Swansea 10k and Scam monkey update

Another year, another run around Swansea for 6 miles! Only this year my expectations were on the floor. After a year of physio and rehabilitation classes, before starting back to run properly, I was happily hoping to get round in 55 mins or so (although I was faster than that in the Merthyr 10k).

Come race day, I'm feeling good, had to run an unexpected 1k kids race practically dragging Gracie by the hand  first thing. But that's all warm up I suppose! Plenty of stretching so as not to destroy my knee again and i was off.

Got to give it to Swansea, it's a nice course, especially when the sun is pumping down on you on such a nice day. Downside is... sun is pumping down on you as it's such a nice day. Big thanks to the guy with the hose at about 6 or 7k, much appreciated. So so hot!

On route, felt horrible at first, had been stood in the baking sun for 20+ mins before hand, was really overheating! But got myself into a good rhythm and within 2 or 3k i was going at a decent pace. Then the realisation hit me... I could maintain this pace, this was comfortable... so I maintained it. It got to the point where occasionally I was losing time due to traffic, this does not happen to me.

Got to the last 400m or so and I felt like i had more in the tank, so off i went, no quite a sprint finish but a quick one. I run in before the clock gets that close to 51 mins and instantly know... PB. Phone says 50:38, but slightly over distance (as usual me wandering past the line trying to turn it off). But regardless I'm happy.

Time later comes through at 50:19, 1:31 off my old best time! Barely mediocre in the grand scheme of things but for me, not bad. Although I have got sunburn on both my shoulders... in September... and it is quite sore...

Also, update on scam monkey from other day, reported to police, PayPal and gumtree (who ignored my email) and my money is on it's way back! Massive thanks to Andrew Aitcheson for the assistance/advice on this. Now hoping to get a capture card again! Have recorded one XB1 video, but it was shite and has been filed away on some god forsaken corner of YouTube. as a WIP!

Cardiff half in 2 weeks, expect more running related writings before then.

And I'm spent...

Running season is over, for now anyway. last weekend was the final run of my 3 leg September/October jaunt round Swansea, Cardiff and Aberdare(!). Personal Bests tumbled, knee joints crumbled but after a roughly combined 242 minutes of running, I'm done.

As a result of my efforts, Barnardo's has a little more money and I have...

A truly epic collection of event t-shirts and participation medals!

My favourite shifted this year too, usually the Swansea 10k is my fav race, but this year it was Cardiff. This was helped by Swansea being horrifically wet and windy, but the crowds etc in Cardiff did spur you on, plus I wasn't struggling as much as before so could take stuff in! Aberdare? Fuck me, hardest first mile and a bit ever, but quite pleasant apart form that. Think I'd like to do it quicker, but the main issue was my brains unwillingness to let me run quickly down steep hills.

Given my standard of coordination I'd have been picking up my teeth from a rock half way down if I'd gone for it! Still worth a go though and the t-shirt from that was the nicest!  

So what now? Time to sit on my arse over crimbo and get fat... well to a degree. I've classed myself as injured at the moment as I am walking like I've shit myself due to swelling on my foot and a ropey knee, but give me a week and I'll be back in the gym on lunch times, I've kind of agreed with my pointless and demon run co-person to do the 5k 'santa' dash in Cardiff in December. It's 5k, there are no concerns there, but it'll keep me going.

Further more there's then a 8 mile road run in Newport in January (let's face it if I'm in Newport, I'm going to be running, to save my trainers from chavs at least) which looks like a great warm up for the Llanelli Half Marathon in March, which is supposed to be a nice and quite quick course. Sub 2 hours anyone? I doubt it too but I'm going to try.

Long term goal is apply for London 2014... but calm down for 5.

Then next year I'll do it all again! Well maybe!

Either way the slightly smaller version of me is more manageable and less likely to die horribly from a heart attack or related illnesses, so the exercise levels should at least stay the same, and to be fair do need to get picked up further. Particularly on distance, must run further at a time.

But for today... where's me burger?

Cardiff Half Marathon

Well that was fun, the only dry day in about 6 months, contrasting the Swansea 10k drastically, freezing temperatures to start but warming up nicely, and improvement on the course they used last year. The Cardiff Marathon was a nice day out:

I went in with a target time of 2:10, hoping for 2:05 and for the second race in a row, I hit the better target! Moving my oversized gut round the 13.1 miles in 2:03:58. If anything a bit frustrating I was closer to 2 hours than I was expecting while still falling a bit short.

