It was indeed a donkey, but one made to assist with a school assembly talk that Rhys was doing about Palm Sunday. It seemed to go well from what I hear, so that's good.
I had a lovely birthday yesterday, caught up with friends, took youth club bowling, went out for pizza and played my new Wii game. A game based around basic cooking skills sounds a bit odd, and it is, but a lot of fun.
according to this blog they'd revealed at least some of the speakers a month ago this time last year. This year nothing.
This is my latest five minute project, and is being put to use as I write - answers on a postcard please:
So why the sudden return to blogging? A couple at church last night told me that they had been reading this thing, and so I thought I should make an effort :)
So I was minding my own business surfing the internet when Rhys rudely reminded me that I promised to tell my blog readers when I first did so whilst in bed. I pointed out that I was more on the bed than in the bed, but he wasn't convinced. Anyway, while I'm typing I may as well wish you a happy and tea filled 2008. No resolutions from here, they only come back to bite on one's rear end when least expected.
No, I know it's making no difference to you, but blogging on my new laptop is a wonderfully shiny new experience for me. I'm sitting in the living room, waiting for Neighbours to come on, not holed up the office wondering if I'm missing it (not that I ever actually miss it - that's what video recorders are for). I've been able to check the BBC news site over breakfast (far more civilised than the TV or radio), I've yet to surf the net from the garden or bed, but you'll probably hear when I do!
The good news today is that the damp behind the cupboards in the fairly new kitchen is just condensation. We did have to endure a Michael-Palinesque damp expert waxing lyrical on his 'why the government is responsible for the nation's damp problem' theorem, but on the whole we're relieved that we're not about to start ripping out a kitchen we finished fitting less than 2 years ago.
Anyhow, Neighbours is about to start, and violent dad Richard looks set to kill wayward teen Declan, and Toadie's having a heart attack...
I was in on my own and using the camera timer, but to get the perspective right more easily, if more wonkily I was using a mirror. And then I decided to turn the camera on its side to definitely get me in it, but it doesn't have a flat edge on either of the short ends, so it went wonky. (It was also balanced on a copy of Songs of Fellowship music edition to give it the right height not to get the frame of the mirror in it.)
Maybe not as sucessful a shot as I really wanted, but you were supposed to be looking at the hair not the picture!
thanks to all my rent-a-groupies, the cheques are in the post :)
Tonight I make my promise as a Brownie leader. I would say renew my promise, but the words have changed since last time. I preferred the old one I think, but the new one is growing on me. For the uninitiated we now say "Love my God" where as we used to say "Do my duty to God". Whole theological debate around that one I think.
due at the hairdressers in 5 minutes, so this is a quick one.
I decided to combine much of your advice, and have a foot chopped off. that's 12" of hair, not the end of my leg, sorry lanark.
Unfortunately wig donations are a bit difficult to find around here, and my hair's not that good anyway, I last had it cut over 2 years ago - told you I don't do hairdressers!
I'm currently trying, and indeed managing to lose weight. When doing such a thing it is important to have goals. And to reward oneself when those goals are reached. Without putting too many figures out there, I have reached the half way stage to my goal weight loss. This would appear to be a good time to reward myself. I had thought for a while that getting my hair cut nicely would be a good reward for this stage. There are many reasons that this is a good idea:
- It is not a food related reward, so wouldn't put me back 3 weeks on my diet.
- My hair is really long, in the way and needs cutting
- Shorter hair would be far easier to mange
- Shorter hair would probably look nicer
... and not forgetting of course that hair's got to weigh something, so losing some would actually bring me nearer to my goal weight!
Unfortunately there are also many counter arguments:
- I hate going to the hairdressers, it's almost a phobia.
- My hair can look very nice when I do something with it.
- Rhys likes it better long
- They might not make a good job of it
- I've spent years growing it this long (OK mostly because I hate gioing to the hairdressers...)
So, should I get it cut? I make no promises to abide by any decision made in the comments box, but would appreciate your views (or suggestions for an alternative reward).
