Sion Barry's World

So summer is fading away and as I gazed from my bedroom window it was grey and murky... the rain still lingering with no plans to leave. Breakfast: Well above average bowl of Shreddies with semi-skimmed cold milk. Then had 2 pieces of toast [the remains of the loaf I made on Monday] with Olivio Spread and blackcurrant jam. Walk to Work... As noted in the previous entries this week this didn't happen as I have a week's holiday [vacation]. Above is Rufus the Red Squirrel, who has moved into the chocolate business to raise funds to launch a counter-offensive against the Greys! RANDOM THOUGHT Year 400000 AD: God and the Devil finally sit down to talk things over... there are still quite a number of hurdles to overcome, but optimism is in the air!

Was up at 6am.... we have only just transferred our daughter Isabella [17 weeks old] from her Moses Basket into her cot. She is going to need a few days to make the adjustment... but she pretty much went through the night in her new surroundings. Went for a run at 6.50am around my local park Llandaff Fields [pictured]. Breakfast: Vivacious bowl of Cornflakes. Walk to Work : Not on the radar as I am off work for a week. Lunchbox: Stored, washed, dried away until next Monday. Would you like to go to a Cat Show in Cheltenham Tiddles? We'll take that as a no then. RANDOM THOUGHT Today's message from beyond the grave: Fred Astaire "If you can only do it for a minute a day, please just do a little dance. It doesn't matter if you feel silly, or have two left feet, just dance, dance dance!"

BREAKFAST: Magical bowl of Cornflakes with semi-skimmed cold milk... a real winner. In yesterday's blog entry I was struggling to maintain my position hanging from a tree. Well I got a second wind, but my technique is admittedly not the best. In the distance? That's not a clandestine meeting of the KKK, but some people playing bowls. Lunchbox: Off work for a week for it's washed, dried and stored away. Lunchbox: That's some time off at the time of writing [ 7.84am GMT], but I will probably make some bruschetta using the bread I made yesterday. And that bread is absolutely delicious. I think I am going to make quite a bit more in the weeks, months, years ahead. When the skies turn dark and you sense your way home. When the greenest of the landscape is a long forgotten treasured land .... stop it immediately! RANDOM THOUGHT 2010: Ticket sales for former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's I am not a liar tour , are not going very well!

Breakfast: Very enjoyable bowl of Cornflakes with semi-skimmed cold milk. Walk to Work: Didn't happen this morning as I am on holiday for a week. Went for a run around my local park Llandaff Fields. Later on I decided to make some bread, which turned out extremely well. Lunchbox : Homous and toast with cherry tomatoes. Then Mrs B made a great fruit salad: strawberries, blueberries and grapes Random Thought : I cannot hang on much longer! So goodbye until tomorrow

BREAKFAST: Pretty decent bowl of Cornflakes with semi-skimmed cold milk. The Walk to Work : It had to be down the legendary Taff Trail, which follows what was today's slow moving River Taff into the centre of Cardiff _ where I exit _ and beyond. A very animated chap stationery on his bike was talking to another bloke with a ruck sack on his back. From 20 yards away I could see he was wearing large black gloves. He looked very amusing waving his arms about and occasionally pointing too. It was then down the wood decking that forms the riverway walk, which is sandwiched between the Millennium Stadium and the River Taff. Some 100 yards down and I had my first ever litter confrontation. As a gang of teenage boys approached, one threw a plastic bottle into the River Taff below. They all found it highly amusing. I couldn't let it go, so said something like. "Very clever that mate.. well done" [sarcastic] They were not very happy... but kept on walking. I had a vision of th...

BREAKFAST : Tip-top bowl of Cornflakes with semi-skimmed cold milk. THE Walk to Work . It was down the legendary Taff Trail this morning. Quite a few joggers were out and about and so were the cyclists. A rope still hangs from a grand tree just off the trail as you pass the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, Sophia Gardens _ which has thousands of extra seats installed for next week's England v Pakistan limited overs match. Lunchbox. Not required today as in around 30 minutes of writing this I will be in corporate trough in a nice restaurant [at this moment still unknown] with a very nice chap from Dublin who runs his own PR company here in Cardiff. Random Thought Today's message from beyond the grave Charlie Chaplin "I am really bored with all those comedians down there who admire me as a film-maker etc, etc, but make out I was never funny, but Laurel and Hardy were and all that stuff. "I was a huge international star and was very funny in the context of the t...