A slow first mile people dodging (10:40ish) didn't help, and there was also a massive flap at around the 8 mile mark all of which cost me quite a bit of time of course. But I think with better training 2 hours should be my target come Llanelli in March.

Not a bad couple of races, taking 6ish mins of my 10k time and 19ish of my 1/2 marathon and judging by how I feel, there'#s more to come on both. Sadly my knee doesn't seem as willing as the rest of me and is rather useless at the moment, as a result I'm now officially doubtful for the Aberdare Demon Run this coming Sunday, as long as it feels ok by Wednesday I'll be raring to go, but I think I quick check up on it may be in need tomorrow.

Next year though, sub 2 hour 1/2 is on, and I also fancy a go at a 26.2 miler at some point, but maybe 2014.

Keep on running

It's that time of the year again, the time of year I try to do something I'm physically incapable of to raise money for charity (well not only for that, I do it so I don't become a 30 stone monster as well, beefcake!), this year I've used all my imagination and done exactly the same as last year, the Cardiff Half Marathon, plus probably the Swansea 10k as a warm up race.

This year I'll be joined by my friends Brad and James (or so I'm told by Brad, don't count numbers til the start line), here's the classiest photo I could find of myself (the floral number) and Bradley (the little black/grey dress) from my stag night. Ignore the bald one, we always find it best.

Anyway, running requires preparation, something which traditionally I suck at as much as the running part. So this year I've started earlier (well it can't be any later than last year as I barely did anything, lazy motherf...) so Rhydycar gym will actually start earning the £9,500 a month it takes from my account. So far I've made 2 visits, on the first covering 4 miles and doing a bit on the bike and the second 5 miles, both at pretty decent pace too, so I'm pretty confident I'll be able to do 13 by October.

The main issue at the moment is feeling the urge to stop at even the faintest hint of fatigue. Knowing rest and relaxation is just a large red stop button away is quite tempting, to the point where on the 5 miles, I could have easily have carried on, I wasn't feeling that bad, but just thought, "That'll do fatty, go get a burger." Which of course I didn't.

Luckily I get myself into a mindset that once I'm going I do tend to really enjoy training. Headphones in, decent music, bit of adrenaline or something pumping, sense of achievement when you get there, it's good stuff.

Equally my choice of charity is still open, traditionally of late I've fund raised for Velindre, a very worthy cause. But with a new sprog on the way (have I mentioned that? I have now anyway) the temptation is there to support a kids charity, such as the NSPCC who I ran for on my first half marathon, also with Brad but no James, ended with quite a nasty knee injury...

Any suggestions, I have a comments section....

I may keep this blog updated periodically with training updates, I doubt they'll be that interesting, but it's my blog and I'll post what I like! I'm planning on hitting the gym this very evening, 5 miles again is the target, see how I feel when I get there. I'm still far to heavy to make a decent go at it, but I'll get there. I even have Special K for Breakfast this morning! Not out of any weight-loss plan, I just really like the red berries one. 

Also is it wrong I'm really fancying a kebab at the moment?

Holy can't breathe Batman!

I've done some classy things in my time, but ending up in a welfare point in Swansea being attended too by paramedics, while dressed as Batman on Saturday night, that's gotta rank up there!

Among my many medical problems I'm asthmatic, but it's not that bad any more. Therefore last Saturday when struggling for pocket space (as there weren't any) in my fancy dress costume (wallet, phone, keys etc were located in a running belt round my waist) my inhaler was due to be passed to a pocketed up friend to carry. Downside was I forgot all about that while leaving, and so it remained in my mates house while I sped down the A465.

I realised this quite quickly, but thought, "Oh well, I won't need it anyway". Ha! Wrong motherfucker!

Anyway, it was a cracking night, we were looking classy as a group, someone even dressed up as Kato (just with the wrong hat), even though he was claiming to be the Green Hornet, his hat was white and his mask black...

Look how classy we looked!

Just need to teach Robin an appropriate superhero pose!

Anyway, it got too 12:45 or so and we hit Reflex as we usually do, but by this point I'd been struggling slightly with my chest for maybe 20 minutes, and was getting increasingly aware of it. Few minutes later I went for the door to get some fresh air, was hanging round there, where one mate spotted me and came to see what the issue was (Kato), I explained the situation and was soon joined by another (Mr Incredible), before I know it the 3 of us are marching up Wind Street in search of assistance.

