CHRISTMAS 2013 // #XmasSelfies

#1 - Good Morning // Bore Da 

#2 Pigtailed Santa peeling the Vege // Diddorol . . .

#3 Ford Nadolig // Christmas Table 

#4 One of my personal favourites of the day - the Prawn Cocktail Selfie 

#5 'Dolig da ffrindie // xmas with my home boys. 

#6 Hendrix pondering over the meaning of life // Hendrix yn myfyrio gwir ystyr bywyd! 

#7 Wâc Nadolig // Xmas Walk

 #8 Tired Lisa. Wearing my first ever onsie // Wedi blino'n lân

#9 I should be ashamed of this nest/dreadlock that developed in my hair over Christmas and Boxing day but I am strangely very proud of it, although it was extremely painful to brush out! // Gwallt 'Dolig. 

CHRISTMAS 2013 // JOHNNY CASH, XMAS CAROLS & CHAMPAGNE BREAKFASTS

I love Christmas, I think I have grown to love it even more after being away for most of the year at uni because you know that Christmas means home time :) I like the carols that are sung, the films that are watched and the excuse to just lie on the sofa for most of the day guilt free. The Thomas household Christmas is relatively relaxed with only the four of us (+ Hendrix) spending the day together with my Mam-gu popping in to have some lunch. I'm not a big fan of being confined in a space filled with people so a small family suits me well. Christmas eve is all about the preparation, the wrapping and champagne breakfasts with friends while Xmas day is all about the present opening, film watching, dog walking, christmas dinner eating and of course the birth of Jesus. 

I always wake up early on Christmas morning much to the annoyance of my brother. This year I woke up at half 7 but held out from waking everyone up until 9am when I started to sing Christmas carols (O Deuwch Ffuddloniaid // Oh come All Ye Faithful) for all to here. After much grumbling and eye rubbing my brother and I opened our stocking while my mum laid in bed and my dad came home from work. Muesli, croissants, champagne and toast were on the menu for breakfast and after the veg was chopped and everyone was showered and ready we ventured in to the living room where our bigger presents were waiting. With the cheesy/ cringeworthy Johnny Cash 1976 Christmas Special programme playing in the background I opened my prezies and I received an awesome leather bag from Foley & Agamo, a Lancôme beauty set, Dr. Martens (1460 Boot), my first ever onesie, CD's, books, my staple Miss Dior perfume and many other wonderful gifts. 

Before the pigs in blankets could have time to digest, myself and my mam headed off on a little walk with Hendrix just to get some fresh air while my brother washed up. Upon our return we watched the end of Toy Story 3, watched Despicable Me 2 in 3D (well, I had a nap through the majority of it), caught the end of Homealone 2 and laughed at the Mrs. Brown's boys and Father Ted xmas specials before heading off to bed. B-E-A-UTIFUL day. :) 

Here are some of my favourite gifts I received from Santa and family. Thanks // Diolch :) 

ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST //

It's that time of year again when Slade, Wizzard, Mariah and Bublé are all thrust back on to radio playlists and I for one love it but I though I might provide you with a list of songs that are not played regularly throughout the month of December in the majority of people's houses throughout the country but they are songs that I love. So, without further ado, here we go . . .

Otis Redding - White Christmas

I discovered this version of White Christmas while roaming through Spotify a few christmases ago but I'm sure a lot of you will remember this song from the classic Richard Curtis film Love Actually. I love the blues and soul music so this version is right up my street and is possibly, controversially, my favourite version of this song ever. I could listen to it all day, everyday up to and even after the twenty-fifth of December. 

B.B King - Merry Christmas Baby

This version of Merry Christmas Baby by the king of the blues, Mr. B.B. King, is mighty fine. I toyed with the idea of including the king of rock 'n' roll, Elvis Presley's version and The Boss, Bruce Springsteen's version, but King jut pipped it. I can't pin point why I like this song so much but I love it. It doesn't sound like any other christmas song I've ever heard, there isn't a school choir singing in the back and there are no cheesy sleigh bells heard in the back. Perfecto, 

Biffy Clyro - Merry Christmas Everyone 

We're all used to Slade's version of this song and I'm sure I am not alone when I say that we have all shouted "IT'S CHRISTMAAAAAAAAS" in unison with Noddy Holder whenever and wherever this song is played. But, Biffy's version is a nice change from the original version that we've heard a gazillion times since our first christmas (it's still awesome though). Despite this being one of the first times the band had ever played this live and I don't think that they had even played it in the rehearsal room, it still sounds quite awesome and I loves Biffy Clyro whatever they sing. 'Mon the Biff. 

