hmmm

Not sure that old blogger is saving posts, perhaps I should go to the new version. I am such a retard luddite, I can't beleive I actually used to sell technology for a living, good job it was a concept sale. I'm in the process of uploading a load of stuiff onto an MP3 player I've bought for the boy's birthday. Either I'm doing something wrong, or it takes an awfully long time to get a cd onto the bastard thing.

What a kerfuffle over celeb big brother. It's not racist, it's just three poorly educated peasants not knowing how to react to a person who is totally alien to them. I don't think you can accuse them of racism just because they're as thick as pig shit. The Goody family, ay caramba, pure fucking trash. The mother really should have been prevented from breeding, and as for Jack introducing himself as a football agent, christ I know some footballers are dense, but you'd have to be in a near vegetative state to let that chimp manage your affairs.

Back to the joys of the MP3...................

Generally a shite weekend. Had a good Friday night, the badminton club Christmas 'do'. A decent feed, good wine and beer so a hangover on Saturday. I decided that we would have a family outing on Saturday evening, something that I thought we would all enjoy, but ended up being wank. An hour each way in the car with the boys fighting all the way and a overcrowded event in the freezing cold. Sunday was again dominated by freezing cold, with the added bonus of it pissing down as well as I watched number one son playing rugby for a few hours. Just thawing out at home to get a phone call from the old man telling me how the heat is a bit much in Darwin.Peachy.
Am now stuck in front of my laptop totally fucking up some poor sods office design and hoping for some inspiration

BT - Bastard twatfucks

Had a dead tone on my business line, yesterday. Rang BT. 'Do I owe you any money ?'

No, so through to faults, who test the line and confirm that there is an external fault. They give me a reference number and then a response time.( Catherine Tate moment ) You're not going to believe this. Seven days. SEVEN DAYS, THE DIRTY BASTARDS. Its my business line you twat. 'Sorry sir', I know its not good enough but we've got a backlog.
Its fucking crazy that these huge companies can take my money and provide such a shite service. I tried Telewest a while back, and they were worse. Oh they fixed the fault quick enough, its just that the faults came more frequently than a number 10 bus. And to admit that it's shite and still take your money is just peachy.

stuffed

Went to the world's best stadium on Saturday ( and it will still be the world's best stadium even when the wendyball palace in London eventually gets finished. The only problem was that the world's best rugby team were playing in it, and that team was not Wales. Oh yes, the Kiwis stuffed us, in some fashion. Still, beer was drunk and songs were sung. It could be worse, at least I'm not English.

You want to be scared

Cracked me up !

Put on your red shoes and dance the blues

Is there any point to Girls Aloud ? What a talentless bunch of munters. Their latest offering is bollocks of the highest order, 'something kind of ooh, jumping on my tutu'. Genius, bet the folks at Ivor Novello are poised with the engraving needle.

Talking of munters, got to feel sorry for Macca. Never took to him, but I do think it sad that some gold digging bunny boiler is going to take him to the cleaners. Supose he can afford to lose a few quid, but I'm not sure thats the point.

Need a bloody hoilday. If the two projects I'm working on come off before christmas, Thailand beckons. Hussah !

Sprog one played a blinder in his first proper match scoring a spanking try from the half way line. My jumper split as my heart burst with pride.

Hmmmm....

Not been that arsed to blog lately.

Been all over the country working, could do with another holiday, soon.

Boy No 1 has started U7's rugby and loves it, so I'm chuffed to bloody bits, first proper game next Sunday. No 2 continues his vastly successful career as a one boy wrecking mission, the bathroom now being his most popular target for wanton destruction. Hooligan.

Summers truly gone, which irks me. I don't like dark mornings and dark afternoons, makes me feel like a sodding mushroom.

Have come to the conclusion that Dim Dave is almost as big a twat as Honest Tone, and just as keen on soundbite politics. Can't we have Bonker Boris as leader of the Tories and Bagdhad George back to lead Labour purely for entertainment value. That fucktard Hazel Blears was on QT again last night, possibly the worst advert for being interested in politics around at present.

So the Pope is the latest in the long line of those to have pissed off Muslims.

Is it me or are they just a tad touchy ?

Quite amusing how one spouter of meaningless fairy tales can rattle the cage of the same. Lock a few of them up together and let them have a theological row. 'My god is the greatest, No, my god is the greatest'. Ah, I just love a tolerant religion

Scales of justice ?

'Prince' Naseem Hamed serves 16 weeks after nearly killing a man as a direct result of dangerous driving, he'd previously been banned from driving on two occasions.

Some bloke gets flashed by a gatso, and scared he'll lose his job if he's prosecuted, goes and blows it up. Shouldn't have been speeding, but I've been done by one of those bastard machines, and although a bit dim, good work fella. His sentence ? Four months.

Nice to see a sense of perspective.

Bizzare things

Going to your Dad's wedding at the age of 38. Well, wedding party, they got married in bali a few weeks ago. A seriously good night, catching up with loads of people, dancing like a dervish and generally misbehaving before finally giving up at six in the morning. Fairly monster hangover but well worth it.

Sad about Steve Irwin, seems to be a mixed bag of opinion about him, but I thought he was a cracking bloke, loved his huge enthusiasm for life, and his obvious love of wildlife

Off they go again......

Our troops our being killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Hospitals are closing wards and making redundancies to avoid deficits. We live under a seemingly continual 'terror' threat, so what are the governments' new initiatives to do something about all this and to address these important situation?

Appoint a new minister with a responsibility for fitness. You couldn't fucking well make it up.Apparently were all going to be quite fat in a few years, and we need a minister to tell us how not to be quite as fat. Now I know there are a lot of extraordinarily thick people in this country, but I'm sure that most of them realise that if they swapped their diet of lard and lager for juice and salad, and spent less time with x boxes and sky and went for the odd walk instead that they might shed a few pounds. But no, the all seeing Labour government thinks they have to gently massage the message to the fatarsed masses. The new minister is a rarity in that she's one of the few politicians who would be worth giving a portion of pork sword to.

And then they wheel out the shining personality that is Ruth Kelly to help us with integration. I'm sorry, last time I checked I was British, living in Great Britain, I've been fairly well integrated for a while thanks. If others choose to live here, they can integrate or cock off back to where they came from. Also, I'm not going to take lessons in equality from a woman who's a member of a dodgy Catholic group who has never attended any vote concerning gay rights

Pimp my Saab

My six year old has developed a strange fascination with Pimp my Ride, (6.30 weekdays C5, if you're interested). It's led to some strange language entering the Gumpher household. I walk in from work,

'Hi chum'

'Hey dawg'

Hmmm

'Good day ?'

'Yeah, went swimming. Dad, can we pimp the Saab ?'

'Uh , no, I don't think it would go down that well if I turned up to meetings in a pimped Saab'

'What about Mum's ?'

' Chap, how do you go about pimping an Astra estate ?'

Thanks a bunch Westwood. Can't wait to get a call from school to find out he's called his god fearing teacher a badass ho.

Dumbing down ?

A level results yet again see an increase in A grades and pass rates

A girl pictured on the front of The Times today acheived 10 A grades. TEN ?! How the hell can you take ten A levels ? I took three back in '86. History, English Lit and Economics, and it was bloody hard work. I didn't get brilliant results as I decided that playing rugby and chasing skirt was far more enjoyable than studying, but still had a full week. Thirty five periods in a week. Take out six for games and three for 'study' periods, about eight a week per subject. So in this girls case, around three a week. How on earth can you learn enough about a subject to be examined two years later by only studying it for a couple of hours each week ?

I am sick to the back teeth of Muslims/Islam. I'm not racist, I'm certainly religionist (?) especially when it involves mass murder and bigotry in the name of your God. I don't support our involvement in Afghanistan or Iraq for reasons previously stated, which are very different reasons than those of Muslims. What I really don't get is their view of their own importance as a minority, and why there views need to be addressed. The adverts recently published in national newspapers were a shocker. I don't agree with our current foreign policy, but in a country of some 65 million inhabitants, a minority of 1.5 million suggesting or demanding that our democratically elected government changes its foreign policy is just plain daft. The view that they are being vicitimised is also wrong. The recent atrocities, and if we are to believe the current position, planned atrocities are the work of young Asian muslims, and the security services are damned right to concentrate their investigations on this group of people. For fuck's sake, were not worried by the radicalised faction of the Welsh Baptist shoe bombers chapter are we ? And as for intigration, don't even get me started. if you visit an Arab muslim country the respect of their religion is demanded, not expected. If these people want to come and live in this country, and have families in this country, its about time they bloody well integrated. Islam is not the religion of Great Britain, and Sharia Law is not the law of the land, how about a big portion of wake the fuck up, because the only people causing any kind of racial divide in our country our the Muslims themselves.

Not very well put across, but I've now got to the point of being a tad cheesed off. Just come out and say that what is happening is not acceptable, and as leaders within our community we are going to help the authorities in every way we can, with no strings attached. Otherwise we are fully aware we can live in Iran, Saudi, Afghanistan or Syria, (probably not Iraq, because we're a bit scared of that, we're allowed to do just as we please here )
And next time we get these illegal demonstrations threatening and glorifying death in the name of their prophit, will the police kindly break it up like they did with the miners, who only wanted a job.

Are they bored ?

