Sion Barry's World

Apologies for the lateness of this blog entry. I hold three people responsible for this delay They are: Chief executive of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, Russell Goodway. Director general of the CBI Richard Lambert Chairman of CBI Wales and chief executive of the Principality Building Society Peter Griffiths. They took up all my day with breakfast and luncheon events. So there you go. RANDOM THOUGHT 2009: Peter Griffiths, chief executive of the Princiaplity is arrested after using all of the building society's reserves to acquire every council house in Wales. Doctors say he is suffering from a severe case of social housingitis We wish Peter a speedy recovery. Have a great weekend. Sion

Me, Isabella in a pram, a dog whose name I know not, grass and trees, a park bench, and some people playing bowls Breakfast: Two pieces of toast, a banana, one cup of tea, a glass of water and bowl of Rice Crispies with semi-skimmed cold milk. The Walk to Work : This didn't happen this morning as I have a day off work. Lunchbox: Pictured earlier today on a corporate lunchbox building day somewhere near Munich RANDOM THOUGHT 2100: The first Clark's Pies shop is opened in the Antarctican capital of AmundScott

BREAKFAST : Magical bowl of Rice Crispies with semi-skimmed cold milk Walk to Work: It wasn't down the Taff Trail today as I had a meeting with Bank of England MPC member David "Danny" Blanchflower in Cardiff Bay. Very nice chap was Danny and he even went to school in Cardiff _ Cantonian High School for Boys. He was there at the same time as Welsh football manager John Thosack. He didn't say anything much apart from the fact he has put a £110 bet on that interest rates will hit 10% by March 2008 _ only kidding! Lunchbox. 4 salmon sandwiches with lemon juice on granary bread. 2 digestive biscuits. 1 banana 1 nectarine Strawberry flavoured Muller Light Yoghurt. All gone by 1pm. Random Thought 2020: Former England cricket Derek Randall is elected First Minister of Wales... will get back to you on how this came about, but I think Derek will do a grand job

Had a race with my washing machine and other kitchen equipment last night and as you can see it just beat me. I was happy with second place, as the toaster and microwave were really fancied to win. BREAKFAST: Pretty impressive bowl of Shreddies with semi-skimmed cold milk The Walk to Work: Down the Taff Trail, ducks, squirrels, dogs, people, cyclists, swans, litter, etc, etc LUNCHBOX; 4 ham and salad sandwiches on organic bread 1 Vanilla flavoured Muller Light 1 Nectarine 1 Apple 1 Banana 2 digestive biscuits All gone by 12.30pm, apart from the yoghurt, nectarine and apple RANDOM THOUGHT 2090: SOCIAL space levels in the UK reach an all time "closeness" of 10cms. It's all down to global warming and people getting more "continental." However, in Mediterranean countries the weather is so hot that social space levels expand. They reach 30 cms by 2090 and by 2150 are predicted to reach one metre! "Those British are so chic and laid back!

BREAKFAST: Very enjoyable bowl of 3 Weetabix with semi-skimmed cold milk. Walk to Work: Down the legendary Taff Trail where I saw three squirrels in close proximity. Quite a few ducks on the River Taff below and another appearance for the pair of regal Swans. Cyclists were out in force too. Also a first: A chat tapping a roled up newspaper _ it was a tabloid _ against his body while walking and whistling. Lunchbox 4 salmon sandwiches with a hint of lemon juice on granary bread 1 banana 2 digestive biscuits 1 nectarine 1 apple 1 container of raspberries and grapes. 1 vanilla flavoured yoghurt What an amazing start to the week for the lunchbox... Mrs B was again in tremendous form in the kitchen this morning. Banana, digestives and sandwiches gone by midday... keeping remaining fruit and yoghurt until later. The world is caving in on the small band of remaining plate spinner s Random Thought Year 2030: Plate spinning is made compulsory in all primary schools in Greece.... a perfect mar...

