Y Wegof Di-Reswm

I've just finished Star Of The Sea, I took a while to get going but it did soon enough.
The Star Of The Sea is a ship on it's way from Liverpool to New York during the Irish Famine in 1847 and as such has mostly Irish on board.
The book traces the stories of many of those on board that meet and intertwine upon the decks and inevitably some tales are more entertaining than others. They're all prety tragic however, piety was of no use for the starving masses and some turned to crime and commited heinous acts, needs must as the devil drives?
Many don't make it and die within sight of land by 'fair' means or foul - as the climax is murder (you're told this early in the book so I don't think I'm spoiling it).
Review Here.

So now I need a new book, I was think that aloud last night when Dawn said she'd get me one when we popped to the supermarket (Hmm she must be after something!?). I was concerned that it would have only 'womens fiction' but I spotted the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown for £3.50.
I know what I've heard about it, it's upset the church and many others, was a runaway best seller and Steve liked it. So I'm sure it'll be fine.

Stuck in again today as I'm expecting two deliveries, a new phone handset as the old one has a mind of it's own it seems (it wasn't me that kept phoning that girl during the early a.m.) and my Maestro card (still late), which I can hardly do anything without at the moment.

Aarti - Will & Grace? Really? Only seen an episode or two seemed standard American sitcom fare, but that's probably just me.

Carys - Punch: Try; 2 litres Cherryade, 1 litre Oranage Juice, 1 litre White Wine (not dry), Fruit liquors & Vodka to taste (then add some more as I reckon you'll scrimp) & plenty of chopped fruit... Veritable FireWater!

I heard two variations of the above quote from different sources just yesterday, I've not heard it before. One of the versions was 'marry' - it made me laugh!

BASTARDS
Before moving to the Whalley Range part of Manchester, we were aware that it's reputation was not the best, but had no problems with crime just a profilferation of demented layabouts & aged prostitutes loitering on the sides of the roads. Until the last month that is.
When Backer crashed one night - his car was broken into round the back and his stereo swiped.
Then a week or so ago mine was broken into as I mentioned. Last night ten cars in the car park were broken into Dawn's being the only exception. Despite one of my windows being patched up with plastic the idiots broke a different window to get in. Nothing was nicked as there's nothing there to take really. They made a real mess of Adam's car smashing the passenger window - agai there was nothing to nick and it's not worth our while to claim as were registered in West Wales. Just a real pain.
The police don't bother even coming round, their purpose being to give you a crime number (080129L-05) should you with to make a claim, I knew this of course, which is why I hadn't bothered ringing last time, but I thought that maybe the amount of cars broken into might stir some interest down the station, but alas, no.
I described it to the guy on the phone PC1448, "oh, just sounds like kids" he said. Well, thats fine then!

SCHOOL DINNERS
I was never particually a fan of Jamie Oliver, but he's on the mark with school dinners in his show, a similar state of affairs has been the case for years in the USA judging by Supersize Me, which doesn't only have a go at McD's. His positions is hard to argue with, especially as it deals with the 'future' or kids. Still though lip service is being paid to the issue by the parties hopping on the band wagon. Currently a meal per child is budgeted at £0.35. This tey will raise to £0.50 for primary school childern and £0.60 for those in secondary.
Oliver eeckons that £0.70 would be needed as a minimum, however this pales when you learn that prisoners are afforded £1.40 a meal and £0.50 is comparable to police dogs. It makes you wonder.
The only thing is the people in the kitchen are cooks not chef's and blighted by apathy and indiference if they're anything like my secondary school... I know all too well (including bitter experience) that the freshest ingredients don't always mix, and can still be ruined.
I sort of wonder if the choice should be taken away from them as they know not what they do, thing is in my experience the healthy option is always an insubstantial portion. Do I look like a rabbit? Anyhow more here.

LE BANC
I'm still not one hundred percent and am being sustained at the moment on boiled water and plain rice. I also have to stay in as I'm waiting for my debit card to arrive - I feel hamstrung without it, and it's already a day or so late. I was planning to catch a flick but must again stay in - recored delivery due to the post code M16 8HS.

MASK - I took the mask to work last week due to some curious queries. Kamran agreed to try it on, I gave him a hand but suddenly pulled it tight and tied a knot. He should have remained calm to untie it, but either a sense of claustrophobia or fear of being caught caused him to struggle and 'headbang' like Churchill in the rear window of a car being driven off road. The commmotion did attract the gazes of management and I reluctantly released him...

Shocking News with another quake off Sumatra, but at least not on the scale of the one on Boxing Day. No tsunami this time thankfully, however there are still many dead it seems.

Anyone else tired of the horseshit spin doing the rounds at the moment what with the election getting nearer? Blair & Howard are the main protagonists in the media of course as its percieved to be a two horse race (It used to annoy me when I was in Pontypridd as the billboards billed the forthcoming election to the locals as Labour v Conservative. As if the Tories would ever come close in the valleys. There was no doubt that Labour were going to win overall either was there the last two times?) In thinking about it I'm not sure where I'm registered to vote, Definately not here in Manchester, not in Glanaman I think, but I think to a previous address in Cardiff, where I'm understandably reluctant to return, after someone had sent the 'boys' round. Well whatever, would have been a wasted vote on my part except for in Glanaman anyway!