The reward I'm giving myself when I reach my goal weight by the way is decided and unchanging. Nintedo DS lite. In silver.
I know this is of little interest to anyone outside of Swansea, but given how little publicity it seems to have generated, you've a pretty good chance of winning if you enter, that's if they've told the bin men though...
Neighbours sees a re-vamp today, one that hit Aussie screens back in July, but a change to the theme tune and credits - goodbye Brushscript logo, 22 years is a long time in font years. Just thought I'd mention it as no-one else seems to be.
Also there's the second part of 'Eye of The Gorgon', part of the initially-dissapointing-but-picked-up-no-end-since-casting-Phyllida-Law 'Sarah Jane Adventures' to look forward to at 5 o'clock.
Over the weekend we discovered another hilarious 5pm CBBC programme (we caught it on repeat), Chute is a mix of completely random archive clips, 'rathergood' style animations and totally bizarre humour linked by what is a very rare comodity these days, a CBBC presenter with a personality. The quality is sometimes variable, but it is heartening to see something that almost harks back to the broom cupboard days of children's broadcasting.
I am aware that many people reading this blog will be completely lost at this point, or be off somewhere else by now. I could be helpful and link to lots of plces to help them make sense of this, but it wouldn't help much, and I really can't be bothered.
Living in Wales has its up sides. The scenery is terrific, the prescriptions are free, and there are even the odd few days when it doesn't rain.
The tv however is not great. I'm not talking here about the tv that is made in Wales for a wider audience, I think The New Doctor Who (or Doctor Who series 27-29) can speak for itself on that. I'm talking of the stuff that is not meant for consumption outside of the boundaries where Ll is a valid letter. The most frequent offender in this area is Wales Today, the regional 'news' programme for Wales. I once saw at least five minutes of the programme dedicated to a football team visiting a chip shop. Don't belive me? Look here.
Aside from the actual attempts at news, there's always Dippy Derek the reasonably inaccurate weatherman, now available in download form, and Bob the sports pundit.
Talking of sport it was a quote attached to the end of Bob's report the other day that really summed up Welsh tv for me, referring to the fact that Wales were not doing well in the rugby, and that there would be a match on later, the viewing public were asked to "Share the agony with BBC2 Wales later on tonight".
It is my suggestion that this become the frankly honest tagline of Welsh tv for the future - for all the programmes that looklike they were made in 1972 on a budget of threepence ha'penny (but were in fact made last week on a budget of £3.50). For all the programme concepts along the idea of 'lets take three generations of the same family and put them on a coach trip'. For anything involving Boyd Clack, Owen Money, Max Boyce, Huw Pugh or anyone else who's last 'proper' gig was as a guest on the Keith Harris and Orville Show. "BBC Wales, Share The Agony", preferably in a rich honeyed Eve Myles type accent, would make it so much more bearable.
... Greenbelt was good, Excellent company - rather lacking in Jane-ness, but she's coming next year, so that's OK. Too many things on at the same time, but there's always the MP3s that I've not bought yet. Billy Bragg was excellent, Chas and Dave were disappointing. Didn't go to any really bad talks, and actually managed some worship stuff. Did my back in on the bouncy obstacle course, bought a lovely Fair Trade duvet cover, and a very lovely skirt and a gorgeous little bible that is pretty and strokable and small, and everything I wanted from a Bible, so I shall now not covet my neighbour's scriptures in Sunday services.
Brownies is going really well so far, I even know all their names, and (more importantly) which ones not to put together. I have a smart rugby shirt type uniform, with an official badge tab and not very official M&S jeans. I get to renew my promise at the end of this month, it's all great. Shouldn't try and do handstands though, even to encourage reluctant Brownies to work towards their agility badges. I never could do one, so what posessed me to try for the first time in about 20 years, I have no idea. The bruise is healing up though.
Driving is also going well, car still has the same number of dents as before I started driving it which is always a good indication!
