Becky

After totting up 13 hours at work in less than 24 hours i have found that the customers notice board at work is a interesting source of entertainment, if you get board of talking about how it's gone a little nippy out!

I mean after glancing over the normal things, i.e hiring a bouncy castle, sewing for all your needs, tuition etc my eyes feel on a few other notices that were slightly hidden behind all the norm. For instance, the slimming poster that tempts its clients with a lovely photo of a full english (and me, who has to sit through her lunch as it's busy on tills!).

But it was not that one that caught my eye as much as the second poster. So ill make the announcement now, there is a magic mushrooms talk on in Codsall in November. For those who know Codsall and the sound-rounding villages, it is not the place where magic mushroom are common place. In fact 'the villages' are home to the traditional cake sale and coffee morning, jumble sale for the adventurous. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, I love tea and cake, tea and crumpets etc, but there is only so much you can talk about to customers when you are stuck on a till, secretly wishing anyone would come in to save you.

But magic mushrooms, I sat there wondering if this was some kind of recruitment drive for a undercover drugs gang in Codsall. I mean the aging population of the villages must be hitting them hard, after new blood etc. I mean they need fresh legs to wonder the Perton woods in search of the mushroomly delights

About 3pm on Friday I found myself topping up the petrol and heading towards Wolverhampton Station for the family trip to Wales. After meeting Kate at the station we started the journey to the cottages, stopping at the 'Goat', which is a lovely, unknown pub about 45 min from the cottages, but nicely on the way We arrived there at 5.30 but sadly were informed that meals did not start until 7pm, so we just had to wait in the cosy little bar and well drink apple tango and one half of 'Qualf' beer. So full we left and wound our way over the mountain to the cottages.

Getting there in the dark and cold, was just like normal and finally opening up the cottage made it so much better, as we could make a cup of tea ... and find that there were wine gums left in the cupboard Waking up in my bed, however was even better, the next morning.

Finally the rest of the family turned up, to make us a nice 10. Sadly we were missing Matt and Nellie, but it can't be helped. After the normal family 'discussions' about what we were all going to do, and what cars we were going to use and of course who was going to watch the Rugby that night, we headed to the beach for a nice walk. The walk was naturally followed by a ice cream from undoutably the best ice cream shop in the area.I mean where else can you get coconut, tropical, ginger and many others. I persuaded myself that I could try something different to rum and raisin and went for the coconut... which I can say, I am very glad I did as it was amazingly good. So after 10 of us ate 10 ice creams and my Granddad had stopped chatting up the ladies of the beach (even though he is married 5 years this summer) we went home for tea and to decide who wanted to watch the Rugby.

Watching the Rugby in a Welsh pub was a interesting experience and here are a few tips. Never celebrate any English successes until you are sure where peoples loyalties lie, always hold the locals dog if he asks you to, agree when anybody says that rugby is the welsh national sport, agree that Wales were robbed and always turn a death ear to the S. A supporters ow and hide the carrots from the locals dog!

After all that, and a night where me and Kate found ourselves sleeping on the floor, we went for a round walk around the valley then back for a run through of Christmas lunch The rest of the afternoon was spent waving people off and looking through the guest book of who has actually stayed at the cottage and when and what they said about it! It turns out we have had about three honeymoons taken there, one couple that got secretly married, one millennium celebration, two people who ended up in hospital (admittedly one was me, but I end up being a statistic sometimes), many children growing up there, to many calf and lambs being born to remember, farm cats being brought up etc. But perhaps the one thing that is said on almost every page is how people fall in love with the cottages, almost overnight. I admittedly am bias and love them to pieces. You can't describe the cottages, the valley, the people and all the places and buildings in the Valley. I grew up there as well as here in Brewood, I love the hills, I love how I could walk down a stream and not be told to be careful, I love how I use to play around the farm buildings and it was deemed as normal. I love how I always come back covered in mud :s I love how you walk round and find the Cadbury cottage nestled in the trees, and how there use to be a rope swing that hung on the second biggest tree on the hill side. And I love how every time I take someone new there face shows utter amazement at what is lying all around the Valley and how close you can still get to them and how in a way, time forgot it self up there. And after all this exploring I always found myself in the front room, with a coal fire burning.

Anyway enough of that, Finally I had to drag myself away to get Kate back and to get back to lecture in the morning. leaving half my family there... but I do get the house to myself for a few days \o/ After a bit of a slow sunday drive back, via, Stoke (to pick some stuff up and miss Shaun by minutes) we got back to Wolverhampton and to drop Kate off to get the train to Cardiff.

All in all not a bad weekend really

Sitting here watching 'Allo 'Allo again, makes me think of the old-er classics that I have watched over the years! Ones I have loved and watched over and over again. This naturally gets me thinking what are all the old classics that are not around any more (sadly) and what I can add to the DVD collection for Sunday night viewing Now because I am lazy and do not want to write all the list out again ( and I only put a few on there, as my mind went blank) you can look on BCF, for the topic

http://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=1589281#1589281

and if you are really passionate about something then add it to there

What with the mad September rush, and starting Uni, then having a panic about Uni and jobs etc. Anyway I now finally feel more and more relaxed each day. Normally when I start a new school, college or, now, University I feel panicked, out of place. This in turn leads to me looking scared, confused and being somewhat quiet. Strange really, I don't always feel quite and I'm not but still, it's a bit like a vicious circle!

Anyway for records ... I'm not, out side College I always feel different, like the pub on Monday night, like Thursday nights going out, like Tuesday nights, anyway you get my point.

Anyway what was I going on about, yes, things seem to be getting back to normal now, after everything seemed a little odd and confusing. But then, I have had some pretty good nights where I have felt so excitable, it's untrue, just hope they continue

Now where was I? Nothing really to say any more, apart from the fact that I survived the first night in the kitchens at College, sadly there was no customers but that was properly a good thing Just wait till next week when the stress is on!

Oww that was the other thing.... I found this;
http://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=128176
They are back, and I found them in the brilliant little corner shop opposite Birmingham New St. back entrance over a week ago now They don't just live in Stoke