My Saturday

  I’m sitting inside the Millennium Center, the place of John’s work, enjoying listening to a quartet of musicians.  There is a piano, bass guitar, flute, and some mix between a guitar and banjo.  A lady in a flowing skirt is dancing off to the side.  The music is very relaxing yet invigorating at the same time.  It makes me want to close my eyes and shake my hips in a gypsy sort of way.  

            This is my first weekend here in Cardiff, and as usual it starts off in Mermaid Quay.  And lets just say that I LOVE Saturdays!  People are everywhere; markets and stands with fresh produce, cheese, and olives are now on the boardwalk by the bay.  I saw a booth with bags of cotton candy swaying in the breeze.  I may have to indulge in one at some point.  All this excites me and I will go venture over that way after I finish writing.

             It is now 1:47pm.  John and I parted at 12:40 as he went into dress rehearsal and I stayed outside once again to enjoy the beautiful day. After I dropped him off at the Millennium Center, I went and sat down by the carousel because there I could people and dog watch.  This one dog was quite entertaining with his tennis ball.  He would pick it up in his mouth, find people walking, get in their line of view, and drop the ball so they would either kick it or pick it up to throw.  He was very smart and earlier while John and I were watching; he came up from behind and dropped the ball so it rolled between John’s feet.  It was quite entertaining. I kicked the ball whenever he happened to drop it my way; this kept my attention for about 15 minutes.  Then I walked around a little bit, found a sunny spot in the center of Road Dalh’s Pass, sat down and started to read.  I sat there until I could feel my skin burning and now find myself seated at this café inside listening to this most unique music.   

            Yesterday we had the whole day to play and took off walking North toward the center of Cardiff.  We walked into the shopping centre area and Cardiff Castle.  We never really bothered to find out much information on the Castle, so I don’t have any info to pass on to you, other than I found it beautiful.  It, of course, looked just like the storybooks, with it’s round spirals and iron gates.  We walked around inside for a while, it reminded me of central park except trees, flowers, bushes, etc. were everywhere and paths really didn’t seem to matter.  This place was made for you to go off and discover all the secret hidden places.  We found the museum and spent time looking at how our planet evolved throughout the millions of years- from the formation of the planet through the Precambrian times, dinosaurs, and finally onto modern humans. All very interesting and the best part about it- FREE.  It’s one of those places where you could spend a few hours every weekend and still not see everything.  

            The shopping centre was huge and most of it outdoors, which I like very much.  I have not bought anything yet, nor spent any of my own money so far.  This is good, although I have only been here a week.  I think my going to Africa after this is good because otherwise it would be very tempting to purchase some of this fashion that is so pleasing to the eye.  But then I stop to think, does it really matter what you look like?  With my few clothes, I should be able to mix and match and come up with some intriguing outfits.  I think I already have, using some of John’s sweaters in the process. 

            I am pretty sure John has the day off tomorrow and we are throwing around ideas of how to spend our evening.  We are meeting up again at 5pm and I am going to join him for the evening rehearsal.  I’m excited to watch him in action!  After that we may check out the casino nearby *hehe* or just hang out by the bay.  Last time he met me after his first afternoon dress rehearsal, we dined outside at a café, with him in full hair and makeup.  It was hard for me to look at him and not smile.  His makeup gives him a white face, dark eyes and eyebrows, and a mustache.  He had a scruffy beard when I saw him in the morning, but they made him shave all but the stache. I wasn’t really a fan and asked if he would have to keep that for the rest of the time.  He said, “No, they are going to paint it on for the show”.   I was glad to hear that J.   His curly hair was covered in a wig of sparse, long and short hair and tied up in a little hat/scarf type thing.  I’m not sure I would have gone out in public looking like that, but it’s John.  He didn’t care. 

       One thing I have noticed, which I do not like, is that a lot of the children are put on leashes here.  I think I have seen more kids on a leash than dogs.  I know there are a lot of people around, but really? ? 

            The musicians are done and I’m going to go get some food at a stand by the bay.  Goodbye for now and thanks to all to take the time to read about my days.  I’m thinking of you all very much!