Happy birthday, Cath. I love you.
C had a great birthday card from her mum and dad: the front read “We’re smiling because your our daughter” & inside “and laughing because there’s nothing you can do about it”.
Things I saw on my run dow the Taff Trail last night: 2 white cows, several horses (one wearing a coat), 3 rabbits, lots of sheep and little lambs, dogs of all shapes and sizes being walked by their owners (also all shapes and sizes) and 2 cyclists (one going very slowly and jovial, the other very fast and surly).
Excellent Sunday lunch at the Newbride in Tredunnock near Usk (http://www.thenewbridge.co.uk/). Beautiful setting on the banks of the Usk river, and great food too. Worth the trip.
Ebbw Vale First Responder is a great volunteer service which provides support to emergency ambulance services in critical cases. They do a superb job of supporting the scarce ambulance service in the area – Aberbeeg, Tredegar and Neviil Hall in Abergavenny. (www.evfirstresponder.co.uk)
If you want to download music to you iPod, MP3 player or just your PC and are tired of paying 99p or so for each track, here’s a cheaper alternative. AllofMP3 (http://www.allofmp3.com/) is a site which offers a huge selection of music at a fraction of the price. I just downloaded new CDs from Van Morrison and Donald Fagen for under £1 each.
Random thought – there are some great pig-related words: porcine, suckling, rasher and, of course, bacon.
TV notes
Boston Legal on Living TV is great fun. William Shatner (yes, Kirk himself) is on top form as Denny Crane, the slightly deranged lawyer.
The Apprentice – Tuan got the heave-ho this week. He really was a useless waste of space as a leader. If the others are even half-good, then Sir Alan has the opportunity to get rid of Syed. But no, someone goes & messes up so badly that he has no choice & Syed survives to give the great British public another bout of BS.
Travel notes
Aggravating I – The dualling of the Heads of the Valleys road (the A465) is moving on slowly. One stretch has been completed, between Merthyr Tydfil and Tredegar. Well, I say completed. The last half mile near Tredegar was open for a whole week before the ubiquitous cones were erected around a small landslip near the Tredegar junction, until remedial work could be done.
No problem, I hear you say. Except that these cones have been in place for almost 2 years! When traveling to Ebbw Vale this week I notice that even more cones have sprung up. Does this mean that the repairs are finally going to be done? Don’t hold your breath.
Aggravating II – Mobile phones being used in the quiet carriage of the train to/from London. They need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Cricket notes
Amazingly, Glamorgan’s Sophia Gardens has been added to the “A” list of UK cricket grounds, and are scheduled to host a Test Match between England and Australia in 2009. A bit like holding a Wagner opera at a Womens Institute hall, reckoned The Times. The current capacity is around 7,000 and they are aiming to expand up towards 20,000. So this is all subject to lots of improvement works around the ground and getting planning permission past the Pontcanna residents.
That might be tricky. They successfully saw off Glamorgan’s plans to build an ice rink at Sophia Gardens to host the Cardiff Devils franchise, and seem to have some influential contacts in the Welsh media. We’ll see.
Rugby notes
Another good win for Ebbw Vale against Pontypool in midweek. They have raced up the table to 12th, and would appear to be one win away from safety. We were down to 13 men at one stage, with bizarrely a wing and fullback yellow-carded.
Three good tries for Simon Hunt. I would heap lots of praise on him, but I met him in the clubhouse after the game and he doesn’t seem to have any problems with self-confidence! Collectively the team played their hearts out and they were out on their feet for the last ten minutes. Nevertheless, a stout defensive line kept Maesteg out.
The scheduling of the two remaining home games (Llandovery and Pontypridd) is yet to be resolved. There are issues around access to the ground with the cricket taking precedence after 1 May. So rumours abound that the games may be played at Abertilery Park. Let’s hope that Friday night games at Eugene Cross Park can be organised.
Close game on Saturday at Dave Parade where Ebbw narrowly failed to turn over the old enemy, going down 21-22. Augers well for the remaining three fixtures, starting with a visit to Cross Keys on Saturday coming.
Garden notes
The patio is now complete. C finished the planting around the pond on Saturday. See the photo post below.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Maldives
This is the view from the water bungalow in the Maldives that I will be chilling out at come October. I'll be packing light - trunks & snorkel!
Great Train Robbery
Good natured bank holiday crowds gather, as they always do, at Easter-time. The crowds were something to behold. There were traffic jams on the streets leading to their church. The church of DIY - B&Q. Why do they all believe that DIY can only be started at Easter?
The boys of summer are back. Saw my first Red Sox game yesterday on NASN. They won it with a walk-off home run to beat Seattle. Nice to see David Ortiz helping my fantasy team again.
Cricket season also kicks off this week. Glamorgan’s home opener is against Essex on the 26th. What a great way to spend a lunch break away from the office.
Haven’t seen much of the endless cricket coverage on Sky this winter. This is the problem when there is wall-to-wall coverage; you don’t know what to watch so you don’t watch any. If the swallows of Capistrano flew past my window every day it simply wouldn’t be a big deal. Sometimes less is more.
Another funeral last week. You know you are getting old when the priests start looking young.
Travel notes
I noticed last week that the old benches on the platform at Pontypridd station were no longer there. They were so old that they had “GWR” molded in the ironwork on the end of the benches. I asked one of the guards why they had been taken away. “They were nicked” he said, “even though they were bolted to the floor.”
How do you nick a small collection of 8 foot cast-iron seats from a train station in the middle of the town and nobody see you? These masterminds are wasted on petty theft. They should be robbing trains, not train stations.
Rugby notes
Best not to loiter too long on Ebbw’s short trip (and even shorter trip for me) to Sardis Road ten days ago. Could have been very different if early chances had been accepted.
Magnificent win for Ebbw on the bank holiday weekend. 52-25. All you could want from a game – some really good tries, lots of local derby niggle, one red and four yellow cards. Another huge game tomorrow night when we take on Maesteg & their collection of 40-year-olds, Kevin Ellis, John Deveraux and Allan Bateman. Another win could see us race up the table to the heady heights of 12th place.
TV notes
Dr Who is back. Hurrah! David Tennant makes a good Doctor, and seems to be from the cheeky-chappie Tom Baker school of doctoring. Have you played the game of spot the Cardiff landmark? In this week’s pile of escapist tosh, the interior of the new Wales Millennium Centre was used as the set for a futuristic hospital.