So what did I get up to on the weekend? Not much on Sunday went out, wasn't too fussed on going but Adam insisted, lunch in a pub called The Ox in Castlefield, Shocking service, and they served me pork where as I'd asked for Lamb.
Anyhow went around a few pubs in that area, I havn't been out there before, not a loss as it's much of a muchness, & a touch expensive to boot, but one, Bar-Ca a 'Catalan' bar apparently, had a band playing some pretty cool jazz. Maybe if the sun had been out it's have been diferent.

Adam went off in the night to some sort of do (Don't ask) where there was the promise of Dancing Dwarves, those who were left, all new people to me except for Rob (The Australian Mancunian) stayed out and tried for Karaoke. They had heard of a place called Charlie's, we went there but it was locked and no signs of life, but as we walked off some people were let in. Best not to ask we reckoned.
We went to the Siam Orchid, but this time it sucked - there was a flat atmosphere and next to no audience participation, and when I went up the doorman came over to tell me to stand still and not to hold the microphone stand... Boring. We left straight after that, tried one more pub and called it a night.

Yesterday, tried to recover, was feeling that I'd been worn thin mentally, and I'm thinking I should be going dry for a bit. I've done it for a while before, the problem is when people won't take no for an answer, is the answer not going out?

Off ill today, got a dodgy ear and had too much lemonade. Just getting on with my book and catching up with the news etc...
So that means I'll not be back to Lex, as today was supposed to be my last day, I managed though to obtain some images from colleagues profiles on the internal system and put them on the HYPERDOOPELATOR so if any of you were wondering you can put names to faces.
The current HDP (here) update is pictures from the DP gig at Jabez Clegg that I went to a few weeks ago.

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Before you say anything Potters, I got it from an Italian blog.

Gwil - think you should read Steve's note again. His mullet's gone & he likes the shirt.

Boks - Tres bien. Too much trouble on the tagboard? I get trouble makers on mine too!

Steve - Shame about the Mullet, it's the inbetween stage that's the real fashion crime!

Sorry all about the lateness - I've a top notch excuse, I'll let you know what is is when I think of it!

FRIDAY 11
COMIC RELIEF - RED NOSE DAY
Almost straight from work (Dawn & me got lost on the way and almost gave up going), quite a few people from work (inc JP) had volunteered their services to take pledges for Charity, they'd told us then that we be supplied with food, I imagined ordering sushi. However it was an utter shamlbles. I took over £1000 in pledges but we had no sight of the television activities to which we had to react, and there was no sign of food, and it was getting late.
Food it seemed was reaching other parts ofthe room and some eventually got to us, Imagine when I found it was one of my least favorite brands (see pic below) and stone cold... I was far from amused, in fact gently fuming.
The Second Funniest Clown Being Hung Image - See Brassed Off for the first!

I had to finish earlier than planned there to pick Curly up from the middle of Manchester at Midnight. He come straight from work from Abertawe/Swansea/Jackistan earlier on the train, he was tired unterstandably and wanted to go and crash for the evening but... NO! Backer (also Crashing at the flat) was out, he's from work but we'd never met, only ever spoken to on the phone and he'd come up from London way for a leaving do & had already been out for a few hours (read: reasonably sloshed). He was also another person after Curly to whom we could talk about Rugby, although English, he had Welsh links and took losing all those bets against me well enough (he also had a lady's ass akin to Po'sat it's max)! So we hit a few bars untill too early in the morning. But it had to be done! We got back to the flat and roused Dawn & Adam... I think.

SATURDAY 12
IS THIS THE ROAD TO AMARILLO?
(Title: Everyone was singing this song all weekend - but rarely managed to get passed the chorus! Oh well)
We got up at seven and I had to pack our aim was to leave by eight so we could watch the other games in a pub in CaerEdin/DunEdin, and then to meet up with old and new HBoSers travelling on their way up from the big 'C' Caerdydd. We managed to leave on time and put a flag in our window to beep horns and flash lights with the other fans making their way north along the M6. We sorted out a portable radio to go in the car and some food(soon gone) to sustain us and all seemed well.
But then just by Kendal in Cumbria on our way up a steepish hill:
Owz: WTF! The engine's revving like crazy & it's not biting at all!!!
Curly: Jesus, is that smoke... coming from the car?!?
Owz: Oh.. FECK!
Curly: ssShiiTT!!.
We pulled over just at the brow of the hill to where the momentum took us. We had a nice view snow capped Cumbrian peaks & of the gently smoking car as the compatriots we'd passed earlier roared past. We sat on blanket on the verge, and listened to the Radio - almost like picnic but no food and the biting wind made it fricking freezing Mr. Bigglesworth.
We waited about an hour (we were told half an hour)for the RAC, which is a dissapointment seeing as I'm an employee.
The guy did turn up and was good, he towed us to a layby just off J37 on an exposed mountainside, but at least there was a burger van fifty meters away. We were told to expect a fouty minute wait for the tow truck, but at least we could wait within the car as we were chilled to the bone after being outside for so long. We did some Car Surfing listened to Jonathan Ross and hatched a plan to negate our considerable setback. The plan was such: Get the man with the truck to tow the car and dump it outside the flat in Manchester, on the way drop us off at some services, we'd run chicken accross the M6 and thumb a lift to the Scottish capital.
The Last Act of N570MGB? Curly Car Surfs in Cumbria.

