Hu wazzzzzzuo

Hello,
What is that means "ariaidylle" ?
It is a very beautiful word, it is fascinating!
And your picture is gorgeous. It is the gold of the sun and blue of the sky.

hows wales treating you?

dont worry, its not you, it does suck there ;)

Hi Christina,

I know what you mean. My sister is leaving to go to university in about three weeks time. She is excited about it but I'm sure she'll miss home. She has all the organising to do yet before she goes but I think she's got most things sorted out.

Well I've not had a lot of time at the start of summer but now things are a bit more quieter. I've been out in the garden quite a lot since we have a small garden where we grow vegetables, herbs and some flowers and fruit bushes. I've also been painting my bike and helping out on the Island at various events. I also enjoy walking, cycling, baking, making modal aeroplanes, reading, some drawing and painting and many other things! I've got quite a few interests!

How are you getting on with preparing to go to Wales?
Have you had some time to enjoy yourself with your friends?

Helllo Christina!

Well hello=) ive not written for a little while because i figure you must be so buisy right now! So how are all of your preparations going? Roll on the 16th! Ok- so those gigs are all reasonably spaced out- at the moment i'm averaging one a week + studio time- so not too bad. Ok so i'm so excited for you!!!

hope your well and not too stressed!
Geraint

Hi Christina,

If we are planning on going for food, then going to Cardiff Bay is the best really - as I say there are great places to eat throughout the city, but the bay has a wonderful atmosphere, good security (and so less rowdy people on the weekends) and is just a lovely serene place to be (although busy enough to feel like there is some atmosphere) plus which at the Bay you have the Wales Millenium centre, which is an impressive piece of architecture, and there are other entertainments around there as well.

The best thing for us it to get a train into the town centre and we stick to Queen Street or St Mary's street, which run almost parallel to each other - they ear the main shopping streets and also have all the best bars etc on. These are the two main shopping streets in Cardiff (makes it sound small, but there are quite a few shops there)

Depending on how you like to dress, the best places for shopping in Cardiff are (for women) River Island, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Coast, New Look and a few others I can't remember off the top of my head. They aren't all cheap though - River Island is great for clothes usually, but they are at the upper end of the "high street" prices so it's best for you "show pieces" For cheap clothes you can always go to Primark, once you sort through all the naff clothes there are some really great pieces that are absolute bargains!

If you dress a bit more punky or anything like that, then Blue Banana is your best bet - it's pretty easy to find something you want (believe me, beating the temptation to spend was a daily battle for me!)

If you want a good bookshop, then find St Davids Hall, almost opposite it (although there is kind of a food hut in between) is Waterstones, which I think is a great book shop :-)

Unfortunately I don't have any travel plans at the moment as I simply don't have any money! I'm saving up for my girlfriends birthday present and for a limo for her to go out in Cardiff... not cheap!

I only really go out in Cardiff with my friends for nights out, or sometimes I go shopping there as it's probably the best shopping in the local area, I do miss it quite a bit, but it's still within reach, so I can go back whenever I want!

The price of an east to west coast trip is huge! But it's something I wan't to slowly save up for (I'd probably not be able to do it until I retire!)

I've done a bit of travelling, I've been to everywhere in the UK apart from Ireland, I've been to France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Andorra, Spain, Majorca, Barbados and the Vatican... so a few places

Hope you are ok!

Nick

There is often a French market that comes into the city centre, which is worth looking at - some very nice food available to try.

I'm not sure if there are any Japanese restaurants, but there is a very good Thai place called Thai-edge in the Brewery quarter - I've had a very nice set-meal there...

I went to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (National conservetoire of Wales) which is by the Castle, it was amazing!

I'd love to spend a few months doing an East coast to West coast road trip in a big RV across the States, there are so many places I want to visit I'd have to spend a long time getting it all done! Where would you recommend?

Nick

The shopping in Cardiff is very good if you enjoy that kind of thing.

Just to say I'll reply to your message in full tomorrow, unfortunately I'm about to go home from work and I've got a busy evening planned, but I promise I'll reply properly tomorrow! Sorry! bad timing I suppose!

I don't actually live in Cardiff - I live nearby and have done for about 21 years! I was actually born in the south of England, but moved here when I was 3.

You should really like Cardiff and its university, the city has a wonderful culture. There are two main bar-sized music venues worth checking out, the main one is Bar-Fly which is opposite the castle, it's only a small entrance, but it should be easy enough to find - that's a good play to go for indie music and similar, but you do get a bit of a variety as well - the other place that does live music (or certainly did a while ago) was a club called 'Tiger Tiger' but to be honest I don't think its very good in comparison. You'll get to see much larger bands play at Cardiff International Arena, I've seen bands from Muse to Bryan Adams there and the variety of different bands there is fantastic, ticket prices vary hugely, but the quality of the gigs are always great, definitely worth keeping an eye on.

The museum I visited in Cardiff is actually nestled amongst the Cardiff University buildings and had some very interesting exhibits throughout the year, well worth a visit.

It must be so exciting moving to a new country to study! I wanted to take a year at a university in the States, but unfortunately the number of applicants was so overwhelming that I didn't get a place :-( I've always wanted to visit America, the closest I've been is Barbados!

There are plenty of nice places to eat in Cardiff as well if you enjoy dining out. You will probably become familiar with a road called 'Woodville Road' as it is near the student's union building - there's a very nice Greek Restaurant along there which is owned by the husband of one of my pupils, but also Cardiff bay (a 5 minute train ride from the city centre) has lots of great places to eat and various food festivals amongst other things. There is often a French market that comes into the city centre, which is worth looking at - some very nice food available to t