Thanks to the sober Kato, and my insistence nobody calls 999, we located the said van and come 1:10 I was sat on a nebuliser (it''s been a while) regaining the ability to breathe! My blood o2 dropped to below 92% and I've soreness still now from struggling to breathe for so long, plus the cold weather etc. Bradley Edwards and Kevin Marsh, I owe grand style.

From there I hit McDonalds then got the bus home, eventful evening on the whole.

The weirdest part, most people seemed to think it was quite normal for:

• Batman
• Robin
• Superman
• Captain America (although there was no shield)
• Bananaman
• The Joker
• Kato
• Mr Incredible 

To be wandering round. Odd place Swansea :)

That represented the mid-section of my birthday weekend. Previously on the Friday I'd had a particularly excellent meal in Crickhowell. 20oz rump steak was awesome, large and awesome and last night, until snow coverage scared us home we were in Britain's Got Talent auditions (not preforming) and let's be fair, it was very average, but the, surprisingly chav-heavy, crowd cheered when the production staff wanted them too etc

Anyway, I better change the bio bit to say 30!

Nearly 30...

It's my birthday soon! (Cards are welcome, cash direct to my paypal account encouraged...)

This birthday will leave me ending with a zero, so it's a slightly bigger deal than the previous few birthdays and means I'll hit 30. As a result of the numerical magnitude, death of my youth, onset of middle age, etc, it has been decided to expand on my traditional few pints round town to visit the fair city of Abertawe, is there a theme? Of course it is... 80s cartoon characters (as I, and indeed they, were born in the 80s, see.. you follow??).

This leaves me with a dilemma, who do I go as, I've got ideas but they all feel a little obvious. Count Duckula, He Man, nothing is inspiring me at all. It has to be a male, the last twice I've ventured out on the wonderful lad of Wind Street I've been in a dress n tights... not this time! Even though it has to be said, I do have the legs to pull it off.

As well as my brick wall on ideas, I also have friends who are very good at this kind of thing, and who do put the effort in. This then pushes everyone else on to try, or else look stupid! A good effort will be made by my good self, I just don't know what yet.

What even counts? Does stuff such as Batman (yes I'm aware of the tights situation), which was a cartoon pre-80s but with some produced pre-80s too count? Ghostbusters? Bill n Ted? Cartoons, but ripped off from films? Who knows hey! The Simpsons was actually first produced in 1989, technically...

So any ideas are most welcome, I've currently got a massive 15 days til it's time so I better get my arse in gear. 

Swansea Bay 10k

Yesterday was the lovely Swansea Bay 10k. My third time in the race and by far the least preparation I'd ever done. I'm by no stretch an athlete, so to try this kind of thing ideally some decent effort needs to be made, however this time things just kept getting in the way and I did 1 run (count it... 1) in the 2 months or so before the event. (Heolgerrig - Beacon Heights via winchfawr road, 4 miles very hilly) So as you can imagine there was a sense of dread as number 3753 took up his position at the rear of the field (where I belong) to run the 6.2 miles ahead.

At this point I'll go into my biggest usual problem running, pacing. I can't do it, I never have any idea how fast I'm going etc, so hight praise for the Nike+ GPS iPhone app. An absolute godsend, kept me informed on pace as often as I wanted, well worth the £1.49 from the app store (I had mine free!)

Anyway, back on point, I started, right calf quite tense and a little sore, couldn't hear the warm up (as could nobody round by me, everyone just kinds stood round looking confused while the first 2500 - 3000 people bounced around weirdly) so just tried stretching the sore bit.

Then bang, we were off... well almost it took me 2 and a half minutes to start, but I was off. I hit the Nike+ app which started the music. First song? 'We're not gonna make it' by the Presidents of the USA. You couldn't write it! It also finished with Still Alive by Jonathan Coulton, quite apt, 'This was a triumph...'.

But it went quite well, I kept pace well for the first half of the race, was on schedule for an hour time, my ultimate goal (aim low, rarely disappointed) until a few niggles kicked in and I had to stop a few times on the way back. But I finished and I finished without any major disasters. The time:

Nike+ says 1:04:43 my chip says 1:05:00 so one of them, in a massively underwhelming 2,400th / 4,000.

Not exactly a write off, but I know I could have done better and if I'd actually trained I could have done well. So I'm frustrated mainly with myself!

I now have 3 weeks til the Cardiff Half Marathon, I need to train, I will do 2:20, it's my goal! Plus I can't make it 13 miles without good prep, it's a physical impossibility! I'm also running it for Velindre if anyone wants to sponsor me, feel free!

http://www.justgiving.com/andrew-driscoll0/eurl.axd/d33ccee2fd79d546ae925c4f9d873bb1

Merthyr Town / Non league football

I took the bank holiday weekend to revisit the world of non-league football.

