I can see for miles...

This is the view from Pontypridd. Well, actually it’s the view from the mountain up above Ponty, called Cefn Eglwysilan, which stands at 1,253 feet (I know for someone who used to live at above 1,000 feet in Ebbw Vale, its not exactly high). There’s a bit of info here. Walking up it is the most exiting thing I did this festive weekend. The picture shows the view south to Cardiff and England beyond. You can see the Millennium Stadium on the very left, and Flathom and Steepholm are visible too.

The only other happening even worthy of report this weekend was a visit to the new Border’s bookstore opened in Llantrisant recently. Spent a lazy morning there stocking up on books for my holiday to the Maldives. Authors as diverse as PJ O’Rourke and Richie Benaud will accompany me.

CD of the week

Bought the new Bob Dylan CD today – Modern Times. If it’s anything like as good as his last, Love and Theft, it’ll be good. First hearing left me impressed. (But then what do I know – there are others who do this review stuff so much better.)

Rugby Notes

With the Tri Nations championship already in the bag, New Zealand fielded a virtual second team in South Africa last Saturday. After a close first half, Dan Carter’s 60-yard penalty at the stroke of half time seemed like a kick in the Springbok privates.

The second half turned into a procession, with New Zealand running in tries at will. Jacque Fourie got a couple of consolation tries late on. It finished up 45-26. The South African captain Jon Smit was a complete pain and whinged to the referee throughout – Chris White showed great patience not to penalise him despite repeatedly telling him to shut up.

The world rankings right now look like:

1 New Zealand
2 Australia
3 New Zealand II
4 the field

Cricket Notes

In the C&G 50-over cup final on Saturday, Sussex beat a star-packed Lancashire team by 15 runs in a great low-scoring final. Some superb bowling, especially from Mushtaq with 2-19 and James Kirtley with 5-27 was the difference. Lancashire’s Dominic Cork was unlucky to be stranded at the end – he’s an irritating git but I’d have him in my team.

Kirtley’s tears at the end clearly showed what it meant for Sussex to win their first trophy for 20 years, and for him to have come back from a reportedly dodgy bowling action.

England’s 20/20 team looked pretty average, and when Pietersen got out first ball, the game followed to its natural conclusion. They couldn’t bowl to Afridi and a win with 13 balls to spare is a pasting in this sort of game. Highlight of the game was Michael Yardy’s blinding boundary catch.

Link of the Week

This is brilliant and original video. Well, what would you do with eight treadmills? The band are called OK Go, and their website has more of the videos in the same lunatic style. They’re an international (and more well known) version of Choc Ice!