This week, writer Ellie Philpotts has mused for us on her experience as an English person moving to Wales.
Photo by Doug Nichols
Moving all the way to “deepest Wales” (if Cardiff counts as that) as someone from exotic old England can raise some important questions, but also, more crucially, teach some key life lessons.
Despite crossing the border, we don’t exactly qualify as international students, but, still the England-Wales move is bound to be an educational one … so here we go. Here is what I have learned, as an English person, who has moved to Wales.
1. No one does rugby quite like the Welsh
OK, so of course the atmosphere at Twickenham is always electric, but do the English really give their national teams the welcome they’re warranted with in Wales? And frankly no English city would be innovative enough to PUT A BALL IN THE WALL. The wall of a very old castle, no less.
2. ‘Lush’ is THE adjective for everything good
Photo by Doug Nichols
The roaming countryside that’s in abundance in Wales; a top outfit, those birds on that fence; even Cardiff’s Lush store itself – everything fits the bill. Got it? Lush.
3. The Welsh are seriously proud of their heritage
Patriotism is a good thing! And one of the reasons multiple flags stand proudly down St Mary’s Street. Go Wales!
4. Welshies are a friendly people
Whether it’s a farmer in Carmarthenshire, a hotelier from central Cardiff, or revellers at Green Man festival, you’re bound to be greeted with a good helping of jolliness. The two just go hand-in-hand here in Wales!
5. You never knew a red dragon could mean so much
You’ll find that familiar face hung up in windows more than you’d spy the old George’s Cross back in England. Thank God there’s a dragon emoji on the trusty iPhone.
6. You’ll question how you ever lived without Bara Brith
Photo by JenSteele
Whatever your religious beliefs, you can’t deny it must be sent from the Gods.
7. The same applies for Welsh cakes
Photo by Zingyellow
Because English cakes, not even Tesco’s Finest, just don’t match up. Sorry Mr Kipling!
8. Oh, and while we’re talking about food, Welsh Rarebit is NOT just cheese on toast
Photo by TristanKenney
It’s so, so much more. Luckily, Cardiff cafes do it preened to perfection.
9. The Severn Bridge unfolding before your windscreen is the greatest sight you can see when travelling back into this wonderful country
Photo by Ed Webster
It’s a sign you’re… well, nearly back in Wales. Which is only ever a positive. And it brightens up the journey. Not literally, because it’s Wales, and it always rains in Wales. But figuratively.
10. No-one does farmers’ markets like the Welsh
Yes, I was meant to prise ourselves away from the foodie topic, but lasted one whole point and now we’re back. Basically, Wales is the capital of farmer’s markets. In Cardiff, the crème de la crème has to go to one of the Riverside Community Market Association’s markets … catch them in Rhiwbina on Fridays; Roath on Saturdays and Riverside on Sundays.
Yep, the three Rs – easy to remember and even easier to get fat thanks to. From curry to cheese, Cronuts to coffee (and some foods that DON’T begin with C), the farmers’ markets are the tried-and-tested best ways to start the day.
11. Local produce is celebrated, and kind of delicious at that
Photo by Riverside Community Garden
The vast farmlands around Wales make it easy for Cardiff, although obviously more industrialised itself, to reap the benefits of fresh food.
12. Diversity is everywhere
Sure, London mixes ranges of cultures, and so does Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool and so on. But Cardiff’s take on diversity is just so friendly.
13. Nothing lifts your heart more than a jovial ‘croeso y cymru’
Photo by Doug Nichols
There’s something about Wales that makes you want to run to the nearby hills and fields and channel your inner Maria from The Sound of Music in celebration of all things Welsh.
14. The little Welsh gift shops dotted around Cardiff (and probably the rest of Wales) are adorable
Photo by I Loves The Diff
If you’re born and bred here, the novelty may have worn off many moons ago, but for us English folk who’ve been adopted by Cardiff, the appeal is still very much real.
15. Welsh people are the queens of making fudge
Photo by Gary Knight
And kings, as fudge-making is definitely not gender-specific. Only Welsh-specific. Mixing traditional flavours like Chocolate with more daring varieties, like Chilli, is definitely the way to go.
16. You’re close to both sea and city
Photo by Doug Nichols
Admittedly, there are places in England which also fit this criteria – Portsmouth, Brighton, Bournemouth etc – but Cardiff is the only British capital in walking distance of the ocean. And towns like Penarth and Barry provide the perfect break from the hustle and bustle. Even if that does mean the hustle and bustle is swapped for squeals of ‘Ooh, what’s occurin’?’
17. If you’re not a fan of crowds or mess or just value your health full-stop, avoid town like the plague when the sport’s on
Photo by Tomasz
Namely, rugby. Oh yes. Did I mention Wales LOVES rugby?!
18. The whole two-languages thing never loses its charm
At first it can be kind of confusing. But then you get used to the ‘Arafs’ on the streets and ‘ffordd allan’s above train station exits, and most of all, you learn to love them.
19. There’s something about Welsh pubs that makes you just know you’re in a Welsh pub
Photo by Walt Jabsco
We don’t even need to say more. Apart from that they’re always over-spilling, loud, and definitely atmospheric.
20. Basically, there’s something about Wales full stop.
Photo by Doug Nichols
Ydym yn caru Cymru. That’s ‘We love Wales’ for the non-speakers among us!
Ellie Philpotts is a writer, based in Cardiff.
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Croeso i Gymru, surely.
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Ellie Philpotts, you charmer, you! And there’s nothing quite like a rendering of Calon Lan to get you going, or Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau for that matter!
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An excellent piece Ellie Philpotts! I have so many friends who moved here for Uni and stayed, married, had families and lives based here. I’ve travelled quite a lot but I love Cardiff and Wales for all the reasons you wrote about and more (the waterfall you can walk behind at Ystradfellte, the view from the top of Pen-Y-Fan, Joe’s ice cream, the Gower, Snowdonia, the psychedelic Barmouth sunsets, Brains Dark and SA, the massively diverse eateries of City Rd, Gogs and Taffs and West Walian Little Englanders…one could go on interminably). A great piece. Lush, in fact. .
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I’ve lived in Wales for 20years. You would struggle to describe the Welsh as ‘friendly’, quite the opposite. And you’ve made no mention the all year round casual racism towards the English that’s written off as ‘banter’
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What about the 1,000+ years of institutional racism against the Welsh that’s written off as history? Do your research.
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This just one person’s experience of living in Wales, quite a lot of Welsh Do not embrace diversity, plus the fact they love to go on about how hard done by they are by the English? They constantly live in the past mostly, in the valleys most of them live on benefits….this from someone who lived and experienced life for 28 years in Wales in most areas of Cardiff, Swansea and Rhondda so I do know what I’m talking about.
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But isn’t your reply just one other person’s experience …??
Also “I’ve lived in most areas of Cardiff Swansea and Rhondda …” – you don’t know what you’re talking about, that’s about an eighth of the country mun! What about the rest of it?? south wales people so blinkered. the majority of our country belongs to sheep and mountains and all around people fighting with each other on a nonsense.
I’m orig from the gogledd, beautiful north, I have experienced people like people are anywhere – some embrace diversity, some don’t, some don’t give a shit, but what you say about the majority being on benefits doesn’t have anything to do with this.
Wake up.
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I couldn’t agree more, it’s a bloody awful place ! I have to live here because of my work, thankfully I retire in a few years when I,ll be over the bridge back to dear old England like a bat out of hell !.
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