Trains

Finally, there is actually progress in the development of the Ebbw Vale train line. It’s been 44 years since passenger trains last ran to and from Ebbw Vale. It’s been over 4 years since the Assembly made the announcement in 2002 that the line was to reopen.

But last week the first JCB moved in to start the work necessary to get the train line and six new stations ready for opening next summer.

There’s more comment here (the Councils’ view) and here (a more independent view).

Travel Notes

Enjoyable - Spent the weekend staying with some friends in Bobbington. Wonderful lazy weekend. We visited Moseley Old Hall on Saturday, a National Trust property near Wolverhampton where Charles II hid from Cromwell many years ago (in 1651 to be precise).

Aggravating - I have no idea why the M4 was like a car park at 2pm on a Friday afternoon. But the fact that’s it a) just two lanes wide between Cardiff and Newport is just nuts, and b) its the local bypass for Newport residents don’t help.

Welsh Notes

Apparently Wenglish travels less well across the UK than all the other dialects. Great Wenglish words include:

Ach-y-fi! – expression of disgust or repugnance
Butty – a friend, colleague, or one of a pair
Cwtch – to snuggle or lie down
Daps – plimsolls
Mitch – to play truant
Potch – a mess, trouble, even to date
Tidy – good, excellent
Where’s it to? – where is it?

Restaurant Notes

The Drawing Room in Builth Wells has been named as the AA Welsh Restaurant of the Year. Haven’t been there. Yet.

Rugby Notes

I wasn’t there, but all reports tell of another nail biting finish before Ebbw came out victorious at Cross Keys 15-11. The weather was just a touch inclement. One update text I had said that we had the tide with us first half.

Scorers: tries for Andrew Bevan (again) and Andrew McLaughlan, with a conversion and penalty for Sam Mills.

Highlight: the win

Lowlight: another two yellow cards; we’ve got to get our discipline sorted out.

Football Notes

I got to see the New England Patriots’ 38-13 demolition of the Cincinnati Bengals last night. Sky Sports has a doubleheader each week (the US 1pm and 4pm games). But in addition its interactive service offers some alternative games, and this was yesterday’s.

Running Backs Corey Dillon and Lawrence Maroney dominated and made it easy for Tom Brady to throw with ease.

Baseball Notes

The road to the World Series begins with the opening play-off matches starting on Tuesday October 3 with two five-game series' in both the AL and NL before the winner go for the title.

American League Division Series:
Oakland v Minnesota
New York Yankees v Detroit

National League Division Series:
San Diego v St Louis
LA Dodgers v New York Mets

Running Notes

Watched the Great North Run on TV yesterday and thought to myself “I could do that”. So I might next year. I’ve got until the application forms come out to talk myself out of it.

Link of the Week

There’s lots of Pontypridd stuff on www.Pontytown.co.uk, including an excellent article about regional rugby in the Valleys.