Wales - Day Dau

Wales are not noted as a nation of innovators, at least that was my opinion until yesterday afternoon.  When faced with the perennial challenge of a busy bar packed with thirsty Rugby fans in place of testing everyone's beer management skills by making them carry two single pints top Welsh scientists instead adapted technology first developed as part of the space shuttle programme and invented this.......

"science in action"

No photoshop involved, the future is here now and its name is the two pint pint glass.  This transformed the lives of millions of Rugby fans enabling them to stay hydrated in the run up to the big game.

Other good things about Wales include a massive curry and loads of beer for only £25 per head, which left enough change from £30 to pay the £3.50 taxi fare.   That is not a typo, a fairly lengthy taxi ride was £3.50!  One of the drivers thought he was pulling a fast one by asking for £5.50, joke remained on him.

Prior to the game we headed from our hotel to downtown Cardiff and visited a few pubs, all of which were rammed with fans of both teams, all rather nervous about how the game would pan out.  A further Welsh innovation was a busker who was not rubbish and who was accompanied by a drunk lady dancing.

"the jolly drummer and dancer"

If it's wrong to enjoy a chap in a green suit drumming along with hits such as "funky town" then I don't want to be right.

Following a few more trial runs of said 2 pint cups we made our way to the stadium for the weekend's main event, the Wales vs. England six nations clash.  We split up for this part of the day, Craig and I going one way, Keith and Chris the other (a former girlfriend suggested we split up because of my obsession with detective series, I said good idea, that way we can cover more ground.)  Our seats were not too bad.

"a Rugby pitch - yesterday"

The atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic with supporters of both nations unsure about how the game would go.  Pre-kick off we were entertained by a series of Tom Jones songs then the anthems, God save the Queen for both countries then a special one the Welsh had made up.  The first half of the game was quite low scoring although England looked dominant in all areas of play, after 40 minutes England went into half time with a healthy 10 - 3 lead.

After half time it all went slightly wrong for the visitors, whatever the Welsh coach had told them in the dressing room seemed to do the trick and the comeback was on.  Coupled with England failing to discipline unruly players and not really showing any of the sparkle shown in first half the final score was Wales something and England less.  

The group I travel with to Rugby have now watched three losses in the last three years, I think the plan in future is to just to Italy.  It's nicer than Wales and they are not terribly good at Rugby.  That said the World cup later this year should be a cracker for Northern Hemisphere sides.

Dinner was a noisy affair with plenty of meat, beer and Sambuca followed by another exceptionally cheap taxi ride home.  An early night prior to a long drive home.