Llŷn peninsula in 1252. Although a widow by this time, she heads the witness list to an agreement crafted between her youngest son with the monks of Bardsey Island. It is clear that a full eight years after Gruffudd’s death, she still maintained an influential status.
*The exact date of her death is unknown, but Senana was buried in Llanfaes in 1263. [...] Perhaps fortunately for her, she did not live to witness the downfall of Llywelyn in 1282, nor the gruesome execution of Dafydd by Edward I in 1283.
lemons/limes (this needs to make up the bulk of the fruit being used, like at least 80%)
whatever other fruits or fruit scraps you want, plus any herbs/other flavorings you want to try. by fruit scraps I mean things like cherry pits, apple peels, pineapple cores, strawberry ends, things like that.
granulated white sugar, the coarser the better, 50% by weight of total citrus rinds + 100% by weight of any additional fruit. you'll measure this after you prep the fruit.
water as needed
equipment:
a few nonmetallic mixing bowls
a mesh strainer
a chinoise, ricer or some cheesecloth
a kitchen scale
a citrus juicer or reamer (manual or electric)
a potato masher
juice the citrus through a strainer - saving all rinds - and refrigerate the juice for the time being. dice the rinds and other fruits if any, keeping the rinds separate. make note of weights, and measure your sugar.
Place sugar in a large nonmetallic bowl. If using non-citrus fruits and/or any other flavorings, mix them in with the sugar and mash with potato masher. add diced citrus rinds, mix thoroughly, and mash again. cover and let stand at room temperature for at least 4 hours. this allows the sugar to draw out flavors that would otherwise get discarded with the rinds, and the rinds' acids should be enough to dissolve the sugar into a syrup.
Afterward, mash one last time, then collect the syrup by pressing the macerated mixture through a strainer/chinoise or ricer, or squeeze it through cheesecloth. if you want, this can be saved as a standalone syrup at this point, for use in cocktails or desserts. if not, slowly pour the reserved juice through the solids to to help get the remaining syrup out, and squeeze/press again. do the same thing one more time with warm water (roughly the same amount of water as juice). discard solids (or try making sangria with them!).
taste the mixture and add more water if necessary. a stronger mix is totally fine if you anticipate serving over ice on a hot day, or adding booze, or if there was a lot of non-sour fruit. keep in mind that it will taste a bit less sweet once it's chilled. pour into a pitcher and refrigerate.
citrus oils will float to the top, so stir/shake before serving. love you. enjoy.
some tried and true flavor combos:
straight lemon or lime, or any combination of the two, is of course an untouchable classic
lemon & strawberries (that's pussy babe!)
lemon & orange with a hint of vanilla (creamsiclemonade...?)
lemon & apples or apple peels with cinnamon/ginger/allspice (for late summer)
some cocktail type combos, booze optional:
lemon or lime & berries with basil + gin
lime & mint + white rum
lime & ginger + dark rum
lime & cucumber + gin
lime & orange (berries optional) + tequila
lemon, orange & cherry + brandy, bourbon, or rye whiskey
