tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-324752022024-03-14T12:55:06.719+00:00from Pantperthog to KnockandoUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1425125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-36431859185495156832024-03-07T21:19:00.003+00:002024-03-07T21:20:16.758+00:00Snack of the month - Gold Billions WaferA mid-afternoon shortage of milk prompted a short walk to the local Post Office, where this unusual confectionary treat was sitting on the counter. One intrigued impulse purchase later... <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrO5MsXFZfqsQNAabfw6CR8a9JBy7Y1ztHkeu3TduQs3qeZnaTk2v_pQPLrQP_Hpd5KxHDwWp7f_ohVfF98_lYJoclSswoNLWo352nIjvwCZFUk3H1j33y_LTZRZ_Dfu8L82TlnATViOyEEIKdLzbrF5Km_pctWyqmJkJmWF6ltl9zs6t66kmBA/s1006/20240307_150855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="1006" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrO5MsXFZfqsQNAabfw6CR8a9JBy7Y1ztHkeu3TduQs3qeZnaTk2v_pQPLrQP_Hpd5KxHDwWp7f_ohVfF98_lYJoclSswoNLWo352nIjvwCZFUk3H1j33y_LTZRZ_Dfu8L82TlnATViOyEEIKdLzbrF5Km_pctWyqmJkJmWF6ltl9zs6t66kmBA/s320/20240307_150855.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's about the size of a KitKat Chunky. Maybe a fraction thinner.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HTI3f8g-nsSA3V4YhU2UgqrzLBcwM5ejpY29xCKiiR6sumxis7b1ysHaFrRdX25TmrfI0ZhgkCec_AjvWVKDQSVTt3CBFyp6C8YPbztbM22TbwET6J1gM0ZB_sVLr0ovoZfY4hsYpnpQfLHivzQYAa0p0JftXwLoVykz4fddkAmUFsZzaCsnvw/s2056/20240307_150924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2056" data-original-width="1117" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HTI3f8g-nsSA3V4YhU2UgqrzLBcwM5ejpY29xCKiiR6sumxis7b1ysHaFrRdX25TmrfI0ZhgkCec_AjvWVKDQSVTt3CBFyp6C8YPbztbM22TbwET6J1gM0ZB_sVLr0ovoZfY4hsYpnpQfLHivzQYAa0p0JftXwLoVykz4fddkAmUFsZzaCsnvw/s320/20240307_150924.jpg" width="174" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Colour-wise, it's not as yellow as a McVities Gold wrapped biscuit, despite being a product evolved from that very successful item.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojbJXPvLYGMWXJWh95dPafLyUetynVPjG8hZdEFMIWaba_dlC_duvegR-92M9hYMG9-60vP6x3kPPHKv3MfG_GhTwQy-dS5sKmcK-XT6gewbUYVn4ttKS_2YiawxibOr0Rv1kQXrhlJUE5pfrHqrTCowzANrYlM5tJomdix9b10GAG4XYK70fjQ/s1399/20240307_150956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1399" data-original-width="1285" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojbJXPvLYGMWXJWh95dPafLyUetynVPjG8hZdEFMIWaba_dlC_duvegR-92M9hYMG9-60vP6x3kPPHKv3MfG_GhTwQy-dS5sKmcK-XT6gewbUYVn4ttKS_2YiawxibOr0Rv1kQXrhlJUE5pfrHqrTCowzANrYlM5tJomdix9b10GAG4XYK70fjQ/s320/20240307_150956.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The discolouration on the side of the bar was unsightly.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPPCQzhg3pPoo5rv4cGS8ScUw0KBvGDLhR30R8yB-SIk2aF9fzwt0xdQa3C9fPfRovEUhgDmHzU7SF6Mbq_xgA1UWKNz5gUFRT215dpCO2h8adOtPSGjIyXg5o2Ly6sb4GhV8gqBqYjndpI53gaR87WzCuLuXL4EX3OeoZLEyRhaRx265_6MiTw/s1400/20240307_150947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1400" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPPCQzhg3pPoo5rv4cGS8ScUw0KBvGDLhR30R8yB-SIk2aF9fzwt0xdQa3C9fPfRovEUhgDmHzU7SF6Mbq_xgA1UWKNz5gUFRT215dpCO2h8adOtPSGjIyXg5o2Ly6sb4GhV8gqBqYjndpI53gaR87WzCuLuXL4EX3OeoZLEyRhaRx265_6MiTw/s320/20240307_150947.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But explained by a layer of milk chocolate on the underneath of the bar. This chocolate was a decent quality and offset the sweetness of the caramel flavour coating on the rest of the bar.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq47Qmm7zM-wqpS4ylVinp6lN1ioz9WTJ_50e9W9XBsHcXawybpe5zF6ZKyjJN7D2HTjn2AolKCNfhSLOtLOEy7mkAixl6c2U95erKX5XMBEAtLm1PJ6BAh9ww3Wf1rPI1DVcKXPPB3i7YcSDnNlhnPziF76A6ORFQ_8c5bT66WKtNrbS9DToV0Q/s1518/20240307_150951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1327" data-original-width="1518" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq47Qmm7zM-wqpS4ylVinp6lN1ioz9WTJ_50e9W9XBsHcXawybpe5zF6ZKyjJN7D2HTjn2AolKCNfhSLOtLOEy7mkAixl6c2U95erKX5XMBEAtLm1PJ6BAh9ww3Wf1rPI1DVcKXPPB3i7YcSDnNlhnPziF76A6ORFQ_8c5bT66WKtNrbS9DToV0Q/s320/20240307_150951.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The wafer was crispy, but not too hard. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk-qlcr2G3c0Q2FR5A9EnVoO0TAmgBr5wc4iH7uDRxe9ToAL9JQ9ztUHCo5UJ6q_njFZsiE8Sblz6bfr48KRgV9khq5Jy_jezjvP-3qfdivDXzXCVSOaF_smBWDVokdcaXP3mjRtoOHNsxKnJX8xQfp9JABep59JbIxPY_aXRzDcmG7Vqa5XMwg/s1591/20240307_151009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1377" data-original-width="1591" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk-qlcr2G3c0Q2FR5A9EnVoO0TAmgBr5wc4iH7uDRxe9ToAL9JQ9ztUHCo5UJ6q_njFZsiE8Sblz6bfr48KRgV9khq5Jy_jezjvP-3qfdivDXzXCVSOaF_smBWDVokdcaXP3mjRtoOHNsxKnJX8xQfp9JABep59JbIxPY_aXRzDcmG7Vqa5XMwg/s320/20240307_151009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The filling around the wafer meant it wasn't too dry. It wasn't over-filled either.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7fxXwZWCQXuv1VtmRLxQiYdhaHkcBl_VGahelOq92wvuXqcNg-Q8skgUk1ab6Hl4JwTtQBWXjMua6O0geA6-RM5XUwFJW4HAs-tWeHZRZDPrPrDQTqH_YtNdetAMAoNK3cKMFLFWndORg4fCvVBFZPXZZvUOBr0NxX4donBLFKUsx_G2kiN1tw/s1800/20240307_151022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1800" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7fxXwZWCQXuv1VtmRLxQiYdhaHkcBl_VGahelOq92wvuXqcNg-Q8skgUk1ab6Hl4JwTtQBWXjMua6O0geA6-RM5XUwFJW4HAs-tWeHZRZDPrPrDQTqH_YtNdetAMAoNK3cKMFLFWndORg4fCvVBFZPXZZvUOBr0NxX4donBLFKUsx_G2kiN1tw/s320/20240307_151022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Overall, this was a very sweet wafer snack. It bordered on sickly. If the caramel coating had been used all over it that would have made it even sweeter so the milk chocolate was a good design choice. </div><div><br /></div><div>And although I enjoyed it enough to not regret my impulse purchase I won't be rushing to buy another one. Worth trying once, though.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-74219006468776935962024-03-03T13:21:00.004+00:002024-03-03T13:26:32.576+00:00Football recap of the month - February 2024<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">February 2024 proved to be a megamonth of football for me, as I went to nine matches. This is the most I've ever been to in February.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Game 37: Caerau Ely 3-2 Llantwit Major</span></h3><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Reason for going: </b>This was a late decision, when my friend Steve suggested we go. It was a Friday night game and set me up for a 3 game weekend. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Point of interest: </b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Llantwit Major came back from two goals down but were only level for a couple of minutes. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6st1KIe5WjjAP6r1tsVIn2HV_vmLKZQXHoGMxPpP07qbPUhgeFDujctD2HiqILLIM53xSoVp87USUqM8Cp8fNoYmoYNy85hVI15s-LYR34zv35ByEKbuFRBP3HSFHrtXQr3yvAPnHCv_lNfoNy3qFRYQ0hip__ZJ6sUW7swBa_wbdcxk4dv9JLg/s2777/20240202_193119.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2777" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6st1KIe5WjjAP6r1tsVIn2HV_vmLKZQXHoGMxPpP07qbPUhgeFDujctD2HiqILLIM53xSoVp87USUqM8Cp8fNoYmoYNy85hVI15s-LYR34zv35ByEKbuFRBP3HSFHrtXQr3yvAPnHCv_lNfoNy3qFRYQ0hip__ZJ6sUW7swBa_wbdcxk4dv9JLg/s320/20240202_193119.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Game 38: Barry Town 0-3 Pontypridd Town</span></h3><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Reason for going: </b>Barry's first game of phase 2 of the Cymru Premier season. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Point of interest:</b> The first goal of the game was calamitous from the home team's point of view. The goalkeeper rushed out and failed to clear the ball leaving the striker free to fire home from the edge of the box. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSTfjFIhXxOguDI0c8VkOGclYp8kubno831uroExCShNZGARJwng6kTNUEOzaLTavYHyHLT4U8ljOgrxs-o0E_lHTshVGEinm9XuPsqEfiU4t41qIfi96y3j0hejw8PNyj43P6jEEE28GLoo_IVplqSHES2955-vGthoL3UiGGPLDQZoFjNPpBw/s2519/20240203_140528.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="2519" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSTfjFIhXxOguDI0c8VkOGclYp8kubno831uroExCShNZGARJwng6kTNUEOzaLTavYHyHLT4U8ljOgrxs-o0E_lHTshVGEinm9XuPsqEfiU4t41qIfi96y3j0hejw8PNyj43P6jEEE28GLoo_IVplqSHES2955-vGthoL3UiGGPLDQZoFjNPpBw/s320/20240203_140528.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Game 39: Barry Town Ladies 1-3 Cardiff City Women</span></h3><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Reason for going:</b> I'd been to watch Barry Town Ladies the week before and enjoyed it. So decided to go and watch them as they were hosting the table-toppers. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Point of interest: </b>This was the penultimate game of Phase 1 of the Adran Premier League. Cardiff City were unbeaten up to this point and it was easy to see why. They were a good team. (They lost the following week, though.) This was also the third day in a row I'd been to a football match. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRbVJzlWL90-sd-MMJeQflgRsdbzJPyXZwpEKVK2XPgZVV66c5NdjPULEKqv6n8aWEhyphenhyphenqQh8BWYAK0QAxUMOF4BgUnE3_SixVl_ZskLcF-UtwMCYzPINBiMMfdRqe43CesCEKZ_V0i2MryQ92CAuX64t-da-tWClLM4Pn57WmDz4BCpCen84tdQ/s1751/20240204_135932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="1751" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRbVJzlWL90-sd-MMJeQflgRsdbzJPyXZwpEKVK2XPgZVV66c5NdjPULEKqv6n8aWEhyphenhyphenqQh8BWYAK0QAxUMOF4BgUnE3_SixVl_ZskLcF-UtwMCYzPINBiMMfdRqe43CesCEKZ_V0i2MryQ92CAuX64t-da-tWClLM4Pn57WmDz4BCpCen84tdQ/s320/20240204_135932.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFf-l-hIuaTYLjwwq0CGxk4nXqD34eWouLcz7fGzk731Q7rPl-G2H2t7-O_ezDhkq4IquMDLcOlS-XAy6gRyWNTB5kxk9bK-P579kU7TqVhqkj5Q3cArOCGUt7Xa-jUak761qx6FzymiIQeHL6e-_S-bG384iwRjSxDQeFaSCAj0Wc9MXckgK9w/s2282/20240204_155114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1494" data-original-width="2282" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFf-l-hIuaTYLjwwq0CGxk4nXqD34eWouLcz7fGzk731Q7rPl-G2H2t7-O_ezDhkq4IquMDLcOlS-XAy6gRyWNTB5kxk9bK-P579kU7TqVhqkj5Q3cArOCGUt7Xa-jUak761qx6FzymiIQeHL6e-_S-bG384iwRjSxDQeFaSCAj0Wc9MXckgK9w/s320/20240204_155114.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Game 40: Penybont 2-2 Barry Town</span></h3><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Reason for going: </b>Penybont is one of the closest away trips for me. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Point of interest: </b>This was my 100th Barry Town game. I got a Futbology badge.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy00NO8NWIidYTWlwkkm7A5tiybIDssVgZZ3J7CphinW8QGNgmEdsmWyoaA3x8OysVwbMf0-K13l3xDm38ShjAb7NNAPSUxxmsuQv1WbDwdETCgnvnuo-cUr5shVKip12CS_TM9vWafUVxW6drvJwngVHk0U586Jw3q30mk_4oWpe_X813wCJKRw/s1691/20240210_140331.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1559" data-original-width="1691" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy00NO8NWIidYTWlwkkm7A5tiybIDssVgZZ3J7CphinW8QGNgmEdsmWyoaA3x8OysVwbMf0-K13l3xDm38ShjAb7NNAPSUxxmsuQv1WbDwdETCgnvnuo-cUr5shVKip12CS_TM9vWafUVxW6drvJwngVHk0U586Jw3q30mk_4oWpe_X813wCJKRw/s320/20240210_140331.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EXvItaSLsc8syW5cYkKIA4Km15K6yw7jGkmF0V4qGbwnSBwAqTOdJ5NofRy0v8riyTUuceHsZ1tHMWuv2HTTj5S19UbUp02g1MXsURlKt9ggXIQS5J-rlQ7uPp0hy8Tn7rVUKQrPjywAsyvEoEFG-prMm5NqeC2ux2Sk7-RzzhfLP5Ii-2apLw/s1619/Screenshot_20240210_121638.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1619" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EXvItaSLsc8syW5cYkKIA4Km15K6yw7jGkmF0V4qGbwnSBwAqTOdJ5NofRy0v8riyTUuceHsZ1tHMWuv2HTTj5S19UbUp02g1MXsURlKt9ggXIQS5J-rlQ7uPp0hy8Tn7rVUKQrPjywAsyvEoEFG-prMm5NqeC2ux2Sk7-RzzhfLP5Ii-2apLw/s320/Screenshot_20240210_121638.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Game 41: Newport County 1-3 Notts County</span></h3><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Reason for going:</b> My friend Paul is a Notts County fan. Although, for reasons of restricted ticket supply, I ended up in the home end with Paul's wife, Val, instead.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Point of interest: </b>We caught the train to the game. Unlike last time I tried to watch Newport County, this time the train from Cardiff to Newport thankfully didn't go via Reading!!</span></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4kYNwqiXGRPKU0ApHVG2FRKpQAfy2LgvRFzemDRLM2lqscALxxIbcQMiX-yRmI9sYl5d2Fwxdcj3rIYndKJqLgp8ypcNQg1bwj_Up_hFU8VPrWQE8HlHEZNfUoBSQGJQEyTAvV8BAMXzFhjgvcx67LodBWmlFE-QojUvyc14FXwjK5HR0b9WCg/s2102/20240213_201403.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="2102" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4kYNwqiXGRPKU0ApHVG2FRKpQAfy2LgvRFzemDRLM2lqscALxxIbcQMiX-yRmI9sYl5d2Fwxdcj3rIYndKJqLgp8ypcNQg1bwj_Up_hFU8VPrWQE8HlHEZNfUoBSQGJQEyTAvV8BAMXzFhjgvcx67LodBWmlFE-QojUvyc14FXwjK5HR0b9WCg/s320/20240213_201403.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhLxA-hPCGq4SSZel3d_N_yYuYd3J-sgwFiVwymYys0KnvYQL3sxqXcfpnxZ9HfP5QILpKM3OM7YjDv-pozkfiRlkhWipgegUFjXPaDXWihp309ZinHXdrlMrce2iqGsSA9OT6TvwcnaL_ugYgCn_q_EIrHrrfWdo0p4oxixXh5WM3sZwj5wDgA/s3096/20240213_193721.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2501" data-original-width="3096" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhLxA-hPCGq4SSZel3d_N_yYuYd3J-sgwFiVwymYys0KnvYQL3sxqXcfpnxZ9HfP5QILpKM3OM7YjDv-pozkfiRlkhWipgegUFjXPaDXWihp309ZinHXdrlMrce2iqGsSA9OT6TvwcnaL_ugYgCn_q_EIrHrrfWdo0p4oxixXh5WM3sZwj5wDgA/s320/20240213_193721.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Selfie with Val</i></td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Game 42: Llantwit Major 1-0 BK Skjold </b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Reason for going:</b> This game was in the Fenix Trophy, which is an international competition for amateur and semi-professional clubs founded in 2021. Skjold, from Copenhagen, were the holders. Llantwit Major were the first Welsh team to compete in this competition and bigged this game up as their first ever European tie. So there were a lot of reasons to go!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Point of interest: </b>Llantwit's ground is known as Windmill Lane and there is a disused windmill next to the football pitch. It provided a vantage point for a couple of hardy souls during the game!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaJpcmmZZvy_6RZ8ilsxeAQeGofjyftOk2ck-VskXwDC6l-WVbqruEU-Kq7TTsRsndNE2-fd3meKUbHb1VC529BjcIR5AbNrLVZWNAyglqvNtbMZJ_NFFJYxoDlMIPzhu2jYob7lXwRpxVMukKljab59jm1OrWO9O8JkhY0UOcEJKx8RxIFDbPw/s3315/20240217_135122.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3315" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaJpcmmZZvy_6RZ8ilsxeAQeGofjyftOk2ck-VskXwDC6l-WVbqruEU-Kq7TTsRsndNE2-fd3meKUbHb1VC529BjcIR5AbNrLVZWNAyglqvNtbMZJ_NFFJYxoDlMIPzhu2jYob7lXwRpxVMukKljab59jm1OrWO9O8JkhY0UOcEJKx8RxIFDbPw/s320/20240217_135122.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiGuCT1N2AdnzWeTrWIzCPvrwqx5OGTR6Zt-SNXAH0ecQVFoyJF4IMhel-humQvgXjkdcj4M5SEPoZm0mjpI0a1rwgOo_NsaqOh2mIxn69jZd7CLDKbspoB8suwsPuBEM10xAPZS8T23PlxR_hAzB_04SM5SxWwKL1o-xdFm4xbwaxiKk2Dej9g/s1174/20240217_135851.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="1174" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiGuCT1N2AdnzWeTrWIzCPvrwqx5OGTR6Zt-SNXAH0ecQVFoyJF4IMhel-humQvgXjkdcj4M5SEPoZm0mjpI0a1rwgOo_NsaqOh2mIxn69jZd7CLDKbspoB8suwsPuBEM10xAPZS8T23PlxR_hAzB_04SM5SxWwKL1o-xdFm4xbwaxiKk2Dej9g/s320/20240217_135851.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mNlyM6RkvLoZTyNrFLBoOERPdSpSktO7gDnqqLb9d30ucmGxqfSlLmzP6NZ07dCwFFRFbiCcz9DNxf0SK_shEz2cg5E9QdR0m5XrZhq26IvAcXaCpHkske1eIBK7uoAXzInWSs7QexS0urLldc4yt2cNdoJIMWRrRVv9p518LmcbHyYwlpLXIg/s1523/20240217_152327.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="1523" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mNlyM6RkvLoZTyNrFLBoOERPdSpSktO7gDnqqLb9d30ucmGxqfSlLmzP6NZ07dCwFFRFbiCcz9DNxf0SK_shEz2cg5E9QdR0m5XrZhq26IvAcXaCpHkske1eIBK7uoAXzInWSs7QexS0urLldc4yt2cNdoJIMWRrRVv9p518LmcbHyYwlpLXIg/s320/20240217_152327.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLekAPX2gfLNKdodcW-ZpmucRZT9o3Es1Fw9BxZRJ0pRI6aoAvPz-BhYEfnGJwTMKHzbC57C3f4Abv0DhdwDnKl1H8PontMOkhk0iNVzeUrq-fbR2NiXHQxLY-bbZm6BEmtvn5Jcyz1Ch1UgRteNtMe5Fff4qT77mx28O7OrpV2bi1MfOGBZ0LmA/s1793/20240217_140945.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1702" data-original-width="1793" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLekAPX2gfLNKdodcW-ZpmucRZT9o3Es1Fw9BxZRJ0pRI6aoAvPz-BhYEfnGJwTMKHzbC57C3f4Abv0DhdwDnKl1H8PontMOkhk0iNVzeUrq-fbR2NiXHQxLY-bbZm6BEmtvn5Jcyz1Ch1UgRteNtMe5Fff4qT77mx28O7OrpV2bi1MfOGBZ0LmA/s320/20240217_140945.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span><h3 style="text-align: left;">Game 43: Barry Town 1-1 Haverfordwest County</h3><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Reason for going:</b> At this point, I think it's a more a case of hope than expectation. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Point of interest:</b> Former Barry player Rhys Abruzzese scored a very late equaliser for Haverfordwest - clocked at 90+6 minutes. Also Mike Lewis, the Barry goalkeeper, saved a penalty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwXSd3UyYCgBnoAdM5rLundjMj23iGabgPtxkBHSL_I14ZeJ6hyphenhyphenW3_AUe7MBuR-xhDX9Kc4ES6y2-ONz1VYgXWQ1zVAS26Mi7gZwd8INCg5S_GOF_oNldPm2wwBUqkiBNJvec2V1N14Po_J_XcxPFh5DDDyc4zjgQVSmK4drayEpFF2a0FuzEiQ/s2553/20240223_192629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2553" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwXSd3UyYCgBnoAdM5rLundjMj23iGabgPtxkBHSL_I14ZeJ6hyphenhyphenW3_AUe7MBuR-xhDX9Kc4ES6y2-ONz1VYgXWQ1zVAS26Mi7gZwd8INCg5S_GOF_oNldPm2wwBUqkiBNJvec2V1N14Po_J_XcxPFh5DDDyc4zjgQVSmK4drayEpFF2a0FuzEiQ/s320/20240223_192629.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkPVrd9oqLHKBQK4iBMscCPsMAzO4vAP9wOeqEtXWYmV-mzCfxfshSLtWv2T05qNYAk1MIzBebSC-117VUkNaNk-mQVstNYY0gMa59J6NmHvXNxQ8YKKVQ8KHofsKcq4QpMAoGXiO-4LUR_5Gc-AQlLY_YC_X2-5IRimatFMnoK1jKd0e9La0cQ/s2468/20240223_200519.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="2468" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkPVrd9oqLHKBQK4iBMscCPsMAzO4vAP9wOeqEtXWYmV-mzCfxfshSLtWv2T05qNYAk1MIzBebSC-117VUkNaNk-mQVstNYY0gMa59J6NmHvXNxQ8YKKVQ8KHofsKcq4QpMAoGXiO-4LUR_5Gc-AQlLY_YC_X2-5IRimatFMnoK1jKd0e9La0cQ/s320/20240223_200519.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Game 44: Cardiff City 2-1 Stoke City</h3><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Reason for going:</b> My friend Andrew asked me to act as "football sherpa" because his son, Ben, wanted to go to a football match, so we went and sat in the family stand. Andrew's nephew, James, joined us as well.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Point of interest:</b> Because we were in the family stand, we got a visit from Bartley Bluebird, the Cardiff City mascot, in the second half. </div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3ChmU4uBPl6p1knFUhESO2d5FyD6X1opB7cHIu009TVwNefE4sJweOekkjm8kWIHq5nePnInNqbp67_tSuq1D_l6ZMRFT95EZMzsgkx0-nlRNaUw9y-fcUDNW9tEJ9XhavaFUUV47husvrVubPHtcX4RTgdZmSOBIY0hUnsv0naBHf9VsX_QrQ/s1905/20240224_150549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1597" data-original-width="1905" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3ChmU4uBPl6p1knFUhESO2d5FyD6X1opB7cHIu009TVwNefE4sJweOekkjm8kWIHq5nePnInNqbp67_tSuq1D_l6ZMRFT95EZMzsgkx0-nlRNaUw9y-fcUDNW9tEJ9XhavaFUUV47husvrVubPHtcX4RTgdZmSOBIY0hUnsv0naBHf9VsX_QrQ/s320/20240224_150549.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqft8oH8GddjkFijo7oOCawf50wkVl1DD2W2b5bpHXvQikQbKzA1CrLklEojBOlfk2Kd4bRx9Ua14Qw1-KPuy307c168nLUSVa6O6FHnr_JpARkIHWdk-UkVGHT-UlS3B-M4hY6iwvYdmDt-L_TSJtp4KWSy7YsGq15IjJ4UVHuXC9Oty_VB2Cw/s1542/IMG-20240224-WA0009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1542" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqft8oH8GddjkFijo7oOCawf50wkVl1DD2W2b5bpHXvQikQbKzA1CrLklEojBOlfk2Kd4bRx9Ua14Qw1-KPuy307c168nLUSVa6O6FHnr_JpARkIHWdk-UkVGHT-UlS3B-M4hY6iwvYdmDt-L_TSJtp4KWSy7YsGq15IjJ4UVHuXC9Oty_VB2Cw/s320/IMG-20240224-WA0009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBanJhREO3urL0d6ymgyJOHMsjv_fyAYEBwIRNqdNJha_86nwn1XRWVFF_TFeiokcB8XcV0QSNCRPDIjvcg2fXI5SpQgXGMkekzlvCQz00-23IPwfWFLBdGAmT2cNuqfbsGIgbj5GoTC9otLDOY2YzPIyp5QWglTAlSRYQ-3z60zvbKk_CMw8A3Q/s2290/20240224_154414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2290" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBanJhREO3urL0d6ymgyJOHMsjv_fyAYEBwIRNqdNJha_86nwn1XRWVFF_TFeiokcB8XcV0QSNCRPDIjvcg2fXI5SpQgXGMkekzlvCQz00-23IPwfWFLBdGAmT2cNuqfbsGIgbj5GoTC9otLDOY2YzPIyp5QWglTAlSRYQ-3z60zvbKk_CMw8A3Q/s320/20240224_154414.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><h3 style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Game 45: Caerau Ely 1-0 Taff's Well</h3><div style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Reason for going: </b>this was a chance to set a new personal record for February with a ninth game within the month.