This account is suitable for woman and childeren.
Thursday afternoon: 49 fit and eager buddies gathered at Schiphol Airport for the flight to Bristol. During the gathering at one of Schiphol’s cafés the first d*** (Sander) of the day was nominated. Arival at Bristol, visit to the town (two times round the main square by bus and luggage drop off at the hotel) and to the rugby grounds of North Petherton RUFC. The game was won by RC ’t Gooi. Nice reception at their club house with traditional food and singing. We had the tremendous leadsinger Tom Jones at our side. On the way back to town the second d*** of the day was nominated. Nightlife at Bristol.
Some details on Bristol: Bristol has long been the most dynamic town in the West Country. Weaving through the centre of town, the River Avon forms part of the system of waterways that made Bristol a great inland port, and in later years boomed on the transatlantic trafficking for rum, tobacco and slaves. Etc, etc.
Friday early in the morning bus trip from Bristol to Cardiff. Somewhere the 50th buddy joined in. After luggage drop of at the hotel, free morning in Cardiff’s pubs, fortunately one of them is at the holy grounds of the Millennium Rugby Stadium.
Some details on Cardiff (Caerdydd in local tongue): Official capital of Wales since 1955, the buoyant city has swiftly grown into its new status. A number of progressive developments, not least the sixty-member Welsh National Assembly, are giving the city the feel of an international capital. The second Marquis of Bute built Cardiff’s first dock in 1839, opening others with swift succession. The Butes, who owned massive swathes of the rapidly industrializing South Wales valleys, insisted that coal and iron exports use the family docks in Cardiff, and it became one of the busiest ports in the world. Etc, etc.
In the afternoon we had a nice bus trip visiting the Welsh country side and some onboard games. After our diner in the players-guest pavilion at the Llanelli rugby stadium we watched the game Starlets vs Oysters. In the extreme wet back to the hotel and free participation at Cardiff’s night life. No d*** of the day (JW von Brace to Brace) was nominated.
Saturday: the day with two important matches at Llandaff North. There was time enough for a relaxed and quiet breakfast to recover from all the impressions of the previous day. Bus trip and nomination of d*** (Walter) of the day III. At Llandaff North we won both matches and had a interesting diner and singing at their club house. We could offer them a show of “adult origami”, performed by our 51th buddy. The beer boys arranged transport of our rugby kits back to the hotel, and transport by minibus to the city centre.
Sunday: Early breakfast. The visit to Cardiff Bay was skipped due to late arrivals of some buddies.
Some information on Cardiff Bay: a thirty-minute walk from the city centre. The bay has become one of the world’s biggest regeneration projects, slowly being transformed from the seedy dereliction of the old docks into an area of landscaped walkways, gardens and public attractions. Etc, etc.
After the comfortable flight from Bristol back to Amsterdam we could narrate in our own club house the success of our matches and about the interesting aspects of Welsh culture, till early in the evening.
J.W. van Oldeneel
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