I support Arsenal as I'd imagine the vast majority of people reading this will know are not non-league, far from it (and no I don't want to talk about Sunday). But as much as I want them (and Swansea) to do well, my team has always been and will always be Merthyr Town (formerly Tydfil) FC.

The team has just returned to play in Penydarren Park, after a year in exile (which I didn't make a single game in)  20 or so miles away in Taffs Well. So I trotted down to the park yesterday to watch them play league pace setters, the undefeated Brislington Town (where??). It was then I realised I quite missed watching football like this, TV is comfortable, gives you replays, you can stop, rewind and all that shit, you have commentators telling you whjat to think any any given moment, stats popping up on screen, and generally speaking it's of a higher standard.

But being right up next to the pitch, taking it all in yourself, the experience is so much better.

The game itself was quite decent, Merthyr looked tidy passed the ball quite well, sometimes overly so and they could have done with taking a shot more. While at the back, but punts forward were a bit haphazard. Brislington had one or two tidy players, their left back looked good, while on the reverse their no4 looked like we was as likely to fall over at any given moment than successfully run in a straight line. Both keepers showed some... interesting positioning, but proved to be good shot stoppers when needed.

There was a few moments of marking (mainly the English side to be fair) that would I'm sure would give both sides coaches nightmares for a while. Even the ref had mostly a good game (although the away penalty was a bit of a mystery).

Happily Merthyr won 2-1 and moved 3rd in the table. Next week they have 2 matches in 2 days in 2 different cups (FA Prelim Round, Welsh Cup 2Q) and if I'm able I'll take the chance to pop down for the Welsh Cup game on Sunday.

Next week is an international break, no Prem games, no Championship games, which means come the weekend many football fans are at a loose end (Wales playing Friday). So if that applies to you, why not go see a team a bit further down the pyramid than you're used too? Go see Newport, Merthyr, whatever lower league teams are around, whoever's closer, you might like it! It's not always a comfortable as a sofa and sky sports, it's likely to be less conformable than a seat in the Liberty or CCS, but it's fun!

But speaking of armchair fans, the US Open started yesterday and I do love my tennis. I'll happily go see it in person if anyone wants to shout me flights and tickets. Please?

Football season has properly begun, 'mon the Martyrs

So we're into the Premier league season, and this one could potentially quite interesting. Don't get me wrong I've written Arsenal off already, I think 4th is a pipe dream and 5th more likely, chances are Man Utd will win it, Chelsea and Man City close behind and maybe a bit of improving Liverpool rounding off the Champs league spaces. But I don't think I'm most interested by the top this year.

As everyone probably knows who has any interest in the sport, Swansea were promoted. Oooh a Welsh team in the Premier, and, as I've said before, a Welsh team I quite like (sorry Cardiff, you could be playing in the Champs League final and I wouldn't give a rats ass and everytime I'm told by Cardiff fans I 'should' support them, and it's great for the whole of Wales when they win stuff, it makes me care just a little bit less.) so I find myself quite interested in how they do, to the point where I may even watch them tonight (while I still have sports).

Obviously I think they'll struggle and while I'd never say I 'support' them, I'd like them to do well. I think they've made some decent, not overly high risk signings which could be enough, could being the word. Just get to 40 points and the rest will sort itself out.

Going down the odd step, Merthyr are playing in Merthyr again, and I have a feeling this is where most of my football related time will be devoted this year. I didn't go Saturday as there was stuff on, but I'm quite fancying a few trips to Pen Park this year to watch them. They went up last season and are now playing in the Western League Premier, not exactly stuffed with footballing giants but you can only play what's infront of you. They started off beating Odd Town (I have no idea what's so odd about it) 7-1 which is a hiding at any level, so we may have a shout again this year, who knows.

I did miss every game last year, but the trip to Taffs Well was a pain in the arse.

Also the new kit is very nice

So if you see me wet and looking p'd off in Penydarren Park, say hi!

Oh and the bloke sitting behind me looks the spit of Leonard Nimoy...

Cash Generator 2 - The reply

Right, here goes again, for anyone wanting the back story the original blog, including my communication to Cash Generator can be found here:

http://andrewdrisc.blogspot.com/2011/07/cash-generator-vs-good-service.html

Well you've never have guessed it, they've responded and to be honest it was a very predictable response, so as not to dilute the experience, here it is in all it's glory:

From: merthyr tydfil [mailto:merthyr@stores.cashgenerator.co.uk] 

Sent: 14 July 2011 15:37

To: Still not gonna leave my email address here, nuh-huh.

