As I'm off to Cardiff to see the gorgeous Han for the remainder of 2006 (which reminds me, is there anything I must do in Cardiff? We're there for two days, and also New Years Eve. A good place to go on New years would be appreciative too - does Cardiff have a Walkabout or a Barracuda?), I'd thought I'd do a quick year in review for 2006. Be warned, this is a long post, and it gets annoyingly mushy towards the end.
So, 2006: What did it do to me? Was it a good year? That kinda thing that's everywhere at the moment. Only this one has less Jimmy Carr. Re-fucking-joice.
Looking back at January - April, I actually realise how miserable I was. I was doing too much, drinking too much and resting too little. I kinda was the smily, happy Rhys you were accustomed to, but I was not happy. Suppose it didn't start well with me getting dumped 3 days into the year, but I put on a brave face. It wasn't all bad, I was living in the house of trouser with friends, and did have some good times (a couple of nights out and my birthday, sans the rejection email). But the whole eating shit, drinking loads and working in a high stress job with no rest eventually took it's toll on me.
Hate to say it, but that was a defining moment for me. When you're lying in a hospital bed, with wires attatched to you that you look like something from Ghost in the Shell, you look at life differently - maybe I was doing too much, and chasing the almighty dollar in the worst possible way. It's horrible having people come upto you saying "ooh, we never have 22 year olds with heart trouble in here", cheers doc, thought the NHS wasn't supposed to judge. It still effects me, my trip into hospital. I do get - uncomfortable chests every now and again, and have been pretty much burping constantly for the past two or so weeks. Normally I'd put it down to diet or something, but because of my history it does scare me a bit. However, I know that whenever I'm with friends or watching TV or something, it goes. I think it's psychological, but I'd like to make sure, and see if the NHS can do something about it. I know it sounds pathetic, and I don't want to do it believe me, as much as I love her to bits - my mum has been less than supportive and doesn't understand what I'm going through.
The problem is nobody does I suppose, people do try, but unless you've been in my situation (22 years old and wake up one morning with heart palputations, with no real cause except circumstancial evidence such as bad diet, stress), any words (particularly "oh, just put it to the bavk of yout mind, just enjoy life!") are little comfort. I mean, physically I'm fine - I have a half an hour walk to work every day without fail, plus 3 10 minute walks through the day (i know it's not much, but I can do it) - it's just mentally I'm still a little screwed from the events in April.
Ironically, in future years when I do get my head sorted, find the cause of my constant belching, and live a long and prosperous life, the trip to the hospital could be a blessing in disguise. I returned home and quit my job at the call centre. Ironically I was offered a promotion for a position that paid nearly £400 a week (which, for a 22 year old living up North is huge money) in order to stay, but at the time there were more important things to me than money. I applied for a few jobs around the North Wales area - but generally limiting myself to administration work. On one search, I did feel adventurous and look for IT jobs, and on page 14 out of 14 I found a web design job for Colwyn Bay. I applied, thinking "I'd never get it, they'd want somebody with experience". Lo and behold after a 2 hour of the most brilliant-yet-informal interview ever, I got the job.
I don't reallty talk much about my time in work - reason being is because my work colleagues read this blog. Truth be told I am happy there. I go through times of not enjoying it and all (everybody does), but overall I'm doing something I like doing for money. I've learnt so much from my work colleagues - both using software I never knew existed before (Groupmail is my baby!), and also in design (I now see things design wise and say "that's clever"). I know for the fact that rhyswynne.co.uk would still be available and there would be no forum nor toplist if I hadn't of got the job I am in today. So you've got to be greatful too! It also gave me money, and time to blog (though - contrary to popular belief - not in work: I usually blog the night before, give it a 11:00AM timestamp then publish it before work). Both of which lead to a holiday.
Ironically I first met Han on Myspace, when she joined a long dead group (this is our first ever conversation), however things kinda blossomed where - unusual for me - I kinda started e-mailing her when she was in China, just out of curiositiy (seeing if she was interesting to talk to), and she was! MSN then phone number soon followed, and I then arranged a holiday - which was originally "have a few days away near where Guy lives", but became "see a few bloggers, especially Han". It was at that point that actually I had begin to have a bit of a fertile spell with the ladies, getting a few dates of varying successes (which - for Han's sake - we won't discuss here). I'll be honest though - and this is the truth, not me being mushy - I was prepared to let all of those dates fail because I was going to London. If Han turned out to be "just a friend", that would be cool. However, if it turned out to be "a bit more", it'd be unfair for everybody. I just needed to know. After two days, I knew, and was happy with the result.