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Point of interest: </b>Caerau Ely scored what would prove to be their winner after just 40 seconds!</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YZe96voDBCc0ekxepIJFizn-TkRgY5Ou69to1NeMH2saR5HUw4D0NXqYybi5RR2Xn7U5YTZH1-TsyOSmDPYGHNSlToeDohicBF4_8oZpn4Tg0uuPCQBtwgQ2m75MSlt5Xr915dmfyK5ai-qShOyI79ImOxOac5UnEOUuYLR1unZ9rO__gE3gMA/s2199/20240227_204422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2199" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YZe96voDBCc0ekxepIJFizn-TkRgY5Ou69to1NeMH2saR5HUw4D0NXqYybi5RR2Xn7U5YTZH1-TsyOSmDPYGHNSlToeDohicBF4_8oZpn4Tg0uuPCQBtwgQ2m75MSlt5Xr915dmfyK5ai-qShOyI79ImOxOac5UnEOUuYLR1unZ9rO__gE3gMA/s320/20240227_204422.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0bF6v3MS1inxeP-EmHRUnA1YJAj2ju0JSVPAoQnXd94WncRQNWnTnKYyrhMWyXIsrFvUR1he3rDZZGe_0nM-1MWVjDc6HX8cMaLg8VXxfvqh-kHuiOqqF_FzTDsyShvoxzSTe3vaYjPEA_gb24-CjTU8h77mBwXWLbd_3gfOkZ0Fmosx8Rsk5g/s2185/20240227_210814.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="2185" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0bF6v3MS1inxeP-EmHRUnA1YJAj2ju0JSVPAoQnXd94WncRQNWnTnKYyrhMWyXIsrFvUR1he3rDZZGe_0nM-1MWVjDc6HX8cMaLg8VXxfvqh-kHuiOqqF_FzTDsyShvoxzSTe3vaYjPEA_gb24-CjTU8h77mBwXWLbd_3gfOkZ0Fmosx8Rsk5g/s320/20240227_210814.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-64334204586381130892024-03-02T22:21:00.002+00:002024-03-02T22:21:36.751+00:00Love and crime - events of February 2024<p>And suddenly we are at the end of February, even though this year we had a bonus Leap Day. </p><p>For Valentine's Day, Cathy and I celebrated by building a cute Lego set together. I hope these two hedgehogs are as happy together as we are.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUA4ddQO1sAn58M0V-l2U635VRZQSReloH16wX9WISbf7-AcoNxUKNW7ZlAG7pm1mbtACgOCRP8sNeMQkItDT_dZKcMyr9q5gUL3POtt7JnZoMMYzwOAL1e71nF84kEFL7bRjFG3Aw754gvU7VNl3rfHHvyGY3zD10aKMPnvxHusaGRlgmJMbERw/s2569/20240226_175821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1782" data-original-width="2569" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUA4ddQO1sAn58M0V-l2U635VRZQSReloH16wX9WISbf7-AcoNxUKNW7ZlAG7pm1mbtACgOCRP8sNeMQkItDT_dZKcMyr9q5gUL3POtt7JnZoMMYzwOAL1e71nF84kEFL7bRjFG3Aw754gvU7VNl3rfHHvyGY3zD10aKMPnvxHusaGRlgmJMbERw/s320/20240226_175821.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>February was a difficult month all told. Halfway through the month a "change programme" was announced in work, which will have an impact on my team. Morale and motivation have definitely taken a hit as a result. It's almost inevitable that it will, particularly if people are leaving as a result - it's reminded me of several aspects of organisational change that I studied in my Business Psychology MSc. </p><p>On the home front we have had some stress too. What started initially with enquiries about some repairs to the house turned into a full blown roof replacement. We are very happy with the result, which included taking the top part of the chimney out and roofing over it. The state of the chimney has been worrying me for a long time and I'm very glad it's sorted. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTrjhCrjSp7Syd2-LPPO-Eivkck5TuqSDwVi5Dg8TVT1phrCjVG0xTAtyWLXkRQ2Wtk-AmDwgUb_69dy4TmLvIDHlJ-JxOIl-5uI51fMfw22AokWkrPIPvSKFE0VhbSKFDUyqjUNBFAVW-lL6oxDJdwBLc3Y5PWzLKS6t58RUxfIOIuSaz1_uAQ/s2074/20240209_160937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2074" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTrjhCrjSp7Syd2-LPPO-Eivkck5TuqSDwVi5Dg8TVT1phrCjVG0xTAtyWLXkRQ2Wtk-AmDwgUb_69dy4TmLvIDHlJ-JxOIl-5uI51fMfw22AokWkrPIPvSKFE0VhbSKFDUyqjUNBFAVW-lL6oxDJdwBLc3Y5PWzLKS6t58RUxfIOIuSaz1_uAQ/s320/20240209_160937.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9wNTgrtFu7z8fP2eAQXj47cQB9LguYbTvsh0sfWUVlo4B1l5comA0ZddKsF5zVMk9nbzC91uL4vKcxIO8JolUO51hiuJfyajJzTppwZDWPwznKc7Q4YPO5Xa5V3DgPkwlFIrb91gdZ702uVjCi9Og4cCqeSbBO1NN4EVy6LaTtWVY5OhR4t5DA/s1669/20240222_174927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1669" data-original-width="1238" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9wNTgrtFu7z8fP2eAQXj47cQB9LguYbTvsh0sfWUVlo4B1l5comA0ZddKsF5zVMk9nbzC91uL4vKcxIO8JolUO51hiuJfyajJzTppwZDWPwznKc7Q4YPO5Xa5V3DgPkwlFIrb91gdZ702uVjCi9Og4cCqeSbBO1NN4EVy6LaTtWVY5OhR4t5DA/s320/20240222_174927.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><br /><p>However, getting a new roof during one of the wettest Februarys on record meant it took a lot longer to complete than anticipated. The benefit of having it done while it was lashing down with rain every other day meant we could instantly check whether it was watertight. Fair play, it held during some downpours even before the new slates went on. </p><p>Also, I've discovered that getting a new roof fitted is a great way to meet some of your neighbours. We had several people knock on the door asking if our roofers were any good and seeing if they could get quotes for their roof repairs. </p><p>Our roofer, Sheldon, was very good. I liked him a lot and when he finished on the final day and said goodbye I honestly told him I was going to miss him. Apparently he is going to be back in our street soon working on someone else's roof and he says he will knock on the door to say hi. </p><p>Less pleasantly, for the first time in my life I was the target of muggers. I won't go into too much detail, but basically, I was walking home from the city centre at about 6.30pm on a Friday evening. There were two youngish lads at the end of the street and as I walked past them one of them lashed out without warning, hit me and pushed me to the ground, then demanded some money. </p><p>After taking some money, he proceeded to run off. His mate ran off after him. I phoned the police and talked to a 999 call handler all the way home, which was only a few minutes. Obviously Cathy had a horrid shock when I walked in bashed and bleeding. Police officers were able to attend and take a statement within minutes. CID called round the next day. And I'm very happy to say that within two weeks, the police had arrested my assailant, had charged him and he's currently being held on remand.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotFWlYvWjMFXy9M6PS0QtRxgWTcvUPL6uYzOh6YRKo5lbgayb8AWmO84RpasEdtgTJBAkugATw8_DDg1c5c7xPI7w9FfwyzEpxZPEMH-282N-rtxY_bwQ7Hb3FMCwCGt-m_grkC8lwyNxF4F3_xQWsIlurBegmRqulrbxu2leIOWntmqPCWuNxw/s3195/20240220_100825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3195" data-original-width="2556" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotFWlYvWjMFXy9M6PS0QtRxgWTcvUPL6uYzOh6YRKo5lbgayb8AWmO84RpasEdtgTJBAkugATw8_DDg1c5c7xPI7w9FfwyzEpxZPEMH-282N-rtxY_bwQ7Hb3FMCwCGt-m_grkC8lwyNxF4F3_xQWsIlurBegmRqulrbxu2leIOWntmqPCWuNxw/s320/20240220_100825.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p>While the incident was horrible, the response I have had from family, friends, neighbours and colleagues has been lovely. I genuinely felt loved and supported by so many people, many telling me how outraged this had happened to me. Some of our neighbours brought a box of cookies because they saw the police car outside and saw my black eye and wanted to check I was OK. That was the only time I cried about what had happened - crying because of their unexpected kindness.</p><p>So, yes, a bad thing happened, but there are still lots of good people in the world and the response to the bad thing really brought that home to me. </p><p>And on a final note, even having that incident happen, didn't stop me from going to nine football matches (full report to follow!), my first ever <b><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2024/02/international-ice-hockey.html" target="_blank">international ice hockey game</a></b>, and making a dent in my pile of shame by building one of my Blood Bowl teams that had been sitting there unbuilt for two and a half years! So a good sporting month all round. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzq3aTb_dM25iljYzCp5RYI1CpJSgRUA5VyQFXnnaVABT7WnG_tiu6nHN_1tSg7BCOoFxc3EIF0q7518L3u0VJ4G5G69zb0deokjR6RrVYFPbGJBY4KWpFTUDrw7FehSAZ60DMtmjFBLoicixeUkGLH30pZNd2opXBmi9a3FTqwzm2aXvCGaX-Q/s2493/20240207_214950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1505" data-original-width="2493" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzq3aTb_dM25iljYzCp5RYI1CpJSgRUA5VyQFXnnaVABT7WnG_tiu6nHN_1tSg7BCOoFxc3EIF0q7518L3u0VJ4G5G69zb0deokjR6RrVYFPbGJBY4KWpFTUDrw7FehSAZ60DMtmjFBLoicixeUkGLH30pZNd2opXBmi9a3FTqwzm2aXvCGaX-Q/s320/20240207_214950.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>New Blood Bowl Orc team ready for mayhem</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-40393178536326572852024-02-21T19:14:00.006+00:002024-02-21T19:53:51.669+00:00Book of the Month: Independent Nation<p>I've had this book in my reading pile for a little while. With the tagline 'Should Wales leave the UK?', it's written by Wales Online Welsh Affairs editor Will Hayward to scrutinise both sides of the discussion about Welsh independence. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwb23dXQHESPS6eLKxWanMTauTffskR9VwWL04Qg3Qow0v2OXUqOAZqszekt27mtd25sMRIfFVh0gdNMWD-Us_KZtBrcugWdPErMI9zj0acGDR5yjUzHVeaP-BB623cK_UVGtMVNL1nk2IO7puNi4PiqnzPqWamyIny7a17IQTy8HwMvc3W99ww/s500/WillHayward.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="325" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwb23dXQHESPS6eLKxWanMTauTffskR9VwWL04Qg3Qow0v2OXUqOAZqszekt27mtd25sMRIfFVh0gdNMWD-Us_KZtBrcugWdPErMI9zj0acGDR5yjUzHVeaP-BB623cK_UVGtMVNL1nk2IO7puNi4PiqnzPqWamyIny7a17IQTy8HwMvc3W99ww/s320/WillHayward.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><p>I felt this was a decent review of the situation Wales is currently in. While Will points out that the idea that independence will help solve all of Wales's many problems is simplistic, he also strongly makes the case that the current status quo isn't going to do anything to solve those problems either. This is something I've talked about before when discussing my feelings about independence - 18 months ago when my friend Chris asked me whether I could really see a future for Wales as an independent country, I replied that I couldn't really see much of a future in the UK. This book acknowledges that things are bleak.</p><p>The problems we see in Wales - the high poverty rates, the demographic shift in society, the low quality infrastructure and the ongoing post-industrial trauma in the population's health are all covered by Will. And he pulls no punches at the lack of action from the UK government to do anything about them - inaction that has lasted for decades under whatever flavour government has been in charge. </p><p>Will doesn't have much time for the sloganeering of Yes Cymru, harshly skewering claims that Wales could get by selling water and energy. He points out that if Wales went independent without an economic plan it would be ruinous, but plans could be made and, indeed, some people are already coming up with ideas. Will believes a solution is for Wales to find its 'niche' in the world - something it would be world-leading in.</p><p>He also recognises that independence provides an opportunity to recalibrate the economy in Wales and focus on other priorities rather than 'growth'. A constitution for Wales could focus on social justice and quality of life for all the people who live here with economic policy flowing from that. It was encouraging to have some other possibilities included in a serious political work instead of discussions of the economy just being the de facto Western idea that 'wealth' is measured in money.</p><p>The flipside of the book is an examination of the current political system, which is exposed as seriously lacking. The idea that the UK can persist with an 'unwritten constitution' is deeply unsatisfactory - as is the idea of Parliamentary sovereignty, which leaves the people of the UK at the mercy of charlatans and thieves. This isn't a theoretical criticism; the corruption in our current government shows that.</p><p>So what is the solution? Will doesn't give an opinion, although he does offer a range of options, showing this isn't a binary question. The most interesting scenario he paints is accidental independence - asking what would happen if England decided to opt out of the union. That's a feasible issue if Scotland went independent and there was a nationalist swing in England that saw Wales and Northern Ireland as more trouble than they're worth. </p><p>If I had one criticism of this book, it's the author's tendency to insert himself into the narrative. As readers, we don't need to know which coffee shop he's met a politician in, or how he talked to an academic on a Zoom call. I know why authors add this colour in to their narratives - and Will doesn't do it as egregiously as some people do - but it's a distraction. There are other occasions where Will adds colour very successfully - for example, providing a short synopsis of the Aberfan disaster and how the UK government misappropriated the donations that were given to help the families of the victims who were killed.</p><p>But overall, that's a minor quibble for a book that I would recommend anyone with any level of interest in Welsh politics should consider reading. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-9155758035375902772024-02-09T22:29:00.003+00:002024-02-09T22:31:32.243+00:00International Ice Hockey A couple of weeks back, my friend Steve mentioned that Olympic qualifying ice hockey matches were taking place in Cardiff this month. Great Britain had three games lined up as part of their qualifying campaign and we decided to go and watch. Bryan and Tony joined us for a fun night out.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2A2mwrBSew3hJ4DsJU3g7cVjvrEst2lr7eoizbP1auOuK_c_TIxiZ6LZcJXo-77azNd8DemDjBKr8h-oxrmZqjImFWNSrpM1LqgQXZl_ZZ7TJBOrLUuvvzkuJReQupEFxftf0RwIoCHAGrDbSytkcJUKmb2b0QevGm9Dpt8FCbxKRgy8TEncT5g/s2776/20240208_195938.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1789" data-original-width="2776" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2A2mwrBSew3hJ4DsJU3g7cVjvrEst2lr7eoizbP1auOuK_c_TIxiZ6LZcJXo-77azNd8DemDjBKr8h-oxrmZqjImFWNSrpM1LqgQXZl_ZZ7TJBOrLUuvvzkuJReQupEFxftf0RwIoCHAGrDbSytkcJUKmb2b0QevGm9Dpt8FCbxKRgy8TEncT5g/s320/20240208_195938.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkGMytPoBhVf2Ys2iafvVB1fgvDIdzWlwPYJzueueSquNqUAqbWrSYOw6roX_ZiUup-llgMyrqZ_MnC9KAIQVIZiqBmkYjT2pbl13sq5lZJ3kQjM1N9wmUkPkAPH9IygcYIXRpIXrFn-AruFagLlvhKhRyaEEYPIxibwBqB91-gMJAg2bAfM7FQ/s3953/20240208_194331.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1907" data-original-width="3953" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkGMytPoBhVf2Ys2iafvVB1fgvDIdzWlwPYJzueueSquNqUAqbWrSYOw6roX_ZiUup-llgMyrqZ_MnC9KAIQVIZiqBmkYjT2pbl13sq5lZJ3kQjM1N9wmUkPkAPH9IygcYIXRpIXrFn-AruFagLlvhKhRyaEEYPIxibwBqB91-gMJAg2bAfM7FQ/s320/20240208_194331.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaF03WwajEnl2xKNXddkbBOUwaHPpea_hq6Zsx25UnLj09qEf_U9Pxjv71rEswS9zhZFivkJDKsplHZ92GUd-AfDFvBCNGKvtNexBDSAhQn6ZuDADsO0nTA6-Iu8xi8OdcqVSRiOg-tWhDvNEGqlGpA6yT-Y2c6VUfBkQieTI3dmMgkq3HBoRGw/s1970/20240208_202006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1556" data-original-width="1970" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaF03WwajEnl2xKNXddkbBOUwaHPpea_hq6Zsx25UnLj09qEf_U9Pxjv71rEswS9zhZFivkJDKsplHZ92GUd-AfDFvBCNGKvtNexBDSAhQn6ZuDADsO0nTA6-Iu8xi8OdcqVSRiOg-tWhDvNEGqlGpA6yT-Y2c6VUfBkQieTI3dmMgkq3HBoRGw/s320/20240208_202006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tCa-p9pU4qeRtlzxOVAIgl2p7tPVWKtk5bm5CoH-U_WEda0Q7t6NR9CO7qPKf2-ZNa1btHBNNdg_wZH75T4ca5Hp0R2kT1crH_LaCZNag_gXTdjc13d-kUK6CC_PLQhVQ7R-8F3UjUY0R6JEBIT3FoaU7cvrTMwzmixn4YMzItyqygq8q2Ad8g/s1272/20240208_213956.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="1272" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tCa-p9pU4qeRtlzxOVAIgl2p7tPVWKtk5bm5CoH-U_WEda0Q7t6NR9CO7qPKf2-ZNa1btHBNNdg_wZH75T4ca5Hp0R2kT1crH_LaCZNag_gXTdjc13d-kUK6CC_PLQhVQ7R-8F3UjUY0R6JEBIT3FoaU7cvrTMwzmixn4YMzItyqygq8q2Ad8g/s320/20240208_213956.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>We went to the first evening game of the tournament - Great Britain v China. I was expecting a reasonably close game - GB are 20th in the World Rankings, while China are 26th. However, it turned into a bit of a blow out, with GB racking up a 10-1 victory.</div><div><br /></div><div>GB came onto the ice in attack mode and peppered the China goal with shots. We were sat behind the goal, and the netminder was kept very busy. He did well to only concede two in the first period, making a number of fine reflex saves. </div><div><br /></div><div>The second period was quite dull for us because we were sat behind the GB goal and saw barely any action. Meanwhile at the other end of the rink, GB scored five goals. GB scored again at our end in the third period before China finally got a goal. I was feeling a bit sorry for them by that point so cheered when it went in. It's a long way to travel from China to Wales to then get tonked. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's rare I'm in a crowd that's chanting "We want ten! We want ten!" Even rarer that the crowd gets its wish. But the tenth goal went in to a loud cheer. We then had the amusement of a broken scoreboard reading GB 0-1 China, because it wouldn't display a two digit score. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was a very clean game, with a handful of players serving two minute penalties in the sin bin, for fairly innocuous fouls. There were no silly fights or roughing, which meant both teams just got on with the hockey. GB used the boards well, sending the puck round to players on the other side of the ice to switch the play with devastating effect. China had some good players but they played more as individuals rather than as a team and could rarely get on the offensive.</div><div><br /></div><div>Great Britain are playing Serbia and Romania in their next two qualifiers over the weekend with the aim of making it through to the next round of qualifying. </div><div><br /></div><div>Every time I go to watch ice hockey I remember how much I enjoy it. Even watching the techs wielding power tools and driving big vehicles as part of the playing surface maintenance is fun!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaM-f268eiD4xIN8VfI1sUVqzixQAR9N0MRMquNklg0ZgP00dFaJzjKGAOLNfETdWq39zcRmJ7qJlzSZpruJFwVMtdHlGGWbf-0ZY2IzJGYvuExKHVzMKt99IlxOa42ZvFbB7mzzWlDWc2TnuL5vO_KrKo50Y2DVVpwj4engmgHcJwSkN2PgRfcw/s2095/20240208_212323.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2095" data-original-width="1053" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaM-f268eiD4xIN8VfI1sUVqzixQAR9N0MRMquNklg0ZgP00dFaJzjKGAOLNfETdWq39zcRmJ7qJlzSZpruJFwVMtdHlGGWbf-0ZY2IzJGYvuExKHVzMKt99IlxOa42ZvFbB7mzzWlDWc2TnuL5vO_KrKo50Y2DVVpwj4engmgHcJwSkN2PgRfcw/s320/20240208_212323.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrvT48VhdFF0VnCxCJCs3itbz7r7z3gmP8b0yUSS3qKGcr1awCSusiKQV1jKw06RSKkJY37yI3uK7acxBWgTcWAigIQNB5QGlLluavRx4AZdcAlpi8wYxcViWsu99QSuOn-1mYnAV6yvtTEipxfYmg53CTnRD1fNOr6KbegeyzsNuzE9q6CCUBw/s1627/20240208_212355.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1519" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrvT48VhdFF0VnCxCJCs3itbz7r7z3gmP8b0yUSS3qKGcr1awCSusiKQV1jKw06RSKkJY37yI3uK7acxBWgTcWAigIQNB5QGlLluavRx4AZdcAlpi8wYxcViWsu99QSuOn-1mYnAV6yvtTEipxfYmg53CTnRD1fNOr6KbegeyzsNuzE9q6CCUBw/s320/20240208_212355.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-83474239498621306022024-02-06T17:47:00.001+00:002024-02-06T17:48:38.771+00:00Making a tiny dent in the pile of shame<p>In the middle of 2021 I bought the starter set for the "second season" reboot of Blood Bowl. <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2021/06/unboxing-blood-bowl-second-season.html?m=1" target="_blank">When I unboxed it</a></u></b> I talked about all the lovely sprues of figures ready to be built.</p><p>And they remained on the sprue until last night, when I finally got round to building one figure - the star player for the Black Orc team.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi4kGaEH5VTUw6la-ZuJmI1aCcKbQPIWKO3BxkXzJgZ4fzY8v_bHeVmeTgE8UBpigQxYNa2KTcBSYBpYc2Ezrp3EEw-jZAxE0Dz1lpByReXQXF3lX1aLyaxM3jMQVZ3LBrxKmuhdJX1gV6EnbkupW5PWDajnTqAU5Ef4l58WOtRTWn7YxY_IATg/s1800/20240205_221817.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1735" data-original-width="1800" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi4kGaEH5VTUw6la-ZuJmI1aCcKbQPIWKO3BxkXzJgZ4fzY8v_bHeVmeTgE8UBpigQxYNa2KTcBSYBpYc2Ezrp3EEw-jZAxE0Dz1lpByReXQXF3lX1aLyaxM3jMQVZ3LBrxKmuhdJX1gV6EnbkupW5PWDajnTqAU5Ef4l58WOtRTWn7YxY_IATg/s320/20240205_221817.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3E2UNJuc94bL0XOQD8KgXOPj2Q955O2vWBJ3u8zY2r8YEnh7UR7vsZbJKbzFSQF9y4iv0yoiZvTl6InzplmoR1R4PYU6KOtJDtYtAp3vGHYzNBdSEH-HzgHCUSSoNTheVz2RVsvd7t1cX8rUKw-4niyYHq0eEgT0jmt74eU6AO7StDwTRJ1hCDw/s1818/20240205_221731.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1818" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3E2UNJuc94bL0XOQD8KgXOPj2Q955O2vWBJ3u8zY2r8YEnh7UR7vsZbJKbzFSQF9y4iv0yoiZvTl6InzplmoR1R4PYU6KOtJDtYtAp3vGHYzNBdSEH-HzgHCUSSoNTheVz2RVsvd7t1cX8rUKw-4niyYHq0eEgT0jmt74eU6AO7StDwTRJ1hCDw/s320/20240205_221731.