Sainsburys Perfect Christmas 2010

Cast your vote for this years Sainsburys Perfect Christmas 2010 Competition simply by cutting and pasting the following Web link into your Browser and then register your vote: http://sainsburysperfectchristmas.co.uk/Street/sy23-ger-y-llan and thereby elevate Ger-y-Llan in Wales into the Final of the Competition. Go on, do it; you know you want to.

Remember that you can vote again each and every day!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I know from checking out the seasonal weather forecast for Bangladesh that Sylhet only drops to 7 degrees in the month of January. So there is little chance that the residents in and around Sylhet are enjoying the newly arrived snow that we have in the United Kingdom.

It's only November, and I now wish that I had bought that snow sledge a few months back during our short lived UK summer. It's typical isn't it? When you don't need something there is plenty about, and when you want it, there's a shortage. I mean, you don't expect snow so soon after Bonfire Night do you?

It's all gone Paul Potts. The weather is all messed up, this year is the worst Apprentice ever, and I don't intend commenting on 'Strictly'. To do so, would be a waste of a few good lines of text. Nope, it's all gone to pot, and it's time to have some fun in the snow. Mmmmmmmm, pity I don't have a sledge.

Sylhet

I have just been reading about the city of Sylhet in north-eastern Bangladesh. A friend of ours comes from Sylhet and I must admit that I knew nothing about the City, the region, and its people. I was also unaware of the extensive links between Sylhet and several communities in the United Kingdom. These links have been strengthened over time through the creation of 'Friendship Agreements', ' Memorandum of Understandings', and good old 'Twinning'.

Not quite a photo finish

Well Mr Tister came in the top 1600. Which isn't too bad as he was number 20,000 or something early on in the 2010 NEXT Baby Competition 18-36 month age group on Facebook. OK, I know that I am biased, but I truly believe that it's NEXT's loss. I understand that Social Networking sites are about support and profile. The more social network type friends that you have, then the more likely it is that you can accumulate votes. I also understand that when there are 60,000+ entrants, it's extremely difficult to get recognised. Well, it's not as if Mr and Mrs Joe Public are going to trawl through some 2,500 pages to decide where to cast their vote for The NEXT Baby Competition.

But being a realist does not preclude me from having a good old moan. If you want the best entrants with looks and personality then you need a system of fair assessment. Whereas if you want the children of popular relatives, then you use a social network site. After all the process should generate new marketing leads, so the higher the number of email address then the better. Less of course those emails that were submitted by the same persons from some random email database, or false email addresses or long defunct email addresses. Because whether we like it or not, and however hard we try and scrutinise entries that require an email address, such systems are inherently flawed. The only fail-safe is where a competition organiser has software or IT personnel who can track the unique electronic location of single or multiple repetitive inputs. Now this doesn't mean that there was any wrongdoing with the NEXT competition, or that the scrutiny was in any way inadequate, or that any relatives or associates of any of the 48 winners done anything untoward. It's just a matter of explaining in terms of social science how things can go astray if not kept in check. And anyhow, many others have far more eloquently expressed their concerns on the NEXT Wall on Facebook in the closing phase of the competition, than I could explain the matter in this short Blog.

But even though it was not a photo finish, Mr Tister does appear on a few photographs in this Blog, and NEXT, MotherCare, Marks & Spencers and any other of the big brands can make a bid, if they would like Tister modelling their next range. Mr Tister lives in London, and although the cost of living is high, I have heard that his clothes modelling rates are good.

Mr Tister for President

Well not quite President, but your vote may help Mr Tister to win a baby competition (Justin Entry ID: 1108385). His Mum left it awefully late to submit his entry. However we have seen his position tumble from 3,600th to 1,600th. Although with only 24 hours to go it's highly unlikely that he will make the top few who make it to the photo shoot. So here's your chance to add to his tally and log your much needed vote and thereby 'Keep Hope Alive'. Cut and paste the following link and then vote away folks, vote away: http://apps.facebook.com/baby_modelcomp/entry/1108385?ref=nf

The Great Gurkhas

Nepalese Cuisine is really nice. I first came across the delicate flavours and presentation in of all places an Indian restaurant in England a few years back. Some of the staff at the restaurant were Nepalese and a few of the dishes in a small section of the menu reflected their culture. I decided on that occasion to opt for a Nepalese dish and thought that it was a stunning experience.

With that in mind it was lovely to be walking through the lovely ‘town’ of Weybridge on the weekend and stumble across a Nepalese restaurant. I made up my mind there and then, that we would down there that night. We spent the evening with ‘Mr Tister’ and when it was his bedtime we struck out back to Weybridge and had a lovely pint of Flowers before settling down in the Great Gurkhas.

The boss went for Nepalese Kukhura Masala with Gurkhali Bhat, whereas I opted for Anda Bhat (Egg and spring onions stir fried with boiled rice) to accompany Himalayan Chicken with the boneless chicken breast cooked in a sauce of yogurt and chilli with a hint of cream. As Mr Tister would say “Yummy”.

The food was great, the staff were lovely, the presentation was excellent, the price was superb. The Great Gurkhas in Weybridge is a strong recommendation to one and all.

The Great Gurkhas
27a Church Street
Weybridge
Surrey
KT13 8DG

Mr Tister

We are due to travel and visit Mr Tister in the London Metropolis tomorrow. The car is packed and the journey and hotel are planned. But should I also pack a Chess set?

Working on the premise, that a father teaches a child to play chess and the child becomes a stronger player than the father. I believe that this is because you impart your knowledge and experience as part of the social science learning explained by Norbert Elias i.e. 'the child becomes the parent'. But of course, the child also gains exposure to their own experiences and learning by studying alone, playing with others, or reading about or watching games, openings, strategy, and tactics that the teacher has never seen. Given that I'm the Grandfather, and that I played once or twice for Wales and scalped a few of the Welsh Olympiad Team; does it follow that Mr Tister may become a great chess player?