They must be if the leaked report of the new transport plans are to be believed. I am not a ranting pro car nerd a la Clarkson ( although he does make me giggle ) but I do need a car for work. It needs to be half decent, to portray a certain image to clients, but not flash, portraying the wrong image. It needs to be big enough to carry the boys and the associated crap that goes with it, and I like a reasonable turn of speed. Like everyone else (apart from the peasant under class who don't give a toss) I pay insurance, road tax and fuel duty, a fairly tidy sum to the treasury each year. So why the fuck are they considering a plan to charge by the mile on all roads. To get people on public transport ? Bollocks, it won't work. I can't use trains, what's the point, I'd always have to use a car at either end of the journey, they're bloody expensive and they're usually broken. I generally have meetings with my main client once a week which is a 102 mile round trip, takes about an hour each way. If the figure of £1.34 per mile is accurate this trip will cost me £136.68 a week, or six and a half grand a year allowing for holidays. Six and a half grand a year to visit one company with fuel on top. It doesn't take a genius to figure out just how retarded this is. And the real stupidity is that they know people will continue to use their cars, and will sit in them cursing the new charges, but knowing that they have to use the car. Total lunacy and another cunty way to squeeze yet more tax out of us.

Retard boy

Fab few days in Italy, in the mountains above Lake Como. I love the lakes, stunning scenery, although you need to ring the bank for a mortgage top up to go out to dinner. Great times catching up with my best buddie from school days who now lives in hong Kong. His two boys are a few years older than ours, but they all got on famously. We camped in the garden of his folks house, and their hospitality was superb. They were completely unfazed by the invasion of four loud little boys and two blokes who should know better getting two years worth of drinking crammed into four nights. It really was great to see him, we've known each other since we were ten, shared dorms, studies and then a flat after leaving school, and although we don't see each other for a few years at a time nothing changes.

I excelled myself on the way back and got the flight times wrong. Oops. A hundred euro taxi trip to brescia airport, two hundred and forty to rearrange the flights, and one very stroppy wife who eventually spoke to me as we drove into the village. Actually she did call me a twat at the check in desk, but that was her final word for ten hours. There's an upside to everything then.

Still very angry about Afghanistan, and have a sense of 'what the fuck ?' about Lebanon. Its odd how Isreal can do what the fuck it likes without any international condemnation. Okay, they had two soldiers kidnapped, but talk about a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. What if the IRA kidnapped two British soldiers in the 70's and we bombed the crap out of Dublin as a response ? Madness.

What the fuck our we doing in Afghanistan ? I think we're up to six British troops killed in the last few weeks. Its pointless. We got rid of the Taliban a few years ago, but they apparently didn't go very far, and now they want power back, and we're hardly likely to stop them with half a company of paras and a few helicopters, so why be there at all. If the Afghan people don't want to be under Taliban rule, its down to them to do something about it. Yes, it was oppresive when they had power, but did it affect us ? Is it worth yong British men losing their lives. ? No bloody way. The argument that soldiers know what they signed up for doesn't stack up here, we're not at war with Afghanistan. So what does our government do ? Commit more troops. Fucking morons. Look how may troops the Russians sent in, and it ended up being their Vietnam. More troops = more bodybags coming home for a cause that no one in this country gives two shits about. Iraq, Afhanistan, if they want civil war let them get on with it, its something that ultimatley we have no realistic chance of solving. Is it the job the West to impose the rule that we want ?

Buggered off for a week of sun, pool and beach. Back now.
A good holiday. A few 'firsts' for C. Bodyboarding in the surf, sea fishing including catching an octupus, eating his catch on the barbie that evening, going down the scary slides at the water park. J had a great week pottering in rock pools catching crabs, and jumping over waves.
A and I loved it.
Two weeks of work and then off to Italy, and then lots of work to pay for it all...

Splash

Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth - my arse. If he actually did as he was told once in a while he wouldn't have had me fishing him out of the River Avon yesterday evening.

'Stop at the next gate won't you '

'Yeah' - scampers off, instead of stopping, follows the dog through the dog gate. Dog decides to go for a dip, he gets too close, splash. Gumpher shows a suprising turn of speed, nearly made me think of getting my boots out for next season.

One very frightened three year old returned to the riverbank in one piece and our peaceful evening stroll continues.

Next week, Portugal, hussah !

Wonder what he'll break there. (Make mental note to check 'damage to villa' section in travel insurance policy)

How to start the day badly

Take number two offspring to nursery, stopping, as usual to collect his chum who goes to the same place. Have said chum open the front door and greet you by smacking you square in the nuts, and then same child having a spastic mentalist fit as his mother tries to put him in my car. Fit continues all the way to nursery where he has to be dragged kicking and screaming through the door. All the while number two offspring looks on with an air of mild bemusement, as if butter wouldn't melt.

Deep breaths, deep breaths..........

So his Royal highness, lord of all he surveys, defender of the faith and all round good egg Tony blair has finally got the aircraft he has hankered after for some time. Not one, but two of the fuckers. One for Tony and one for Tony's ego and Fat Bollox Prescott too share.
I'm sure this is all vital to the running of our country, but what about ' education, aducation, education' or is that soooooooooo last year ?
My son attends a village primary school which is chock full of all of the latest computers and whizz bang projectors, items Blair told us that schools were being filled with at a rate of knots. Oh yes, we've got them, and who paid for them, we fucking did, every last one of them through parent fundraising and donations. Yesterday the boy's spelling book was finally filled, so he was sent home with a scrap of some parents' company letterhead with his spellings on. We sent him back with his own notebook. Once a term every parent sends the kids in with a bog roll, a bloody bog roll, they've not even got a budget for wiping their arses. Each term we get a list of items that have no budget available, and the items beggar belief. Each term they also estimate a shortfall and ask each family for a voluntary contribution. All of which we do, everyone does, but there is an increasing feeling that if we wanted to pay for an education on top of the tax that we pay towards education then perhaps we'd consider private schools.

But, hey, Tony's got a new jet. Fine and fucking dandy

The one child wrecking machine that is my youngest son has really excelled himself this time. After weeks of effort, he has finally managed to block all of the drains. He has been sneaking into the toilet to flush all manner of bizarre things down the pan. Why ? I have no idea, and he's a clever little bugger and rarely gets caught, so fuck knows whats gone down it altogether. Various threats have done little to suppress his quest, and last night as A ran the bath out, the patio finally gave in and looked like the swimming pool in a dodgy Spanish hotel.

This morning I tackled it. Up came the patio, up came the drain cover, back in the house ran Gumpher to ring a drain company. Sixty five quid an hour. Wait 'til he gets back from nursery, little sod.

My eldest son, who is six, had a bit of a dilemma the other day. Football induced. I don't mind football, but other than playing in a summer five a side league to keep fitness going between the end and start of the rugby season, I've not played since primary school, whereas I've played rugby every season from the age of ten, I love the game, playing and watching, it's been a big part of my life. C has been playing football since he was four. A guy in the village started a junior section, and thanks to his endless effort, it's gone from strength to strength. I try and mooch off early every wednesday to watch the match at the end of practice. To C's delight he got man of the match yesterday for a crunching goal saving tackle, which in his mind qualified him for a chocolate biscuit with his bedtime milk. Anyway, with the world cup approaching, all the kids are getting pretty revved up, C's got his wallchart up, ready for the first game. One slight problem. No Wales. No great suprise to followers of football, but a bit bewildering for a six year old who wants someone to cheer on. I'm Welsh, born in Wales, Welsh parents, three Welsh grandparents (one slipped in from Yorkshire, it barely taints the bloodline) My wife has a English father and a Portuguese mother and the boys were born in Cheltenham. This caused a problem. I thought it reasonable that as soon as labour started, we would jump in the car and hot foot it down the M50 so they could be born over the border. my wife, selfish mare, was having none of it. Being Welsh is important to me, I have a strong sense of Welsh identity, and the boys think of themselves as Welsh. So here's the little fella's problem .At footie last night a good two thirds had the England kit on, the boy had his rather snazzy Portugal shirt on , the old purple one, they all want to be Rooney. So he sidles up to me with his sticker book, all earnest of expresion. "Daaaaad" "
"Yes chum ?"
When it's a long drawn out Daaaad, I know it's something he's been dwelling on
"You know this world cup"
"Yep"
"Just this once, and I don't want a flag or anything, is it okay for me to support England ?"
I want England to win the World Cup, they were the only home nation to qualify, and I think its fine to want them to succeed. Rugby's a different one, support only two teams, Wales, and anyone playing England.
"Go on then, just this once"
"Thanks Dad, but I promise, never at Rugby"

Thats my boy.

Each to their own, but I'm damn glad we don't live anywhere near the M fucking 25. Went to a wedding in Sidcup at the weekend, less said the better. Suffice to say it was a feeling of pleasant relief to be back in the Worcestershire countryside on Sunday.

