Egypt4u

I find both Cwm Rhondda and Flower of Scotland far more rousing than our own National Anthem. Just to complete the trio here are the words to Cwm Rhondda:

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
Feed me now and ever more
Feed me now and ever more

Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fiery cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield
Be Thou still my strength and shield

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death and hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee
I will ever give to Thee

And if you are fluent in the Welsh:

Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch,
Fi, bererin gwael ei wedd,
Nad oes ynof nerth na bywyd
Fel yn gorwedd yn y bedd:
Hollalluog, Hollalluog,
Ydyw'r Un a'm cwyd i'r lan.
Ydyw'r Un a'm cwyd i'r lan

Agor y ffynhonnau melus
'N tarddu i maes o'r Graig y sydd;
Colofn dân rho'r nos i'm harwain,
A rho golofn niwl y dydd;
Rho i mi fanna, Rho i mi fanna,
Fel na bwyf yn llwfwrhau.
Fel na bwyf yn llwfwrhau.

Pan yn troedio glan Iorddonen,
Par i'm hofnau suddo i gyd;
Dwg fi drwy y tonnau geirwon
Draw i Ganaan - gartref clyd:
Mawl diderfyn. Mawl diderfyn
Fydd i'th enw byth am hyn.
Fydd i'th enw byth am hyn.

Just a hymn with nothing political or historical. At Twickenham we hear Jerusalem rendered to support England and IMO that is much more stiring than our National Anthem. I don't focus too much on the words, more on the tune and the gusto with which it is sung, and you can't beat the Welsh on that score. So passionate about their rugby. My wifes grandfather and great uncle played with distinction for Blaenau Gwent rugby club, Abertillary in the 1890's. She is an ardent Wales supporter.

Grandad, I can hear my father singing Cwm Rhondda as he shaved at the kitchen sink! He was a Welshman with a fantastic voice and he could certainly hold his own in the dancing stakes too.

Who was it who said "Why should the Devil have the best tunes?" I love these old hymns.

Well, thanks to Mr Hitler I won't be seeing my daughter today as London City Airport is closed for at least the day - but I am so glad that the bomb didn't explode as planned.

It's a beautiful morning, up early again which really makes me feel "a bit normal". As I had an afternoon's snooze during the match yesterday I sorted out some paperwork yesterday evening and will be getting up to date I hope with builders, plumbers, electricians and the Fire Service today. Oh, and the Odd Job Man, mustn't forget him.

Busy morning, stripped the bed and put duvet cover, pillow cases, fitted sheet plus all mattress and pillow protectors in the washer. They are all done and currently in the drier, I will probably be bone idle and put the same set back on again once they are all dry, saves me having to fold everything and put it away again if I use another set, so making the bed can wait.

Still beavering away on my little project, but should finish it today, my mate gave me the heads up that he may be giving me a shout to help him move some heavy stuff while he is redecorating, really looking forward to that, not!

Just put on a big pan of my Leek & Celery soup, so that will last a few days, just the job as its been snowing here and really cold, CH is on full bore.

Just a thought when was the last time that an unexploded bomb actually went off?

Yesterday and today I just can't get warm, even though I've the gas fire on full. I'm shaking again too. I do hope I'm not going down with the flu again!

Hopefully not, get some more of that Leek soup down your neck

Just watching the Winter Olympics where they throw them big boulders at at target and then polish the ice and thinking to myself that I could do with one of them guys with the mop doing my kitchen floor, but without all the shouting.

MD, did your daughter make it for a visit?

Packing today pending I leave for home tomorrow. Already my flight has been changed back by a few hours so hope the trend of this trip does not continue.

Bon Voyage LLL, you seem to have been on holiday for ages

I really want to have a go at slinging one of those big shiny curling stones and send it crashing into the others stones and watch them fly everywhere like a break at snooker, looks like it could be fun

Curling is real popular in my area. Lots of teams but I can't say I have ever thrown a rock. Youngest daughter did when she was mid-teens.

Ruby Slippers wrote:MD, did your daughter make it for a visit?

Not yet Ruby, but she's on her way! I got a brief update about an hour ago she was in Madrid and about to take off for Heathrow.

She lands at Terminal 5 then has to make her way to (I think) Terrminal 3. where she gets a train into London. Then across the City to Paddington and train to Cardiff.

So all being well she will be here about 11 pm or so. In other words about 5 hours from now.

I haven't heard for the other one who was on her way to Australia, but I can see that she has picked up my messages to her and when she uses WhatsApp.

On the subject of WhatsApp, all my family, English and Egyptian use it all the time - but for several months I've noticed that text from the UK to Egypt is no being collected, or maybe not getting through? Voice messages, photos and videos do. Very strange, makes you wonder

LovelyLadyLux wrote:Curling is real popular in my area. Lots of teams but I can't say I have ever thrown a rock. Youngest daughter did when she was mid-teens.

The gorgeous Russian girl looked as if she could split a rock with her piercing blue eyes - formidable.

I agree MD she is indeed very attractive, they made a lovely couple both as a team and married partners. I did feel a bit sorry for those Russian athletes who could only have "A Russian Athlete" emblazoned on their backs as opposed their own countries flags as did the other sportsmen and women who are taking part, a bit unfair on the individuals who have mostly done nothing wrong.

Daughter arrived safe and well just before 11.00pm - but we talked until about 1.30am.

So today isn't going to be anything energetic, for sure. We decided last night that as her visit will be three days shorter than expected, she's travelling without a companion and she really badly needs some R&R we will take the opportunity of having time together to enjoy each other's company alone, which we haven't done really for about 20 years. I'm sure the time will pass in a flash. But it's something to treasure.

Enjoy every minute, MD - both of you!

I echo RS's sentiments how long is she staying for?

Until Sunday morning very early - she's just discovered that part of her journey to London is going to be by bus! Only 14 miles, but she'll get a cab it will mean then that she has to leave at 7.30am for her early afternoon flight and much easier to handle her luggage.

The other thing she discovered on buying her ticket from London to Cardiff is that the Family Discount does not apply to a single member of the family travelling. So it is £80 Cardiff to London and part of that on a bus!

Makes the airfare to Luxor look quite reasonable.