The man with the van eventually turned up a bastard hour late after I'd rang the RAC who'd apologised and put it down to a system error, heard that rubbish far too often before.
But there was a problem, bumpkin who'd come to pick us up wasn't familiar with cities, and was quaking at the thought. I even offered him my Manchester A-Z to keep, and we tried to talk him round with a few quid extra sub, but as Lister said one in Red Dwarf he had a longer yellow streak than a stampede of dihorretic camels. So we had to go all the way back to Manchester and got there six hours or if you want a quarter of a day after we had left. Damn.
Thankfully mAdam was ready and as soon as we were back he
raced us to Manchester Centre's Piccadilly train station were we just about caught the last direct train to Edinburgh with much relief, or so we thought. As we set off we had the blurb from the driver about cruising speed, food cart, altitude & destinations... but no mention of Edinburgh. I just turned to Curly and asked, "is it meant to be?" On news of this, yet another setback Adam's mam thought we shouldn't go in case our back luck was infectious and Wales could lose... But I considered that we'd use up all the bad luck and things would turn.
Due to our rush we'd had no time to get extra supplies (i.e. Beer) for the train journey and had to resort to the food cart on the train. We cleared it out of lager (I refuse to drink John Smith's - filth) and they had to re-stock at Carslile. Then an upturn in fortunes, news that the train was going to split and we were in fact going straight to Edinburgh and not via a change at Glasgow.It was to get there at eight o' clock, twelve hours after we had originally set out from Manchester.
We of course missed both of the other games England's game against Italy was an easy call but I was dissapointed to also learn by text that Ireland had lost to France as a Grand Slam decider in Cardiff would have been Fantastic, but it was not to be.
So we made it. Edinburgh. After Eight. It was as black as pitch, and the cold nipped at exposed skin (my face and hands - not my navel like) and we walked four wrong sides of a pentagon to find the hostel but the place was noticeably buzzing with anticipation as we passed a few watering holes.
The Rammed hostel had to turn people away. They told them there were no rooms at all in Edinburgh, you've picked the wrong weekend, try to go to Glasgow - not even the park benches are avaliable. Tough on foreign backpackers so late in the day, handy then that we'd booked and at twelve pound a night, we couldn't fault it.
We were in different rooms, so we went to drop our stuff and meet back in reception as soon as possible. Curly was taking his time, but reedemed himself when it transpired that he'd persuaded three girls to come out with us. While I was waiting, i started to chat to a Japanese backpacker, Tomoyko(?), her English & Spanish were brilliant - those Japanese t-shirts came in useful after all - I almost persuaded her to come out but alas she was tired..! Curly 3 - Owz 0!
We headed to the main street with the girls (from Pontardawe, Port Talbot & Trefynwy - as Curly also noted two were petty but obviously had a note to get out of cross country in school) where the main bars were and the first people we bumped into were Gav, Perry & Perry, Dolf, Don & Matt James coming out of a 'show bar'. Totally wasted they were they didn't register that we had to pop to a cash point and they dissapeared into another club that charged for admission, seeing as curly and me had incurered further charges into our budget from the unforeseen circumstances we with the ladies found a different venue. It was a Bar called the Office and crawled with people in Red with only the odd person in Blue. We stayed there for a bit and chatted with all and sundry but then moved on to find somewhere busier & less expensive.
We found a (Gareth) Edwards Bar, Scarlets supremeo & Lions coach Gareth Jenkins turned up pissed up and had the older ladies flocking to him, he was loving it. It was rammed in there with a better balance of our Celtic cousins there.
We eventually got back to the hostel in the A.M. The lounge was real busy busier than some of the pubs and we stayed to chat for a bit longer but I was beggining to flag after the day and called it quits, Sunday was looking like it would be a long day too.

SUNDAY 13
SCOTLAND V WALES
I woke feeling uncomfortably hot and dehydrated; I was greeted by the pungent waft of the night's regurgitative activity by someone else in the room.
I was awake and it was pretty early considering the lateness of the night before (typical for me mind)- but the curtains were open, so I got up. It was still far too early for Curly so I read all the rugby in all the papers, it was interesting to get a Scottish point of view from some of them.
Curly did get up after nine and was looking worse for wear like myself and many others there.
Time for Brekfast - The Full Scottish (w/haggis) - we took a mosey out on the quiet streets on a day which was clear and crisp to find a place to eat, it had been too dark the night before but Edinburgh is a handsome city and the castle on the rock provides a really impressive & imposing backdrop. We struggled to find some where to eat, despite asking the prettier locals for directions (Blondes eh!?) and inadvertantly taking a tour of the centre we were sufering from hunger pangs, untill like a bridge over troubled water we found some where called Garfunkel's, it again was expensive and the mushrooms were hairy. The food was good but I struggled to put it away.
Back to the hostel breifly to get stuff together and then out to hit the main centre. Again I had to wait for Curly to touch himself up, but we were off soon enough.
While I was waiting though I heard the staff pulling their hair out and generally disparing of the amount of complaints due to people being sick and shagging going on in the bunk above.. Got to laugh!
All the pubs though were closed it seems and had eager queues formed an hour before opening. Apparently licencing laws meant that they could not serve beer untill 12.30, but we found a few pubs chancing their arm and were serving beer - and making a killing with Guinness at £3.20 (WTF!BASTARDS) it would seem. We moved on and met some Scots Curly had met in Montreal, Russ, Al, Ally & Siobhan. They were rugby fans and said that they'd often wondered what it would be like to go to an away game... and now they knew, such was the Welsh force of numbers! The pubs were indeed rammed, but lacking in singing maybe due to the night before, so I led a rendition of Delilah (Don't people know the words? Johnny come latley's?) which impressed friend & foe alike, even me as I managed to hold the notes without faltering for a change (I did lose my voice for half an hour or so though).
I bumped into the Cardiff Saracens (a former club)who picked me out from from the crowd by my bandana.
We on our wanderings had spotted a banner proclaiming £1.50 a pint and the game live. It was called Subway and was where Gav & co had paid to get in the night before. We got in and it soon filled up, the only Scotts were the staff, and it was time for the lucky red thong, it caused some interest, some other ladies showed me their thongs which wasn't always appreciated, and I had to tell the story over and over of how I got it from a woman that I'd met... at the clinic! Most people saw the funny side!
On to the game:

A rousing anthem in the club, and apparently in the stadium it was somewhere between 2:1 & 3:1 in favour of Welsh fans. We'd only won there once in twenty years and I had a nagging doubt that we'd win. I thought we would and should, but it wouldn't be that easy... I needent have worried of course, the game was effectively over after quarter of an hour as we comforatably set up a Grand Slam match for six days later back in Caerdydd. A great display of running rugby from the boys, due to the one sided nature of the game it couldn't live up to the game against France, yet there were still doubting Thomases amoung the wider media...
As I mentioned it was £1.50 a pint(€2.20 @568ml)for Stella Artois, so I 'think' we stayed in there for the rest of the night... Guess what? The boys turned up and this time the turners hadn't gone to bed early, I hadn't seen Paul for yonks and check pictures on Gav's Hyperdoopelator offspring!
I gave each of them tatoo's of my name in Japanese, it took three days to eventually wash/scrub off me as it was permanent marker. I'd grown a beard for the trip north as I'd heard it was cold and maybe that combined with the thong (which I forgot I was still wearing until I got back to the hostel) accounted for the reluctance of people to dance near me - still I had space for all of my moves!
So we did make it back to the hostel, Tomo another Japanese backpacker came to chat, he'd witnessed some of the madness in Subway's and apparently has been in Edinburgh for a few months and is slowly getting around the UK.
Still a great laugh all round for the weekend, but I was wasted & tired & so had to go to bed, as there was more travelling again tomorrow.

Monday 14
THE ROAD HOME
I was up early again and read all of the papers. Curly had sorted a lift with the Hwntw ladies he was sharing a room with. I got to the train station at nine but had to wait an hour for a suitable train and would have to change at Preston, there were renditions again of the chorus again from 'Amarillo' by other homeward bound fans on the train, but I wasn't up to it. I got back mid-afternoon and monged out. In the evening I was noticably stupid, wandering aimlessly, forgetting what I was doing or going, and not finishing scentences - and had work the next day to look foward to.

Tuesday 15 - Wednesday 16
DUH!
I was still pretty thick on Tuesday in work, but by Wednesday had got my act together a bit & managed to book a car for the weekend, to be picked up Friday after work and returned on Monday. Not bad for £55!

Thursday 17
ST. PATRICK'S DAY
I didn't know if anyone was particually going out, and don't know any Irish up here so went to the flicks at the Cornerhouse and caught Dos Tipos Duros (Two Tough Guys) with Spencer.

The film was good fun, maybe a little silly but that's not the point - enjoyable. We caught a few pints after and it seemed that many people had burned themselves out earlier in the day as it was quiet and had the feel of the morning after despite being half nine...

Friday 18
27 YEARS - THAT'S ALMOST LIKE FOREVER
The day started at work - yeah whatever! Dawn dropped me to the deport, I picked the car up - they were going to give some obscure car which I'd never heard of but I had a rapport going with the lady who served me and she sorted out a VW Polo for me. Tidy! But no CD player which was a shame - it had a tape deck, but I only had one tape an old U2's The Joshua Tree, which had started to degrade. I was giving Dawn a lift to Pontypridd as she was staying with friends and she was glad there was not a CD player as I don't she was looking foward to AC/DC blasting in the car. Instead we hopped around the radio stations settling on Real Radio when we got close to South Wales, which was building up to the big game...
I dropped Dawn off - it was funny to be back in Trefforest (Part of Pontypridd) where I lived for five years while in college, but I wasn't hanging around...
I had to pick Steve up from the UWIC students union where they were having a 'Drink the Bar Dry'. I blagged my way in for free and found him by the bar, really pissed up (I'd been meaning to ask him about teen-squash league that he's playing in but it was soon clear that i'd get little sense from him). I nudged him and dissapeared as the slight peterbation caused a severe wobble and his drink to be poured over a 'hot chick' at the bar, he apologised profusely & then spotted me as I sniggered from a short distance away, and we noted that it wouldn't have mattered had she been fat & ugly (like the tragedy that befalls the heroines in some films - come on be honest would you care as much?).
Anyhow Steve suggested that I leave the car outside, pick it up tomorrow and have a few drinks...
I reluctantly went along with it and started to order pints of Snakebite(the Wrong beater variety) at the bar and was catching up well as it blew my socks off. I helped Steve out by being his fall guy with some of his students, nuff said. And then we stayed on, but things got wierd. Some bloke started to chat to me as he chose and used the urinal next to me, then just a little later Steve got apprehended by Uwic's Gay Bodybuilding gang in a corner, who proceeded to forcibly undress him. I thought it was a joke at first and was about to join in when as they went for his boxers Steve emitted a meek 'help!' and was thankfully extracted from what could have an awkward and extremley sore predicament. We left there and hit Moloko's on Mill Lane in town. I bumped into Glanaman's Chris Hughes there, he's doing okay. There was some breakdancing going on but Steve & I were ejected after some glasses got broken and a young lady winded... Steve's new pad is in Splott and a quick walk from town, on the way back we accosted a rough prostitute who flatly refused to give us quote! She didn't even fancy a cup of tea. Things were a bit disorganised, I folded out the bed and Steve popped up stairs to get me a quilt, I patiently waited for about half an hour before I realised he wasn't coming back (he'd passed straight out), so I kept my self warm by sleeping under the cusions.