Why are the utility companies such a useless bunch of cockends ? Every bill we've had in the last year has had a price increase, and they still declare vast profits. I've got to get off my arse and switch suppliers. They all use automated call centres, and I fucking hate them, as soon as they ask you to start pressing one for this and two for that I start boiling. Next time they ring me when they're chasing money I'll try to go into auotomated mode and really confuse some dweeb sat in downtown Bombay. If you do manage to speak to someone when paying ( I don't pay by dd because they never read the meter, and their estimates are always way out ) they finish by asking 'Is there anything else we can help with ?' Why ? Can you tell me why I keep slicing my nine iron ? Could you make the Home Office run properly ? If you want to help, get a real live human being to answer the phone within five rings . Gimps

Given up on Big Brother. What a bunch of retards. If Shabaz got taken to a vet he'd be put down, no point in prolonging his pain. Seriously, where do they find such fucked up people.

The usual bunch of social misfits and freaks are back in the Big Brother house. I'll be watching, it's crap tv, but once again it will pull me in, and once again it will make me feel good about myself in comparison to the whackos in the house. Shouldn't laugh at tourettes, but a bloke strolling around yelling 'wank !' a lot makes me giggle

Question Time was a giggle last night. The panelists were Lord Heseltine, Menzies Campbell, Piers Morgan and Bren off of Dinner Ladies. Seriously, what fucktard ever told Hazel Blears that a career in politics was a good idea. She was so way out of her depth that I almost felt sorry for her. ( I said almost, and the feeling passed swiftly).
I seem to be writing too much about politicians at the moment, but I loath this labour government, and watching them die like a fly on a turd amuses me

Glad to see that the cabinet reshuffle has sorted out the country's problems , and we can now sleep soundly at night safe in the knowledge that president Blair has his finger on the pulse.
So, what do we get, well if you're weeny peeny Johnboy, quite a lot actually. No actual job, apart from answering the odd jibe from lord Dave at question time when Tone's on his jollidays, retention of a full salary and the grace and favour properties, bet the fat twat has an few extra portions to celebrate. A stroppy former Marxist in charge at the home office, and weirder than weird Ruth Kelly, has a responsibilty for equality. You couldn't make it up, a women who belongs to a right wing Catholic sect, oops group, who believe homosexuality to be a fundamental sin, and she's a government minister with a portfolio for equality. Check out her voting record with such issues, there isn't one. The capacity for the jaw dropping, you're shitting me knows no end.

Another disturbing issue, marmite in a squeezy plastic bottle. Noooooooooo. You can never finish a squeezy plastic bottle, the last inch refuses to budge, all you get is splat of Heinz or Hellmans accompanied by a vile fart. This is not want when I apply marmite to my toast, it'll be like when the cat had the squits

Public service announcement

Don't mix beer, red wine and gin on a school night.........................................

Just when Prescott thought he was doing a good job of lying low and keeping away out of the spotlight The Sun runs a story about his 2 inch todger. Priceless. I always new this lot had no balls, now it appears they've got no cocks either.

If I hear any more about Wayne Rooney's foot I'll just shit myself. Is there a world cup coming up ? You'd never fucking know.

This is the view from our room the other weekend. it's actually the view from being sat on the pan, a loo with a view. The view from the bedroom was the same, we didn't have to take a dump to see the sea. I love North Wales, and hadn't been there for years. We dropped the kids at my Mum's and scooted up to Snowdonia. Empty, twisty roads, brilliant fun to bomb along. We did some horseriding, a lot of walking, ate some wonderful food in the hotel restaurant, drank to much, and had two blissful, uninterrupted nights sleep.

The Labour scuzballs have certainly excelled themselves in the last couple of weeks. That irritating, patronising cow in charge of Health must be thanking the good lord for Prescott and Clarke, it's certainly provided a wonderful shit deflector. Clarke is simply not capable enough to hold his position. You might not have agreed with the policies of men like Parkinson, Hurd and Heseltine, but I bet you felt confident that they had the ability to carry out their jobs effectively. They had a certain gravitas about them which these mickey mouse politicos certainly don't. Prescott is a buffoon, given a position of high power to appease the union and old labour support. The woman he shagged does not come out of this particularly well, but jesus, poor bitch having that fat lardass clambering on, I hope the Mail on Sundays shilling meets the physio bill of having that pie eater bouncing on top of her. Blair has to back these cretins, although all three are obviously incompetent, who would replace them ? Hazel Blears ? Ruth Kelly ? Fuck me gently with a spoon, thats a scary thought.

I can't see what all the fuss is concerning GP's salaries. The 250k figure being bandied about is not the average, it's the absolute top.These people train for a long time, and in recent times start work with vast personal debt. I would rather a GP averages over 100k than say an Estate Agent.
They also have to work within the NHS, which despite what Tone tells us, is in a total fucking shambles. Both my father and sister are dentists, my sister has recently started her own practice, putting herself up to her eyeballs in debt in the process, and the old man has had his own practice in the past, but now chooses to do locum work as he simply cannot bear to deal with the NHS directly. He recently walked out of an NHS practice as he was not comfortable with the standard of quality and work that could be carried out within the financial constraints of the NHS contract. They also had a couple of Polish imported dentists working there, nice people, but according to Dad, their work was bordering on butchery.Now before people whinge about dentist's pay, again, look to the new contract, they simply can't work with it. Incidently, the old feller has just taken a 4 month locum in Darwin, and even with air fares and rent still reckons to earn twice as much as in the uk for doing a four day week.
The concept of free health care is no longer there any more. We pay for teeth, eyes, and if you want it, a quick service. Again vast amounts appear to be wasted on a new computer system. With the goverments track record for collosal cock ups with computers, you'd expect them to give it more thought. But no, they just keep telling us there's more money than ever going into the NHS, which is fuck all good if it's not spent properly

The boys have been little buggers during the holidays, they've bickered and fought constantly. It's a tricky balance between keeping them occupied and doing stuff with them and not turning them into brats with everything done on a plate.
Still, they've appeared to have had fun when they briefly stopped battering each other. Easter was a bit of sod as I had to be on site on Friday and Saturday, but we had a good day out yesterday. Two days until our few days of relief. The hooligans are having a couple of days with Grandma and we're going to have a few nights on the coast in North west Wales. The hotel is small and tres posh and the menu looks groovy. Can't wait.

Oh the joy of interupted sleep. The whining of an attention seeking three year old at 2 in the morning, and the stubborness of said offspring in not giving in for two hours whilst we lie there refusing to give in because it took two and half years to get the little sod to go to sleep and we're not going back to musical beds. This happens a lot and it's starting to get wearing. Luckily c generally sleeps through it, but we are both buggered and crabby. I'm considering putting vodka in his milk.
I love the little git dearly but I could throttle him at times. Oh, and how's he in the morning ? Bouncing around like a badly trained labrador. Swine.

This is what I built, and donkey and pony field shelter half way up a mountain in deepest Wales. Pretty good views. I am not the worlds biggest fan of building stuff, but I enjoyed this. We were visiting friends who have opted for a rural existence and they'd just acquired the pony and donkey, oddly enough from the field next door to our house. So, a weekend of hard labour, good food, too much wine and the company of good friends. Plus, assorted children didn't fight, an added bonus.
If my four legged friends don't use it after our efforts, I'll show them what the French do to horses on our next visit

I've built something ! A pony shed, a great big fucking thing. I've also cooked a damn mighty fine dinner. 7 hours, I shit you not,7 hours, and it's not finished. I will tell you, for I am mullered, good vino mind, but for now, rest assured, I've made an ass and a pony tres happy. Yabba yabba yaaba, I'm knackered. I will tell more, it's groovy, trust me

A harsh but true undeniable fact of life - if its got tits its a problem

When you've got small kids, mother's day is a double whammy. Not only do you have to make sure you get a card to your own mother, you also have to sort out the mother of your children. C & J had made cards at playgroup and school, but I thought it would be a bit tight to raid their savings for a present, so that fell to me. The smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, yep, me. I find it a bit like valentines day, contrived and a bit American.
C had a boiled goose egg and soldiers for his breakfast. The thing was fucking huge, it must hurt like hell to force one of those buggers out, no wonder geese are always stroppy, they must have permanent ring sting, whichever ring it passes out of. Boiled it for ten minutes and it still had a yummy runny yolk. He was hugely impressed.

Why is it, that when the uber chave reaches the age of, say seventeen, the thing it most covets is a shitty moped/bike that sounds like a shagged out turbo haidryer. A couple of retards in the village have taken delivery of a pair of clapped out piles of shite which must be vampires, because they only come out in the hours of darkness. Its not that they ride them quickly, because its not mechanically possible, but the noise irritates the crap out of me. Its like the crazy frog amplified, ring a ding ding ding ding. Could forensics trace it back to me if I rig up some kind of remote control clotheslining device ? Sorely tempted. I have no idea where these tools live, and I don't think they have any idea of how twattish they look. It's like a line up for the X chav factor, all crap shiny tracksuits, baseball caps and zits.

Good to see the dour Scotsman has sorted out global warming in the new budget. If I had a 50 grand motor doing 15 to the gallon I'd shit my pants with the new road fund licience. 210 quid, quick, flog it and get a prius or its the poor house for us. Tit

I ache, badly, still. Last Wednesday I decided it was time to start doing some exercise again after none (apart from a bit of golf which doesn't count) for ages.

So I turned up at the village badminton club. Two hours. I was shagged out, pulled a calf muscle and my groin. Feeble. It's wierd to see people you know on an aquaintance basis in a sporting concept, particularly when you wrongly guessed that they would have the sporting ability of an uncoordinated lemur as they spank your arse.Enyoyed it tho'

If you havent already, watch the David Gilmour concert on Radio 2's website, it's the ducks nuts.