Subject: Kinnect Game

To

Mr Driscoll

In response to your e-mail as a gesture we will offer an exchange on the item or credit note to the value of the disc, our exchange policy is clearly stated and when initial query was handled no mention of disc burn was  mentioned and as far as we are aware this damage cannot be repaired, although scratches to discs can be. We will happily give you the exchange as above or credit note which has no expiry.

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to contact us.

Thank you

Cash Generator

Merthyr Tydfil

I haven't responded.

A few points, not written the best (or maybe it's my years of letter writing giving me OTT standards) and it never fills you with confidence when they can't even spell the product... The product knowledge (disc 'burns' can't be repaired??) worries me a little also... and grow a pair (or the female equivalent) and sign your email.

No mention of disc burn, true, but saying that I didn't mention anything, I left the staff member to examine it, but they possibly/probably didn't know what disc burn was!

And honestly a credit note, like I'd ever want to shop in their pikey shitehole again after this experience. I'll leave that to people in tracksuits from now on.

I did take a picture of the pre-fixed disc and although it's a shite picture (I'm not a photographer!) you can see the white rings of surface disc scoring! Et voila:

By some crazy random happenstance though a guy from Trading Standards in Merthyr rang my house asking for me today, not long after the email landed in my inbox. One monster of a coincidence if you ask me. Maybe it's fate... maybe it's just really pro-active, maybe even it's some jester from Cash Gen pretending to be trading standards to judge a reaction! I'll give them a ring back tomorrow (or they now have my mobile) and see what they got to say.

There's very little in it for me to do anything, but I just feel like I should, or they'll just carry on.

Cash Generator Vs Good Service

Give an opinionated introvert with basic writing skills a public forum such as this and you should be expecting... opinions! Particularly when something makes a real impression, whether that impression be great, or rubbish.

On Friday, among other things (and far more important things at that) that happened, I was also privy to service at complete opposite ends of the scale. For me 'n' the wife's wedding night, after everyone else had buggered off home we stayed in the Dragon Hotel in the centre of Swansea and in general it was an excellent experience. The staff were very helpful, nothing was too much trouble, the room was nice, clean and everything that was required and I acquired quite nice shower gel etc from the room (ahem). They did ID me (29 and lets face it pretty damn weather beaten) and Brandy (28, yes... petite, but still doesn't look young) at the bar, which I suppose is a compliment, or an annoyance!

The taxi that took us to the service was from Yellow Cabs and was fabulous, and to show service gets repeat custom, thanks to that 1 good journey, we booked 3 of them to get from the registry office to TGIs for the grub. If she'd been crap or shitty, the bookings would have gone elsewhere! If you're ever in Jackland for any reason and need a taxi, I heartily recommend Yellow Cabs.

On the other end of the scale was Cash Generator Merthyr Tydfil. Yes I know Cash Generator is probably the pikiest 'shop' around, designed to sell broken second hand stuff to chavs, morons and skint people (which I know now technically would include me) at a huge mark up than the 45p they paid Bob for his 32" flatscreen TV. I knew all this but they had a copy of Kinect Sports I wanted and they were like a tenner cheaper than anywhere else I could find.

I got the disk home and due to my newfound fandom of all things Call of Duty I didn't play it from purchase date (2/7) to the pre wedding Thursday (8/7). I stuck it in and, chug chug, nothing... hmmm try again, same, check disk and believe me this thing has had a hard life, more scratches than a Merthyr girl bitch fight and more burn than a bald bloke with fair skin on his holidays.

So, receipt in hand I marched in the following day, prior to departure for Swansea obviously, and asked for my cash back. The none-too-quick shop assistant looked at it, admitted it was proverbially shagged to buggery and phoned her manager (who was a full 12 yards away, so the call was necessary) and declined the refund as 'media' items must be returned within 48 hours. I pointed out that firstly I wasn't made aware of this and 2 I'm pretty sure that encroaches on an odd consumer right. She essentially said, "Tough"

I asked to speak to the hidden distant manager who trundled across, being sure to bring something with her, to give herself focus on apart from me, who essentially repeated "Tough" and confirmed they feel that their self created company rules take precedence over consumer rights. She said all this without ever staying still to address me or indeed looking me in the eye. Shocker. I asked who owns the franchise, they declined to tell me. (Didn't take a genius to find out it was Dave Elwood, I love the quote, "Cash Generator has allowed me to purchase a yacht and sail around the world in my spare time – a hobby not many business men are privileged to do.") yeah - allowed by exploiting whoever you can!

