Scratch One Grub

If you are looking for some new metal music to kill it in the gym with or help you stay awake on your commute to or from work or just looking for that next headbanging, blood pumping, thrashing band then check out Scratch One Grub.

Formed in late 2023, these Welsh music prodigy's are looking to make waves into the South Wales music scene with the debut of their first single Bad Habit. You can check out their music video HERE!

Bad Habit the debut single hits us with melodic, synthy, metal with lyrics and vocals that can only be described as cross between Gojira meets Machine Head and the Synth electronic vibes then gives me a bit of Enter Shikari to it. It's all complimented nicely alongside eachother as the band mosh getting in our face while playing us their song in the music video. The song kicks off with a catchy riff and then proceeds with it's melodic synth and drum combination. While we get to the part the music slows down all while building itself back up we see a Rubiks solved in real time, can't say I've ever seen that in a music video before, then the guitar solo hits and that's a sexy solo. The spoken vocals near the end of the song are so groovy and gets your feet stomping, this is definitely a part crowd interaction will be thriving off. An epic first single, that makes me excited and leaves me wanting more. See you in the pit lads!

Speaking with band Member Lewis Griffiths he revealed to me that the band is made up of; Aled Trigg - Lead vocals. Alex Lewis - Guitar. Lewis Griffiths - Drums/vocals and Sean Barry - Synths/electronics. However the band are also hosting auditions at the moment for a lead guitarist and a bassist to join the group, so keep an eye out for the talented ones that make it through.

I've also been told that Scratch One Grub will bring us their second single in a couple of months time and to watch this space for the debut of their very first album! So the metal scene is looking bright with these lads making their impact and I'm excited for the future they bring us.

To follow Scratch One Grub on their journey, please give them a follow on their social media and check out their YouTube and Spotify for music and videos and more content coming soon.

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Check out - Cylch Meithrin Pentrebach

Are you local to Merthyr Tydfil? 

Are you seeking childcare or looking to enrol your child to get a taster of school? 

Do you wish for your child to grow up and be fluent in the Welsh language?

Then please view and visit Cylch Meithrin Pentrebach today.

They offer an all-inclusive nursery that cares for all children's needs, free flying start places and childcare, have use of sensory room, gardens and a forest school, they will send you daily photos of activities and your child through their exclusive and secure app, fun and educational experiences to prepare your child for school, no need to speak Welsh as they cater to English and Welsh.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CLICK HERE

Check out - Ambition Is Critical Records

My followers, friends and family please check out South Wales newest music label, AIC Records (Ambition Is Critical Records). Based in Aberdare, South Wales, UK. AIC Records. Funded by artist and entrepreneur Daryl Evans. The project aims to give artists from in The Valleys an opportunity to create, promote and distribute the music they love.

They are offering a free digital music download worth £15 when you sign up to their newsletter. It's free of charge, so if you wish to check out and listen to some free new music, why not sign up today?😀

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK

In Loving Memory Of Steve Evans

Hello everyone, so a close family friend has unfortunately and unexpectedly passed away today....this is raw to me, and I am still in shock, and it's been 6 hours (as of writing) since I had the news broken to me from my best friend James, that his Dad has passed away.

James told me last night his dad was not well and had to go to hospital. 11am James contacted me as he needed someone, so I stayed with James and chilled and chatted and tried to distract him from the uncertainty of what was going on. It was a difficult task because we were both holding out for hope and both scared and uncertain of what to do or say or how things were looking. Steve I did my best to look after and comfort your son and I will always do that for you. Anyway, what makes me so much in shock is like we did not see this coming at all, there were no signs, he was fine and then just gone?! I know not of what I am writing or the goal of this post, it's a vent, it's raw, it's shock, it's emotional and so sad.

I have known James and his family for like 20 odd years, So I have been treated pretty much like family by my best friend James and his family. Steven Evans was like a second Dad to me, I was always treated with utmost respect and love and care by him. Steve always made everyone smile and laugh. He had killer Ozzy & Borat impressions that always made me laugh and smile. Steve would always be found at his beloved Chepstow Racing Course or in the Cardiff City Stadium watching his precious Blue Birds go at it in any home game of footie. When Steve was not at his beloved places he would be at home or on the farm or out and about with James or their dogs Leo and Sam. Sam unfortunately passed a few years back now but wow what a dog he was.

Whenever I gamed with James at night, Steve would always come into James room and greet him with some banter nicknames which always tickled us all, from calling James "sadness" or "child" it would always result in a "wtf haha" moment. James would often complain of Steve walking in his room at random points just to let a ripper off (a fart). Life doesn't make sense sometimes how good people can just be taken away with no signs, no indication that something isn't right. Never thought Steve would leave us, let alone this early in life, 60 is still too young.

