A new challenge...

I've just agreed to 'ghost write' the David Wilson blog for my old school mate, Dave 'Snooks' Wilson. The URL is http://thedavidwilson.blogspot.com/ and although I have a free hand in what I report, I have been given strict boundaries including a must inclusion of Aston Villa at least once a week. As we, along with Phil Finney and Richard (1099) Phillips were the only Villa fans in our year at school, then that shouldn't be too hard.

in reference to: Bob De Bilde (view on Google Sidewiki)

Was it my multi-blogged moan?

Was it my multi-blogged moan that un-locked my new blog http://sequels-and-trilogies.blogspot.com/ ?
I know that blogger took the full 20 days to un-lock a blog of a friend of mine. Now his block WAS highly political but there should be no difference.
Perhaps it was my genuine threat to move to wordpress?

Who knows?

Thank You blogger for acting quickly

Bob de Bilde

in reference to: Prequels, Sequels & Trilogies (view on Google Sidewiki)

Bob de Bilde gets his 15 minutes of fame...

on IS A C*NT...

http://isacunt.blogspot.com/2010/01/bob-de-bilde.html

Thanks to GOT & the crew

in reference to: Bob De Bilde (view on Google Sidewiki)

My Disgust at Blogger

Blogger has marked one of my blogs (Prequels, Sequels & Trilogies) as spam...

It will be deleted within 20 days if I do not lodge a review

WTF Blogger... I am seriously considering moving all my blogs to the more versatile Wordpress !

I am reposting this on ALL my other open blogs using the sidewikibar thingy!!!

in reference to: My Sony Ericsson Sucks: My Disgust at Blogger (view on Google Sidewiki)

Drug dealers get 100 years

DRUG dealers who brought misery to the streets of Cardiff have been jailed for almost 100 years following a major police operation.

Operation Michigan targeted drugs offenders in the Roath, Cathay and Splott areas of the city.
Thirty-five people have been convicted and are now serving a total of 98½ years after being arrested during the two-week operation last summer.
The majority of the offences concerned the possession and supply of crack cocaine and heroin.
Operation Michigan was designed to target user-dealers and more organised suppliers of drugs like heroin and crack cocaine in Roath and Cathays.
A similar South Wales Police operation – Operation Versailles – has been targeting drug suppliers in the Grangetown and Cardiff Bay area.

Gavin & Stacey...

Although it is set in Barry Island (& Billericay), I thought I would give it a mention. Like Splott, Barry too gets a poor press from the rest of Wales and in fact the whole of Britain...

Gavin & Stacey is an award winning British television comedy series, written by James Corden and Ruth Jones, and produced by Baby Cow Productions for the BBC. Jones and Corden appear in the show, alongside the title characters played by Mathew Horne and Joanna Page. The series also features Larry Lamb, Alison Steadman, Rob Brydon and Melanie Walters. A romantic comedy, the show follows the long distance relationship of Gavin and Stacey, who come from opposite ends of the country. Gavin lives with his family in Billericay in Essex, while Stacey lives with her mother in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.

The show ran for 20 episodes in all, from 13 May 2007 to 1 January 2010, comprising three series and a Christmas special. The first two series aired on digital-only channel BBC Three gaining a cult following, before the show was moved to a mainstream audience on BBC One, which broadcast a one off special on Christmas Eve 2008 and then the third and final series, at which point the writers decided to end the show.

The show was acclaimed as a hit breakthrough show for BBC Three, becoming the most nominated show in the 2007 British Comedy Awards. By the end of the second series, the show had won several awards, including the British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs) Audience Award, and the British Comedy Awards Best TV Comedy Award, both in 2008. Characters went on to feature in the 2009 Comic Relief telethon producing a number one single, while the third and final series formed part of the prime time BBC seasonal programming on Christmas Day 2009 and New Years Day 2010.

The programme has also aired in several other countries. As of September 2009 an American remake was also being planned by the ABC network.

The show revolves around the lives of the title characters Gavin Shipman (Mathew Horne) and Stacey West (Joanna Page), and follows their family lives, and the lives of their best friends, Neil "Smithy" Smith (James Corden) and Vanessa "Nessa" Jenkins (Ruth Jones), respectively.

The first series begins with Gavin, 28, a young man living with his family in Billericay, Essex, arranging to meet Stacey, 27, a young woman living with her family in Barry, near Cardiff. Both have struck up a long distance telephone relationship in the course of their jobs, but have close family lives too. Stacey still lives with her widow mother Gwen (Melanie Walters), with her protective uncle and Gwen's brother in-law, Bryn West (Rob Brydon), living across the street. Gavin still lives with his parents, Mick and Pam Shipman (Larry Lamb and Alison Steadman).

For their first meeting, Gavin and Stacey plan to 'meet halfway', on a night out in London. Gavin travels with Smithy in tow, who is less than pleased with Stacey's companion and his supposed double date, Nessa. The night ends with both couples having sex in their shared hotel room. Gavin is infatuated by Stacey, although Smithy and Nessa are happy to call it a one night stand and go their separate ways. Gavin pursues the relationship with both travelling backwards and forwards between Barry and Essex, and Gavin quickly proposes, with the first series ending on their wedding day.

In the course of the second series, Stacey initially lives with her new husband Gavin in Essex, although feeling home-sick, the series ends with Stacey moving back to Wales and the couple's future uncertain. Meanwhile, it is revealed Nessa is having Smithy's baby, much to his surprise, with the series closing as she gives birth. In a Christmas special, it is revealed Gavin is to move to Wales to being a new life and save his marriage, while Smithy meets his son, Neil, for the first time.

In the third and final series, Gavin and Stacey begin their new lives in Wales, and resolve to start a family, but soon run into fertility problems. Nessa is also making plans, but not with Smithy, instead intending to marry coach driver Dave (Steffan Rhodri) who runs Dave Coaches, who, as revealed in the first ever episode, has been besotted with Nessa since a previous one-night stand. By the third series, Nessa, Dave, and baby Neil, are all living in his caravan in Barry. Smithy is conflicted about his future role, while attempting to be a long distance father to Neil. The show ends with Smithy interrupting Dave and Nessa's wedding, and after Dave tells Nessa she doesn't really love him, and Nessa agreeing, the two call off the wedding and part as friends. The show ends with Nessa, Smithy and baby Neil apparently living in Wales, enjoying life with Gavin and an obviously pregnant Stacey.

Gavin Cox

COX. Gavin
95, Habershon Street
Splott
CARDIFF
CF24 2JZ
Tel: 02920635912
Fax: 02920635912

Portfolio:

Serving the Splott Electoral Division, Gavin was elected on 10 June 2004 for the first time. The Splott electoral division has an electorate of 9072 (1 May 2008) and has 3 seats.

Serving on the following committee(s):

Licensing Committee
Public Protection Committee

Serving on the following Outside Bodies:

Ffotogallery
Postwatch Wales

Surgeries:

1st Tuesday of every month, from 6.00pm til 7.00pm, in the Community Room at Splott Swimming Pool.

3rd Tuesday of every month, from 2.00pm til 3.00pm, in the Library at the STAR Centre.

If you would like a home visit, please call the above telephone number.

Gavin has previously been involved with a number of youth, disability and environmental organisations in the community. In his spare time he enjoys travel, photography, cooking and sport (especially football). He financially supports Oxfam, Amnesty International, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.