TV Notes

Top new series on the Beeb. A modern-day version of Sherlock Holmes doesn't, on the face of it, sound convincing.

But in the hands of the guys who oversee Dr Who, its 90 minutes of quality TV. Oh, and many of the scenes are filmed in and around Cardiff (incluidng at least one scene in the WAG building in Cathays Park and several at the Temple of Peace).

Travel Notes

Spent the last couple of days in Edinburgh. Flybe's shuttle service does the job very nicely.

Cardiff airport is still a relatively small scale affair, but Edinburgh airport is morphing into an enormous international airport. The walk from the plane to the airport exit is so far it seems like the plane is parked in Glasgow.

Still, overall it was a very good trip, topped by a top social evening in one of Edinburgh's watering holes.

Cricket Notes

I watched quite a bit of the Twenty20 competetion this year after Janesy bought me a Twenty20 season ticket as a birthday pressie.

After a good start Glamorgan fell away badly, and had to rely on Mark Cosgrove and Tom Maynard to get runs. Crofty was as good as ever and in James Harris Glammy have a potential England player.

Shaun Tait. Oh dear. Didn't seem overly bothered, and he showed he was a force to be reckoned with when he turned out for Australia. The only time he looked quick was when Trescothick and Keiswetter started hitting everything. Tait wound himself up and was so fast that Cosgrove at slip was outside the 30 yard circle.

Shot of the tournament thus far was Trescothick hitting Tait out of the ground with a top edge over third man. Cosgrove hitting the window above the scoreboard comes a close second.

Watching it person has spurred me to watch a bit of neutral Twenty20 on Sky, and I will try to make time to watch the quarter finals at the end of the month.

Baseball Notes

George Steinbrenner died last week. Famous as the interfering owner of the evil Empire (NY Yankees).

Reports include some great quotes from former employees, including "The phone would ring in the middle of the night, and you knew it was either Mr Steinbrenner or a death in the family. After a while, you started to root for a death in the family."

Film Notes

The Damned United was on BBC2 last night. Top movie about the brilliant Brian Clough's 44 day reign at Leeds United.

I know its part fact and part fiction but it sometimes felt just like a documentary. Michael Sheen does an uncanny job at portraying Old Big'Ead.

Terrific stuff from an era when I actually paid attention to soccer.

Travel Notes

After being in north Wales last Thursday and Friday, today I'm in Edinburgh. roseburn, not even anywhere near the city centre. There's a Spar and a couple of pubs. Hey ho.

And yes, its raining.

Home tomorrow evening, then its Cardiff and Builth Wells for the rest of the week. Next week its back to Edinburgh for a couple of days and then one day in Aberystwyth to round out the month. Then everyone goes on holidays and it all calms down (hopefully).

For August the furthest I want to travel is to the caravan in Tresaith.

Cricket Notes

Sitting in the late evening sunshine watching Glamorgan play Surrey in one of the endless round of Twenty20 “McDonalds” competition. Its not the real thing but at least I can get out and spend a Couple of hours at the SWALEC stadium.

Mark Cosgrove bullied the ball everywhere for an excellent 76, but the innings faltered at the death. We'll have to see if 165 is enough.

Long time, no see

I know, its been a while but reports of my demise are very unfounded. Its just that life has a way of taking over so completely that you don't have time to think.

Anyway, a spare 10 minutes sitting in Whetherspoons in Aberystwyth finally prompted me to put finger to tiny keyboard. Well, its either this or watch the endless World Cup on TV.

First up, some easy stuff. Sports. Boston ran the LA Lakers close (7 games) before going down to Kobe Bryant and a bunch of other guys who don't deserve NBA championship rings.

Rugby. Wales flattered to deceive in the first 20 minutes before being dutifully dispatched by the All Blacks. 22 losses in a row stretching back to 1953. Australia's lack of a front tow cost them dearly as they looked impressive behind. In Cooper they have a number 10 to rival Dan Carter.

Cricket. My birthday pressie from Cath was a season ticket to the Twenty20 at Glamorgan. They set off well, winning the first three games. But they have now lost the last three to settle into mid table obscurity. Their game was characterised by some truly shocking running between the wickets, and all the blame can't be laid at Cosgrove's door. But as S4C commentators said his speed is deceptive - he's slower than he looks.