The Apprentice – Trevor the useless salesman went acouple of weeks ago, followed by Sharon last week. When Sir Alan was given the choice between a liar, a whinger or a planner in the boardroom, amazingly, the liar stayed and the whinger went. The Badger’s looking like a tough cookie to beat.
Grumpy Old Men – yep, that’s me.
Running notes
Got in a one hour run last week, but all spare time since has been taken up by the big garden project.
Garden notes
The holiday weekend was lost to the “lets build a patio” project. Ingredients: 50 square metres of bluestone from a quarry in Swansea, 2 ton of stone dust, 15 bags of concrete, a new frog pond, and lots of blood, sweat and tears.
The new concrete was of course christened by Marv’s paw prints almost as soon as it was laid.
Another bird feeder bites the dust. If the squirrels can’t take them apart (I’ve taken to taping & gluing the feeders together) then they simply eat though the plastic until there’s a hole & then all the seed falls out. Little furry buggers.
The boys of summer are back. Saw my first Red Sox game yesterday on NASN. They won it with a walk-off home run to beat Seattle. Nice to see David Ortiz helping my fantasy team again.
Cricket season also kicks off this week. Glamorgan’s home opener is against Essex on the 26th. What a great way to spend a lunch break away from the office.
Haven’t seen much of the endless cricket coverage on Sky this winter. This is the problem when there is wall-to-wall coverage; you don’t know what to watch so you don’t watch any. If the swallows of Capistrano flew past my window every day it simply wouldn’t be a big deal. Sometimes less is more.
Another funeral last week. You know you are getting old when the priests start looking young.
Travel notes
I noticed last week that the old benches on the platform at Pontypridd station were no longer there. They were so old that they had “GWR” molded in the ironwork on the end of the benches. I asked one of the guards why they had been taken away. “They were nicked” he said, “even though they were bolted to the floor.”
How do you nick a small collection of 8 foot cast-iron seats from a train station in the middle of the town and nobody see you? These masterminds are wasted on petty theft. They should be robbing trains, not train stations.
Rugby notes
Best not to loiter too long on Ebbw’s short trip (and even shorter trip for me) to Sardis Road ten days ago. Could have been very different if early chances had been accepted.
Magnificent win for Ebbw on the bank holiday weekend. 52-25. All you could want from a game – some really good tries, lots of local derby niggle, one red and four yellow cards. Another huge game tomorrow night when we take on Maesteg & their collection of 40-year-olds, Kevin Ellis, John Deveraux and Allan Bateman. Another win could see us race up the table to the heady heights of 12th place.
TV notes
Dr Who is back. Hurrah! David Tennant makes a good Doctor, and seems to be from the cheeky-chappie Tom Baker school of doctoring. Have you played the game of spot the Cardiff landmark? In this week’s pile of escapist tosh, the interior of the new Wales Millennium Centre was used as the set for a futuristic hospital.
The Apprentice – Trevor the useless salesman went acouple of weeks ago, followed by Sharon last week. When Sir Alan was given the choice between a liar, a whinger or a planner in the boardroom, amazingly, the liar stayed and the whinger went. The Badger’s looking like a tough cookie to beat.
Grumpy Old Men – yep, that’s me.
Running notes
Got in a one hour run last week, but all spare time since has been taken up by the big garden project.
Garden notes
The holiday weekend was lost to the “lets build a patio” project. Ingredients: 50 square metres of bluestone from a quarry in Swansea, 2 ton of stone dust, 15 bags of concrete, a new frog pond, and lots of blood, sweat and tears.
The new concrete was of course christened by Marv’s paw prints almost as soon as it was laid.
Another bird feeder bites the dust. If the squirrels can’t take them apart (I’ve taken to taping & gluing the feeders together) then they simply eat though the plastic until there’s a hole & then all the seed falls out. Little furry buggers.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Birthdays and baseball
Happy birthday to our brother, 46. OMG, 46.
As well as birthdays, April also brings the start of the baseball season. NASN & five will get well-used in the coming months I’m sure. Go Red Sox!
Of course with it comes fantasy baseball. My Ponty Red Sox are facing off against 11 other teams run by guys who live in the US and know what they’re doing. Never mind, it whiles away the odd lunch break.
A few evenings out this week. Wednesday night was a lovely evening spent at Lorna and Wilco’s. Wilco runs the Readers Sheds website in his spare time, bizarre but brilliant (www.readersheds.co.uk). Thursday was quiz night at the Cwm Conservative Club. Jon’s tough questions were interspersed with chips, scrumps and tinned salmon sandwiches.
Travel notes
Enjoyable – a leaflet landed on the mat this week for the summer sailings of the Waverley, the last paddle steamer operating in the UK. Went on a trip last year from Penarth to Minehead and it was great fun. The average age was around 60, and flasks of tea and sandwiches in cling-film were in plentiful supply. I’m sure I’ll be getting a picnic ready sometime this summer for a trip to nowhere in particular on the Waverley. (www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk)
Rugby notes
Scrum V again provided the entertainment again this week. David Moffat (ex-chief executive of the WRU) laid into Eddie Butler pretty well, and the boys at the beeb didn’t like it. They can dish it out but they don’t like it up ‘em.
Magnificent ending to the Leicester/Bath European Cup quarter final on Saturday. With Bath up 15-12, Leicester camp on the Bath line. A series of collapsed scrums lead to two yellow cards for Bath props. Bath play the last ten minutes with 13 men, and through a combination of their determination & Leicester’s inability to use an overlap somehow held on for an amazing victory. 32,000 stunned midlanders looked on in shock.
TV notes
My Name Is Earl – top comedy from the US. In a complete change from the usual trendy apartment dwellers of sitcom-land, this is set amongst redneck trailer trash. Earl’s task is to make amends for all the bad he’s done in his redneck life. Karma, he says. Some extracts from the list of things he has to atone for:
The Apprentice – haven’t got around to seeing it yet, so it’ll be a double review next week.
Running notes
Scamp on Monday, but aching like heck (it’s a family website) after gardening work on Sunday.
Garden notes
Now that spring is well and truly here, its time to widen outdoor issues away from the squirrels (furry-tailed bastards that they are) to all manner of garden issues.
The big project at the moment is to lay a patio where the lawn is. I say, lawn, it’s a collection of weeds and dandelions with grass interspersed. Spent last weekend digging all the grass/weeds up, and trying to level the ground. Tricky when you are perched on the side of a mountain in Pontypridd. Nevertheless, it’s not a bad approximation to flat right now. Upcoming weekend job is to get stones for the patio; trips to quarries have been scheduled prior to the Ponty game on Saturday. The big push to complete will be the Easter weekend, which is a five-day weekend thanks to the generosity of the civil service.