Riled by this, but holding in the language as little Gracie was with me, I left and called Consumer Direct who pretty much said their actions were shady and I should complain to the store. So back I rang complete with advice on the 1979 Sale of Goods Act (as amended) ringing in my ears, and was once again told, "Tough" and worst of all the advice that Cash Generator feel their goods do not need to be of satisfactory quality as they are 2nd hand. Manager Sarah's words not mine!

I actually wanted to play the damn thing so I took it to gamestation a few days later and had a disk repair done. Once again top notch service received, the guy behind the counter actually seemed to know about Cash Generator from other customers and didn't think it was legit either. This spurred me on.

So in line with the Consumer Direct advice, I complained in writing saying:

From: yeah - I'm going to leave my email address here... d'uh

Sent: 11 July 2011 12:14

To: 'customerenquiries@cashgenerator.co.uk'

Subject: Customer Complaint

Dear Sir/Madam,

Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended)

On 02/07/11, I bought a second hand XBOX 360 game - Kinect Sports from your Merthyr Tydfil franchise for £25.00 which is not of satisfactory quality.

The problems are:

·       The disk damaged beyond possible use, both scratches and disk burn was present. This rendered the disk unusable.

I attempted to return this faulty item on 09/07/11 (after first attempting to use it on 08/07/11) complete with original proof of purchase, but this was rejected, despite the staff present agreeing the item was faulty, as your company own rules dictate you may only return ‘media’ products within 48 hours.

The Sale of Goods Act 1979 makes it an implied term of the contract that goods be as described, fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality, which this item was not. It also states you need to give reasonable time to allow such returns, which I believe 48 hours is not. Also, at the point of purchase this extreme limitation was not mentioned to me and I was unaware of this until I attempted to return the item, otherwise I clearly would have tested the item much sooner.

I have since had the disk repaired (10/07/11) at my own cost and am seeking a return of this outlay, plus reasonable costs for this inconvenience.

Please respond to my complaint within 7 days from receipt of this email.

Yours faithfully

Andrew Driscoll

It's not even I care about the pitiful amount it cost me to fix, but through being sarcastic, rude and the like to me in the shop, they made it into a big issue, and one I've decided to follow up. Plus you never know, maybe I'll save some kid from blowing his birthday money in there and being bent over in the same way. Since last week I've heard horror stories of TVs blowing up and them washing their hands of it, defective products being happily sold.

It's not on.

Only gone and got married!

So, last weekend was a big weekend, a very big, life defining weekend.

Last Friday (9/7/11) my wonderful fiancée (is that the right one, I can never remember?? I suppose I wont have to from this point!!) got hitched in front of a MASSIVE crowd of 9 in the Kilvey Room of Swansea Registry Office. Everything went to plan, nothing messed up and even the CDs for the music worked. Magic!

From this point onwards I will be mostly wearing:

The wedding itself, as you'd expect with attendance not making double figures (by choice I'll add we're not hideously unpopular), was quiet and indeed most awesome! Lovely music (Pretenders - I'll Stand By You / Piano Players version of Everlong (Foo Fighters) / Ben Folds - Luckiest), nice setting and of course wonderful other half, who looked gorgeous. Not massive amounts of photos as the outside bit was windy as, but some nice ones. Decent grub after and a few pints. Good day!

The day after it was all action stations to set up the hall for the 'party' aspect, and once again was a cracking night. From my sister-in-law doing a Dolly Parton act, avoiding actually singing any Dolly Parton songs in the process, to seeing the pretty damn decent turn out. I even confirmed the fact that I'm almost tone deaf banging through half of Summer Nights and half of Gold!

Very notable part was though you realise you have some damn good friends and family, donations were generous but more importantly some of the stuff in the cards was pretty damn awesome. Some minorly bizarre (you know who you are!). If I wasn't a horrible heartless shell of a human, could almost had brought a tear to my eye, but I am so... Everyone will be getting thank you cards of course, but if you're reading this. Cheers guys, you rock! Me and Cer were very happy everyone came, joined in and enjoyed. Well I assume enjoyed, I don't people generally don't make that much noise if they're bored.