Saturday 19
Y CAMP LAWN - LE GRANDE CHELEM - THE GRAND SLAM ?
I woke early, and flicked on the television to catch news reports on the looming big game, and it was looking like it'd be a clear & warm day. The streets though were still veiled with a light mist, as me and Steve headed to the Imperial Cafe in Splott, a Potuguese run cafe for breakfast. A typical fry up except that I thought I'd try some of the Potuguese beer they had on offer - in retrospect it wasn't the best decision but I finished it nonetheless. We went to get the cars and pick up beer, there was only one four pack of Brains SA left in Tescos, and I had it so I supplemented the supply with Felinfoel's Double Dragon. Indeed the alcohol in general was flying off the shelves like hot cakes, as crimson clad gangs staggered down the isles with slabs of beer uncomforably held under each arm.
Back to the flat but as Steve's only moved in recently the shower isn't working yet, he'd been off to David Lloyds to shower so we hatched a plan to sneak me in.
I'd have his swipe-card and mosey on in as if nothing was up, Steve would be thirty seconds or so behind me and pretend to forget his card... The plan worked, but not without a hitch as I went the wrong way up to the 'out only' turnstyles and to cover my faux pas and to not raise suspicion had to buy a £2 bottle of Lucozade, d'oh! Still I was pretty stinky (it was getting hot too) and needed a wash.
We walked to town, it was buzzing the nearer we got - we'd planned to watch it at the big screen outside City Hall,as we supposed all the pubs would be rammed. We were right as they were rammed, but so was the park (Dubbed 'Henson Hill' - why? inspired by a Geeky tennis renound loser with a similar surname to Gav - p'lease! I just wish that they'd be a little more original apart from anything else). They'd apparently expected three thousand people to watch it there, it had turned into a lovely day and twenty thousand people chose to watch it there. It was Mental. Utter Havoc. I bumped into Ryan Lewis there who I shared a house with back in the day 1996 in Pontypridd, Steve Davies from Glanaman, Huw Thomas from YDA, Karen from touch rugby in Cardiff & Manchester & of course Ingrid who can only be from the Netherlands.
I wa supposed to be meeting other people that day but it was clear it would be nigh on impossible. You just couldn't move, the trees had people in them, statues had people on them to get a view, apparently I was spotted by Adam's mam taking a shortcut accross a flower bed and trampling everything as I attempted to get back from the jacks. I was immenseley busy during the Italy - France game
The Jacks - What a night mare! There was one portacabin for the blokes and it must have been worse for the ladies. Soon enough blokes encirled city hall, and did their business. At one of his visits Steve was inspired with his other hand to raise a shaking clenched fist and to shout, "FUCK YOU CITY HALL! STICK IT TO THE MAN!" in his best American accent - Hillarious! So I went and did it every time I went back too!
The game it's self got off to a shaky start, but once we settled the result to wasn't really in doubt. I had to watch the game on my tiptoes asitwas hard to get a constant view with the ever shifting crowd, because of that I missed my brother, Gwilym on it as he was picked out by the carmeras in the Stadium. I only knew as i got text's nad calls telling me, "mae dy frawd ar teledu/is that your brother on tv?"! It went crazy for the two tries we scored, but nothing compared to when the final whistle went - people started shaking and spraying beer - we grabbed the nearest cans (no ideas who's they were) and it rained beer - it so happened that we were close to a cider stash and got drenched with the stuff and smelt apply the rest of the night.

So the lucky red thong had done it's job, on wandering around nobody had batted an eyelid, but it met it's end later that night as it was dismembered and no doubts the remnants were discovered by the cleaners the next morning on the floor in Callahagns. But it's work here was done. I suppose it was meant to be!

Cardiff's population is apparently around three hundred and fifty thousand, but apparently over two hundred thousand extra people decended into the city centre that day to cause scenes that will live long in the memory. It was totally crazy - I've never seen the like before, I lost my voice as I continued to sing through the hoarseness...
SO we hit the town with Ingrid, Karen & Huw, we caught a bit of the England v Scotland sideshow but I wasn't really interested

Sunday 20
AFTERMATH
I woke up feeling not to bad as I'd layed off the pop toward the end of the night. I met Duncan for breakfast in a Mexican cafe in Cathays - a strange take on your bag standard fry but what the hey!
I headed over to Grange town and went to another cafe to meet Steve Bourke (AKA Irish Steve on the Chatbox), his Bro Ken and Tom BW. I only had tea this time as they had a full breakfast each.
On my way to pick up Dawn from Pontypridd I drove through Fynnon Taf and went to Tesco (places I used to work as a student) just to see how things have changed in the past few years, things have changed and some for better, but there was no chance meetings with formar associates not that I looked hard.
Drove back t'north and did nowt.

Monday 21
WOOOOOOO!
Funny walk into work with a smile - but it meant nothing really to anyone else, okay they're not Welsh, but they're not rugby fans, not even rugby league either. A few people mentioned it and Backer called from London about it. Funny.

Tuesday 22 & Wednesday 23 - Not worth mentioning, little hectic at work.

Thursday 24 Off work ill with a 'migraine', a really bad one. Some people called round, Trotters, Kamran & Warbz - they were drunk but funny.