As well as birthdays, April also brings the start of the baseball season. NASN & five will get well-used in the coming months I’m sure. Go Red Sox!
Of course with it comes fantasy baseball. My Ponty Red Sox are facing off against 11 other teams run by guys who live in the US and know what they’re doing. Never mind, it whiles away the odd lunch break.
A few evenings out this week. Wednesday night was a lovely evening spent at Lorna and Wilco’s. Wilco runs the Readers Sheds website in his spare time, bizarre but brilliant (www.readersheds.co.uk). Thursday was quiz night at the Cwm Conservative Club. Jon’s tough questions were interspersed with chips, scrumps and tinned salmon sandwiches.
Travel notes
Enjoyable – a leaflet landed on the mat this week for the summer sailings of the Waverley, the last paddle steamer operating in the UK. Went on a trip last year from Penarth to Minehead and it was great fun. The average age was around 60, and flasks of tea and sandwiches in cling-film were in plentiful supply. I’m sure I’ll be getting a picnic ready sometime this summer for a trip to nowhere in particular on the Waverley. (www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk)
Rugby notes
Scrum V again provided the entertainment again this week. David Moffat (ex-chief executive of the WRU) laid into Eddie Butler pretty well, and the boys at the beeb didn’t like it. They can dish it out but they don’t like it up ‘em.
Magnificent ending to the Leicester/Bath European Cup quarter final on Saturday. With Bath up 15-12, Leicester camp on the Bath line. A series of collapsed scrums lead to two yellow cards for Bath props. Bath play the last ten minutes with 13 men, and through a combination of their determination & Leicester’s inability to use an overlap somehow held on for an amazing victory. 32,000 stunned midlanders looked on in shock.
TV notes
My Name Is Earl – top comedy from the US. In a complete change from the usual trendy apartment dwellers of sitcom-land, this is set amongst redneck trailer trash. Earl’s task is to make amends for all the bad he’s done in his redneck life. Karma, he says. Some extracts from the list of things he has to atone for:
Had garage sale while house sitting for neighboursPlanet Earth – OK, I know I’m a bit late in getting to this since the run on BBC1 has just finished, but I know that the beeb will rerun it and when they do – watch it. I’m not normally a big fan of natural history programmes, but Planet Earth is in a different league. The photography is absolutely amazing. It is simply the best thing on TV. The episode that had the first ever TV footage of snow leopards in the wild was breathtaking. As was footage of half a million bats in a cave in Indonesia.
Faked death to break up with a girl
Replaced birth control pills with tic-tacs
Snatched a kid’s Halloween candy when he came to my trailer to trick-or-treat
The Apprentice – haven’t got around to seeing it yet, so it’ll be a double review next week.
Running notes
Scamp on Monday, but aching like heck (it’s a family website) after gardening work on Sunday.
Garden notes
Now that spring is well and truly here, its time to widen outdoor issues away from the squirrels (furry-tailed bastards that they are) to all manner of garden issues.
The big project at the moment is to lay a patio where the lawn is. I say, lawn, it’s a collection of weeds and dandelions with grass interspersed. Spent last weekend digging all the grass/weeds up, and trying to level the ground. Tricky when you are perched on the side of a mountain in Pontypridd. Nevertheless, it’s not a bad approximation to flat right now. Upcoming weekend job is to get stones for the patio; trips to quarries have been scheduled prior to the Ponty game on Saturday. The big push to complete will be the Easter weekend, which is a five-day weekend thanks to the generosity of the civil service.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Ding dong the bells are going to chime!
OK, not in the morning, but sometime. Yes, the big news this week is that I proposed to C, & in a moment of weakness/madness, she said yes. Bling has been purchased & there’s no going back now. Not that I’d want to.
Went to the Jewelry Quarter in Birmingham to pick the ring (www.the-quarter.com). There’s over 100 jewelry shops there, and the choice was mind-boggling. I went expecting car salesman tactics and obsequious staff and was very pleasantly surprised. They are clearly used to people wandering in with no real idea of what they’re after. After changing our minds several times, the final product is a rather fabulous 9-diamond cluster on an 18ct white gold ring.
First thoughts are for a small winter wedding. Watch this space for further news.
Back to more mundane matters. In cube world, it’s all change. A major reorganisation kicks in next week. Lots of new staff and new responsibilities. So it’s the perfect time for the Finance Director and the head of the business unit to up and leave. And as for succession plans? Well, let me know if you hear any. The FD job has been advertised, but a successor isn’t likely to be in place before September.
Its euro millions lottery rollover week, so if the numbers of my office syndicate come up then there will be even more vacant posts. Just to be on the safe side though, I’ve made plans to be in work as usual on Monday.
Travel notes
Aggravating – It’s the commuter rush hour on the Valleys line into Cardiff. I usually catch the 8:15 train from Abercynon. It’s usually 4 carriages long and is completely full by the time it gets to Cardiff.
So on Tuesday, they (I can’t call them managers because they don’t) decide to run a 2-carriage train. Its standing room only from Abercynon and by Cardiff it’s like a tin of sardines. Great planning Arriva Trains Wales. It costs them money too, since the guard can’t get through the train to sell tickets, large numbers get a free ride.
Rugby notes
Lashing rain & a muddy field meant that points were hard to come by against Glamorgan Wanderers last Saturday & the only winners were the people getting paid to wash the kit – and they had to earn their corn this week. The two teams in brown drew 5 each. Very disappointing since Ebbw are definitely on the up and must have fancied this game.
It wasn’t for lack of effort though. The withdrawal of makeshift out-half Jon Hawker during the warm-up followed quickly by a nasty injury to scrum-half Alan Lake (dislocated shoulder – out for the season) meant that a radical reshuffle. That said it was always going to be a battle of the forwards, and Wanderers’ pack, including a couple of Blues “ringers”, were a real test. The pack fronted up (© Mike Ruddock, OBE) well but at the end was out on its collective feet after three games in eight days.
They’ll get a rest now, since there’s no game this week. It’s the Principality or Konica or something else cup this week, and having lost a close one to Aberavon in the last round, we’re watching from the sidelines.
Next game is on 8 April, a home one for me since its Ebbw Vale at Pontypridd. I suspect I might get a bit of stick off the boys on this one, wondering who I will be supporting.
