Pongo update

Pongo's being kept in a stall with his Mum at the moment coz he's not feeding properly and is a bit weak. George is taking good care of him

Meet Pongo

Pongo was born yesterday (Monday). Isn't he sweet? :)

Tredegar

We tried the Tredegar Arms this evening. It's the fourth (and most distant) pub on the road from farm to motorway. Food was nice (typical pub menu) and well cooked, but reasonably priced. Might go back later this week.

More sheep?

Here's a picture I took last week but forgot to post. The sheep are fractionally closer than in previous pictures

Monday a.m.

I was up at 4:45 and left home at 5:25. I'm getting-up 15 mins later each
week, but still arriving at a decent time, i.e. near 9am. I expect it'll be
busier this week (end of half-term), so I won't be able to get up any
later.

I had coffee and croissant at Leigh Delamere (arrived 7:30) before
finishing the journey. I think this is the first monday morning I've
been at LD with no snow - last week there were little piles in places, I
think.

I arrived at ONS at 8:55. Tidy!

Good to see Slumdog Millionaire got 8 Oscars. The first British-funded
film to get Best Picture since 1948! 61 years!! I hope you all have a
good cinema trip today.

I've been trying to send some or all of this message since 7:45 this
morning. Some kind of problem somewhere :(

Cold showers

It was nice to talk to you all this evening.

I had a cold shower this morning (and I mean *seriously* cold). It may have been partly my fault coz I had a long shower last night and the water temperature was dropping when I got out. I don't think the water heater is switched until next morning, by which time it's too late to heat it quickly enough for morning showers.

George has managed to drill a hole in the outside wall at last, so he can connect the heat exchanger and generate more hot water. He hasn't yet connected it up, but the hole puts us one step closer.

We're off to Cardiff tonight. Tony, the SAS project Mgr leaves SAS next week and this is his last visit to newport.

Lambs

The lambs were let out to play before breakfast this morning, so I took a few distant pictures, plus random pictures of farmhouse

Rhiwderin Arms

Hurrah, we found somewhere that serves decent food at a decent price, and it's actually the pub nearest Pentre Tai! I had sausage and mash.

How's half-term going?

A very ordinary evening

Went to friendly fox with richard x 2 and andy k. Had mediocre meals, as expected. Atmosphere was good - tv showing arsenal vs Cardiff

Not bad

Here at 9.10. Not bad - I left home at 5.10 and had a 20 min breakfast stop. Traffic around newport very light - perhaps it settles after 9am.

Surprising amount of snow still in fields around Swindon

Nothing happened

Richard and I went to Friendly Fox again this evening, but earlier than last night. Hence got something to eat: 2 x gammon/egg/chips for 7.99

Now back in room, ready to pack, and mtg in office at 8am tomorrow.

Looking fwd to coming home tomorrow, albeit won't leave 'til 4pm coz Andrea's booked a mtg 3 til 4. I must get her trained! Anyway, I now have everything I need to work from home properly (incl. being able to connect to ONS email)

ttfn

Oh what a night!

Hmmm, disappointing evening. The SAS boys are finished for this week (we only bought 3 days of their time), so it ws just Richard and me, and we had to pay for dinner ourself :(

We went to Ruperra Arms (reputedly the best eatery locally) but Richard didn't fancy anything on the menu (in part because his agency took him for lunch today; in contrast, I only had time for a sandwich), so we finished our beers and went to the Friendly Fox (where we went Monday night - "two meals for 7.99"). But the lazy bag behind the bar, when she eventually condescended to pull herself away from conversation with pals, told us last orders for meals was 15 mins ago.

So, we ordered two packets of crisps and a bag of nuts :( BAH, must do better tomorrow evening...

Ruperra Arms was interesting. It's a nice pub but seems to be frequented by the posh locals; Friendly Fox is more down-to-earth. Nonetheless, i'd like to try the grub for myself - the faggots were tempting, also the "beetroot tainted salmon" (or is that a pretentious description?)

Night, night...

Cardiff Bay

I forgot tonight's piccies!

You can see Roald Dahl Plas, home of Torchwood (look carefully and you'll see the tall
shiny pillar) and home of Welsh parliament (with illuminated writing on the sloping front).

The end of another day

It's been a good day today: my real client returned from her 17-day holiday in Brazil (her home) and she's full of info and ideas. Her absence has been noticeable over the last week. Tomorrow should be another good, focused and constructive day.

This evening we went to Cardiff, like we did last Wednesday. On that occasion we went to Woods Brasserie and had a fabulous meal (I had scallops & beetroot and steak); tonight we went to a cheap Italian (though I had nice bruschetta and then veal). Both meals paid by SAS and hence our client (thank you taxpayers!).

And the weather's been pleasant today: sunny, with no snow and no flooding.

Thinking of you all. Good night x x x

No Snow - Just Sunshine

Phew

Surprisingly, we seem snow-free this morning.

It's very windy, and I had a disturbed night (various noises interspersed throughout the night), but should be no probs getting to work. On the other hand, the South West of England seems to have had mega snow, and one of the Severn bridges is closed.

Adventure Tomorrow

We went to the Friendly Fox tonight: initiation for the new Pentre Tai guest, Richard. But it's already snowing heavily, so I wonder what it'll be like in the morning...

Pentre Tai Farm B&B

Finished work and resting at Pentre Tai. Coincidentally there's a new conactor at ONS and he's staying here too. He's got a Land-Rover Defender, so we should be ok if it snows overnight :)

Here are four pictures of my room (same as last week).

Arrived safely

I arrived safely and was coincidentally followed by my colleague Andrew all the way from the Severn River brige (he lives in Bristol).

Seems Google tracking (Google Latutude) wasn't working this morning, but it is now. Might be new system gremlins - it only started last week.

Better do some work now...

Another week

I was up at 4.15 and left at 5.10 (not sure what took me so long). There's been no traffic on the road, and no holdups except for an overturned van near Sevenoaks.

I've now stopped for coffee at Leigh Delamere services. It is 7.30 and I should be at ONS within the hour! I will be in the office before many of the locals!

There was a lot of snow around Swindon; on the side of the road and in tbeee fields, but blbd on the carriageway. Car park here at services is full of snow an big slippery lumps of ice - very difficult to walk from car to services. Wish me luck on my walk back to the car....

Demo for J

This has come from my phone

First week in Newport

Monday afternoon:

Tuesday morning:

Boy it was snowy!