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKucwpEssVh2hA2sQVzEBN0N-eY6c95YLSgt_M1cmrZWryKY0f2AVl4SIK7YuytSGoOAU3l9QmMQaUoylqurYCWmjcjYAmUBPgGcSzE7ocMc_i175tLvZ4hnLwrD08HFE8DxmLFqZRYR7NUMqfkOQTfGaTlXB9nWR5-zCf3T4vzTsyK0pYRMLYAQ/s4000/20240205_211546.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKucwpEssVh2hA2sQVzEBN0N-eY6c95YLSgt_M1cmrZWryKY0f2AVl4SIK7YuytSGoOAU3l9QmMQaUoylqurYCWmjcjYAmUBPgGcSzE7ocMc_i175tLvZ4hnLwrD08HFE8DxmLFqZRYR7NUMqfkOQTfGaTlXB9nWR5-zCf3T4vzTsyK0pYRMLYAQ/s320/20240205_211546.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clipping fun!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>So, a couple of things... This player's name is Varag Ghoulchewer. Except I modified the figure slightly. As supplied, Varag has half a corpse impaled on his shoulder spike. I didn't like the look of this so just left this piece off. <div><br /></div><div>Bits of this model were fiddly to build, particularly getting his head piece complete with the tusked chin-guard right. (I'm not totally sure I've got it glued together entirely correctly.) I ended up using a video off YouTube to help me get that part of the model assembled. <br /><div><br /></div><div>As I've modded the figure I've renamed him Garav Foolchewer. He will still have the star player's characteristics, skill levels and abilities. </div><div><br /></div><div>The second thing is that this dent in the <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2022/04/my-mounting-blood-bowl-pile-of-shame.html?m=1" target="_blank">pile of shame</a></u></b> feels more significant than it really is. Yes, I have <i>finally </i>built a model from the second season starter box. But there are still two full teams in the box that are untouched on their sprues. Plus I have bought two other teams that are still on the sprue since I last listed all the unbuilt stuff I had. </div><div><br /></div><div>My current roster looks like this:</div><div><b>Human team</b> - built and half painted, along with an <b>ogre</b> who needs to be repainted because he's currently in the wrong colour scheme</div><div><b>Orc team</b> - built and mostly painted </div><div><b>Lizard-men team</b> - built and almost completely painted (including the bonus <b>kroxigor</b> figure)</div><div><b>Skaven (giant rat) team</b> - built and painted, except for <b>two star players</b> who are <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2024/01/blood-bowl-update-new-star-players-and.html?m=1" target="_blank">(recently) built</a></u></b> and unpainted</div><div><b>Necromantic Horror </b>team - built and half painted</div><div><b>Wood elf team </b>- built, unpainted. Although I have a <b>treeman</b> figure to go with this team who is mostly built and painted.</div><div><b>Human 'Imperial Nobility' team</b> plus<b> star player </b>plus <b>ogre</b> - all on sprue</div><div><b>Black Orc team</b> plus <b>troll</b> - still on sprue. The <b>star player</b> is built though!</div><div><b>Norse team</b> - still on sprue</div><div><b>Elf (Elven Union) team </b>- still on sprue<br /><p>That's ten teams with four currently untouched in the pile of shame! </p><p>But still, I've made a tiny little dent.</p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-44525247481700313472024-02-03T16:16:00.001+00:002024-02-03T16:16:51.260+00:00Snack of the month - pickled plum crisps from Japan<p>These crisps were in my Christmas stocking although I think Santa Claus may have had some help from my sister, Sarah (hi Sarah!)</p><p>According to the packaging Sweet & Sour Pickled Plum is a popular flavour in Japan. I can see why. The crisps were a unanimous hit among the three people (including me) who tried them. Cathy liked them a lot. Bryan gave them the thumbs up too. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Y_NuGwyBpY9RJaue9pv76MV2DaYTm-uH83Gsc6jwsLhRikywAdOsVXmsPxHAxIgoGY1egejmEW2U6eIiK3ELmqkOyaZ69hUkmmfagHDgfXBzM5B3al5H-yuDeF1wzoEnuh_9tmcFwz82ALplUs5J1A46NZToLoUrZ2c9aErEGMsu1nEFyrwXFw/s2307/20240125_182443.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2307" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Y_NuGwyBpY9RJaue9pv76MV2DaYTm-uH83Gsc6jwsLhRikywAdOsVXmsPxHAxIgoGY1egejmEW2U6eIiK3ELmqkOyaZ69hUkmmfagHDgfXBzM5B3al5H-yuDeF1wzoEnuh_9tmcFwz82ALplUs5J1A46NZToLoUrZ2c9aErEGMsu1nEFyrwXFw/s320/20240125_182443.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OCILlgfCJ7ohAfIIkyE3a8XbQPYaDrcDZTlLorn2vp1-AtvZoYe9fb5MNfjy-fBVVI_guanAI6ylnGU3neJ6SyQrxAa9oNT_jpufevNpGR1-bEBPIcKYR2KBHWbOKK3CH-JU4mzSV4lGC0WRHoK74cRd3fM1LL3zWgWLkif_uVowK32iyb6jbQ/s1684/20240125_182503.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="1684" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OCILlgfCJ7ohAfIIkyE3a8XbQPYaDrcDZTlLorn2vp1-AtvZoYe9fb5MNfjy-fBVVI_guanAI6ylnGU3neJ6SyQrxAa9oNT_jpufevNpGR1-bEBPIcKYR2KBHWbOKK3CH-JU4mzSV4lGC0WRHoK74cRd3fM1LL3zWgWLkif_uVowK32iyb6jbQ/s320/20240125_182503.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I wasn't sure what to expect with these. I was a bit trepidatious after the <a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/12/chrimbo-snack-of-month-christmas.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">last crisps to feature as my snack of the month were totally disgusting</a>. Pickled Plum tasted like a slightly sweet salt and vinegar flavour. The sweetness gave the vinegar flavour a tangy edge that was very moreish. The crisps were nice too, crunchy but not cut too thick and not too oily, either. </p><p>So overall, a very nice snack which maintains the success rate of decent snack-of-the-month snacks for 2024.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-22116316145447985082024-02-02T14:14:00.000+00:002024-02-02T14:14:35.729+00:00Football recap of the month - January 2024<p>Into the new year with a bang! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuPUflfquWCFHZ2gP661jOEd4VX3CuUwvKKMkiUON2pD_GKZ23BIE5ST83kg8N7kDVTdDBalhDf8zdgcWS-91ASZ6X4ysLaldflq2Pe-15g2ozGnaYzYOeO6CRvvXqg02b8UaIjKizXxhysWj8VyVA44jFfxmz7LLf0ZOmSMeEcnpsHlIU7ETfg/s2361/20240107_135227.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2361" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuPUflfquWCFHZ2gP661jOEd4VX3CuUwvKKMkiUON2pD_GKZ23BIE5ST83kg8N7kDVTdDBalhDf8zdgcWS-91ASZ6X4ysLaldflq2Pe-15g2ozGnaYzYOeO6CRvvXqg02b8UaIjKizXxhysWj8VyVA44jFfxmz7LLf0ZOmSMeEcnpsHlIU7ETfg/s320/20240107_135227.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>My game numbering continues from December.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Game 33: Haughmond 1-0 Wem Town </h3><p><b>Reason for going:</b> I was in Shrewsbury for the weekend and went with my nephew to watch this Shropshire County Premier League game.</p><p><b>Point of interest:</b> The Shrewsbury Sports Village was my first new ground of the year. It's where the Shrewsbury Town Academy team play.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJ9aTM_8F1pZ-br4S3qlseHkSh5kJuteHCcB5cN2m4tPD9T41P1S1nLoTtJwa_my3t3ijr4F4Y-8leTimhxACRlRtUumUQNJ2Yw-NRW7BGIq3oBSj27kv9HoAYgxzIdzq3qmlSA3Fp_YNUgg26WWlbBOS7ScHHu3WzDzNS5DsxKIMMxowsL-6NQ/s4000/20240106_140258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJ9aTM_8F1pZ-br4S3qlseHkSh5kJuteHCcB5cN2m4tPD9T41P1S1nLoTtJwa_my3t3ijr4F4Y-8leTimhxACRlRtUumUQNJ2Yw-NRW7BGIq3oBSj27kv9HoAYgxzIdzq3qmlSA3Fp_YNUgg26WWlbBOS7ScHHu3WzDzNS5DsxKIMMxowsL-6NQ/s320/20240106_140258.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Game 34: Shrewsbury Town 0-1 Wrexham</h3><div><div><b>Reason for going: </b>Thanks to the FA Cup draw this was the first time Salop and Wrexham had locked horns in 15 years. Plus there's the whole Hollywood thing. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Point of interest:</b> This was the first sell out at the Meadow since the season they narrowly missed out on promotion and ended up losing the play off final at Wembley. Also - this was my 200th Shrewsbury game in my records.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWjy-17sy802O6vbW5ghMz68Z28GjvsbQcnk8F3-Uz2Owezbz61b0MfLFuO2Nr9I4QSWZhBnEvFQS-nxVhjxspm6lEVUJzPDytbGnymN1NvHdORLqbfgO_kYbtDDiQzB0fdkJIaQe1HOClZT7Y3xIojyHgpjVYtRnTSUaw7z1B5sUQaEJ7ZG6Aw/s1900/20240107_135741.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1900" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWjy-17sy802O6vbW5ghMz68Z28GjvsbQcnk8F3-Uz2Owezbz61b0MfLFuO2Nr9I4QSWZhBnEvFQS-nxVhjxspm6lEVUJzPDytbGnymN1NvHdORLqbfgO_kYbtDDiQzB0fdkJIaQe1HOClZT7Y3xIojyHgpjVYtRnTSUaw7z1B5sUQaEJ7ZG6Aw/s320/20240107_135741.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItO6EAPLesEkTogDTOTf9w0pqjVN1-bYlS235PybzM3e8hHTCC957qRup7FFe_QNiDwXKa2m6ENmGGPw8mEcWS_0b_BwnOoKcFumEXb3wWp-TXBY235AAorjR5dBpO8jZ5mJ1W8sRqyYr3RiSc0S1FxlpkLEaJiKKeMJyHYN-B4Oj0X3Ukc3i4Q/s3150/20240107_142018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="3150" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItO6EAPLesEkTogDTOTf9w0pqjVN1-bYlS235PybzM3e8hHTCC957qRup7FFe_QNiDwXKa2m6ENmGGPw8mEcWS_0b_BwnOoKcFumEXb3wWp-TXBY235AAorjR5dBpO8jZ5mJ1W8sRqyYr3RiSc0S1FxlpkLEaJiKKeMJyHYN-B4Oj0X3Ukc3i4Q/s320/20240107_142018.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Seven photographers! Usually there are two max.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJxIvcRc7_vnF5i3BF2feNv_PVgn8DmqB3JTrZwuIYfSK2VNHQvsGNvJR1hNszizMuJ4khMO8mFcOPxEEWajl43oJsTCbchZLj7vLPd9c-tqausRhA2hPrQFmrQ94QPY8sItOZAAfhscGQckB09NGU9nehOnShAnqjNppvOu36T3KR3oIWa9Vww/s2154/Screenshot_20240107_133426.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2154" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJxIvcRc7_vnF5i3BF2feNv_PVgn8DmqB3JTrZwuIYfSK2VNHQvsGNvJR1hNszizMuJ4khMO8mFcOPxEEWajl43oJsTCbchZLj7vLPd9c-tqausRhA2hPrQFmrQ94QPY8sItOZAAfhscGQckB09NGU9nehOnShAnqjNppvOu36T3KR3oIWa9Vww/s320/Screenshot_20240107_133426.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Game 35: Cardiff Corinthians 1-1 Cardiff Draconians </h3><div><b>Reason for going: </b>I fancied a local game instead of trogging to Aberystwyth to watch Barry. (Although if I had gone on the bus to Aberystwyth I would have seen Barry win.)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Point of interest: </b>The Corries play on a pitch that is half a cricket pitch. It's right next to the railway line so there's a good view of trains trundling past. They also have a clubhouse with a wall of old photos and news clippings. I love a good clubhouse wall full of archive stuff. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGEZ1DPExt81DaWjgI8kK9JiDulADR2D26en7WQvkuvyOxN5B6WrQ0xNw0jBoc1OaLUFBLjbx5w4s9sJvdl8l0nfQfGIy_TUl0VQXNAn5jNpTS9Mg-ppYjgqYEEMHiuKsiB9cWJZfUjHXyg5OA9wCWhbQYlvRIPyQgaL5vKf61w_2wwvgr9BphQ/s2478/20240113_142447.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2478" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGEZ1DPExt81DaWjgI8kK9JiDulADR2D26en7WQvkuvyOxN5B6WrQ0xNw0jBoc1OaLUFBLjbx5w4s9sJvdl8l0nfQfGIy_TUl0VQXNAn5jNpTS9Mg-ppYjgqYEEMHiuKsiB9cWJZfUjHXyg5OA9wCWhbQYlvRIPyQgaL5vKf61w_2wwvgr9BphQ/s320/20240113_142447.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKn2IeQ2X_YzGDMbALTQ8Kd3Iz6avsC_2-EBbsX0ZKDsoFw5hImS48fJaaAH1y8DDOhTfusmev6cl6ZHf6cPDOK8zCezVZME-hvnk1XrO_oA96fqtwyGfp8e5TJB4cJIHhc0Jam6YdnNOCi_7-kaphm1dAIpPzZs8tib0DiXM4tD86d-KR8_Dlqg/s4000/20240113_135247.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKn2IeQ2X_YzGDMbALTQ8Kd3Iz6avsC_2-EBbsX0ZKDsoFw5hImS48fJaaAH1y8DDOhTfusmev6cl6ZHf6cPDOK8zCezVZME-hvnk1XrO_oA96fqtwyGfp8e5TJB4cJIHhc0Jam6YdnNOCi_7-kaphm1dAIpPzZs8tib0DiXM4tD86d-KR8_Dlqg/s320/20240113_135247.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clubhouse full of history</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Game 36: Cardiff Metropolitan WFC 0-1 Barry Town Ladies</h3><div><b>Reason for going: </b>This seemed a good way to fulfil my football fix for the weekend. One of my aims for the season was to see a women's game so this ticked this box too.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Point of interest:</b> This was the 10th game I've seen at Cardiff Met's home ground in Cyncoed. It's the first time I've seen a Barry Town team win there!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAMq__NEgswotHGWfntUVs3iBYpzEFVTlkObG19EBep3_l9Qoy15J4JSVEhvRHP6HVfAN71Nafw4rmNRgeTKoITb1brqiXXS2O3J7RnwQsBTMZlKWrcURo6YodE6phy8uPvkMrASR5zaax6vYz2Leey4d6AjMZk-b1-rEdVGKngFgj4kvfLSd1w/s2350/20240128_140101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="2350" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAMq__NEgswotHGWfntUVs3iBYpzEFVTlkObG19EBep3_l9Qoy15J4JSVEhvRHP6HVfAN71Nafw4rmNRgeTKoITb1brqiXXS2O3J7RnwQsBTMZlKWrcURo6YodE6phy8uPvkMrASR5zaax6vYz2Leey4d6AjMZk-b1-rEdVGKngFgj4kvfLSd1w/s320/20240128_140101.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnFLbPEXQLwKVDFDLDSukrNaDMMIXQ7VBoelyJ0_rrNfSuP0EDFftKdxKovF84Dspr0QxD44M-eQlVJlIzqQTmLz7Q-cw-WSPF0Pw0WFhA6yNsInxeLh3BB6Oy9TRmLWWr2AwKgM1PV8yfvSJv_AWe06bVdYydt9KrxoP4nLDfYatK5NSrXWXoA/s2789/20240128_154358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2789" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnFLbPEXQLwKVDFDLDSukrNaDMMIXQ7VBoelyJ0_rrNfSuP0EDFftKdxKovF84Dspr0QxD44M-eQlVJlIzqQTmLz7Q-cw-WSPF0Pw0WFhA6yNsInxeLh3BB6Oy9TRmLWWr2AwKgM1PV8yfvSJv_AWe06bVdYydt9KrxoP4nLDfYatK5NSrXWXoA/s320/20240128_154358.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ei4jXpemOYUu6Y9cE-9fZHGqz9EpOFek59KhaN-1dyomDNfWzshcHh6SF6p6n5xVm3fwvhLmQZm_PJXh8oVhuQ9PmcGoAmgZnsU4ANgA5xvGPNCx77luhFmJj6fOWi_wMPwyEcUNlj0lnzNnToIWfFWTNZlUHg8ryUTQGtLIQyhqbnTZr0TBXw/s2155/Screenshot_20240128_135041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2155" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ei4jXpemOYUu6Y9cE-9fZHGqz9EpOFek59KhaN-1dyomDNfWzshcHh6SF6p6n5xVm3fwvhLmQZm_PJXh8oVhuQ9PmcGoAmgZnsU4ANgA5xvGPNCx77luhFmJj6fOWi_wMPwyEcUNlj0lnzNnToIWfFWTNZlUHg8ryUTQGtLIQyhqbnTZr0TBXw/s320/Screenshot_20240128_135041.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Bonus football watching</h3><div>I'm not counting it in my list of games, but this month I was able to watch my nephew, Zac, play for his Juniors team. He scored a screamer and set up two other goals in a 4-3 win.</div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbW1Fpr6s1dWuoahDgPluvUXKDNl_Zjt7Kf5ielyB8BAOFBWd7LQgdznvIKUeEqU6n_IE7ofgFN48tp8QQINrTKwSl1cp4wlcu8Y-nzszgnSx6wTvGQRJeEN2FS5me8hiT-dJArE1t9N4BRhUK3GcwNXDVOHgLRBhbYR6P8iIUh75ygTtJvxQqg/s549/20240121_105629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="549" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbW1Fpr6s1dWuoahDgPluvUXKDNl_Zjt7Kf5ielyB8BAOFBWd7LQgdznvIKUeEqU6n_IE7ofgFN48tp8QQINrTKwSl1cp4wlcu8Y-nzszgnSx6wTvGQRJeEN2FS5me8hiT-dJArE1t9N4BRhUK3GcwNXDVOHgLRBhbYR6P8iIUh75ygTtJvxQqg/s320/20240121_105629.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZAzLg-HBNaHNREvlY6GCCH7rUrKShhis1rFpVZGhFfD7bZqXkVL-B3MlT-ecMv1-q6xWLNV8Iumvcx_UxMGWulsNAvkXC7MCUSwZsnnk-ETZCRM5UW2ygAzp9jrWSz-gIk5ZyAJTXkTtJFFcy1pU4JLyrRs3kn7lAy8_Do2DPNGj2iIN2q-NQg/s3027/20240121_111148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3027" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZAzLg-HBNaHNREvlY6GCCH7rUrKShhis1rFpVZGhFfD7bZqXkVL-B3MlT-ecMv1-q6xWLNV8Iumvcx_UxMGWulsNAvkXC7MCUSwZsnnk-ETZCRM5UW2ygAzp9jrWSz-gIk5ZyAJTXkTtJFFcy1pU4JLyrRs3kn7lAy8_Do2DPNGj2iIN2q-NQg/s320/20240121_111148.jpg" width="190" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhpkg-xGiuvNLZ9cOvD7Cr4nViumvTWpFa2wArMecmC5nl6FmlzErbZbXyxDy4kRQoN1KXb9HUZuW_qSMj7jtqpoI6s09dp3voql_-pG807F9IT3AnUoyPCN7m2Wa-vAj7i1I7_KVfkNe43zduWwCobPYDExU-cXxkj64ouDvLIS0FTe2CBKeuw/s2279/20240121_111221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2279" data-original-width="1414" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhpkg-xGiuvNLZ9cOvD7Cr4nViumvTWpFa2wArMecmC5nl6FmlzErbZbXyxDy4kRQoN1KXb9HUZuW_qSMj7jtqpoI6s09dp3voql_-pG807F9IT3AnUoyPCN7m2Wa-vAj7i1I7_KVfkNe43zduWwCobPYDExU-cXxkj64ouDvLIS0FTe2CBKeuw/s320/20240121_111221.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-92007154636676202822024-02-01T20:56:00.000+00:002024-02-01T20:56:01.304+00:00Recap of the Month - January 2024The first month of 2024 was very busy. I had two trips to Shrewsbury and two days in London, where I made the most of an evening to myself and <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2024/01/power-shopping.html" target="_blank">visited the new Lego Shop in Battersea Power Station</a>.</u></b><div><br /></div><div>But first, a couple of "train" photos. <br /><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQF7hiXaIphMY8DackQ0SWQYDUxrHvsB9E9ZN1QYByW-nAzuKM9gbpWHKb23m_g6OB3hxYCfRAEtXbngWbFTY6JIpPwaIFBeuf27skYBcL6kADUR76VqgDdrs_81GcDYp-vcTtj2XOkQAJFso0RYssZzT0SeIROQHitEwbDRz5S5Fw5GmbzZmC9w/s1448/20240108_213125.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1447" data-original-width="1448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQF7hiXaIphMY8DackQ0SWQYDUxrHvsB9E9ZN1QYByW-nAzuKM9gbpWHKb23m_g6OB3hxYCfRAEtXbngWbFTY6JIpPwaIFBeuf27skYBcL6kADUR76VqgDdrs_81GcDYp-vcTtj2XOkQAJFso0RYssZzT0SeIROQHitEwbDRz5S5Fw5GmbzZmC9w/s320/20240108_213125.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Lego minifigures released!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHyQN9r94qpToGYggeLSEf8c8Cmz5KB2xBMALsOwLWEk4R4dZAOlddd39VBZ7U0T_AF47r_w4XkEG0wty-K5uy22NXYcPnOSNnojsEAj37MPYIvMV4UTm6NcYSQznJyBCaAOjL6hT9nWqDq1AQDL-CT7yWRNQIn8RXjmCa_lAfv_HGuaueN3PJw/s1472/20240105_163808.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="1234" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHyQN9r94qpToGYggeLSEf8c8Cmz5KB2xBMALsOwLWEk4R4dZAOlddd39VBZ7U0T_AF47r_w4XkEG0wty-K5uy22NXYcPnOSNnojsEAj37MPYIvMV4UTm6NcYSQznJyBCaAOjL6hT9nWqDq1AQDL-CT7yWRNQIn8RXjmCa_lAfv_HGuaueN3PJw/s320/20240105_163808.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New silly photo opportunities in Asda!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The first trip to Shrewsbury was to see Shrewsbury play Wrexham in the FA Cup. More details to follow on my football recap thread. The second trip was for a combined birthday weekend, that included my youngest nephew's birthday party at a soft play centre, my brother's actual birthday. and seeing my mum on her birthday eve! So there was lots of present-opening and other fun. </p><p>Mum and Dave shared a cake </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpAyqbMTPKdrGQRbkrwtVzn9ZCGoT6DlLA-eMvLbbc0EpFCejA_blntw8gUjI8acvL9ba7uiGB0MxEOQjcVzlWNSfI3ao_Z86GrEhmtUtbxXlFkQvO1RpuB7nm2C85SLfyYOzMI1iuX_VcLfMiKzYZWiLuGqW6UhJxIdeG8KiaxeaNBNJKpihCQ/s1660/20240121_145928.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1434" data-original-width="1660" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpAyqbMTPKdrGQRbkrwtVzn9ZCGoT6DlLA-eMvLbbc0EpFCejA_blntw8gUjI8acvL9ba7uiGB0MxEOQjcVzlWNSfI3ao_Z86GrEhmtUtbxXlFkQvO1RpuB7nm2C85SLfyYOzMI1iuX_VcLfMiKzYZWiLuGqW6UhJxIdeG8KiaxeaNBNJKpihCQ/s320/20240121_145928.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And Fred willingly got wrapped up in a blanket!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN011ArtatREMMstY9lWgpH7oUjYczVaL2iIuZqG-rEMz2x3ZhtbJCwCpAtfjdcNjgit6Q_bve9FI120G5Fz9UUxGPNxRwBI0uomkU44Jjmkz_eKPuqtOCgRY_EcAitXO1gq9zKpXd3A3l6gDamCuVN019hlYcCYjUkgsDPjIdyZ86KmMzXf3YZw/s1800/20240121_144759.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1766" data-original-width="1800" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN011ArtatREMMstY9lWgpH7oUjYczVaL2iIuZqG-rEMz2x3ZhtbJCwCpAtfjdcNjgit6Q_bve9FI120G5Fz9UUxGPNxRwBI0uomkU44Jjmkz_eKPuqtOCgRY_EcAitXO1gq9zKpXd3A3l6gDamCuVN019hlYcCYjUkgsDPjIdyZ86KmMzXf3YZw/s320/20240121_144759.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>There has been some other sporting action as well, with two Blood Bowl games. You can read up on how <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2024/01/first-blood-bowl-battering-of-2024.html" target="_blank">the orcs lost to the lizardmen here</a></u></b>, and how <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2024/01/blood-bowl-update-new-star-players-and.html" target="_blank">the humans beat the dwarfs here</a></u></b>. I also managed to read a hefty science-fiction book (over 500 pages) which was my <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2024/01/book-of-month-eyes-of-void.html" target="_blank">book of the month</a></u></b>. </p><p>On the final weekend of the month the Friends of Grange Gardens supported an activity morning as part the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch. It was well attended as kids built bird feeders and learned about nests.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50htINyYYekYVyw3F6F1kQezw4eNb2U9xyY-BhMbzcPCqdGEgWv5qqIsJ9e-p3Se6pAGwmFIxcn3ThmPdhKRELKthljuVFZ0Gm-5bIhf_F3tg2wzhS-YAZVdA2gjy4li74w5JGyrAwmcOHuh_dkhdqkCWQp6-DnCaUcdX7gDjMckNMWrS8Htxcw/s2231/20240128_113017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2231" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50htINyYYekYVyw3F6F1kQezw4eNb2U9xyY-BhMbzcPCqdGEgWv5qqIsJ9e-p3Se6pAGwmFIxcn3ThmPdhKRELKthljuVFZ0Gm-5bIhf_F3tg2wzhS-YAZVdA2gjy4li74w5JGyrAwmcOHuh_dkhdqkCWQp6-DnCaUcdX7gDjMckNMWrS8Htxcw/s320/20240128_113017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmtps80f_kZx1FNggngSBw2ZMogt8uJTgH-rnixQqa3Sfx0UM9nZicSPxtizmr9JlIEzmH18o2dfCzdtfOQcjoP0hDb1XXDhe3ReD79s4-wJlQfnBQ7Lr9LgyXfsu__2dw7W8UdxNNsVB2FiFJ0j8ZuU2mt8NwRODGVuTq_tJl5IhiRfgoYkTHg/s2742/20240128_101247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2742" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmtps80f_kZx1FNggngSBw2ZMogt8uJTgH-rnixQqa3Sfx0UM9nZicSPxtizmr9JlIEzmH18o2dfCzdtfOQcjoP0hDb1XXDhe3ReD79s4-wJlQfnBQ7Lr9LgyXfsu__2dw7W8UdxNNsVB2FiFJ0j8ZuU2mt8NwRODGVuTq_tJl5IhiRfgoYkTHg/s320/20240128_101247.