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Showing posts from August, 2007

August 31 lunchbox

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ISABELLA & DAD Breakfast: Right on the money bowl of Weetabix with semi-skimmed cold organic milk. Walk to Work: Not today... as I worked last Sunday. The priesthood could have been, but then I'm in a much better place. Can we question God? He is the only act in town and some pretty terrible things he did, if you believe in a literal interpretation of the old Testament... the murder of all those innocent Egyptian babies comes to mind for one. This morning I visited a number of properties not too far from our humble abode as I entered the always positive world of the estate agent. Isabella I left with her grandparents and will go to collect her later this afternoon. No doubt she is having great fun. Random Thought: Walking along the Taff Trail yesterday a couple pushing a pram came towards me. Their baby was waving so happily that I smiled back and gave my best wave too. The parents were so pleased that they smiled and waved back as well. Didn't have a clue who they wer

August 29 lunchbox

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I swear he was sitting there just a minute ago in the brown chair. And no I can assure you I have not been drinking! Candidates: Nicholas Parsons; Frank Bruno; Bill Clinton and Terry Wogan. Breakfast: That's the best thing you've said since you got here bowl of Cornflakes with semi-skimmed cold organic milk. Walk to Work: It was down the legendary Taff Trail this morning, where there were to be found a serious amount of dogs of all sizes and breeds out for their walks. Barktastic it was! River Taff was its usual laconic self. Luncbbox 1 ham and tomato salad roll 1 prawn roll Banana Apple Nectarine 2 chocolate digestive biscuits 1 Rachel's organic yoghurt Thought I had lost my wedding ring today... but after a frantic search of our humble abode I found it down the side of a chair, but not the one pictured above Random Thought: In a sentence describe how you are feeling? : Centre of my own attention!

August 28 lunchbox

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So quiet at my venue of income generation... the UK is half asleep and we must remain vigilant! Remember an old history teacher telling me it would only take a dozen soldiers to take control of Wales... just a few key communication installations should do it. Breakfast: Deeply moving bowl of Cornflakes with semi-skimmed organic milk. Walk to Work: Down the retail kaleidoscope that is Cowbridge Road East. One punter was to be seen in the 1927 Cafe. Lunchbox 4 superior prawn sandwiches 1 apple 1 nectarine 1 banana 1 Rachel's organic yoghurt 2 chocolate digestive biscuits RANDOM THOUGHT Rivers can talk to each other, even if they are continents apart [laugh if you want]. The Nile is currently talking to the Tigris.

August 24 lunchbox

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Breakfast: A straight and to the point bowl of Branflakes with semi-skimmed organic milk. Walk to Work : Off the radar today so at 10am I went for walk with Isabella to our local park and the swings. Then call in on my parents. Had a nightmare trying to get Isabella to take some medicine. Lunch: Two prawn sandwiches 1 nectarine. RANDOM THOUGHT No words needed.... superb!

August 23 lunchbox

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Breakfast: Sun shining bowl of Weetabix with semi-skimmed organic milk Walk to Work: It was down Cowbridge Road East, with the sun smiling down. The whereabouts of Tory AM David Melding was of great concern this morning. However, it gave an opportunity to take a bendy bus from the centre of Cardiff to the its Bay area. One of the greatest 25 minute trips I have ever been on happened at lunchtime. With David Wiliamson and Aled Blake as companions we headed for Grangetown a magical Mr Benn like shop [images should be posted shortly]. Lunchbox 4 ham and salad sandwiches 1 apple 1 nectarine Some grapes 2 chocolate digestive biscuits Random Thought I remember watching this cartoon as a kid. I remember many things from my childhood. However, I'm not sure if I reminisce more than anyone else... would take some time and energy to market research the matter.

