Two months, two seasons

Ok, more on our place Tanglewood shortly (probably over at Northern Menus), but look at this!

When we moved into Pontcanna, this was the view Matt faced every morning on the way to work.

Cathederal Road looking towards Cardiff early April

But now, 6 weeks later, the whole street has sprung into greenery.  Cop this:

Cathederal Road looking towards Cardiff, late May

and this

Kathy on corner of Cathderal Road and Sophia Gardens, camera looking towards Pontcanna, late April

and this

Coming home from Cardiff, 9pm, after the Heineken Cup: looking up Cathedral Road to Pontcanna

God we love it here ...

Anyone spot a change here?

OK boys and girls.  Lets play spot the difference.

This is me at King O'Malleys in Canberra on St Paddy's day in 2007 (before we started boozing).  This was just about the time that the first lot of document discovery was wrapping up for the court case.

Matt aged 38

And this is Kath and I up the top of Cardiff Castle on the 12th of April 2008.

Matt aged 39

Any changes?

And speaking of songs

I'm really getting into the Stereophonics.  Check them out.  I really like "Rainbows and Pots of Gold", but much of their stuff is great too.

Check out versions of this track on You-tube here, (the song is good but the video is complete crap, it's just some dickhead who just mucked about with a camera and posted it to the web with 'Phonics music) or a live version here.

Apparently its in the film Kingdom of Heaven with Orlando Bloom too.  Bugger me.

Other 'Phonics songs of note:

• Local boy in photograph
• More life in a tramps vest (sorry 'bout the vid again)
• Too many sandwiches
• A thousand trees
  

Anyway, as the man says I've grown a lot since we last spoke, got myself together, fixed what was broke

Two things learnt on Heineken Cup day

1. Despite 6.023 x 10^23 people in town for the match (I counted them, twice - and I'm not making a mountain out of a molehill), and 15 designated "Heineken Cup" bars, only a few bars in the city actually showed the game since it was on Sky (and none of the "official" bars).  Which was odd since we saw the quarter finals at the pub no problems.
   

1. 
   
2. Munster supporters can't get enough of this song ...

 What's that coming over the hill? Is it a monster?  Is it a monster?

"My cheeldrin need wine !"

OK, May 24th, Heineken Cup final in Cardiff, Munster vs Toulouse, and the town is going off.  Fantastic.  Probably put some photos on Northern menus shortly.

Kath and I get up, do our brekky thing at Cibos (the wintress actually said "Your usual table?" - Cooool), and then zipped down Cathderal Road into Cardiff proper to pick up some gear for me.  See another installation of Asshat Theatre (coming soon!) to hear about the delays with our clothes coming from Oz.

Anyway, on the way back home to drop of the gear (through an ever swelling crowd of Feench and irish supporters), we see a funny looking van parked on the other side of Cathedral Road.  Left hand drive, its owners having driven all the way from France for the game.  Good stuff.

But what do we see as we go past?  A folding table set up, with the quite mature occupants of the van sitting on a stone wall, sipping glasses of the different bottles of wine they had set up on the table.  Which they casually finish, tidy everything up, pack the van and drive away ...

So what do you do after a 10 hour road trip from the south of France to south Wales?  Clearly, you stop the van, set up a table, break out the wine, and throw back a few ...

Magic moment

You heard the man ...

Kath and I were walking around Pontcanna, looking at all the lovely houses and admiring the little fenced-off park in the middle of the square.  It's called Plasturton Gardens I think...

Anyway, there are 7 kids playing Rugby whilst their parents and families look on.  The kids were aged between about 6 and 14, and one of them, probably aged 11 or 12, was the referee, complete with whistle.  So 3 a side Rugby, in a little park, just gorgeous.

So one of the kids races away and scores, and then the opposing team kick off.  Straight down the gullet of the 6 year old, who promptly coughs it up, and it bounces in front of him 3 or 4 times, after which he scrambles for the ball, picks it up and starts running as hard as his chubby little legs would carry him.

"But ref!  That was a knock on..." says the 14 year old.

"PLAY THE WHISTLE!" shouts the 12 year old referee.

Kath and I laughed so hard we started crying.

Magic moment ...

That'll hurt come winter

Children, look away now ...

Danny Cipriani (London Wasps)