It's odd. Han and myself have spent less than a week together in person. Our relationship at the moment is usually Skype. After January 1st, I don't know when I'd next see her. I dunno whether - even though we've had 2 months of going out - we're still in "New Relationship Territory". However, I am unbelievably happy at the moment. I tried to describe it to Sibley (who, bless him, is probably sick of me talking about the poor girl at the moment). I used a terrible euphanism: "You know when you're walking down the street, and you see somebody, and you think to yourself 'They....look different. Are they a celebrity?'. It's a bit like that.". My mates are probably sick of me talking about Han, but I don't care. She really is fabulous and we get on fantastically when we're together, and nearly as well when we're apart (though blame skype for that). I know that she'll probably e-mail this paragraph all about her with "less-than-3" in symbolic form underneath it, I know quite a lot about what makes her tick. She's understanding for someone so stubborn (she puts up with my "bad boyfriend woe is me" rant whenever I forget what her third favourite anime movie is), and I'm happy just talking to her and picking her brains and see what makes her tick. I share ideas with her about web pages and vice versa. She likes me belly, unmuscly arms and unbelievable geekiness. I like her gorgeous face, boobs and amazing bottom, as well as her geekiness and her humour. She makes me laugh! Christ, no woman makes me laugh! Women are the least funny gender (not racist, truth), and occasionally I feel like my luck's going to run out, she'll come to her senses and leave me, but then she texts me saying "we just got married.....in the Sims". I don't find it stalkerish, I find it amusing, because that is what Han'd do. Relationship wise, I've had relationships that are for a reason, and for a season. This is definitely the second one at the moment, may push into the third category eventually, but - realistically I'm just happy with a girl who I really, really like.
So, my resolutions for next year? Learn to drive and get fit. I have a reason for both now ;).
Happy new year everbody! This blog will be quiet for a good part of next week, but there is a very good reason for it. Some of you - be it me telling you or checking your referrals may know - but the rest of you will have to wait until 2007!
Q. What has James Brown, my phone, and Liverpool's Title Chance got in common?
A. They all died over the Christmas Period.
I was going to say "Gerald Ford", but it was too soon. Anyway, my phone half died unspectacularly. It still works, just very temperatmental - text messages taking forever to arrive etc. My diagnostic was the battery was loose, which didn't cause the phone to crash - but the battery was holding in the SIM. I could've either got a new battery, or a new phone.
Oops.
Meh, I had it 2 years, and I bought it 2nd hand anyway - it's lasted me so well, and still in an ebayable condition. It's a Sony Ericsson K750, and it's fucking ace. I admit, I'm still playing around with camera though - below is a picture of my ace firefox T-shirt Rick got me.
Tis a work of genius that tee. I also took a photo of the japanese instructions for my alarm that Han bought me, if anybody could give me the general jist of it, it would be much appreciated, cheers. Click here to read the instructions. EDIT: Further to the mysterious commenters request, I am most interested in this paragraph. As I said, it's the best I can do, if somebody could give the jist to that paragraph, I'll be eternally greatful. Cheers Oscar for decoding it for me!
The video player is pretty standard too, but I'm happy to have one. I've recorded a few videos - alas Mum made me delete her hilarious rendition of "Flying Without Wings" with me, Wiz-Style Guffawing in the background. All videos recorded so far have me in the background either saying "Put it on Youtube" or "Send THAT to Tim and Helen". Catchphrases that are pathetic, unfunny and annoying. Much like any other catchphrase then.
On top of all that, the thing which I like most of all is the applications and games, they're fucking ace! Essentials include Ridge Racer - yes, it's only slightly worse than the arcade original, an old game called The Chaos Engine, a good athletics game and Opera Mini, which makes browsing the internet a joy on my phone - I will never be without the net again! And no, I won't be looking at WAP porn on the way down to Cardiff.
In other news, I have been nominated for an award at "Blog About Your Blog" - click here to go to the post about it. Go here, vote me, vote fast, vote often!
Merry Boxing Day everybody! Hope santa emptied his sack at the end of his bed and left you everything you so desired. Christmas in the Wynne resident was a lot quieter than previous years, some may actually argue it was decidedly unfestive. It didn't help with dad wrapping our presents at 10am Christmas Morning, in front of Soccer A.M., setting a new Wynne record. I even spent a huge amount of time online - ironically I spent ages reading this - though mainly speaking to Han.
I will share some of my new toys which I got online.
My main present is a smoothie maker. Yes, I do drink a lot of real fruit smoothies, (it's all I drink in coffee shops, being caffene intolerent). This gave mum licence to get me anything smoothie related including - but not limiting to - straws, books, fruit, nuts, ice cream and drinking chocolate.
