If we're not careful today isn't the only day we risk doing something foolish...

Bore da!

Welsh is a wonderful language. But according to a recent study, it’s one of the toughest Western European languages to master. (And even harder than Swahili, apparently - who knew?) Indeed, to learn Welsh apparently takes double the time it takes to get to grips with French.

So whilst it’s exciting to see the mother tongue of that proud country being revived in schools and classes throughout the nation, it’s fair to say there’s still a way to go before the whole of the population is rhugl or fluent.

Take the good people at Swansea?council. These well-intentioned folk went to the trouble?of erecting an expensive sign nearby an Asda store in the Morriston area of the city (photographed above) in an attempt to stop juggernauts using the road.

But instead of reading “No entry for heavy goods vehicles” the sign actually said, “I am out of the office at the moment” in Welsh.

The reason for this verbal catastrophe? Swansea council emailed its wording request for the sign to its in-house translation service. Unfortunately, the translator was on leave and the hapless officials received the automated response in Welsh – which they couldn’t read and assumed was the translation they’d requested.

As soon as a native speaker spotted the gaff, the game was up – and the sign came down. Much to the embaras or embarrassment of the beleaguered council officers.

So the moral of the story is clear: never take anything for granted and always double check your facts. Because if you don’t, you’ll feel like a fool. And not only on April 1st.

Lechyd Da!