So it was me ‘old dears’ birthday over the weekend – so she took us down to Cardiff to stay for a couple of nights in the capital. Mum and Dad came down by train and arrived into the city around twoish, so I came into Cardiff to work from the Bay in the morning, and took the train into Cardiff from Cogan – just a ten minute journey into town.
So by two thirty I was in the Marriott bar and having a sneaky little Stella. My gang (well half of them) arrived around 4:30 and the rest a little later. After a quick check in and a couple more Stella’s then a move onto Lowenbrau – a lager I have not seen for some time. Guaranteed a head ache later..
Early food today, so a quick trot over to Park Place and Giovani’s by the New Theater. Unfortunately, and as usual, I picked the wrong thing – I had the veal, in breadcrumbs which was pretty tasteless – the others had a variety of tasty things and I think in general the food went down very well. I had a beer or two and somehow a bottle of red wine also appeared which I shared with not many people I seems. Quite a good venue, the staff were nice and the owner came and took some photo’s and brought my mum a desert with a candle in it and we sang Happy Birthday.
Little walk home, then a quick beer before beddy byes.
Next day, and with a thick head we met in the bar before breakfast to give out our gifts. My sister and I shared a present, but as I gave it to her, she thought it was from me – so I told her to read the card with it, and then she thought it was just from Claire – it was slightly more amusing in real life. Kate gave her a list of 70 things she loves about grandma – all hand written, which I think went down quite well.
After a massive breakfast of meat and bread and one hash brown, we got ourselves sorted for the trip to the Bay. This time we thought we would try the water taxi, which goes from the castle and dumps you in the Bay. Some of them stop off in Penarth, but ours didn’t so we walked out to the barrage. It was getting to be quite a pleasant day int he end, and they had ice-creams at the stall, and the children played in the park for a bit. I showed them the amazing yellow rings on the barrage, but no one thought anything of it, so its just me that likes it, and I will not bother showing anyone else.
Over to the pub just by the barrage for lunch – which due to having a massive breakfast was just a couple of pints – quite a nice place though – probably does do good food. We had booked into Cote for 5:30 so moseyed back into the bay, and sat around having a beer or two in the wind, then the rest of my gang came, and one beer later it was time for food. Slightly better choice this time, I had beef bourgeoisie which was okay, but small, and so was the beer – 1664 in a dolls bottle.
We walked back from the Bay and the children went by train – we got back before them – its only a short stroll back into town, but I have never done it before (other than running it in the Cardiff Half). So we had a final couple of beers in the bar and I tried very unsuccessfully to do some magic tricks with the rubbish cards – then matchmakers and peanuts and bed.
Another morning and loads of bacon and bread, then train home at 10:15.
Nice.