Went to Caerphilly’s medieval fayre yesterday. Beautiful cold day, lots of stalls, food and drink aplenty. Came home with baklava, cheeses and beer. I reckon that’s a successful day.
The most bizarre sight of the day was when we were walking past Caerphilly Castle. Atop one of the turrets was Dr Who’s tardis! It has been in town as Dr Who filming has been taking place in Caerphilly, and they have ‘borrowed’ the tardis for a while. The BBC has the story.
The tree is up (mostly thanks to Janesy) and so the countdown to Christmas starts here.
Lots going on, as usual. No sooner than we did our creche harvest festival concert than we started preparing for our Christmas show.
We do two shows this week (both matinees). Hopefully a pic or two will make it onto here.
To my mind, the biggest retailing losses of the recession is the loss of Borders in the UK. The Borders bookstore in Llantrisant has been a favourite haunt since it opened a couple of years ago. Its popularity was helped by the fact that there was a Starbucks there too.
My views completely echo this straight lift from Robert Crampton’s (as always) terrific column in The Times...
Strange, Borders going belly up. My local branch was always packed; my family alone has spent a small fortune there over the years. And, unlike, say, your average travel agency (how much longer can they last?) or indeed bank, Borders has, or had, the feel of a vibrant, optimistic, well-run, up-to-the-minute business, providing, to my mind, a pretty good modern shopping experience.
Maybe too modern. The last few times I’ve tried to track down a book in Borders, the assistant, in that charmingly chilled-out non-competitive young person way, has suggested I’d be better off going on Amazon.
It’s a joke.
Ryan Giggs is, by all accounts, one of the most famous Welsh sports stars right now. But a personality?
BBC Wales’ Sports Personality of the Year was duly won by Giggsy-wiggsy last week, and is in the running for the UK version too. But, as The Times points out, he once advertised Quorn in the 1990s and was out-acted by the tofu.
UPDATE: Mr Charisma signed off his acceptance speech of the UK award with "but... yeah... thanks."
The Welsh Assembly Government last night announced the winners of the annual True Taste awards. A couple of companies I frequent got a mention: the Llwynhelyg Farm Shop in Sarnau (near the caravan) won silver in the retailer of the year category, and Ultracomida, a wonderful Spanish-style cafe/deli in Aberystwyth won bronze in the eating out in Wales category.The Brew Wales blog has lots more on the awards, particularly the alcoholic ones.
If you love Marmite, you'll love the Marmite shop that is on London's Regent Street until early January. 
A fine win for Ebbw Vale on Saturday. In windy conditions accompanied often by torrential rain at Eugene Cross Park, they beat high-flying Swansea 14-7. (BTW, it was nice of Wales to move their game against Samoa to Friday night so as not to clash with Ebbw’s fixture.)
Here I am, hard at work at the computer. I need to catch up with my diary, so hopefully there'll be a bit more from me in the near future.
Whilst there's lots of reality TV about, the "reality" approach hasn't yet permeated into children's literature just yet.
Ava and I went to see Ebbw’s narrow (22-24) defeat at the hands of Llandovery the other week. Coming in on the back of a couple of enormous wins, Llandovery were big favourites, but Ebbw gave a very good account of themselves and could have won it. Could have, could have. 
The second gig was a different kettle of fish. No new CD to promote, just a band which seems hellbent on having a good time. Without doubt, this is one of the best nights out that money can buy. 
Two concerts (gigs I think the kids call them) in two days earlier this month. First off was the aging rockers Magnum at the Muni in Pontypridd. Really good concert just like the old days, right down to the wind machine blowing Bob Catley’s hair, albeit a bit greying nowadays.