The least said about rugby the better. Drawing with Italy at home, pile of wank. A small smirk watching Les Rosbifs get a caning down Paris way.

I do recall around this time last year a cry of 'I am Welsh and I am mighty'. Change to 'I am Welsh and I might have a nice new wooden spoon to stir my stew with'

Back to work. It's a bit bizzare after so much time at home, but it's time to start earning again. It's a good set up, a decent office in a converted farmhouse opposite a golf course. My largest client from the old company is still giving me regular business and prospects for more work look good.
The time spent at home was fantastic. C is at school,but to spend the amount of time I had with little J was a joy. He and A popped in to see me yesterday (home is only 10 minutes away, another bonus) and when they left he looked up and said 'Daddy, come home right now please'. I don't think he's got it yet.
Parents evening tonight. Should be interesting. C's teacher is a proper god botherer, and we've never really seen eye to eye. Should be the same old, agree that he's doing fine and then start arguing over the school's lack of competitive sport.

Long time no blog.

A great few months spent at home but work beckons. New premises found, clients primed and the move in the offing. Bugger.

The last few months have been groovy, loads of good times with A and the boys, particularly J, as he's still at home. Lots of big walks around the river, stories and general larking around. Plenty of cooking, have lost weight due to not eating shite at lunchtime, verging on the buff, no, it's true.

Blody great innit

Weird to write this as the site meter thingy I signed up to shows that absolutley no fucker whatsoever reads this crap. So, indeed. I don't write that much. Probably because I now spend a huge amount of time with my wife and our boys. Because, now I am a bit rich. The company and the premises were sold some two months ago, and aside from A and I going to Marrakech for a week whilst Mum looked after the boys, I have done very little,and its spiffy. I have a new company set up, and have done the odd bit, but otherwise it's the school run, which I love, chatting with C to and from school, a ten minute walk. I've even been roster dad at palygroup with J. otherwise, organising the house refurb, and shopping and lunching with A, with a bit of daytime whoopsie - Bliss. When the dosh dwindles I'll work again, until then, the world can suck my plums. I'm even going to buy some new golf clubs, wahay

Its official - I'm getting old. 37 actually, but I feel around 77 today. I have knackered my back. Not in the ways of the glory of my youth, making a try saving tackle or falling off my board in spectacular fashion. Washing the car. Yep, washing the sodding car, the shame of it. C & I had gone swimming in Malvern and stopped at a jetwash in Upton to give the car an overdue clean. I choose the super high powered jobby and got to work. Bent over to scrub the sills and , aaaaaargh, what the hell is that ? C ended up jetting the car and as he's only 5 and I'd selected the super high powered jobby, he mainly got the side of the garage as he struggled to keep his footing.
Off to the oesteopath yesterday. I used to give this guy a fairly regular weekly salary, but as I arrived he asked me if I'd given up playing rugby. 'Thought so, hadn't seen you in five years, how did this happen ?' I half thought about making up a cock and bull story about a glorious comeback, but relented and told the very mundane truth. There's a guy with some career change. Used to be a child actor and played Oliver Twist in the original film. Now crunches my bones for a living.

Got out of the habit lately, and it would appear that what I was worried about in the last post is true. Who do I blame for the poor chap's death ? The terrorists who blew themselves up and started the whole process. I do feel for this guys family, but the police would not have been in the position they were if it wasn't for these religious loons

Experienced the NHS recently, or rather A did. She'd had problems with tonsil infections for a number of years, and they decided to whip 'em out. I've been lucky with health. Apart from rugby related broken bones, and some interesting ahem, social diseases, I've never had too many problems. Both of the boys births in Cheltenham were great, and the few boy related visits to casualty in Tewkesbury were fine. A was booked into Gloucester Royal. What a shithole. Dirty, with paint peeling off the walls, smelly and just plain vile. She was discharged the following day with instuctions to return if she had any bleeding. She had some bleeding a few days later in the morning just before I went to work, rang, and was told to come in straight away. I rang G to say I'd be in later, we found a friend who could have the kids for a bit and set off for Gloucester. How long before A got seen ? Six and a half hours. Yep, six and a half hours two days after surgery. Make mental note to speak to his toniness about hospital waiting times.

On the loath list,football, for starting again, although wonderfully overshadowed by The Ashes. Theforeign office ministers, I wouldn't let them run a milk round, let alone a government department. Charles Clarke is a pie eater if I ever saw one.

On today's loath list, at the top, solicitors who charge a mint and don't do what they're fucking told when they're told to do it. The bizarre virus that his made me feel like shit all week. There are various others but I'm to buggered to list them.

If today's ventilated feller was a suicide bomber, well done to those police officers who chased him down and killed him, very brave and shows the fuckers how this country will respond. If he wasn't a bomber, they'll be in a bit of doo doo, but I can't see them putting five holes in a guys head if they're not 100%.

Don't like a true democracy ? British or Asian, I don't give a toss, fuck off somewhere else you twisted religious nutjobs

London. Bloody hell. Like most I was elated with the news of the Olympics, and found listening to the hold process on 5 live nervewracking. A and I spoke of which events we would like to take the boys to, athletics, gynastics and diving. And then the following day. Cowardly scum. I once again listened to 5 live, but this time in horror, not eleation. You can only admire the calm and resolve of all of the people involved and the way the emergency plans worked. I hope they catch these fuckers. I am not anti Islam, I am anti religious fundamentalism of any kind, I think they're all fucking nuts. Anyone who kills in the name of their god is a freak who needs a reality check, but they're all too far gone for that. And if the bus bomb turns out to be a suicide nutjob, then we're in serious trouble. If they're not afraid to die themselves to kill, how can this be stopped in the future ? Very sad, but very fucking angry too

At the weekend we turned into nerdy village do gooders, but got very pissed in the process. Friday night was a masked ball, a fund raiser for the school, and yes we got bolloxed. Luckily everyone else was in the same frame of mind, and the venue was a sea of very drunken thirty something parents completely oblivious to the harsh fact that their little darlings would be demanding breakfast at six ish.
The following day was another fundraiser, a fete for the under fives. I awoke to the vile sensation of the dry mouth and thumping head, fired bacon and eggs into me whilst listening to the Lions (which doesn't merit further discussion ) RA banged on the door soon afterwards, looking suitably hungover, and off we set for our day of do gooding. RA had the cracking idea of getting a temporary licence and running a bar at the fete. We had built said bar on Thursday, and mighty fine it looked too. Only problem was said bar needed to be assembled along with a daft amount of assorted marquees and gazebos. On arrival at the rec we were greeted by other zombified, sunglass wearing water slurping fellows, and cracked on. Apart from being a bit of an effort, it was a cracking day.A performed valiantly on the face painting, with at least twenty little spidermans hurtling out of the tent. Friends hounds performed well in the dog show, the acapella (sp ? ) choir were outstanding and a shed load of cash was raised. Friends stayed for a takeaway and beers in the garden, and a bottle of white did my hangover the power of good. Then.... bugger, I'd promised to help JB clear his barns out on Sunday. Eventually fell asleep in front of Top Gear, the kids shattered and long in bed. A came up to have to kick C back to his room, as he had snuck in for a cuddle. A groovy weekend, making up for all of the shit I seem to take on a daily basis at work...................

The weekend was trouble free. The boys rode steam engines to their hearts content on Saturday, and I got to listen to the Lions on 5 live whilst they had breakfast. What a shower of shite that was, still twatto Clive seems to have smelt the coffee and picked a team that might actually be able to run the ball provided that porky lummox Thompson remembers that his jumpers are the ones wearing the red shirts.

Sunday was groovy, the sun shone and we decamped to Evesham for the afternoon. Had a boat trip on the Avon, and then moseyed around the Eastern festival for a few hours. Lots of different Indian and Chinese dancing, J got completeley freaked out when the Lion from the dance came to say hello, howled and clamped himself to me and after they'd gone affably chirped on 'Dad I hallood the Lion', uh, actually no you've just about yanked my ear off. C unsuprisingly was delighted with the food that was available. We sat next to the river munching satays and spring rolls, washed down with ice cold cobra. J had a bit of a shock when he shoved a handful of salad in his mouth when it hit home that the chilli dipping sauce had spilt over it. Why do kids try and wipe their tongues ? The only dubious bit was a load of pasty white women dresses up in saris belly dancing. They certainly had the bellies for it, put me off sausages for a while. A returned boogied out, hungover and shopped out but pleased to see us all. Ahhhh.

Hell of a thunderstorm the other night. Fantastic claps of thunder and vast sheets of lightning. I was in the garden puffing a post dinner fag as and there was a hell of a belt of lightning. I'm not ashamed to admit that I jumped. 'Fuck me that felt close'. Indeed it was, set fire to some poor sods roof around the corner, they had Trumpton there for three hours. I love a good storm, but not that good.