BREAKFAST: VERY enjoyable bowl of 3 Weetabix with semi-skimmed cold milk Walk to Work: Decided to change the route today. Instead I headed down Plasturton Gardens, where Wales's greatest ever living civil servant, Gareth Hall, resides. I didn't come across Gareth today... perhaps he was burning the paper work on operation Tulip? I then travelled along Cathedral Road, which I consider to be the best stretch of highway in the whole of Cardiff. I then walked through Sophia Gardens, where right at the end I travelled a short stretch _ 30 odd yards_ along the lengendary Taff Trail, before crossing over Canton Bridge into the centre of Cardiff. Lunchbox. 1 banana 1 nectarine 1 cherry flavoured Muller Light yoghurt 4 salmon sandwiches (tinned variety) with a hint of lemon juice on granary bread. 1 container of raspberries and grapes. All gone by 12.30pm Random Thought BREAKING SPORTING NEWS IT's what the boxing world has been waiting for for years _ a title reunification winner ...

MY 20 week old daughter Isabella took her first solids yesterday _ baby rice _ and again at 11am today. So well done kiddo and I'm looking forward to feeding you on Saturday, when we will expand the menu by introducing you to the wonders of fruit [pears]. BREAKFAST: As Isabella was up at 4.45am, I had an earlier than usual breakfast, brought to me in bed by the wondrous Mrs B It was a bowl of Branflakes with semi-skimmed cold milk; two pieces of toast with Olvio spread and blackcurrant jam; a banana and a glass of water. WALK to Work. Down the Taff Trail again [it's very addictive you know]. Nothing of great consequence to report apart from a chap sleeping rough just off the trail. Lunchbox 2 smoked salmon sandwiches 2 ham and salad sandwiches 1 apple 1 nectarine 1 banana 2 digestive biscuits. 1 container of raspberries and grapes. All gone by 12.30pm RANDOM THOUGHT Nothing of note Some days we just haven't got the music inside us. But don't worry there is always tom...

HERE I am with my work colleague David Williamson outside the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Click here to see us in action BREAKFAST : Amazing bowl of Shreddies with semi-skimmed cold milk The Walk to Work; It was down the Taff Trail Not much to report apart from the odd duck on the River Taff below and a few cyclists on the trail too. Lunchbox 2 digestive biscuits 1 container of raspberries and grapes 4 ham and salad sandwiches on granary bread 1 banana 1 nectarine. All gone by 1.30pm Random Thought. Don't even think about squeezing me!

CLICK HERE for a little podcast about the Pope, God and a mobile telephone call from a chap called Tony. Breakfast: Jolly decent bowl of Shreddies Walk to Work: Down the Taff Trail where the River Taff below as a little bit more active than of late. A very nice Sheep Dog passed me, with his owners about 20 yards behind. A few squirrels were out and about too. Lunchbox 2 digestive biscuits 4 smoked salmon sandwiches with a hint of lemon juice on granary bread 1 Vanilla flavoured Muller Light yoghurt 1 banana 1 nectarine 1 small container of raspberries and green grapes Was all consumed by 12.30pm apart from the nectarine RANDOM THOUGHT Year 2102: First of 5 super prisons [housing up to 10,000 bad arse Antarcticans] are opened in Antarctica.

BREAKFAST: Bowl of Shreddies with semi-skimmed cold milk. The Walk to Work: Heavy rain over night so equipped with an umbrella I headed off down the Taff Trail. As I did blue skies appeared. Nearly a crash as a cyclist broke hard to avoid a dog which was wandering along the trail. On the River Taff a pair of regal Swans were making their way from one bank to the other. A few squirrels I saw too and as I left the trail and crossed Canton bridge into the centre of Cardiff I saw another pair of Swans just below. The Lunchbox 4 miniature Toblerones... gave one to work colleague David Williamson 4 ham and tomato sandwiches on granary bread 2 digestive biscuits 1 nectarine 1 banana 1 cherry flavoured Muller light Yoghurt. Apart from the nectarine and banana all was consumed by 12.30pm RANDOM THOUGHT: I LOVE DEMOCRACY!

BREAKFAST: Very supportive bowl of Branflakes with semi-skimmed cold milk The Walk to Work: Day off today, so spent the morning up a ladder cleaning the wall to the back of our house... as you do. Then played golf at Castell Coch, a nine hole pay as play golf course near Cardiff. It was the first time I have every played a game of golf with my father [pictured left with my wondrous cousin Paul Hassan] who at nearly 68, have only just taken up the game. Gave him loads of positive comments, like "Great shot," "You've got superb hand-eye co-ordination." He played very well, but does he have the desire to really push himself to become a really good player? Random Thought Look somebody has taken a bite out of my jam sandwich. I would rather somebody owns up, but if that doesn't happen then I am going to to get angry... and you wouldn't like me when I'm angry HAVE A great weekend!