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vDh6Vndv9GlLb-7DaAPiUDr5AQ5q4RUNcb8_gF2Vns6VlEfhUYnLlEytFlZzktzB7yONAssYe5aX-avEEl5DwGUV14hMYW_wJ4bTFGzhmf4Xmwsw0xmbhq1ZqthBbLcE9r8_gh0hJiGm6qTMw3qI8b9euamuM0Tg4tA7PeMxAPiaTKyhzSe5kQ/s1800/20240128_105957.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1245" data-original-width="1800" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vDh6Vndv9GlLb-7DaAPiUDr5AQ5q4RUNcb8_gF2Vns6VlEfhUYnLlEytFlZzktzB7yONAssYe5aX-avEEl5DwGUV14hMYW_wJ4bTFGzhmf4Xmwsw0xmbhq1ZqthBbLcE9r8_gh0hJiGm6qTMw3qI8b9euamuM0Tg4tA7PeMxAPiaTKyhzSe5kQ/s320/20240128_105957.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I was on bird wrangling duties, looking after Terry Dactil, the orange hoopoe from Newport. (He had a complicated back story.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKYARiEeLqZZmu3wHRY9KeV7pspSIjsU3f1SllYZ-E7aNeXU6I51wWJc3_NPqpthCyta1xZJB6f4lUWQKaOcHwsH_L6OmQmbKXcMWzruKRPlxrxloJRuBeASOUBtJ_2PuXns9oIEkgqChqtIzFQGJj8awri5INH2rRTM_psey0wHM-TIoThd9yA/s3408/20240128_101139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3408" data-original-width="2556" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKYARiEeLqZZmu3wHRY9KeV7pspSIjsU3f1SllYZ-E7aNeXU6I51wWJc3_NPqpthCyta1xZJB6f4lUWQKaOcHwsH_L6OmQmbKXcMWzruKRPlxrxloJRuBeASOUBtJ_2PuXns9oIEkgqChqtIzFQGJj8awri5INH2rRTM_psey0wHM-TIoThd9yA/s320/20240128_101139.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtK5LA8T17KCIsqxD_neqjV26OJ4y6rUD3Ge7lLXn_viFkq55D0FcFz-wKa22MuTu8gl0GMEIUkqGljzTRefcw_ZelH3Yw3ZP_X6wM01LQfUdifUpj_dtLqK1uvGkVuKNk7xhTYcvYmW1hjcHclfVrSrkU1kfivkFQn6_AVbsJf3otLFLyp9CIQ/s3408/20240128_101523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3408" data-original-width="2556" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtK5LA8T17KCIsqxD_neqjV26OJ4y6rUD3Ge7lLXn_viFkq55D0FcFz-wKa22MuTu8gl0GMEIUkqGljzTRefcw_ZelH3Yw3ZP_X6wM01LQfUdifUpj_dtLqK1uvGkVuKNk7xhTYcvYmW1hjcHclfVrSrkU1kfivkFQn6_AVbsJf3otLFLyp9CIQ/s320/20240128_101523.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1K1jHMzjNj__H-TkItGaiUVnFmN4V-VuoIf61l4vVt9CpLc4SeQQ3QyryC5cQMyuwdescff-iaOI7_LtIahjERiaCTc6mfN3lRnkgt3NRCvnxChSYzvKgg9G1uSp5MCnYIZONUxULUUHxusi048igp1Nwf9HNQoexxvJCTmnR7ZbwdbeH0moj3A/s3408/20240128_101528.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3408" data-original-width="2556" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1K1jHMzjNj__H-TkItGaiUVnFmN4V-VuoIf61l4vVt9CpLc4SeQQ3QyryC5cQMyuwdescff-iaOI7_LtIahjERiaCTc6mfN3lRnkgt3NRCvnxChSYzvKgg9G1uSp5MCnYIZONUxULUUHxusi048igp1Nwf9HNQoexxvJCTmnR7ZbwdbeH0moj3A/s320/20240128_101528.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thankfully I survived my encounter! So, here comes February. Let's see how quickly it flies past. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-42621188591767439712024-01-27T22:07:00.003+00:002024-01-27T22:09:03.440+00:00Blood Bowl Update - new star players and another match report<p>2024 has got off to a good start in terms of Bood Bowl. This week Bryan and I played our second game of the year. And I've gone on and finally built two star players that have been sitting in my "pile of shame" for way too long.</p><p>And here they are:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMuIIPKrWviuH_mOYoSVYM9ev-cwYPQSRn-p86KO7avCWcULTNUf2lttVB3cAzjILu5yq4F-yIYtX-xQC-GdPNX5GQtCRNk9huiURG23EUBasK_KUrR1XfQqW17Yf-M3pE2zy1fCEeeUwT74Ua-8xpMspRYaYLbZRk1cacwQYCTTaJltm7Ptyaw/s2754/20240127_180928.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2754" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMuIIPKrWviuH_mOYoSVYM9ev-cwYPQSRn-p86KO7avCWcULTNUf2lttVB3cAzjILu5yq4F-yIYtX-xQC-GdPNX5GQtCRNk9huiURG23EUBasK_KUrR1XfQqW17Yf-M3pE2zy1fCEeeUwT74Ua-8xpMspRYaYLbZRk1cacwQYCTTaJltm7Ptyaw/s320/20240127_180928.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Both of the star players are 'skaven', a race that are basically giant mutant rats. The chonky one is Glart Smashrip, a bulky blocker. The one with two heads and four arms is Hakflem Skuttlespike, a mutant bred in a lab who plays as a blitzer.</p><p>The models come from Forgeworld, which is the Games Workshop online specialist service. They are made from resin rather than plastic.</p><p>They arrive in these horrible clamshell cases that need to be cut open.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWjnK3bz8yhOpyOFex6UH87yXQ8WYpRFWy5w-N6KW-Ja74AyF6mxiuI6nKs0xmxfPIgpvCqzUCpJLWtpyKpYsTI7866njd9-0kmEDpg_sHuuzmV8S8mQtyIJccG0KGyZyrdNzewzjfpOFvMSFfbTtFnmFLGi4xt00htUOCZSy1P0FpcRTOqPSQA/s2347/20240127_112317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1643" data-original-width="2347" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWjnK3bz8yhOpyOFex6UH87yXQ8WYpRFWy5w-N6KW-Ja74AyF6mxiuI6nKs0xmxfPIgpvCqzUCpJLWtpyKpYsTI7866njd9-0kmEDpg_sHuuzmV8S8mQtyIJccG0KGyZyrdNzewzjfpOFvMSFfbTtFnmFLGi4xt00htUOCZSy1P0FpcRTOqPSQA/s320/20240127_112317.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nw8xUByJ3culNmlsJVGWqkuOMnC9zxcWHafybrH8nvxNd_abDdtCfrIL0IyGA4Br5OXjVPvsPhggUMH0ne1t3k8MRT6ZSL4ZyDyfq99-CVQCtI9BfTL59U2OhTtNrRbb4saAg6zbKxG8qT0eBJj3Vh4tjhqV1LMPjbyJL0JMUlDX9Th3O-8fqQ/s2370/20240127_112326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2370" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nw8xUByJ3culNmlsJVGWqkuOMnC9zxcWHafybrH8nvxNd_abDdtCfrIL0IyGA4Br5OXjVPvsPhggUMH0ne1t3k8MRT6ZSL4ZyDyfq99-CVQCtI9BfTL59U2OhTtNrRbb4saAg6zbKxG8qT0eBJj3Vh4tjhqV1LMPjbyJL0JMUlDX9Th3O-8fqQ/s320/20240127_112326.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Then they need washing before the glueing starts. Washing up liquid is fine for this.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiUyXx1CBpEQS1jTjfkxFT9Td6x3DHIyFOfjMbhTKJe74v3TzN-u-BgjmxpyV4edAu4MXbD0_vCDwpLmhX26prA2UoKgs71Yx1boMj6z3G_HNv-G7CB7QVBxM1VucubSHSEezOP5n642cUSd1jK_HhmCbRy6SFZyCShVDTP2LpGX3azxjmu_Uzw/s3363/20240127_113556.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3363" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiUyXx1CBpEQS1jTjfkxFT9Td6x3DHIyFOfjMbhTKJe74v3TzN-u-BgjmxpyV4edAu4MXbD0_vCDwpLmhX26prA2UoKgs71Yx1boMj6z3G_HNv-G7CB7QVBxM1VucubSHSEezOP5n642cUSd1jK_HhmCbRy6SFZyCShVDTP2LpGX3azxjmu_Uzw/s320/20240127_113556.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And then the glueing starts. Because they are resin they require superglue. I used some cheapie superglue in small tubes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEzlE4IN435u56no8U4Ae9X4r52Qigo8Omfio6BcyJiJ47astDeBOIkXw2rKWOXdsgmcdqopB6ZZ_E8z_HMlPzNo9aJ0EpMOcT1olj3GJnUx_bw6IrG6IH3dbPJnSzFC42m3-EfDW1qpsQIsTYS6Vt3INTDckM1f0K5POGPIwpgJBbAkM5-HcXw/s2936/20240127_114835.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2936" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEzlE4IN435u56no8U4Ae9X4r52Qigo8Omfio6BcyJiJ47astDeBOIkXw2rKWOXdsgmcdqopB6ZZ_E8z_HMlPzNo9aJ0EpMOcT1olj3GJnUx_bw6IrG6IH3dbPJnSzFC42m3-EfDW1qpsQIsTYS6Vt3INTDckM1f0K5POGPIwpgJBbAkM5-HcXw/s320/20240127_114835.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><br /><p>The models were very fiddly to assemble. Hakflem's arms didn't want to stick and Glart's tail was very awkward. As a result I ended up with much more superglue on my fingertips than I wanted!</p><p>The skaven weren't in action this month. The latest game was between my human team (bolstered by an ogre) and Bryan's dwarfs. Neither team are fully painted. The human team uniforms are actually chocolate and cream although they don't look it in the pictures. The ogre is in an old colour scheme so doesn't match.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NUm62e5-jmZVpTWM5kKmPDipCWXkRvCsN8Ng-SyBfk80rFRTHfQN-pZz4VEmp0PJcAa_W-POvpX-r6KhgLKvjwuvFym1MbjYMUtw9bD615MUaV1t8hhndazdSTCeOScAnAS5hrE3L49jkMqCDhlcbIhg8CQxmR3nAOZAHrMyggxzTLaOAZkS0g/s3102/20240125_195532.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3102" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NUm62e5-jmZVpTWM5kKmPDipCWXkRvCsN8Ng-SyBfk80rFRTHfQN-pZz4VEmp0PJcAa_W-POvpX-r6KhgLKvjwuvFym1MbjYMUtw9bD615MUaV1t8hhndazdSTCeOScAnAS5hrE3L49jkMqCDhlcbIhg8CQxmR3nAOZAHrMyggxzTLaOAZkS0g/s320/20240125_195532.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZlLa3_gTpzXXb8uYrED73dkpsZ1gWAZggMFS_5qJtcLX8TnRQSrn-5Iq-rt1rYXamm4Z6Bu6UaHTG28kPkDL4l4C_nH_TYdokqCKpvEqiXdK8-P473v7DEcM_YN2ZVRPXzLNtvTo66FJxb0xJ_10xXMTfvepMH8CkdKEsgNsAZtaOoeRRhgT0Q/s1800/20240125_202626.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1432" data-original-width="1800" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZlLa3_gTpzXXb8uYrED73dkpsZ1gWAZggMFS_5qJtcLX8TnRQSrn-5Iq-rt1rYXamm4Z6Bu6UaHTG28kPkDL4l4C_nH_TYdokqCKpvEqiXdK8-P473v7DEcM_YN2ZVRPXzLNtvTo66FJxb0xJ_10xXMTfvepMH8CkdKEsgNsAZtaOoeRRhgT0Q/s320/20240125_202626.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoafz9pK-__K-yye0l6yWAZKVCZF-6jqPlU7LZUD4u2wmsqScht_Xx3FMGZorQ0Zdpun2m1xLGeGXQWz2Qy1z_VYWZEjK8yu4BBWxjWGw5BXYVzJsxJpTwj-vwOW4Fzuk3nYlLfxTeBZRSldcm7R1Dc2eHWm0dV7p32ZshMlQsB-IFFyY0JtrLRQ/s2561/20240125_210154.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2561" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoafz9pK-__K-yye0l6yWAZKVCZF-6jqPlU7LZUD4u2wmsqScht_Xx3FMGZorQ0Zdpun2m1xLGeGXQWz2Qy1z_VYWZEjK8yu4BBWxjWGw5BXYVzJsxJpTwj-vwOW4Fzuk3nYlLfxTeBZRSldcm7R1Dc2eHWm0dV7p32ZshMlQsB-IFFyY0JtrLRQ/s320/20240125_210154.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVH_Gvo98Rhtkz0hJv-OI7xDn_4IYwsRtBFklNRkicmpsUY_GJUaSqhuHm0idheRQWkrkF5LJrQclwazdg5u4Ulkq4pQlvB_EH5ToBpnHNWmjDtfavtykhxmzMPXsE9NZB3fVKB-HoYGkRJJURFLzZ_XFegzoALqhPEbW2I4L92Y51XfnJRBtZw/s2258/20240125_220531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="2258" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVH_Gvo98Rhtkz0hJv-OI7xDn_4IYwsRtBFklNRkicmpsUY_GJUaSqhuHm0idheRQWkrkF5LJrQclwazdg5u4Ulkq4pQlvB_EH5ToBpnHNWmjDtfavtykhxmzMPXsE9NZB3fVKB-HoYGkRJJURFLzZ_XFegzoALqhPEbW2I4L92Y51XfnJRBtZw/s320/20240125_220531.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>It was a fun game and the humans won, with one catcher sprinting for the end zone and rushing two extra yards to score the second down on the very, very last turn of the game.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePQS7ZLF324nt3eiNIrd4QXeUMCQLDWijG5C3WifxhKGUx4MX6Awu5KGDf-FIZ-LlVj9XfO-LlZrF4udFZ_1AvWvCifmB9740BmXBGrkWZrRRri8wD7nAH_flCxMKtqdDO9nMQQJyF61HMHjE0YjjJeDsURCht5t4BCGhyphenhyphenJKblQWTOdexBnMEow/s1578/20240125_223039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1578" data-original-width="1452" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePQS7ZLF324nt3eiNIrd4QXeUMCQLDWijG5C3WifxhKGUx4MX6Awu5KGDf-FIZ-LlVj9XfO-LlZrF4udFZ_1AvWvCifmB9740BmXBGrkWZrRRri8wD7nAH_flCxMKtqdDO9nMQQJyF61HMHjE0YjjJeDsURCht5t4BCGhyphenhyphenJKblQWTOdexBnMEow/s320/20240125_223039.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-81139548494683731992024-01-26T21:07:00.003+00:002024-01-26T22:52:26.559+00:00Book of the Month: Eyes of the Void<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This review contains some mild spoilers for this series of books.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoTtheNZUv0_5rNKdKhzAJk7rDOgpl88QsQbM5-bdaJwF9NEo9QMVbTcpuvHqwGIqO-3TgUL7EEhiEBML6tHTg3AlGikyLF16ESRaE4rtWFHHMCpIJRoOPBokOfG2_QG-YNQNlW0yTPVTH-4fEORnx1ZIVLwgfnxm8ByCu-6qKMo6iHIRDbw0Rg/s1080/Eyes%20of%20the%20void%20bigger%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="701" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoTtheNZUv0_5rNKdKhzAJk7rDOgpl88QsQbM5-bdaJwF9NEo9QMVbTcpuvHqwGIqO-3TgUL7EEhiEBML6tHTg3AlGikyLF16ESRaE4rtWFHHMCpIJRoOPBokOfG2_QG-YNQNlW0yTPVTH-4fEORnx1ZIVLwgfnxm8ByCu-6qKMo6iHIRDbw0Rg/s320/Eyes%20of%20the%20void%20bigger%203.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><div>This is the first sequel to <b><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/11/book-of-month-shards-of-earth.html" target="_blank">November's book of the month, <i>Shards of Earth</i></a></b>. I added this to my wishlist and got it for Christmas from my friend Terri. (Thank you Terri!)</div><div><br /></div><div>I started reading it during the Christmas break and found it as compelling as the initial novel in the series. It continues the story about the deadly Architects who destroy planets and kill millions of beings in the process. </div><div><br /></div><div>There was a twist at the end of the first book as one of the main protagonists, Idris, the semi-mystical, partly-psychic, spaceship navigator 'Intermediary' discovered that the Architects were compelled in their destruction by some hitherto unknown greater force. A good chunk of this book is about Idris trying to work out exactly what that force is, using ancient technology left behind by a disappeared race nicknamed the Originators.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the core of this mystery is the idea of 'unspace', a sort of unreal netherworld existing on a different plane of existence that humans and other beings can use to travel between star systems. It has its own un-reality and is the source of the Architects and their unknown master.</div><div><br /></div><div>The author, Adrian Tchaikovsky, expands the universe he has created, with increased roles for several alien races. I liked how he makes them really alien, in terms of their culture, traditions and logic. They remain mysterious and ineffable even as they interact with the main characters in the novel. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is also an interesting sub-plot concerning an AI being called a Hiver and their relationship with their former owner. The Hiver has become an authority on the ruins and artefacts of the Originators and the human academic considers this stealing and plagiarism. Rows ensue, but the sub-plot reaches a deeply poignant conclusion in a scene that made me feel quite sad. </div><div><br /></div><div>AI or machine characters are difficult to get right, but I found the way they appear in this book very engaging. As mentioned before, these are probably the most sympathetic AI characters since the Minds and sentient drones in the Culture novels by Iain M Banks. They add an interesting layer to this series along with the well-drawn alien races. </div><div><br /></div><div>The plot bounces through several worlds as the main characters get pulled together towards a showdown of sorts on a particularly deadly planet. I won't describe it because that would be a spoiler but as "death worlds" go, it's an absolute doozy. </div><div><br /></div><div>The ending is a bit cliff-hangerey. There's a third book to come, which I think will be the final instalment. However, I reckon you could read this novel as a standalone or as the first point of entry into the storyline. The events of the previous book get referred to and explained at various points. </div><div><br /></div><div>I will be adding the third book to my wishlist as soon as it comes out in paperback. I'm not sure if that will be in time for my birthday...</div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-56135019845278724782024-01-19T11:34:00.001+00:002024-01-19T11:34:08.727+00:00Cheerful electric box<p>Seeing "faces" in inanimate objects is a common human bias, a natural heuristic fallacy that fools us. But on the other hand this electrical box I saw on the wall of a hotel looked really pleased to see me!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAFVMFag2raoblXIYKMJ9VJ54-7gnwC2RrB6FbuRYylBrdXy0eMIj0ues5poBJT1M2o6o_AT7b0VaVWYilmUDQjMivdzCbj2wcRbmi2brVGZf3P0uIad7MdnNrFfwlVpXvdYkt33n4j1u_H5qVRLQdstqRaH3Naql0_i20B5V8E3946TD4rIAQQ/s1800/20240116_073137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="1800" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAFVMFag2raoblXIYKMJ9VJ54-7gnwC2RrB6FbuRYylBrdXy0eMIj0ues5poBJT1M2o6o_AT7b0VaVWYilmUDQjMivdzCbj2wcRbmi2brVGZf3P0uIad7MdnNrFfwlVpXvdYkt33n4j1u_H5qVRLQdstqRaH3Naql0_i20B5V8E3946TD4rIAQQ/s320/20240116_073137.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-672787056242040802024-01-18T22:02:00.000+00:002024-01-18T22:02:00.144+00:00Power shopping!<p>A work trip to London this week included an evening to amuse myself, so I took the tube to visit Battersea Power Station. This has been done up as a premium shopping experience. Among the stores is a brand new Lego Shop. I'd packed my Lego passports in the hope of getting them stamped.</p><p>The exterior of the Power Station looks very pretty lit up at night.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrQwYmxfE0fGnV-vMnnYZaoHw9SQ2dVGKg62k9n4SsczqEdYOweN9F2h8ZBpMhRPNGDmKsFhC6OrjKm4AbMHU_8fvI0PwN0qMNKowgctnDN6_IzEuqg0mw7guuq0TC8IqEbNguj-Ll7He5Dotx-kZ_8luojagHY9nw1JgfquOd8aoW0tt-KoCzg/s3259/20240115_175941.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1746" data-original-width="3259" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrQwYmxfE0fGnV-vMnnYZaoHw9SQ2dVGKg62k9n4SsczqEdYOweN9F2h8ZBpMhRPNGDmKsFhC6OrjKm4AbMHU_8fvI0PwN0qMNKowgctnDN6_IzEuqg0mw7guuq0TC8IqEbNguj-Ll7He5Dotx-kZ_8luojagHY9nw1JgfquOd8aoW0tt-KoCzg/s320/20240115_175941.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0GOG4GmNPrqcaYWVv1Vg5iMmzv4C9_KOFEHJ7D9ThpC6BL3xVVNxvY9FE5aQCVy4L5ihScWThAVAZO86nR6BlHAqrlgKVcAXvniAyR4lT94YFm5VXomYmqw2kSltKvt5VVPFZ6wCUmBadaOmItKiAUSIFnxCdTgthfjlsLykYn96TdAtVVHwpg/s3247/20240115_180203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3247" data-original-width="1579" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0GOG4GmNPrqcaYWVv1Vg5iMmzv4C9_KOFEHJ7D9ThpC6BL3xVVNxvY9FE5aQCVy4L5ihScWThAVAZO86nR6BlHAqrlgKVcAXvniAyR4lT94YFm5VXomYmqw2kSltKvt5VVPFZ6wCUmBadaOmItKiAUSIFnxCdTgthfjlsLykYn96TdAtVVHwpg/s320/20240115_180203.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><br /><p>Inside, the vastness of the former turbine halls is awe inspiring.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp_DGy5CqAv0J_XqQYWdSSo135Um39zRk6qVqLpBuChrmCZvWNudpt7asNuUiEY9RAkMoA0pkcPK0VRVUaipX0nqAyxJduEL_8ScXDxuAXFCqOyXVcrFRgumv0GHi4NaYINWYlGE5xL3UR8B1peAsxJcv_zu27-Jk2NRYmk66pfOaserp7AdO7A/s2766/20240115_180433.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2766" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp_DGy5CqAv0J_XqQYWdSSo135Um39zRk6qVqLpBuChrmCZvWNudpt7asNuUiEY9RAkMoA0pkcPK0VRVUaipX0nqAyxJduEL_8ScXDxuAXFCqOyXVcrFRgumv0GHi4NaYINWYlGE5xL3UR8B1peAsxJcv_zu27-Jk2NRYmk66pfOaserp7AdO7A/s320/20240115_180433.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXfFW9JBrr5gGLBqAGl5LMPpfQtD__aew0tHsnyrUDB4RR1rtUqAGAGNQTAvhQU_tZGOmergD7ovLOooHhiofE8H3IC2c40RR08A55ul1t4zKeNA2srVIokMXEpxQx5FQru1nLkKHrV-16YxpXnCib4NNylPugf8AFR1BRMW8jlvAiEPbHduG5w/s2767/20240115_192511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="2767" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXfFW9JBrr5gGLBqAGl5LMPpfQtD__aew0tHsnyrUDB4RR1rtUqAGAGNQTAvhQU_tZGOmergD7ovLOooHhiofE8H3IC2c40RR08A55ul1t4zKeNA2srVIokMXEpxQx5FQru1nLkKHrV-16YxpXnCib4NNylPugf8AFR1BRMW8jlvAiEPbHduG5w/s320/20240115_192511.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I found the Lego Shop and admired some of the artefacts within. Of note, the 'build a minifigure' station, and the Power Station replicated in Lego and depicted on a frieze made out of Lego bricks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiytJPc1ySuYmiRRMPDcySSdvqd8jhBqfGaca33bKIwgOMZC0-cU7XiTvLsiNmfsBIMlEJZlCEUydUsLzzigJyKHoz7O9TQJaR9Ph22yg8vyN9nzBkOAnDtZXRFwrMHRtyN7TMPebtXXO-vRper8Duz5DrOGHtHU5ocx60-N3Kr82OoEz4OVtEiA/s2627/20240115_181054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1671" data-original-width="2627" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiytJPc1ySuYmiRRMPDcySSdvqd8jhBqfGaca33bKIwgOMZC0-cU7XiTvLsiNmfsBIMlEJZlCEUydUsLzzigJyKHoz7O9TQJaR9Ph22yg8vyN9nzBkOAnDtZXRFwrMHRtyN7TMPebtXXO-vRper8Duz5DrOGHtHU5ocx60-N3Kr82OoEz4OVtEiA/s320/20240115_181054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7FHX9ucAXOtu75NrClilo_V38jaDIHXnyCmOYBnzmzVfd7ZM06tZSVn2tHZKwnvOdQ4re7D9Iy8LAZJiWAqZQ8zp56bVXLUQvY5RzgOtHkbAEc5FpWw26s_Pg0LF0XF6fblM6fG0dDtb_bW7I9iBPP5szhb_IDunC8B16qoThAssUGxSjX2kug/s2763/20240115_181112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2763" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7FHX9ucAXOtu75NrClilo_V38jaDIHXnyCmOYBnzmzVfd7ZM06tZSVn2tHZKwnvOdQ4re7D9Iy8LAZJiWAqZQ8zp56bVXLUQvY5RzgOtHkbAEc5FpWw26s_Pg0LF0XF6fblM6fG0dDtb_bW7I9iBPP5szhb_IDunC8B16qoThAssUGxSjX2kug/s320/20240115_181112.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuH8hXq2N3aZiMLYTT6bKqtYg2nqx7bPCjKfsPeOlEmCOCUj4GuFDiQJFun1dzvqHZ49oahiDwDPm0XUA2gmrC1iB8H5yVyMOaE_JvCBv0ev_xuhvFE3xFGYDOcp9w5BLg6bZQFsJKo8tVocj3RgMwDQSHCUxfYKyw9dA2QfqA2favrnBD-mIDA/s2329/20240115_181251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2329" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuH8hXq2N3aZiMLYTT6bKqtYg2nqx7bPCjKfsPeOlEmCOCUj4GuFDiQJFun1dzvqHZ49oahiDwDPm0XUA2gmrC1iB8H5yVyMOaE_JvCBv0ev_xuhvFE3xFGYDOcp9w5BLg6bZQFsJKo8tVocj3RgMwDQSHCUxfYKyw9dA2QfqA2favrnBD-mIDA/s320/20240115_181251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3S9yg-eNv76XqRX7ALqrJVHtWMxUBf1zAHZ-uYhKmiIsZwGEob93CXV7gc8CRQOWE3mdAGQghfcSUN9c44n-P0wtVlduO_bQEBi3sMjuI5EXxrRnRNAvNrqC3LFq6dUAKyThdnCoNV-BXRwdk5EbwfPYFUB4hPlmK68cKzwm7t7Yo6Ww0EzMeqQ/s2226/20240115_181215.