August 23 lunchbox

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A picture of our living room in our humble abode. See that chair, that's where I sit at night to read the FT. You cannot see me, because when this photo was taken I wasn't even in the house. Walk to Work: Down Cowbridge Road East, then Westgate Street and into the heart of the capital of Cardiff. Lunchbox: 2 salmon [tinned variety] rolls with a hint of lemon juice 1 Rachel's organic yoghurt 1 banana 1 apple Random Thought This is Eddie, who belongs to the Blake family of Tonteg . Eddie is a quality cat who has never been left in a cattery. Eddie! Eddie! Eddie! Like the sound of that. I plan to visit Eddie soon. I shouldn't really say this, but sometimes young master Aled Blake gives Eddie some little nibbles from his Sunday lunch, when the rest of the Blake clan are not watching... nice one Aled!

August 21 lunchbox

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BREAKFAST: A bowl of Weetabix with semi-skimmed organic milk. Walk to Work: It was down Cowbridge Road East. My energy levels were pretty high so had a bit of spring in my middle aged step Lunchbox 2 ham and salad rolls 2 chocolate digestive biscuits 1 banana 1 apple some cherries 1 Rachel's organic yoghurt Random Thought: Year 2009 : Accent software doesn't do very well commercially. Not a bad idea which goes like this: You talk into your computer in any accent you like and it then rates how good it is. So you could try your Northern Ireland accent out and it comes back and rates it. If you are very sad you can pay for online interactive accent coaching.

August 20 lunchbox

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BREAKFAST: All is well bowl of Weetabix with semi-skimmed organic milk, which again captured the intense interest of my daughter Isabella, pictured some months back above. Walk to Work: It was down the infamous Cowbridge Road East, where the 1927 Cafe had two workers, who had parked a huge truck outside, as its only customers merrily devouring two huge cooked breakfasts. Over Canton Bridge and into the centre of Cardiff, a coach with the Argentinian rugby team passed by. Could have been heading for the M4, or possibly Cardiff International Airport for a flight to France. Lunchbox 4 ham and tomato sandwiches 1 apple 1 banana 2 chocolate digestive biscuits Some cherries. Considering purchasing a raincoat this lunchtime . Random Thought 2070: Shakin Stevens, who is pretty old yes but still a great performer, plays his first gig in the Antarctican capital of AmundScott

August 18 lunchbox

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Oh dear rather hung over this morning after returning home at 1am. Was at the Cameo Club with Ian "the ego boy" Williams, Prof Dylan Jones-Evans and Tonteg's very finest Aled Blake. We laughed all night, about silly things mostly. There was a good energy and flow to the proceedings. One for the road was mentioned quite a few times.... Mr C of Penarth departed at a far more civilised time, sporting a very impressive new hair cut! Earlier a woman by the name of Jackie Meek who I had never seen before, explained she was a fan of this blog, something about it inspiring her family to blog. Not sure her husband Allan was such a bit fan though... and I can empathise there. I have a feeling they are both involved in the smoke detection business. Breakfast: Seriously important bowl of Weetabix with semi-skimmed organic milk. Walk to Work: Wasn't really up for it and it really didn't do anything to clear my head. Lunchbox 2 chocolate digestive biscuits 4 ham and tomato san

August 17 lunchbox

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Breakfast: Pretty good bowl of Weetabix with semi-skimmed milk, which I had to share with my 15 month old daughter Isabella. Walk to Work: Opted for Cowbridge Road East this morning, where traffic was noticeable light. Cannot recall anything of note, save for a few American tourists taking pictures on Canton Bridge. Lunchbox 4 ham and tomato sandwiches 2 chocolcate digestive biscuits 1 banana 1 apple 1 nectarine Random Thought When I was growing up in Grangetown, Cardiff, after school [St Patrick's] we went to my nan's house where we were presented with a huge piece of bread and jam. All these year later and I am still a bit fan of bread and jam. That's it I'm afraid

August 15 lunchbox

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Breakfast: Matter of fact bowl of Weetabix with semi-skimmed organic milk Walk to Work: Rain on and off as I wandered down the Taff Trail for a change. The immaculately groomed white husky dog I spied through the trees across the River Taff in the grounds of Cardiff Castle. The trail was pretty quiet on the mankind front, withjust the odd cyclist whistling pass me. Lunchbox 2 organic smoked salmon sandwiches with a hint of lemon juice 2 ham and tomato sandwiches 1 apple 1 Rachel's dairy yoghurt 2 chocolate digestive biscuits 1 nectarine. Random Thought Fireman Taff starting out in the firefighting business back in 1901 in New York City no less. Today he is 130 years old and living in the village of Tonteg . He is the chap pictured first left in the front row. It's all a bit sketchy as to how he ended up here in Wales. However, what I do know [and strictly off the record] is that he came up with the idea to create the Welsh Consumer Council.

