Jason Mohammad
Blog posts in total 10
Posts
Farewell from the Maes
And so another Eisteddfod comes to a close and so does my time working for BBC Cymru Wales in Ebbw Vale. It's a little emotional sitting here for the final time writing this blog and seeing everyone who's worked so hard looking tired and in need of some sleep. The team at the Eisteddfod have...
Uzbekistan comes to the Maes
So we're in the middle of the Radio Wales Phone-In when, as we're on the news, a young man comes to our studio and asks: are you Jason Mohammad? Yep! Turns out that Tobi Jon is from Uzbekistan, reads law, is in London and wanted to see what the Eisteddfod had to offer. Moreover, he'd seen clips of my pilgrimage to Mecca, produced for S4C last year, on the internet. I invited Tobi onto the programme and he was a wonderful contributor - charming with kind words about the Eisteddfod. You can hear it again on the BBC iPlayer. Also good to see some of my old lecturers from Swansea University. I said a few words at their stand about Professor Hywel Teifi Edwards this afternoon, who died earlier this year. I studied Welsh under Hywel and he truly was an inspiration to so many people especially his students. Former students were also there and they were invited to write their memories about Yr Athro Hywel Teifi on a very special wall at the stand. The Eisteddfod is just not the same without him. Jason
Siesta on the A470
An extremely busy day on the Maes for me and perhaps a sign of things to come. It's not very often I need a little siesta during worktime but the lovely Caryl who is shipping the presenters up and down the A470 (Huw Llywelyn Davies, Sara Gibson and Hywel Gwynfryn) was waiting for me at the BB...
Theatre at the Met in Abertillery
Filming off the Maes this afternoon and when you're at the Eisteddfod it always feels a bit strange leaving when there's so much going on. Still gives me the chance to tell you that Theatr Genedlaethol (the National Theatre) are hard at work at the Met Theatre in Abertillery. Just poked my he...
Missing the Maes
I made the mistake of leaving a book catalogue in the bag when I gave the children their new book from the Maes when I arrived back home in Cardiff. Now, I have a shopping list as long as my arm! Never mind, I really enjoy buying them books. They're all actually coming to the Eisteddfod later...
Salad days
It turns out the salad bar is a few steps away from the BBC office. It takes a few days to get to grips with the Maes but the salad was well worth waiting for. I can thoroughly recommend the sweet potato, tomato and cucumber special - extremely good. It's always good to see sports commentator...
Where's the beetroot?
Bore da! There was a wonderful atmosphere on the Maes today - lots of families out and about, many of them enjoying the Eisteddfod for the very first time. I've had a very brief look around the Maes - I can't wait to get some time to spend some money on books and T-shirts, but given my hectic...
Tackling nerves and talking Bingo
Tea bar found. Shoes shaken. And to be honest, for the first time in years of working in TV, I was shaking when I tackled my first piece to camera in Welsh this afternoon. A crowd had gathered on the Maes to see me deliver my crafted opening piece to camera for tonight's show. I'd learnt my l...