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2226" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3S9yg-eNv76XqRX7ALqrJVHtWMxUBf1zAHZ-uYhKmiIsZwGEob93CXV7gc8CRQOWE3mdAGQghfcSUN9c44n-P0wtVlduO_bQEBi3sMjuI5EXxrRnRNAvNrqC3LFq6dUAKyThdnCoNV-BXRwdk5EbwfPYFUB4hPlmK68cKzwm7t7Yo6Ww0EzMeqQ/s320/20240115_181215.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ru6dtXPORS5r4bGoXjHE3cPTE8rrr8wWHJ-fF7XDeK1TRxEojUNperI3y7fqAgOLsk5v3gJZT8pB2FhezrfxqBv5epAzxaCOPRUb4jZQ3s8UIAZA_bjW9696B6ZeTJ9mSuxgYmgpCjSHIwPALgA7VBHuo5Fyqoay2SeEsb6oHa7_DnuDvBByGw/s1027/20240115_203345.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1027" data-original-width="826" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ru6dtXPORS5r4bGoXjHE3cPTE8rrr8wWHJ-fF7XDeK1TRxEojUNperI3y7fqAgOLsk5v3gJZT8pB2FhezrfxqBv5epAzxaCOPRUb4jZQ3s8UIAZA_bjW9696B6ZeTJ9mSuxgYmgpCjSHIwPALgA7VBHuo5Fyqoay2SeEsb6oHa7_DnuDvBByGw/s320/20240115_203345.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><br /><p>I was also looking for somewhere to eat. I found this place...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSUWuKkMIg-shseM0zifuepG_EyM0hrNnlqBweEgrAUKWSSDYEvO0v-vXq_nTVrcx0sSfo_ZklXkKouh0rjc43KIffMh7hVac4s_itDpvjIQAbbTL4b_3CLI5oaVNQYploPoKRPFsC-cxgVBfM2PkDktBdTG5a3Ajt3zNXWC-VqHtuVjHT_o6mg/s2008/20240115_180922.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2008" data-original-width="1774" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSUWuKkMIg-shseM0zifuepG_EyM0hrNnlqBweEgrAUKWSSDYEvO0v-vXq_nTVrcx0sSfo_ZklXkKouh0rjc43KIffMh7hVac4s_itDpvjIQAbbTL4b_3CLI5oaVNQYploPoKRPFsC-cxgVBfM2PkDktBdTG5a3Ajt3zNXWC-VqHtuVjHT_o6mg/s320/20240115_180922.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br /><p>I phoned Cathy while waiting for my order. I told her I was in a restaurant called 'Where the pancakes are' and she said "Well, I know why you're there!" Well, where else would I be if that was where the pancakes were?</p><p>I had something called a 'Dutch baby' - think of a Yorkshire pudding made with apples and almonds, served with a scoop of ice cream. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWhMwYaWlWjERuyNwdkyGWxRWWfF1s6MadUFO-p_4ddsA6FCSQ-KqRGAH-P9f-dM-Eg9WbOKenODMcZCp318BZ3jKh5WMObrCZQppx0LdZPLROnaYnB-c9YX6e2LqEryMLs1xZouauZYbkGNHrfKGnXLEg_csRVmjDPFwOjhGgzwFO2-tBYo_Sg/s3056/20240115_185523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3056" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWhMwYaWlWjERuyNwdkyGWxRWWfF1s6MadUFO-p_4ddsA6FCSQ-KqRGAH-P9f-dM-Eg9WbOKenODMcZCp318BZ3jKh5WMObrCZQppx0LdZPLROnaYnB-c9YX6e2LqEryMLs1xZouauZYbkGNHrfKGnXLEg_csRVmjDPFwOjhGgzwFO2-tBYo_Sg/s320/20240115_185523.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>After that rather filling meal, I had another wander around the shopping arcade, which is full of original bits and bobs. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnW7g8jLUkotqyUyJQp0jQ86WR3tWJa_QOsgxfwH5rKQjW_MJ2uVwhNBOg-szRCOqCRDXSP-gdev22IR-b1n9XxHVWsr3SpY-8IO5DJH6Kb9oFUcesytBpwtZLeAzEYyfhChwPPKRPKPhmLVV1U-eKCsAqZFVKXsEna8WITDhj5UgMsazBVWz38w/s3236/20240115_180830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3236" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnW7g8jLUkotqyUyJQp0jQ86WR3tWJa_QOsgxfwH5rKQjW_MJ2uVwhNBOg-szRCOqCRDXSP-gdev22IR-b1n9XxHVWsr3SpY-8IO5DJH6Kb9oFUcesytBpwtZLeAzEYyfhChwPPKRPKPhmLVV1U-eKCsAqZFVKXsEna8WITDhj5UgMsazBVWz38w/s320/20240115_180830.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA08s_GQ3Vinsn_FvGXIaXU80cJ1lTQ_4Zg-y8H0AVPTB-T-BOFMuECCVGTasOu412zJ2b5agV0dSFdH8gyMP2T1ZrGAuf5qKXF5bp_h-CHsBGja7dvOEZZFd_Xcu0fpOO7I3eAOWjNHv9CZisrJxGa-OPjtx7l-4PMqIy5DGqKVr_u2O8XO-sGg/s1292/20240115_180555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="1199" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA08s_GQ3Vinsn_FvGXIaXU80cJ1lTQ_4Zg-y8H0AVPTB-T-BOFMuECCVGTasOu412zJ2b5agV0dSFdH8gyMP2T1ZrGAuf5qKXF5bp_h-CHsBGja7dvOEZZFd_Xcu0fpOO7I3eAOWjNHv9CZisrJxGa-OPjtx7l-4PMqIy5DGqKVr_u2O8XO-sGg/s320/20240115_180555.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIVarDI9wBkTVFoRj7edPIgGEdZvTCmOAVvQU78P-5ZnO8g1pZwZIHMEKsc9uhyP-PqJke9vz2B4nT-ZKleTSwetPuK_-Q3GSfnxbv7HBlxuI2kpJkGsjJwQSnV8wFy0O12aJTQ27y6zjEIDrkZO_GVgnM8evOEAMdazXCUhlbdrWhO8dEc7vkw/s3277/20240115_192549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3277" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIVarDI9wBkTVFoRj7edPIgGEdZvTCmOAVvQU78P-5ZnO8g1pZwZIHMEKsc9uhyP-PqJke9vz2B4nT-ZKleTSwetPuK_-Q3GSfnxbv7HBlxuI2kpJkGsjJwQSnV8wFy0O12aJTQ27y6zjEIDrkZO_GVgnM8evOEAMdazXCUhlbdrWhO8dEc7vkw/s320/20240115_192549.jpg" width="176" /></a></div><br /><p>There was something gloriously optimistic about the way the building had been transformed. It had an authentic industrial chic and worked with it to create a futuristic feeling space. I don't usually rave on about shopping centres, but this was special. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-63473825598051748502024-01-13T11:17:00.004+00:002024-01-15T08:31:05.957+00:00First Blood Bowl battering of 2024One of the things I would like to do in 2024 is play some more games of Blood Bowl. This week I had a game with Bryan. He took charge of the Blinglizards while I played the orc team I'm going to call the Wrekkers. (The badly painted kit colours are a clue why.)<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxpsi0FTNRHyiQ3zaZZAi_XAP-CINQEzqgExjSDIiETpHQ_bjD-i5gbnJNUjxgTJl6Fb99xemC64y26gHwrWVUt4kkAAg0OeuQ-mRD0eMticQfaUseLjmhQTZ75PfnaGsXHHN6NhInmUJP0F3YY2RH3owQZYJuvColwv12IC7w_b3A4TLO3HtMg/s2222/20240111_213025.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2222" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxpsi0FTNRHyiQ3zaZZAi_XAP-CINQEzqgExjSDIiETpHQ_bjD-i5gbnJNUjxgTJl6Fb99xemC64y26gHwrWVUt4kkAAg0OeuQ-mRD0eMticQfaUseLjmhQTZ75PfnaGsXHHN6NhInmUJP0F3YY2RH3owQZYJuvColwv12IC7w_b3A4TLO3HtMg/s320/20240111_213025.jpg" width="259" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Greenskins vs shiny green scales</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><div>It was a fairly even game although the reptiles had the upper hands in most blocks due to the strength of their big "saurus" players. They also had greater mobility. The big kroxigor monster was frequently bogged down by the attention of two or three orc players. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Kick off</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YzLDcKwNKVwmUPD-nxLZhYM4JJTiOkdJZYI5A_Uqz5xwtqmeJp33PVDfY4W-PKCIJLIyu_zEm8F6QvSLYiQtIdLObjstpfnFXcACBal48gESP77D2CviJ0Aj-AA_UJR6GqWB5oxxPm2TX6zG6pCcFv5hyphenhyphen9F2vskhH4HSKcn3CYgH3Jr4TTD3ag/s3638/20240111_194919.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3638" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YzLDcKwNKVwmUPD-nxLZhYM4JJTiOkdJZYI5A_Uqz5xwtqmeJp33PVDfY4W-PKCIJLIyu_zEm8F6QvSLYiQtIdLObjstpfnFXcACBal48gESP77D2CviJ0Aj-AA_UJR6GqWB5oxxPm2TX6zG6pCcFv5hyphenhyphen9F2vskhH4HSKcn3CYgH3Jr4TTD3ag/s320/20240111_194919.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>It wasn't long before the first casualty. One of the Wrekkers was knocked out.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCSxGmKZLEfSV0tvuOrffAfP0FibcmHkZOMSB74hBuQ0mFO0-nDqyAtHDpKBPe7xY81h33DWTefRZLxc9C_bLGDb_puMwPyMTG-iTHiP3EuGKXcgLd3qg916V6wuE_ph3RX3undR1IY7S-1JY45_FhOlPgF41Shlcu5lRur3snpQQvNd4VoBYQA/s1800/20240111_200141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1776" data-original-width="1800" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCSxGmKZLEfSV0tvuOrffAfP0FibcmHkZOMSB74hBuQ0mFO0-nDqyAtHDpKBPe7xY81h33DWTefRZLxc9C_bLGDb_puMwPyMTG-iTHiP3EuGKXcgLd3qg916V6wuE_ph3RX3undR1IY7S-1JY45_FhOlPgF41Shlcu5lRur3snpQQvNd4VoBYQA/s320/20240111_200141.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The Blinglizards got the ball out to one of their fast running chameleon skinks on the wing.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCUG-1_HsROIDUY63KVG9H79nkahSPABlMo4k5XNBkRCwfgOcWyj8VTt872oYQBTqITiONBi_KmlaO088DGypTvrj3ELi3Ujo9_CYv5c4X5ummxOep_vlYjDkreX9TLcDJeTJ3yW42JAcsLjn5iooy0U_qAjPrQGL_XlycbaywdD34BocXPNzKA/s2249/20240111_201138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2249" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCUG-1_HsROIDUY63KVG9H79nkahSPABlMo4k5XNBkRCwfgOcWyj8VTt872oYQBTqITiONBi_KmlaO088DGypTvrj3ELi3Ujo9_CYv5c4X5ummxOep_vlYjDkreX9TLcDJeTJ3yW42JAcsLjn5iooy0U_qAjPrQGL_XlycbaywdD34BocXPNzKA/s320/20240111_201138.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div><br /></div>He didn't get very far and ended up getting pushed into the crowd and beaten up by the fans. <div><br /></div><div>The ball ended up near the Wrekkers end zone. A pass forward went awry.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqQY171dwIrOKj6croAN75XsuzrLdQvxsO_7GsxV3_D9gmO0MEFjwH4IbhtE5SMXp7Ub-znJV1wYIJjkiZmRu5Idz4YwUN1fgea-ztmoAgLNiEkkecT4PIng4aKfh8uAe0KnynQmqrWOWn8gs7NLNqzECgXH3pJXumK850VtZE4vLd7und6ccaQ/s2698/20240111_204023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2698" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqQY171dwIrOKj6croAN75XsuzrLdQvxsO_7GsxV3_D9gmO0MEFjwH4IbhtE5SMXp7Ub-znJV1wYIJjkiZmRu5Idz4YwUN1fgea-ztmoAgLNiEkkecT4PIng4aKfh8uAe0KnynQmqrWOWn8gs7NLNqzECgXH3pJXumK850VtZE4vLd7und6ccaQ/s320/20240111_204023.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div>And on the very last turn of the half, the ball got flung forward and caught by a quick footed skink for a Touchdown!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74lLpM_Ab6N9x8_H6g9n0iHPjhPY3irFv0X-qcPC0QfzoT9l8lZMg3C8JwRLGgVNfqEmvx0h9tSDIBsnriSELh7mb5y-gBQQ6BOT2eNzH41O09xRY0UD6wpYYnnSSsaJXuRG4kex4n86ZmD7SrYkTRR-QaTkmdSwhGdWu8l21Ih497z1pOt2tKQ/s1877/20240111_210816.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1877" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74lLpM_Ab6N9x8_H6g9n0iHPjhPY3irFv0X-qcPC0QfzoT9l8lZMg3C8JwRLGgVNfqEmvx0h9tSDIBsnriSELh7mb5y-gBQQ6BOT2eNzH41O09xRY0UD6wpYYnnSSsaJXuRG4kex4n86ZmD7SrYkTRR-QaTkmdSwhGdWu8l21Ih497z1pOt2tKQ/s320/20240111_210816.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><b>Half time: Blinglizards 1 - 0 Wrekkers</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The second half was dominated by the Wrekkers for several turns. However they were stuck in a very congested midfield. Despite looking in a good position to march upfield and score, the Blinglizards rallied round and prevented them from making any progress.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FXX5c3xNL1BGiTJQ7BWGlPtDRk8YbecSGNTdu3iZ2TRANo8ZdaxgZ8TiY3FTLEPKMYEBkC7zOEcJiv8JFxAkc6hAchzQOWiIBBcJqvKAZqalA26eh2tqpDIntbqIrc1fyG_3JHLtsIHPs405nympDslKmdlzbSj54XuIMWMfjKuY-DUuea_TRg/s2288/20240111_212638.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2288" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FXX5c3xNL1BGiTJQ7BWGlPtDRk8YbecSGNTdu3iZ2TRANo8ZdaxgZ8TiY3FTLEPKMYEBkC7zOEcJiv8JFxAkc6hAchzQOWiIBBcJqvKAZqalA26eh2tqpDIntbqIrc1fyG_3JHLtsIHPs405nympDslKmdlzbSj54XuIMWMfjKuY-DUuea_TRg/s320/20240111_212638.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br /><div>Eventually the ball-carrier got blitzed, the ball went loose and mayhem followed. There was high drama as players on both sides fumbled and failed to pick up the ball, which also bounced into the crowd and was thrown back several times.</div><div><br /></div><div>Eventually, however, a different skink (nicknamed "Tapey" after an impromptu running repair on the figure) was able to pick up the ball and successfully "rush" two extra squares to score on the very last turn of the second half!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCVZerjYBnjt6emjJFa5e6AHTZDGiw96-xqlWnWXTav3tXmYgqEqyMuY0vXgf4iwE0djjtHbwI5F6SmdADjMbfIcfohKnyy9JoIVuOL-Lg9g9KNEoXM9GF36ceghnH6Gv7Ps1qH512hLvkKmkiIz47BmrDNJq_a684MZyzSj2QCd0FCC7vgYUSg/s1800/20240111_220416.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1800" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCVZerjYBnjt6emjJFa5e6AHTZDGiw96-xqlWnWXTav3tXmYgqEqyMuY0vXgf4iwE0djjtHbwI5F6SmdADjMbfIcfohKnyy9JoIVuOL-Lg9g9KNEoXM9GF36ceghnH6Gv7Ps1qH512hLvkKmkiIz47BmrDNJq_a684MZyzSj2QCd0FCC7vgYUSg/s320/20240111_220416.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoxvnQkPIjr0RqHjP_gUA7yyx8rUl1fkx3nk0wSikzNTx6sTZUmzdA1cYoeMM6Kq-N7yb_yTu7pugVGxoEA8uUQ5iAtOwQkjBZ_DRz_a9PQAms8sIa1DkM3UtdZRL4X5uloAUjxPWyk_lO4pU9RWrZDK3cVUqx4qElwg2bhZ_7HUub8sF-v4o1Q/s2291/20240111_220424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2291" data-original-width="1528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoxvnQkPIjr0RqHjP_gUA7yyx8rUl1fkx3nk0wSikzNTx6sTZUmzdA1cYoeMM6Kq-N7yb_yTu7pugVGxoEA8uUQ5iAtOwQkjBZ_DRz_a9PQAms8sIa1DkM3UtdZRL4X5uloAUjxPWyk_lO4pU9RWrZDK3cVUqx4qElwg2bhZ_7HUub8sF-v4o1Q/s320/20240111_220424.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div><b>Final score: Blinglizards 2-0 Wrekkers</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Lessons learned...</div><div>...the dice will <i>always</i> betray you</div><div>...halfway through we discovered we were treating players who had been knocked over the wrong way</div><div>...the orcs are surprisingly underpowered while the lizard-men have a good mix of power and speed</div><div>...passing is hard</div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-76415345724462717452024-01-12T22:27:00.004+00:002024-01-12T22:35:00.983+00:00The 12 cards of Christmas <p>I have decided not to do a Christmas card audit this year. It's something I might do again in future, but I felt like a Christmas off. </p><p>However, I haven't dispensed with all my blogging traditions - here are a selection of the cards we received this year. It was tough picking just 12 from the pile. I have only included cards that could scan easily on the flatbed, so you will just have to picture the 3D musical R2-D2 card with flashing lights that Connor gave me in your minds eye!</p><p>First up is a card that just made me smile. Santa has upgraded his transport - to a big red bus!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1rutKnv6b6sq9aRaxEyooj_Ve9jRZMuC_9Xs5tHAiqCQurmxaeAI-BVC8e8ccDf27aSuzA1OCr9x4AmK_zdKdioWWyzAtKdRaGulnCEhEykGCdOhIBcn8O0cg1sYbHE9b4x50MMvvKQOOYdyqnt-FcSS0WD5BBssajGXB96SwO-wOI9fnZ31NQ/s1004/Busload%20of%20reindeers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1004" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1rutKnv6b6sq9aRaxEyooj_Ve9jRZMuC_9Xs5tHAiqCQurmxaeAI-BVC8e8ccDf27aSuzA1OCr9x4AmK_zdKdioWWyzAtKdRaGulnCEhEykGCdOhIBcn8O0cg1sYbHE9b4x50MMvvKQOOYdyqnt-FcSS0WD5BBssajGXB96SwO-wOI9fnZ31NQ/s320/Busload%20of%20reindeers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm never sure whether "peace" counts as a religious theme or not. It felt very apt this year with some of the horrors grinding on in other parts of the world, particularly in the middle east. I really liked the design of this peace dove. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXbOz7a-dg1JtWmZwSmgImfM9kr_FY1WEHYkxGfJdlRj90jnOjPN52tQlgQ4tT0pYl1HlZfidc4rVGLW3DXu9XRBDEOUwB1fhVTlT7FPmvimoveqzTtbUU9iLTq8BDIWALRc68Qc5doAKP-8BXDfx-tTStoqLoo_PhQaL248yB8AMmEb3LDt2VQ/s1272/Peace.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="859" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXbOz7a-dg1JtWmZwSmgImfM9kr_FY1WEHYkxGfJdlRj90jnOjPN52tQlgQ4tT0pYl1HlZfidc4rVGLW3DXu9XRBDEOUwB1fhVTlT7FPmvimoveqzTtbUU9iLTq8BDIWALRc68Qc5doAKP-8BXDfx-tTStoqLoo_PhQaL248yB8AMmEb3LDt2VQ/s320/Peace.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A more definite religious theme - the three "kings" (AKA wise men or magi). The curly shoes of the king in the middle amused me. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWXMxEIDLUHXmP3M1-a8HoequSp_5qnS9-mDZ2XSgU1pcBLF1YtidCmyggrG60rRzEXPgQD-yweap_rU7Sz0TAR2l4lrbq1KQQ72nBu3XIXtwpt2Pk0AuBwyDlB4DbiCtM5Q4gPKwq8YN4BTfyBYK_ZlUYBwV1BQpWF52bk7hdNfzyP0m37NVPw/s1206/3%20Kings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="1204" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWXMxEIDLUHXmP3M1-a8HoequSp_5qnS9-mDZ2XSgU1pcBLF1YtidCmyggrG60rRzEXPgQD-yweap_rU7Sz0TAR2l4lrbq1KQQ72nBu3XIXtwpt2Pk0AuBwyDlB4DbiCtM5Q4gPKwq8YN4BTfyBYK_ZlUYBwV1BQpWF52bk7hdNfzyP0m37NVPw/s320/3%20Kings.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I love cards designed by kids. This one of robins sat on a goalpost (I think) was by Delilah. It was printed as a fund-raiser for her school. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNQ7lYbItyqsmujhsesVJ2REVlaiHZvYgbtJ06e2zbMrcq1wJhDXPmorfzFkvV-Tgf1_p_TCL5IHjEx8CqUPA3O4DgDGnZ6VMEYhYjrCp8P_tj5K3CkYlaiE40RJHd8QEKruH3WelXHE0-7aueQt8szIzA4GDNO77EU1r_WWY4u7xMn9t2YMivw/s1185/Delilah%20Merry%20Xmas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="1185" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNQ7lYbItyqsmujhsesVJ2REVlaiHZvYgbtJ06e2zbMrcq1wJhDXPmorfzFkvV-Tgf1_p_TCL5IHjEx8CqUPA3O4DgDGnZ6VMEYhYjrCp8P_tj5K3CkYlaiE40RJHd8QEKruH3WelXHE0-7aueQt8szIzA4GDNO77EU1r_WWY4u7xMn9t2YMivw/s320/Delilah%20Merry%20Xmas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And this drawing by Jowan was hand done. Got to say this is a contender for my very favourite card this year. A duck-billed platypus in a Santa hat? What's not to love? (Although I don't think platypuses quack, despite their duck-bills.)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuit3-yiRlqVdj9FBfVmAaUqSxWFsqaFQhyphenhyphenzPmAhDO-Ejtgg_nxeA1tddZxrJV32ZqXKIpRrYtCMhGAgf6d9u7oXZRDNh3Kj7Rb45sarybmZ8T6tWzffFUtlcp9PkcmEJJEVcgR6njtVZHwyJIKkA0mBJSWWR-eE-9BonUZ7eYdbCzKV-35hebA/s1195/Quackmas%20platypus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1195" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuit3-yiRlqVdj9FBfVmAaUqSxWFsqaFQhyphenhyphenzPmAhDO-Ejtgg_nxeA1tddZxrJV32ZqXKIpRrYtCMhGAgf6d9u7oXZRDNh3Kj7Rb45sarybmZ8T6tWzffFUtlcp9PkcmEJJEVcgR6njtVZHwyJIKkA0mBJSWWR-eE-9BonUZ7eYdbCzKV-35hebA/s320/Quackmas%20platypus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Keeping on an antipodean fauna theme, here's a tree of koala bears from my friend Jon in Oz.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQO1MSghhF-CxEhg2vfBLkCbFYTXtRuH9fctU-_yZbRIVEPXTqIgPX5_E6SMUVova_tS39cDuOhu8AZsLumDjAJs9wKvaf6Z908RcnKCig4gOJw7hyBuI9toL1AnsHBm94LucfikPc0QKeQ2bivIKDcK-GtDrRtPuG_gdRrWZIdrDpmhmF90K1xw/s1361/Koalas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1361" data-original-width="922" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQO1MSghhF-CxEhg2vfBLkCbFYTXtRuH9fctU-_yZbRIVEPXTqIgPX5_E6SMUVova_tS39cDuOhu8AZsLumDjAJs9wKvaf6Z908RcnKCig4gOJw7hyBuI9toL1AnsHBm94LucfikPc0QKeQ2bivIKDcK-GtDrRtPuG_gdRrWZIdrDpmhmF90K1xw/s320/Koalas.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This card was given to us 11 months early by my friend Sian. It's a pun and a moose.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkZx217jD2g4-ofeLGLO3psb13Clwc2ochFDI5vkKpj4kMiTeqVlBSNRrjJyXwLi_qC04tdMKKM7-N6VtyJ-R_7_eg9LZJqgZ7QAjttYb53D-_wWu9IxUx5I4UC8WOuzuyxQJ-G-QBM442sN7qMqUUUYHevDDFCudvL8uo3bhSmsqnaPgoYo5NQ/s1677/Sian%20Christmoose.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1677" data-original-width="1194" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkZx217jD2g4-ofeLGLO3psb13Clwc2ochFDI5vkKpj4kMiTeqVlBSNRrjJyXwLi_qC04tdMKKM7-N6VtyJ-R_7_eg9LZJqgZ7QAjttYb53D-_wWu9IxUx5I4UC8WOuzuyxQJ-G-QBM442sN7qMqUUUYHevDDFCudvL8uo3bhSmsqnaPgoYo5NQ/s320/Sian%20Christmoose.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And another moose! Including this card is a bit of a cheat because it's one of the ones that I gave to Cathy. It's designed by Cardiff-based artist Ana Palamar. I liked his wellies. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPV_Itdfn-BvKi4MwXdZ_l7Lg5i1pgsVkYS9Dl7XVdIFJuLl8vVqc8THhg4sp-brz7QSPPOyPtZgBsp0r-6DDXTquTrghsuqx3KLY129XJBPUDLz4J7qznCrLuRqH3VLiTpoCZmYpMtjmTpselLRU_PLrJVi9z_qvO-RllD7weyYqR9WuLHjRjA/s1150/Ana%20Palamar%20moose.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="850" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPV_Itdfn-BvKi4MwXdZ_l7Lg5i1pgsVkYS9Dl7XVdIFJuLl8vVqc8THhg4sp-brz7QSPPOyPtZgBsp0r-6DDXTquTrghsuqx3KLY129XJBPUDLz4J7qznCrLuRqH3VLiTpoCZmYpMtjmTpselLRU_PLrJVi9z_qvO-RllD7weyYqR9WuLHjRjA/s320/Ana%20Palamar%20moose.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>More animals. This time it's some sheep saying "Baa humbug!" I liked the stripy sheep who actually looks like a humbug. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzUp4ctS4G_RlgIQXLLN_ij6BfoldR7DmKQZsHcalvuSDskUGw6AQfEMNhu8rA6skDUEJHKAMbFcPAFmUXvwBgY01QkrZcpdb11U34tH6OJgeBw-vyiNXcd2C0Z7JC_wji8OHfwLTXTZxRzV7XA0Q-iywMKWzcB6W2_lqhUDnp_h0tHX1PKl6QQ/s1359/Baa%20humbug.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1359" data-original-width="977" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzUp4ctS4G_RlgIQXLLN_ij6BfoldR7DmKQZsHcalvuSDskUGw6AQfEMNhu8rA6skDUEJHKAMbFcPAFmUXvwBgY01QkrZcpdb11U34tH6OJgeBw-vyiNXcd2C0Z7JC_wji8OHfwLTXTZxRzV7XA0Q-iywMKWzcB6W2_lqhUDnp_h0tHX1PKl6QQ/s320/Baa%20humbug.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But nobody does humbug as well as the Modern Toss cartoonists. This gave me a belly laugh when I first saw it. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKlrRSdgOajwVYhlFEw5eYDaPPPCVN8YZ9BAFiiKBUMRlGdkb6WMIIN46PLO-FhfwWxcBBsZ7VXb-lon-a2paIeO6tWx9bskG83CabZ5XeTqeA6TH8vThDV-TR0-pENI3F9qkivaV4QGFNnnhb3JnSdZOuY3zm7TJjtUeVFdhNDuBIPGRWRuIOA/s1347/Seasonal%20cutbacks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1347" data-original-width="951" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKlrRSdgOajwVYhlFEw5eYDaPPPCVN8YZ9BAFiiKBUMRlGdkb6WMIIN46PLO-FhfwWxcBBsZ7VXb-lon-a2paIeO6tWx9bskG83CabZ5XeTqeA6TH8vThDV-TR0-pENI3F9qkivaV4QGFNnnhb3JnSdZOuY3zm7TJjtUeVFdhNDuBIPGRWRuIOA/s320/Seasonal%20cutbacks.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Cathy's card to me. Very cute. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQP-IWkVMH_q2Zt_8Gy7ABKt9tXaGT-p70i6RE3cILE6SgwZ9FsBP7f5778rtJCAvpu8wNyI3LMJcak3tHGpWbCNQ8VhiDyDtoVau4beiJAE4MHo89BL13y-ncUkK7JfprmLFCrW39-JDWND17xvj3_w1bG9Gtm7sCdkNBmo9Da7iZ38tCB8TVg/s1476/Penguins.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="1243" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQP-IWkVMH_q2Zt_8Gy7ABKt9tXaGT-p70i6RE3cILE6SgwZ9FsBP7f5778rtJCAvpu8wNyI3LMJcak3tHGpWbCNQ8VhiDyDtoVau4beiJAE4MHo89BL13y-ncUkK7JfprmLFCrW39-JDWND17xvj3_w1bG9Gtm7sCdkNBmo9Da7iZ38tCB8TVg/s320/Penguins.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And then the final card of the selection. This one really had it all. A pun. Camels! Wearing Santa hats! Fair play to my Mum, she ticked all the boxes with this one.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAjzfGhLJoHXzsATFMTeE_KBgR_igYFFRIKZLL90lMm-zg7dzB4MwkPsuND8QaUnS-BtQP-O3aYVbxNsYTa9ZqPRhvhzeZoLr0AZ5THgzxi4nqg6CGY-PO4nfy_aTGMx6nCuSyFuLKBuC37psfO2rTWDRfJNKLJTET2ULtPDN-Cm68ZK2t4t70w/s1136/Camel%20ye%20faithful.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1136" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAjzfGhLJoHXzsATFMTeE_KBgR_igYFFRIKZLL90lMm-zg7dzB4MwkPsuND8QaUnS-BtQP-O3aYVbxNsYTa9ZqPRhvhzeZoLr0AZ5THgzxi4nqg6CGY-PO4nfy_aTGMx6nCuSyFuLKBuC37psfO2rTWDRfJNKLJTET2ULtPDN-Cm68ZK2t4t70w/s320/Camel%20ye%20faithful.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>As ever, a massive thank you to everyone who sent us a Christmas card. If it wasn't featured in the post, I can promise you it was very much appreciated.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-39543350298956065472024-01-08T21:55:00.003+00:002024-02-25T20:39:53.392+00:00Pethau Hen (a poem)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm trying to be a little bit braver in 2024, and put some more of my creative stuff 'out there'. I know this blog doesn't have the biggest readership, but I'm starting here. This poem is called Pethau Hen, which means 'old things' in Cymraeg.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGg6h2GHOweY7-h-SacmZjNWocTG4lIhQQlf7ApD-WQqhylkytCs0EXWschRPVy4jv123mYYiXUmlJ5TbgSHbbTD6bJCG8BAliYp-2wCHBYOiTNJYjcW4HUr07xZieAbDVAC_KIF_MaEMjxOcW7KrJe0f2mIu2sXJ7KciGSF-q8IRWzKl32wrVvw/s3568/20190909_191058.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="3568" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGg6h2GHOweY7-h-SacmZjNWocTG4lIhQQlf7ApD-WQqhylkytCs0EXWschRPVy4jv123mYYiXUmlJ5TbgSHbbTD6bJCG8BAliYp-2wCHBYOiTNJYjcW4HUr07xZieAbDVAC_KIF_MaEMjxOcW7KrJe0f2mIu2sXJ7KciGSF-q8IRWzKl32wrVvw/s320/20190909_191058.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mist-topped mountains in the Nantlle valley</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i>My mind slips to the </i>pethau hen</p><p><i>The old things d</i><i>rawn in stone rings</i></p><p><i>Not a case of where, but when...</i></p><p><br /></p><p>Whisper me the secrets the sacred mountains keep</p><p>The ragged cragged nooks where the dragons sleep</p><p>Hills where tragic princes raised their broken forts</p><p>And clouds grant gloomful cover to wild faerie courts</p><p><br /></p><p>Capture and interpret the turgid burbles of the brooks</p><p>Catch those corner glimpses that retreat from second looks</p><p>Dig up the bones of giants who left nothing but their graves</p><p>And greet the gladiators hiding in the waves</p><p><br /></p><p>Take me where the gulls cry death on the pebble shore</p><p>The mesmerising skyline as flat as it is raw</p><p>Give me reason to believe and grieve the driven <i>pethau hen</i></p><p>And call them near to meet me in the cold redemptive rain</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-21166117019216341462024-01-03T19:09:00.002+00:002024-01-03T19:09:22.899+00:00Snack of the month - cola pop...corn?<p>I tried this snack last month, before Christmas. But it's still on sale in B&M if you want to try a bag yourself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZhwoNAeSJk1u9vc9VC1Vbr9jw9qxEk-VJcfDntxkRjd68LtSyPifydGDiWwe6uiVok9sAsFxpfN2oUFoXWrE-O3KQpOmb6Ec9nWnfrX17ERqMmOQIda6cs2G41UUFMOsTAluNkUUU4ZuP19_jLzYbmYABFQYpngAm9Sn4vNl5vqhIIhglejuDg/s2637/20231215_211638.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2637" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZhwoNAeSJk1u9vc9VC1Vbr9jw9qxEk-VJcfDntxkRjd68LtSyPifydGDiWwe6uiVok9sAsFxpfN2oUFoXWrE-O3KQpOmb6Ec9nWnfrX17ERqMmOQIda6cs2G41UUFMOsTAluNkUUU4ZuP19_jLzYbmYABFQYpngAm9Sn4vNl5vqhIIhglejuDg/s320/20231215_211638.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br /><p>There is a trend now for stretching confectionery brands across other products to take advantage of brand recognition and customer loyalty. Chupa Chups isn't a brand I'd have thought would have a high amount of either but the manufacturer obviously thought differently. </p><p>The popcorn had a decent crunch with the cola flavouring adding a thin sugary coating to it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizD7ejSVIQTCJLa1rVIKBcjUEaWErPcuSiI2sqby6NXpHkmMFmvsiW-m2NA62R3kHpEHbesLm4Ux9Hxgn15pqqEIXFYJs_TSvlecqalNf3_IA0ZkpzsRnE1RmJjnV_3DfnUmFKbH5uzFTodTNjHlmCpw_mQNPi8P_xeyyIKLxV9pl8O5A2m6TS-Q/s2232/20231215_211808.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2232" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizD7ejSVIQTCJLa1rVIKBcjUEaWErPcuSiI2sqby6NXpHkmMFmvsiW-m2NA62R3kHpEHbesLm4Ux9Hxgn15pqqEIXFYJs_TSvlecqalNf3_IA0ZkpzsRnE1RmJjnV_3DfnUmFKbH5uzFTodTNjHlmCpw_mQNPi8P_xeyyIKLxV9pl8O5A2m6TS-Q/s320/20231215_211808.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO00doaksHRj6tZJpEnlkVU-QYDM0CUif6r8_NuQa-xMxPHyq1JY8mV-wTbXQkiWjm7L4bI9_Cd6sLfYcSCsbkntJixbCq9JEGxXD1wjzI51bVSC20CGrvJLuv2EVoQpn8-BuBGnLlSKS0iFNJOEXAE1mqOkL87Qc-5QyDhyphenhyphenLbavpr1slUsWa54w/s2147/20231215_211813.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2147" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO00doaksHRj6tZJpEnlkVU-QYDM0CUif6r8_NuQa-xMxPHyq1JY8mV-wTbXQkiWjm7L4bI9_Cd6sLfYcSCsbkntJixbCq9JEGxXD1wjzI51bVSC20CGrvJLuv2EVoQpn8-BuBGnLlSKS0iFNJOEXAE1mqOkL87Qc-5QyDhyphenhyphenLbavpr1slUsWa54w/s320/20231215_211813.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><p>It tasted like cola bottle sweets rather than a fizzy syrupy drink. I thought it had quite a pleasant taste although the high sugar content means I probably won't buy it again.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-4356351366407576332024-01-02T12:00:00.002+00:002024-01-02T12:00:59.196+00:00And that was 2023... a recap of a busy year<p>I normally write my annual reviews on a month by month basis but this year have decided to recap it in thematic chunks...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCZ-13IyTUv85f0ApeX65mBx2EZglrBSj2SZ2e80jgJXCNqDGrU-7xq0t2jyctZHscfkqSJu5X1gxZvpGwtqeZLEH7SP1j0dMh6tY17zM58mOri25lWJ1ma3TjX39Xv6yMjktEN3obiqvv1-ekbAW8PMo_0tSwhbl5FewhhUiy4KAEkg58SLgNw/s3596/Image-173.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2760" data-original-width="3596" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCZ-13IyTUv85f0ApeX65mBx2EZglrBSj2SZ2e80jgJXCNqDGrU-7xq0t2jyctZHscfkqSJu5X1gxZvpGwtqeZLEH7SP1j0dMh6tY17zM58mOri25lWJ1ma3TjX39Xv6yMjktEN3obiqvv1-ekbAW8PMo_0tSwhbl5FewhhUiy4KAEkg58SLgNw/s320/Image-173.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Life events</h3><p>We celebrated our <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/10/recap-of-month-september-2023.html" target="_blank">Silver Wedding Anniversary in September</a></u></b> with family and friends. We had a very enjoyable time and are grateful to everyone who travelled to be with us on the day. </p><p>For the second year in a row <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/08/recap-of-month-july-2023.html" target="_blank">I started a new job</a></u></b>. After 13 years working in the NHS, I applied for and was offered a role working for Diabetes UK. It was a frenetic start, landing in the middle of a rebranding operation for the programme! Highly enjoyable, though. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMtSm2gDJIVnR3wP_OEizICyoGNcWZtd9EG4_HmVywA4cYKXRrkim7eynQ1eIwEmxOYLKBEFr5DmaFawDVZk8qcZVn3iBBU-3BWeHQclwuntLVjdQphh5OPU8VcYXV2LtIukzYgiB4nvnMGnYYRY2Ee7ng1_1EK0InHSKosJdZPx8FBfCVSrKIw/s1600/IMG-20230929-WA0013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMtSm2gDJIVnR3wP_OEizICyoGNcWZtd9EG4_HmVywA4cYKXRrkim7eynQ1eIwEmxOYLKBEFr5DmaFawDVZk8qcZVn3iBBU-3BWeHQclwuntLVjdQphh5OPU8VcYXV2LtIukzYgiB4nvnMGnYYRY2Ee7ng1_1EK0InHSKosJdZPx8FBfCVSrKIw/s320/IMG-20230929-WA0013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>There have been a couple of sad moments as well. Our friend Colin passed away in February and we went to his memorial service in Haddenham. In September I went to Leeds for the memorial for <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/09/snack-of-month-in-memory-of-margot.html" target="_blank">my friend and former colleague, Margot</a></u></b>. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Holidays</h3><p>This year Cathy and I had our first ever trip to <b><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/10/disneyland-paris.html" target="_blank">DisneyLand Paris</a></b>. I followed it up with a <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/11/recap-of-month-october-2023.html" target="_blank">weekend in Hartlepool</a></u></b>. We also had two week-long holidays in North Wales - in <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/07/wythnos-yn-yr-gogledd-mehefin-2023.html" target="_blank">July</a></u></b> and in <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/11/wythnos-yn-yr-gogledd-tachwedd-2023.html" target="_blank">November</a></u></b> and a <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/04/a-week-in-worcestershire.html" target="_blank">week in Worcestershire</a></u></b> in April that included a day on the <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/04/birthday-number-47-at-severn-valley.html" target="_blank">Severn Valley Railway on my birthday</a></u></b>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ssbOCioJZ7rjDUNHwW5h5xMtZXuEPYY4v1Jp2nBk0Q_d_SB_EsL5-pao9uvaTvW0WnrYwP0QiFPDtHcsRkJHXCS27AGJSUsZ7YknBJPHXZgmJ-f4x8PUsLuhMw1RwfyClCUmoPe5dYFp405SPQ35nd5fMyW1_kNghoX-x2vYt5DQvDp5sTtwgw/s3315/IMG_0743.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3315" data-original-width="2761" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ssbOCioJZ7rjDUNHwW5h5xMtZXuEPYY4v1Jp2nBk0Q_d_SB_EsL5-pao9uvaTvW0WnrYwP0QiFPDtHcsRkJHXCS27AGJSUsZ7YknBJPHXZgmJ-f4x8PUsLuhMw1RwfyClCUmoPe5dYFp405SPQ35nd5fMyW1_kNghoX-x2vYt5DQvDp5sTtwgw/s320/IMG_0743.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVkv9UNH5ZnUzHmjgyN3UJgCW5LxJwQJ3McsFxjEJUgDzoa_MshCqZTcxFl6MbepyPVuNYiSfkBkbOFEBGzaJx3pGTYpsVVQycMRcbcDr2asD9YN9oDdXqklYhU4oTh2EFCBZ9kRey1aakrpCSkMs2HQ7hGb4znwJEYepFfVd9FS3ZAZoyWVSEw/s4777/IMG_0966.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3146" data-original-width="4777" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVkv9UNH5ZnUzHmjgyN3UJgCW5LxJwQJ3McsFxjEJUgDzoa_MshCqZTcxFl6MbepyPVuNYiSfkBkbOFEBGzaJx3pGTYpsVVQycMRcbcDr2asD9YN9oDdXqklYhU4oTh2EFCBZ9kRey1aakrpCSkMs2HQ7hGb4znwJEYepFfVd9FS3ZAZoyWVSEw/s320/IMG_0966.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihF1YgQHMleq4z12OmfzLJsZ8gwxuyedDx0cV9pVfKhwrLeUGlvw7_NX97uzBSpplVY8tKZwVaCYPj_dGn1e9rvBrqQTyDd2LHmw1vwXob7POpSxZ-mM_n7KV3X7poYqyN6cyGJfRYNyBF39uxNdKtOHYAgrjk6kBAXwyVvwORbeR0wkf4o2079w/s4509/IMG_0479.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3015" data-original-width="4509" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihF1YgQHMleq4z12OmfzLJsZ8gwxuyedDx0cV9pVfKhwrLeUGlvw7_NX97uzBSpplVY8tKZwVaCYPj_dGn1e9rvBrqQTyDd2LHmw1vwXob7POpSxZ-mM_n7KV3X7poYqyN6cyGJfRYNyBF39uxNdKtOHYAgrjk6kBAXwyVvwORbeR0wkf4o2079w/s320/IMG_0479.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdiITZTrEeABg-0KCzH8B1PoptM_TwdhotQLsoDt7f8ZMRCR8OldADQUtA7SsgWUnrQA_awLjrh0iwUY40MUBOQowNiw7fnWWr22EPi-Sgvpm8R-e3F8UgMX5bEK9n7MR6JDCeAgxg8CNN5UtXlwT6VWl1QOBcqwMu__forTKMZCi-SVeK50hOw/s4235/IMG_0225.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3124" data-original-width="4235" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdiITZTrEeABg-0KCzH8B1PoptM_TwdhotQLsoDt7f8ZMRCR8OldADQUtA7SsgWUnrQA_awLjrh0iwUY40MUBOQowNiw7fnWWr22EPi-Sgvpm8R-e3F8UgMX5bEK9n7MR6JDCeAgxg8CNN5UtXlwT6VWl1QOBcqwMu__forTKMZCi-SVeK50hOw/s320/IMG_0225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Football</h3><p>I went to 62 games in 2023 - you can read more detail in the <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/12/football-recap-december-2023-and-rest.html?m=1" target="_blank">recap post</a></u></b>. I saw Barry Town win two cup finals and get promoted before the end of April. I did my first ever live radio commentary, in Caernarfon in <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/12/football-recap-november-2023.html" target="_blank">November</a></u></b>. And I went to Oxford, Ipswich, Peterborough, Derby, Leeds and Nottingham to watch Shrewsbury Town. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAXU3Rupjxhc1BqHKEBDn3aNd3VEESOq6NWHM_Wvx8540ipWz-yLV5I337zMBGqcF_rFoJ07Cu1nNj2l0WbBKhK6G_BPtAuhQ3PucsV-Y4EEnnqqHIzaNsb07nJ-Vgq7YaG0xp-eJhGqKNHAHMCGV-E7bBVF98DuDGwpWHDrgwXGuxcyjc_xlIw/s2486/20230916_145652.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="2486" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAXU3Rupjxhc1BqHKEBDn3aNd3VEESOq6NWHM_Wvx8540ipWz-yLV5I337zMBGqcF_rFoJ07Cu1nNj2l0WbBKhK6G_BPtAuhQ3PucsV-Y4EEnnqqHIzaNsb07nJ-Vgq7YaG0xp-eJhGqKNHAHMCGV-E7bBVF98DuDGwpWHDrgwXGuxcyjc_xlIw/s320/20230916_145652.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBhbWFpFJV9TElofmkvMIH_Ur5mtXfxGwbuRbb7KRATfY9KNwNs5c6Two4INlGSR2ItZTkfvM2RnJn50jiPcXeqknpOfQGznaZypfF6Xm-ehVCi28EhkA6mJOh6CWGCzGMIIg5FYpsKUcSLkShOzEgQmq6To3ihkp2LvH6rSO6cCBx5UfALJ0Cw/s2651/20230901_200417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2651" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBhbWFpFJV9TElofmkvMIH_Ur5mtXfxGwbuRbb7KRATfY9KNwNs5c6Two4INlGSR2ItZTkfvM2RnJn50jiPcXeqknpOfQGznaZypfF6Xm-ehVCi28EhkA6mJOh6CWGCzGMIIg5FYpsKUcSLkShOzEgQmq6To3ihkp2LvH6rSO6cCBx5UfALJ0Cw/s320/20230901_200417.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Culture</h3><p>My plan to read a book a month fell to the wayside, but I've read more this year than I have since before the pandemic. The one gig I went to this year was <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/07/bastille-at-castle.html" target="_blank">Bastille at Cardiff Castle</a></u></b>. I watched my friend Rhys in his <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/08/theatre-review-keenor-original-bluebird.html" target="_blank">one man play about Fred Keenor</a></u></b>, the captain of the Cardiff City team that won the FA Cup in 1927. I've seen a few films but realise now that I didn't blog about any of them, particularly. I think the best cinema outing was seeing one of my all time favourite films, <i>The Nightmare Before Christmas</i>, back on the big screen as part of its 30 anniversary release. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBptjMyykuxCJoGgmWqwQZEW_mOqZfssXLa7UemKTYWT1D-oftZX9djPDfUuLCZ0ZAdE00OPx68hmS01G-GMlBEbByet_x66kCHTg7uBhpCEqiinSobxAOoeq7Ff3zVNupLgDg2UuBBqW8qqOlC0CcajK_L_WKw0zXhDiX-KkMJ2Iydhb7CVOuuA/s1695/IMG-20230823-WA0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1695" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBptjMyykuxCJoGgmWqwQZEW_mOqZfssXLa7UemKTYWT1D-oftZX9djPDfUuLCZ0ZAdE00OPx68hmS01G-GMlBEbByet_x66kCHTg7uBhpCEqiinSobxAOoeq7Ff3zVNupLgDg2UuBBqW8qqOlC0CcajK_L_WKw0zXhDiX-KkMJ2Iydhb7CVOuuA/s320/IMG-20230823-WA0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UGwqstoV-ivTebU5RW54qEHUKtpaEtcYak0Xx3OkkpNJxZKcGMVddX_3UfWRI2pDO9vjno_Y-HH4E0119TtQ71utAOIvSPMkOYzS9Hxa6noTTYzzN-DvbiROaTvTKNnB9uz2IF4uwXhlD5B4plezNUAmwO5LMZ8NooMP6w9DCx5X-33iwz8kFA/s1751/IMG-20230823-WA0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1751" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UGwqstoV-ivTebU5RW54qEHUKtpaEtcYak0Xx3OkkpNJxZKcGMVddX_3UfWRI2pDO9vjno_Y-HH4E0119TtQ71utAOIvSPMkOYzS9Hxa6noTTYzzN-DvbiROaTvTKNnB9uz2IF4uwXhlD5B4plezNUAmwO5LMZ8NooMP6w9DCx5X-33iwz8kFA/s320/IMG-20230823-WA0002.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdtazDjvlecdsbaYpOy13APyXEHiGjTbbhK76wU-XHziifz87iyqzVFnQI08kQkbV9xwTosCchIa3v2r2gsBnAlalxL7UAi88Qq24v3xkNNzBvdrCWUjszUz2c8m0IHgEbzuLPTGfvUMyJS5MRg5QsWq4_RPXGLvDFw2iEElBv-zEK-bcf0DGCA/s3288/20230823_212532.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="3288" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdtazDjvlecdsbaYpOy13APyXEHiGjTbbhK76wU-XHziifz87iyqzVFnQI08kQkbV9xwTosCchIa3v2r2gsBnAlalxL7UAi88Qq24v3xkNNzBvdrCWUjszUz2c8m0IHgEbzuLPTGfvUMyJS5MRg5QsWq4_RPXGLvDFw2iEElBv-zEK-bcf0DGCA/s320/20230823_212532.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I'm not a big believer in New Year's resolutions, but I'd be happy for 2024 to be as full of good times as 2023 was. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-86088183597930495112024-01-01T12:04:00.007+00:002024-01-01T12:08:53.894+00:00Recap of the month - December 2023<p>The final month of 2023 was relatively football-lite, although it started with a trip to Nottingham to watch Shrewsbury play Notts County. I went with my friend Paul, who is a Nottingham lad, so was able to show me around the city centre before the game. I got to see the statues of Brian Clough and Robin Hood, both of them much mythologised heroes in the city. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvS3ElqDEJ1VT757jVkhTqtNgXq7alaQ99y7rSuEzaksMUu5tStrxIKJMowja7UVXjvawM6fy7gnYzz5kYPMNqPlTRQqCet4UHHLrNKti3TRKUPvl7CwxldegKQTWi1x0CMjt_MIERESzP98-k2Yz7TEsXTJC5zxn-IpGCrLIg_gfPwEJImjHGZQ/s3139/20231201_152621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3139" data-original-width="2074" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvS3ElqDEJ1VT757jVkhTqtNgXq7alaQ99y7rSuEzaksMUu5tStrxIKJMowja7UVXjvawM6fy7gnYzz5kYPMNqPlTRQqCet4UHHLrNKti3TRKUPvl7CwxldegKQTWi1x0CMjt_MIERESzP98-k2Yz7TEsXTJC5zxn-IpGCrLIg_gfPwEJImjHGZQ/s320/20231201_152621.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2U7Xmyrkd-83WO9hW5BhlFdXtUutKTJSsvHbaFVtQD_Oq_FbPj-JZmk3egqf_99NWqnjjb08Xv7FMNBU0eg6FUi38suI7mrqD8h-U0hr_xn05Oq5YCf4YDQ_TeP146qEwyic7Ky6BGUncLenHc7q3Hjqsu7DFcDb2c9gYRjCYeIb_fGixecAHA/s3191/20231201_161749.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3191" data-original-width="2364" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2U7Xmyrkd-83WO9hW5BhlFdXtUutKTJSsvHbaFVtQD_Oq_FbPj-JZmk3egqf_99NWqnjjb08Xv7FMNBU0eg6FUi38suI7mrqD8h-U0hr_xn05Oq5YCf4YDQ_TeP146qEwyic7Ky6BGUncLenHc7q3Hjqsu7DFcDb2c9gYRjCYeIb_fGixecAHA/s320/20231201_161749.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><br /><p>Before the game I also met Chris, who I've known from an online forum for a while. We were meant to meet up at the end of August when Brentford played Newport County, but I got on the only train heading east from Cardiff that didn't stop in Newport so didn't meet him then. Happily, a few months later there were no such transport mishaps and we were able to finally meet in real life. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoe-SalmjqEK9VgPPCfnQNULvQDTs40PEjkUsnMzCIE69p2ZBwtzCmVFbJe-DPSysX1kBjRrrW2mELJk9UMNJ7m1Mbm-TEVT6WaBmycZW0-DObxQ36NuN4fUhNIIfEvBqn-H_E5t9ZN-b49SV1QWQiJcKRmNAsEfkSZuXf6TwVs9CUCIwhFwvbA/s2548/20231201_192322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2447" data-original-width="2548" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoe-SalmjqEK9VgPPCfnQNULvQDTs40PEjkUsnMzCIE69p2ZBwtzCmVFbJe-DPSysX1kBjRrrW2mELJk9UMNJ7m1Mbm-TEVT6WaBmycZW0-DObxQ36NuN4fUhNIIfEvBqn-H_E5t9ZN-b49SV1QWQiJcKRmNAsEfkSZuXf6TwVs9CUCIwhFwvbA/s320/20231201_192322.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The next Saturday I was helping to deliver a workshop in London, at the Diabetes UK HQ. It was an enjoyable, creative day and well worth getting on a train at 7.42am on a Saturday! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUj-ZRRZzhZXFfM7di_ixbFFM38vxsgIyx4E-TS_zEt71qSat9S04zqwI7NWbN3b65_82Vd9YZ2X2qOSrbbMRYTvaNNEzACyAgLXtpLeQIWskdLhmm5C63j41CEenPEXra6loQoDAEeKq1QP5wG0-t2rgaNDndGPNIAU5Qh5hJXJAen1m62sYyg/s2943/20231209_075128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2943" data-original-width="2556" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUj-ZRRZzhZXFfM7di_ixbFFM38vxsgIyx4E-TS_zEt71qSat9S04zqwI7NWbN3b65_82Vd9YZ2X2qOSrbbMRYTvaNNEzACyAgLXtpLeQIWskdLhmm5C63j41CEenPEXra6loQoDAEeKq1QP5wG0-t2rgaNDndGPNIAU5Qh5hJXJAen1m62sYyg/s320/20231209_075128.