Strange Friday night game for Wales again - at least it leaves Saturday free…

Friday 4th February - Wales v England - 7.45pm
Saturday 5th February - Italy v Ireland - 2.30pm
Saturday 5th February - France v Scotland - 5pm

Saturday 12th February - England v Italy - 2.30pm
Saturday 12th February - Scotland v Wales - 5pm
Sunday 13th February - Ireland v France - 3pm

Saturday 26th February - Italy v Wales - 2.30pm
Saturday 26th February - England v France - 5pm
Sunday 27th February - Scotland v Ireland - 3pm

Saturday 12th March - Italy v France - 2.30pm
Saturday 12th March - Wales v Ireland - 5pm
Sunday 13th March - England v Scotland - 3pm

Saturday 19th March - Scotland v Italy - 2.30pm
Saturday 19th March - Ireland v England - 5pm
Saturday 19th March - France v Wales - 7.45pm

(all UK times - add an hour for continental games).

Sunday 5 September 2010
NatWest International Twenty20 - England v  Pakistan @ The SWALEC Stadium 

Tuesday 7 September 2010
NatWest International Twenty20 - England v  Pakistan @ The SWALEC Stadium 

As ever a mouth watering prospect and as wide open a tournament as there’s been for some time…

Can’t wait!

February 6
Ireland v Italy (1430)
*England v Wales (1700)

February 7
Scotland v France (1500)

February 13
*Wales v Scotland (1400)
France v Ireland (1630)

February 14
Italy v England (1430)

February 26
*Wales v France (2000)

February 27
Italy v Scotland (1330)
England v Ireland (1600)

March 13
*Ireland v Wales (1430)
Scotland v England (1700)

March 14
France v Italy (1430)

March 20
*Wales v Italy (1430)
Ireland v Scotland (1700)
France v England (1945)

(all times GMT - add an hour for continental games).

No too sure about those Friday night matches, I always liked ‘three match Saturdays’ … we’ll see …

Saturday 7th February
England v Italy (3.00pm)
Ireland v France (5.00pm)

Sunday 8th February
*Scotland v Wales (3.00pm)*

Saturday 14th February
France v Scotland (3.00pm)
*Wales v England (5.30pm)*

Sunday 15th February
Italy v Ireland (2.30pm)

Friday 27th February
*France v Wales (8.00pm)*

Saturday 28th February
Scotland v Italy (3.00pm)
Ireland v England (5.30pm)

Saturday 14th March
*Italy v Wales (3.00pm)*
Scotland v Ireland (5.00pm)

Sunday 15th March
England v France (3.00pm)

Saturday 21st March
Italy v France (1.15pm)
England v Scotland (3.30pm)
*Wales v Ireland (5.30pm)*

All are in UK time – add one hour for games in France and Italy

With only 17,106 in the stadium, this performance is unlikely to encourage larger attendances in future - but hey thanks Sam.

Jason Gillespie 5-13 against … sublime…

It could have been an even bigger win as this picture taken after 11 overs testifies.

Glamorgan v Warwickshire after 11 overs

A happy evening (cold) Welsh Summer evening.

One of the other key ingredients of a night away in a hotel with these credentials is food. Dinner was good, not great, but that may be my own fault as I ordered scallops with a salsa verde and steak, both good staples of any menu, but offering few opportunities to shine and my wife stuck to soup and duck (which was the highlight of the meal and very flavoursome). I really liked the service, efficient and local, which really helps to give a sense of place. Cheese and chocolate cake (which actually may have been the real highlight of the meal!) for dessert then into the bar. Now I’m a big fan of bars and this is a really good one - a broad range of drinks, a healthy positive atmosphere and a real cross-section of customers. Pretty much perfect and thoroughly recommended to anyone in the area.

Somewhat bleary eyed (she made me finish that bottle of champagne) we ate a comfortable and thoughtful breakfast from a choice that will cater to all tastes, then headed off substantially poorer but fulfilled.

However, residents say that simply holding the poll will tell politicians that there is an issue of increasing inequality between countries in Britain that needs addressing.

Come on, tell the truth … you don’t want free prescriptions and hospital parking really - it’s the grand slam and Calzaghe that you’re after really!

For the sake of cross border relations, I’m glad to report that things aren’t quite as rosy when it comes to parking at hospitals in Wales as the headlines may suggest. It happened that I needed to attend the University Hospital of Wales on the 1st of April the day on which parking charges were removed. Guess what, parking at the hospital is not free, as its run by a private company they’ll still charge for parking! I don’t remember anyone mentioning that when this story was being spun to us. That is also the case in another 10 of Wales’ 130 NHS hospitals and units.

Those still charging are:

Princess of Wales, Bridgend contract until 2011
Glanrhyd, Bridgend contract until 2011
Neath Port Talbot contract until 2032
Univ Hospital of Wales, Cardiff contract until 2021
West Wales General, Carmarthen contract until 2018
Prince Phillip, Llanelli contract until 2018
Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan contract until 2011
Wrexham Maelor contract until 2008
Royal Glamorgan contract until 2011
Withybush, Pembs contract until 2009

Take a look at those dates – we’ll be paying in Cardiff at the UHW until 2021 and the Port Talbot date is pure science fiction.

I’ve decided to provide evidence it the form of my parking receipt. Read it and smile all you malcontents!

Given the fantastic grand slam that has been handed to us by Warren and co I’ve dropped the article, and will quote just one snippet from it:

Let’s be honest, when Welsh rugby is hurting so is Wales

Thanks for saving us from the pain boys.