An interesting weekend looms. A is going to Brighton for a chicks weekend and some well needed r & r from our boisterous offspring. She's dropping them off at my office this afternoon, so its me and the boys - alone - together.( Cue creepy music ). Nah, I love it, as long as J toes the line. There's a steam engine show at Tewkesbury rugby club on Saturday, and an Asian culture festival in Evesham all weekend, sorted. And particularly C sorted, because there's plenty of open air cooking going on so he'll be able to wolf down satays to his hearts content.
Coincidently, the groups for the European challenge cup have been announced ( second tier, bit like the uefa cup, how the mighty have fallen ) and Gloucester have drawn Toulon and Bayonne. Decisions, decisions. Probably Toulon as easyjet fly into Marseille from Bristol, otherwise its a hike to Stanstead to get to Bayonne. After surviving the M25 on a Sunday night with a three day hangover after a previous rugby sojourn to France, I suspect no one will be that keen again. Although I do fancy Bayonne. When I was a kid there was a Fench winger called Patrice Lagisquet. Couldn't tackle or catch, but when he did manage to hold it, he went like greased weasel shit. They called him the Bayonne Express. Just a funny memory from years ago gives it more of a pull. There may be a spanner flung in the works, reasonably so. DH is one of the regular crew, and a passionate Scarlets supporter, and as he rightly points out, he has been to the Glaws games for the past few years, and as the Scarlets are in the cup, and Glaws the shield, we should go to watch the Scarlets. This was put off for discussion at a later time, but as they have drawn Toulouse, it's not exactly a hardship. I said coincidentally about half a page up, because A is off for the w/e and it selfishly always makes me think of my next jolly. She could have picked a w/e without a Lions test, we haven't got sodding Sky.

What in the name of God's gonads is Woodward doing with the Lions 1st test selection ? I still hope they stuff the kiwis, but I think I'm being a tad unrealistic. Okay I'm Welsh, but I don't think I'm totally one eyed. The man said he'd pick on form, and we won the Grand Slam for fucks sake.
Greenwood and Dawson on the bench !? Hells fucking bells No Henson or either Williams in the squad at all ! Lewsey, the best full back in thw world stuck on the wing, with Billy done fuck all for two seasons Whizz is at fullback ? My granny could get to the breakdown quicker than Richard Hill. And onto Jonny fucking goldenballs. Inside centre with a dodgy shoulder, not played an international since THAT bloody drop goal. So glad Clive's picked on form, what an arse bandit.

Jeez it's hot. We're starting to get very bizarre weather. Went to Wales for the w/e, only about a fifty mile drive and it was damn hot, get home on Sunday, and it was hot but vile sticky hot. Odd. And even odder, having had a w/e without tv and papers was to see on the news about the flash floods in Yorkshire. It's all a bit like the start of Flash Gordon.
Nice of the government to put their lunatic transport plans in their manifesto so we'd all know what we'd be voting for. The only upside is that Top gear get to take the piss out of Darling and Man Love. I'm buggered if I will let those two goons put a black box in my car that will be tracked by American military satellites. We'll all end up with a hellfire missile up our arses from some gung ho Apache pilot called Bobby Ray who mistook a family saloon for an Iraqi battle tank. They'll also spend gazzillions on yet another computer system that won't work and every country lane in the UK will be blocked by commuters trying to find a cheap way to get to work avoiding paying forty quid to drive three junctions down a motorway. They seem to fail to grasp that the majority of people start work around nine ish and that roads have a tendency to be busy as a consequence.

Really, should read before hitting the post button. I can spell, just can't type

So that space cadet jackson is innocent of all charges. But he likes to share his bed with other peoples' children. Glad thats sorted out, fine and dandy. Gotta love the yanks.

Hay fever is a bugger of a thing. Had a cracking Saturday. Went to an airday at the little airfield in the next village. Lots of old and new light aircraft buzzing about, and a classic car display. C spotted a Ferrari Testicleroaster, which made his day. We parked in a field of cut hay, hence the hay fever thing. Later, in the afternoon we walked some friends dogs and kids through the meadows next to the river. That evening A was streming and had constricted breathing. Despite all the potions she has to take at this time of the year, the doc told her she'd had a bad reaction to the cut hay.We walk a fair bit, and live in the sticks, so a bit of a pain for A.

Currently on the loath list - barclays bank - backward thinking fucktards. Sir Clive, for picking too many Englishmen.

Currently on the jooly good show list, C for getting man of the match at footie last night, J for managing a full week of neither destroying property or himself,the weather, daftly, for making me feel good.

The picture worked ! I am not a retard. May post more if the inclination takes me.

Nothing like a few sunny days to perk the old Gumpher up. Can't beat it, especially when both office and car have a/c. Evenings are long, a chance to venture up to the championship course that is Comberton Golf Club for a swift nine after the kids are tucked up. A friend of mine calls golf swish-fuck, which is the greatest description of the game I have heard, he claims they are the only two noises he makes on a golf course.

Try as I do, I cannot avoid watching Big Brother, it sucks me in like a big sucky thing. This year's producers have excelled themselves in finding the vilest group of people so far, although I do find Derek quite entertaining, and Sam is (lets be honest) very easy on the eye. The rest - ay caramba ! That vile fat titted northern thing is hilarious 'I know I'm good looking me'. If that was the only female left on the planet I'd take a plane down under and find a desperate wombat to pleasure. And please put those grim saggy udders away. The nations farmers must all wander outside at 10pm subconciously thinking its milking time after seeing those.The great thing about Big Brother is that every year it never fails to make me feel a bit better about myself. Sad, but true, or harsh but fair ?

being a teccie retard, but giving pictures a whirl. The name made oi laff 

The highways agency are retarded. For a few weeks now there have been various football finals at the Millenium in Cardiff, and every one of them has involved a team from the North. This means they get on the M50 at Tewkwesbury and get off where it finishes in Newport. It's not really an 'M' anyway, as it's a dual carriageway. So, do they remove the roadworks for the duration of these finals, even only on the days that the road will be used by convoys of coaches ? Do they bollocks. Chaos. Thinking that they would be bright enough to clear the cones we went to a family party in Cwmbran on fa cup final day and drove down the m50. Luckily remembered the back roads from schooldays once we eventually hit Monmouth. Some friends tried on Saturday. An hour and three quaters to Monmouth. With four kids and two dogs in the car. Great.
J & C had a weekend a Grandmas whilst we celebrated our first anniversary by getting vastly pissed ( we did have a civilised meal as well ) Sunday was very decadent. After getting to bed a half three we lounged around in bed until three in the afternoon. Unheard of. Then on monday, one tired Grandma and two very tired kids arrived home. J had been searching for bugs whilst exploring the garden of my sisters new house. He has a slightly flawed technique of looking under the largest stone he can find and lobbing it aside. I suspect he may be refining this technique after lobbing one on his foot resulting in all of them spending three and half hours in casualty on Sunday night waiting for his foot to be x rayed. No broken bones, but his toe looks vile. That boy is a menace to society and himself

Today is a very crappy day, and tomorrow will be worse with a nice 8 hour round trip to Louth, the total arse end of nowhere.

The weekend will be happy

Surprise surprise, A's car was scratched again, spookily a few days after I cleared off some kids who had just got their jollies by diving through my elderly neighbours' hedge. Called the police, mainly to get a crime reference number, and to log the vandalism, if people don't record it, it won't be seen as a problem. Very suprised when an our later our local beat bobby and a colleague turned up. They were aware that I had 'had words' with a few kids last week, and saw it as a revenge attack. They are frustrated, they know who's responsible for the vandalism, but can do bugger all unless they're caught in the act. They also have their hands tied by parents with a 'not my little angel' attitude. If a few years down the line the police are knocking on our door with a complaint about C or J, they'd better hope the fuzz get them before I do. Not that I can see a problem, but, who knows ? We are more likely to have the fraud squad knocking when j has masterminded an international diamond heist at the age of 14, the little swine sometimes has the air of a master criminal, and he's two.
Last week, C was at school, A the doctors and J and I were alone in the house. I was on the phone in the kitchen and I wrongly assumed he was playing. He came blustering in, looking like a man with some purpose. 'Dad, come see, broke it' Me 'got to go, call you back. Broke what ?' 'Broke it, come seeee' He bundles off to the living room, grabs his plastic hammer off the floor and points triumphantly at the front window.'SEE, BROKE IT' No shit sherlock, very broken, next phone call to friendly village builder to see what his plans were for the day. We've added that to the ever growing list, the most expensive being the home cinema thingy that he buggered which has been in the repair shop since February, because they can't figure out what he's actually done to it. 'What did he do' 'Dunno, he's a bit of a silent assasin type.' 'Have you asked him ?' 'He's two, his eloctro-mechanical descriptive skills have not quite hit their peak yet' 'Oh'. He starts playgroup today, A did a lap of honour around the village

I suppose that's enough bleating about the election, although I'm disgusted that shagger Blunkett is back in the cabinet. Doesn't do much for Tone's vision of respect. Can't see how Hewitt ever gets a job either, vile woman. She should be made to bend over while shagger B clambers on. Very deserving for both.
We're having a bit of a pant crisis at Gumpher towers. I've always been a boxer short man, I like to let my dingles dangle. Apart from sport when they need to be harnessed by an old fashioned jockstrap. A decided I needed new pants and came back with some highly dubious garments. They look a bit like boxers, but they're tight and stretchy.They're tight around the thigh, which feels a bit like wearing an extra pair of trousers. The jury's out, although A thinks they are flattering on the old welsh womb weasel. I'll give 'em a whirl

Well, the British electorate, you are a bunch of cunts aren't you. For those who hold the old ideal that labour are socialists - you wankers, they are as right wing as the previous tory government, and my true socialist grandad will be turning in his grave to see a bunch of tories wearing the red rose. Are you all backwards ? John Reid was a communist, Jack Straw was the president of The NUS. Which part of selling your principles for power do you not understand ? Anyone but the tories. Well you've got the fucking tories you thick twats, but just because you vote labour you think you're holding onto socialist values. You misguided dumb fucks. You get what you deserve, but the rest of us have to too. Dicks.

