I used to work with someone who came from Newport, and like most people from Wales, he was fervently patriotic. It was easier to have a bit of banter about somebody’s background in those days, and I often used to wind him up by saying that he was English, not Welsh. He could be fiery at times, and I knew it was time to back off when I saw flames coming out of his mouth like a Welsh dragon.

The reason I accused him of being English was because Newport was in Monmouthshire, and Monmouthshire was seen as an English county. If you’re already confused, then you’ll be even more so when I tell you that Chepstow is also in Monmouthshire, but in Wales – and what’s more, Chepstow Castle was built to protect England from the Welsh. If you haven’t given up the will to live yet, I’ll attempt to explain how all this came about.

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Originally posted 2022-09-20 06:40:11.