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

If you're a frequent visitor to this blog you'll know that I love Bruce Springsteen and everything that he does (I mean, have you heard his new single High Hopes?). This version of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town is the version that is played in our house more than any other. With Clarence's deep voice and ridiculously great saxophone playing along with Bruce's raspy vocals. Nothing says christmas quite like it! 

AC/DC - Mistress For Christmas

I understand that this song might not be everyone's taste but it's a bit of fun. I love AC/DC and when I discovered this song I just laughed - of course the band would have written a song called Mistress for Christmas! It's certainly a million miles away from Cliff Richard's Mistletoe and Wine! Have a listen, you never know you might discover a new Christmas favourite. 

Merry Christmas

Nadolig Llawen 

BOROUGH MARKET // LONDON

As you have most probably noticed I haven't been a very good blogger over the last month or so but I guess that's what being a History student does to you - you just don't have that much spare time but I'm not complaining because it is uni after all and you're supposed to do work (although 10 essays of 2,500 words in one term might be pushing it a bit!). But now it's christmaaaaaaas and I'm home for a month so it's time to get the blog back on track. 

A few weeks ago I jumped on the train to central London to meet my parents who were down for the weekend. They were staying in a nice hotel right next door to Buckingham palace so I got there reasonably early to have breakfast with them at the hotel. Scrumdidlyumptious! Once we had let the food settle a bit we began our day around London town. First stop was Tower Hill and a walk over Tower Bridge to Borough Market. After getting a bit lost we finally made it and my oh my was it busy. We should have guessed really with it being a Saturday close to christmas. Despite having to push our way through crowds of people we got to see/smell/eat many different foods and I had a particularly yummie Chorizo roll for lunch. If you know me at all, you'll know that I love me some chorizo! In the middle of christmas trees, wreaths and minced pies we found a little place which sold the most delicious mulled wine and each of us had a cup to warm us up on the cold winters day. Having decided that we'd had enough of the crowds we began our walk to Covent Garden, but not without popping in to cute little Paul Smith shop on the way. 

Having trekked what felt like miles  along the Southbank we finally made it to an incredibly christmasy Covent Garden. Covent Garden is one of my favourite places in London and while we were there I picked up a laptop from Apple and my dad bought another coat from Barbour and we had a little drink in a pub to watch the last few minutes of the Rugby League World Cup Final before making our way to the London-Welsh centre on Greys Inn Road to watch the Wales V Australia match. Even though we lost it was a very cool experience being in the heart of London but surrounded by fellow Welshmen. 

A Vietnamese was had for dinner just around the corner from the London-Welsh centre before I made my way on the tube to Waterloo to catch a train back to uni. A lovely christmasy day in London :)

STEREOPHONICS // O2 LONDON 2013

Hello there, I know this is a bit late but  . . . better late than never!

On the 28th of November myself and Nicola headed in to London to go and watch the Stereophonics at the O2. Once my lectures had finished on Thursday afternoon I hopped hon the train to Waterloo where I met Nicola who was traveling from Cardiff. We had some time to spare before the gig so we had a quick stroll around Waterloo, Westminster and whitehall before raking the short tube journey to the o2 arena. I had never been to the O2 before and was surprised how big it was inside - it's genuinely like a town inside a marque! Surprisingly Nicola and myself found ourselves right up front which was just a little bit awesome! While waiting for the support to come on stage we talked to a few Phonics fans who had met Kelly and Richard a few times and one of them even received a wedding card signed by the band - how cool! 

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis were the support act and I had never heard of them before so was not quite sure what to expect but they were really, really good. With a rockabilly, swingy, bluesy, rock 'n' rolly sound they were actually superb. Check them out!