Han also got me two wonderful presents. The first is an Atari Paddle Game similar to this, which is annoyingly addictive. I played Pong for half an hour when I should've been in the pub. It's that addictive. Her 2nd present was a Nintendo alarm clock shipped in from Japan. All the instructions are in japanese, so I can't figure out a few things
Rick took the biscuit with the most "unexpected (yet coolest)" present, which consisted of a Firefox t-shirt. Aled got me the excellent Tekken 5.
I got two other books (other than the afformented "Smoothie Book"): Blog Digest 2007 by Justin McKeating and a "How to Win at Internet Gambling". Why mum? It's the gift that will take from me!
As well as all this, I got some ace golf balls, and the usual beer and chocolate.
As far as the day went? It was mainly wake up, pub, lunch, sleep, Vicar of Dibley, sleep. With all speak to Han, eat nuts and play with our toys inbetween.
In other news, the forum now accepts guest posts on the introductions and guest forums. If I get spammed out of my boots, it's going, but hopefully I can attract a bit of banter there. Go! Now!
Twas the night before Christmas,
And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a mouse
It was there Rhys sat
Bored off his tits
"I'll have another blogging party"
"They're surefire hits!"
He rang his dearest girlfriend Han
"Bring tunes or this party blows"
"I'll bring my iPod, and my Mac Powerbook"
"No way I'm I trusting your Windoze"
"Fine!" said Rhys, taking Han inside
When suddenly, there was a ringing door bell.
Four jolly americans came through the door!
They were, Merrick, Randi Jessica and Manuel
"Here you go Rhys!", said Manuel, "a gift"
"Wow" said Rhys, "A brand new xbox!"
But no time to speak more, the next guests arrived
Jake, Lottie, Jenny, and the rest of Punclox
It was just bloggers who came to these parties
Mates also flock to these do's Guy, Sibley, Ian, Tom and Z come
Though only for the free booze
Ally arrived next to the feast,
And she brought some homemade wine Celeste brought some Caviar from a London hotel,
And Tilesey some steaks on which to dine.
Lasty the Aussie Contingient arrived. Fern, Dan and the Demon Spawn. My namesake also arrived, and gloated
"What England will never have is a Shane Warne."
Midnight arrived, and each guest raised a glass,
And the host Rhys proclaimed, with such delight
Merry Christmas to all bloggers, all my readers and friends
And to all, a fucking good night!
Despite the fact I'm not feeling 100% festive, got hungover to buggery, and wishing I'd asked Santa for a new phone - I'm happy. Nadolig Llawen i chi gyd!!
During that moment discribed in the last post with the Spice Girls, this below was the article I focussed on, in the North Wales Weekly News. All spelling mistakes are intended.
"Beer at £1 a point is on offer in the social club for this Saturday's home game against Woodley Sports (3pm). Spectatorsa will also be given a voucher wich allow admission into the Boxing Day game at Cammell Laird for just £2"
£1 a point? I doubt even Chelsea have stooped that low....yet, sure though a few of the regulars would club together and cobble about a hundred quid to make the title race beyond doubt! That is shocking "professional" journalism. Sack the proof reader. Meh, could be worse: one of my friends think we're playing Camel Lard on Boxing Day.
So yeah, if you fancy a few drinks on the cheap, and a quality game of football today, get your heiny down to Llanelian Road for a quality game of football. Go! Now!
Ah. We've all been there. We sit in front of the TV watching "Nature's Greatest Miracles", and then. Two anmials start humping away at each other like rabbits. Usually, they are rabbits, but even so. It's very embarrasing.
However, I've experienced worse tonight. I was watching the "20th Greatest Christmas Songs Ever" on Magic with my Mum and brothers, and this video came up.
I looked up 3 or 4 times duing the video: mainly to look at Emma Bunton at her prime. But by god! I never realiesd the subtle undertones in the video. Okay, they're hardly subtle - the line "I wanna make love to ya baby!", isn't exactly playing hard to get. But those nights I spent alone with a copy of Smash Hits and this song on repeat. I just feel.....dirty. Call me naive, but I thought it was all about Marriage (the 2 surnames becoming 1: doubled barrelled, I assume), I had no idea it was about fucking! I lead a sheltered childhood!
Last few days, I have been fairly busy in work. However, I've had a lot of rest bite, and found a doozy of a game.
Kdice is a multiplayer, Ajax based strategy game, that is far far too addictive. It's a bit like Risk, but a lot simpler, and a lot less imposing. Simply dominate the board with your dice before the opponent does the same. Simple. Yet a hell of a lot of fun.