August 14 lunchbox

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Breakfast: Just a thank you very much bowl of Weetabix with semi-skimmed cold organic milk. Walk to Work: Much rain in South Wales this morning. Had my dodgy raincoat on as I headed with my umbrella down Cowbridge Road East.... a parallel universe where people are arrested in Woolworths for not shoplifting. Lunchbox: Cherries and strawberries happily sharing the same tinfoil enclosed space 4 organic salmon sandwiches with a hint of lemon juice... superb! Nectarine Banana Apple. Random Thought Had an eye test earlier this year... first time ever. They are working pretty well and no need for any glasses. Would feel weird to drive without a seatbeat . Smoking ban? That's good, but smokers are starting to monopolise sitting areas outside restaurants, pubs etc etc. It will not be long before they cannot do that. There could be a smokers backlash... I see them outside the Bingo Hall near my home. If they get organised they could be a pretty unstoppable force. I don't need glasses

August 13 lunchbox

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BREAKFAST: Just a bowl of plain sailing Cornflakes with semi-skimmed organic milk. Walk to Work: I headed, without hestiation towards, Cowbridge Road East. The thought of taking the slightly longer and more scenic route along the Taff Trail into the centre of Cardiff didn't even enter my mind. Lunchbox: 4 ham and tomato sandwiches 1 apple 1 Rachel's Dairy yoghurt Strawberries and grapes all wrapped in tinfoil. 2 chocolate digestive biscuits. Random Thought We've won! Now then where did I put that ticket. That's right in my shirt pocket, which I've just put in the charity shop bag. Which is outside the front door. Oh my God it better be there! Sound of door opening : Bloody hell they've taken it. What was the name of that charity, come on think. Cafod, no it wasn't them, some Scottish name, oh my God I don't believe this. 20, 8, 16, 49, 23, 7. Try it on Saturday

August 10 lunchbox

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BREAKFAST: Bowl of Weetabix with semi-skimmed organic milk then some toast with raspberry jam and a glass of water. I opted not to blog yesterday... that's how it goes sometimes. Yesterday was another day off from income generation. Had a very enjoyable game of golf at the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel, Resort [and something else which I cannot recall, but might be the word spa] with Paul James, who used to ply his trade in spreading the word of Julian Hodge Bank and a certain Hywel Thomas a director no less of a company called Medical & Professional. Good company and pretty good golf, but we were far too civilised to count our scores. Had a spot of lunch with Paul in the clubhouse as Hywel had to spend the afternoon with the villainy of Barry. Got home at 2pm, where Mrs B had left - perfectly reasonably - a list of a number of household chores. Finished them just in time to pick up some onion barjis and nan bread in Riverside and some petrol, before picking up Mrs B in Cardiff

August 8 lunchbox

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Breakfast : Steak and chips and bottle of rum.... come on Sion can you please be serious? Okay it was a cereal extravaganza. A mixture of Weetabix, Special K and porridge oats with cold semi-skimmed organic milk. Walk to Work: Not on the radar today, as I have a few days off for working last Sunday and a number of recent Bank Holidays... which is not when Barclays staff jets off for two weeks in Barbados. After 95% successful shopping errand we travel out of Cardiff [Mrs B doesnt work Wednesdays] to Plugs' nice abode in the village of Trumpton, or for ordnance survey map purposes Draethen. A good deed I had in mind by cutting a roadside bank of grass. It needed quite a few extension leads from the house, but the old Flymo got off to a flying start. But after 10 minutes, I sensed that the machine wasn't really cutting the mustard. And I was horrified to see a whole bunch of smoke coming out of its motor. Oh dear! I had to use the hand shears to finish the job, with Plug put