Friday 25 - Good Friday
The Machinist


Me and Spencer caught this flick and I passed inand out of conciousness during the first half hour - it wasn't bad, I was just really tired. Appropriately the film is about a guy, played by Christian Bale, who goes crazy with insomnia. I liked the film, it was confusing for a while, especially with my tiredness, but it all makes sense in the end. Not a film for everyone, but I sort of prefer it that way sometimes.
Stayed out for a few pints afterwards and we met up with Adam & Daniel, a Portuguese vet who must hate sunshine I guess.

Saturday 26
BORING!
Satying in today - the car got broken into but, I laughed as there's nothing there to take really and nothing had gone. Still a pain though.

Currently Reading: Star Of The Sea by Jospeh o'Connor. Not bad so far, not hugely gripping though.

*Breaking NEWS!*


Messages: Thanks for the messages sorry for taking so long to get back. You know how it can be though?

Tomo: It was a crazy weekend indeed - but sorry on behalf of compatriots for the mess!

Curly: I won't forget that weekend - thanks for coming along. Can't believe the next weekend was more mental.

Irish Steve: Delighted to catch up on the weekend my good man - not sure about your O'Driscoll mulet though, even he's cut his!!

Gwilym: Diolch am y e-bostiau, duw mae nhw'n hir! Beth am cael Blog eich hunan?

Aarti: Sorry to scare you by banging on the bus - great to meet up breifly, sorry I wasn't making sense!

Yuen Li: Thanks! I hope you enjoyed the rugby as an impartial observer, ofr did you see the light and get behind the boys in red?

BokBok: Hi, I'm doing fine, thaks for the congrats, the best game was against France and it could have so easliy gone the other way. How are you? I think you should re-start the blog, maybe just not as often with the updates?

Ayanah: Been on Goldberg's blog?

Geant Vert: Thanks! Had a quick look at your site! Fantastic!

Steve (Pilling): Hope you get well soon it'll be tough for JP on his own though!

Kwokwah: Take them away! those props were vile,*shudder*! Julien Baker must be the hardest professor anywere ever without a doubt. (Former barefist fighter who beat Dolph Ludgren, here in the process of killing Apollo Creed in Rocky IV.

Finally: Turn up the sound and click the link at the title of the blog, it's hillarious and worth the wait - it's for the flash into, some of you may have seen it at KC's blog though as I put the link there too.

There's another busy weekend in the offing - I normally get home at six o clock when I finish at Half five but today I have to be somewhere else by Seven o clock, I'm volunteering on the phone for the Red Nose Day charity drive which has become a huge event now in the UK.

As soon as I finish there I have to pick Curly up from Manchester's Piccadilly train station at midnight - we're supposed to attend a venue in the middle of town for some light socializing before getting up early to drive to Edinburgh aiming to be there by midday on Saturday. It's a three to four hour drive.

Edinburgh of course fifteen hundred years ago was Welsh speaking and home to the Gododdin - see you learn something new every day!

Scotland v Wales is on Sunday and half the stadium is expected to be Welsh for the day with thirty thousand tickets being snapped up by the fans in red. I'll be watching the game in a pub as I can't afford the additional £50 for a ticket on top of everything else. As for the game check previews here, here & here. I'm predicting a better performance from the Jocks but Wales to weather the storm and to win with a bit to spare.

The other two games are on the Saturday, hence the need to be in Edinburgh by the early afternoon England v Italy, England to win this one at a canter. Ireland v France, France were looking revitalized last time out but home advantage swings this one in favour of the Micks! And that's what I'd prefer as it would make it hell of an occasion at the Arms Park (Millenium Stadium) on the 19th!

I saw a funny sight - I've heard of biker gangs, but a motorized scooter gang? Leather jackets looked good, funky helmets, but bicycle clips on their trousers? What? Anyhow they all pulled up at the Thirsty Scholar which I think was playing rock that night...!

The word 'blog' has been daubed into the dirt on my car - I know exactly who it was as it happend in the work car park - and there are two characters in particular who delight in saying the words blog and hyperdoopelator at me.

Sa Lunes - A court update: I received a call from Alvin at the FCO. Apparently I'm due in court on the 14th April... in Istanbul. Now I've seen Midnight Express and certainly shall not be going, are you mad? Alvin went on to explain that it was something to do with 'maintenance' but as they hadn't been able to serve me I don't officially know and the papers have been sent back to Turkey for whoever there (her or the authorities) whether they want to try and serve it again. I explained to Alvin that my memory is shocking at times & I was unable to remember my address to be able to give to him. He was fine with this and not fussed at all, now he'd sent it back he probably didn't care. So I'm going to sit tight and hope nothing more comes of it - if I was to dig too deep then I may draw attention to myself. Sham I would have like to have gone again to Istanbul & Turkey again at some point but it might just be worth it if I can be described as an 'International Fugitive'. Maybe I should kill someone for proper notriety... In have just the person in mind..!
Jo, mAdam's friend from work was round in the evening - we had a spot of food she was due to be up here for a while but her project's been cut short and he's back in London indefinately - but she says she'll come up to visit, and otherwise all the best

Sa Martes - Wales are Based in Nantes for the Rugby World Cup 2007, part of Brittany it seems, but not administratively part of Brittany. Sian Clarke formerly from HBoS is ill I hope she gets well soon - I wish her a speedy recovery.
Spanish class - Pilling & Warby gibbed out with what were to be pretty honest pathetic excuses so I teamed up with Vikki who bizarrely used to live dead opposite where I live now. Anyhow for homework we have to describe our family, as many people have small families the Profesor, seòor Diez said we could have fictional families... a license to traverse beyond the boundaries of likelihood perhaps - but I blew my cover when I wanted to check if Gemelo Malo thought what I meant it did... an evil twin. He didn't believe and went further in banning me, and only me from making up fictional characters... But we'll see about that!