If you do decide to join, my profile with fair to middling stats is here. Add rhysboy84 to your friends list, and I may give you a game.
Right, I'm off to the pub now. Aled turned 18 today so I feel it's only right I take him out for a few drinks. I don't really fancy it though, so have asked a few of my mates to join me. Hopefully it will all be well when I go down there, and the beer gets flowing.
Yes. The convicts have reclaimed the ashes in a humiliating 3-0 defeat in a test of five. Not many of you readers follow or even know much about cricket, so I'll just leave it at that. As a result, I've subjected myself to a barrage of Pommie Bashing - please do so in the comment box below or in the appropriate thread on the forum. Thank you.
For those without a passing interest at the Gentleman's Game, suggestions. With Cricket and Football being dire, and Rugby being not so great, tell me: What should be the UK's new national sport?
Time Person Of The Year: A collection of Ace Blog Posts
Time Magazine has voted that this years person of the year is Me! Well, You. But Time told me "You are time's person of the year." Anyway, I digress. I think they mean that bloggers, youtubers and all sorts of user generated content genrerators are this years people of the year - so all those who don't fit into the category (and even Tommy come Latelies - though your blog is ace by the way Tom), can ignore this post. As it's us bloggers, myspacers and Second Lifers who shape this world.
"It's about the many wresting power from the few and helping one another for nothing and how that will not only change the world, but also change the way the world changes."
So, what will I do with my latest edition to my CV? Well, I suppose I could go on a long, thoughtful and intelligent rant about how we are underapreciated by the Main Stream Media, but I do enough of that on my mylot account. Instead I'm going to link to my favourite posts of the year, and how bloggers and the general Web 2.0 have wrecked havoc this year.
Lets start with the big gun, and my favourite Web 2.0 Story this year. North Korea's web portal was found online in autumn. Now, this is big news, so it was put on Fark.com. Almost immediately, the website - and therefore an entire nation's internet went down. We were hoping it'd spark riots in the street (lord knows I would if I couldn't get online). It didn't. Still, made me laugh.
On a personal note I posted an April Fools Gag this past April. Whilst Ally commented on it, Fern's comment took the biscuit. I mean, I have ex girlfriends who deny ever having intimate relationships with me. For her to claim that she's done sexy time with me (when she quite obviously hasn't), damn that made me smile!
Hannah's Blog has been excellent since November. If you're thinking I'm saying this because she's seeing me at the moment.....you'd be right.
I suppose really from 2006 I didn't really gain a number of new blogs to read. Sure, there was Han, and Manuel. But from the top of my head that's all there have been. Merrick made a welcome return to my feed list too. But apart from that, there hasn't really been any new blogs out there that have grabbed me. Like wise any new consistant readers.
However, the readers that I do have, I have got to know better. Seriously. Some of you I feel I know better than my mates. I also took the plunge and met a few of you, and I was plesantly suprised you weren't serial killers. Celeste is as warm and as bubbly as she appears on her blog. And I really don't need to tell you what I think about Han, who I met 24 hours later.
So, Mr and Mrs Time People Of The Year, thank you for reading my blog, feeding this blog and commenting on this blog (this'd be a good point for you lurkers to make yourself known!). As a group of people, it's nice to be recognised. We're certainly more deserving than Bono - the hypocritical wankstain of a man who won it last year.
I'm beginning to get excited for Christmas, it's bad. I've been a bit subdued and disinterested when it comes to Christmas, but this year, I'm genuinely excited. It's driving my mum mad though, as I'm self-questioning myself out loud: I wonder what Han got me? I do hope Han like's my presents?! I wonder what is in that Joystick Shaped Box? I wonder if they'll have "A Blonde For Christmas" in the Pen this Year? I wonder what will happen between The Mighty Bay and Woodley Sports (£1 a pint in the clubhouse, 23rd of December, be there!)? These sort of questions we must all be asking ourselves at this time of the year.
I suppose I can semi-relax now that I have pretty much finished the Christmas shopping. Half of Mum's present has yet to arrive yet, but that should arrive tomorrow. All I need to do is wrap it, test it, and then I should be ready to eat, drink and be very merry. Not even the fact that I know I've got a Bounty on Christmas Eve in my Advent Calendar can put me in a horrible mood.
Yesterday was the unofficial "End Of Christmas Shopping" Day, getting things for the more important members of the family (that'd be yourself, Bonnie), and I had a surreal experience in Game.
Around this time of year, shops take on extra staff just to give a gentle nudge to people to part with their hard earned dollah. I should know, I applied for a position with one of them. I was having a look through the Wii games at game when one of these people came over to shill me some products.