For the love of God, please let's not vote that smug conceited wanker Blair back into power today. But people will. They'll forget about the fuel protests, the countryside march, the war, the lies about the war, student fees, broken manifesto promises, whatever it is that floats their boat, and we'll end up with a party that calls itself the labour party governing us again. The party that sold it's soul and became another Conservative party simply to get power. The party that wouldn't tolerate sleaze, yet we've had multiple Mandelsons, Blunkett, Morris, Tony's property dealings. They fucking suck, and yet when I wake up tomorrow, the tv news will be full of that inane twatty grin as he steps over the threshold of number 10 once more.
Still on the upside, Gloucester have once again secured the services of LUUUUUUUUDOOOOOO ! The kicking king returns !

Today I am thirty seven. Whoopee doo

Washing your hair is a straightforward operation, but as I discovered the other day, my bathroom contains a stupid amount of the product required to do it - shampoo. My wife has clearly defined structures for the use of shampoo, which I find quite bizarre. J is 2 1/2 so he has no tears shampoo. C is 5 and has graduated to grown up shampoo, a fact he is very proud of. He and I are allocated the same shampoo and shower gel which disappears at an alarming rate as every time C has a shower he makes wizards potions. A has her own shampoo, shower creams and bath goo, which we are all banned from using. C has been very restrained in not nicking them as I know he feels that Mum's exotic bathroom collection would make particularly potent potions. Her latest shampoo and conditioner is ( I think) hazlenut and henna, and she is welcome to it. I wouldn't wash a dog with it. It looks like blended cat shit and has a bloody odd constiuency. Our smallest cat eyes it up with a look of recognition. Strange.

So glad I took C to Castle Grim for his first outing and we gotted stuffed at home by Leeds. If we don't qualify for next years Heineken cup I will be seriously pissed off. I need my annual jolly to France for the ritual eating of snails and drowning in a vat of red wine.

The election is as boring as watching Rob Andrew in his prime. At least that tosser Blair got a going over from Paxo the other night

A momentous day falls upon me on Saturday as I prepare to take my eldest boy to his first top class rugby match. He's been to my club on plenty of occasions but he just larks about with his mates, getting filthy, quaffing lemonade and munching crisps.
It's his first trip to Kingsholm to watch the mighty Gloucester (well, not quite so mighty this season but still good in patches).Also a first for me, first ever trip to the family stand. I wanted to make sure I had seats as he'll see bugger all if we stand up. Another first will be not getting leathered before, during and after the game. (skillfully avoiding having the kitty so I don't miss any rugby during the game, but get to continue with the drinking bit).
I hope he loves it as much as I do, enough to want to wear the Cherry and White himself, closely followed but the Red of the Land of our Fathers. Every Dad can have his fantasies !

And another election starts, spiffy. Nothing like a bunch of tools making themselves look more tool - like by the hour. It's pathetic, I assume they're all reasonably intelligent individuals so why can they not grasp that their style of campaigning is an almighty turn off and will probably lead to one the lowest turnouts on record as people become disillusioned with politicians. Thats politicians, not politics, because I firmly believe that those in this country who choose not to wear Burberry and live on 'maccie d's' have a passionate interest in the way their lives are shaped, but are fast assuming an enormous disdain for those in the Palace of Westminster. The last PM's question time before campaigning was farcical, they sounded like a troop of rutting baboons. Still, I will probably break my record for spotting how many times his Toniness sounds like an insincere wanker.

Still another eleven months or so of being Grand Slam winners, oh how I bask in joyous contendedness. And we have the Welsh posh n becks, SuperGav and that little chumpy singing bint with the wobbly jubblers. Class, see

Just seen my last post after not looking for a while and realised that I am getting fairly shite at blogging. Luckily I am still Welsh, and even mightier as we have got the grand slam. It would be difficult to anyone not a Taff to describe just how important a strong rugby team is to us. I would love to have gone on Saturday, but exhausted every avenue to get a ticket. I wanted to go just for the day and watch it in a Cardiff pub, which I did when the world cup final was in Cardiff and had a belting day. A put the kybosh on this by arranging to go out to dinner that evening. So instead I ended up at an Indian fusion restaurant, which means smaller portions and waiting 45 minutes for your table outside the bogs. Right outside the bogs. We were considering scribbling some scorecards to wave as people came out, definite clean entry 5.5, 5.6.....
I am giving up on commenting about work as yet another deal fell through and all is wank. Still spring has sprung and civil servants, particularly those from the DWP and the Inland Revenue are a bunch anal backward fucks.
La di da

I AM WELSH AND I AM MIGHTY

So it finally looks like we've sold the company - at last. Not quite what we were looking for financially, but, mustn't grumble. The fun starts here with lawyers and accountants plus the expectation of being dicked about by our buyers. What the future holds, who knows, I can't really deal with thinking about it, and to be honest I'm not that concerned. It will definitely involve taking the whole summer off and pissing off somewhere warm.

The six nations starts on saturday and we've got our best chance of beating the English for years, counting chickens. We'll probably do the hokey cokey in the lineouts and bung it straight to Grewcock and then do a passable impression of an Italian retreat in the scrum. Still, its got to be better than watching Gloucester, which has been a pile of donkey sick recently.

Another Christmas break over and done with and the delights of the return to the office, whoopee.
Christmas was a quiet affair spent at home in its entirety, which was a bit too long. If the holidays are that long next year,we seriously need to consider going away for a while. The kids got the usual mental amount of presents but thankfully nothing too loud. C thoroughly enjoyed himself and was remarkably restrained with his present opening, J suprisingly, fairly uninterested. Managed plenty of good walks as the weather wasn't too bad but we did have snow on Christmas day much to the delight of the boys. I can't remember when that last happened and it does make the whole thing more 'seasonal'.

Boxing day in Asia came as a bit of a shock. We spent our honeymoon in Thailand last year, a beautiful country with wonderful people, words cannot do justice to the loss of life and the loss of existence. A girl that A was at school with lost her sister, the family are devastated, but they had the small comfort of finding her body. We were worried for a few close friends who were holidaying at the time, but thankfully all are okay. DH, one of the rugby boys, was on Samui at the time, which being on the east was unnaffected. G managed to get hold of him on his mobile to be told ' I'm fine, now bugger off, it's five in the morning', charmed I'm sure, but at least I don't have to get rid of his ticket for the Stade Francais game!

Work is a bit tense as we're waiting for the final offer from our prospective buyers. To be blunt we're both shitting our pants as we have no desire to start negotiations with anyone else, I'd rather buy a Bath season ticket, but on the other hand we've got to get good value for ouselves, otherwise what's the point ?

The countdown to Christmas starts. C seems to be coming home from school having done something seasonally themed ever day. It's the school carol service at the village church next week. C has once again made the dizzy heights of shepherd, a career treading the boards doesn't seem an option.

I have a problem with civil servants, particularly those from customs & excise and the inland revenue. Sad little tossers with cheap shoes and cheap suits. Topping the list of those most likely to wear novelty ties and socks at this time of the year. You go to work every day on your lovley little flexitime hours, always pissing off at three in the afternoon on a Friday. Stay in your crappy job for long enough and get your tidy civil service pension. Some of us choose to be a tad more adventurous with our working lives, so give us a fucking break when the cheque's a few days late. The government of the day is only going to waste it on another shite computer system to try and run your department or on a drop in centre for mongolian lesbians. Mutated, smug gimps. And why do they always insist on introducing themselves as Mister this or Mrs That, what, do we have to fucking bow in your prescence ?

AAAhhhh, that's better.

A weekend to savour. Mum had the boys and A & I set off for a bit of R & R, courtesy of Mums wedding present. A small country hose hotel with superb views of the Welsh countryside. I think we forget just how beautiful parts of this country are. After mooching around the bookshops of Hay on Wye we took a single track road which leads you up the Black Mountains and down the valley on the other side to Abergavenny. The views were simply stunning, and very few people about. This may sound poncy, but I felt very much at peace with myself, which is rare.
C & M are back from their year of travelling NZ and Canada, and we are all looking forward to seeing them, particularly C, who has missed his Auntie C. They have kept in touch wonderfully, sending the boys postcards from almost everywhere thet went. C keeps them in his desk with his 'precious' things, which is an oddball collection of things that are important to a four year old

A mixed weekend. J's birthday, as predicted was mayhem. It was great to be at home during the week and to be able to take C to school in sit in on a Friday assembly. The chaos started after school. I went to pick C up and ended up collecting him, two of his boisterous chums, plus one of J's little friends. So struggled home with three school bags, three lunch boxes, one pram, one small child and two large stuffed 'Bear in the Big Blue House' teddies. Small children then proceeded to run around like dervishes and (again) as predicted apply vast quantities of chocolate cake to every available surface. J enjoyed himself, and cleaned up on presents, including some particularly annoying noisy toys. Here's hoping they had cheap batteries fitted.