Sa Mieyerkules - mAdam has been off ill and made food on Tuesday and so he demanded that I made food, not being happy with what I at first suggested (okay maybe it wasn't a veritable banquet) he 'asked' for steak, I obliged... this time! Otherwise I updated and back dated blog posting, it took hours especially as hello is being a pain, it can be so slow but I think it's when America is online that it really drags its heels.

Sa Huwebes - DP at Jabez Clegg for a Soup to Nuts night, it started over an hour late which isn't good for a school night, I'm generally tired as it is - I had to shoot off after their set - pictures of which should be on the HDP soon...

JUEVES

CROMA - a well priced pizzeria in town just off Albert Square. Adam's been here loads of times and kept going on about it. What with Nicci being down and us all having a spare evening we went along. There was a forty-five minute wait which we diluted with a few bottles of Peroni.

Adam was telling me that I'd really like the tandoori chicken pizza as it had a bit of a spicy kick to it. I often forget that Adam can't do spicy food at all and the pizza on the heat front was indeed lame. But it was really nice otherwise - the starters we had too were lush, funghi con aglio, olivias & doughballs - it would have been well under £10 if it wasn't for the beer. Apparently they're opening a new one just round the corner from where we live in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, which is pretty damn cool.

It was getting on by the time we left and I had work the next day so while we waited for Dawn who kindly offered to pick us up we had a swift drink in the Lime Bar next door, Thursday night is supposed to be a busy one in town but it was really quite quiet in there - I was in the mood to prefer it that way anyway.

VIERNES

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.



Spencer & I caught this flick at the corner house. It was hard to put my finger on it but I liked this film. Spencer said that it was a slow burner but he's still been thinking back and chuckling to himself about it. As I mentioned it is a good film but not for all, some of it is ridiculous and silly but entertaining with themes running throughout which would be lost on some I'd warrant - which might mean it'd gain some sort of cult status in years to come as it isn't acceptable to all, so the fans of it feel a sense of ownership... However I'll still be recommending it to anyone who chooses to listen to my inane babble.

I had to race off after the film, I was absolutely shattered and didn't really fancy going out, but Adam insisted and in a change for him we'd be going to the straight part of town to meet some of his work buddies. So we headed to a part of town (on the left as you face north) I hadn't been to before along with Nicci & Dawn (pictured here with Mark) - the few bars we went to were either dead or dank. We met Adam's work mate Rob who although born in Australia has been here long enough to have a substantial northern twang to his lilt. He considers himself a true Aussie however and loves cricket and said that I should be playing Rugby League, which I wouldn't mind at all - I reckon I'd be a dummy half but I don't have the time or the spare change to partake at the moment.

We, with Rob in tow headed more into the mainstream of town to Oxford Road, to Revolution a loud vodka bar, maybe handy as I was on Red Bull & vodka to keep from dozing off. Dawn disappeared at this point, pausing only to text her non presence to Adam. Shame as Scholes was lingering in the bar by there with a lady who as oft happens when applicable told me about her Welsh qualifications, but it was too loud in there to make much sense of anything.

We lost Scholes and attended Via Fossa as we'd be able to get in. I was hassled by some Spanish bloke with a potty mouth who thankfully Adam chased off for me. We were having a laugh generally otherwise, there was this really pretty girl (even Adam thought so) as she passed she said something to Adam to get by and went to pass me - my brain compelled me to say something... 'Keep your hands off him..' I was about to add 'there's no point he's gay' but she butted in 'Oh is he your boyfriend?'. Um no what do you mean? he's my flat-mate', 'Yeah right' or words or a noise to that effect came the reply. We chatted a bit and I maintained that I wasn't gay but she went off saying she'd be back. Heard that before like so carried on doing what I had been doing before. But she did come back... with her boyfriend to introduce him to the interesting Welsh 'couple' it may well have been a wind up as she was holding my hand during it. What's more the guy, as Adam, the expert on this, said 'was a minger'! I felt a little humiliated at the time - and somehow Adam managed to get her number!?

So only Adam & I made it back to the flat and after a drunken fry up I eventually passed out with Goldberg in the kitchen.


Owzy-O v TikAndi in a Streetfighter 2 Spoof

SABADO
However I managed to wake up in bed, I had to get up and over to Flixton to get Andy for a photo-shoot for an upcoming ASK GOLDBERG spoof. I was late but he was still in bed. We eventually got going and Helen made it along which was more than handy as we forgot that we'd need someone to take the photos. It was really cold and there was a bit of snow - and some rubbernecking from bemused locals. They had a great venue in mind and with a bit of tinkering in Photoshop it should look awesome. The photos are here if you want a look although you'll be struggling to pick the difference between many of them, but that is the point they're well taken

I had to race back to the flat and high tail it out of there to get to Birmingham that afternoon - everything was running late so I had to get a move on - I managed to listen to the radio again with Dermot O'Leary which wasn't too bad.