Or, will he become a Train Driver because of my love of choo choo's? Mmmmmm, that's a social science dilemma to ponder, as I twist and twirl through the Welsh countryside and whiz along the M4. Not too much whizzing though, as road safety is also an important part of my life. I wonder, will the bridge be closed with all of these high winds? If it is closed, how do you get to London? Gosh, I have a lot to think about tomorrow. But then again, not as much as the Mayor of Mandaluyong.

Mandaluyong

The City of Mandaluyong in the Republic of the Philippines is the latest City to host a Blog reader who has visited this Blog. Wiki cites the name as (Filipino: Lungsod ng Mandaluyong). The official website for the City of Mandaluyong informs us that Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. is the City Mayor.

According to the official Website, the City of Mandaluyong is in the heart of Metropolitan Manila. It is plausible that the Website statement that "Mandaluyong has several places of interest that tourists and visitors can see while in the city" is a gross understatement. There are probably a host of significant and wonderful delights meeting the lucky 'tourists and visitors' that grab an opportunity to visit Mandaluyong. I think it's more of an understatement than a lack of attractions, and on that point, I send greetings from Wales to City Mayor, the Blog reader, and the people of Mandaluyong.

It's a Mile

I managed 72 lengths of the swimming pool at Aberystwyth University on Monday, and carried on through for another 60 lengths in the same pool on Thursday.

I'm well chuffed with both sessions, but I have to admit that the 51st length on Monday was very hard going. Strangely though, once I made it to 60 lengths, the last 12 were a dawdle. I completed Monday's session with 24 lengths and a short breather, then another 24 and a short breather, followed by 12 and 12. All 72 were front crawl. The stroke used was also good news as the last time I managed a mile, it was broken down into 15 length segments. With each segment consisting of 5 lengths of front crawl, 5 breast stroke, and 5 with a leg float followed by a rest.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani

In my humble opinion, the widely reported decision by the Islamic Republic of Iran that the execution Ms Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is imminent; is wrong on every level. The execution will not make the matter disappear. It would be far better for the authorities to accept that execution is wrong, and instead embrace the offers of asylum that have been made to the Republic by World statesmen who are concerned about the execution.

Those that think that World opinion doesn't matter are naive to the extreme. It does matter, and the execution will strengthen and not diminish World resolve. It is time for the Islamic Republic of Iran to rethink its strategy. Iran has so much to offer the World, and it's quite sad that so much negativity is generated when so much good could exist.

Please don't execute Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. Instead, release her into the care of those that have offered asylum. The rewards will far outweigh the perceived quick win. It is a mistake to believe that undertaking the execution, in the face of World opinion, will strengthen the Republic's position. The outcome will be contrary to what the Republic is hoping to achieve. Whereas the release of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani would be a huge step forward for the Republic. An opportunity to rebuild its position on the World stage. It's time to stop looking at tactics and to start thinking of strategy.

The hardest part of 'change', is to listen. No one likes to be told what to do, and when we are told, we usually don't like what we hear. It doesn't matter if you are a small child, a Managing Director, a politician, or Head of State. The theory is the same, we like to make choices, and not do what we are told, or do something out of choice, that then looks to the casual onlooker as if it was done because we were told. To be blunt no one has the right to tell the Iranian authorities what to do.

Instead, I make this plea as a humble person, as someone without influence and with nothing to gain. Please, please, please release Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.

The Best Kept Secret in Wales

I suppose that when someone writes about 'the Best Kept Secret in Wales' with a 'food' label to the Blog post; it conjures up images of the Harbour Master in Aberaeon, Ichiban in Cardiff, and other strong Regional Contenders. A few of which are local to my home town and may be a tad miffed at not being named here.

But hey ho folks, you can't please all of the people - all of the time, and today is just one of those days. It's the morning after the night before (well in this case, the evening after) and I am in a Blogging mood. A happy Blogging mood at that. I met a lovely lady in Cardiff last night and that was enough to bring a smile to any one's face. And they say that smiling is the best thing for complexion and to avoid wrinkles. So I have been smiling all day long.

And it has been a long day. I had to jaunt around the City looking for some odds and ends to buy, and I had to cram in some DIY at the flat. It's also a long drive back home, and there's nothing better on a long drive, than to stop the car and to have a break. This is where the Tafarn Ffostrasol Arms comes to the fore in this Blog.

The Ffostrasol Arms was good the last time around, this time it was even better. Diners continue to be treated to great decor, excellent service from customer friendly staff, and superb food at a fair price. Last time I indulged in the double pork chops with apple. The chops were accompanied by home made chips and nice vegetables and pour over gravy. This time around, I opted for the equally as stunning home baked Steak and Ale pie with puff pastry. Excellent chips, lovely vegetables and a pie that was so large it looked like a casserole. Many a time I am disappointed by the frozen chip brigade. I have even asked at the door of posh restaurants and walked out. My brother and I simply don't understand why anyone in the catering business would sell themselves short with frozen chips. Indeed the chips are so good at the Frostrasol Arms, that we wondered if they had a chip shop out the back. The waitress denied the suggestion; but how can a chef conjure up such a delight in a small kitchen. Well it can't be that small, as apparently 156 customers sat down to Sunday lunch at the Ffostrasol Arms yesterday. Am I surprised? No I'm not, so don't be a dork and when you get a chance, pop along to the best kept secret in Wales. Telephone 01239 851348 (PS when booking please mention Roger, the lovely chap with the flat in Cardiff, Betty will know who that is)