A Taff's Mind 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

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.

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.

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.

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.

What's your blog title from?

What movie have you watched most recently? What did you think of it?

what are you looking forward to right now?

if you could do anything at all today, what would it be?

What's your drink of choice? (Coffee/tea order, alcohol of choice, pop, etc)

What's your hair routine like? Anything special?

what's your favorite way to travel? Is there a mode of travel you haven't done that you want to experience?

favorite month of the year and why?

favorite time of day and why?

do you play or follow any sports? & elaborate on that?

what kind of music is stuck in your head a lot lately?

dishes or laundry?

what's something you learned recently?

if you could give a TED talk on anything, what would you talk about?

What's a piece of advice you find yourself giving a lot?

what's a piece of advice you would give to yourself five years ago?

do you believe in luck and superstition? Do you carry any lucky items or follow any lucky rules?

Are you musical? Play any instruments or sing? Would you ever perform for an audience?

Write, type, or speak?

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.

YOU DON'T NEED TO TAKE YOUR ID TO VOTE, YOU JUST NEED TO BE REGISTERED (TAKE UR POLLING CARD THOUGH.)) ALSO 16 AND 17 YEAR OLDS CAN VOTE.

sorry guys he's really not feeling up to it this year 😔 (his annual "until judgement day" battle with gwythyr)

but fear not! another competitor appears!

— *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.