Anyhow I got to Brum, but Clare had to go out and I stayed in to let the Potters in just in case they did turn up on time. Meanwhile I was able to watch some rugby on S4C, Gleision v Munster - not a bad game at all. Inevitably Clare was back before Steve & Po. There was a bit of time before formal greetings before we headed to Chez Jules in town to meet up with Roscoe and have a spot of food. Food was good again here but a little Spartan on the plates. Generally we chatted and had a laugh...until it turned nasty... I came under sustained attack for many aspects of my self. My driving, cooking, blogging, appearance, pearls of wisdom(advice) & pretty much anything else were mercilessly chewed up and spat out! Maybe I'm too easy a target or too nice a guy but some might say that I had it coming but like an old building that still stands the floors and internal walls had crumbled for dust leaving it unfit for habitation... (I'm sure it was in jest and somewhere deep down they were maybe trying to protect me from harming or damaging myself) Moving swiftly on the liver and pork I had was great. Everybody had endured long days - I thought some coffee would sort me out but I don't usually drink it and had far too much - the result was that I became hyper active as the rest dozed and after everyone else had gone to bed I stayed up for another two hours body-popping in the lounge to VH1!


Roscoe, Po, Steve & Clare

DOMINGO
Technically Sunday although it followed on from Saturday night... I was supposed to share a bed with Po but when I went upstairs he was spread eagle in bed leaving four sections between his limbs were I could have slept curled up as a ball, so I slept in the lounge by the fire. Everyone was up pretty early which was a surprise considering their tough day and late night. Po and me gave Clare a hand with her Stock taking at work whilst Steve and Roscoe got the papers, then we went to the Wing Wah restaurant by Wing Yip's for Dim sum. It was really busy as all the Chinese restaurants seem to be on a Sunday. Good food - the dumplings were best - but I didn't make a pig of my self. Clare sneaked off to pay for us but we knew her game and went to reimburse her without her knowledge but got caught trying to stuff money in her bag!

The Potters had to leave as they had to see a man about a dog and we had a swift coffee in a Café Nero (best espresso this side of Milan apparently) before kicking Roscoe out near his home. Oh there are a few pictures from the weekend on the HDP here.

I was back in Manchester in the early evening and was thoroughly pooped - I didn't manage anything apart from finishing The Partner by John Grisham. I won't spoil it but I would have liked some more information at the end and a greater sense of closure but it is a good enough book. I took my mind off work the next day at least...

Monday wasn't really manic but I was monged to the extent that everybody was moving noticeably quicker than I was. 'In my lunch hour' I investigated further into litigious proceedings that have been instigated. I phoned the heavy mob from the court in Cardiff who'd tried to locate me. The guy was not much help - as they haven't been able to serve me he'd passed back the papers, and had little recollection of the papers except that they were in Turkish. He gave me a number though for the 'family section', I duly rang them and got another guy who was even less of a help, but had a different phone number again for a different department in Cardiff. A little more info this time, the guy had some papers but due to an understandable lack of fluency in Turkish, but did mention 'maintenance'... Now, fret not, I can assure you that there is no chance of there being a little Owzy running around bumping into things (keep getting a picture in my head of a little clone of you running around beating his chest and drinking milk bombs - Hywel Casling). That was all he could tell me but he gave me a number for the FCO in London. I rang and spoke to a guy called Alvin (which nearly made me laugh as I almost asked him about Chipmunks). He told me that it was the ex-wife that had filed against me in a court in Turkey and they were trying to serve me. I mentioned that they had failed to serve me and apparently the papers were being sent back to his office. He said he'd give me a call when he received them back and he should be able to tell me what it was about. Just sit tight for the while was the best course of (in)'action'.

I was back first to the flat that evening and let Nicci in who was coming up to stay for a bit. Ad was supposed to be looking after her and had Wednesday, Thursday & Friday off. He intended to leave Nicci to her own devices in the flat on Tuesday. Handily however I'd booked it off - I had some holidays to use and thought a few weeks previously that there was a slight chance that I'd be doing something on that day. I was so shattered though that I needed it off to recuperate i thought to myself, I'd be able to have a slight lie in but Nicci and I were tasked with making the Cawl for St. David's Day. But we had to go shopping for the ingredients first. We went that night and for some reason ended up in a supermarket in Eccles - it was far too late so half the stock had gone meaning that Nicci & me would have to go out to get stuff (leeks especially) during the day.

The highlight of the evening was when Adam almost killed us, he suddenly hung a left heading towards what he though would be the supermarket, but it was not. We raced the wrong way down a one way lane in the bus station and had to ride the curb to avoid a head on collision with a surprised looking bus (if they have expressions at all that is). Still it woke me up, got the blood pumping and the adrenaline flowing! But I couldn't sleep that night afterwards - nightmares.

DYDD GWYL DEWI
Everyone in the flat was actually up pretty early anyway, after the others went to work Nicci & I went to get leeks. You can't have Cawl without leeks. I also thought that you couldn't have Cawl without lamb either, as I protested to Adam the week before as he insisted that he didn't eat lamb, it had to be done with Bacon he said. While I stewed over this he got Nicci to Google some research and yes indeed it seems that bacon was oft used however I'd never had it before. Anyway so we got a joint of gammon for the cawl and got busy chopping vegetables ...

The cawl was awesome, and didn't need the teaspoon of MSG that we added (BTW have you tasted MSG on its own? It's like that saying from the Simpsons, 'It's like there's a party in my mouth and everyone is invited' - like a burst of flavour). Sarah & Pilling from work came back after Spanish to sample a bit and managed to finish their portions which I'll take as a good sign.

I have no particular recollections of my activities on Wednesday, that if it did actually happen to come around that week. I was pretty tired so I'll put it down to that.