Welsh Greetings

Hi All,
Thanks for the previous post Kate. Good to know what everyone gets for Christmas. Still have not posted gifts for Hasi and Claire but we have not forgotten.
Winter has finally arrived and we have had a few clear cold days. Bit of snow on the mountains we can see from our house.
Thinking about everyone enjoying the Illawarra Folk Festival. Wish we were there. Cobargo has a good line up this year too. Can't convince Jules to let me come out at the end of Feb to get to the festival and stay through to April for Mum's birthday. He can't live without me that long!
Went to Cardiff yesterday to see Priscilla at The Millenium Centre followed by a few drinks. Great day out. Jason Donovan played the lead. He was crap but it was a great show regardless.
Not much else happening. My friend Gail turns 60 next week so we are having surprise drinks for her in The Gwyn next Sunday.
Jules is well but not doing a great deal. Just applied to renew his passport so we may get a last minute week somewhere warmer when he gets his new one.
No flight booked yet but have started looking.
That's all for now.
Love to all. xxxxx

greetings from the south coast

Moo this is especially for you from mum and me...
Kev bought Tom a myers gift voucher. Tom said he will buy cuff links.
Mums bought for you, some beautiful treasures yet to be revealed...
Jack bought for Annie...or is still buying
Fran bought for Clare, not opened yet
Marty bought for Fran some amazing screen printed fabric by an indigenous artist and coluring book to give her inspiration for her own fabric designs.
Claire bought for me. Beautiful deep sounding chimes that I have hung on the deck.
I bought for Connor. I bought him a toiletry bag made from recycled tires from Salamanca markets when Annie and I were there, as well as a subscription to Empire magazine for 12 months, which is a movie magazine, and a star wars tshirt from hasis cupboard that he had never worn because it was too small for him.
Hasi bought for Liam-another star wars tshirt, some weird yoda light and some "responsible size" tequilas x 2 and some beer. Once he started he couldn't stop, this is his usual way of shopping. Doesn't get to a shop for 6 months at a time, then goes crazy!
Annie made a hamper full of treats for dad, including chutney, fruit cake, something like rocky road, short bread, brandied apricots and much more.
Claire and Hasi are still waiting for theirs from you and Jules. If you want me to get them something here, let me know.
Tom bought for Jules.. we don't know what, but you do.
Liam bought for Lucy, but not delivered yet.
Connor bought for mum, Kentucky bourbon
Lucy bought for Jack...hasn't been delivered yet
Clare bought for Marty a R2D2 teapot, which we christianed in Canberra, pours very nicely.

so that's what we know.
Mum dad and Marty came down to our place last night which was fantastic. had dinner together on the deck.
Trying to convince Marty to move closer.. not having much luck, thinks he wants to check out far north queensland next!!
Of course it poured raining a nd only got to a max of about 20 degrees for the whole time he was here, so that didn't help much.
Annie heading over for the festival next weekend, and shes happy to be getting the front room, instead of having to sleep outside the bathroom.
I spent today in newtown, wanting to buy some new clothes. Went to all my favourite shops plus about half a dozen op shops including Rockdale and mortdale, and didn't get a thing. Its Salamanca markets for me for my shopping in future. fancy a weekend there, when you visit??
Fran should be checking it out tomorrow so look forward to hear what she thinks about it.

Well that's it for now, should think about checking out the train timetable for my journey home.
Happy new year and love to you and Jules
Mum and Me.

Welsh Greetings

Hi All and Happy New Year.
Hope you all enjoyed any celebrations and aren't suffering for it.
Not much happening here. The weather here has been s**t! It has rained for about 50 days straight. It is mild but think I would rather it be cold and dry. That's the weather out of the way!
Had a quiet Christmas. I cooked dinner though - first Christmas dinner I have done here.
I have a new Kindle courtesy of a raffle prize I won - £100 gift card from Amazon. Also won a onesie in a different raffle. Not so excited about that prize.
Been quiet on the work front over the Festive period. Hope that changes soon.
Not much else to tell.
Enjoy Clare's 21st all who attend - that means you too Clare!
Love to all. xxxxx

Welsh Greetings Addit

Was just wanting to apologize for not sending Christmas gifts yet. Thought we were buying for Kate & Annie. Lucky I checked the list on this blog. We are buying for Claire and Hasi. Sorry Peeps. Will get them to you but will be after Christmas. Good thing I'm a crap shopper and completely unorganised to get gifts in time for Christmas.
Love to All. xxxxx

Welsh Greetings

Greetings to All from beautiful South Wales.Just a quick post to wish you all a very Happy Festive Season. Hope you all enjoy. We have no plans. I am available for work (as they pay silly amounts of money at Christmas). Had a few gatherings to celebrate in the lead up. Had a dinner with a few of the other full time agency staff. A small group but very enjoyable night. Also had a lunchtime Christmas dinner with a few friends, and we had a darts Christmas party. Have even been to a pantomime - although it was an adult version. Not what I would normally go to but Louise had a spare ticket. It was quite amusing actually and an enjoyable night overall.
The weather has been extremely mild for December. Mostly due to the rain! I hate December in Wales at the best of times, but this year has been particularly depressing. Winter solstice today so the days start getting longer!
Not a great deal of news really. Been working regularly, darts on a Tuesday, out for a spin on a Sunday, and the odd visit to the pub! No news is good news though so will leave it there.
Thinking of you all and sending much love. xxxxx

P.S. Great photos from the graduation. Thanks Annie. Very proud Aunty here as well! xxxx

another grandchild graduates

So here are some pictures from Lucy's graduation on Wednesday. It was a lovely day. I started crying as soon as she was in her cap and gown, and on and off throughout the ceremony. It was great that Kate was there as well. Yay for Lucy! Am very proud of our girl!

greetings from the south coast

Hi all
So what amazing bloggers we all are. OK everyone is on facebook, so I should just get with the program, is that it??

Well OK if someone cn think of an incredibly origin and interesting name for me to go by on facebook, I will sign up, but what bout dad and mum, they will miss all the news.

So its a beautiful Saturday morning, and Ive enjoyed a walk and swim on the beach. Very low low tide, great for running on the beach. Now its really a bti too warm to venture into gardening, so will head up to visit friends who have just made tiles  for their bathromm. Give me some inspiration to get cracking with my bathroom tiling. Hasi has started building some retaining walls in the garden so will probably mosaic them first. Actually should visit my friends via the demolition shop to see what quirky old tiles they have on offer.

Thank you to Lucy for having me as one of her guests at her graduation this last week. I was so damn proud of that gorgeous young woman.

Ok off to the demolition shop.
Annie did say she would throw up some grad photos on the blog, so stay tuned...

Love to anyone who is still reading this blog
Long live the blog

Zak