Merthyr Express column

28th Oct 10
Cornish Greek Poet

The next Open Mic Night at the Imperial Hotel, Pontmorlais welcomes Greek author from Cornwall, Alexis Lykiard on Thursday, 4th November. Lykiard was born in Athens at the start of 1940, months before the Greeks repulsed Mussolini’s Italian troops from the northern frontiers of Greece. Hitler’s more robust forces followed, beginning the German Occupation of Greece. Lykiard endured the many horrors of the Nazi Occupation and by 1945 his family had escaped to Egypt at the beginning of the the four year civil war which followed Greek liberation. To this day he is perplexed by what he describes as “the lies told me during or about my childhood, by the dearth of honest information about those years”. Lykiard has published several poetry collections and several translations, plus some non-fiction. For further information on Alexis Lykiard visit: www.alexislykiard.com. Open Mic Nights are free entry, supported by MTCBC in partnership with Academi. Anyone wanting to read or perform can just come along on the night, where they’ll be scheduled in. For further information please contact: (01685) 725382 or arts@merthyr.gov.uk.

Halloween Pumpkin
Come along and learn how to carve out your very own Halloween pumpkin for just £1 at Enterprising Art & Business, Lower High Street, Merthyr Tydfil, tomorrow, Friday 29th October 10am to 3pm. All money raised will be in aid of Prince Charles Hospital. For more information talk to Helena Sands on 01685 376732 or Steve Smith on O7966171993.

Continental Market
One of the best Continental Markets in Europe; Team Fantastique are in Merthyr Tydfil town centre from today, Thursday 28th, until Saturday 30th October, from 9am until 5.30pm at High Street and Lower High Street. The Continental Market is now in its fifth successful year, continuing to bring to towns and city centres a true taste of French Market Shopping. Their mobile boulangerie fills the air with the smell of freshly baked baguettes and croissants, they have a saucisson stall with its hot selection of Toulouse and Merguez sausages, Tartiflette and fresh cooked Paella, along with a magnificent selection of cheeses, dried sausages, seasonal fruit and vegetables and sweets and crepes. There is also a good selection of wooden toys and games on offer, Moroccan gifts and cashmere sweaters and a very fine range of costume jewellery from around the world, including a new range from Paris! Enjoy all the excitement of a true, 100% French Market!

2011 Calendar
Next year’s Merthyr Tydfil Calendar celebrates some of the creative talents of the borough, using the theme Poems and Pictures, featuring the work of some of the many Merthyr Tydfil artists and poets, including poetry by the award winning author Mike Jenkins, novelist, biographer and poet Anthony Bunko, Maggie Pryce Jones, Margaret Lloyd and Bernard Harrington, together with a host of other worthy poets. The images come courtesy of, amoung others, celebrated artists Robert Alwyn Hughes and Ron Jones, illustrating the strong bond both artists still have with the place where they spent their formative years (Dowlais and Aberfan respectivley), plus the work of many other painters, photographers and an embroiderer all of whom give us a colourful picture of Merthyr Tydfil borough over the years. The 2011 calendar is available now for £2.95 from central library.

Talent Showcase
The Merthyr’s Got Talent showcase takes place next Thursday 4th November at the Myfanwy Theatre in Merthyr Tydfil College. Doors open at 6pm. Entry by ticket only. For more information about tickets contact Lee Davies on 01685 353420 lee.davies@3gs.org.uk or Lisa Bruford on 01443 410841 Lisa.Bruford@merthyr.gov.uk.