Mutterings for the Minority

Red sky in the morning

Whilst getting up this morning at the usual time of 6:45 am, I ventured downstairs as per my normal morning routine to have breakfast (tumbler of orange juice and 4 weetabix). The sight that greeted me outside the kitchen window was truly amazing and it’s been a while since I’ve seen such a vibrant red sky. I quickly took a few snaps, which you can see below.

The red sky this morning - if you believe the old wives tale - would herald bad weather and although it wasn’t a wet day, it was most certainly very very windy. This I found out to my expense during a very tough and ardous 23 mile lunchtime bike ride.

Our route took us from County Hall in Swansea to Killay, Fairwood Common, Parkmill, Southgate, Mayals and Mumbles and took is 1 hour 37 minutes in total at an average speed of 13.9mph. The constant gale made it very hard work and for once the BBC weather forecast seems to be accurate!

Blackpill and back

My lunchtime run today saw me try out a new route down to Blackpill, with the added incentive of having some new faces to run against as well - which is always a good motivator (well for me it is anyway!).

The 4 mile route took us 40 minutes 19 seconds to complete and I felt quite happy with the time, considering I hadn’t done that distance for quite some time. Having said that, I think I could have done it quicker, as the pace at times seemed to be quite slow (and we stopped for a 1 minute stretch at the halfway point!!!).

Anyway, thanks R&P for the opportunity of an alternative run out.

Go to sleep my baby

I spent another day in Cardiff today and as such it meant passing Ninian Park once again - something which has happened far too often for my liking (as a Swansea fan) over the last couple of weeks!!

Having previously mentioned the parking issues of both Cardiff and Swansea, my experience today of the car park (if you can call it that!?!?!) on Lloyd George Avenue and the £4.50 price tag still leads me to believe that our capital city has a shocking car park problem (even leaving my Swansea bias aside!).
The never ending rain and win seems to have played merry hell with my Sky Digital Dish/Box and has consequently resulted in us losing ALL of the channels on the system. We’re constantly getting the “no satellite signal received” - which for those familiar with Microsoft Windows is the equivalent of the “Blue screen of death”. Sorry Bill, I just couldn’t resist that dig. I’m reliably informed that Sky will charge for £65 for the privelidge of getting it fixed, so I think some self-diagnosis and tampering is called for first!

One major milestone of the day however was that I successfully managed (for the first time) to put DDWT Junior to bed without any problems and perhaps more importantly without the need for Mrs DDWT to be present! Quite an achievement for me (I was sooooo chuffed) and too think its only took 34 odd months to get there …..

Windy wonderland

Despite still feeling very tired and extremely sorry for myself (aka grumpy sod) I decided to go for a lunchtime ride in the hope of giving myself a kick up the arse. Thankfully, the negative thoughts I had were soon out of my system when faced with the almighty gusty and sand strewn Swansea Bay.

With the wind at my back, the return leg of the 11 odd mile route saw me flying along at a rate of knotts (pun intended) and I returned to work in a much more positive and energetic frame of mind. It’s true what they say, the mind does rule the body and exercise most definitely does give you a lift.

Whilst on my way home tonight, I managed to get a couple of quick snaps - albeit not very good quality due to my Sony Ericsson K300i mobile phone camera - of the Winter Wonderland in Swansea. It looks like it might be worth a visit.

I’ve spent the rest of this evening packing various items (well 4 actually) which I managed to flog on ebay for a grand total of £16.49. I find the buzz of selling stuff on ebay as much fun as actually winning the auction, but the packing of stuff really does my box in.

Swans v Wurzels

I’m depressed today. Not for any one particular reason just a combination of a few - the main one being a distinct lack of sleep. It’s stupid really and I only have myself to blame - why do I go to bed at 1am in the morning, knowing full well that DDWT Junior will awake the house at 7am ‘ish without fail. Cue grumpy, short-fused and impatient Daddy all day. Not good.

My mood wasn’t helped by the tale of the scale either - 16st 13lbs, another 3lbs BACK on. Where did it come from, well quite simply it’s due to my over indulgence (yet again) on biscuits and numerous buffet bits (from my visits to Cardiff last week). My self control seems to have gone awol and with it my streamline self. I’m really p*ssed at myself to be quite frank and I’ll be pulling my finger out this week to order to stop the slide - pronto.

With exercise in mind, I decided to give the Morfa B&Q car park a miss today as my usual parking spot for the Liberty stadium - and opted for the confines of the EDS car park instead. Thus ensuring I had a brisk 10 minute walk to/from the game at least.

As for the game itself well it was a cracking 0-0 draw, if you can have such a thing and it was obvious (even before kick-off) that there was not going to be a repeat of last years 7-1 drubbing of the Reds (or Wurzels as us Jacks like to call them).

Numerous chances went begging at both ends, but the Swans will feel the most disappointed as they had most of the clear cut chances. Marcos Painter (the Birmingham loanee) stood out for me today and gave our defence a solid and balanced look - something which had been lacking. Kevin Amankwaah won the donkey award today and I’m really beginning to wonder if this guy sees himself as a defender or a free-to-roam midfielder, such is his apparent dis-interest in man marking. Anyway, a full match report is on the Swans official site for those interested.

