Ho, ho, ho, 'tis December!

So, this is Christmas. Sun rises at 8.15am, sets at 4.05pm. Fabulous.

Actually, the month started with both of us crook. Matt brought it home, then lovingly shared it with Kathy. Ah, the 'joys' of marriage - share and share alike. Hey, c'mon, there are some things which are better to keep to yourself! Matt had only 1 day off work, and struggled through the rest of that week, whereas Kathy had a whole week off (great start to her new job - 1 week on, then 1 week off). Matt had only the 1 day off, because one of the people he meets at the Voorburg Group meetings was visiting. Christian, from Austria, was visiting with 2 of his staff, Christian (the younger) and Barbara. They were here for several days, plus most of the weekend. We went out for drinks with them on Thursday night, which was good fun. They went to the rugby on Friday night (we didn't go because we were both feeling poorly), which they quite enjoyed even though they had no idea what was going on. Christian (the elder) was taking photos. One guy said to them "why are you taking photos?" "We're tourists - we've never been to a rugby match before!" "Why did you stop taking photos!" I think they got on with the crowd! The next day they went to a Bluebirds game with Matt, who then took them to St. Mary's Street on a Saturday night (scary) then to Chippy Lane (scarier). They were horrified.

The weather started turning colder, except for the shopping. OMG, OMG, OMG. Terrifying. We really missed the Xmas parties in Australia, partly because there weren't as many of them, but partly because the parties here seemed to be different - more boozing? No that's probably not it - but some of the groups in the pubs- not us! - were seriously pissed. Matt had his work lunch, then a 'floor party', and Kathy went to the Vice Chancellor's lunch (everyone disappeared about 2pm. Mind you, it was on the last day of work for the year). Friday the 19th (amazingly called Black Friday, because it is the last Friday before the Christmas break) we had drinks with Craig, Lewis and Sarah. A couple of days after we were at the Halfway, and there was a bunch of festive guys, all dressed as dalmations. On their way out they stopped at a table where there was a family with a young girls, so they sang to her! The found on what her name was, and incorporated that in to their song. She loved it.

That weekend we went to the Pontcanna Christmas Fair, which was on at Plasturton Gardens. It was pretty good - evening on a Saturday. It was dark, there were kids about having a great time and going on rides, we had mulled wine, and bought a holly wreath.

Christmas Eve we went to the pub, and had a fantastic time. We chatted to a lot of the other regulars, and had lots of fun. Kathy rang her Grandparents later that evening (morning NZ time), which they loved. Christmas Day we had a typical 'Matt and Kathy' special breakfast (cava and home-cured gravalax), before being picked up by Les to have Christmas lunch in Barry.

Guess who had his first Christmas?

All tuckered out

While it was great to have lunch with family, it was an odd sort of day compared with the Xmas celebrations we are used to in the Antipodes. There was much more focus on a single meal, with a near-military operation in the kitchen. After lunch there were parlour games, like charades. Very different from what we are used to. It was really good, though, to catch up with people including his aunt Val.



We went home on Boxing Day. We had intended to go out to Newport to watch the rugby. However, there was no public transport running. What the...?!? So instead we went out for a walk.


In the morning in Barry it was grey, but in Cardiff it turned in to a beautiful sunny day.

Matt walking in the sunshine

So we walked in Bute Park.

River Taff in the sunshine

Trees in the sunshine in Bute Park

There was a rugby match on,

and we still can't work out who was playing - there was a really odd mix of ages. We think it was probably students v old boys, or something. It was a really chilly day, and there were guys with their hands down their shorts to keep them warm - not to do other things!

On the 27th we walked down to the Bay in the cold and the wind

Sculpture down at Cardiff Bay

Kathy in the cold and the wind

and had a lovely lunch at an Italian restaurant.. Matt had a yummy seafood stew and Kathy had a seafood risotto. Mmmmmm. We got so cold afterwards that we got a taxi home, and were very glad we did. On the 28th we walked some of the Taff Trail again.

A frozen puddle

Wintery Taff Trail

Misty River Taff in the sunshine

So, there we were walking along, and we could hear a jogger behind us. No ordinary jogger he turned out to be. It was a 6'4 bloodnut rugby player, former All Black who curently plays for the Cardiff Blues.


Kinda cool.

We spent a little time watching the cricket (Australia v Sth Africa) -last session is on early in the morning here of course. We were shocked and disgusted with the results. 1 was bad. The other was worse!! WE WANT BLOOD, and lots of it. Punter's head on a pike would be good for a start, and Matt Hayden needs crucifixion.

No, not a Life of Brian cricifixion

More like this (which Matt took in Mexico)

or this - you know, painful (likewise taken in Mexico)

We also revisited some of the Pontcanna pubs we don't normally go to, which was fun. We went to the Robin Hood, and to the Conway. The Conway has recently changed hands, and has been turned in to more of a bistro. The bar part of the pub we thought was cold - not just temperature but atmosphere. It was the middle of the afternoon, and there was almost no-one in there. Sad.

So, that was Christmas.

Wine of the month: Villa Solaris Vermentino de Sardegna DOC 2007
Food find of the month: Pomegranate