I didn't wake up on the park bench this morning. Breakfast : Grandiose bowl of Cornflakes with semi-skimmed cold milk. The Walk to Work : It was down Cowbridge Road East this morning, rather than the legendary Taff Trail. Some of the greatest shops in the western world can be found on Cowbridge Road East and many amazing places to eat as well, like the Tuck-In. Rain was falling as I headed into the centre of Cardiff. Lunchbox. 1 banana 4 ham and salad sandwiches on granary bread. 1 nectarine 2 digestive biscuits 1 cherry flavoured Muller light yoghurt 5 chocolate eclairs, bought by my moter-in-law aka Plugs. Eclairs were a great addition and were all gone by 11am. Then had the digestives and the banana at 11.15am. Sandwiches were demolished just after midday... although managed to get a very juicy cherry tomato over all my shirt. Keeping nectarine until later. Random Thought Today's message from beyond the grave. Comes from Pontius Pilot "I think history has not treated ...

A little podcast about a British tourist at a Mediterranean resort. Click here to hear it BREAKFAST: Exceedingly good bowl of Cornflakes with semi-skimmed cold milk The Walk to Work: It was down the Taff Trail, where a Sheep Dog puppy on a lead tried to jump all over me as I passed him and his owner. Was then passed by a woman on what I can only describe as a cross between a a bicycle and a motorbike. She was wearing quite a fetching green crash helmet too. Only a few ducks were on the River Taff Below. LUNCHBOX 2 digestive biscuits 4 salmon sandwiches with a hint of lemon juice 1 banana 1 nectarine 1 Vanilla flavoured Muller Light yoghurt 1 container of strawberries. All gone by midday, apart from the strawberries and nectarine. RANDOM THOUGHT 2020: AN hour a week of snakes and ladders is made compulsory in all UK primary schools. I think it's a good idea, as it will get kids to interact more and show them that the dividing line between success and failure is a very thin one. A...

BREAKFAST: Extraordinary bowl of Cornflakes with semi-skimmed cold milk. THE Walk to Work . Had a dental appointment at 8.30am so it was down Cathedral Road _ my favourite road in Cardiff _ and not the legendary Taff Trail (pictured). It was a scale and polish and a check up.... for the first time in ages Radio 2 wasn't blasting over the airwaves as I took to the chair. When I arrived at work a colleague (Aled Blake) said he saw the immaculately groomed white husky dog, which I see periodically on the Taff Trail, on his way to work... forgot to ask him where he saw him. Lunchbox 4 ham and salad sandwiches on granary bread. 1 banana 2 digestive biscuits 1 vanilla flavoured Muller Light yoghurt 1 nectarine 1 container of raspberries and strawberries. He was such a wicked child... he was expelled from school during de tention! Food was all gone just after midday... but holding back nectarine and raspberries & strawberries until later. RANDOM THOUGHT 3000: Not had a fishing hook ...

BREAKFAST: Bowl of three Weetabix with hot semi-skimmed milk; two pieces of toast with Olivio Spread and blackcurrant jam; cup of tea and glass of water. The Walk to Work : This didn't happen today as I have a day off for working last Sunday. Spent most of the morning trying to entertain my nearly 16 week old daughter Isabella. However, she managed to do most of the entertaining. Lunchbox: Washed, dried and stored away until Monday. Plan to have some salmon sandwiches for lunch. Went for a hair cut. Mr Haroon's shop is just at the end of my street. I was the first customer of the day at 11.25am. Had a general chat about the weather and last night's thunder. He only charges £5 a cut, which I think is bloody marvellous and my wife thinks my friend from Pakistan does a good job too. Oh that's much better... I can just see the outskirts of Crewe now. Random Thought . Today's message from beyond the grave comes from Native American chief Sitting Bull . "You all n...

BREAKFAST: Amazing bowl of Branflakes. The Walk to Work . Armed with an umbrella it was down the Taff Trail, where it was pressed into action after about 15 minutes as the rains came down. Not a great deal to report, apart from the odd duck on the River Taff below. Into the centre of Cardiff I travel down Westgate Street to get to my office. There I noticed that a single bicycle wheel had been padlocked to a railing. Got me thinking... had the rest of the bike been stolen? Or it could a piece of modern art... time to cycle on? Lunchbox. Not needed as I thought I was going to be in the corporate trough in a nice restaurant for lunch. However, the people I was supposed to meet (Grant Thornton!) cancelled on me. Only had a banana with me. Will have to go out later, perhaps for some sushi from M&S. RANDOM THOUGHT The Year 6000. In ten minutes time that nice little planet is going to self-destruct. This is the view from the last space craft to leave Earth for a new almost identical pla...