First live interview in Welsh
Alarm at 6.30am. Quick flick through the Eisteddfod programme over a bowl of porridge and paned o de only to find out that my Radio Wales colleague, Roy Noble, is doing Bingo on the Maes at 5pm! Got to see that. Anyway, seeing as I'm doing a live broadcast for S4C at the opening of Maes y Dysgwyr at 11am, I'll make sure I get my name down. I'm sleeping at home in Cardiff for the week of the Eisteddfod, which will be rather strange as in previous years I've always stayed at hotels near the Maes and really enjoyed the company of the producers, directors, vision mixers, sound guys (you know, all the ones that I depend on on a daily basis) but I'm combining my work at the Eisteddfod with my daily show on BBC Radio Wales this year. I had to tiptoe around the house this morning as the whole of my family were enjoying a Saturday morning lie-in after my nephew's second birthday party last evening. Although, my six-year-old, Lili, did give me a pob lwc kiss before she went to bed. Bless. There was a terrific atmosphere among the BBC Cymru crew in the office - even though it is so early. I was a bit nervous to be honest - after all, this is my first experience of this event and working entirely in Welsh. After arriving at 8.30am, there was time for a quick change into a new shirt and straight into a chat with Sara, Morgan and Mari (the presenting team that I've just met) on TV! I'm working with Rhun ap Iorwerth most days, presenting some items on the highlights programme. So much to look forward to and so much to see. Old friends are all over the Maes and as well as a all the competitions, it's a chance to meet up with people I haven't seen for some time. I've just met Dai Williams, one of the finalists of the Welsh Learner of the Year - an amazing story. We've just filmed the interview with him for tonight's show. I would tell you all about him and his love of the language, but I want you to watch the programme on S4C tonight at 8.25pm - so there! From Dai it's a rush to get to the opening of Maes D. But off I go in search of another TV crew and this time it's live! My first ever live TV interview in Welsh and off we go. Huw Llywelyn Davies hands to me and it's a "Diolch yn fawr iawn Huw..." and I'm into it. It's a big thrill and a huge honour and a privilege to be broadcasting in Welsh from the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol 2010 for BBC Cymru. I have a three-minute chat with Jo, who's spent a year planning all the events on Maes D, as the Dragon Choir sings Calon Lân in the background. Wonderful! Oh, and by the way, the wellies are here - but no need. It's boat shoes all the way for me - although they are full of those annoying little stones. Now, where's the BBC tea bar? I need caffeine, it's going to be a long week! Feel free to comment! If you want to have your say, on this or any other BBC blog, you will need to sign in to your BBC iD account. If you don't have a BBC iD account, you can register here - it'll allow you to contribute to a range of BBC sites and services using a single login. Need some assistance? Read about BBC iD, or get some help with registering.
Mohammad and the Maes
Usually, I'm counting down the days to the new football season at this time of the year, but it's not the footy this time, it's the 2010 National Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale! I'm extremely proud to say that for the first time I'll be broadcasting in Welsh from the Maes. I've done many interviews over the past fortnight for newspapers in English and Welsh about my role for BBC Cymru Wales this year and people still seem generally surprised when they discover that I speak Welsh. I learnt the language over a period of 11 years - studying it at GCSE level with my inspirational teacher at Glyn Derw High School in Ely, Valmai Griffiths. I then studied A Level Welsh at Coleg Glan Hafren and did my degree in Welsh and Politics at the University of Wales, Swansea, graduating in 1996. During those years I developed a passion for the language, its origin, history, institutions and of course, the literature of Wales. Now, some years later, I'm preparing to broadcast in Welsh on television for the first time from the Eisteddfod, so it's a big moment for me. Obviously, many people associate me with my time on Wales Today, broadcasting in English but over the past 18 months I've had many requests to work in the Welsh language. Last year I presented a programme for S4C, where I travelled on a spiritual journey to Mecca and the response I had from the people who watched the programme was simply phenomenal. But the overriding response was one of surprise - that I actually spoke Welsh. My children go to a Welsh speaking school and I use the language more now than ever before, even though I present the daily Radio Wales Phone-In and still do most of my work in English. So this year I'm really looking forward to the Eisteddfod. I think it's vitally important for it to visit places like Ebbw Vale. It's always a big thrill for me to visit the Royal Welsh Show or the Eisteddfod representing BBC Cymru Wales and I look forward to meeting our viewers, listeners and of course, the many competitors that I'll be will no doubt have the pleasure of interviewing. I'll be keeping you right up to date with the whole experience through 'the eyes of Jason' via this blog so come and say hello. I'm here from 8.30am on Saturday. For now though, I've got to browse through my Eisteddfod programme to find out what's going to be my first item?! And of course, pack my wellies. No... stay positive, the sun always shines on the Eisteddfod, doesn't it?! Jason Feel free to comment! If you want to have your say, on this or any other BBC blog, you will need to sign in to your BBC iD account. If you don't have a BBC iD account, you can register here - it'll allow you to contribute to a range of BBC sites and services using a single login. Need some assistance? Read about BBC iD, or get some help with registering.