"Hey, did you manage to get one at launch?"
"Alas no....it's a shame really, is a lot of fun."
"Oh yeah, they're hugely popular, makes my job a lot easier!"
[Forced laughter not seen since You Been Framed was stopped being filmed in front of a live audience]
"Want a PSP?"
"Not really"
In other news. I now have a gmail account! I also have integrated Google Reader with Firefox, so i need feeds to populate it. Any gooduns out there? I'll be honest, I've never really used RSS before now, so it's a bit bare!
As a self confessed computer geek, I'm all for technology, and the advancement of our civilization as a whole though it. However, there's one thing I cannot stand.
Technology for the sake of technology.
More to the point, useless technology.
Now, understand I'm not having a go at things like USB Missile Launcher, they serve a purpose (to entertain by firing rockets at Bonnie). Plus they look like fun.
What I don't like is when somebody thinks "hmmm....there's this idea, why not stick a USB connector to the end of it, then we can fleece it to geeks?!?!" My mum is brilliant at finding this crap: she's bought me a USB fan, and a USB keyboard cleaner in the past. However, those pale in comparison to - what I believe - the most useless advancement of technology ever.
Since last weekend - I've become a little bit of a macwhore. They were great, so pretty, and not as backwards as PC users would have you believe. Han has already talked in length about methods of simulating Macs on PCs, including a version of expose for windows. I on the other hand wanted desktop widgets. I found a program called DesktopX, which allows you to add widgets to your desktop. However, therein lies two problems.
First one is that widgets are cluttered when compared to the macs. Reason being is that one of Expose's features shows and hides a collection of widgets, meaning that it doesn't clutter the desktop.
The second thing is that some of these widgets are just horribly designed. I mean, take the calculator. It has the most useless button for a PC calculator - an off button.
I mean, why? My solar power scientific calculator doesn't even have an off button, why should a desktop calculator need one? "Aha!" I hear you say, "I bet the 'off' button is a clever way of shutting down the application?"
Wrong!
So yeah, any suggestions to what the off button does, answers on a postcard please to the usual address. Also, I believe this is the most pointless piece of technology ever (the off button), what about you? You seen anything worse?
Oh, and to all those PC converters who want the look of the Mac.....errr......I suggest you buy a Mac.
I'm sorry, I don't like our Christmas Tree this year.
Now, I know what I said last year, and I do think white trees are homosexual. However, like homosexuals, white trees fill the room with an air of brightness and chirpyness. We went green again this year, and I really, really don't like it. Instead of dominating the room like a poof, it just sits there like a straight guy. It should be saying to me "grrr, you've had me in the attic for the last 11 months, I'll show YOU what I can do, so that you maybe keep me up beyond 12th Night this year", it instead just sits there and takes my abuse like a man.
The problem comes when you get close (as the picture above shows). It is an utter chaos state up close. Maybe it's because I've done a shit load of design work this year, but I just find my tree clattered and uncoordinated. It's become so much of a problem with me that I actually refuse to spend much time in the lounge now. That, and of course I can skype Han senseless in my room and nobody'd be none the wiser...
Seriously, it's got to go before 12th Night.
I also cannot help feel guilty asking my mum to buy me a book for Christmas: The Blog Digest 2007. The unnofficial sequel to 2005; Blogged (the latter compiled by Tim Worstall, the former compiled by Justin McKeating. I'm in neither). Mum has a cut off period where she goes from "give me your suggestions, I have fuck all clue what to get you" to "Stop with your suggestions, I got you Fimbles' DVD, and you better love it!". I had missed the cutoff period, and boy - did I know about it. I simply said in return that I didn't know you were stopping shopping, but now I feel like I'm going to hell.
Oh, and we've discovered a bonus use for the flat screen TV. Now cards from ungreatful members of the family which we felt we had to put on the TV for the world to see can now be safely relegated into the general mish mash. That TV is turning out to be the gift that keeps on giving.
I'm back from my weekend away from it all with the gorgeous Han. As you can imagine, an obscene amount of the weekend is unsuitable for this blog (kids, the elderly and - worst of all - my mum read this 'ere site), so as opposed tothe comprehensivewrite upmy first Londontrip got, this one is going to be a lot more concise!
First notable point was Saturday day. Me and Han headed into Canterbury for one of her mate's birthday. I actually blogged about it extensively on Han's blog so I won't repeat it here, so here's a quick summary: we waited an hour for cardboard based food with chavs entertaining us by flashing old men. When the food finally came the waitress confused poor Han into accepting someone else's meal and then insulted her. Trust me, that post on Han's blog is a watered down post.