Brandy Edwards did a sterling pair of impromptu speeches (I promised him none, he was heckled up during the meal, then very harshly called up by my sister in the party, as well as covering the female vocal in Summer Nights when Cerys legged it) and the buffet was awesome, even if I ate hardly any of it. Yes you heard me right, you can put any 'yeah whatever fatty' jokes in the comment section.

People raved on about the royal wedding and it got so much blanket coverage that I got sick of it after 30 seconds. But wedding the like of mine and the 3 other mates I've got getting/have already got married this year happen every weekend. Smaller by a factor of 100,000,000, but honestly wouldn't swap a second of mine for the whole royal faff and bullshit.

The Ben Folds song was perfect to close as (even though I heard very little of it on the way out) I am the Luckiest!

Right enough of this sounding all soft and sentimental stuff. For my next trick I'll stop looking confused at the phone every time I get a text from 'Cerys Driscoll' before going "....oh yeah"

BBC 606

Today sees the closure of 606, the BBC's 99% football but pushed as a general sports discussion board. Apparently killed due to cuts in the BBC's online budget, effectively leaving them without a discussion board.

Not a great loss if I'm honest.

Generally it always seemed to be filled with angry morons with little knowledge about what they were trying to 'talk' about, and no interest in trying to find out or take others points on board. In fact you could easily say the majority of the posts were intentionally aimed to wind up other users. As a result very little if any constructive debate ever went on. Users were permitted to set up multiple accounts and (particularly on the tennis board) would do so, pretend to agree with themselves to start arguments.

This made the board home to some very very weird (reclusive?) people.

Yes, some people on there tried to have genuine discussions, but it usually ended up boiling down to a slagging match whatever the topic. Whether it was Cardiff v Swansea fans, Spurs v Arsenal, everyone v Man Utd, Nadal v Federer, and so on.

The BBC introduced tighter moderation of posts, and the ability to delete posts from threads you set up, but only retrospectively, and while all this crap was being spouted it was never going to be money well spent. It's a shame the BBC will not be offering this kind of service any more, but to say it's a loss, or a tragedy as some posters have tried to do, is just not realistic.

So the confirmation of the closure went out yesterday  and come middle of today it'll be gone. Already there are about 50 'alternatives' banging round, none of which I'll name as they'll be filled with smaller populations of the same no doubt, each new forum 'owner' hoping he'll make some decent advertising revenue from the closure no doubt.

So it's farewell 606, good riddance!

Championship football

Not often I hit on sport that isn't tennis but here I go.

I believe sports should be decided on the relative abilities of the sportspersons playing it, and based on what I've seen of the English 2nd tier this year (not much) QPR are the best of a not particularly amazing bunch. However, there's a distinct possibility the league will be decided on an FA decision on if they are to be docked points for a back room offence in 2009.

They signed a player but the image rights were a third parties, which after the West Ham , Carlos Tevez debacle was made illegal.

Yes, it appears they have broken the rules, but does the player ownership affect the way he plays on the pitch, the rule breach is a financial one and therefore I think so should the punishment. Yes make it significant, yes make it hurt the club, the players have played within the 'on the pitch' rules and earned promotion, this should be how that promotion is decided.

The other point is clubs who have failed to earn promotion could benefit from this, 3rd placed side Cardiff (quite local to me, but I'm not a fan by any stretch) could be elevated to 2nd place and go up. Considering how well they've played when I've seen them this doesn't seem right, particularly the way they played yesterday on Sky! There's a chance that the 4th placed side Swansea (equally as local, bit more of a fan) could pass Cardiff on the last day, but it's highly unlikely, but even though I prefer them, it wouldn't be right. I can't honestly think any of the fans of the club would want to go up essentially 'by default'.

Therefore I hope the FA punish QPR, they broke the rules and I think they'll struggle to argue that aspect of the charge, however don't decide the league on it!

Saying that I primarily support Merthyr FC, who as Merthyr Tydfil (Now Merthyr Town) avoided relegation from the Conference (what would be now National) a couple of times on technicalities in the 90s. So maybe it's OK sometimes, when it suits me!

Right Blue are about to be on the TV in the break room, so I'm off before they start trying to sing/mime.

Keep on Running!

Today, I signed myself up to run Octobers Cardiff half marathon.

I've always been one of those people who trains and looks after themselves far better when they have some sort of goal to work towards. Goal driven if you will. So today I put a rather large goal almost looming over me, as a result I will go to the gym, mainly as I don't want top die in a park in Cardiff.