TV notes
The Apprentice – Jo the nutter has finally gone. The show will be a weaker for her departure, but she was a complete liability in everything that she did. I predict a future for Jo as an all-England gurning champion.
As you read here last week, Syed teetered on the brink. “Would I buy a second car from you? No!” says Sir Alan. Got to be favourite to be gone next. If it’s the girls it’ll be Sharon, the Scottish lecturer with no leadership skills whatsoever.
Running notes
Hour went forward last weekend and the evenings are light. But it has lashed with rain all week, and I’m not yet sufficiently into a routine to go out in all weathers. One 5k in Bute Park is all I have to show for this week. Tentative plans call for a summer 10k before the usual Swansea 10k in the autumn.
Squirrel notes
Amazingly, the industrial strength, metal peanut feeder has lasted well thus far. Famous last words, I know.
Went to the Jewelry Quarter in Birmingham to pick the ring (www.the-quarter.com). There’s over 100 jewelry shops there, and the choice was mind-boggling. I went expecting car salesman tactics and obsequious staff and was very pleasantly surprised. They are clearly used to people wandering in with no real idea of what they’re after. After changing our minds several times, the final product is a rather fabulous 9-diamond cluster on an 18ct white gold ring.
First thoughts are for a small winter wedding. Watch this space for further news.
Back to more mundane matters. In cube world, it’s all change. A major reorganisation kicks in next week. Lots of new staff and new responsibilities. So it’s the perfect time for the Finance Director and the head of the business unit to up and leave. And as for succession plans? Well, let me know if you hear any. The FD job has been advertised, but a successor isn’t likely to be in place before September.
Its euro millions lottery rollover week, so if the numbers of my office syndicate come up then there will be even more vacant posts. Just to be on the safe side though, I’ve made plans to be in work as usual on Monday.
Travel notes
Aggravating – It’s the commuter rush hour on the Valleys line into Cardiff. I usually catch the 8:15 train from Abercynon. It’s usually 4 carriages long and is completely full by the time it gets to Cardiff.
So on Tuesday, they (I can’t call them managers because they don’t) decide to run a 2-carriage train. Its standing room only from Abercynon and by Cardiff it’s like a tin of sardines. Great planning Arriva Trains Wales. It costs them money too, since the guard can’t get through the train to sell tickets, large numbers get a free ride.
Rugby notes
Lashing rain & a muddy field meant that points were hard to come by against Glamorgan Wanderers last Saturday & the only winners were the people getting paid to wash the kit – and they had to earn their corn this week. The two teams in brown drew 5 each. Very disappointing since Ebbw are definitely on the up and must have fancied this game.
It wasn’t for lack of effort though. The withdrawal of makeshift out-half Jon Hawker during the warm-up followed quickly by a nasty injury to scrum-half Alan Lake (dislocated shoulder – out for the season) meant that a radical reshuffle. That said it was always going to be a battle of the forwards, and Wanderers’ pack, including a couple of Blues “ringers”, were a real test. The pack fronted up (© Mike Ruddock, OBE) well but at the end was out on its collective feet after three games in eight days.
They’ll get a rest now, since there’s no game this week. It’s the Principality or Konica or something else cup this week, and having lost a close one to Aberavon in the last round, we’re watching from the sidelines.
Next game is on 8 April, a home one for me since its Ebbw Vale at Pontypridd. I suspect I might get a bit of stick off the boys on this one, wondering who I will be supporting.
TV notes
The Apprentice – Jo the nutter has finally gone. The show will be a weaker for her departure, but she was a complete liability in everything that she did. I predict a future for Jo as an all-England gurning champion.
As you read here last week, Syed teetered on the brink. “Would I buy a second car from you? No!” says Sir Alan. Got to be favourite to be gone next. If it’s the girls it’ll be Sharon, the Scottish lecturer with no leadership skills whatsoever.
Running notes
Hour went forward last weekend and the evenings are light. But it has lashed with rain all week, and I’m not yet sufficiently into a routine to go out in all weathers. One 5k in Bute Park is all I have to show for this week. Tentative plans call for a summer 10k before the usual Swansea 10k in the autumn.
Squirrel notes
Amazingly, the industrial strength, metal peanut feeder has lasted well thus far. Famous last words, I know.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Ebbw wins!
Happy tenth anniversary to our Brother and Heather over the pond in Shrewsbury, MA.
And Helen, good luck with the new house. Hope you have some great times there.
Spent the weekend in west Wales. Even though it’s called the Cwmwennol Country House Hotel, it’s not much more than a big B&B. Perfectly adequate as a base for Saundersfoot and Tenby though.
Saturday afternoon on Saundersfoot beach the challenge was to stay upright in the face of a howling gale. The sand dunes were piling up in the High Street – you start to realise how Egyptian temples can be lost for thousands of years when you see sand dunes up against parked cars.
The chip shop on the front was the perfect place to revive ourselves. Milky coffee and chips all round.
Despite living in Wales for all of my 40+ years, Sunday was my first visit to Tenby. What a pretty place. Helped by a cloudless sky and winds a bit less brutal than the previous day.
Went to a funeral on Tuesday. Huge turn-out: the people of Merthyr really are the salt of the earth. Everyone adjourned to the upstairs function room of Aberfan Constitutional Club where chicken legs, sandwiches and sausage rolls were laid on, all washed down with a few lagers. Mid afternoon there was a disco. Honest.
Travel notes
Enjoyable – The Metro has been launched this month as a freebie paper in the Cardiff area. Nice to see it being handed out at Pontypridd station this morning. Clearly Ponty is part of the metropolis after all.
Rugby notes
After an encouraging performance at Bedwas last Friday, Ebbw Vale finally came good on Tuesday night with an excellent win over Aberavon. Some key players coming back into the side after long absences – Andrew Bevan showed up well, Chunky seems to be back to his form of old, Jon Hawker had a great game at outside half, and the whole pack performed well – especially in the line out.
After a drought of rugby, it’s a torrent now. Another big game this Saturday when fellow basement dwellers Glamorgan Wanderers visit. I’ll be there.
TV notes
The Apprentice – if Manny is a world class presenter then I’m Donald Trump. Doesn’t Jo get it – she’s in the boardroom despite putting in her best showing to date. It’s a matter of time for her and Syed.
Running notes
Now that the evenings are getting lighter, it’s possible to get out running after work instead of lunchtime. Good run yesterday with C around the Common. Will have to get back into the running habit.