C & I went swimming on Saturday morning, and to his joy it was belting down with snow when we came out. The pool is in Malvern which is considerably more elevated than where we are, so only cold sleet when we got home, much to his disgust. Settled down at 5.30 to watch Wales v All Blacks and once again retired to bed with depression compounded by Glaws losing at Sarries the following day. Sarries, for fuck's sake, you know the season's on the slide when you lose there. Wales have got to stop being the nearly side and win when the opportunities' there. I am losing count of the amount of 'new dawns' I have lived through with Welsh rugby, it sometimes has a groundhog day air about it.

Sunday was a day of pure drudge, apart from an hour in the morning. C's football coach had asked if I'd help out, due the the increase in numbers, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, which is more than C did, having taken a big whack to the head, crying and retreating to the touchline. It's good to get him out and exercising, and blow to the head aside, he seemed to enjoy it. He does struggle with his breathing very early on, and I think it's time to see the quack for a medication review. The rest of the day was consumed with painting, which I loath. I'd rather spend the afternoon roasting my own bollocks. Still - bathroom looks nice.

A return to reality at work. A lady who works for me came back to work today after a terrible loss last week. Her son and his partner were due to have their first child last week ( also her first grandchild) but something went horribly wrong in the last three minutes of the birth and the little girl was born without a heartbeat, and they could not revive her. What can you say to someone in that situation ? We have all suffered from bereavemnet, but I have never lost someone that young. With adults you always have memories, but they will never have memories, only thoughts of what if? Being the father of two small boys almost made me feel guilty, a stupid feeling, but it was there nonetheless. I have no idea how they must be feeling, and I hope I never do.

As I sit here typing this the view from the window is a depressing one. Britain in November is a very unpleasant shade of grey. It's 3.45 and we are already shrouded in a gloomy half light. I cannot stand this time of year. Everything is made more dismal, the news always seems to be more morose, or is that me being more morose ?

There is light, a long weekend starting tomorrow, J's second birthday. If he's two, that makes me uuuuuuummmm, nearly 37.Cosmic. After working stupidly hard this week I am going to struggle not to be zombified at the weekend, a plan will be hatched and kept to . I know we have a party planned for tomorrow, although A has organised it, and I have no idea who will be there, I assume assorted rugrats will be smearing chocolate cake over our soft furnishings, and the cats will vanish for the day. Swimming on Saturday, and settle down late afternoon to watch Wales (hopefully) give those poncy All Blacks a rugby lesson. Football with C on Sunday. FOOTBALL. I ask you. He's not old enough for rugby, so football it is. I've even been roped in as a 'parent/helper'. I realise I am no expert on the roundball game, but for my own vanity, call me a coach. Gumpher you're a coach, boom boom.

Shame Colin Powell's going. The only sane one in that bunch of retards. Replaced with Condi Rice. Jeez.

Once again a post starts with 'not done this for a while'. What's new ? Had another holiday, a quiet family job with A and the kids to a small farmhouse up in the hills in the Algarve. Had to go during the school hols as C started primary school in September. My god they spank you on the prices during the hols, bunch of no good money grabbing bastards. Still, a cracking break with plenty of sea sunshine and good food. C has slotted into school with no problems, finds it a bit tiring by the end of the week, he's a good feller. J still an angelic devil if that makes sense. Home is bedlam at the moment. All of us getting used to the new routine and two new kittens charging around the house. George passed away just after we got home from Portugal. All very sad, we'd had him for fifteen years, and he had a life full of love. Its something you have to deal with if you choose to have pets. C was devastated so we decided the best move would be to get another cat straight away to focus his mind, which has worked. I still expect to see George on the front step as I get home from work, he was a good companion . I buried him under the rosemary bush.

Still in the process of shifting the company, I will go mad if we lose another deal, I need my sabbatical !

Yet again, time between posts, but this time I've got an excuse - it's been total chaos, but on the upside A is now Mrs M, how cool is that ? It's been a period of time which has flown by starting with my stag in Bristol. A good hardened crew was assembled with M back from NZ , R from HK and D from Spain, 16 in all. A cracking time had by all with the bonus of watching Wales stuff the baa baas. I think I got off quite lightly apart from some interesting body art which eventually came off with exfoiliating cream. Roaringly drunk - of course. A few days to prepare, spent the night before in the village pub with dad and the wedding crew as above, and then the big day. It rained in the morning, but as we drove to the church the clouds parterd and the sun stayed for the rest of the day. The church was full of everyone who has ever meant something to us both over the years, and that in itself was beautiful to see. When A eventually stood by my side she was stunning. I'm sure all grooms say this but Mrs M is a damn fine looking specimen, and today she was more lovely than ever.The service was wonderful, I particularly enjoyed listening to my English chums having to belt out Cwm Rhondda. The boys behaves superbly throughout the service which made me very proud. A cracking reception which flowed seamlessly through the afternoon and evening. My speech was a bit of a duffer, I had nothing scripted, I didn't feel that was appropriate and I knew exactly what I wanted to say - public speaking has never fazed me. I was not prepared to be as overcome with emotion as I was, my new wife beside me, my sons and my family and friends and I am afraid I choked somewhat, and I'm not sure I projected all of what I wanted to say . It is a day that will linger forever in my memory as one of the happiest of my life. More was to come, A and I had a stonking honeymoon on glorious Koh Samui, stunning island, wonderful people. The boys stayed at home with my Mum, and although we missed them, it meant a great deal to both of us to have time on our own together in a beautiful place. A major shock on our return was the news that my grandmother had died whilst we were away. my mother had decided not to tell us, which I am grateful for. I take consolation in that the last time I saw her was a happy day, with her family around her. The funeral, as usual, was grim

After not posting for some time I decided to reread the whole blog ( which didn't take long). My god, I've mellowed, must be the impending nuptuals. A has told me that I am more tolerant and less rude these days and I supose she's right. I think I am generally too fucking knackered to get too het up these days. There are still some exceptions. The Zurich premiership play off system sucks arse. Blair is still a wanker, so no change there.Pity the condom hadn't been used really. Bush is soon to be squirming like a stuck pig as it becomes apparent that perhaps the yanks should actually start training some of the trailer trash that they allow into their armed forces. Very much the minority amongst the good soldiers, but jeez, how did they get in ? And are there really people that stupid ? Arsenal going unbeaten seriously pissed me off as does the upcoming Euro 2004 as I like Portugal, and I hope we don't get tarred with the same brush as the backward fucks who will no doubt do their level best to trash the place.Apart from these few side issues the glass is more full than empty, and the smell distinctly more roses than shit

Hey hey, long time no blog. Just over a week to go before we become Mr & Mrs. No stresses, everything hunky dory. Stag next week, rugby and beer, the usual suspects. Then onto the big day with the whole catholic sheebang to keep the portuguese happy. One day of hugging the children and soaking up some love, and then 10 days alone together on Koh Samui. And to make it even better, the company should be sold when we get back. Life is sweet, shame the rest of the world is as mad as a box of frogs at the moment

Geez, just checked this and I've done bugger all since February. Lacking motivation ( for a lot of things, not just this ) Tired, pissed off, still, sun's out

Today is one of those days when I'm am damn glad that the company is being sold. There said it. My life for the last ten years will be no more. G and I are taking the shilling and scarpering. Price nearly agreed, just the lawyer and accountant shite to go through and then I'm FREEEEEEEEEEEEE. To do what I don't know. Depends on the lucre. I need enough to start something else, but if we get the right price I don't have to work for a couple of years, but that is a non starter, I'd go mad. A six month sabbatical is the plan, perhaps get down to Oz for a month and see Dad, do a bit of travelling with A and the kids. Batteries back to nuclear capacity, C starting school, fresh ideas, fresh start BANG - I'm steaming.
I've enjoyed what I've done, and taken pride in some kind of achievement, and the majority of clients I deal with are good people, but when you have a wanker like the one today, who wouldn't be happy if we chucked a night with Kylie in with the deal - well walk on the good life

A good start would be to get back into a decent exercise routine. I'm not keen on the next time I have to step on the scales. Hell, I'm no bloater, but I've always been fit, and since I hit the mid thirties and had kids, the whole exercise thing has gone a bit. If i don't keep on top of it I start to develop love handles. Yak. Rugby is out of the window, I'm enjoying watching it, but I cannot risk a bad injury. I had twenty five good years of playing and I'm suprised I don't miss it. I suppose because I'm still watching I'm still getting something out of it, but it's not the same. Back to the gym I suppose. Half four dark and cold, bunch of arse

The whole wedding thing is starting to seriously piss me off. I just feel like I want it done, finished, and then its just the two of us on a beach in Thailand far away from the insanity of it all. It seems impossible to please people which is very odd because I thought that people would want to please us as it is our wedding. Too simple - it would appear so. I am fast approaching the our way or the high way school of thought. Very down at the moment, I need a positive surge to get me going again

