Up and running

Probably had the biggest filling yesterday by some 18 year old Irish lass, who kept asking me if I was OK while drilling through my jaw bone as her 17 old trainee dental nurse kept dropping all the instruments and talking about her up and coming piss up that evening. God bless the NHS. luckily my works do Incorporated sucking noodles listening to the words of wisdom from the Codfather, the facebook king,
Today I spent most of time picking kids up and dropping them off and for some reason I found myself in Morrisons queueing for 3 for 1 Mr Kipling mince pies.
Luckily I had two hours free this morning and I took the hound to Plymouth Woods in Ely the where the historic 2nd battle of the English Civil war took place,old Ollie Cromwell came to Ely to kill the last of the Royalists, apparently the river Ely ran red with blood...not for the first time I am sure,
I spent a fab morning walking around Plymouth woods, avoiding the foster cans, it was good though, carrying Scout every 20 minutes when he got tired and kicking pit bulls down ravines.
I thought I was fed up with music again, until I put the Doves on and realised you cant get much better than this can you.
Tate my PC is still down so I am afraid you are going to have to buy them. You can probably get their back catalogue for $50 and you wont regret it.
My new years resolution in 2100 is to see the Doves .... anyone up for it?

Just waiting now for surgery on my eye to remove my Terigema.. whilst my feet are so flat the podiatrist is running out of ideas

I feel like an old beaten up Ford Escort, with smoke black smoke coming out of the engine..
prehaps I am having a mid life crisis

Doves on 8 on the ipod... crisis what crisis......

Scout arrives

We got back from Narberth at around noon and went up to get Scout at around 3-00pm. He was the last puppie to go, and only his sister was left. We spent ages talking to the breeder and put Scout in the cat basket and took our time getting home. He wasnt sick and just made a few sounds. Once in the house he soon started chewing toys and loves the garden

Were getting used to Scout as he is getting used to us. He loves Alix and me, Dan is a bit unsure of him and Jen is learning how to manage him (although she cant wait to bath him). He has a few accidents but is learning to use the garden.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sptwilliams/ScoutHisFirstDay#

For more Scout pictures click on the link

Dreadpon Sound live in Narberth

We hit the road around 4-00pm picked up the Smiths about 4-15pm and got to Narberth around 5-30pm. We dropped of the Smiths at the Cock O Roach and headed to our campsite the Noble Park Caravan Park on Redstone Road. http://www.celticholidayparks.com/index.htm

The campsite was lovely and was £7-00 a night with hookup, it was a little crowded for us, there were four other people on the site. We set up and walked ten minutes to Narberth and met the rest of the stalkers in the the Slaughtered Lambsy (Farmers Arms). Had a couple of beers and then across the road to the Queens Hall. I met Loki and his brother Danny as well as Phil, Jill, Tracy and Jane. We managed to get to the front as it was not as crowded as last year and the band came on about 9-00. Earl 16 was unwell so Spee had to carry all the vocals, I did miss Earls silky tones, but it was a good gig.


The band did all their old faves, although there was not a lot of new stuff off the forthcoming album. Spee was in good form as always. After the gig we went next door to the Angel and met the others. The band came back and we ended up having a chat with Chris, Loki, Danny and John. Mark the landlord asked us to leave at 2-30am but Tony managed to blag another round of JD and Coke. We then made our way back to the campsite. It was just 2 degrees above freezing but with the sleeping bags and quilt we slept well. I thought Jen was a bit OTT keeping her scarf and gloves on......

We were woken up at 8-00am by the Smiths and had a quick breakfast and got back to Cardiff at noon. It was a great night and the camping was fine. It didnt feel cold at all. I think we might squeeze another couple of weekends in before Christmas.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sptwilliams/NarberthOctober17th2009#
Click above for the wild photos of the Angel and below some for some fantastic live action of the band

Archive photos from last year...

I need a new outfit..e.Bay........

They say marriages are made in Heaven. But so is thunder and lightning.

Jens gone away with the girls

Scout

Almost gave up with the Kennel Club and was going to head down to the market. Got an e-mail from the KC first thing this morning phoned up and took Alix up to meet Scout and his owners up near Bridgend. Hes coming home a week Sunday.

Back to work after my celebrations

One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching.

Had a great day yesterday on my 50th. I got lots of Pink Floyd gifts. A box set of all original albums in the original cardboard sleeve and a great book from Jen detailing all there tours and who was in the studio when they made recorded each track and what they were wearing at that time. I also got a big Pink Floyd coffee mug to keep me awake when I am listening to those extended B sides.

My 50th Birthday Party

What can I say...an 84% turn out. There were exactly 50 people there and I think everybody enjoyed themselves. I was too busy making sure that everyone had a good time to realise that there was something going on at the bottom of the garden. People were on the trampoline and someone had opened a ladies and gents WC behind the garage......