BREAKFAST: Bowl of Branflakes with semi-skimmed milk... bravo! Walk to Work Drizzle in the air as I left my humble abode and headed towards the Taff Trail, which is around a five minute walk away. Approaching Cathedral Road _ the best tree lined road in Cardiff _ a driver was waving frantically at me. I couldn't make her out until she had passed, but it was Moira the wife of Wales's greatest living civil servant, Gareth Hall. So Moira I wasn't ignoring you, but I only realised it was you after you had passed. Pretty uneventful on the trail itself... apart from a chap in his running kit pushing a baby in a pram. Lunchbox 1 container of raspberries 1 banana 2 digestive biscuits 4 ham and salad sandwiches on granary brea. 1 nectarine 1 raspberry and cranberry flavoured Muller Light Yoghurt I have never heard a sister-in-law joke Food was all gone my midday RANDOM THOUGHT Pictured are Betty and John Mills from Warrington, England, at Hotel La Booza in Spain. They are leavin...

Was live this morning on BBC Wales' flagship radio programme Good Morning Wales , talking about this blog... Well it would be rude not to. Have weblogs replaced traditional diary entries was one question? Well yes they have. Was also asked about the contents of my lunchbox. Presenter Richard Evans, who before the interview claimed that we were distantly related, seemed particularly interested in the nectarines and blackcurrant crumble which often are to be found within my Addis made lunchbox. However, I was a little bit disappointed that I wasn't allowed to do my impression of First Minister for Wales Rhodri Morgan on air. He has appeared on this blog in podcasts on a number of times, including the sketch when he is hypnotised. Presenters Richard and Bethan were very keen for me to do it, but the show's producer, my old mate Toby Mason, said something about it not being appropriate... state funding of the BBC and all that jazz I guess. Breakfast Back home from BBC Wales...

Breakfast : Morale boosting bowl of 3 Weetabix with hot semi-skimmed milk. The Walk to Work. Had to be down the lengendary Taff Trail which of course meanders its way following the flow of the River Taff into the centre of Cardiff... and beyond to Cardiff Bay. Pretty quiet this morning, apart from a few dogs and their owners out for a morning stroll. Two oriental women also passed me jogging at a very sedate pace. Luncbhox 4 pieces of toast one container of Mrs B's home made humous 1 banana 2 digestive biscuits. 1 nectarine grapes. 1 Strawberry flavoured Muller light yoghurt I would love for once to be part of the problem and not the solution! Digestives were first to go at 11am, followed by the banana. Had the humous and toast next,which was superb and well worth the fact that I now reek of garlic. Then had the strawberry flavoured Muller light yoghurt. Saving the rest of the fruit until later this afternoon. Random Thought Breaking news.... 99.9% of British dentists say they wou...

BREAKFAST : Mrs B brought this up to me in bed on a tray: bowl of Branflakes; two pieces of toast with blackcurrant jam; banana; glass of water and a cup of tea. Walk to Work ... Didn't happen this morning as I have a day off work. Lunchbox ... washed, dried and stored away until next week. Spent most of the morning entertaining my nearly 15 week old baby Isabella. Don't even think about it Tesco's! Random Thought Today's message from beyond the grave Einstein: I love that day time television, especially those Aussie soaps. Mobile phones are pretty good too. I wish I could have had one. If I did I would have happy slapped Hitler in the 1920s and sent it out into cyberspace. Have a great lunch and a sensational weekend

BREAKFAST: Just a bowl of humble Branflakes with semi-skimmed cold milk Walk to Work. For a change I didn't follow the Taff Trail, but walked down Cowbridge Road East _ a main artery into the centre of Cardiff. On passing the Tuck-In ( a near 24 eatery) a chap, who was well into his 70s, was in full flow ranting at a mate across the table who was tucking into his full British Isles breakfast. Getting more animated he then stuck his two fingers in the air... I don't think it was directed at, but must have been part of his conversation. Perhaps it went like this: I was in the pub last night Bill, and my ex-wife came in. I just carried on drinking and ignored the old bat. But when I passed her on the way to the bogs I didn't say a word but just... Lunchbox... the greatest in history. Mrs B left a note inside, which read like a M&S food ad. :This is no ordinary lunchbox... succulent chicken breast and sweetcure ham make up the sandwiches... hand picked English strawberrie...