Before we knew it, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis were off the stage and the boys from Cwmaman were opening with Catacomb, a single off their new album, before belting out classics such as Local Boy in the Photograph, A Thousand Trees, Pick a Part That's New and one of my new absolute favourites, Been Caught Cheating. Throughout the whole gig myself and Nicola were frantically waving quite a sizeable Welsh flag in the air (apologies to those stood behind us!) and on numerous occasions (which made our night) Kelly, and Richard (the latter was stood directly in front of us) made eye contact with us and smiled. Arghhhhhh!! Throughout the whole gig I just kept thinking to myself - this is the most awesome thing everrrrr! 

I had seen the Stereophonics three times before - in the Millennium Stadium (2008 possibly or '05 can't remember), Cardiff City Stadium (2010) and V Festival (2013) but being so close to them at the o2 was just something else. Kelly's voice was even more amazing and Richard was, if it's even possible, more cool. With the band finishing the gig with the classic Dakota after a magical encore that was made up of Handbags and the Gladrags, I Stopped To Fill My Car Up and Just Looking it is safe to say that myself and Nicola had an extremely incredibly awesome time! 

GRAB YOUR BOARD AND LET'S SKATE

COOL LONDON TRIP

A few weeks ago I went home for 'pause week' which is kind of a wannabe reading week except we still had some seminars to go to on the Thursday. That meant I couldn't be home for the whole week and I made my way back to uni very late on Wednesday evening/Thursday Morning. It wasn't too bad though because our usual two hour Thursday seminar (Victorians 1800-1850) wasn't at the uni, we had to travel in to central London for a visit to the Geffrye Museum which is a museum on the history of the home. Although it was cool seeing how rooms changed throughout the centuries in terms of interiors and possessions there wasn't too much to see there and we found more fun walking around the 'too cool' Hoxton area which surrounded the museum. There were super cool bars, quirky little coffee shops and just cool people everywhere. I have decided that I shall be returning there soon - but not for the museum - just for a coffee and a wander.

NEW TUNE // ALLAH LAS

While roaming one of my favourite blogs, Mucho Mucho Bueno Bueno, (go an have a peek, it's awesome) I came across this totally amazing band and this song. It sounds very surfy, very 60s rock n roll. Have a listen :) Allah Las - Tell Me

ARCTIC MONKEYS CARDIFF 2013

Last week I made the journey from the East of England to Wales to watch the mighty Arctic Monkeys and boy were they amazing. I first saw the Arctic Monkeys on their Favourite Worst Nightmare Tour which, if I remember correctly, was back in 2007 when I was but 14 years old. I learnt a lot from this gig - I learnt that yes, in fact, the Arctic Monkeys are awesome but I also learnt that in an Arctic Monkeys gig it's best to stay back from the front and either left or right of the centre - never centre because you will inevitably be caught in a mosh or a push of some sort. It's funny, after going to numerous gigs you start to be able to judge a crowd and where you should place yourself within that crowd.

Before I start to talk about the Arctic Monkeys, lets just take a minute to appreciate the awesomness and talent but most of all, the coolness of The Strypes. Myself and Nicola, who both attended the Monkeys gig, saw these young Irish boys play in Reading Festival back in August and I instantly loved their music and last Tuesday they did not disappoint. Playing tracks such as Blue Collar Jane, You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover & What a Shame from their new album Snapshot they thoroughly prepared the crowd for the men from Sheffield. Superb - you could have been mistaken to think that they were headlining their own concert rather than supporting. If this band stays together massive things will come their way.

That's all I kept saying when the AM went from song to song was "THIS IS INSANE" because each song they played was a hit - not one song came on that I did not know at least some of the words to and can I just say, what a way to open a show. I mean, Do I Wanna Know? to Brianstorm, Dancing Shoes, to the awesome Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair . . .  I could go on and on. Perfection. The only criticism I would have (criticism . . . shock horror) is that they could have played for longer and I mean, how can they not play Fake Tales of San Francisco & When the Sun Goes Down. . . but I suppose you can't have everything you want in life ey.

 

I think we all also need to take a minute to appreciate Mr. Alex Turner's awesomely jazzy blazer.

I can honestly say that last week's gig in Cardiff was one of the best I've been to and that is saying something. Myself and Nicola's musical few months continues at the end of this month when we pop to the O2 in London to watch the Stereophonics. This will be the fourth time that I've seen the Welshmen live and It's going to be awesome - I've got the Welshflag ready (#represent) and will definitely find my way to the front to see Kelly and Richard up close.  

But yeah, the Arctic Monkeys were, as you might expect, immense.