In the night, we went to "The Venue" for school disco night. Both of us looked fabulous in our uniform, but alas this didn't reflect in the photos where I look either psychopathic...
drunk....
...or just downright perverted....
....one thing I will say is this - it's ironic that only when you are with somebody you really, really like you realise what you really hate. I do not like middle of the road nightclubs - they're usually garishly coloured concrete blocks, devoid of any personality. The Venue was one of these, with an added bonus of having a DJ that gave a running commentary throughout each song. Consider Bryan Adams "Summer of 69"
"What did you get?" "I got my first real six string"
"Where did you get it?" "Bought it at the five & dime"
"What did you do with it?" "Played it until my fingers bled"
"When was it?" "Was the summer of 69"
But yeah, fantastic company aside, the venue was a bit of a hole.
On my way back, I had a good hour stopover in London. I had a beer, a burger and something I've never had before - a Krispy Kreme Doughnut. I'll be honest, it would also probably be my last. It was so saturated with sugar I was almost sick. A couple of pints later and my excitement levels was back to usual levels. I'm not good with sugar rushes. Anyway, it was there overlooking Euston Station that - I dunno - I just seem so much happier down this end of the country. I know there's a difference between visiting somewhere and living/working somewhere. It just seems like a better place to be than Colwyn Bay - and I'm sure that my family, friends and CBFC (the only things I truly like about my home town) would be able to cope if I do depart - providing I visit every now and again.
To close, thank you for all your e-mails regarding Christmas Cards. Due to sheer workload, I've yet to post them. I will do so on Wednesday, so you have another day to get in your request (if you've yet to already) - click here to email me your address for postage.
Tomorrow, I pack my bags and spend three days with my gorgeous blogger girl formally known as Hannah. It will be the first time I've seen her since London that I've seen her, and to see her again involves a trip through London to Canterbury. It feels odd going through London again so soon after I last went, considering it's a decent train ride away, and my time in the nations capital is little over an hour. Still, it'd be an amazing weekend, with the highlights (for me) being tomorrow. Saturday involves looking around Canterbury at the sights/shopping, followed by a pub lunch, topped all off with a School Disco Party at Kent SU. Tilesey, I can see you seething from here!
Before I'd go, I'd like to say that this monday will be the last day that I will send out Christmas Cards, so if you want one - please email me your address. So far, only MrManuel has taken me up on this offer, and I've got a shed load of cards to shift!
Some people scoffed at my present list, calling myself the "most favourite grandson". What I'm about to show is conclusive evidence that I am.
First of all, a little history. There is a local Welsh paper that serves the Abergele area, where my gran lives. It is purely in Welsh, and it is a prime read for all the farmers (well, the ones who can read), largely because it's such a small community, and they're often in it. Recently, my gran turned 85, and this was her birthday message in the paper. Which mentions all the grandsons. In importance order.
To my regular readers: sorry about the poor quality of blogging recently. Been a bit miserable through one thing and another. Seems to be the case that before I do something fun, I'm usually at my lowest ebb right before doing something fun. I'm at quite a low point at the moment. Hopefully, a weekend with Han and the fact that over 100 blogs link here on technorati will put a general smile back on my face.
I'll be honest, I was not looking forward to it. I had missed a couple of games recently through sexy distractions from Han, and the results have been not going our way. However, me being me, I only read the results, rather than the reports that - well - we've actually been playing well.
We started brightly putting BPA under the cosh from about the first 5 minutes, creating a lot of good chances in the first half. However, we were unable to capitalise on the dominance we had. Most of the talk was on one of the BPA players - who, honest to god, played in the Premiership not that long ago, and how will we ever cope against an ex-Premiership Quality Journeyman.
The answer would be handed to us in the second half - rather bloody well. In a complete role reversal from the first half, BPA dominated the game, but didn't make a breakthrough. It look like it was going to a 0-0 draw when Christ Priest fired off a volley in the 92nd minute to put the Bay 1-0 ahead. And that's the way it stayed.
We. Were. Elated. When I got home, I was drunk on a deadly concoxion of Boddingtons, Orme's Best and happiness, and spoke far to fast and far to happily to Han for a man who had been standing in the cold for two hours.
It's funny supporting the Bay. We're not a big club. The players usually join us after the game in the club house. We don't have a club credit card. Nor do we have an "official supporters club" that demands £100 a year to join, just for tickets. We aren't owned by a foreign businessman, instead a sizable proportion of the club income is generated by loyal fans. Our "Corporate Hospitality" is a free beer, free entry into the ground and first pick of sausage rolls. Nobody is on mega bucks, with the players and officials often having second jobs on top of their playing career. And we most definitely do NOT have a training school in Dubai.