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><p>I put this work trip to good use and booked a late train home so I could meet my friend Gawain for a meal before coming home.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcVjkzGiQM4pQIPYDnZBLDz7lORDSWY7TfkLsokNDD9BTHPDzn2UikGBwEilHdQNSIlKpnx7ubRGEii9PRPfqmpTy-Yl3ymTKTqDjxZRrwSOf6g5wsCuAiWPq0ppU-jePd7DRrzoMgtoYFREg0GyFHfeLaEa7xIBdbL9jMnukz-tWmyqW1WwkXw/s3135/20231209_194101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="3135" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcVjkzGiQM4pQIPYDnZBLDz7lORDSWY7TfkLsokNDD9BTHPDzn2UikGBwEilHdQNSIlKpnx7ubRGEii9PRPfqmpTy-Yl3ymTKTqDjxZRrwSOf6g5wsCuAiWPq0ppU-jePd7DRrzoMgtoYFREg0GyFHfeLaEa7xIBdbL9jMnukz-tWmyqW1WwkXw/s320/20231209_194101.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I've known Gawain for a few years now. He is my main source of baseball cards for my collection. We have had several virtual chats about baseball, collecting cards, and loads of other stuff. But this was another first time meeting up in person. We went to Passyunk, which is an American sports bar transplanted from Philadelphia to London. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKd6CHvY5WRwvjTBw2yAJhSsOeMS3xVlXPpPbl02lSlMkvvNDIXo6N3-ca6T9CPGJIxfhdPXS7PzVyP7FZ_IHZldx5xOPiKGpt87WwZU304Abl6FaStQK-5dv6MZ1E5TQYYuA-wpWN_nLhumIVgVpj31V8w9cqhZB68hVaWRZ7guaRvEH3VdkFA/s2152/20231209_164144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2152" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKd6CHvY5WRwvjTBw2yAJhSsOeMS3xVlXPpPbl02lSlMkvvNDIXo6N3-ca6T9CPGJIxfhdPXS7PzVyP7FZ_IHZldx5xOPiKGpt87WwZU304Abl6FaStQK-5dv6MZ1E5TQYYuA-wpWN_nLhumIVgVpj31V8w9cqhZB68hVaWRZ7guaRvEH3VdkFA/s320/20231209_164144.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlZhGoVWkhH2gsm4YX8_vnOlr6vFT2vhZSy1AazRv83PZz1fWGLBqz-A8rYM7lMYc43MwZv8FCXS5h1TKbpqQwYyzJbTKkOz0waZNmIyjp4fRI1wbbSIGORPE6v-Lc64hkQRXS95uZEag-mM46dgs3-0DwvMnBe-C0vkzABiT-fTYrKn35I6kHw/s2857/20231209_164229.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2857" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlZhGoVWkhH2gsm4YX8_vnOlr6vFT2vhZSy1AazRv83PZz1fWGLBqz-A8rYM7lMYc43MwZv8FCXS5h1TKbpqQwYyzJbTKkOz0waZNmIyjp4fRI1wbbSIGORPE6v-Lc64hkQRXS95uZEag-mM46dgs3-0DwvMnBe-C0vkzABiT-fTYrKn35I6kHw/s320/20231209_164229.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><p>I ran a risk and wore one of my Padres shirts to meet up - the owner told me it was OK to wear anything except a Patriots shirt. No chance of that...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0c0XwXsEg8FpV8hFLTIQlya6DsQm1zAuFuQk9ikl23oogLuelblDQYHUo91k74EuRa01jHRfmASO9mMcUCOT5qbJpkVqEbcKmdD4PmY8gOYBGHCT3Xj1B_2ZliQbAs1Qn4ON1vFMuyTVWmElVd18cDK-ZaIIN3pt0_SJ6COAE4CDvOxb33jnYKw/s3330/20231209_194225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="3330" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0c0XwXsEg8FpV8hFLTIQlya6DsQm1zAuFuQk9ikl23oogLuelblDQYHUo91k74EuRa01jHRfmASO9mMcUCOT5qbJpkVqEbcKmdD4PmY8gOYBGHCT3Xj1B_2ZliQbAs1Qn4ON1vFMuyTVWmElVd18cDK-ZaIIN3pt0_SJ6COAE4CDvOxb33jnYKw/s320/20231209_194225.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>For various reasons, including my travelling schedule and Cathy's health, we went for a restrained Christmas. The tree stayed in the loft but we still had plenty of decorations and Christmas stuff around, including 5 advent calendars. My favourite was the Star Wars Droid Factory calendar, which gave you the parts every day to assemble droids in festive colours. These were the first two assembled:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm66OsEEzx0AeIn8vreZzzp9lj0yVciJIkuG0T5-YtAy2XalFn3Q6EIZttnumaLbLdCwm9Fyy0e2RD-9QzRlI9OTUyhApKckTjCiVhIAKC22MFJGO8O2lFKhag8x9RILl60R-2Bla39Et4fhKGOP3H0c4DaBmYI-HWj8CPgO95g1_GCORwmasZCA/s1430/IMG_20231216_232838_341.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="1430" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm66OsEEzx0AeIn8vreZzzp9lj0yVciJIkuG0T5-YtAy2XalFn3Q6EIZttnumaLbLdCwm9Fyy0e2RD-9QzRlI9OTUyhApKckTjCiVhIAKC22MFJGO8O2lFKhag8x9RILl60R-2Bla39Et4fhKGOP3H0c4DaBmYI-HWj8CPgO95g1_GCORwmasZCA/s320/IMG_20231216_232838_341.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We saw friends and family in the run up to Christmas, focusing more on those connections than decorations. We had some mayhem with small children and a relaxing time meeting Cathy's uncle and aunt in Monmouth.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83Q7hZExMvA-rMe_lb5ajHwAI4mHGmXkxbinmvxcQH-OeXSqC8oO5Kr8K5H0RJiqMjDo8BXsb8BGMrlQCOAQ8cb-c3Fyhg3VoQZeD6mENpI7j-EkS25N_4EbDi_vgKHrTuJJlJfwZU39EtNueCfR1IeDS9PeX4pok7iJ7SwU-QGX1JgN19Oirnw/s2794/20231223_114406.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2794" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83Q7hZExMvA-rMe_lb5ajHwAI4mHGmXkxbinmvxcQH-OeXSqC8oO5Kr8K5H0RJiqMjDo8BXsb8BGMrlQCOAQ8cb-c3Fyhg3VoQZeD6mENpI7j-EkS25N_4EbDi_vgKHrTuJJlJfwZU39EtNueCfR1IeDS9PeX4pok7iJ7SwU-QGX1JgN19Oirnw/s320/20231223_114406.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Awesome R2-D2 card from Connor</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>For Christmas itself, we went to Shrewsbury. We travelled up the day before Christmas Eve and came home the day after Boxing Day. I went with my brother to the Midnight Communion service in the local Anglican Church on Christmas Eve (via the pub!) and we had Christmas dinner with my mum (and Fred the dog). </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3FTT_e4uc8C62iFuppY3ZuE8stX66y9mPzdth-B9DAMPsYKv6hIN-3HMEgCBwRVHI-jO5ABo7dEzQ8dP1GhmygcIOywjlzGeypH4jLEbxaoGO5H8DUE7JpkUuKF2Ub3BsYCjtpyGGO8yqdawNkoLPLcWc0iqqtGaedqrWeFZD2itqqC7VyS3tA/s1481/IMG-20231225-WA0008.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1481" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3FTT_e4uc8C62iFuppY3ZuE8stX66y9mPzdth-B9DAMPsYKv6hIN-3HMEgCBwRVHI-jO5ABo7dEzQ8dP1GhmygcIOywjlzGeypH4jLEbxaoGO5H8DUE7JpkUuKF2Ub3BsYCjtpyGGO8yqdawNkoLPLcWc0iqqtGaedqrWeFZD2itqqC7VyS3tA/s320/IMG-20231225-WA0008.jpg" width="243" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo and filter by Cathy</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>On Boxing Day my sister and brother-in-law drove down from Edinburgh for the day with their family so we got to see all the nieces and nephews. It was a lovely time together.</p><p>Coming back to Cardiff with a few days spare before New Year meant we had some time to unwind. We went to see <i>Wonka</i> at the cinema with our friends Bryan and Elaine. I think it was only the 6th film I'd seen at the cinema all year. We also had a day trip to Oxford to see another friend, so I have chalked up a few miles in the final month of the year.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-72746602483420227952023-12-31T17:21:00.002+00:002023-12-31T17:21:45.367+00:00Football recap - December 2023 and the rest of 2023!<p>I made it to just one game in December, on the very first day...</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Game 32: Notts County 2-3 Shrewsbury Town</h3><p><b>Reason for going: </b>When Shrewsbury were drawn away at Notts County in the FA Cup, my Nott-supporting friend Paul said we had to go! So we did. </p><p><b>Point of interest:</b> Ryan Bowman scored a hat-trick after three woeful defensive errors that became memes for how bad they were. The first goal came after a Notts defender just fell over instead of clearing the ball. It was very hard to cheer the goal because I was laughing so hard. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1MNkSHKPZrZgMN70gfU-Hqki2x4X7G66WS04VWc_T9H4BCkV05Ga7UgXjJjCtLnDeKzU2B-9iqdmZCL3JixwvWYbV9dhBELJvIL8TdJy54aeGdUHeVkIak7MZ1PidZ4gmK_UoV3qvnQl6FpMdW2ngU7UWq8dWg5GNLkl2hzpiY8PjpvE9INnBQ/s1800/20231201_172555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="1800" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1MNkSHKPZrZgMN70gfU-Hqki2x4X7G66WS04VWc_T9H4BCkV05Ga7UgXjJjCtLnDeKzU2B-9iqdmZCL3JixwvWYbV9dhBELJvIL8TdJy54aeGdUHeVkIak7MZ1PidZ4gmK_UoV3qvnQl6FpMdW2ngU7UWq8dWg5GNLkl2hzpiY8PjpvE9INnBQ/s320/20231201_172555.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTnDbde_T-yA3uN6ykz0x4kNmaBXCAwHNcQmRocD9jdXJhth-0F30q8Nuz6sIKpqHqkmpTwSMUX_BlfVJJIKO2V6i-aQKUV2c7s2f937t4sNWXU0SDcCDzayhgZTHni8TIVsBw3XYVY_c-iMuwf3zwnCh1-LGxpHPQ1BDkgWDXn9EF3nOTCdfkg/s2337/20231201_210917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2337" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTnDbde_T-yA3uN6ykz0x4kNmaBXCAwHNcQmRocD9jdXJhth-0F30q8Nuz6sIKpqHqkmpTwSMUX_BlfVJJIKO2V6i-aQKUV2c7s2f937t4sNWXU0SDcCDzayhgZTHni8TIVsBw3XYVY_c-iMuwf3zwnCh1-LGxpHPQ1BDkgWDXn9EF3nOTCdfkg/s320/20231201_210917.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And then the fixtures conspired against me for the rest of the month. On Saturday the 9th I was working. Barry Town's home game on the 16th got swapped for an away game. I was driving up to Shrewsbury on the 23rd but getting there in time for Shrewsbury's home game was a bit too much, logistically. Shrewsbury weren't playing at home on Boxing Day. And then on the last Saturday of the year I had other plans. So, that means December 2023 is a one game month!</p><p>Despite the low tally of games for December, 2023 as a whole calendar year has actually set a new record for me. I went to 62 games since my first game of the year on the 2nd January at Llantwit Major. </p><p>Futbology has given me a handy summary</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLRZfq-Q02EPo-Aqlu0-rPM_71T4G6Cp4KHXqhTwUNlYCWSM43Yc8OxC9CAR8y9RcFIL78aW0NWzhQIDOcomrR34ca9zHaepwMGWJTvHMXBchXKUcuczSvqJowIBM9SImLGXXMMZ6p8O_oNtcluSuqmuCKlNaxOnpXeI29aWw7_s7ox-65qjSqg/s1657/Screenshot_20231230_231523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1657" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLRZfq-Q02EPo-Aqlu0-rPM_71T4G6Cp4KHXqhTwUNlYCWSM43Yc8OxC9CAR8y9RcFIL78aW0NWzhQIDOcomrR34ca9zHaepwMGWJTvHMXBchXKUcuczSvqJowIBM9SImLGXXMMZ6p8O_oNtcluSuqmuCKlNaxOnpXeI29aWw7_s7ox-65qjSqg/s320/Screenshot_20231230_231523.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br /><p>Futbology also produces a map showing all the new grounds I visited in 2023. There were a lot in Port Talbot, but I got a decent spread of football grounds across England as well.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ftBOBaZdmxcT7e0Uym6ap5tTwPZC6K1FLMWGmz3cjfX6EYGBgCm6Jl1_66so_y3hYPyB6yCYheIVHO5WuNRZEbmkwwbgJRX8ukBRQ_cCpsZL0Zl6gqp-yiWpswPtewa28A6T5grJFyAcDF5Ppnur2TC5JtrUA2TxDEyBUbOmx0vNGthxk9nIdA/s1080/Screenshot_20231231_171840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="977" data-original-width="1080" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ftBOBaZdmxcT7e0Uym6ap5tTwPZC6K1FLMWGmz3cjfX6EYGBgCm6Jl1_66so_y3hYPyB6yCYheIVHO5WuNRZEbmkwwbgJRX8ukBRQ_cCpsZL0Zl6gqp-yiWpswPtewa28A6T5grJFyAcDF5Ppnur2TC5JtrUA2TxDEyBUbOmx0vNGthxk9nIdA/s320/Screenshot_20231231_171840.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7A6j-d5Lh_UrCmsEZlYDEtKxkGJYdacH6w1rMHT7AYDzK4vCTl0_nbOvOU-aCSnqo-rGEo87oD60hhAHQkGXAtWUfUPVM9mMLc3TpVA9nVflRvK_A53jz-ZFKymnDF1eJ0mp7MaDh47qS9sp8O00IvUgZa1-NY7BwBlQXhCahDL0Sfwi0qwJ41w/s1506/Screenshot_20231230_231635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1506" data-original-width="1076" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7A6j-d5Lh_UrCmsEZlYDEtKxkGJYdacH6w1rMHT7AYDzK4vCTl0_nbOvOU-aCSnqo-rGEo87oD60hhAHQkGXAtWUfUPVM9mMLc3TpVA9nVflRvK_A53jz-ZFKymnDF1eJ0mp7MaDh47qS9sp8O00IvUgZa1-NY7BwBlQXhCahDL0Sfwi0qwJ41w/s320/Screenshot_20231230_231635.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><p>As I am the kind of nerd who dissects his football attendance data, I have a breakdown of the games I have been to as monthly totals. This past year I set new monthly records for February (8 games), May (6), July (7) and September (5). I also equalled previous records in March and November (both 5 games). </p><p>If I equalled all the monthly records in 2024 I would end up going to 76 games. That feels like a lot!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-56461673342955314902023-12-13T20:30:00.002+00:002023-12-13T20:33:02.760+00:00The unexpected return of Red Laser<p>My latest action figure acquisition is a brand new G.I. Joe figure issued in the Super 7 Reaction range of... Red Laser. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPc9rIYXUnYEjelVw3nZdecVP9dGWszBp1WcL7h0OFDGeGwbN6FQSmkM0_IN6KmDjLzjFY3nJuK02qNh1PFeR2LMSSZUpsJEVKwCygM7UXHsnt3U4Wkmk4RVQbuk7eCYKX3xNkwnAUB99yvPZfwIPqDfKi2OlRkxZXWAqsPOiUcXk72xazD5xrhA/s1024/9t7nd7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="754" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPc9rIYXUnYEjelVw3nZdecVP9dGWszBp1WcL7h0OFDGeGwbN6FQSmkM0_IN6KmDjLzjFY3nJuK02qNh1PFeR2LMSSZUpsJEVKwCygM7UXHsnt3U4Wkmk4RVQbuk7eCYKX3xNkwnAUB99yvPZfwIPqDfKi2OlRkxZXWAqsPOiUcXk72xazD5xrhA/s320/9t7nd7.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p>But this is no ordinary member of Cobra, the villainous terrorist organisation locked in conflict with the G.I. Joe heroes. Because Red Laser was never a member of Cobra. </p><p>Red Laser first appeared as a character in the British Action Force toyline produced by Palitoy from 1982 to 1985. He was the technical genius working for the evil Baron Ironblood who, in the British storyline, functioned as the overall commander of the forces known only as the Enemy. </p><p>Baron Ironblood gets name-checked in the data file on the back of the card...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddWSKpgYna4_UibMysFRywHoqCNdojsHAM0cXCOM1TtfE22o4x4MJ3ipbj0Kcnsc0Z9f8L6kAXmX9GmL9CZa_GsslwjH76CGXw_uEYGiD4yUWrr6_BavhfS-z3qsAe2xZnnJnaJX7hWyl2QhgJz5I3QdUzE5SJYyMOJq-MwSQGhE5PLdOEcYqvw/s2399/20231213_115132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2399" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddWSKpgYna4_UibMysFRywHoqCNdojsHAM0cXCOM1TtfE22o4x4MJ3ipbj0Kcnsc0Z9f8L6kAXmX9GmL9CZa_GsslwjH76CGXw_uEYGiD4yUWrr6_BavhfS-z3qsAe2xZnnJnaJX7hWyl2QhgJz5I3QdUzE5SJYyMOJq-MwSQGhE5PLdOEcYqvw/s320/20231213_115132.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>So what is going here? Why has this character been released as a G.I. Joe figure some 40 years later?</p><p>Well, back in the early 80s, Palitoy became a subsidiary of Hasbro. In addition to figures, vehicles and playsets designed in the UK, it also had access to Hasbro's production lines in other parts of the world. </p><p>Several G.I Joe vehicles and accessories ended up in different livery as Action Force vehicles. Some swapped sides - the Cobra FANG helicopter became an SAS attack helicopter, for example. Other vehicles received a slight tweak. </p><p>And some of those vehicles came with fully articulated figures. Most Action Force figures came with straight arms and legs. G.I. Joe figures had knee and elbow joints along with twisting waists. The Action Force articulated figures were some of those G.I. Joe figures produced in different coloured plastic. </p><p>As you can imagine, when people started collecting G.I. Joe figures, American collectors were suddenly very interested in these weird yet familiar looking characters that had been sold in the UK and Europe. Red Laser, in particular, was a red version of the Cobra Commander figure. Original Red Laser figures are now quite pricey!</p><p>The original Action Force figures and vehicles that Palitoy developed were unceremoniously dumped in 1985 with "Action Force" becoming the European name for G.I. Joe and the full range of G.I. Joe characters replacing the British-designed figures. The Enemy was replaced by Cobra and Baron Ironblood disappeared - although there was a story in the Action Force comic strip that Ironblood reinvented himself as Cobra Commander.</p><p>Hasbro has given a couple of nods to the original British toy line in recent years but this is the first time any of those characters have been released outside conventions and other exclusives.</p><p>The Super 7 toy company produces a number of "retro style" action figures under its Reaction brand. Recently Super 7 have been licensing toy lines from several different places. I'm not sure what their relationship is with Hasbro but they have acquired the rights to create some retro looking figures based on established G.I. Joe characters.</p><p>And, technically, Hasbro own the rights to all the old Action Force characters as well. In a delicious recreating of the past, Super 7 has used a different colour plastic in its mould for their Cobra Commander figure!</p><p>And in a twist, this time Red Laser is as straight-armed and straight-legged as many of the original Action Force figures he fought alongside and against. </p><p>And who knows? Maybe Red Laser's unexpected return could even herald the return of the evil Baron Ironblood himself one day!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-48762905552608693982023-12-04T18:37:00.000+00:002023-12-04T18:37:08.271+00:00Chrimbo Snack of the Month - Christmas pudding crisps<p>I really wanted to like these... I mean, I like Christmas pudding and I like crisps. So...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2VQIcIhU4U6Wzw5fH0DVZeXeTHSxWXDF3Krqg4i2qwdwAXVR-cqK5e_z4E3GXWctOCeWc-dNjSIOPwO1DEXEhquA9AKa9jWjuONtGSa-4aSKMDFW1olfjkVkhZ0g5HIvImd7-rLM-0O_6iDehiJ3dt8kRfkUaXwBx5hNRZmnGNZc8ae3VQu9lA/s2399/20231202_170349.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2399" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2VQIcIhU4U6Wzw5fH0DVZeXeTHSxWXDF3Krqg4i2qwdwAXVR-cqK5e_z4E3GXWctOCeWc-dNjSIOPwO1DEXEhquA9AKa9jWjuONtGSa-4aSKMDFW1olfjkVkhZ0g5HIvImd7-rLM-0O_6iDehiJ3dt8kRfkUaXwBx5hNRZmnGNZc8ae3VQu9lA/s320/20231202_170349.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the rationale behind the crisps.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVXKdJuMLBmGkF_chsesly9RIsOGQ6RQC8a1zFgrdUT0y6BeLNF38TzZg_488Z1i_YlcS1d6MaJ-LwSChKDp1VMrkJmAILCEKLiPf1j88Qf5sZ-Q3PoTFRMhULVEsTxKGV8fl0Vvo1kjJ5yLI-4K8k-06B_jRCyz1korqArx8b4rS3ywc4uHsfQ/s3198/20231202_170402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3198" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVXKdJuMLBmGkF_chsesly9RIsOGQ6RQC8a1zFgrdUT0y6BeLNF38TzZg_488Z1i_YlcS1d6MaJ-LwSChKDp1VMrkJmAILCEKLiPf1j88Qf5sZ-Q3PoTFRMhULVEsTxKGV8fl0Vvo1kjJ5yLI-4K8k-06B_jRCyz1korqArx8b4rS3ywc4uHsfQ/s320/20231202_170402.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And if you want to know what's in "Christmas Pudding Flavour", here you go.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsSUM0BAbt-VSl1d1mXd1Eto3cXXCyBMhhMIGDAFF1hu84Aeag4MWSHTJipF3_1_x1fwL42fLqnmQ7GMUADQ19VJ-27GAD7EDz35NkzU7bZ3GXVTBDc7NYBurfgq2H61YuDHcpvAxwscgJ341MvCzQ1mhT4L-8RBS4uyGp6BV1cbkZVBMwuBl9w/s1800/20231202_170426.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1725" data-original-width="1800" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsSUM0BAbt-VSl1d1mXd1Eto3cXXCyBMhhMIGDAFF1hu84Aeag4MWSHTJipF3_1_x1fwL42fLqnmQ7GMUADQ19VJ-27GAD7EDz35NkzU7bZ3GXVTBDc7NYBurfgq2H61YuDHcpvAxwscgJ341MvCzQ1mhT4L-8RBS4uyGp6BV1cbkZVBMwuBl9w/s320/20231202_170426.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>They look like normal crisps.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnw1I2L9hVpgt1dVPCkTjtAFa1R4PfoYxyg55q2F-i_PbRo6lRo73_AmE7v2yxTOicNmOKZ56X-GPA9Nd-kWH9t_-r-eR7YtNHwVPgZ6gGGxbi3tJoIjyl6d9QlzksP72gOTnTyy7nVEfqdP3UQZ8P6i1018v4BAkefBXZO8ZoFqNbj5irgoHXGA/s2028/20231202_170518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2028" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnw1I2L9hVpgt1dVPCkTjtAFa1R4PfoYxyg55q2F-i_PbRo6lRo73_AmE7v2yxTOicNmOKZ56X-GPA9Nd-kWH9t_-r-eR7YtNHwVPgZ6gGGxbi3tJoIjyl6d9QlzksP72gOTnTyy7nVEfqdP3UQZ8P6i1018v4BAkefBXZO8ZoFqNbj5irgoHXGA/s320/20231202_170518.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Close up of the flavouring.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTyxWtsiUTnUFIB5IePK7q3MVOXHDKUzFTdje7wPSn4Hqb4aGd1fxxqcAKOi45eiVcAy3XqGJUJlf7jAWLyKbC2qpMHvnqMoO35SvRNfHutqeu_pLOPjVkl0QnDnv3EEYa-HrnmXtbXrieQ9gir8XeBmCmaLTkyRnI3GPYSpzggUH1qlyVo9u-Q/s2246/20231202_170530.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2246" data-original-width="1798" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTyxWtsiUTnUFIB5IePK7q3MVOXHDKUzFTdje7wPSn4Hqb4aGd1fxxqcAKOi45eiVcAy3XqGJUJlf7jAWLyKbC2qpMHvnqMoO35SvRNfHutqeu_pLOPjVkl0QnDnv3EEYa-HrnmXtbXrieQ9gir8XeBmCmaLTkyRnI3GPYSpzggUH1qlyVo9u-Q/s320/20231202_170530.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p>Conclusion: Well, I wanted to try them for the blog and at least I got a Snack of the Month post out of it. But they won't become of my yuletide traditions unfortunately.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-35414818368157869142023-12-03T11:27:00.001+00:002023-12-03T11:27:27.836+00:00Football recap - November 2023<p>A short round up of November's games... </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Game 27: Caldicot Town 0-0 Tredegar Town (Caldicot won 5-3 on penalties)</h3><p><b>Reason for going: </b>My friend Ben was playing for Caldicot and my friend Steve who also knows Ben was free to come with me. So off we went.