And how do you want your napkins folded?

One of the most bizarre questions I’ve ever been asked. Cath & I went up to the Peterstone Court yesterday to meet the wedding planner. She told us how weddings usually ran there, and we said “no” to almost everything. No formal introductions, no speeches, no top table. In the end though they were very accommodating, and things are starting to come together.

Birthday Notes

A number of happy birthdays greetings are required this week. Yesterday was the 10th birthday of my nephew Robert. Jon the Vet shares his birthday but is considerably older. Considerably older still is Philly, who celebrated his [censored] birthday on Friday. Congratulations one and all.

Injury Notes

At the end of the month I’m in hospital to have an operation on my shoulder. It’s for calcific tendonitis. In other words it’s a build up of calcium (a bone spur) which the tendon rubs against when my arm is raised. Anti-inflammatories and cortisone injections haven’t really made any difference, so now its keyhole surgery. There are some good illustrations here.

Oh, and Dai’s got a knee.

Smoke-free Notes

2007 will be the year in which the air clears in Wales, in more ways than one. On April 2, new laws come into force in Wales making it illegal to smoke in indoor public places. Given the growing medical evidence of the harm done to children and non smoking adults by passive smoking, I voted for the change in the law when it came before the Assembly. The medical and scientific experts reckon it will save around 300 lives a year, with the biggest benefit being felt by staff working in catering and the pub trade.

Restaurant Notes

Went for a pizza at Zio Piero’s on Cowbridge Road in Cardiff last week. I’m told that the menus (and the décor) haven’t changed in years but the food and wine was excellent, and so why change a winning formula? Its pretty much all you want – a nice meal in a down-to-earth atmosphere.

Rugby Notes

Another great win on Saturday, this time 37-23 against Bridgend. The BBC cameras were present, and Scrum V had a few minutes of highlights.

Ebbw dominated the first half but failed, to use the old Phil Gardener line, to turn pressure into points. The pack were awesome again, and the scrum seems to get better every week. It only creaked at the end when hooker Wilkes was in the bin and Kristian Gay went off with a calf.

In the second half though the backs finally clicked and scored some magnificent tries. Ebbw’s forth try was a blinder. From a scrum in our own 22, Patrick Horgan box kicked for Simon Hunt to run on to. Centre Gareth Miles supported well and Hunt’s offload after drawing the full back put him clear to the corner flag.

Thanks to Newport’s rain-out, we are now 5 points clear at the top of the table. There’s a tough run of 3 away games coming up now though. Aberavon away this Saturday, followed by trips to Swansea and then Llangennach in the Cup.

Scorers: Tries for Miles (2), Andrew Bevan (now with 7 on the season), new lock Rhodri Dicks and a penalty try (this was in the first 10 minutes, some kind of record), 2 conversions for Sam Mills and one for sub no. 10 Langdon, and 2 penalties for Mills.

Highlight: Some superb tackling by the back row. A couple of Bridgend players were slow to get up after some big hits (copyright Graham) from John Bowd, Craig Cleaver and Hywel Jenkins.

Lowlight: Injury list keeps growing. Kristian went off injured this week. According to the Western Mail, we have this week signed Dafydd Owen, a 36-year-old lock who was Aberavon captain 2 seasons ago, but who has not played since 2005.

NFL Notes

New England duly put away the New York Jets last night, making it a very successful weekend for Veale-supported teams. The Patriots took time to come to terms with the Jets defence though, and only pulled away late in the game. Dallas duly did prove too fragile to beat Seattle, muffing a field goal from two yards which would have won the game. Indianapolis proved to be way too strong for Kansas City, who never got going. Johnson’s running was completely ineffective.

2 out of 3 predictions correct, with the Giants/Eagles game to come.