I switch off whenever my mates talk about "The Premiership", as - truth be told - I just don't find it interesting anymore. I don't like the fact that around the table in the pub, some of my mates are more concerned with a team that plays a hundreds miles away than just down the road. Sure, I have my favorites in the Premiership, but there's one team I want to do well, Colwyn Bay. But by and large I doubt I would now ever pay to go and see a premiership game, nor would I ever purchase a credit card scheme just because they have the club logo on it, and there is a "fans APR".
I'm sorry, but they're not fans, they're customers.
Colwyn Bay is currently undergoing a scheme caleld Raise The Roof. Fans around the world are digging into their pocket to give a little bit of money to the club, so we can put a roof on the terraces. When the roof goes up, a plaque will be put on the wall in the social, with all the people's names and inscriptions from people who have joined. I have started an "Old Sheddites" collection fund, which I will donate to the powers that be in the new year, as well as a list of all the people who have donated (I'm planning something along the lines of "Old Sheddites - ", then a list of names. I'll see if it can be done though). If you would like to donate any amount, and get your name inscribed in history (plus keep me warm and dry during the winter months as Llanelian Road), please e-mail me, and I will sort something out. I will also - should you ever be on the North Wales coast - take you to a bay game and buy you a beer.
On Saturday morning, I was planning to go to Llandudno to to a bit of Christmas Shopping. Mum had to dash to the post office first, so I stayed in bed whilst she went, no point getting up than any earlier on a Saturday, eh?
I was all set to go to Llandudno when mum burst through the door, windswept. "It's chaos down there, the power's gone due to the storms we've had overnight!". Cool. I grabbed my camera, and embarked on a bit of Citizen Journalism.
It was probably one of the most surreal sights I've seen in the Bay. Behind somebody famous being here.
All the power was down in the bay, which meant, that anywhere with traffic lights was a dangerous area.
We drove a little further, and there were more lights down, these ones were particularly dangerous, as it was where the expressway joins with the traffic.
Further on, you could see that even the street lights, that were on in the rest of the town, were off.
So....there you have it. My first attempt at citizen journalism, and probably the last. First of all, I'm pretty crap (as the above few paragraphs would testify) at "reporting" stuff that's actually important, secondly I doubt I could have the balls in like going to - say - a bomb location to take photographs of people dead and dying. It's all rather morbid.
However, Golden Cock award of the day however does go to me, for saying "but the cars lights are all on!".
An Open Letter to Relations (and a note to everybody else)
First off, for everybody else: I've started writing Christmas Cards, so if you want one (can be anywhere in the world), drop me an e-mail with your address on, and I'll send one out to you.
Right, onto the relatives.
Dear Relatives,
Hello! I know you all read it! Thankfully, both my mum and my dad are both wanabee marketers and have told all of you about this site, and I know you read it! As such, be it that I entertain you at work, a launchpad for your own websites, or just your favourite little Welshman. I bet you're wondering what to get your favourite relative for Christmas.
Well, worry no more, as I'll tell you!
First and foremost - for those who want to make me really happy - here's my Amazon Wishlist. Full of all sorts of electronic and literal masterpieces. One word of warning, if you are going to use this method, please don't do what my mate did and ordered his christmas present via the Amazon search box on the left. Seriously. It spoilt the suprise!
Worried about spending too much money on me? Don't worry! There's this brilliant website which I use called Freefivers, which earns you cashback should you buy something online. Okay, it isn't much, and it's not going to make you a millionaire, but I use it and I must've saved about, what, £50 so far? I opened it in March. May as well!
Okay, you want to get me something edible or drinkable? Fine. That's cool too. I have completely gone of Lager and realised that it is the piss flavoured water that it truly is. Instead, I prefer ales - Boddingtons being my favourite. Also, I've become a bit of a coinneseur with real ales, so get me them. Just don't get me anything that tastes like antifreeze.
Food wise I prefer Miniture Heroes to Celebrations, and not a huge fan of overly salty snacks.
Hope that's some help to you dim and distant relatives.
Merry Christmas!
Rhys (your favourite Grandson, nephew, hanger on).
Right, normal service will be resumed tomorrow. This weekend has been rather fun, but more about it tomorrow!
It came in the post this morning, so either the package at the post office is my train tickets, or it is mum's memory card. All I can say is I can sleep easier.
It's been a distrubingly productive Saturday Morning for Wales' favourite blogger. It's been mental, and everything has gone well. Amazing how a Galaxy Truffle in your advent calendar can make a day seem good. I've even managed to have a good chuckle at the same time.
