Just not quite good enough

Wales 15 v 20 RSA - the scoreline says it all! We just couldn't quite do it. The first game of the Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations Champions v the World Champions and a great game it was too. Rugby always manages to make me come alive and I was more interested in this game than I have been in anything for some time.

It started poorly, 10 points down in the first 10 minutes and the word "Route" was beginning to flash before my eyes, but he held firm, like those brave few at Rorkes Drift we held back the might of South Africa (humming Men of Harlech under our breath no doubt!!).

Our two new caps Andy Powell (much deserved Man of the Match - see pic) and Lee Halfpenny both had brilliant debuts and I can even find it in my heart to forgive Hook Bach for gifting a intercepted try to the Boks. The last ten minutes were incredibly exciting and if we could have only taken advantage of the last line-out who knows, we might have won. I understand Warren and Sean gave the boys a good talking to in the dressing room afterwards which no doubt contained a few choice expletives, lets just hope they listen and we come back fighting against the All Blacks and the Aussies.

I am in work tonight which I am not happy about as it is Adrian's 50th Birthday tomorrow and Noel has gone out to dinner with him and Rose, Phil and Karen and some other friends of Adrians. The weather is atrocious and the drive to work was a nightmare. I could only manage 10 mph down Hamilton Terrace because of the driving rain. It appears that it is going to be a quiet night in more ways than one. I shall just sit back and savour the silence!!

Exhaust-ed

When we moved Ffion's old car on the drive the other day Noel noticed that the exhaust was blowing a bit so this morning he asked me to take it to Haven Tyres for Steve to have a look at it. He was taking her new car back to Haverfordwest to have three tiny chips on the bonnet touched up so I decided to take Erin to school and Ffion to work in the Peugeot 106 (her old car).

Now it dosn't have power steering and is a bit like driving a tank anyway. Both girls were laughing at me all the way as I tried to haul it around corners etc. We managed to deliver Erin safely to school, so it was just a case of getting Ffion to work.

All was well until we got to the new speed bumps in Priory Road (the council's futile attempt at traffic calming!!). Poor Polly the Peugeot didn't like going over the bumps one little bit. As soon as we had gone over the last one the exhaust began blowing really loudly and we sounded like some manic boy racer revving our way along Priory Road with all heads turning to look at us as we passed!!

I managed to get Ffion to work ok and she stood laughing at me as I pulled away sounding like Lewis Hamilton on the grid at Silverstone. Then halfway along Hamilton Terrace disaster struck and the whole bloody exhaust dropped to the floor and began dragging along the road behind me. Should I stop and call someone? (no mobile phone with me so that idea was no good) so I soldiered on hoping to god that sparks weren't coming off the road as the exhaust scrapped along behind me like some terrible rusty tail.

I drove slowly (a rare occurrence for me) to the garage and pulled up outside while all the mechanics came out to point and laugh. They put poor Polly on the lift and had a good look at her underneath then ordered the new part. Steve ran me home and promised to drop Polly back when she was all better (excellent service or what!).

She was duly returned at about Noon and is now right as rain and ready to be put up for sale in the next few days.... anyone want a nice 2002 Peugeot 106, only 40,000 miles and a CD player?

p.s the new Mazda is called Milo (don't ask!!)

Bonfire Night

We went down to the neighbours tonight to let off a few fireworks.

One of the big rockets

Dawn with sparkler

Noel and Julian with sparklers

Another rocket

Small firework with firepit to one side (and Julian's legs)

Some video of one of the boxed fireworks

The big fountain firework

Low

I'm feeling pretty low at the moment. I have been for some time but it dosn't seem to be getting any better. I think its a combination of a few things, one being my weight, I have put back on all the weight I lost (nearly 2 and a half stone) and I am feeling pretty crappy about it. I know its my own fault and I don't need anyone to tell me that I need to lose the weight but I don't seem to be able to get my head into the place it needs to be to do something about it.

I also seem to spend long periods on my own when I'm not working and even times like now, with both girls out and Noel off with Meurig and there is nothing but the TV and a glass of wine.

Hopefully I shall soon get my head in a better place and stop wallowing in self pity

Don't you just love it when your cats bring you presents

I opened the garage door yesterday to put some rubbish in the bin and was greeted with the sight of this!!! Had to get the Father in Law in to remove it as I am a complete coward when it comes to dealing with rodents. Not sure which of my little darlings was responsible but it obviously didn't taste that good!!

Sunday Lunch

Saturday night was a quiet night in. I was very tired, not having slept in the day. I cooked bangers and mash with onion gravy for tea and then we settled in to watch X Factor.... what a farce... how on earth did Austin manage to go out and that Ricky Gervaise lookalike stay in, I was proper annoyed!! I think Diana is going to win, she is definately growing on me and was brilliant this week.

Yesterday we went to St. Davids to have lunch with Chris and Julie. We got there about 12 and before we headed to the Grove Hotel we took a walk up to their plot to have a look at the house they are building. It is really coming on and we were able to get a good idea of the layout etc. After that we went to the Grove where we had a gorgeous Sunday lunch, roast beef with all the trimmings. After lunch we went back to theirs and watched the Grand Prix, and consumed far too much wine. Both Noel and I crashed out at some stage and didn't wake up till midnight, when we went to bed.

This morning we were up really early and decided to head home about 7am. I had to take the car into Havefordwest for a service at 9.30am and as they let me have a courtesly car I went to Vincent Davies to have a look around and a cup of coffee.. they had some gorgeous Xmas stuff there but I resisted.

The rest of today has been spend lazing around watching TV and egg hunting, before I made some Italian Liver with braised red cabbage and garlic potatoes for tea. I am now going to settle down to watch Spooks and Paul Merton in India during which I shall probably fall asleep.

Evil Pixies and New Cars

Bit of a hectic blog today. Lots to report. Firstly last night was Halloween as everyone knows. Unfortunately some of us had to work (me, Ffion and Erin) but at least Erin got to dress up to go to work. Charlies were having a fancy dress party and she went as an evil pixie (which is very appropriate as Pixie is what Gary the Chef calls her). Her outfit was brilliant and luckily she is skinny enough to be able to get away with it. She also bought some spooky contact lenses on the internet which just added to the whole look. I think she looked brilliant.

This morning there was more excitement for Ffion as we went to Haverford west to pick up her new car. She decided to buy a brand new car a month or so ago so we looked around and she finally decided on a Mazda 2. It was duly ordered but she had to wait for a few weeks to get the model and colour she wanted. Noel had a phone call on Thursday to say that it had arrived but today was the first time she could get into Haverfordwest to pick it up.

I didn't go to bed this morning after work so that I could go in with them as I wanted to see her drive it for the first time. Noel's parents gave us a lift into the garage and then once the paperwork was completed off she went in her brand new car.

It is a gorgeous colour called Spirited Green and it really sporty looking as you can see. To say she is chuffed is a bit of an understatement

Once we got home I took these pics and then she took me down to the Ferry in for a spin to show her friends who were all working then we went to my Mums to show her and Wayne. I think she is going to spend the rest of the day driving around Milford showing it off, but who can blame her its not many 18 year olds who can afford to buy themselves a brand new car, but with two jobs and nothing else to spend her money on why the hell not!!