Right, I’m off to reflect on what has been a disappointing end to what started out as a promising weekend. [Sulk Mode On] …..

Doctor DIY

No I didn’t self diagnose any ailment or injury, I was merely referring to yet another Saturday spent DIY-ing. You’ll remember the dishwasher problems I had last week, well the required part (i.e. a compressor) duly arrived and I went about fitting it with gusto this morning.

The compressor part …

Before fitting …After fitting …Result - a working Candy CD950 dishwasher and a very happy Mrs DDWT - not to mention a heck of a saving on dishwasher repair mans labour costs!

I did watch the first half of the Wales v New Zealand All Blacks rugby game, but felt the desperate urge to go and do something else at half-time, rather than see my fellow compatriots get anymore of a lesson in rugby. Was I one of the few who hadn’t been taken in with the ‘we are in with a great chance of beating them (the All Blacks)’ media hype? I really shouldn’t be surprised really, as the media seem to make such profound statements everytime we play the worlds best - whatever the sport.

DDWT Junior continues to amaze us with his now seemingly incessant ramblings. Although his habit of using a ‘w’ instead of a ‘th’ or ’s’ can be a little embaressing. Take the example of when he wants to say ‘Thank you’ and you catch my drift. Still it’s fun just to hear him copying words and using them to make sentences. One of my favourites is “Oh don’t whorry Daddy” in response to me complaining about something.

Saturated in my saddle

The title says it all really - apart from the fact that I must have been nuts - in undertaking a bike ride today in monsoon conditions. My thinking was that the somewhat ‘enclosed’ bike path down to Gowerton would be a better option that the ‘open’ path down to Mumbles. Yeah right.

I got absolutely soaked and ended up with what felt like two pails of water in my shoes and a go faster mud stripe along my back. Thankfully upon my return, the cleaners cupboard - complete with refuse sacks - was nearby and the sacks proved to be very handy!!

So purely for the purpose of my training log, the vital stats of the ride were a 14.5 mph average speed and a top speed of 25mph over the 14 mile ride.

My lunchbox

Despite the seemingly gale force wind that was in full flow around Swansea bay today, I went out for a run lunchtime which for anyone watching must have been quite comical. The wind so strong and in my face initially, made running feel more like moving in slow motion and yet on the return leg, more akin to Linford Christie (my movement I mean not my lunchbox).

On the subject of my lunchbox, it contained 4 rather large tuna and spinach sarnies stuffed into some nice wholemeal bread. Anyway, the 22 minutes training on the beach - although not substanial - was 22 more minutes onto the training total and to quote Tesco ‘Every Little Helps’.

DDWT Junior was at his creative best today in play school with this lovely painting.

I think he’s captured the rather blusterly weather theme very well don’t you *wink*

Jilted by M&S

Whilst I spent another day in our capital city on local government duty, Mrs DDWT and DDWT Junior headed off to the wild west (aka Aberaeron) for a visit to Nanny. It’s quite amusing to think that in terms of total travelleing time it took them longer to come back from there during the rush hour traffic (if there is such a thing in Ceredigion) than it did for me to go to and come back from Cardiff! Country roads by damn.

I took the opportunity to make yet another visit to Culverhouse Cross on the way back and invest some time (and too much money) on Christmas gifts for the whole family and by that I mean everyone. That’s the trouble you see when you were brought up by the Marks & Spencers appreciation society that is my family. Joking aside though, much as I used to hate the shop when I was a child - which had nothing to do with my one and only ever slapped arse for the comment of “I’m not going into that b*stard shop” at the tender age of 7 - as I’ve got older I’ve appreciated the quality of their shirts and suits in particular. Geez, reading that back makes me sound so old fashioned and anal. Anyway, I couldn’t help but also give a mention to the wonderful selection of quality and delicious food ranges on offer.

You’d never have guessed I was a jilted by M&S for a ’student placement’ in previous years would you.

Phlegm tracker

It was great today to get back to my lunchtime training after taking a week out with the flu, which is still clinging on unfortunately. It was running duty today and we (my training partner and I) trotted around our usual 3 mile route in 23 minutes 11 seconds, a time which I was suprised at given my layoff and phlegm laden sinuses.

Not wanting to lower the tone too much (hey what’s new), but I think you could actually trace my route around Swansea Marina and SA1 merely by following the greeny-tinged phlegm deposits which I unloaded on my way around. Yuck. Still at least my chest felt clearer aftewards, so it must have done some good and besides, it’s supposed to rain tomorrow anyway!

Talking of leisure activities, I couldn’t help but take a closer look at the work being undertaken on the new Swansea Leisure Centre today as I happened to be passing by this afternoon. I took a couple of snaps - much to the annoyance of the workmen nearby.

Believe it or not this isn’t a spot the difference competition! In all seriousness though it’s good to see the work being done and if the video I’ve seen on the Swansea Council website is anything to go by, we’re in for a treat with all the new leisure centre will have to offer. Roll on 2008!