Take this example. This time next weekend I will be with the gorgeous Hannah down in Canterbury. Amongst the weekend's festivities is her mate's birthday on the saturday. For it, they have decided to go to the Venue (Kent Uni's Student Union), in what will be a School Disco night. Now I have been told that if I go as Minietta, I will be left in Canterbury's bustling Red Light District, which is a bugger - as the only "school univform" I have is a tight (lot tighter than that photo) shirt that excuentate my unnattural 42FFF Breasts which can be barely contained in my emerald 38B bra. Socks are wonderful things. I also have a disturbingly short knee length skirt.
So, I had to find man uniform. Luckily, I have a pair of grey trousers which I may or may not modify into trouser shorts (it is December mind you), but the shirt was a problem. After much pre-Han-waking-up rummaging (to be honest, the only time I ever get anything done, stupid sexy distractor), I found an old M & S shirt that fits pretty much perfectly. On closer inspection of the tabs, I found this label on it....
Genius! I know the quality of parenting has gone downhill, but surely even the shittest of Chav Mothers of 12 will know that you should NOT put Children into fires?
There are hours that are testing times, adrenalin, emotion and other words ending in "n" kick in, to help you get through them. Largely they come at once a year, and can hit you for six. Today, between the hour of 5pm and 6pm, my life seemed to come crashing down. One humourous, one not so humourous.
The first the not so humourous. Dad on one of his extra duties of delivering compost to customers, cracked his head open on the boot (trunk to all you yankenites out there) of his car. Luckily, he wasn't far from the hospital (which not that long ago was due to be shut down, luckily it was saved), so he drove there, got stiched up, and - although he's not allowed to drive a vehicle - he's alright now. He does worry me at times as he works far too hard considering he could probably retire now, but that's the Wynne gene. Luckily, I have a mutated form of the Spence "work hard and play hard" gene, which just makes me bone idle. I must be adopted.
It is worrying however, as I was simply told "Dad's gone to hospital". That got me worried and also made me break open the Jack Daniels.
However, no disrespect to my dad, but there is something a lot worse.
I've ordered a couple of things in the past week - one of which is train tickets to see the Gorgeous Han next Friday. The other is an item that - for reasons that my mum reads this blog - I can't say what it is. Both items are in my name, however I got a suprise today when mum finished work....
"There's a parcel waiting for us in the post office"
Oh shit, I really don't want to pick it up with my mum there.
"We should go now, both of us, to pick it up."
As harsh at it may sound, It was almost a relief when Aled rang to say Dad suffered a minor accident. Gave me time to think. Until the dinner table, that is.
"Rhys, I understand that you're going to watch Colwyn Bay tomorrow, do you want me to pick up this parcel?"
On Monday night me and a few of my friends went to see Casino Royale, the latest in the series of Bond films. I love James Bond films, romanticising the life Bond leads, and this film continues the trend - and it is rather good. However, I wouldn't quite go as far as "the best film ever" as some of my mates call it. I'm not going to spoil the film if you haven't seen it (I do suggest you do, it is pretty good), but here are some notible points. Some of it is whitened out, highlight it to see the spoilers.
We loved the poker scenes - with one of my non poker playing mates saying "I see why you enjoy playing it, it is rather exciting", however I only wish I was that good at calling hands as I was in the cinema. Predicted the result of every hand.
One scene I didn't like was when Bond is poisoned and suffers a cardiac arrest. Having the heartbeat played over the speakers unnerved me, though I do not like heartbeats - ever since I went into hospital with heart palputations. A little bit uncomfortable watching it.
Another scene that made me uncomfortable (though I wasn't alone) was the chair torture scene. Though I suspect I wasn't alone.
The line "It's amazing what you can do these days with Photoshop" made me chuckle. Yes I'm a geek.
It was untypical bond in that it was a lot darker than previous affairs, it was far more believable too, with Daniel Craig appearing hurt every now and again (I cannot remember the last time that a Bond was injured for the sake of injury, rather than continue the storyline). Everybody said that it was darker, but I didn't expect it with the first scene featuring an amazing fight on a construction yard, but it did get a lot darker. Which I'm not 100% sold on. I like that perplexing gadgets in miniscule form, I like the cars that can be driven on two wheels, I like the women who can crush you with their thighs. I dunno though, we shall see with the next one.
The other thing I really didn't like was the ending. It just sort of...well....ended. Sure, it leaves the possibility of a sequel open. But I would of prefered it if they dragged out the 2nd to last scene a bit more. I suppose they didn't want a tragic ending. But seriously, I'd watch it, it is rather good.
, and it's brill! Best games so far are 
On Monday night me and a few of my friends went to see 