Do you ever wonder...

Sadly I can't take the credit for these ponderisms...

• I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.
• The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.
• Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
• There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead.
• Life is sexually transmitted.
• Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
• The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
• Some people are like Slinkies. Not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.
• Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.
• Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?
• All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.
• In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.
• How is it that one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
• Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"
• Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there? I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes outta its butt."
• Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?
• If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
• If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
• Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?
• Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?
• Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?
• Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

Things that annoy me

What you must remember is I'm knocking 47, so could be classed as a grumpy middle aged git. Some things really get my goat. In no particular order of preference:
1. Queues (of any sort)
2. Middle lane hoggers on motorways. Should have their licences taken away.
3. Motorists who don't indicate. Ditto
4. Speed cameras (is there a theme developing here?)
5. Teaspoons. There's always one left when you empty the washing up bowl
6. Wind (weather wind as opposed to farts, which is just nature)
7. Unpunctuality. It's mostly just lazy
8. Lack of respect for the environment
9. Mondays, and to a lessening extent, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
10.Goats

Bugger!

This is useless - so busy doing other things haven't posted anything since April. If anyone was reading this blog, they've long since given up. I'm going to try again, and I WILL make an effort to post frequently.

First however dear reader, you'll need a quick catch up of events since April. Here goes:

• Did lot's of gardening - enjoy gardening
• Played some cricket - enjoy cricket
• Built a website for my new cricket team Dinas Powys CC
• Tweaked and edited said website a lot
• Went on holiday to France - enjoy holidays
• Went to Disneyland Paris whilst in France - enjoy rollercoasters
• Bought wine whilst in France - enjoy wine
• Did some decorating - hate decorating
• Worked a lot - hate work
• Watched Cardiff City climb to be 6 points clear at the top of the Championship (at the time of posting - Premiership here we come!
• Watched in disbelief at England's poor showing in a) world Cup b) Euro 2008 qualifiers
• Haven't won lottery - would like to win lottery
• Enjoyed start to new skittles season DPAB

Allotments

The other day I was browsing the web, as you do and my mind turned to allotments as it does occasionally (saddo!) Anyway, a search for "allotments brought up a number of links, one of with was Plotholes. This Blog, is one of the funniest things I've read in a long time. Bupster - she of the Plotholes Blog, really should be in print (I guess she is on her Blog) and they could even make a television series out of it. Far funnier than "The Good Life". Well recommended......

Cricket lovely cricket

Today was supposed to be the first "warm up game" of the season, but our opposition couldn't raise a team. Bummer.
Anyway, we turned up and decided to play a 6/7 a-side match to get the rhythm going. Went well. Scored a few runs with my new bat (the last one having been cracked into two pieces at the last net session), bowled reasonably, took a catch and got a wicket. Bones ache a bit tonight, but hey I'm 46....Let's see how they are tomorrow. Dinas lads are a good bunch and Im looking forward to the seasom immensely

Water water everywhere....

I'm getting more "eco" friendly in my advancing years and I decided to purchase a small (100 litre) water butt to give me water for the garden instead of racking up water charges via my water meter (not that we need to save much water in Wales - plenty to go round!).
I installed it this weeekend with one of those rain diverter thingies off my conservatory roof downpipe (the conservatory is small - only 10x8 ft. It rained "a bit" today and when i got home it was 3/4 full! That's 75 litres of water from one wet day! It must have rained more than I thought (LOL), but begs the question, why aren't water butts compulsory - especially in the SE where they have hosepipe bans even in the middle of winter because there's not enough H20 to go around. If that much rain is swishing away down drains everytime it rains it's no wonder we haven't got any water. You'd be mad not to have one. I might have to order a second one now!
Oops, if I'm not careful I'll be after an allotment next.......