I really do need to get more motivated about this blogging malarkey. Just realised my last effort concerned my impending speeding case and I am now the owner of three penalty points and a sixty quid fine, which I thought was a bit of a result. Also, a total waste of money. Why didn't they just give me a fixed penalty notice ? The points would have been the same, and the fine only thirty quid less, and christ knows what it costs to put a case through court. Pathetic, and indicative of the crazy red tape that permeates every sphere of our existence.
Took a day off for C's fourth birthday on Monday. When he hit the sack for his last night of threedom he was convinced that all his teeth would have fallen out, and that he was in for a hefty windfall from the tooth fairy. Suprisingly, given his present tantrum level, he was not that disappointed to wake up with a full set of ivories. He thoroughly enjoyed his day out at a wildlife park in the company of a few of his hooligan chums, not sure if the animals felt the same. They charged around like Linford Christie on speed for a few hours, and then - clunk, a switch gets thrown and the batteries run out. Mum and Dad get a blissfully quiet journey home.
One more day at the office and then its leaving on a jet plane for a long weekend of rugby, red wine and compulsory snail eating. I adore France. It's so - well, - French. The added bonus of no women, no kids, and the company of like minded cretins who are equally determined to spend the odd weekend in a Peter Pan like state still thinking that we can stay up late a drink stupid amounts. Still, it's a challenge and a gauntlet I will pick up with gusto. Allez les Glaws

Oh, got the bloody summons through for that speeding incident in September, the crafty sods backdated it to November. Bunch of arse

Christmas finishes at last, and the nose firmly hits the grindstone. A bizzare holiday, nearly two weeks off without actually going on holiday. The usual orgy of present opening for the kids, which C enjoyed hugely, but J at one remained unimpressed - ooh great something else that makes a stupid noise. Do they really need toys that quack for stimulation ? Still, we got through it without killing each other or the kids. Managed to get out and about as much as possible, but found myself strangely jealous whilst yomping along next to the Avon freezing my nadgers off when thinking about C & M jollying around NZ. Still, maybe if things go as planned we might find a few months in the sun ourselves.

Still don't get the whole new year thing. Went to a pleasant shindig at friends, but everyone turns into an arse at midnight. Is it absolutley compulsory to sing some dorky scottish verse and hug and kiss the nearest strnager simply because the date has changed? It's a pile of crap and even when bladdered, have never managed to to catch the vibe.

With Christmas over it's back to the miltary op that is the wedding - aaaaargh. Still got the ring and settled the South African national debt in the process - must get round to proposing.

The season of goodwill approaches ever closer. Since we've had kids, I enjoy it more, the whole thing wasn't really my bag previously. As a parent, I now have the concerns of the ludicrous commercialisation of the whole event. It's pointless to address that in any more detail other than to say it's crazy, and anyone with half a brain cell should agree. A & I have tried to get C to understand more of the true meaning of Christmas and to make him understand that Santa and the presents are a pleasant side issue to celebrating the birth of Christ. I personally have no faith, but I respect the A does. I have no problem with teaching the kids about the birth of Christ as I look upon it as a historical fact rather than from a religious point of view. Still. I am sure that baby Jesus will soon be forgotton as they turn into whirling dervishes surrounded by mountains of carefully selected and soon redundant wrapping paper.
On one hand I enjoy the best part of two weeks at home, with A & the kids, and visits to and from other family, but from a practical point of view it makes me shudder. Why does the entire country grind to a halt for the best part of two weeks for a period that has three bank holidays ? Crazy. It's not by choice that we are also forced to shutdown. All of our main suppliers are closed, as are the majority of our clients. Two weeks with no deals makes for lean times for a small business.
Ho bloody ho ho.

Don't seem to be writing much except for Friday afternoons as the week begins to wind down. Its 4.30 and to be honest, I would've departed for a swift jar by now if I didn't have to make a call at 4.45. I've been trying to get this guy all day and his secretary tells me that he will be fee to take my call then. Lucky me.
I must make an effort to take C swimming tomorrow. The little swine always says he wants to, and then turns into a big girls blouse when we get to the pool. I know he's only three, but he's got to start to realise how much he's going to get out of it. He loved swimming in the lakes in Italy in the summer, he could control his depth. He panics if he can't touch the bottom of a pool, and try as I do, I can't seem to help him conquer that fear. Back to the drawing board once again. We haven't been for a while so its suck it and see time.
Got D staying for a few nights as he's back from the Canaries for a weeks work in Blighty. The daft twat got a 10 pm flight into Bristol, so muggins will be driving down an unusually clear M5 on Saturday night and doubtless have a hangover on Sunday after we've caned a few bottles of red on getting back. The things I do for my kiddie less chums. Contemplating sticking him in J's room for the night, which will soon wipe the smile off his tan !

So an Al q suspect turns up in Gloucester ! Bloody bizarre where these fruitloops turn up. British born as well. Perhaps it's time to start asking these clowns if they consider them selves to be British first or Muslim and then fire them out of here. The guy was only 24 years old, with a normal state education. If guilt is proven, someone is responsible for some major brainwashing somewhere along the line. All forms of fundamentalism rankles me, but the whole muslim lunacy bit is starting to become tiresome, but where is the solution ? We've now seriously rattled their cage with the whole Afghan/ Iraq situation, and we seem to be fairly inept at countering thr threat they pose. One saving grace is that there probably won't be a great deal of activity on mainland Britain, as we have vast experience of counter terrorism after dealing with the Irish problem for so long, but that means that easier targets elsewhere get hit. It's a hell of a problem for the politicos, but would it have been there if we'd finished the job in the first gulf war ?

had the 'what happens when your mother finds your blog' scenario over the weekend, and apparently I use too much foul language. I was suitably chastised and felt like a five year old on the wrong end of a scolding. I am in fact, thirty five with two children of my own, and whilst I am glad for people to read the gumph in my thoughts, I am not overly concerned if the content or style caused offence. Like the tv has an off button, your browser has a back one.

I now have to put up with my English chums reminding me that they are the world champions for the next four years, can't wait. Nice to see the Aussies get down over in their own back yard though. Now that's all over it's back to Glaws and the premiership, which is fairly painful viewing at the moment. I would imagine that my rugby viewing will be vastly curtailed by the black hole that is our impending nuptials. I would hazard a guess that I could settle Peru's national debt for less, but I wouldn't get a 'gala buffet' thrown in with that. Be afraid, very afraid. I will constantly whine about the 'stress' and the cost for the next six months with montonous regularity, but the reality is that I am very much looking forward to it ( sniff, kleenex please )

Going on from my last posting concerning the weather I now have the cold from hell. As I am an adult male, it is not simply a cold, but probably a near life threatening rare influenza virus. Yes, it's only a cold, and it will be gone in a day or so, but why do I have to feel so crap whilst it's here ? I'm hot, my head feels too big, and I have yellowish - green gunk pouring out of my nose and throat. I blame Bush, I didn't have it before he arrived. As everything else seems to be his fault at the moment, he might as well cop it for my lack of well being. He's off to geordieland today. I wonder if he'll get down to Tone's local working men's club, watch the turn, have a go on the bingo in the interval, and then join in the punch up outside the kebeb house at closing time. Doubt it somehow.

World cup final tomorrow. Although I'm Welsh, I hope England win. Yes, Australia probably are the greatest sporting nation on earth ( sorry if you're American, but no one else plays glorified rounders or dresses up like a swat team to play a crap version of rugby, you just don't cut it in the major sports ) but aren't we just sick of hearing about it. And, they will hate it, totally hate it, if the Poms do them in their own backyard. Although it sticks in my throat and struggles to get out, come on you Pommies ! There is my proviso that this is the only time this will happen, come the six nations I pray that we will give them a good pasting, and show them ( not that we haven't already ) how the beautiful game is played.

It's a funny old time of year. Not particularly cold, but bleak and grey. I think that saying that I have sad is a bit extreme, but I do find that I am different at this time of year. Motivation comes a lot harder, and I am very lethargic. My time spent exercising declines, and I tend to drink more alcohol. I like to spend time outside, and that becomes harder when daylight is so much shorter. D has come back from the Canaries for a week, a trip that went tits up from the start, but he can't wait to get back. He's only been there four months and already detests a November in the uk. By tomorrow evening he'll be back in his shorts taking a swim. Spawny git. J is one tomorrow. ONE. It hardly seems a few months since the little vandal was born, and now he can walk, and the whole interaction thing has started, which I adore. In that sense, I hope he's like C, who has a marvellous sponge like quality. Only five more months of bleak and grey. Whoopee

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Must be more tolerant - repeat 100 times............. Nah fuck that

Nicky Cambell very good on 5 live this morning. He had Margaret Beckett ( the one who looks like Frankie Dettori shoud be whipping her saying giddyup - sinfully ugly) on for her opinions of Michael Howard. She said that he would be remembered for his past, poll tax etc. Cambell reminded her that she was once a socialist and a member of CND - we all have a past. Nice touch. Wonder how Jack off Straw would have liked to pay for his education when he was president of the NUS. Must try to get off this subject, but they are such a bunch of jizz monkeys it's hard not to .

Oh, I'm by no means anti American, I just think that your unelected leader is a total knob jockey

So the texas retard is coming to visit our shores and his only chum in the playground Brown nose Tone wants us to leave his mate alone, and not shout at him. Not shout what ? Liar ? Cheat ? Backward in bred fuck ? Pray do tell

People who work in an accounts department have no concept at all of how the real world functions. A bunch a jumped up nobodies with no social skills but vastly adept in the art of onan. They should all be forced to work in thier company's sales team for a month and then see if they develop more of an art for normal human interaction. Wankers.