Was up at 7am and to found running down the middle of our street in pyjamas and trainers with three rubbish full black bags in pursuit of the rubbish men. They usually arrive at 8am, so they caught me on the hop this morning... but managed to catch them and their contraption. Breakfast: Pretty good bowl of Branflakes with a sprinkling of porridge oates with semi-skimmed cold milk The Walk to Work Sun was shining as I headed down the Taff Trail. Across the River Taff into the grounds of Cardiff Castle I saw the immacuately groomed white husky dog out for a work with his owner. Nearly a crash at a bend in the trail between two cyclists.... I had my i-Pod on first blast and it could have turned out very nasty if they hadn't managed to avoid each other. LUNCHBOX 2 digestive biscuits 1 banana 1 cherry flavoured Muller light yoghurt 1 nectarine No sandwiches... we didn't have any ham, salmon etc etc to make them with. If that's Hadrian tell him we're not interested! Reduced...

BREAKFAST : Much needed bowl of 3 Weetabix with semi-skimmed cold milk. THE Walk to Work : It was down the Taff Trail (oh yes it was!) which takes me each morning into the centre of Cardiff where I earn my corn. Not much to report... apart from a delightful Sheep Dog who had a tree branch in his mouth. He gave me a little sideways look as he passed. His owner was some 50 yards behind sporting a very dashing white beard. The Lunchbox; 2 digestive biscuits 4 ham and salad sandwiches on granary bread 1 banana 1 small container, containing a delicious slice of blackcurrant crumble made by Plugs of the village of Trumpton. Some cherries. Oh just get in you big girl's blouse Food all gone by 12.23... thanks Petra you are one in a zillion! RANDOM THOUGHT Today's Message from beyond the grave Lenin: "Communism is a load of old nonsense." I have yet to see a dead person!

BREAKFAST : 3 Weetabix with semi-skimmed cold milk; two pieces of toast with Olivo spread and raspberrry jam; one banana; cup of tea and a glass of water. This was brought to me in bed by Mrs B.... tremendous! No Work to Walk today... as I have a day off for working last Sunday. Lunchbox.... Not needed as I am not working. Random Thought . 2020: Madonna wins Gold for England in the Commonwealth Games in the single bowls.

BREAKFAST: A bowl of Special K with semi-skimmed cold milk The Walk to Work : Pretty low key again down the River Taff Trail where the River Taff was extremely lethargic below The Korean woman, who power jogs, was back on the trail... not seen her for at least a week. A few cyclists whistled passed, with one wearing a Cycle 2 Work T-shirt. LUNCHBOX Not needed for the second day running as I am out for lunch with a certain Rhain Kooy of accountancy firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Yesterday I was out with very two important people from the firm of chartered surveyors Lambert Smith Hampton _ namely Claire Davies and Claire Thompson... so I had no concerns about calling them by their wrong names. My office tea cup ... I left it over night filled with hot water and some soda liquid crystals... and with a quick wipe it was as clean as a whistle. (Haven't you got anything better to tell us?) RANDOM THOUGHT People say you are always only 12 feet away from a rat. I am writing this in my offi...

BREAKFAST : Wonderful bowl of 2 Weetabix with a sprinking of porridge oates... and oh yes of course with semi-skimmed cold milk. Walk to Work. Yes it had to be down the Taff Trail where there was a decidedly sporting theme. First a chap passed me carrying what I believe was a pitching wedge and a bag of golf balls, then two minutes later a chap passed carrying a tennis racket. Lunchbox: Not required today as I am out for lunch with some very important people from chartered surveyors Lambert Smith Hampton. Just go for it RANDOM THOUGHT 2010: North Korea signs up to the Non Tesco Proliferation Pact (NTPP).

THE Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. I took this snap from a pedestrian bridge off the Taff Trail which I travel along each morning on my journey to work in the centre of Cardiff From a sporting view point Cardiff is as good as it gets. From my humble abode in Canton within a 20 minute walk I can watch a cricket international at Sophia Gardens _ a picture of which appeared on my blog entry yesterday _ as well as rugby and football internationals at the Millennium Stadium. BREAKFAST: 2 Weetabix with a sprinking of Rice Crispies with semi-skimmed cold milk. The Walk to Work: Down the Taff Trail and a woman on the other side of the River Taff was clambering up the bank with her two dogs, which has just taken an early morning dip. The immaculately groomed white husky dog and his owner passed me for the first time in quite a while. I managed to walk for 20 seconds on one section of the trail with my eyes closed... didn't walk particularly straight, but I was very pleased with my efforts...