Squirrel notes
Another squirrel-proof bird feeder bit the dust this week. I didn’t realise that plastic was a staple of the grey squirrel’s diet. Moved on to metal feeders now. It’s a matter of time before the oxy-acetylene torch is out though.
And Helen, good luck with the new house. Hope you have some great times there.
Spent the weekend in west Wales. Even though it’s called the Cwmwennol Country House Hotel, it’s not much more than a big B&B. Perfectly adequate as a base for Saundersfoot and Tenby though.
Saturday afternoon on Saundersfoot beach the challenge was to stay upright in the face of a howling gale. The sand dunes were piling up in the High Street – you start to realise how Egyptian temples can be lost for thousands of years when you see sand dunes up against parked cars.
The chip shop on the front was the perfect place to revive ourselves. Milky coffee and chips all round.
Despite living in Wales for all of my 40+ years, Sunday was my first visit to Tenby. What a pretty place. Helped by a cloudless sky and winds a bit less brutal than the previous day.
Went to a funeral on Tuesday. Huge turn-out: the people of Merthyr really are the salt of the earth. Everyone adjourned to the upstairs function room of Aberfan Constitutional Club where chicken legs, sandwiches and sausage rolls were laid on, all washed down with a few lagers. Mid afternoon there was a disco. Honest.
Travel notes
Enjoyable – The Metro has been launched this month as a freebie paper in the Cardiff area. Nice to see it being handed out at Pontypridd station this morning. Clearly Ponty is part of the metropolis after all.
Rugby notes
After an encouraging performance at Bedwas last Friday, Ebbw Vale finally came good on Tuesday night with an excellent win over Aberavon. Some key players coming back into the side after long absences – Andrew Bevan showed up well, Chunky seems to be back to his form of old, Jon Hawker had a great game at outside half, and the whole pack performed well – especially in the line out.
After a drought of rugby, it’s a torrent now. Another big game this Saturday when fellow basement dwellers Glamorgan Wanderers visit. I’ll be there.
TV notes
The Apprentice – if Manny is a world class presenter then I’m Donald Trump. Doesn’t Jo get it – she’s in the boardroom despite putting in her best showing to date. It’s a matter of time for her and Syed.
Running notes
Now that the evenings are getting lighter, it’s possible to get out running after work instead of lunchtime. Good run yesterday with C around the Common. Will have to get back into the running habit.
Squirrel notes
Another squirrel-proof bird feeder bit the dust this week. I didn’t realise that plastic was a staple of the grey squirrel’s diet. Moved on to metal feeders now. It’s a matter of time before the oxy-acetylene torch is out though.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Rugby season?
The saga goes on of trying to get a rugby match played at Eugene Cross Park (home of my beloved Ebbw Vale RFC). Last home game – 14 January, a full two months ago. The club treasurer must be crying in his beer at the lack of income through the turnstile and over the bar.
In the last two weekends, the home game with Aberavon was snowed off and then Pontypridd cried off with just two days notice, citing international call-ups to the various international games going on.
There are just 7 weekends left in the rugby season, and we have 10 games left to play. There’s a blank weekend in that lot too – the cup still gets priority and as a result our 1 April game with Llandovery has been postponed. Looks like the season will run into June at this rate.
Travel note of the week
Enjoyable I – Beautiful drive through mid-Wales up to Llangoed Hall on the weekend. It snowed heavily on Saturday night/Sunday morning, and the views around Storey Arms were spectacular.
Enjoyable II – Seeing ducks take to flight as they flee from Marvin. A wonderful sight. The ducks, not Marvin. He’s on a lead at Llangorse Lake but the barking is aggravating the birds all over Powys.
Aggravating – When I go up to London (thankfully not that often) I tend to stay at a Travel Inn near Kings Cross. Its modern, spacious, reasonably priced, but most importantly, its quiet. A bolthole away from the madness out on the streets. This time I got a room directly overlooking said madness. Asked for a move & then ended up next to what seemed to be the extractor fan for the whole hotel. So much for peace and quiet.
Rugby note of the week
The international weekend didn’t really surprise – Italy were robbed of a win over Ireland earlier and Wales were there to be taken. A poor Italian out-half saved Wales’ bacon. Was cheered by France’s demolition of England though.
TV notes
Top shows in the VJ household right now – House on five and The West Wing on More 4. Top well-written dramas with characters that aren’t all super-heroes. Honourable mention to The Apprentice: OK, so Alan Sugar isn’t Donald Trump, but it’s enjoyable nevertheless. But if that bunch of whack-jobs is the future of British industry, heaven help us all.
Movie notes
OK, I know it’s easy to be wise after the event (in this case the Oscars), but the best movies I’ve seen in recent months were Crash, Brokeback Mountain and Walk The Line. Crash was a good thought-provoking film. As a ensemble piece no characters really stood out, but I can’t argue with its Best Movie award. If Reese Witherspoon wins an award for Walk The Line, then Joachin Phoenix should have got two. He's in almost every scene in the movie and acts everyone else off the screen.
Went to see Syriana last night. Top movie, although I’m not entirely sure I understood what everyone was up to. Let me summarise: USA oil people and CIA bad, Arab infighting, Clooney podgy, Damon nerdy, don’t use the pliers in the bathroom.
In the last two weekends, the home game with Aberavon was snowed off and then Pontypridd cried off with just two days notice, citing international call-ups to the various international games going on.
There are just 7 weekends left in the rugby season, and we have 10 games left to play. There’s a blank weekend in that lot too – the cup still gets priority and as a result our 1 April game with Llandovery has been postponed. Looks like the season will run into June at this rate.
Travel note of the week
Enjoyable I – Beautiful drive through mid-Wales up to Llangoed Hall on the weekend. It snowed heavily on Saturday night/Sunday morning, and the views around Storey Arms were spectacular.
Enjoyable II – Seeing ducks take to flight as they flee from Marvin. A wonderful sight. The ducks, not Marvin. He’s on a lead at Llangorse Lake but the barking is aggravating the birds all over Powys.
Aggravating – When I go up to London (thankfully not that often) I tend to stay at a Travel Inn near Kings Cross. Its modern, spacious, reasonably priced, but most importantly, its quiet. A bolthole away from the madness out on the streets. This time I got a room directly overlooking said madness. Asked for a move & then ended up next to what seemed to be the extractor fan for the whole hotel. So much for peace and quiet.
Rugby note of the week
The international weekend didn’t really surprise – Italy were robbed of a win over Ireland earlier and Wales were there to be taken. A poor Italian out-half saved Wales’ bacon. Was cheered by France’s demolition of England though.
