OLYMPICS-Final preparations for the torch parade and party

Well it seems like it’s been a long time coming but the Olympics 2012 is just around the corner and you can feel the anticipation and excitement building across the whole of the Country. (Well if you watch the BBC maybe…)
Here in Cardiff the council have erected many banners and flags along the streets currently lining the torch route that it will take via the City Centre (with many more to go up in the next few weeks!)

CCFC-Bluebirds to change to red kit?

After Cardiff City’s 2011-2012 Championship season had come to an end with them losing out on a playoff final place to Westham – rumours about a kit colour change began circulating on the internet with this initial post over at the Cardiff City Message Board:-

BRITAINS GOT TALENT-Aquabatique

Back at the end of January 2012, the Britain’s Got Talent circus came to town and made home at The Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay. Over 60,000 people auditioned throughout the UK for a place on Britain’s number one talent search – trying to please judges Alesha Dixon, Simon Cowell and David Walliams.

You can read more and see the photos of the judges arriving by clicking the link below:-
http://djleekee.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/photos-alesha-dixon-and-david-walliams-at-britains-got-talent/

Cardiff City-Pitch invader at Cardiff v Westham

Well it wasn’t the most rivetting of games and we were lucky to escape only 2-0 down but one ‘supporter’ thought he needed to get onto the pitch and make his views of the game known?

Well he got onto the pitch and didn’t really do anything at all….no protest…no streaking… it was all quite pointless really. He then scarpered back into the crowd with 87 stewards chasing after him before eventually catching him and then frogmarched him out! (Was reminiscent of a Benny Hill chase!)

Did give us something else to moan about though!

WALES-Six Nations Grand slam Winners

1908, 1909, 1911, 1950, 1952, 1971, 1976, 1978, 2005, 2008 and now 2012 – eleven Grand Slams for Wales.

Estimates of around a quarter of a million people packed pubs and clubs in Cardiff with more opting to watch at a screen set up near Cardiff City Hall.

A short sharp shower prior to kick-off didn’t dampen any spirits with everyone eager for the Six Nations Grand Slam decider between Wales and France to kick off!

FOOTBALL-The Malkytollah picture at Wembley

Whilst Cardiff City were taking on Liverpool in the Carling Cup final at Wembley it seems Malky Mackay was taking on Rafa Benitez in other ways!

One Cardiff City fan decided to proudly display a framed picture of the Cardiff City Manager and take it around Wembley and surrounding area before the important game kicked off.

A Facebook group called ‘The Passion of The Malky’ was set up where people submitted their photos and stories for everyone to enjoy with some of the best appearing below.

FOOTBALL-Cardiff City v Liverpool Match photos

What a day, what a game, what a mix of emotions, what a journey but overall what a great day of football. I don’t really think I need to write much here at all that hasn’t already been said but will let the pictures sum up what was a fantastic day regardless which side you ended up supporting!
I still can’t watch that Gerrard penalty without thinking that there still is a chance that it may still go in! Oh the agony!

It all began with Cardiff City football team leaving The Cardiff City Stadium on Friday with fans arriving in London throughout the weekend with most making the journey early on Sunday morning getting there in loads of time for the big game.

Proceedings began with nearly 90,000 football packing the new Wembley stadium ready for the Carling Cup final between Championship side Cardiff City (regulars at the new Wembley) and Premiership side Liverpool (first trip in years to Wembley and their first to the new Wembley stadium!)

Both teams took to the pitch to raptures of applause, pumping music and ceremony complete with big banners and flags being paraded around the pitch and stadium. Players shook hands before kicking off one of the most memorable Carling Cup final in years infront of a very vocal and eager crowd.

CARDIFF-St David’s Day parade

St David’s Day 2012 in Cardiff began with a thick fog lingering across the City resulting in famous sights becoming totally unrecognisable. But as the day progressed the strong Spring sunshine took over and brightened up what was a very gloomy start to our Patron Saint’s Day.

In the Capital City of Wales it was time for the tenth annual St David’s Day parade to leave City Hall and make it’s way past the castle and some of the estimated 8,000 spectators who lined the way.
The parade was supposed to leave at 12.30 but for some reason was a good 15 minutes behind schedule – does anyone know why?