13.1 miles is a long way and I'm not anywhere near fit enough at the moment but I'll get there. I'm hoping for a time around 2:20-2:30 with no injuries. I'll be happy with that. Let's be honest, I'll be happy to finish before the 3 hours is up and I have to dodge cars in the street to get to the line! It's good to have ambition I find.

I will of course drag my ass round the Swansea 10k as preparation, which is always nice and not too far. It'll be fine... my God what have I done...

What signing up for these types of events also does is give me an opportunity to raise some money for good causes and this is no exception. I have signed up as one of the Velindre 100 Team to help raise funds for Velindre Cancer Centre. I'm in the process of making up a justgiving page, which if anyone feels the urge to donate too.. please do. Link will follow! My initial target is a princely £100, I hope to beat that, but who knows, it relies on me getting sponsors, something which I'm bad at.

Oh well I'll try me best. I have twitter I suppose, I'll use that.

Anyway I off to play 5-a-side.

Rugby, football, tennis and a request

I'm Welsh so I love rugby yeah? Well no, not all that much.

I don't dislike rugby, I do like it as a sport. I like to watch international games, I support my nation, I'd even go as far to say I know a good % of the rules and can spot infringements. I'll get carried away in the moment when they are playing, I'll shout at the TV and a rugby day is always a good excuse to meet some friends in a pub. But there are sports I would rather watch.

I didn't get overly excited when Admiral announced they were the new WRU sponsors, while other staff members were almost rolling round on the floor in excitement. I haven't bought a shirt, as I don't really like them although the all blue training top is pretty snazzy, I haven't entered competitions and raffles for the steady stream of tickets that seem to be going round, and I have no intention of starting. Thinking about it the 20,000 empty seats for the (highly expensive) Australia game on the weekend seems to hint at the chance other people like me exist. Or at least at £60+ a ticket in places it's dropped down peoples priority lists.

I like football, I follow my home town club and Arsenal, but honestly if they lose, I don't get upset or worried. Of course I want them to do well, but when Arsenal got done 1-0 by Newcastle, my reaction was, "D'oh, oh well..." I'm not the kind of supporter that wants reflected glory from choosing a team, and believe me I know a fair few who do. I personally don't see how a team I support (Arsenal) beating a team Bob from number 44 supports (lets say Eastborne Borough for arguments sake) is any kind of personal victory for me. I wasn't there, I didn't play, I didn't coach I didn't even pump the balls up.

Although saying that, i do want to get back to reffing. I qualified a few years ago, did half a season then was in a crash and had to stop for a while. Never really got going again, seems such a waste now, I fricking aced the exams too.

I even don't like referring to the team as 'us' or 'we' but I do sometimes find myself falling into that habit. Must do better!!

Don't get me started on some of the local rivalries.. the Cardiff Swansea game on the weekend, some of the vitriol coming out of (mainly Cardiff to be fair) fans was laughable, and I was happy when Swansea won, purely down to that fact!

Honestly, if there was some funked up new rule that came into force tomorrow that dictated I could only ever watch one type of sport again, I'd choose Tennis. I enjoy Tennis far more than Rugby, Football, etc and by quite a distance. I would also love to be a participant in the sport, but unfortunately (weirdly??) the Tennis club sessions in Merthyr Tydfil leisure centre are 2-4 Tuesdays and Thursdays, work dictates that I can't attend as a result! I mean who can go then??

I also quite fancy playing squash, but have nobody to play with (any fellow novices who want to try, comment or find me on twitter!!)

How many people do you think were disappointed Alex Bogdanovic lost in the first round of a 80 point challenger tournament in Germany yesterday, well apart from him, his coach etc, prob only me! To be fair he got to a semi the week before, and lost to the same guy!! At least he took a set this time! Andy Murray plays the 2nd round of the Paris Masters today, I'll be watching with keen interest. Well I wont  be watching I'll be in work but there's be something on the BBC site to tell me the result.

Oh and of course I love the dodgeball, how could anyone not??? Go Hoffmesiters!

Oh and as a footnote, any twitter users I have a suggested follow. QRistmas. A Christmas single is coming out sung by former xfactor winner Steve Brookstein with the proceeds going to UK homeless charities, got to be worth a quid download of anyones iTunes cash? I believe it's a Peter Gabriel cover, I do love Peter Gabriel, maybe we could convince him to do Solsbury Hill, Shock the Monkey or Games Without Frontiers as a b-side?

Anyway, til next time...

Oh and the woman sat opposite me has a pink kindle... didn't know you could get them, they look quite snazzy! (Yes I've used snazzy twice in an blog, my vocab is the same as my daughters, head hung in shame)