BREAKFAST: Brilliant bowl of Branflakes with semi-skimmed cold milk. The Walk to Work: This didn't happen today as I have a day off work. LUNCHBOX: Also a day off and is just spending the day relaxing in his favourie tree Are you a poet or a pole dancer a prancer or a dancer? RANDOM THOUGHT 2050: The Candy Floss revolution turns out to be a lot more fun in China than the ridiculous Cultural Revolution of the 1960s. Kids go around the country with many different coloured candy flosses and give them out to the poorest people they can find... that's pretty sweet all around, everyone has fun and nobody gets injured or killed.

Here I am [left] with my work colleague David Williamson. We work very hard, but we also play very stupidly. WAS out running around my local park Llandaff Fields at 6.40am this morning. Two squirrels were having a race up a tree... it was to0 tight to call who won. Breakfast: Bowl of 2 Weetabix and cold milk... usually have 3, but I miss counted. Walk to Work Down the Taff Trail and the two regal Swans from yesterday were back on the River Taff below. Quite a bit of cyclist traffic on the trail. One of the cyclist was talking to himself as he passed. I cannot be 100% sure, but I think it was in some Slavic language. Lunchbox. 4 sausage sandwiches _ remains of Mr B's bangers and mash from last night 1 Cherry flavoured Muller Light Yoghurt 1 banana 2 digestive biscuits Random Thought ACTION MAN says, "We need to get our boys out of Afghanistan and Iraq now. I have been in conflict zones around the world _ including Sion Barry's bedroom 1970-1977. So what I am saying is th...

BREAKFAST: Nice, but not sensational, bowl of Branflakes with semi-skimmed cold milk. The Walk to Work : It was down the legendary Taff Trail which meanders its way leisurely into the centre of Cardiff _ where I exit _ down to Cardiff Bay. The two regal Swans were back, some 30 yards a apart, but in a straight line on the river below. They were both dipping their heads into the waters of the Taff. The immaculate White husky dog and his owner also passed me _ last time I saw them they were on the other side of the river in the grounds of Cardiff Castle. It was threatening to rain, so I upped my pace and made it to work without getting wet _ although I could have taken two hours as as it transpired it didn't rain afterall. Lunchbox 4 salmon sandwiches [tinned variety] with a hint of lemon juice on granary bread. 1 banana 2 digestive biscuits 1 nectarine 1 Vanilla flavoured yoghurt It was all gone by 12.20pm, apart from the nectarine which I am saving until later. RANDOM THOUGHT Chri...

Was running like a fool around my local park Llandaff Fields at 6.30am this morning. Breakfast: Superb bowl of Branflakes. Walk to Work: It was down the Taff Trail where the River Taff was still very lethargic, but I've seen her at her most active and she can become an untamed beast. Quite a few cyclists whistled past me. Rubbish levels were noticeably up this morning with bottles, cans, papers etc etc, dropped everywhere. Lunchbox 1 banana 4 ham and tomato sandwiches on granary bread 2 digestive biscuits 1 container of strawberries 1 Cherry flavoured Muller light Yoghurt. It was all consumed by 12.30am RANDOM Thought: THE continuation from last Friday's and Thursday's random thoughts has been postponed for reasons I cannot go into. However, I will not be detered and will conclude the story with a podcast later this week. Get this whisky down you... it will make you feel better. Then a nice hot bath and straight to bed!

BREAKFAST: Amazing bowl of 3 Weetabix with semi-skimmed cold milk The Walk to Work : It had to be down the legendary, or yes the legendary, River Taff Trail. It was pretty low key today... apart from a few eager cyclists whistling past me. There were a few ducks on the river below and for the first time in ages I also saw the 2 regal Swans too. Lunchbox 4 ham and salad sandwiches on granary bread 1 banana 1 strawberry flavoured yoghurt 1 piece of chocolate torte. 2 digestive biscuits some grapes wrapped in tinfoil. Was all consumed by 1pm Random Thought. Continuation from yesterday's entry It is late at the Welsh Assembly and First Minister Rhodri Morgan enters the office of Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks Andrew Davies. Andrew has just sealed a handwritten letter addressed to telecommunications billionaire Sir Terry Matthews. He is so engrossed admiring the envelope that he doesn't notice the First Minister until he looks up in horror to find him leaning over...

