Da Iawn!

OK so it's taken the Welsh rugby team thrashing the English to persuade me back to my blog after a 2 week absence - apologies reader but it's all down to time constraints. So I thought I'd catch up with you today, as it's Mother's Day and I am not a Mother...there was a window for me! Anyway, I just typed my first two paragraphs and due to a small storm outside which started off with snow and now high winds....there was a power cut and my computer Internet connection was lost - am I fated with this blogging thing?

Anyhoooo back to some news, quite a bit has happened since I last wrote including a trip home for a few days. The highlights of the trip included my Niece Tazmins 7th birthday ... she loved her knitted purse, but I think we all enjoyed her magnetic dart board more :) memories of 'Bullseye' came flooding back.
On the Monday I took her to see the X Factor concert, which was fab. As we arrived we were met with droves of dodgy looking people with Asda shopping trolleys selling pink cowboy hats, bunny ears and sparkly wands. After some contemplation, Taz chose a heart shaped wavy stick with fibre optic strands out of the top which all changed colour - good call! I chose two sparkly wands for the 2 kids at home (who A. Dawn had promised a present) but of course I waved about frantically throughout the show.
The best of the bunch were Eton Road and Ray - the latter is a born entertainer and thrilled the crowd with every pelvic thrust! I am converted to the Ray Religion and have his album on order. I am now looking for a willing volunteer to come and see him with me in October in Manchester - will be canvassing for potential concert goers in work next week.

Talking of work - things are going a bit better - I have received feedback from my registration document/ presentation and i is all good (so far). The best news is I don't have to do a Mphil stage and they have moved me straight into PhD (which is good) and also I get a bursary increase of £300 in September :)
The whole problem with a PhD is the isolation of it. With my BA and MA you have a lot of people around you to bounce ideas off or just generally moan to ... I have found this hard so far as you are on your own. full stop. but I am finally getting my head around the enormity of it all - and it's only taken 6 months!

OK so I need to whinge now..... the Eurovision entry for the UK this yea is CRAP! the show last night in which they picked it was the biggest shambles ever. It culminated with Mr Wogan announcing the wrong winner! While Terry can get away with his "Irish charm" on the radio or in the commentary box ....I'm afraid his 'live' TV days are over - he didn't have a clue what was going on....even after offering to rub goose grease in Fearne Cotton's breasts - he didn't realise what he had said - he didn't even feel the burning heat from Fearne's red face! I felt so strongly that I wrote an e-mail to the BBC (Annoyed from Huddersfield) I will share their response with you ...when I get it!

So my plan for today is to brave the storm and get a newspaper, then face my ironing mountain - particular care will be given to my Welsh shirt which will be worn tomorrow to work with pride! I have been getting a lot of flack from my English colleagues about the Welsh team's performance of late - so I will take great pleasure in rubbing their noses in it tomorrow. I am teaching my Conversation Analysis 2nd years in the morning - perhaps I could get hold of a transcript of the commentary from the game yesterday for us to 'analyse'? ...just a thought ;)

So I thought a rugby quote would be appropriate.... I'm afraid it's a long one but it's worth it!

"Look what these bastards have done to Wales. They've taken our coal, our water, our steel. They buy our houses and only live in them for a fortnight every twelve months. What have they given us? Absolutely nothing. We've been exploited, raped, controlled and punished by the English - and that's who you are playing this afternoon."
- Phil Bennett, pre-game pep talk before facing England

Shock horror!

This is hot off the press ..... I have to present a paper tomorrow at the English Department's Research Seminar ..so what's so shocking about that I hear you cry? Well I actually finished writing it at 7.30 pm today!!!! My fellow graduates from Cardiff Uni will now be scraping themselves up off the floor, as I am usually up until at least 3.00am scrabbling to finish any pieces of work on the morning that they are due ...is his the dawning of a new Dawn???



Anyway, other news .... you may be wondering what has happened to my diet plan this year - well it has hit a big FULL STOP! I am ashamed to say that the stress bug took over and that means dawny hits the fridge...not with her head in a sad desperate attempt to relieve frustration...er...no more like to empty the contents in one sitting :( Anyhow ....who cares as least if I fall in the canal there's a good chance I'll float!
Well I'll let you all know how my presentation goes tomorrow - the Dean and all of the Lecturing staff will be there, plus my 2nd year students ...so no pressure.....yikes!

I will be traveling back home on Friday (by train this time - so please don't expect my usual round of visiting!) as it's Tazmin's birthday and I am going to see the X Factor
concert on Monday :) deep joy! A full review will be provided i.d.c.
So a saucy musical quote today....

"I am the only man who can say he's been in Take That and at least two members of the Spice Girls" - Robbie Williams

Dydd Dewi Sant Hapus!

Happy St David's Day to one and all! Yes I stood out like a sore thumb today in my red rugby shirt and shiny daffodil - but hey your patriotic nature must come first!

Anyway, I am pleased with myself as I finished my first piece of knitted produce last night, namely a pink knitted handbag, with beading and sequins for my niece Kaci. I must admit that the beading took longer than the actual knitting - but I was pleased with the result. No doubt it will all be ripped apart in less than a week but hey the thought was there. I need to finish Taz's purse this week so I'll try and remember to take a pic before I send it so I can add it on here.

I had some good news this week it looks as if my registration document has been passed by the research board, so that means they want me to stay :) so I just have to source some data and write 90,000 words - piece of cake.......er ......moving on!

Anyway, we need a Welsh themed quote to end with....

"When asked his opinion of Welsh nationalism Mr Thomas replied in three words, two of which were "Welsh Nationalism" - Dylan Thomas