August 7 lunchbox

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BREAKFAST: Jolly bowl of Branflakes with semi-skimmed cold organic milk, which my 15 month old daughter Isabella was keen to get a slice of. Walk to Work: Down Cowbridge Road East this morning... what a joyful stretch of highway. Lunchbox 2 digestive biscuits 4 salmon sandwiches [tinned variety] with a hint of lemon juice collection of red and green grapes 1 Rachel's organic yoghurt Random Thought Voice from Cardiff: It's like this for someone from Tonteg going to Cardiff is like someone from Cardiff going to New York... simple as that end of chat

August 6 lunchbox

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BREAKFAST: Pretty tidy I have to say bowl of Weetabix with semi-skimmed organic milk. Walk to Work: It was back down the Taff Trail for the first time in a while. Sun was shining and the River Taff was looking pretty pleased with itself. Half way along and I came across Wales' greatest ever living civil servant Gareth Hall. Ask Gareth if he had seen the Welsh rugby debacle on Saturday, but he said he couldn't afford Sky! Special mention to Kate Sullivan who celebrated 26 years on this planet over the weekend. She made some pretty declious choclate cakes for her party. Her mum too came up trumps with some Welsh cakes. Not sure if Fordy was allowed into the kitchen. I am sure Miko would have made something divine, but she is in Japan. Lunchbox 2 digestive biscuits Some cherries and grapes banana apple 2 ham and tomato rolls. Ran dom Thought Can anyone tell me whether this is Gareth Hall in disguise Its Virgina Chambers you daft sod! [shout from the back of the room] James Price d

August 4 lunchbox

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Breakfast: Quick as a flash bowl of Weetabix with semi-skimmed organic milk, followed by half a pint of water and two pieces of toast with blackcurrant jam. Walk to Work: It was down Cowbridge Road East with my i-Pod as my companion. Traffic pretty light this morning. Could I spend an entire week on the road, which would include sleeping on the pavement? Well if I had to I would . Lunchbox: 4 salmon sandwiches [tinned variety] with a hint of lemon juice 1 banana Random Thought Nice and relaxed, keep your head still, and hit right through the ball. No way it looks too beautiful, just leave it and appreciate the view.

August 2 lunchbox

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Went to St Fagans on Wednesday, here I am with Isabella And here is Petra and Isabella. Breakfast: Bowl of Weetabix with semi-skimmed cold organic milk. Walk to Work: Torrential rain so I took a lift with Mrs B and Isabella first to her nursery. We then dropped the car in off Lloyd George Avenue. Mrs B headed south towards here location of income generation and I north into the centre of Cardiff for mine. Lloyd George Avenue was devoid of any pedestrians save for me and a dashing umbrella. Lunch: Had a nice bite to eat at the cafe at Howells Dept store in the centre of Cardiff with a certain proud father of three Nick Bennett who knows a thing or two about social housing in Wales. Random Thought Looking to pen a newspaper story? Well I suggest you ring the lost property office of a train station or conference hall. You'll be amazed what they have... perhaps even a false leg or two!

August 1 lunchbox

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BREAKFAST: Had a sleepy bowl of Cornflakes with semi-skimmed organic milk. Walk to Work: Not on the agenda today, I am free for working a not so long ago bank holiday. Mrs B is also not in the zone of income generation today, but we had plenty of little tasks to undertake, including a drive into the Welsh countryside to deposit some provisions for the soon to return from holiday Plugs - mother/mother-in-law. Lunch: Well Mrs B made a carrot and coriander soup on Sunday we are having that with a baguette. Random Thought I'm running for the midnight train. There are no stations, just constant rain. Memories cramped into every carriage, stretching back to my childhood . A mystery tour, well not quite, as I'm pretty sure of my destination. Sleep now, sleep, forever more.