CARDIFF- Foggy weather

Waking up early on St David’s Day to look out of the kitchen window and think ‘there’s a lot of condensation on the window’ so I wiped the window clear only to discover there was no condensation but infact on closer inspection it was some really bad fog outside!

A quick walk into the City Centre via the River Taff and passing by the Millennium Stadium revealed that this fog was some of the worst I could remember for ages.

The normally amazing view from Canton bridge of the Millennium Stadium was eerily empty and unimpressive!



Some seagulls were messing about on the river whilst traffic continued to whizz by but it appeared as if someone had removed our National Stadium from the city.

Only when getting nearer and almost next to the stadium that it began to appear but looking up at the massive supporting structure and the pointed frame still disappeared into the air.

FOOTBALL-Trip to Wembley for Carling Cup Final

Not that anyone has slept much for the last few days but it was an early 7am rise to make our way through a deserted Canton to leave Cardiff ready for the Carling Cup Final 2012.

Leaving a really sunny and bright Cardiff for a much more cloudier England and also one passenger behind who had failed to get to the pick-up pint on time! Ok he was still in bed totally leathered and slept through his alarm so it was time to begin our journey to Wembley – still loads of time ready for the 4 o’clock kickoff.

FOOTBALL-Cardiff City leave for Wembley

With just 48 hours to go until Cardiff City take on Premiership side Liverpool in the Carling Cup Final 2012 at Wembley – fans were given a chance to cheer the lads off in style from the Cardiff City Stadium.

From about 12:20 on Friday 24th February the players dribbled out of the Cardiff City Stadium to rounds of applause and cheering before getting on the coach that will take them on their fourth trip to Wembley in the last four years!

RUGBY-Wales training session

The Millennium Stadium threw open it’s doors again for another free Wales training session on 15th February, 2012. Thousands queued from around midday and were allowed access from 2pm ready for the main event kicking-off at 3pm.
Fans were promised an exclusive glimpse of the squad being put through their paces and normal training preparations in front of a 13,000 strong crowd.

Everyone had to register on the WRU website initially so they could staff the event properly and make sure the whole event went smoothly (which it did!)

QUESTION-Vicious sticker outside Cardiff Arms Park

Just spotted this horrendous sticker at one of the entrances to the Cardiff Arms Park rugby stadium on Westgate Street.
I was initially drawn to the Cardiff Blues sign to see if any further details were on display concerning the amount of Cardiff Blues games now to be held at the site. But instead I found this quite offensive sticker!

 
It appears to illustrate a dark shadow/silhoutte attempting to cut someone’s throat! Is that supposed to be an activist in the hat complete with megaphone in his hand? Does anyone recognise this sticker or the artist involved?

PHOTOS-Ant and Dec at Britains Got Talent auditions

ITV hit talent show Britains Got Talent held auditions in a very cold Cardiff Bay in late January. Hosts Ant and Dec quickly met and greeted the audience before recording a few links with the crowds patiently shivvering behind them.

I always thought Dec was a bit short but seeing them both stood next to each other it was easy to see that they are BOTH infact incredibly short! Ant stood on the left and Dec on the right as they do for every link! Within a few minutes all the links were recorded and they headed back inside before new judges Alesha Dixon and David Walliams arrived.

PHOTOS-Blaen y Glyn trip

It was Saturday the 4th February and the weather forecasters had predicted a band of warm air coming in from the West forcing the current cold air to push back – thus creating the first decent snowfall of 2012. As this snow wasn’t predicted to fall until late afternoon it seemed a great idea to take a photography session with expert Nick Jenkins up to the Brecon Beacons area to test out our skills.

So a 7am rise in Cardiff and heading straight out to a glorious sunrise over the Millennium Stadium. Oh how the weather was going to be such a contrast today! Even though it was bright and cheery to look at it was bitingly cold but luckily the heaters in the car kept us warm and ready for the journey to the small village of Talybont on Usk.

It did snow a little on the way up so it took slightly longer than planned for but arriving just after 9 am we set off past Talybont Reservoir and began our walk upto Blaen Y Glyn.