Manly Men

This post begins with no pictures and much scorn. For some reason since Saturday, my wireless network has failed to give my precious Sally (my lappy) any internet goodness. In addition, the digisender which I use to watch Sky in the front living room has also gone caput. I sense that some treachery or some tomfoolery is afoot, but for now I am relegated to the family PC to tell you all of my woes, my recent trips and burning issues.

Jen and I had the weekend before last off from work, so we decided to do something to celebrate our 4 year anniversary. We settled for Kenilworth Castle, which is sandwiched nicely in the countryside between Coventry and Warwick. It was a superb castle, complete with lots to see and learn, as the prominent figure which owned this estate was Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Queen Elizabeth I's 'closest advisor'. And I hope you know what I mean when I say 'closest'....

Anyway after Kenilworth, we though we would grab some food in Stratford-upon-Avon, which was a short distance away. There we had chips in the rain (romantic!) after we attempted to sit by the canal and admire the scenery. We later found the Stratford Argos (tiny!) on the same street as Shakespeare's birthplace. See, Argos can be a part of history! After we refused to enter Big Will's crib, we decided to get some Warwickshire ice-cream and then see Anne Hathaway's cottage to complete the Shakespearean extravagansa. We then went to Worcester, where we dined at classy Nando's and had the usual Meal Platter. We walked around the city centre and failed to find the Argos, but we did establish that it was a very 'alternative' place. There were so many goths, skate punks, metallers on the streets it looked like it was the set of a Slipknot video or something! We did see the cathedral but sadly by then it was night and the pictures didn't come out so well. We then went home through Great Malvern and also failed to find the Argos there, but by then it was pitch black and any excursions in teh middle of the Malvern hills would just be plain crazy. We then went home back over to the green green grass of home.

This weekend just passed I finally became a manly man. It's true; you are not a real man until you have experienced the ancient ritual of the Stag, and I was lucky enough to part-take of this of sacred event in style. The victim, or should I say the groom-to-be, was Mikey Pinto, regular latino soul man of TTFE. We went over the bridge to the city of Bristol, where we were promised a much better night out was to be had than we would experience in Cardiff. It didn't disappoint; the place was simply buzzing. Wasn't overly busy where ever we went, but it certainly wasn't a ghost town either, and this was a Saturday night! The atmosphere was just so much calmer there than I would expect in Cardiff, where I often feel as though I'm crusing for a bruising for just walking down St. Mary Street. Anyway it was a great night, complete with drinking, fun and frolic, and dancing.

To end this post, I would have to say the job hunt continues on and the search is becoming even more mudane. I have counted my blessings lately as I have some much needed overtime in Argos, but I know before long that will dry up and I will be once again taking in my daily breakfast of toast and Jeremy Kyle. Please someone out there, give me a chance!