Anyway, more to come, when I have time.

Birthday Notes

Happy birthday to my sister-in-law, Heather. Won’t give away her age, but its not a million miles away from my age. So start your guesses at 21.

You can follow her rants/musing on her blog.

Pictured here with her two little cherubs, Robert and Emma.

Rugby Notes

Ebbw Vale’s game on Sunday at home to Neath was snowed off. This was the scene last Sunday.
So Ebbw’s home record in 2010 through two whole months is played 1, won 1 – a great 23-6 win over Bedwas. Report here.

Even the though there hasn’t been much rugby lately, there’s lots of activity off the field. Its all reported here.

The season started on 29 August and in the 25 weeks to date Ebbw have played 13 league games. The season ends on 20 April, and in the 9 weeks left in the season they have to fit in the remaining 11. Whilst a big chunk of this is due to frost and snow, some really stupid scheduling on the part of the WRU hasn’t helped.

Anyway, the remaining games are:

27 Feb - Llandovery (Away)
2 March - Aberavon (Home)
6 March - Carmarthen Quins (Home)
9 March - Cardiff (Away)
20 March - Cross Keys (Away)
24 March - Newport (Home)
31 March - Pontypridd (Away)
3 April - Swansea (Away)
10 April - Pontypool (Home)
20 April - Glam Wands (Home)
tba - Neath (Home)

Everything Notes

It’s been a while since this blog got updated; there’s been a lot going on.

Ava turned two on 10 January. She had a nice party (in Hoffi Coffi, natch). She says “ta” for all the cards and pressies. Pics on Flickr as usual.

I’ve got a new job. From 1 March (or thereabouts) I start on secondment from WAG as director of finance with the Forestry Commission Wales. Looking forward to the new challenge, even if my base will stay in the Cathays Park office in Cardiff.

The four probation areas/trusts have had their application to merge approved by the Ministry of Justice. The Wales Probation Trust will be established from 1 April, and I hope to be considered as a member of the Trust.

The one thing that hasn’t changed lately is Ebbw Vale rugby. The quality has remained at the same low level. Crashed out of the cup to Llanelli on a frozen Tredegar pitch, terrible in a friendly against Carmarthen Quins, and apparently equally terrible in a league game at Llanelli. Next up is Bedwas on Sunday. I’ll be there, but I’m not expecting much.

Great Superbowl result. Heavily favoured Peyton Manning & the Dolts lost to the New Orleans Saints. Aints no more.

Snow Notes

This terrific picture of the UK from space was released by NASA yesterday and is in almost every paper today.

It gives a sense that we're all in this together. Its a bit different from 1982 when it took me a week to get back to University in London after the Christmas break, only to find that there wasn't any snow at all in London.

More of the white stuff to come too, allegedly.

Snow Notes

This is a pretty typical scene on any of the minor roads in Ebbw Vale today, the best part of a week after the snow came down. Many people have still been unable to get their cars out of estates and onto the main roads.

The general complaint is that Blaenau Gwent council have not gritted any minor roads, nor have they provided salt/grit so that people can do it themselves.

There's now even a Facebook group called 'Salt Our Streets Now in Blaenau Gwent' from whence this photo was borrowed.

Ava's Diary

Ava on Christmas morning with her desk
Originally uploaded by Martin Veale

Ava on Christmas morning with her desk. There's a bunch of other photos over on my Flickr site - there's a link in the right hand column.

New Year Notes

New Year’s greetings from a slightly snowy Pontypridd.

We have had nothing like the snow that Ebbw Vale and Merthyr have had, but last night’s dusting was enough to get today’s Pontypridd vs. Ebbw Vale game postponed.

The 2000s were a tumultuous time for me; becoming a husband and father, and relocating to Pontypridd have all been enormous changes.

Work wise, my appointment as a non-executive at South Wales Probation Trust has been very rewarding, and further changes are afoot with an application to establish an all-Wales Trust currently under consideration by MoJ Ministers.

The one unchanging thing through the past decade has been the day job. Whilst it’s changed from the National Assembly for Wales to the Welsh Assembly Government, it’s still the same civil service. I joined on its establishment on 1 April 1999, so I’ve been in the organisation for over 10 years, my longest stint in one organisation, albeit doing a range of different jobs. Perhaps 2010 may be the time when this changes too.