Ralph yn yr egwyl

Ralph yn yr egwyl  ~ Ralph in the interval


“Our awareness is all that is alive and maybe sacred in any of us. Everything else about us is dead machinery.”
― Kurt Vonnegut, (Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions)

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Roedd rhaid i mi fynd i'r Ganolfan Feddygol heddiw i gael samplau gwaed wedi'u cymryd. Byddwch yn gweld fy mod i'n cael pwysedd gwaed uchel gyda'r cyflymder daeth y gwaed allan. Doeddwn i ddim wedi cael brecwast adre, felly roedd brecwast yn Chelsea Bun yn y fynwent. Wedyn roedd rhaid i mi tipyn bach o siopau i wneud. Mwynheais i'r arddangosfeydd yr hydref a'r Nadolig yn y ffenestri siopau. Mae pobol yn mor artistig.

Fel ffan hir o Flanders & Swann, pan welais i'r enw 'Ralph' roeddwn i'n ôl gyda'u monolog 'Greensleeves':

“Now if you′re writing a musical, Which I'm sure practically all of you are, That is the thing to watch out for, actually, What they call ′the first-half closer'. They'd got to do ′Ralph Royster Doyster′ in two halves,
They were going to do 'Royster′ in the first half, 'Doyster′ in the second half, 'Ralph′ in the interval.”
― Michael Flanders, (Flanders & Swann - Greensleeves)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB-zBJykYj8

Cefais fy nghyflwyno i Flanders & Swann gan ein cymdogion drws nesa pan roeddwn i'n ifanc, chwedeg blwyddyn yn ôl (roedd gyda nhw chwaraewr recordiau a wnaethon ni ddim). Rydw i wedi bod yn ddiolchgar i Mr. & Mrs Neill byth ers hynny. Dydw i ddim yn gwybod os oes digrifwyr fel Flanders & Swann nawr, gyda'u hiwmor tyner ac addysgedig. Roedd rhaid iddyn nhw wybod llawer i wneud y jôcs, ac roedd rhaid i chi wybod llawer i'w deall.

A, atgofion!

Felly, dyna pam mae 'Ralph' i fi bob amser yn golygu 'Ralph yn yr egwyl(interval)'.

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I had to go to the Medical Center today to have blood samples taken. You could see I’ve got high blood pressure with the speed the blood came out. I hadn't had breakfast at home, so breakfast was at Chelsea Bun in the cemetery. Then I had to do a little bit of shopping. I enjoyed the autumn and Christmas displays in the shop windows. People are so artistic.

As a long time fan of Flanders & Swann, when I saw the name 'Ralph' I was back with their 'Greensleeves' monologue:

"Now if you're writing a musical, Which I'm sure practically all of you are, That is the thing to watch out for, actually, What they call ′the first-half closer'. They'd got to do ′Ralph Royster Doyster′ in two halves,
They were going to do 'Royster' in the first half, 'Doyster' in the second half, 'Ralph' in the interval."
― Michael Flanders, (Flanders & Swann - Greensleeves)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB-zBJykYj8

I was introduced to Flanders & Swann by our next door neighbours when I was young, sixty years ago (they had a record player and we didn't). I have been grateful to Mr. & Mrs. Neill ever since. I don't know if there are comedians like Flanders & Swann now, with their gentle and educated humour. They had to know a lot to make the jokes, and you had to know a lot to understand them.

And, memories!

So, that's why 'Ralph' to me always means 'Ralph in the interval'.

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Disgrifiad (Cymraeg): Hysbyseb ar gyfer sbectol 'Ralph Lauren' mewn ffenestr Optegydd yn yr Eglwys Newydd, Caerdydd.

Description (English):  Advertisement for 'Ralph Lauren' glasses in an Optician's window in Whitchurch, Cardiff.

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