WAS up at 6.30am for a run around my local park Llandaff Fields... felt good this morning. Breakfast: Very hearty bowl of 3 Weetabix with semi-skimmed cold milk. Walk to Work : It was down the Taff Trail which follows the lethargic River Taff into the centre of Cardiff. Came across a blue tent just off the trail, nestled up against a large tree. From inside came a loud cough. Lunchbox: Not required today as I as back in the corporate trough! Random Thought INSIDE this bin is an unopened letter, addressed to Sir Terry Matthews _ the telecommunications billionaire. It was penned by a certain Andrew Davies, the Welsh Assembly's Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks. So how did it get there and what is in the letter?.... to be continued

Breakfast : Bang on the money bowl of Shreddies with semi-skimmed cold milk. The Walk to Work: It had to be down the legendary Taff Trai, where I experienced a first... a cross the River Taff conservation. A chap in front of me turned and waved over to the owner of the immaculatey groomed white Husky on the the other side of the river in the grounds of Castle Castle. The distance between them was about 40-ish yards. Wasn't a long conversation, started with waves, how are you?x2 and a couple of thumbs up. LUNCHBOX 2 digestive biscuits 1 tim tam. 1 container of strawberries 1 banana 1 nectarine 1 Vanilla flavoured Muller Light Yoghurt 2 ham sandwiches on granary bread. Don't talk to people who read newspapers in libraries. Food was all gone by 1.3opm RANDOM THOUGHT I am looking foward to getting out of this costume when Tony Blair takes over next summer.

BREAKFAST: Breathtaking bowl of 3 Weetbix with semi-skimmed cold milk Walk to Work: It was down the legendary Taff Trail where ahead of me two oldish ladies were deep in conversation looking over to the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club Sophia Gardens. As I passed one started to talk me, so I removed by i-Pod earplugs. Lady: Excuse me, who plays here, is it Hampshire? Me: No its Sophia Gardens home to Glamorgan. This is not Southampton, but Cardiff. Lady: [laughing] oh silly me of course we are in Cardiff, what was I thinking. Quite a few cyclists whistled past me as I headed towards by exit point on the trail, Canton Bridge. Lunchbox 4 Quality Streets 4 sausage sandwiches _ the remains of Mrs B's bangers and mash from last night. 1 Cherry flavoured Muller Light yoghurt 2 digestive biscuits 1 peach 1 banana container of strawberries. All consumed by 12.30pm apart from the nectarine Random Thought 2007: Welsh rugby international Gavin Henson at half time during the Rugby Worl...

Was out running around my local park Llandaff Fields at 6.45am. BREAKFAST : Seriously uplifting bowl of Shreddies with semi-skimmed cold milk. The Walk to Work: It was good to see the River Taff again after a week's vacation. The river was moving as slow as ever. In the middle of the river was a lone fisherman who had a pretty good casting technique. Delighted to see the first squirrel I have seen on the Taff Trail for sometime. Lunchbox. A tour de force this morning from Mrs B 4 pieces of toast A container of home made humous 4 Quality Street sweets 2 Digestive biscuits 1 banana 1 nectarine some grapes. 1 vanilla flavoured Muller light yoghurt Before we start we would love a nice cuppa sweet heart! Shared the sweets with my colleague David Williamson, then had the digestives. Had the toast and humous just before midday _ reek of garlic, but it was worth it. Then had the banana and the yoghurt. Keeping the rest of the friut until later. Random Thought Year 2070: The world chess ch...

Here I am with my daughter Isabella... have had a week off work and spent some great time with the family. Breakfast: Invigorating 3 Weetabix with semi-skimmed cold milk; two pieces of toast, pint of water and a cup of tea. This week I have recaptured the running bug.... plan my fifth in five days at midday. When I was younger I always thought that perhaps I could make the next Olympics, probably as a 5,000 metre runner. Now I just run to stop getting fat! Lunchbox: As the small number of readers of this blog already know, it has been washed, dried and stored away until next week, as I have a week off work. The weaning man is coming around this afternoon to explain how and when we should start feeding Isabella _ although Mr B has already consulted Gina Ford on this important matter. RANDOM THOUGHT My favourite athletes of all time include Brendan Foster, pictured above. And course in the UK we had the golden period of Coe and Ovett in the late 70s to the mid 1980s, but my number on...