Center Parcs

Just had a great break in Center Parcs (the Longleat Forest village). We've been before, but not for a few years and now the kids are older (11 and 8) they can just go off and do their own thing in the swimming pool which basically means about 3 hours worth of hurtling down the rapids and the slides!
If you've never been to Center Parcs, it's a geat experience. You can just laze by the pool, bike in the forest (no cars!) or do any one of a multitude of sports from table tennis to archery and horse riding. The only catch is the cost. The pool's free(or at least access comes with the cost of the holiday), everything else (apart from the bikes if you bring your own) you pay for, so it can get expensive. We had a great time on our midweek (Mon-Fri) break. The "villa's" look a bit like portakabins but inside are comfy enough, though you can get posher versions (more money). The famouse dome houses the pools, slides shops and various restaurants. the feeling you get is a proper mini break - away from it all in the sense there's no cars and time to do what you want when you want. Relaxing - well - it depends. I got more exercise in 4 days than I've had in the last four weeks, with swimming, biking and so on! Great fun.

Out of retirement

After a year (or more like 18 months) off cricket, having officially retired from the game due to dodgy knees/arthritis, I've been talked into coming out of retirement by my good pal Basher (aka Badger - for various and probably best left unexplained reasons).
I'm planning - if they'll have me, to turn out for Dinas Powys CC rather than the Tavs, my team of the last 20 years. It's been a wrench deciding not to go back to the Tavs, but the chance, albeit a little late in my career to play some league cricket with a side where I can just turn up and play is quite enticing. I've only been to one net so far as unfortunately nest night clashes with skittles nights most weeks, but I enjoyed the net. Indeed the facilities at Glamorgan CC's indoor cricket facilities are superb. I think I did OK, and the DPCC lot (several of whom I know anyway) seem a good bunch. Roll on the summer, and let's hope the bones hold up!

Sporting Heaven

My it's been a sporting week.
Wednesday I played skittles and did pretty well.
Thursday I played skittles again and was crap.
Friday was mini-football training.
Saturday was mini-football - the Sully Seahawks won 4-0 against a good Cowbridge side. Well done lads - clean sheet!
Saturday pm, the Bluebirds beat Burnely 3-0. First half was abysmal. Second half they got better. New signing Steve "The Tomahawk" Thompson (formerly of Ranger no less) bagged a brace, and "Super Jase" (Jason Koumas)finsihed the game off. 8th spot - playoff's here we come!

Arsenal

 
Well we lost and to a predictably under strength Arsenal side - but a side that still contained Bergkamp, Pires, van Persie and Reyes - he who falls over in a puff of wind.
The Bluebirds did us proud though, and didn't capitulate despite going 2-0 down quite early on, and played pretty well throughout. Support was massive and vocal, unlike Arsenal's. "Highbury's a library...shhhhh" was sung thoughout!
Only blot on the day was the trains. Missed out connection at Bath Spa because our original train was late, had to wait an hour for the next one. That one's arrival was delayed 20 mins for God knows what which meant we missed the first 10 mins of the match. Bugger! Should have been there by about 12, actually got into the ground at 1:13. The journey back was almost as bad - supposed to be a straight run through to Newport - it was - again via Bath though, and took amost 2:40min.
And the goverment wonders why people hate public transport?

The Big Day: FA Cup 3rd Round

Well, tomorrow it's upon us - FA Cup round 3 day when the big guns join the fray. Arsenal will be quaking in their boots as they host the Bluebirds (and 6,000 or so of us fans) at Highbury. Can't wait to see City playing fast flowing football with neat and incisive passing and pinpoint finishing.......Er hang on, don't we play long ball football, hav a creaky defence (at the minute) and think a cross is what Manager Dave Jones gets when we give away sloppy goals? Who cares, it'll be a great day out, City have nothing to lose and an awful lot to gain. PS. Jonesy - sign Koumas before it's too late!
"C'mon Bloooobirds!!!"

Boxing Day Match Report

Down at Ninian Park on Boxing Day, and it looked like the lads had been over-indulging the day before. Pretty it wasn't, if you'd never seen football played before you woudn't have seen it yesterday either. Once Pursey got sent off (he actually started walking before the ref got his cards out, although personally I thought a yellow was all he deserved) it was all over. It seems churlish to complain about City's performance when they're as high in the table as they are after the summer's shennanigans, but they were truly awful yesterday. It appears they have one game plan. Hoof it up high and long and hope Cameron Jerome or Michael Ricketts get onto it. Complaining visiting sides get everyone behind the ball doesn't wash either. Come on City, get the ball on the ground, get it wide (why does everyone run to the left when Rhys Weston gets it on the right?) and run at the opposition. When they do that they look good. Otherwise we look pretty poor and bereft of ideas.