TV notes
Top shows in the VJ household right now – House on five and The West Wing on More 4. Top well-written dramas with characters that aren’t all super-heroes. Honourable mention to The Apprentice: OK, so Alan Sugar isn’t Donald Trump, but it’s enjoyable nevertheless. But if that bunch of whack-jobs is the future of British industry, heaven help us all.
Movie notes
OK, I know it’s easy to be wise after the event (in this case the Oscars), but the best movies I’ve seen in recent months were Crash, Brokeback Mountain and Walk The Line. Crash was a good thought-provoking film. As a ensemble piece no characters really stood out, but I can’t argue with its Best Movie award. If Reese Witherspoon wins an award for Walk The Line, then Joachin Phoenix should have got two. He's in almost every scene in the movie and acts everyone else off the screen.
Went to see Syriana last night. Top movie, although I’m not entirely sure I understood what everyone was up to. Let me summarise: USA oil people and CIA bad, Arab infighting, Clooney podgy, Damon nerdy, don’t use the pliers in the bathroom.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Guernica
Rob and Amanda, good luck for a wonderful life together. You deserve it.
Happy 40th birthday, Big D. As for me, I put that one astern a few years ago.
The major event of the past week was a long weekend in Madrid, which got off to a spectacularly bad start. We were mugged.
Travelling on the Metro from the airport to the hotel we must have stood out as tourists, laden as we were with holdalls & rucksacks. It was a busy and rainy Saturday night, and it seemed as though every Madrilèno was on the platform. As we got on to the train, so did a very agitated and pushy guy. He proceeded to grab at me and as I bent forward to work out what he was up to, I felt a hand trying to nick my wallet from my back pocket. The first guy was a decoy. I turned and grabbed the guy behind me and as we tussled he dropped my wallet. He fled, along his accomplices – there must have been five all told in the gang including the decoy. The moment of relief at saving my wallet was short-lived; C’s handbag was opened and her purse stolen during the commotion.
All this happened in the time it takes for the Metro doors to open and close at the station. Not a great start to a holiday.
It improved though, as it had to, and high spots were visits to the Prada and especially to the Reina Sophia museum with its Picassos and Dalis. Guernica is simply stunning.
Travel note of the week
Aggravating – Sorry EasyJet, delays are one thing, but keeping everyone in the dark about them is quite another. The flight back from Madrid was scheduled for 9:25. At 9:15 there’s an announcement of a one hour delay, followed quickly by another setting the delay at “around two hours”. Now, I don’t know much about flying planes, but I do know that if the plane isn’t getting into Madrid until 11:00 or later, then they must know that it didn’t leave Bristol on schedule at 7:30, the same time that we are checking-in. Why isn’t it possible to tell everyone when they check-in that there is going to be a delay? Why the big secret?
Bristol Airport has to cop some grief too. Apparently we "took them by surprise" when we landed. We had to wait 10 minutes for steps so that we could get off, and for another 20 minutes before the bags were unloaded. This when there was not another plane in the place. Still, the roads are nice and quiet and 3am.
Rugby note of the week
9 weeks left of the rugby season, and Ebbw Vale have 10 games left. A couple of rearrangements have been fitted in, with the ill-fated Maesteg home game yet to be re-scheduled. Check the fixtures on the official website - a link is on the right. Its still up to the players and coaches to turn this thing around. Leaving aside all the politics of relegation criteria, just winning a fistful of key games is going to be everything through March and April, starting with Aberavon on Saturday.
How many do we have to win to stay up? Who knows, but Bedwas, Pontypool, Llandovery and Glamorgan Wanderers are all beatable. Graham’s website has all the info. (http://www.ebbw-vale.co.uk/)
Squirrel notes
Quiet in the garden with a soft layer of snow blanketing chez VJ. Our garden looks as nice as everyone else’s when they’re all covered in snow.
English Nature (http://www.english-nature.co.uk/) has stacks of useful advice on nature-friendly gardening. Me though, I just put out the birdseed, shoo the squirrels and follow instructions from C.
Happy 40th birthday, Big D. As for me, I put that one astern a few years ago.
The major event of the past week was a long weekend in Madrid, which got off to a spectacularly bad start. We were mugged.
Travelling on the Metro from the airport to the hotel we must have stood out as tourists, laden as we were with holdalls & rucksacks. It was a busy and rainy Saturday night, and it seemed as though every Madrilèno was on the platform. As we got on to the train, so did a very agitated and pushy guy. He proceeded to grab at me and as I bent forward to work out what he was up to, I felt a hand trying to nick my wallet from my back pocket. The first guy was a decoy. I turned and grabbed the guy behind me and as we tussled he dropped my wallet. He fled, along his accomplices – there must have been five all told in the gang including the decoy. The moment of relief at saving my wallet was short-lived; C’s handbag was opened and her purse stolen during the commotion.
All this happened in the time it takes for the Metro doors to open and close at the station. Not a great start to a holiday.
It improved though, as it had to, and high spots were visits to the Prada and especially to the Reina Sophia museum with its Picassos and Dalis. Guernica is simply stunning.
Travel note of the week
Aggravating – Sorry EasyJet, delays are one thing, but keeping everyone in the dark about them is quite another. The flight back from Madrid was scheduled for 9:25. At 9:15 there’s an announcement of a one hour delay, followed quickly by another setting the delay at “around two hours”. Now, I don’t know much about flying planes, but I do know that if the plane isn’t getting into Madrid until 11:00 or later, then they must know that it didn’t leave Bristol on schedule at 7:30, the same time that we are checking-in. Why isn’t it possible to tell everyone when they check-in that there is going to be a delay? Why the big secret?
Bristol Airport has to cop some grief too. Apparently we "took them by surprise" when we landed. We had to wait 10 minutes for steps so that we could get off, and for another 20 minutes before the bags were unloaded. This when there was not another plane in the place. Still, the roads are nice and quiet and 3am.
Rugby note of the week
9 weeks left of the rugby season, and Ebbw Vale have 10 games left. A couple of rearrangements have been fitted in, with the ill-fated Maesteg home game yet to be re-scheduled. Check the fixtures on the official website - a link is on the right. Its still up to the players and coaches to turn this thing around. Leaving aside all the politics of relegation criteria, just winning a fistful of key games is going to be everything through March and April, starting with Aberavon on Saturday.
