This Week #4

Tuesday was the launch of Cwmbran's Urban Buzz - a wildflower competition you can read more about HERE - so I took Marianna along before going food shopping. The mascot of the local housing association, Bryn the Bear, was there and Marianna was more excited than I'd ever seen her; giggling, clapping, calling out 'buh, buh'. Then I realised why. She thought he was Bungle from Rainbow, her absolute favourite thing to be shown on the magic light box. It put her in a good mood for the whole day! I had an email to say I'd won my first ever creative comp (read more HERE) which put me in a good mood too.

On Wednesday I had Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, looking at the potential financial impact of the new Welsh Language Standards - I blogged about it HERE - then there was a Cwmbran Community Council meeting. The health visitor came round on Thursday for Marianna's nine month check in. She now weighs over 18lbs and was above average for her age in most things, other than the crawling which we already knew about. Friday I went to Cardiff for the NFLA (Nuclear Free Local Authorities) Welsh Forum. There were some really interesting presentations on tidal energy, the ongoing effects of the Fukushima disaster, and more reasons why pressing ahead with Hinkley C is ridiculous. I'll probably blog on the latter at some point next week.

By the time I got back Anthony had already left for the pub, so my mum came round for the evening and we cleaned the destruction he had left behind. I have never known anybody capable of making as much mess as Anthony, and I've known myself for the last 27 years... Yesterday I finally finished off the Lollipop House (marvel at it HERE) and caught up with my comping.

☆ READING: Marianna got her bookbag from the health visitor on Thursday, so we tried out its contents - Slow Snail and the bilingual lift-the-flap book, Beth am Dorri Gair? (Can you say it too?)

☆ WRITING: The Murder That Wasn't - a man confessed to a murder in Miller's Court (where Mary Kelly was killed by Jack the Ripper) in 1926. It turned out he was just "a silly old man".

☆ WATCHING: I watched Up in the Air for the first time last night and really enjoyed it. I was in the mood for something without a conventional happy ending.

☆ LISTENING: Prides. I've been obsessed with them for well over a year now, and this week bought their recently released debut album. I literally cannot remember the last time I bought music, that's how much I love them. Every track is crafted so perfectly to my personal taste I knew it would be worth it.

My favourites are Out of the Blue and Messiah. If the video for the latter isn't nominated as one of this Yuletide Challenge's 5 Minute Fandoms there is no justice in the world!

☆ WEARING: Jumpers.

☆ EATING: Gingerbread Men - Anthony bought a 'create your own' kit and made me a Santa, a cadaver and a clown.

☆ FEELING: Stressed.

I've mentioned every post this week except Monday's - I took stock of my social media presence and set myself some goals for where I'm hoping to go with it. I even set up Klout. I'm on 53 at the moment so plenty of work to do!