Unglamorous Welsh skills certificate

It had been a protracted process. And a difficult one. When I started out trying to acquire my Certificate in Welsh Language Skills, I had no idea that first, a pandemic would get into the way, and after that, severe RSI. But that is what happened. I managed to do the oral part of the examination without much difficulty, just before the pandemic made that impossible. But then the written part was first postponed, and then moved online. And by the time I did it I struggled with using Welsh on a computer. I did have access to Welsh dictation software, but this was not anywhere near as well-developed as English dictation software is, and there was even something wrong with it on the day. When my time ran out I was certain I had failed it, and even more certain I had a lot of pain in my arms. I could feel that exam for about a month afterwards.

When the results came in I was flabbergasted to find out I had actually passed, and even with merit. I was glad, though! Just plonk that on my CV, thank you very much. Normally there would be a ceremony on campus where the pro-Vice Chancellor would hand the certificates to the successful applicants, and there would be drinks and nibbles. And when I had received my results, I had been told that this year would be no exception. But the university reconsidered. They decided that covid situation was still too severe to have an actual in person gathering. They would just send us our certificates in the post! And we got a congratulatory email on behalf of the pro-Vice Chancellor, and Canolfan Bedwyr. It contained a little animation.

When I opened it I was a bit underwhelmed. It started with just a bland message from the pro-Vice Chancellor. It wasn't even recorded! It was just an animated text. And then there was a message from Sian from Canolfan Bedwyr; she at least had made the effort to record a message. But I see her every two weeks in person. So it's nice she congratulated me that way, but it had faded completely in comparison to having her congratulate me in person the first time I saw her after the results came in.

So I now have the hard-won certificate, and I am glad, but only because I know I got it against the odds. Not because the University festooned the certification with any sense of occasion whatsoever!