</p><p><b>Point of interest:</b> I had a run of 30 games without seeing a nil-nil until this game. Strangely the previous nil-nil was also with Steve and also went to penalties. This was the fourth penalty shoot out I've seen this season. (And Ben scored his penalty, which was fun to see.)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Qfy9ElJUA9wM4H1tISxSC6KbsQfKPj0M-VkPd84k94wlFgokl60mFfUS3rTnBBds7v8klQUZbwkrSQ687LUXLwMAqD_FzGJI3A2EwueXq6_uxEKeQF5sY_hXYCwiwXL5aram9mWTwsWRjA_evwPeitzu2sNb5y4m_eiVSRcehedRqEHde1vT6A/s1107/20231108_194326.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1107" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Qfy9ElJUA9wM4H1tISxSC6KbsQfKPj0M-VkPd84k94wlFgokl60mFfUS3rTnBBds7v8klQUZbwkrSQ687LUXLwMAqD_FzGJI3A2EwueXq6_uxEKeQF5sY_hXYCwiwXL5aram9mWTwsWRjA_evwPeitzu2sNb5y4m_eiVSRcehedRqEHde1vT6A/s320/20231108_194326.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ben waves hello</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncLy71O84WlIXPvkZjWlZgKLQHo0eFFHA4o7Ea89ZJV862rjP6j6XL_K3X4TESQPNIVL0IwxpbhiI5Hw0a4B8gw63Dc1qjmPnlhFrom2KXlAJI3B9mFnLEp1XYhdIdHSZEE_YV0D2UMZy0hyuQA3qeHHYya42m55iZ0M-1BcdqAaeOm07SDvX-A/s2621/20231108_200052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2621" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncLy71O84WlIXPvkZjWlZgKLQHo0eFFHA4o7Ea89ZJV862rjP6j6XL_K3X4TESQPNIVL0IwxpbhiI5Hw0a4B8gw63Dc1qjmPnlhFrom2KXlAJI3B9mFnLEp1XYhdIdHSZEE_YV0D2UMZy0hyuQA3qeHHYya42m55iZ0M-1BcdqAaeOm07SDvX-A/s320/20231108_200052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Game 28: Barry Town 1-0 Guilsfield</h3><p><b>Reason for going: </b>To support Barry. (Although this was the first time I'd seen them for about a month.)</p><p><b>Point of interest:</b> This was apparently the 150th Welsh Cup tie played at Jenner Park. An extraordinary stat, really.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAloNb3Ty3osI7Qu5L2FgmwcykV4FOx6T_oyLHY4LcTS7GSB-OmCmtOfFG4oJlPPf5CeBnKcieU15kLnMxLrmsiKzBvRPc7F11G-Sv9f5jGF2-BZYSlnVbVDI1K9tYgSZAKebg8v0OcMHgqMLO00N5ZATPxxzZhf1SiRH4KcAuFTNIzDOk78ybQ/s1674/20231111_140139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1674" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAloNb3Ty3osI7Qu5L2FgmwcykV4FOx6T_oyLHY4LcTS7GSB-OmCmtOfFG4oJlPPf5CeBnKcieU15kLnMxLrmsiKzBvRPc7F11G-Sv9f5jGF2-BZYSlnVbVDI1K9tYgSZAKebg8v0OcMHgqMLO00N5ZATPxxzZhf1SiRH4KcAuFTNIzDOk78ybQ/s320/20231111_140139.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgFYCD740cNFB8Pb15rsOFW7VSWdEggtbA4t8zn1aYSsscpSAaDivzfmX_lwjuANjQzo_vkd68jkhhhkqo89cymz00-0NYVFmQRtKuPaovTSrhqKcz4GzGcSXOze3jixcv59J47CpwbET5gogpc4u41SNwa0SYv2rSlnnQ64g955cCM-QyD6zAw/s1925/20231111_152045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1925" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgFYCD740cNFB8Pb15rsOFW7VSWdEggtbA4t8zn1aYSsscpSAaDivzfmX_lwjuANjQzo_vkd68jkhhhkqo89cymz00-0NYVFmQRtKuPaovTSrhqKcz4GzGcSXOze3jixcv59J47CpwbET5gogpc4u41SNwa0SYv2rSlnnQ64g955cCM-QyD6zAw/s320/20231111_152045.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Game 29: Caernarfon Town 2-3 Barry Town</h3><p><b>Reason for going: </b>Caernarfon was one of the few remaining Cymru Premier grounds I hadn't seen a game at, so this was on my "hit list" at the start of the season.</p><p><b>Point of interest:</b> I made my debut as a co-commentator on Bro Radio for this game, after answering a call out by Daley Chapman for whether anyone was going to the game. It was tremendous fun. We got a great view from the commentary position as well.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLMbghO7HAw0ICOH7vdhWwzfswTfCO37FSxO2hWlmJRxubtNbipUAwB1-VkJyp1l8AOZHQGK_OBJeEXcMjEIUgZ0k_CfDsVzz5F6sF71ef04zFhQ5WgDjbAeXDrvUIbiwNyhNHFMMcM7q-bVHe2SQIrspKLpvrMXWNwIRCX2lki9j4PTLMUk_GA/s3023/20231119_142658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLMbghO7HAw0ICOH7vdhWwzfswTfCO37FSxO2hWlmJRxubtNbipUAwB1-VkJyp1l8AOZHQGK_OBJeEXcMjEIUgZ0k_CfDsVzz5F6sF71ef04zFhQ5WgDjbAeXDrvUIbiwNyhNHFMMcM7q-bVHe2SQIrspKLpvrMXWNwIRCX2lki9j4PTLMUk_GA/s320/20231119_142658.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxZ3fJ5V9CKAcwr4uvMKjXRrGj6zCpYZX9XNNrTBhv1y7QTxcqCzeXc2Lz4zGIjIPFY9KAvrodYflQ_jY-9JUBs8BoXhJ4IKslCezpIl9DHSj1taiiUCQTaAMewzO7_PsjvmOrn1qYqjuCdzY7SKQoYtwT-kgbA1MToqr8RBWaJrE55yoNjqbpA/s4128/20231119_141033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxZ3fJ5V9CKAcwr4uvMKjXRrGj6zCpYZX9XNNrTBhv1y7QTxcqCzeXc2Lz4zGIjIPFY9KAvrodYflQ_jY-9JUBs8BoXhJ4IKslCezpIl9DHSj1taiiUCQTaAMewzO7_PsjvmOrn1qYqjuCdzY7SKQoYtwT-kgbA1MToqr8RBWaJrE55yoNjqbpA/s320/20231119_141033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45D5NUkK-1u6v5X5eqV3XWsjKXSCb_8E7VqFm4XEaq0jZOG9fgDsduwYSCe2Ipfd89HsER_QNYjPhSR8vLVnr_vPa0tOfHUi_ACRqcokgpz24Y4YTLjDGCGVSa6AzRRDEhckilt_BbMgJIyoeWBfubimpNUDnBeqOqOoSQqQ4sLL-j3O7GnVY4A/s1673/20231119_155310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1246" data-original-width="1673" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45D5NUkK-1u6v5X5eqV3XWsjKXSCb_8E7VqFm4XEaq0jZOG9fgDsduwYSCe2Ipfd89HsER_QNYjPhSR8vLVnr_vPa0tOfHUi_ACRqcokgpz24Y4YTLjDGCGVSa6AzRRDEhckilt_BbMgJIyoeWBfubimpNUDnBeqOqOoSQqQ4sLL-j3O7GnVY4A/s320/20231119_155310.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Game 30: Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Port Vale</h3><p><b>Reason for going:</b> we were on our way home from a <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/11/wythnos-yn-yr-gogledd-tachwedd-2023.html" target="_blank">week in North Wales</a></u></b>, so this fitted into our travel plans nicely and I got to go with my brother and eldest nephew.</p><p><b>Point of interest: </b>there was a sad memorial before the game for four local teenagers who died in a car accident the previous weekend. The 1,600 Port Vale fans in the sold out away end all joined in with the minute's applause. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEgiI5zu5q2_wA5w6FU8NsLBpewV20zwP4TnR3ovCZNG7pDzWGmclVZYlVS99QJvxNXsWUBGIxG6QlwZ_jX7RHEcmA02wBTasBXtHbWEhGpXj-iHihyphenhyphen4JZhDS2EM2cngWRdbLy1dZdjQgOWzjMKA_DYroNkZBd8ufUOFbP7aEOArGbKxDr8OOzQ/s1299/20231125_150001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="1299" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEgiI5zu5q2_wA5w6FU8NsLBpewV20zwP4TnR3ovCZNG7pDzWGmclVZYlVS99QJvxNXsWUBGIxG6QlwZ_jX7RHEcmA02wBTasBXtHbWEhGpXj-iHihyphenhyphen4JZhDS2EM2cngWRdbLy1dZdjQgOWzjMKA_DYroNkZBd8ufUOFbP7aEOArGbKxDr8OOzQ/s320/20231125_150001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL27Wu_ymfm72nWbJP4fAtoAPlgxbDZsxhsPgaM13Tapzi1yl_HiXcDXpT8wPdthX3ALpiYkbmyuJFehi_N9VQCxHs4_c5zh1dULqWm_0EiIlDHdyqjMSm5oALzA-sKs2TmqjV06iH8Dgv5i76trv4vLxg9_xRee3adnIvDWDcR-AP5LOJt7VsfQ/s1080/FB_IMG_1700934489979.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="1080" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL27Wu_ymfm72nWbJP4fAtoAPlgxbDZsxhsPgaM13Tapzi1yl_HiXcDXpT8wPdthX3ALpiYkbmyuJFehi_N9VQCxHs4_c5zh1dULqWm_0EiIlDHdyqjMSm5oALzA-sKs2TmqjV06iH8Dgv5i76trv4vLxg9_xRee3adnIvDWDcR-AP5LOJt7VsfQ/s320/FB_IMG_1700934489979.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49FPiOCVdyGCKXidUcYvUVUA4ciDp3VLwGK7OoNNhbxA4MOn1n3zJKFqznsVjRghaM45KxvlhPp2asVjRtZh_56w7aSsddLqtWW7QD2xFiOYUZS5R1VgU6mLkdZANYQA4Rb09tuXSdv4UaVgs0ZWK7rKe9L6vUqap4CPQiPSoesm81t7c3iGqcA/s1656/20231125_150232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="1656" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49FPiOCVdyGCKXidUcYvUVUA4ciDp3VLwGK7OoNNhbxA4MOn1n3zJKFqznsVjRghaM45KxvlhPp2asVjRtZh_56w7aSsddLqtWW7QD2xFiOYUZS5R1VgU6mLkdZANYQA4Rb09tuXSdv4UaVgs0ZWK7rKe9L6vUqap4CPQiPSoesm81t7c3iGqcA/s320/20231125_150232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Game 31: Barry Town 1-1 Penybont</h3><p><b>Reason for going: </b>There wasn't a particular reason. It was a Barry home game and I tend to go to them even on cold Tuesday evenings in November!</p><p><b>Point of interest: </b>Barry were wearing their special charity festive kit featuring a penguin and a reindeer. The kit is majority black and Penybont were playing in a mainly white kit. I don't think I've ever seen a black kit v white kit game before. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcniveyk5GXBreDHWOOd-WE1tPEg7ipSXOPL1JMP4M8rpxJ8JVTfaV9hSmeJWBtO7my_tCkosVBJfSMovTD88jBtT79DzZFAuJFgiaz5n-O9WucS7m1s_Jl3CDwIZRAXNVLR37dPQJDLjSgXLOGd7eqUBihNtjgKbEAUis1f7FzsHWXZe8qpAFQ/s631/FB_IMG_1700346994835.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="631" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcniveyk5GXBreDHWOOd-WE1tPEg7ipSXOPL1JMP4M8rpxJ8JVTfaV9hSmeJWBtO7my_tCkosVBJfSMovTD88jBtT79DzZFAuJFgiaz5n-O9WucS7m1s_Jl3CDwIZRAXNVLR37dPQJDLjSgXLOGd7eqUBihNtjgKbEAUis1f7FzsHWXZe8qpAFQ/s320/FB_IMG_1700346994835.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLB8KnEAgzDu7oJ-5I3hbt9l1h0BePg9Skrl3v7y3TngDEu3NUCGEsqPq2AfcQr3RB7eNvAqpweWXB-pC51odVU6J8G1eq3YXqX9KNXLPSSuYpG6IcZdJjomGUYH0ZGuuzX71a7022R9M-2ECzruZlCY_iUSRIVg6HHQJe6awsuQ-ZCcCUrxyiUA/s2554/20231128_214146.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2554" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLB8KnEAgzDu7oJ-5I3hbt9l1h0BePg9Skrl3v7y3TngDEu3NUCGEsqPq2AfcQr3RB7eNvAqpweWXB-pC51odVU6J8G1eq3YXqX9KNXLPSSuYpG6IcZdJjomGUYH0ZGuuzX71a7022R9M-2ECzruZlCY_iUSRIVg6HHQJe6awsuQ-ZCcCUrxyiUA/s320/20231128_214146.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>And that's the five games for November, which equals my personal record for November games.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-44008770135332535712023-12-02T21:27:00.002+00:002023-12-02T21:27:52.119+00:00Recap of the month - November 2023<p>My November started with a weekend in Newport on the "Type 1 Family Weekender", which is a special weekend hosted by Diabetes UK for families with a child with type 1 diabetes. All the groups were named after woodland animals, and my group - the kids aged 8 & 9 - were known as the bears.</p><p>One of their first activities was to design a mascot for the team. We couldn't settle on the name Billy or Bob for our bear, so he ended up as Billy-Bob. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWk35VlqsH3tGJZ810isk-q4nuRwkAf9ZSXPTURa4jdfRTlyZoDIsvWmwie-d4tsQ0OqRmLxsWmo6NzyykPdUJ1IPk7huF8JFUzlALcQBkogyp7APCtjIa5JeAHYsftK9xPaaH2hBjgNNL42RlW2IuLCHUA3MCXHZB4tcUNDUMeY_odIBHGb_LDQ/s2717/20231104_084455.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2717" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWk35VlqsH3tGJZ810isk-q4nuRwkAf9ZSXPTURa4jdfRTlyZoDIsvWmwie-d4tsQ0OqRmLxsWmo6NzyykPdUJ1IPk7huF8JFUzlALcQBkogyp7APCtjIa5JeAHYsftK9xPaaH2hBjgNNL42RlW2IuLCHUA3MCXHZB4tcUNDUMeY_odIBHGb_LDQ/s320/20231104_084455.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div><br /></div>You might notice Billy-Bob has an insulin pump and is holding his own teddy bear mascot. <div><br /></div><div>I had a great time on the weekend. The outdoor activities were a bit wet but huge fun and the indoor laser tag was probably the most exercise I've had all year. (It's a low bar, to be honest.)<br /><p>At the risk of this recap being too work-focussed, I'm also going to mention World Diabetes Day on the 14th November. I was invited by the Diabetes UK Cymru team to a special event at the Senedd, which included a tour of the Senedd building for the young people from Wales involved in the programme I work with, Together Type 1. </p><p>I liked these maps in the Senedd building that show the topography and electoral boundaries in Wales. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqCF6Wi9I5iF6Ca-F-dNkVyjCm1M3EC0cipskRvvvZhIJ-TYf7lsQmdI_lxxPiywwux5hHWwPRjIj4I-loN-8aGmiL1D_zrVK2Xw_8dD4dcr9rlzaimnT3-c32pIj5LeDv0yeaT2LXLKaPfLw_oyhf8PzMde1F5c05e2E8ieQdDZqKQag1Z7tFQ/s2683/20231114_175031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2683" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqCF6Wi9I5iF6Ca-F-dNkVyjCm1M3EC0cipskRvvvZhIJ-TYf7lsQmdI_lxxPiywwux5hHWwPRjIj4I-loN-8aGmiL1D_zrVK2Xw_8dD4dcr9rlzaimnT3-c32pIj5LeDv0yeaT2LXLKaPfLw_oyhf8PzMde1F5c05e2E8ieQdDZqKQag1Z7tFQ/s320/20231114_175031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My friend Sara joined us for the tour so we had a selfie opportunity. You can see me branded up in my Together Type 1 hoodie.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4yq8TRHdMTMKXuYVGD6rAG_mP1j5HyY3BHLy-mX9zogGWd5t4kAXAtKqqWXjujLnDQgsI0WOcuYhga4L4FiIQqBlIxP7HZymzzefIYwSo2zbC-OIypa3x4nvQGdSkbLaeHl2kEbpu4FClozbjLuCw1pUGWNsJ-oTCzBeWCHUOI7xWLT7Up-70g/s2048/IMG-20231114-WA0005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4yq8TRHdMTMKXuYVGD6rAG_mP1j5HyY3BHLy-mX9zogGWd5t4kAXAtKqqWXjujLnDQgsI0WOcuYhga4L4FiIQqBlIxP7HZymzzefIYwSo2zbC-OIypa3x4nvQGdSkbLaeHl2kEbpu4FClozbjLuCw1pUGWNsJ-oTCzBeWCHUOI7xWLT7Up-70g/s320/IMG-20231114-WA0005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I also snuck in when the young people had a photo with Eluned Morgan, the Welsh Government Health Minister. I'm the old guy looking old next to all the young 'uns. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpe-2Ff79Eh9gaym4isqNgZNtS6NIq-6xZIzPnt4DvSavLJsWy9YaLpl4v8z7HqTzrvJnaSGsYlRX_LlfueBmaDG7LrxLQU4UxsS0OW_-Mmgy3yJUAvUoeRBmE06v4qA9qh2UeafwI6dyGcrj9lbKhky31hoeE1GWrNL7vdz9Qap1ScHKzmFXIg/s1445/IMG-20231115-WA0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1445" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpe-2Ff79Eh9gaym4isqNgZNtS6NIq-6xZIzPnt4DvSavLJsWy9YaLpl4v8z7HqTzrvJnaSGsYlRX_LlfueBmaDG7LrxLQU4UxsS0OW_-Mmgy3yJUAvUoeRBmE06v4qA9qh2UeafwI6dyGcrj9lbKhky31hoeE1GWrNL7vdz9Qap1ScHKzmFXIg/s320/IMG-20231115-WA0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Shortly after World Diabetes Day Cathy and I had a week away in North Wales. <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/11/wythnos-yn-yr-gogledd-tachwedd-2023.html" target="_blank">I've already blogged about it.</a></u></b> It was a great relaxing break and we had a lot of fun dodging the rain and eating unseasonal ice creams. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-CIOImAZRrdBNLz5JRiBeUgqz0lsPYDjBWmV-PCs5QHBzDNsHSXNAAFNRnbt7fGAqkf9iZv-rPrkQ5Ahe1hB2flielSmc8gCHrRcc0AjlfDoctCVqio1N84xOdSDGqmvaQJooAM9MfwuhsdPAXRqrWN-SnB7DqCiDrtv8jcfp_LYhg3UkygcKw/s2975/20231123_150646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2975" data-original-width="2863" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-CIOImAZRrdBNLz5JRiBeUgqz0lsPYDjBWmV-PCs5QHBzDNsHSXNAAFNRnbt7fGAqkf9iZv-rPrkQ5Ahe1hB2flielSmc8gCHrRcc0AjlfDoctCVqio1N84xOdSDGqmvaQJooAM9MfwuhsdPAXRqrWN-SnB7DqCiDrtv8jcfp_LYhg3UkygcKw/s320/20231123_150646.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><br /><p>And then to round off the month, I went to my first Christmas celebration of the season - with the very friendly Cwmbach Diabetes Group. I wore my Christmas jumper and had to have yet another photo with Sara. You can see I'm wearing my paper crown from the cracker, which makes me look even balder than usual. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6Tl4o1TtpwGcgmVKApblRVdZpOLznlCtgcOEeiu2EIqzlddcgk-0s-KGHxJ46z9o_PrIlrpRwyulHkFGZmg0Uw_-cgVktze-iQax2orOdnLaXwL6mkwrxXpjjKAPyctsqVA_7CnxvghiXjQTEhhqAuRQh3i_l_rQD0guxwMzcbR-HAAhHTioOQ/s1129/IMG-20231129-WA0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="1129" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6Tl4o1TtpwGcgmVKApblRVdZpOLznlCtgcOEeiu2EIqzlddcgk-0s-KGHxJ46z9o_PrIlrpRwyulHkFGZmg0Uw_-cgVktze-iQax2orOdnLaXwL6mkwrxXpjjKAPyctsqVA_7CnxvghiXjQTEhhqAuRQh3i_l_rQD0guxwMzcbR-HAAhHTioOQ/s320/IMG-20231129-WA0003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And as that officially kicks off the Christmas season for me, here's to a festive December. Hopefully we will close out the year on a high.</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475202.post-91117635287423267332023-11-30T21:11:00.015+00:002023-11-30T21:23:35.336+00:00Book of the Month: Shards of Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioB0qmnk27PNIqyEzFmh3jmGJKkz7noUDmoctr65sShIbJyGaUUGB7zj0RnmuvxgHjc0xY0PGm4aQxrH76tnjZMFNKilJh_jcVtjv-ziKAdV-gr9tlXWsJg2GqMoaVJ_-ZCa2QtKJbPowEtrFIl8D7oLA3CStkovjNHMWdOOUX4gG0rR80OMLckw/s2560/Shards%20of%20Earth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1664" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioB0qmnk27PNIqyEzFmh3jmGJKkz7noUDmoctr65sShIbJyGaUUGB7zj0RnmuvxgHjc0xY0PGm4aQxrH76tnjZMFNKilJh_jcVtjv-ziKAdV-gr9tlXWsJg2GqMoaVJ_-ZCa2QtKJbPowEtrFIl8D7oLA3CStkovjNHMWdOOUX4gG0rR80OMLckw/s320/Shards%20of%20Earth.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><p>I'm just about scraping this book of the month review into this month. But I'm pleased with myself as I bought this book in <b><u><a href="https://browsersbook.shop/">Browsers Bookshop in Porthmadog</a></u></b> during our <b><u><a href="https://pantperthog.blogspot.com/2023/11/wythnos-yn-yr-gogledd-tachwedd-2023.html" target="_blank">break in North Wales last week</a></u></b> and have managed to read all 533 pages of it already.</p><p>This is the first big, fat science-fiction book I've read in several years. I used to read a few a year but since my reading animus unexpectedly evaporated during the pandemic I've barely touched any fiction. Getting thoroughly absorbed in this book felt like a slight reawakening.</p><p>I picked the book up because I recognised Adrian Tchaikovsky's name. I really enjoyed his book called <i>Children of Time</i>, which was a deep time epic charting the evolution of a sentient race of giant spiders after a terraforming experiment goes wrong. Among other things, it changed my feelings towards spiders. The follow up book, <i>Children of Ruin</i>, wasn't as good although this time it was octopuses evolving into a civilisation. I already liked octopuses, but there were a couple of other issues with the book as it wove in an alien life form that complicated the storyline. </p><p><i><b>Shards of Earth</b></i> is in a different future-verse. In this story, Earth has been destroyed by an entity called an Architect which turned the planet into an abstract sculpture. Thus began a war across known space between humans and their alien allies against the Architects who could appear without warning and destroy a planet, moon, asteroid, or anywhere else where humans were trying to live. </p><p>The story focuses on an 'Int' (short for Intermediary) called Idris who is a human who underwent radical brain surgery to try and unlock psychic communication powers. Idris and his fellow Ints were able to eventually communicate with the Architects and ask them to stop killing humans - and they did, disappearing from the universe. </p><p>And now it seems they are back, so it's up to Idris to save the human race again. He is helped on his quest by Solace, a genetically engineered warrior woman from the Parthenon sisterhood and the crew of the spaceship he had been working on as a deep space pilot. The story is well-paced, moving quickly across several interesting locations for fights, heists and daring escapes. </p><p>This is the first book in a trilogy called <i>The Final Architecture</i> (which even has <b><u><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Final_Architecture" target="_blank">its own Wikipedia page</a></u></b> already!). However, even though it's the first of three, the story does have a conclusion and could be read as a stand alone. I am keen to find out what happens next but this book doesn't end with all the crew in peril or anything really annoying like that. </p><p>Tchaikovsky populates this universe with some interesting, and inscrutable, alien races. I like the way he leaves some of those races ineffable and hard to understand. In a weird way that felt realistic and kept the aliens alien. </p><p>He also captures tensions between ordinary humans who both fear and need the genetically engineered humans of the Parthenon, and the Partheni who have become a bit isolated and don't really understand ordinary humans any more. The all-female soldier army is clearly based on the Amazons of old legends, although there was a touch of the Space Marines from the Warhammer universe alongside the female Martian soldier Bobbi, in The Expanse books. There is an interesting debate at one point over the ethics of genetic engineering that captured the nuance of what might be lost by smoothing out weaknesses in the human genome, but it's kept short and doesn't derail or overshadow the story.</p><p>Another race linked to humans are the machine intelligences known as Hivers. They were created by humans but subsequently gained their autonomy. They are formed of several tiny machines that aggregate to form disparate entities before reverting back into the general swarm of tiny robots. Conceptually, they were much more interesting than the average robot or android. I felt they were the best machine characters I've read about outside of the Culture novels by Iain M Banks. </p><p>Amidst all the chaos and dread of the return of the Architects there are also some moments of warmth and humour. One line, delivered by a Hiver character was so acidly sarcastic it actually made me laugh out loud while reading it, while there were several other interchanges that made me smile. </p><p>So, at some point, I will be getting book two in the series and hopefully it will hook me in to read it just as quickly. Keep an eye out for a future blog post review of it!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0