SUNNY WEEKEND WITH MAMA H

Mama H came to big bad Surrey a week or so ago to spend the weekend with her favourite child (me, obvs). The main reason for her visit was that Wales were playing England in Twickenham on Sunday in the Six Nations so we were heading to the London Welsh club in Richmond to watch the game on big screens with a load of other rugby supporters, including the comedian Rhod Gilbert. However, before that we headed to Notting Hill Gate / Portobello market for some brunch to start the day off right. I've only been to Portobello Market once before and I did not remember it begin soooo busy - it might have had something to do with the weather but man oh, man it was unbelievably chock-a-block with people which did not make for pleasant or easy browsing. So for this reason, we headed to have Brunch asap and then after a quick browse we jumped on the tube to Soho via White City where we saw the old BBC television centre. I did have a look around to see if I could spot Huw Edwards roaming the streets but no luck.

I much preferred Soho to the hustle and bustling Portobello market. Here we went in to a few record shops where I finally got my hands on the Skaters new album which I blogged about here and Lorde's Pure Heroin which I have been playing on repeat on Spotify. I also saw other albums that I really wanted but I had to control myself by reminding myself that I am a student living in the second most expensive place in the UK - not. fun. I also bought a new summer dress from a swedish brand which I can't remember the name of - a shop which I first went in to in Stockholm on our school trip to Sweden, ahhhh, memories. Having walked close to 8 miles we were ready for a sit down and a drink before food. We went to a pub/restaurant just off Soho and had a glass of prosecco and wine. China town was where we decided to have dinner and we ate at a nice but rather strange restaurant where you had to knock on the door to be let in - strange. When we got out of there a queue had formed outside with people who were waiting to be seated, so I guess I made the right decision by picking that place to eat. Even after eating quite a big meal we still wanted something sweet for when we arrived home and there was this cool little Chinese desert shop opposite where we ate dinner which was convenient and yummy :)

Sunday we made the short journey to a very sunny Richmond where we ate some brunch and made our way to London Welsh (via Twickenham stadium . . . don't ask). We watched some of the second half of the London Welsh game before grabbing a drink and sitting in the sunshine waiting for the international to begin. Wales thoroughly deserved to lose that day so no complaints from me, although it always hard losing to England whoever you are. But it's all ok though because Ireland won the championship and I am very happy for O'Driscoll - #thanksBrian.

Having never been to Richmond before but having passed it numerous times on the way in to Waterloo, myself and Mama H went for a little wonder down to the riverside after the game where we watched the sun set and the world go by while drinking our coffee and fighting away the birds. After a homemade salmon and salsa dinner and a few episodes of Blackadder and TwentyTwelve later it was time for bed and time to rest before the working week began once more. It's always harder to face going back in to the Library on a monday after a great weekend.

GRAND SLAM BABY!

WAAAW!

Yesterday Nicola and I got up early, drove down to Carmarthe and caught the 10:04am train to Cardiff. The reason for this was because Wales were playing France in the Grand Slam final! The train was so full on the way down that from Llanelli onwards we were unable to pick up any more passengers and we must have left hundreds of rugby supporters on the platform in big stations such as Swansea and Bridgend. The atmosphere in the capital was emmence from the moment we stepped off of the train. There were daffodils, dragons, sheep and leeks as far as the eye could see! The sea of red was sprinkled my blue from the French fans who had ventured across the sea.

As we weren't in possession of any tickets (as it was sold out in an hour and a half) we ventured over to the supporters village where thousands of fans watched and celebreated as Wales won their 3rd GRAND SLAM in 7 years!!! Delilah and Stereophonics blasted across the city whilst grown men dived in mud in celebration of this momentous day!

WELL DONE BOYS, YOU DON'T HALF MAKE THE NATION PROUD!



Whats up dawgs.

The weekend was quite busy! 

On Saturday I attempted to complete as much homework as possible as I'm going on holidays Monday afternoon (today). I've finished most of my history coursework and did my geography and history homework. Whilst on holidays I plan on doing as much english coursework as possible as I'm missing almost a week of school. Thankfully however I'm not missing that many lessons as I usually only have a maximum of 4 lessons a day but this week we have the school Eisteddfod so there won't be any lessons on Tuesday afternoon or all day Wednesday. 

Whilst doing my homework on Saturday I had the BBC Sport website open as I was listening/watching the start of the Rugby Six Nations. First up was France V Italy and then latter on in the day Scotland faced England at Murrayfield. What a boooooring match the latter was. Neither team was able to impress, knocking on the ball when ever they had a chance at scoring. 

Sunday however was a different game. In the morning Carwen and I drove down to Llanelli to Parc Y Scarlets the home of Scarlets rugby for our weekly Llanelli rugby training (there are pictures to come but I'm not home at the moment so am unable to upload them). We raced home (within the speed limits of course) and arrived in the door just before the national anthems of both Wales and Ireland blasted out Lands down road (now Aviva Stadium) in Dublin.  The game was incredible with the score seesawing every minute and it came down to a penalty kick from Halfpenny. I was shaking. Shaking I tells ya'! The adrenaline was coursing through my body like electric. With 79 minutes on the clock Halfpenny (now an official Welsh hero!) booted the ball through the centre of the posts awarding Wales with a perfect start to the 2012 six nations! 

(Sorry if I've gone on a bit about the rugby, but if you were Welsh you'd understand!) 

 Picture of a scrum (I'm in the front on the left in the red jersey) from a cup match with Scarlets in Litchfield

 Source - Daily Mail

 Above pictures from Wales Online