Christmas Excess

We've had a busy but exciting Christmas. A house full on Christmas Day and Boxing Day has ensured merriment,giving and receiving and of course eating and drinking far too much. Often we've been away for at least one of the days so I've never really over-indulged that much (although my good lady probably thinks otherwise).
Now minds turn to New Year, and we're off to join about 36 others (family & friends) in Swondownia for to see the New Year in. some of that mountain air might help clear out some of those cobwebs!

Arsenal update

Yeah hey!
Got our tickets for the Arsenal game. Our friends who sit next to us in the Spar Family Stand (Canton Stand) are going too. We've booked a train to London to get there, which I guess will be packed, and it should be a great day out. The Gunners must be quaking in their boots, having drawn the Bluebirds in the FA Cup and Real Madrid in the Champions League! Of course, City have beaten both of those teams before!!!! LOL

Festive Political Correctness

Personally, I think the country's gone PC bonkers - soon there will be no tradition left, and we'll all be brainwashed vegetables. Some say I am now... Anyway, I received one of those "fun" emails that are so popular - you know, the ones sent to about 8 million people. Normally I bin them (bah humbug) but this one was quite good, and had the following "disclaimer" at the bottom, which I thought was very funny. Please read and feel free to use at your leisure...

"Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all...and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make Britain great (not to imply that Britain is necessarily greater than any other country or area of choice, and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual orientation of the wisher).
This wish is limited to the customary and usual good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first. "Holiday" is not intended to, nor shall it be considered, limited to the usual Judeo-Christian celebrations or observances, or to such activities of any organized or ad hoc religious community, group, individual, or belief (or lack thereof).
Note: By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher at any time, for any reason or for no reason at all. This greeting is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. This greeting implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for the wisher her/himself or others, or responsibility for the consequences which may arise from the implementation or non-implementation of the same. This greeting is void where prohibited by law"

1927 all over again!

So, Cardiff City have drawn Arsenal away in the 4th round of the FA Cup! As an Ambassador season ticket holder (I was one of the foolhardy ones who shelled out before end of May 2005) I should be able to get a ticket for me & James. I've never been to a premiership ground, so big new experience hopefully. City should be able to take close to 6,000 - should be a wonderful day, and hopefully City can repeat 1927 and beat the "Gooners" 0-1. C'mon Bluebirds!

Web site plug - Photobox

If you use a digital camera, you've got to give Photobox a visit.
Not only can you get your own pictures put on to a rage of gifts, every time you order you are given more storage space to upload your photos to, so you can share them either privately with specific named individuals or the whole world.
Best of all though, is their customer service. In the 3 years or so I've been using them, no order has taken longer than 2 days to arrive. An excellent site, ad can't be recommended highly enough.

Bluebirds flying high - well flying anyway....Jonesy are you listening?

As I write (blog), City are unbeaten in 6 games and have won their last 3, two in the League and one in the Carling Cup. It's not pretty, and it certainly isn't like watching Brazil, but the points are coming. Imagine what we'd be like if we actually played well?
It's beyond comprehension how what seems obvious to thousands of fans isn't obvious to players and the manager.
Don't defend to deep (we mostly defend on the 6 yard line), pass to feet (don't hoof it upfield hoping someone might be there (they're all back on the 6 yard line!) and move into space. It's basic stuff - we tell our mini football team this all the time, and they (mostly listen - we'll they're only 10 and 11 years old!).
Talking of thousands of fans, it was disappointing to see less than 4,000 turn up for the Carling Cup match. OK, it was only Macclesfield, and it was a Tuesday and it was the 3rd home game in a week and City aren't playing flowing football, but hey..........

Skittles

The skittles season is almost upon us (hooray)! Looking forward to dark, cold nights when we'll be inside supping large quantities of Brains finest Dark, and splashing the pins. You can of course follow the teams progress, by clicking the link on the right.

Medical update

Aortic valve replacement (pigs!), triple bypass and a radio frequency ablation. Sounds horrible. Said member of family is now discharged and recuperating (slowly) from a fairly big MOT/60,000 mile service.
My knee's OK too.....