The Weekend of Dec 15 2008

With no food in my belly, I broke out of Pendine on a wet Friday night and hit Llanmiloe Social Club for Hannah Newells' 18th birthday party with 200 plus guests for a wild drunken night of blues rock from the band with no name. Meurig DW Griffiths with pulsing beats, myself on bass, the mercurial Keith Rudd on his Les Paul and the mighty thunder that is Nik Turner on saxaphone and flute. A initial 1/2 hour set was interrupted by the jukebox blasting out 'Acky Breaky Heart'. Anyway the buffet is ready. An on call electrician sorts the rebel jukebox out, and a 2 hour set of wild blues follows. After the obligatory post gig gorging of 1/2 a loaf of bread, I crawl up to bed at 1/4 to 2 and a 5.51 a.m. wake up text from my mate Phil meant a maximum of 3 solid hours of shut eye, 'Andy can u remember to bring the small silver kit bag with you its got spares & pump in it ta Phil.'

Saturday morning parking up on the eastern prom at Porthcawl at 0800 hrs after a Cross Hands cappucino and bagel (they're the best!). I'm pleading for 1/2 hour easy cycling to get rid of my thumping head. The gig was loud and my ears are still buzzing from it. 1/2 hour is spent trundling around Porthcawl in search of toilets. Phil has recommended the John Street ones as they have won awards! Passing Santa having a fag before he starts the early shift we discover the conveniences are shut. 'No problem', says Phil, 'the ones up Rest Bay will be open'. Supposedly they were always open early but there we are! Onward to the Bwlch and a 1500 foot climb through PTalbutt and then a greasy descent through Nant Y Moel.

Nearly 50 miles and we're back on the prom. Thank you very much but the three of us feel we haven't done much and there is a need to do more. We've all got other things to do so off we go. Heading back to help prepare Laugharne RFC 2nd XV in their table top fixture against Kidwelly a phonecall comes to say it's been called off - waterlogged and Graham 'The Strangler' Thomas can't do the lines. Feeling low on sugar I stop off and munch my way through a Picnic and 2 slices of Soreen Malt loaf with butter on.

After meeting Mervyn for a quick drink in the Spring Well, it's a night in falling asleep in front of Strictly and X Factor, after sharing fish and chips from Laugharne Chippy with Suzi.

Cold porridge and an early start again and this time it's a flat 50 mile to Llanwrda and back. Ice and freezing fog brings on a nervousness following last week's tumble on the A477. Thinking of a cup of tea with Jeremy in Llanwrda, but forgetting it was a rugby Sunday morning meant that we found the Croes Y Ceiliog tea rooms for a cup of hot drinking chocolate and 2 slices of toast. 'Is that with jam?' asks the chef. Temperatures and fog rising sees a good pace on the return to Carmarthen for a cup of tea and thick Xmas covered chocolate biscuits.

Sunday afternoon found me lost on the back roads of Trelech and Talog desperately trying to find Llwyn Rydd somewhere between Penybont and Alma Pandy. Stopping to ask a local I was met with the deepest Irish brogue in deepest wooly Wales who helped me on my way. Running out of diesel I find the recording studios and am welcomed with a cup of tea and home made chocolate cake. Recording with The Shamoncies means going over and over the same song until everyone is happy. 6 o'clock comes along and it's all done, 'It's a wrap'

I find my way out embarrassingly easy and return home to one of the best beef dinners ever with 'figgy duff' of apple, raspberry and pear pie and low fat custard.

A hell of a weekend. Cycling is the greatest pastime that a middle aged fat bloke could ever wish for. You've just got to eat to keep going!