Thanks to all of you who made it and also thanks to those who couldn't make it but were there in spirit.. especially Vick xxx.

This year the wild card invite went to Colin and he didn’t disappoint he had a toe to toe with Tyson but I think the name made him think twice as well as Tyson’s driver who is a 4th Dan black belt in origami.

Thanks for all my presents cards and bottles of champers. Thanks to those who travelled to Cardiff just for the party (Tate, Craig, Keir, Ty, Jack, Grill, Roger and Terry) I will be at your 50ths or in Craig and Terry’s case 60ths.

Have a look at the pictures (link at the bottom of the page to web album) if you want a higher resolution copy e-mail me and I will send it to you.

Please feel free to leave comments but remember granma is a member of this blog......
I have had some informal feedback from party attendants already.
"I can’t stand it when meat eaters eat the veggie chilli, it always happens on shoots" Garry
"Your living room looks like it belongs to a serial killer" Steve
"Turn the music up" Nick (text on the night)
"Turn the music down" Harry and Ethel 10 doors down




My50thBirthdayParty Pictures

Link to photos above........

Massive Attack

Last night we went to see Massive Attack in Brixton. We booked into the Marriott in Marble Arch had a swim and used the spa and got ready for Mark and Jack. M and J were in good form we had a few glasses of champers and headed out on the town. We only needed to get 2 tubes, but there were problems on the system and we ended getting 5... We had a great laugh and the underground was packed we met loads of nice people and it was a real adventure. We had to walk from Stockwell station up Brixton high street and got to the Academy at 9-00pm. We had a drink outside and got in, I went straight to the t shirt stall and lost the others. Jen couldnt get in as she had the wrong ticket, but in the end we all got in. The venue is amazing its so steep the floor anywhere you stand you get a great view. The gig took a while to warm up but they were stormin. On the way back we got the last tube home and Tyson got off on the wrong station and we waved to him through the window. We got back to the hotel the same time as Tyson (in a cab) and had a drink in the bar. We saw a mouse in the bar and are going to try and get a refund. The bar shut so we grabbeda few bottles and sat outside the hotel. Tyson was in his usual rambling mode and fell down some steps and hurt his ankle, no one helped him we just all laughed. Overall it was a great night and we went to bed around 2-00am.



Horrace Andy was on form and Shara Nelson was back with the band. The next day Jen and I walked down Edgeware Road all along Oxford Street down to Holbourn, across to Covent Garden through China Town then Soho and back to the hotel via Regents Street. We walked about seven miles and then went out for a steak and ended up in a Witherspoons chatting to a couple of Big Issue sales people from Birmingham.















Jen left early and I stayed on and went to see District 9 before walking to my hotel in Bloomsbury Avenue. After spending a week in London I must have looked at home as tourists were coming up to me and asking me for directions.

Lost Weekend in Kingswinford

Went up to Worcester to get the zig unit changed. It was done in a couple of hours and I made my way up to Jack and Tyson's for the evening. Tyson was upstairs his room doing his homework, so Jack and me went down the pub for lunch. When we got back Tyson joined us for a few beers and a game of pool. The next day Jack helped me go through her old photos for the party. Check them out here....
Jacks old photos


I left dinner time the next day just before Jack took the cat to the vets to get injected with coloured water.

Another fab weekend with the Tyson's.

Gower

Definitely Maybe Oasis Break Up

Where were you when Oasis broke up? Its like mans first game of golf in space, I can remember it so well. So the lads have finally split up (about time some of you may say). Thank god I saw them twice this year. The last gig in Cardiff in June was great although a lot of urine was being thrown around.

Still its a shame I did have some great times at their gigs and enjoyed their early albums. Tate came over for dinner last night and we tipped back a few bottles of suds and chewed the fat about the old days. What came first the Stage Door or the Square Club?

Bank Holiday weekend today, we cant decide which traffic jam to join.....

Tate me and Jen (I am wearing an Oasis tee -shirt weird)

Archive Photo August 2005 (Dai passed in June 2006)

U2

U2 22 August 2009 Millenium Stadium

Where the Streets Have No Shame.............................

What a fantastic night, we met in Tiger Tiger for a meal and headed to the stadium just in time to see the 135 minute set. We all had different gate passes but we managed to blag our way in. At the end of the night Bono came out after the gig and joined us for a song (Rocket Man) he is tiny but a lovely guy. Thats him on the left in that repo style bike jacket.

Set List
Breathe
No Line on the Horizon
Get On Your Boots
Magnificent
Beautiful Day with Land Of Our Fathers and Blackbird snippets
Mysterious Ways
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For with Stand By Me snippet
Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
Unknown Caller
The Unforgettable Fire
City Of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
Sunday Bloody Sunday with Oliver's Army snippet
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
MLK
Walk On
Where The Streets Have No Name Desmond Tutu Speech
One
Bad with "40" snippet
Encore:
Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
With Or Without You
Moment of Surrender
Rocket Man

After the gig we walked back to Tony and Caths....thats another story.

