Award Winners!

Sophie and I went along to the Pembrokeshire Tourism 2008 awards on Friday night, we were one of the 3 finalists for 'Green Achievement' award.

Well - we're not really girls for glamming up, but we cleaned our teeth, brushed our hair and generally tried to make ourselves look presentable. No mean feat.

On the way to the awards, we talked about what we'd say if we'd won - 'thanks very much - say no to the dualling of the A40', or perhaps 'thanks very much - remember to lobby your local MP for better public transport to west Wales' - go radical girls go!

As it turned out we did win - woo hoo! We sort of stumbled up on stage and said 'thanks very much' and then ran away.

It was a good night, and we got a lovely award plaque, and some nice photos of us recieving the award. Except I look like an overstuffed sausage, c'est la vie eh?! Photos to follow, for all you saucisson fans.

Wee Wee Monsieur!

I just found the Porthgain ladies interview, it's available via Radio Scilly, where they have an archive of the gig championship coverage:

http://radioscilly.com/gigs/

It wasn't as bad as I remembered, although was sufficiently embarassing to make my cheeks redden. This link might take you straight there, if you don't have a problem with your 'plug in' (whatever that is):

http://radioscilly.com/files/porthgain_west_Wales.mp3

And another funny thing - the chap running Scilly Radio is none other than Radio Pembrokeshire's Keri Jones - who has obviously upped sticks to move from one beautiful place to another. Good luck in the Scillies Keri!

Welsh ladies rowing victory!

Just got back from our 4th year competing in the World Pilot Gig Rowing Championships in the Scilly Isles. I row for Porthgain ladies - and as the only ladies gig rowing team in Wales - we always come first for Wales, every year - so technically we are the Welsh ladies champions - yay!

This year we came 51st - out of 108 ladies teams who came from all over the South West, and also Holland, and a team from the US. 108 6 oared gigs, out at sea, jostling for a space on the start line is a pretty impressive sight, and when you're sat in the boat, heart beating fast waiting for the starters orders, it's actually a scarey place to be.

After the 4th race of the weekend, a gruelling slog from Nut Rock Tresco to the beach on St Marys, we fell out of the boat and onto the golden sand. Ffion had kindly offered my services to a radio reporter, who interviewed me about the races and about being on the only Welsh team in the championships. Instead of doing us proud, I spoke about weeing into a dry bag on the start line. Well, when a girls gotta go, a girls gotta go.

And after the rowing is finished there are islands to explore, beaches to comb, and pink champagne to be drunk.

Thankyou mystery person....

who nominated us in the 'Green Achievement' category for the inaugural Pembrokeshire Tourism awards, that was very nice of you. We're one of three finalists in the category, and we'll find out who was won on the 16th May.

The bluebells...

...have arrived at Abermawr and they look beautiful - they're just starting to come out, so we'll have a carpet soon! We have spots on the May 2-4 Bank Holiday weekend, let us know if you're up for some bluebelltastic adventures.

Distracting View

This is the view from the new lodge dining area;


Lovely, isn't it?

roof on

Tristan is back! I haven't yet tested him to see if his geographical awareness has improved, but he managed to find us again, so that's enough for us. He's roofing the new bedrooms, and it's a lovely day for it.

And a roof on the new corridor too - it's all coming together and looking great. Here are the boys, mid discussion, and not a builders bottom in site. Which is a shame.