The Musings of Chris Samuel

You’re getting old, my little brother..

Wales have just won the Grand Slam, beating France at the Millennium Stadium here in Cardiff.

We were watching the end of the game after coming back from scattering my dads ashes. What a finish Wales put on - a fantastic end.

Today has been a day of sadness and joy.

This morning we took my fathers ashes to Freshwater West and scattered them overlooking his favourite bay in a brief respite from the downpours across Wales today.

This is tempered by the memories of my father, both here and elsewhere in Pembrokeshire.

Hywl fawr Dad!

Mum put the following acknowledgement in the local paper to thank everyone who was involved both with my fathers last few years and for the funeral.

SAMUEL Robert - Pat and family would like to thank all the carers, past and present, especially Sue Lewis and Carole Lovell from Homecare, the Fairwater District Nurses, the Doctors and Staff of Fairwater Health Centre, especially Dr Shon Phillips, the Doctors and Nurses of Ward East 2 at Llandough Hospital for their care of Bob, and help to Pat. Thanks also to Andrew Forse from J Pidgeon & Son, for his courtesy, and the Rev Martin Colton for the lovely service.

On Monday my father passed away at the age of 82.

SAMUEL Robert Alan Peacefully on Feb 25, 2008 at Llandough Hospital, beloved husband of Pat, loving father of Christopher and Alan, father-in-law of Donna and Jan, loving brother of Jean and her husband Tony, brother-in-law of Mike and Sue, uncle to Michael, Katherine and Richard. Resting at J Pidgeon & Son, Victoria Park, Cardiff until the funeral on Monday, March 3, service at 11.15am in the Briwnant Chapel at Thornhill Crematorium. Family flowers only, donations in lieu may be sent to Cancer Research (Wales), Velindre Hospital, Whitchurch, Cardiff.

You inspired a love of nature & history that will always be with me.

Love you, Dad.

Well there was me thinking we were going to get the wooden spoon after Wales lost their first 4 matches in the Six Nations, but they’ve managed to avoid that by beating the old enemy, England, 27-18! Our fly half (James Hook) managed to score 22 of those 27 points.

Would have been nicer to have won a few more matches along the way, but at least it’s not a whitewash (especially given that 74,500 people were watching in the ground).

Happy Saint Davids Day fellow Cymraeg (and the rest of the world)!

Also know as International Talk Like a Boyo Day, there’s lovely.

There’s lovely, there is now a version of Wikipedia in Welsh called Wicipedia (as there is no letter ‘k’ in Welsh and ‘c’ is pronounced hard).

Sadly as my Welsh is non-existant (many years of trying to learn failed) I can’t understand much, if any of it..

Dai iawn i pawb am Wicipedia.

Alan and Telsa had a near miss with their laptop when one or more batteries they bought on eBay blew up in their Thinkpad..

Via: Alec.

Here’s some nice news, the small island of Skokholm has been bought by The Wildlife Trusts who have been managing it for the past 50 years, on behalf of the Dale Caste Estate who owned it since 1646. Because of this long involvement the trusts were given preferred buyer status by the trustees of the estate after the death of Mrs Osra Lloyd-Philipps (1920-2005).

Also see the information about the Skomer, Skokholm and Midland Island nature reserves.