Oxwich 15th August 2009

Saturday Camping in the Gower

On Saturday afternoon we went down the Gower, I had managed to get a late cancelation at Nicholaston Farm on the coast by Oxwich. It was a busy site and was full up although we managed to get a pitch in the top field at the top of a slight incline (£19) with electric. The weather was OK and we unpacked the Bongo and used the throw up tent for all our stuff. We realised that we need to buy some leveling blocks as every time I opened the fridge the contents fell out. Still you learn a little each trip. We are also going to get a small easy put up awning.

We went for a walk on the beach it was lovely the tide was right out and groups of people were lighting fires. We got back to the campsite had a snack and the kids went to sleep. We kept rolling to the side of the van and Alix woke up at 2-00am with a headache. Dan slept through the night and we got up and had another walk. The beach was empty and there were only a few people on it at 11-00am. We got back had a snack and started to pack up. Suprise suprise it started raining and we just got the roof and tent down in time.

We got home around 3-00pm after stopping off at McDonalds in Swansea. We had a great time and loved Oxwich Bay. I think it is so quiet because it is hard to get too through the sand dunes. There is no car park nearby and you can only access it from certain camp sites or a small parking space half a mile away.

Maroon

Got a wave from Maroon Bongo today in City Road. My three weeks off in July seems like years ago, I am getting itchy feet and need to get the Silver Surfer down to the coast.

Oh Dear

Jen reversed into a post at Langland Bay. Its not a lot of damage just a small dent and some paint has scrapped off. I took it really well as it could happen to anyone couldn't it .........

Busy weekend Paddington and Bristol

Thursday and Friday the 6th and 7th of August
Went to London Thursday night, got into Paddington around 7-00pm it seemed very busy got the tube to Notting Gate and realised why it was pouring down. Got the Central line to Holbourn and you couldn't get out of the station as it was so wet. I did hear that some lines and stations were closed due too flooding. I ran to the hotel and got soaked. I met a guy at the bar called Ian who worked for Manpower, he was planning to get a VW California (33k) when he retired. He hadn't heard of Bongos but liked my pictures or so he said. Had a meal and went to bed early.
Friday morning was better, I was able to walk to Westminster and had a busy day but managed to get the 16-15 train and the Coryton connection by one minute.



Saturday the 8th of August
Jen worked last night so I took the kids out all day and tried to book a campsite near Bristol. No luck the nearest one I could find was in Ross. We decided to book into an Ibis instead (£39) and left the kids at home. We wanted to get an early start to see the Banksy exhibition in the Bristol Museum. We arrived in Bristol at around 8-30 and were about 200th in the queue. By 10-00am there must have been 3 thousand people there waiting. It was at least a five hour wait from the back. We were in by 10-30 and out by noon. It was very good but I think its a little hyped by its success.

My birthday

If you planning on getting me something for my birthday, then this is the very man for me
http://www.easylifegroup.com/products/757.asp

Wild Camping and campfires

This is a good site, there is one in Chepstow we might try soon

http://www.thehappycampers.co.uk/campsites/

A free campsite guide

http://www.ukcampsitefinder.co.uk/


An Archive photo Yeovil Orange Box 12-05-09

The Caravan Club V The Caravan and Camping Club

Tried to book a site in Bristol for a future trip, not as easy as I thought. Some sites will only let you on if you are a member of the caravan club (£40) a year. They do except vans.... It all seems a little bit snobby to me. There is a caravan and camping club which sounds more friendly but you cant camp on caravan club only sites. Tried to blag my way onto a site in the middle of Bristol but no luck in the end.

I have realised that you need to plan ahead, especially if there is something going on in a place, its like hotel rooms I guess. There is a web site called pub camping (£30) which gives you access once you have paid to a list of pubs where you turn up tell them you have a camper van and if you spend over £20 at the bar (food and drinks) they will let you stay in their car park overnight. No facilities are provided and some land lords will only do it if you show them a Porto potty, as they don't want you urinating their fine lager against the wall.

Another option is rough camping, where you just turn into a lay by and sleep, this is frowned upon in the UK and is risky. I guess you could just drive around and find a nice street like Cyncoed Road and just park up late and sleep in the van, not a good idea to put the roof up though. I thought about a 24 hr Asdas as well, just turn up do a small shop and get your head down...toilets and cafe on site...

Sunday

Spent all day Sunday putting the dry gear back in the bongo, watching people in the street leaving for holidays. The sun was up and I got burnt on my neck. I dont think it will be hot for long though.

