A Beady Afternoon!

Friend Anne working at our cottage industry!



A productive afternoon passed very pleasantly. I have spent so much money on this project I hope that I sell some of my wares to recoup some of that money, if I don't,  it's bye bye beading!!!  We were both very pleased at what we achieved this afternoon, and are looking forward to going to a Bead Fayre next weekend, there should be an amazing selection available.

While we were working ... the weather improved and the 'competition down the road' was surging ahead with Europe in the lead!  Lets hope they can sustain that lead tomorrow, as the competition has been extended.  This is the first time that this has happened in Ryder Cup history, but as I said previously, the weather is unpredictable, particularly in the U.K.  It promises to be an exciting day!

What a difference a day makes!

Sunshine ... at last!

Saturday was fine and sunny, just what the doctor ordered for all of us after all the rain this week, particularly for the Ryder Cup team and it's organisers. People locally have been saying why did the organisers choose the month of October when it is traditionally a rainy month?  Well, I don't know, but is October traditionally rainy?  I was married in mid October (some year ago) and it was glorious. I don't think that necessarily follows. So, what happens when this match is played in Scotland in four years time?  I am sure the weather there will give a few problems as they usually have tougher seasons than us in the South!


However, that was yesterday.  Today rain stopped play - as they say. I went out to get a paper earlier and I have to admit there were some severe water laying on the roads, but I didn't hear this downpour during the night! I really hope it clears for later. This is a huge disappointment for all concerned.


Anyway, was I bothered about all this yesterday - No!  I went to Cardiff with my friend Anne and we went to this glorious bead shop that she had located on-line.   Crystal and Ice Bead Shop was, for us, like being in a sweet shop!  I spent far too much money, but the choice there is amazing.  They are online:

http://www.crystals-and-ice.co.uk/

Any beadaholics out there... this place has a fabulous range. Anne is coming to lunch today and then this afternoon we are have a bean-feast of our own.  We are going to make some stuff to sell and some for Christmas gifts - hopefully.  More about that later...

P.S I have just read that Gleneagles, where the Ryder Cup is to be held in 2014, (and incidentally bid against the Celtic Resort for this year) was also underwater this weekend! It's not just South Wales that is having bad weather!!!

A wet start!

Ryder cup rain!

As I write it is still absolutely tipping down!  The golf kicked off this morning, on time, and the European team made a good start.  However, after just two hours, play was suspended due to the rain and so far there has been no time given for play to resume.  It seems today is a washout with the Welsh weather being the only winner on this wet Friday!

More Ryder Cup

Prince Charles at the Celtic Manor Resort,
 with Colin Montgomerie.

Where is all this traffic?  As we in East Newport are all stocked up for the siege and have been warned we won't be able to leave our homes for the huge traffic jams predicted, we now feel a bit cheated.  We are stock piled and waiting, but the traffic is very light!

I went to Tesco's for petrol early this morning to avoid the jams - there were none.  I pulled into the petrol station and the only sign of the Ryder Cup was an American guy in front of me in the queue waiting to pay.  He said to the cashier 'I don't understand your money, will you take what I owe you'? He handed her £80 in twenties, she smiled politely and gave him £49.55 back! When he left we both smiled, and she said 'He was one of the nicer ones!'  I didn't ask what that meant - I paid and left! 

There was no traffic on the way home, the roads are deserted, far more than usual.  Either the warnings are paying off, or there has been an over reaction by the organisers.  I still say - the competition days have not started, it may all change yet!

Ryder cup - kicking off !

Celtic Manor Resort, NEWPORT.

Up until today you would not know that here was a major world wide golf tournament on my doorstep. However, sitting here late afternoon with my friend Mary, we heard helicopters flying overhead to what we assume was the Celtic Manor Resort helipad. Traffic so far has been as normal.  Me and hundreds of other locals are tuning into the Welsh (and national) news to see what is going on.  It's sort of surreal; not as if it's our Celtic Manor everyone is talking about!

Prince Charles was here today (we think that's why there were so many helicopters) and tonight, after a reception at Cardiff castle there is an extravaganza at the millennium stadium with Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dame Shirley Bassey and Kathryn Jenkins (where's Tom I want to know?) I would like to be a fly on the wall tonight especially when the Yanks try to sing the Welsh national anthem at the end!

The weather though has let us down, and the forecast is not too good for the remainder of the week - Sod's law!  It was fine for a while this afternoon, but it was not long before the autumn mists, already shrouding the beautiful rolling valley, blotted out the stunning views from the fairways.  I wonder if our visitors will ever see how beautiful this part of Wales is?

The Ryder Cup Effect.

Colin Montgomerie with one of the Newport dragons.





As I live in Newport, I thought this small city cannot host the Ryder Cup and me not mention it in my blog! Then I saw this picture of Colin Montgomerie with one of the Newport dragons and thought I would post a short piece.

Newport is supposedly poised to maximise the economic boost from the Ryder Cup 2010.  We are told that the city has benefited from 1,600 jobs and around £98 million has been poured into the economy since 2003.  There is no doubt that since 2001, when Newport's Celtic Manor Resort won the right to host the 2010 Ryder Cup that this new city has been transformed.  There have been much needed road improvements, particularly on the A449 and the Coldra round about, and Newport has definitely been propelled into the international spotlight.  But what about the long term effects? I hear that the Welsh Assembly are planning to bring more sporting events to Newport in the coming years, but will all this give Newport a future?

This city is best known for the Chartists riots, It remains to be seen if the aftermath from the Ryder Cup can usurp this notorious history.

More Raku

Finished dish.

After the bisque firing and before the final Raku process.

I am posting pictures of this dish simply because it is one of my favourites from the weekend. very simple, yet stunning in the kitchen.