How many do we have to win to stay up? Who knows, but Bedwas, Pontypool, Llandovery and Glamorgan Wanderers are all beatable. Graham’s website has all the info. (http://www.ebbw-vale.co.uk/)
Squirrel notes
Quiet in the garden with a soft layer of snow blanketing chez VJ. Our garden looks as nice as everyone else’s when they’re all covered in snow.
English Nature (http://www.english-nature.co.uk/) has stacks of useful advice on nature-friendly gardening. Me though, I just put out the birdseed, shoo the squirrels and follow instructions from C.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Gar & Jif
Sorry for the break in transmission, it has been a bit nuts lately.
A slightly belated birthday greeting to H, my S-in-L.
Spent a very enjoyable night at Llangoed Hall recently (http://www.llangoedhall.com/). It’s a renovated country house hotel in mid Wales, between Brecon and Builth Wells. It recently was named 2nd in the Wales hotel of the year awards.
I can see why. Class. Just class. The sedate and hushed tones make it a perfect getaway from the chaos that is the rest of the world nowadays. Reading room, snooker room/library. The service is impeccable and reverent. In the first restaurant/hotel review for this blog, I can highly recommend it - especially when the winter sale makes the prices far more accessible than the usual £200 - £400 per room per night.
2nd review - Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd. Welsh gastro pub of the year. Don't know exactly what a gastro pub is though - anywhere you can get a pie & a pint? Anyway, had an excellent mixed grill (steak, liver, pork & leek sausage, belly pork, duck egg) & C chose a spicy pork and prawn noodle thingy. Both were very well received, and were washed down with a bottle of Wild Rock sauvignon blanc from New Zealand.
The food (& drink) miles don't bear thinking about, but the food and service is superb. Again, highly recommended for a quiet relaxed evening out. (www.bunchofgrapes.org.uk)
Travel note of the week
Enjoyable - I must be the only person who seems to find the Valley line services from Cardiff up to Pontypridd OK. Sometimes you don't get to sit down for a few stops, but at least they turn up. Well most of them.
Aggravating - Fog lights. The clue is in the name. So why do people (not to generalise, but usually driving a "hot hatch" and wearing a burberry baseball cap) drive around all day and night whatever the weather with their fog lights blazing? Isn't this an offence just like driving at 2mph over the speed limit?
Rugby note of the week
The highlight of the rugby world this past week has to have been the train crash that was Gareth Thomas on Scrum V. "Gar", as he was affectionately called by "Jif", rightly said that the press liked all the stuff surrounding Mike Ruddock's departure as they sold more papers. His "performance" on TV certainly padded the papers for the rest of the week.
Gareth clearly wears his heart on his sleeve on Welsh rugby matters, and will be missed by the Welsh team this weekend. Hope you get well soon Gar.
Interesting fact that may only interest me – 6th January was the last time I saw a live game of rugby. As a card-carrying member of Ebbw Vale RFC that’s a surprisingly long gap in the middle of the season.
Squirrel notes
Finches, tits and doves abound in the garden of chez VJ. They loiter in the nearby trees on lookout for squirrels, cats and mongrels. When the coast is clear they take turns to move to the advance position on the telephone wire before swooping down for nuts and stale bread.
In other garden news a wonderful new arbour (a garden seat with stuff over it) was constructed last weekend. I say constructed. It was screwed together from the sections that B&Q provide. With the instructions being written by someone who has no more than nodding acquaintance with the English language though, I thought it was quite a feat of engineering.
Running notes (an occasional series)
Two 5k runs this week. Bit fresh of a lunchtime in Bute Park mind you. Got to find where I put my running gloves. Either they got lost during the move or else the squirrels have nicked them.
Had a discussion over cycling and running etiquette with a woman on a bicycle whilst crossing blackweir bridge. She was trying to overtake and said that I should have let her cross ahead of me on the narrow bridge over the Taff. She was annoyed at my apparent lack of manners in this matter. When I pointed out that there was a "cyclists dismount" sign, manners didn't seem to matter as good old anglo-saxon was invoked. Oh, the world we live in...
A slightly belated birthday greeting to H, my S-in-L.
Spent a very enjoyable night at Llangoed Hall recently (http://www.llangoedhall.com/). It’s a renovated country house hotel in mid Wales, between Brecon and Builth Wells. It recently was named 2nd in the Wales hotel of the year awards.
I can see why. Class. Just class. The sedate and hushed tones make it a perfect getaway from the chaos that is the rest of the world nowadays. Reading room, snooker room/library. The service is impeccable and reverent. In the first restaurant/hotel review for this blog, I can highly recommend it - especially when the winter sale makes the prices far more accessible than the usual £200 - £400 per room per night.
2nd review - Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd. Welsh gastro pub of the year. Don't know exactly what a gastro pub is though - anywhere you can get a pie & a pint? Anyway, had an excellent mixed grill (steak, liver, pork & leek sausage, belly pork, duck egg) & C chose a spicy pork and prawn noodle thingy. Both were very well received, and were washed down with a bottle of Wild Rock sauvignon blanc from New Zealand.
The food (& drink) miles don't bear thinking about, but the food and service is superb. Again, highly recommended for a quiet relaxed evening out. (www.bunchofgrapes.org.uk)
Travel note of the week
Enjoyable - I must be the only person who seems to find the Valley line services from Cardiff up to Pontypridd OK. Sometimes you don't get to sit down for a few stops, but at least they turn up. Well most of them.
Aggravating - Fog lights. The clue is in the name. So why do people (not to generalise, but usually driving a "hot hatch" and wearing a burberry baseball cap) drive around all day and night whatever the weather with their fog lights blazing? Isn't this an offence just like driving at 2mph over the speed limit?
Rugby note of the week
The highlight of the rugby world this past week has to have been the train crash that was Gareth Thomas on Scrum V. "Gar", as he was affectionately called by "Jif", rightly said that the press liked all the stuff surrounding Mike Ruddock's departure as they sold more papers. His "performance" on TV certainly padded the papers for the rest of the week.
Gareth clearly wears his heart on his sleeve on Welsh rugby matters, and will be missed by the Welsh team this weekend. Hope you get well soon Gar.
Interesting fact that may only interest me – 6th January was the last time I saw a live game of rugby. As a card-carrying member of Ebbw Vale RFC that’s a surprisingly long gap in the middle of the season.
Squirrel notes
Finches, tits and doves abound in the garden of chez VJ. They loiter in the nearby trees on lookout for squirrels, cats and mongrels. When the coast is clear they take turns to move to the advance position on the telephone wire before swooping down for nuts and stale bread.