You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave

Up early today and determined to make the most of it as Dan wants to go home. He has done his two nights as planned but wont stay for a third. He's not upset he just wants to stick to the plan. We make a pack lunch and head to Treyarnon Bay (we stayed in the YHA here in 2008 for Wendy's wedding). We had a nice walk and play on the beach and went to the Youth Hostel for some refreshments.





From there we drove to Padstein, we found a parking space (I must have spent over £20 on parking these last two days) and walked into the town. We had a great time, Dan was very good and didn't try to jump in the harbour. We eat our lunch and looked for Ricks establishments... We found his cafe and his new bar "SteinBecks". In one shop Dan went behind the shop counter, it looked part of the shop. Some miserable woman told him off, so Jen drawing on all the skills she has learnt from self help books, conferences, study days and spending hours with other parents with disabled kids almost told her where to go, but the woman backed down... I must say all the shop owners and workers looked really miserable... if you don't like it why not go and work in a call center....

From there back to the holiday home, packed up and headed back. We took a detour through Bodmin and got home around 7-00pm. We did about 500 miles and the Green Hornet was no problem although it is now losing a little water and oil. When we got back we unpacked and waited for Tate and co. They got tied up cleaning and packing so we will have to see them next time.

Success is buried in the garden of failure

My tooth is playing up (not as bad as my Trigeminal Neuralgia), I am taking super strong prescribed pain killers. I only have two more roots left to fill, maybe I should have it out?

My iphone is in melt down and I cant use any apps, Dans laptop has broken the 3,e,d,c keys wont work. I have checked online and its a common Dell fault. Luckily its still under warranty. Al's laptop wont work unless the power unit plugged in and Jens phone is on the blink all the keys are stuck..... I'm just waiting for aliens to come through the cat flap.....

On the good side, Ian the Bongo master has a spare set of poles for the awning and might be able to throw in a free side pole that bent in the storm.

Getting texts and e-mails from the West Wales gang who are still getting flashbacks, Jacky has gone camping without Tyson (he had to stay behind to attend obedience classes) in Dorset and the weather sounds bad....

We decided to leave the Eden Center (bad decision) I didn't enjoy it last time (2000 tonnes of chicken wire covered in carrier bags) and decided to head for the coast. The weather was wet and windy and we went up to the Trevose headland and walked to the lighthouse. We then took a cliff top walk to Mother Ivey and then looked at Booby's bay.

Trevose

From there we decided to drive to Newquay..... to look at the shops. Dan learnt some some new profanities from the groups of tattooed squaddies who were weaving around the town center. Take my advice never go into to this town it makes Merthyr look like Las Vegas.

Sh***ville

It started to pour down around 3-00pm and we went on the beach for a while, we decided to head back and Dan bought a toy parrot that swears, I got a mouth organ for a £5 and Al got a ukulele that she can't put down.

On the way home we dropped into the Mazda Bongo Company outside Newquay. This is the place last year (2008) where we saw our first Bongos and fell in love with them. Too me Cornwall is the spiritual home of the bongo, and probably has more than anywhere else. We visited here three times last year and decided on our conversion. It took us almost a year to find the Silver Surfer.

I am in Bongo Heaven

When we got back I found a website so that Alix could tune her ukulele and we had a takeaway from the local Indian Restaurant. I got talking to a farmer in the take away, he lives behind the Cornish Arms in St Merryn and drinks regularly with Rick Stein who owns it. He shoots the rabbits for the restaurant. Nice guy he had 8 dogs and 2 Boarder Terriers, he said they were great dogs.

We had a bottle of wine and turned in early again.

Going down south

We headed down to Cornwall today, the weather was alright and we had a good trip. There was a nice McDonald's at junction 29 on the M5. As we hit the Atlantic Highway the sun broke through and we were lucky not to get caught in too much traffic. We got down to Si and Ade's place (stone throw) at around 3-00pm. The first thing I did was to take photos of the cottage before we moved in so that when we left we could make sure everything was back in place. The kids soon settled in and we had the three laptops up an running in no time. We spent the evening in, I went down to fryer Tucks for tea and turned in around midnight.

I just need to find 212 amps to power up the LM

I would rather have a root filling

Root filling day....

Had two root fillings today feel a bit rough, Craig decided to go home as we had run out of DVD's for him and Jenny to watch.

All the camping equipment is now dry and I need to put some stuff on the roof tent as the seams leaked a bit on the last night in West Wales

Some More pictures from the wild west

Tuesday back to work

On reflection the weather was bad.... Craig says it was the worst he has ever camped in, apart from 1997 when we were in Kiln Park with him...another tale.

However I am back in work and wish I was still clinging to that rock face, we had some great laughs and enjoyed a few beers and some great camp fires.

So thanks Tate and Co, Tyson Frank and Jack, Craig, Alix and Hannah...see you soon.

The camping crew

Tyson don't forget U2 man...see you in August...and don't forget to fill the tank up on the way with the right stuff......