Getting excited about the first game tomorrow. France v NZ is a great way to start. Gatland has named an experienced team for sunday. Not a given against Fiji who turned England over a fortnight ago. A player of note, mentioned him before, is ex-bluebird accademy player, Aaron Wainwright. Didn't take up rugby until he was 18 and was a seasoned international by 23. Might have understood it as a back, but to transition from football to an international rugby forward is a big ask physically. He starts at 6 on Sunday having played 8 in the warm ups.
Sorry remote - I'll post this on this thread rather than where I first mentioned it because I don't want to curtail the excellent debate about Bulut on the "not impressed" thread. When in Cheddar, usually have a cosy meal in the White Hart particularly in the winter months but yesterday decided to stay outside (albeit in the shade) at the Riverside Inn - been before and never a problem. Yesterday was slightly different. On arrival we needed some drinks to cool us down and elected for some cold draught Coke's - guess what - they were out of Coke. Usually have the beer battered cod and hand cooked chips, but when they were served we were told they were out of the chips and had given us some fries instead - not the bloody same and I told them so! Then we asked for the usual condiments and were told they were out of salt - FFS out of salt!! - there's a fecking shop across the road! The place appeared to being run by a load of youngsters who appeared not to care a ****. One major consolation though - they had ice cold draught Peroni at the bar..... Must admit I had a pint and a half but then I did walk around Cheddar for a hour and a half in an attempt to metabolise it before returning to the car and setting sail for Clevedon - not sure that was enough legalitywise in all honesty. Got out of the air conditioned car in Clevedon about 4 o'clock and nearly fell over as the heat hit me (not the Peroni) - boy was it hot! A quick stroll along the front from the bandstand to the pier was enough for me and the rest of the entourage - back in the car and cool sanctuary for the trip home. All in all, quite a mixed bag of a day but, hey ho that's another day under the belt.
No need to apologise Sparkey, you were indeed away from football, so solidly on topic. Even though I lived in Bristol for 10 years, I didn't spend much time south of the river, unless I was fishing at the Barrows or Chew, or I was playing rugby. Went to Cheddar and Western-super-mud on school trips as a kid. Big adventure from the Rhondda. Poor service you received. How can you run out of salt? Unheard of. You should have told them you'd run out of cash.
Well I left Division 1 team Reading at 5:30 pm and don’t get onto the motorway until 6:50. One hour and twenty minutes to go a couple of miles. It took me 25 minutes to go around one roundabout. What a fecking sh!tshow. I was boiling! Once on the motorway it took me just one and a half hours to get to championship team Cardiff. Roll on the winter.
We used to do school trips to Cheddar and Weston plus Bristol Zoo from Newport. Question: When the mud is in in Weston is it high tide in Swansea? And vice versa. Seems logical.
Back on the "day out" front and In contrast to that meal in Cheddar, a few years back we were in Leominster and dropped in to a pub in the town (can't remember it's name) for a bite to eat. Initially sat outside but it was a bit cold. I went inside and asked if they'd allow a couple of small dogs in. The lady said there were a couple of old dogs serving behind the bar so there wouldn't be a problem. Went in looked at the menu and the three of us ordered the same - gammon steak and fried eggs. A young lad popped out of the kitchen and said there'd be a slight delay and brought us a free jug of house wine and some glasses. We were sat by the window and then saw this lad go past outside. A couple of minutes later he went past the other way carrying something. The meals were served by the same lad (gammon steak with two fried eggs on top - delicious) and he apologised for the slight the delay. He said they didn't have enough eggs so he popped out to the local shop and bought a dozen. It would have been far easier for him to say "gammon's off" (rook's off ) and ask us to order something else. Also, call me old fashioned but back then we paid for the meals with final bill at the end not upfront like yesterday.
I think it depends on the venue. Most of the places around us are a bit Royston Vasey. Local pubs for local people. You sit down, set up a tab and pay at the end. The exceptions are the bigger chains where you pay up front. I don't often eat in the chains. New, plastic pubs. The one we ate in on Tuesday was built in 1718. Most of the beers come from 10 miles up the road. Nice flat beer, none of this gassy, fizzy stuff. God I'm sounding old. Now, where's my Dai cap and whippet (well, terrier anyway).
Although some 'spoons bars are in very old pubs or other venues e.g. cinemas that have been around for donkeys' years. The history of the Wyndham Arms, Bridgend for example dates back to the 17th century as a coaching inn.
Bluey - my wife's sister had her wedding reception in the Wyndham back in the 80's. That and the "Dun" where my elder brother had his reception about 20 years earlier were the places to go in Bridgend - all changed now and not for the better either. Haven't been into Bridgend town centre for years - know that the Wyndham is a "Spoons" pub now, but no idea if the Dun is still even there. I also remember (and frequented) the Ship Hotel right next to the Wyndham at the bottom of Caroline Street, but I know that's been flattened for ages.
The Ship has been long gone. I worked in Bridgend in the early 80's and don't remember it then. The "Dun", I guess you mean the Dunraven Hotel at the top of town. That closed a good 5 or 6 years ago due to "licensing difficulties". If you were 10 or over or on the game or selling mysterious substances you were always welcome there. Not seen the light of day since. While most pubs in Bridgend Town are not great there are a few good restaurants worth a visit. There is a new Japanese Gin and Sake Bar opening in what was The Courthouse and then La Cocina in Derwen Road. Hope they don't serve both drinks in the same glass. As The Courthouse it was a good Friday and Saturday night drinking and dancing venue. Always guaranteed to grab someone's granny there.
Cheers Bluey. Not that I've been in there for ages, I think I'll continue to give Bridgend town centre a miss in the evenings. The last time I came through there on a Friday night (Market Street?) returning from a visit to the inlaws, I had a someone's trainer (footwear not personal ) thrown at my windscreen. It bounced off with no damge and was about to stop to sort it out, then I wised up when I saw the crowd. I drove on - discretion is the better part of valour.
A frustrating time farming wise at the moment. Out of our control. Weather. Left one of our fields rest and for the grass to grow. Daughter decided we didn't need it for grazing as we had plenty grass elsewhere. So, her cunning plan was to bale it for hay and use it to feed the ewes when they come in for lambing, rather than buy it in. A few dry days last week, so had the field mowed, the grass turned to dry with a view to baling it yesterday morning. The person who was going to bale it contacted daughter to say there was an issue with the baler, but it was being fixed this morning. Unfortunately from yesterday afternoon its been raining, so we now have 4 acres of grass rotting in a field. The only hope is that it's dry tomorrow and we can turn it and bale it, or its about £600 of hay wasted.
Just one of those things cling. We wont be alone. Some you win, some you lose. Bar a break down of the baler, it would be up and wrapped. Yes, any help greatly appreciated.
I suppose experience helps you take these things in your stride. Not sure how I would react. I'd probably take the machine owner to the highest court in the land...The Old Bailer. I'll get my smock.