In other garden news a wonderful new arbour (a garden seat with stuff over it) was constructed last weekend. I say constructed. It was screwed together from the sections that B&Q provide. With the instructions being written by someone who has no more than nodding acquaintance with the English language though, I thought it was quite a feat of engineering.
Running notes (an occasional series)
Two 5k runs this week. Bit fresh of a lunchtime in Bute Park mind you. Got to find where I put my running gloves. Either they got lost during the move or else the squirrels have nicked them.
Had a discussion over cycling and running etiquette with a woman on a bicycle whilst crossing blackweir bridge. She was trying to overtake and said that I should have let her cross ahead of me on the narrow bridge over the Taff. She was annoyed at my apparent lack of manners in this matter. When I pointed out that there was a "cyclists dismount" sign, manners didn't seem to matter as good old anglo-saxon was invoked. Oh, the world we live in...
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Monday, February 06, 2006
Menai crabs
Had a quiet evening out last week and some excellent food at the Maenllwyd Inn outside of Caerphilly. The aderdeen angus lasagne was very eatable (I can't verify whether the cows were indeed Scottish though).
On a related topic, I was at a corporate event last week where the lunchtime buffet was entirely "locally sourced" - as opposed to sauced. Caerphilly cheese, Monmouthshire smoked chicken, Glamorgan sausages, Menai Straits crab. Brecon Carreg water as well, but I think the coffee was imported.
Travel notes of the week
Enjoyable - When I asked what time the last train home from Cardiff was on Saturday night I got the answer from the ticket salesman person followed by "but I wouldn't catch that one, it's a bloody zoo".
Enjoyable II - Travelling home I overheard 2 couples talking. The one guy, an ex-soldier, was regaling them on all the battles he had fought across the world. The problem is, they all seem to have happened in pubs.
Rugby note of the week
Saw the Ireland/Italy game in Walkabout. Seemed pretty clear to me that Italy were robbed by a couple of poor decisions by the English ref. It wasn't as though they were the usual sort of "split second" decisions. Rather they were both about grounding the ball for tries. The ref was too arrogant/stupid to refer to the 4th official, and so Italy were denied a historic win to bookend Scotland's great win.
Squirrel notes
Squirrels and crows continue to dominate the pecking order on the bird table at No. 1. When the squirrels have finished trying to destroy the table in some woodland version of Brainiac, a goodly selection of loveable birdage can be seen.
On a related topic, I was at a corporate event last week where the lunchtime buffet was entirely "locally sourced" - as opposed to sauced. Caerphilly cheese, Monmouthshire smoked chicken, Glamorgan sausages, Menai Straits crab. Brecon Carreg water as well, but I think the coffee was imported.
Travel notes of the week
Enjoyable - When I asked what time the last train home from Cardiff was on Saturday night I got the answer from the ticket salesman person followed by "but I wouldn't catch that one, it's a bloody zoo".
Enjoyable II - Travelling home I overheard 2 couples talking. The one guy, an ex-soldier, was regaling them on all the battles he had fought across the world. The problem is, they all seem to have happened in pubs.
Rugby note of the week
Saw the Ireland/Italy game in Walkabout. Seemed pretty clear to me that Italy were robbed by a couple of poor decisions by the English ref. It wasn't as though they were the usual sort of "split second" decisions. Rather they were both about grounding the ball for tries. The ref was too arrogant/stupid to refer to the 4th official, and so Italy were denied a historic win to bookend Scotland's great win.
Squirrel notes
Squirrels and crows continue to dominate the pecking order on the bird table at No. 1. When the squirrels have finished trying to destroy the table in some woodland version of Brainiac, a goodly selection of loveable birdage can be seen.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
You started it
Been away for a long weekend in Berlin. It was a kind of stag weekend but without the stag (or any other sort of mammal). Rebuilding everywhere. Tourist traps include a Snackpoint Charlie fast food joint. You can even buy 5p-sized bits of the Berlin Wall. Classy.
Travel notes of the week
Enjoyable - it's bliss to fly from a regional airport like Bristol rather than suffer the grief that is Heathrow and Gatwick. From getting to the airport, we parked up & checked in within 5 minutes.
Aggravating - Licensed bandits operate at the airport though. At £34, the charge for 4 days parking was more than the EasyJet flight. By contrast, it’s just £4 for limitless travel on buses, trams, metro and trains in Berlin.
Rugby note of the week
Missed Ebbw Vale's game at Bridgend last Saturday. Don't think I missed much from an Ebbw point of view. The false dawn (yet again) of Christmas wins against Pontypool and the Evil Empire Newport must be desperately frustrating for the new coaching staff and for all concerned.
No game this week as its England/Wales on Saturday and then a "six-pointer” when the Old Parish visit on Saturday 11 February.
Squirrel Notes
The bird table wasn't destroyed by squirrels this past week. Makes a change. "Squirrel proof" feeders are clearly a fraud. There's no such thing. A plastic bird feeder was eaten away until it fell apart & a metal one was simply dismantled by a squirrel and his toolbox. Superglue & lots of tape seem to have done the job thus far. But watch this space.
Travel notes of the week
Enjoyable - it's bliss to fly from a regional airport like Bristol rather than suffer the grief that is Heathrow and Gatwick. From getting to the airport, we parked up & checked in within 5 minutes.
Aggravating - Licensed bandits operate at the airport though. At £34, the charge for 4 days parking was more than the EasyJet flight. By contrast, it’s just £4 for limitless travel on buses, trams, metro and trains in Berlin.
Rugby note of the week
Missed Ebbw Vale's game at Bridgend last Saturday. Don't think I missed much from an Ebbw point of view. The false dawn (yet again) of Christmas wins against Pontypool and the Evil Empire Newport must be desperately frustrating for the new coaching staff and for all concerned.
No game this week as its England/Wales on Saturday and then a "six-pointer” when the Old Parish visit on Saturday 11 February.
Squirrel Notes
The bird table wasn't destroyed by squirrels this past week. Makes a change. "Squirrel proof" feeders are clearly a fraud. There's no such thing. A plastic bird feeder was eaten away until it fell apart & a metal one was simply dismantled by a squirrel and his toolbox. Superglue & lots of tape seem to have done the job thus far. But watch this space.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Welcome to my world
Welcome to my blog. Hopefully you'll find some interesting commentaries on rugby, on cube-life, on travel, on my pet peeves, on life in Wales and lots more.
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