Basically everything's pretty good, I'm not feeling great, but that might be because the weather's getting worse and I'm getting over a cold. I should be feeling good - Brownie obstacle course tomorrow, hooraay!
thought I'd better re-introduce myself to people before Greenbelt, and perhaps remind them I exist. Been a bit far away from Wib-land recently, but if you're at the wib-meet on Sunday at Greenbelt, I'll see you there and we can catch up then - if not I'm sure we'll catch up at some other point.
Greenbelt review may be forthcoming after a week or so.
[yes I did manage to post this and delete it 3 minutes later, if you were wondering]
Our 'artful lodger' is being (hopefully not Miss-)Guided to the second best city in England. She will be very much missed in this house and lots of other places too. Who else will be on hand to help make gluten and dairy free Jaffa Cakes (yes, one of us will blog the photos soon) and any number of other, often doomed projects?
Our local Brownie pack however seemed less bothered by any of this than the fact that they have just lost one Brown Owl, and are now set to lose another before she's even qualifed...
Which seems to be where I come in, I have been semi-regularly attending meetings under the name of 'Mushroom' (all Brownie leaders have silly names, I decided to trump them) for the past term, as an extra pair of hands. Whereas I expected it to be just one of those things I do now and again, I have found myself quite enjoying it. So, (perhaps rashly, but I'm not convinced there is ever another option) I have made the decision to train up to become Brown Owl.
Quite a lot has changed since I made my Brownie promise to do my best and do my duty to God, not least the words of that promise. The uniform has changed beyond recognition, as have many of the badges. But it fundamentally remains the same. Soon I will renew my promise and get a new uniform (I'm more than slightly annoyed that the Guide association deem me too old for an official hoody), but for tonight I just need to dig out my old Ranger Guide badge tab, and dust off my promise badge as we are all set for a gardening evening.
Further adventures of Mushroom the Brownie leader will no doubt appear in this space, as I try to recall where one sticks a flag pole and which end is which on a double-twisted sheep bend, but for now, learning their names is my first big Brownie Challenge in over twenty years, wish me luck!
The above is an extreme close up of one of our new church chairs, click on it to go to my Flickr account and see a much more panned out view of the church as it looked this lunch time.
All on schedule for Easter Sunday, and on budget too, hooraay!
Nessa asked in the comments below if there's any role that he can't play?
Yes, 90% of the ones he's cast in.
disclaimer: I know that's just my opinion, but then it's my blog, so that's OK
But really, his Willy Wonka was bad. Very bad. And I'm not just saying that because I loved Gene Wilder in the role.
I suppose I will go and see Sweeny Todd if it's got Alan Rickman in it, but to be honest I'm getting really bored of the Tim Burton/Jonny Depp/Helena Bonham Carter thing. Far too samey, very dull.
'till then, here are some irritating games to wind you up. (Those that need a translation will have a flag to click on, so it's fine if you speak French or English. Others will probably get the hang of it, but maybe not the point?)
Sorry, this blog has been given second fiddle to facebook lately, shall try to remedy that one.
I don't often get invited to someone's house for tea and cake. Today I have been invited to two people's houses at the same time. This means I miss out on birthday cake, but do get Chelsea buns. And there may be birthday cake later when I go round with card and gift.
We've had some snow today:
a further picture, and some more church renovation snaps can be found on Flickr as usual.
Sorry to the sentimental, but I'm glad they're out, they were really uncomfortable, and there are plenty nicer pews out there that I get to sit on in other churches, it's time to move on.
No they're not being scrapped, they are all lined up and marked ready for reclamation... apart for the bit I stole, because as it turns out I am a bit of a sentimentalist after all.
This is what the inside of Pantygwydr church looked like at lunchtime, I happened to be passing with a camera at a point I could sneak in (deaconly perks or something) and figured enough wibloggers would be interested - a few more photos are on Flikr.
Edit - for those who never saw it, Alison has posted a picture of the church just before it got gutted here
It's going to look great when it's done, I do agree with you Neil insofar as pews are nice to look at, but they are neither comfortable or wheelchair friendly, so away they go!
Marmite on Toast 
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