The last interaction I had was Steve was upon leaving James house Thursday night/Early Hours Friday morning after Steve picked me and James up from seeing Electric Callboy in Bristol. I thanked him for taking me and giving me a lift home and said take care, and I'll see you soon. He said the same to me. I always made sure to thank him and treat him with the most utmost respect and politeness, he was a man that deserved the best and nothing else. On any car journey or trip James and Steve would play Yellow Car and also a game they made up where you make a sentence up from the last 3 letters of a car's reg plate and now that game always provided such laughs. If I was ever a bother or burden or annoying, please know, I am so sorry Steve.

This is the last photo I have of Steve.

I have no idea when the weight of this will sink in for myself, let alone James and his family. I keep expecting to hear someone say that it's some sort of prank or lie, but It does not seem to be happening, like James said to me, "this feels like some sort of sick dream I am waiting to be woken up from" and same here James....same here....

Furthermore, I wish I could have hugged and thanked Steve and told him, I loved him and how much he means to me, before he left this mortal plane. I hope he knew. I hope James and his family will be as OK as they can and that Steve can look out for them from beyond this world too. I am so sorry James. Please know I will give as much space as possible to the family and do whatever I can to help out, whenever I can. I am so sorry for your loss and I will love and miss him forever and always cherish the memories that I have of the legendary, Steven Evans.

Punk Rock Factory - It's Just a Stage We're Going Through (ALBUM REVIEW)

Come take a trip to the sausage factory to listen to Welsh punk rockers new musical covers album. Punk Rock Factory are a high energy welsh band who bring the punk rock nature to songs we already know BUT have never heard them before. PRF formed in late 2014 in South Wales, Uk, Peej (vocals, guitar), Benj (bass, vocals), Ryan (guitar) and Kob (drums, vocals), PRF combine everything you love about 1990s/2000s punk rock, and reimagine classic and hit songs like you've never heard them before and are now embarking into the musicals. PRF record, mix, film, write and pretty much have done and do everything from their home base studio titled "The Sausage Factory" and they gained a lot of success from these brilliant takes on classic hits and during the lockdown era of life in the UK they gartered up thousands of followers and views from social media apps like TIKTOK, which is where I discovered them and fell in love with the bands covers and I shared them about with friends to ensure they see the magic that is PRF, and they are only growing bigger, larger, better with fans and followers worldwide alike. They frequently bring friends along to their music to collab and enjoy the fun and to date the band has had guest performances from members of acts such as Protest the Hero, Bowling for Soup, Ice Nine Kills, Mest, Rufio, Ten Foot Pole, Zebrahead aswell as Encanto star Jessica Darrow and many more!

It's Just A Stage We're Going Through released on all music platforms and physical copies on March 31st. Be sure to check it out and purchase it where you get your music from.

The Tracklist

1: Rewrite The Stars

2: You'll Be Back

3: Waving Through A Window

4: December 1963 (Oh What A Night)

5: Defying Gravity

6: I Dreamed A Dream

7: City Of Stars

8: Mama Mia

9: Shallow

10: You're The One I Want

11: I Will Follow Him

There were no doubts that the kings of turning any song into a punk rock classic would churn out another belter of an album especially considering the way they went here with turning some of the classic iconic hits of musicals into punk rock tunes and boy, oh boy, they are chunes! On paper or in theatres these songs you know and love you may go "how could a band cover musicals and turn them punk rock?" well this question you ponder is answered, solved and heard here in PRF's newest album of course. The album starts off strong with Rewrite The Stars, and then we are hit with Hamilton heavyweight You'll Be Back, and then we get a sort of sombre song from Waving which does not feel so sombre but feels sort of like a battle cry anthem. There are songs here I never knew or heard of prior to this so my image of those songs will be just incomparable compared to this first time hearing them here on this album. The songs I have never heard prior to PRF's versions are You'll Be Back, Waving Through A Window, Defying Gravity and City Of Stars, and now I am afraid of hearing the original versions because I know they won't even come close to the epic-ness that Punk Rock Factory installed upon them with their takes. Defying Gravity for example I have always heard from friends who seen the musical Wicked that it is a song that even the most classical trained singers struggle with singing but here I felt it was perfect, Peej did it justice. I do feel a lot of the songs I don't know are ones which I need to grow into more with so with time I am sure to appreciate and love them more, but I am impressed and I enjoyed this album. You can without a doubt headbang, dance and sing in your underpants having the time of your life to these versions of those iconic hit musicals.

8/10

So if you want fun with friends, family or even strangers and want to down a few good pints and have a laugh together Punk Rock Factory always has your back, and It's Just A Stage We're Going Through backs that up once more from the band's amazing discography. 

Last weekend Saturday 25th March I watched the boys put on a hell of a show in a sold out Cardiff, Great Hall and I cannot wait to see them again! Thanks for reading my sausages!

Stay Punky!

Haunted Locations I've Visited In South Wales

Wales, my homeland, it's a beautiful place to visit and home to many haunted locations and these are the ones I've visited and boy these locations are just stunning! A lot of information is here on my blog today is taken from local stories and information from Visit Wales the Welsh tourism website.

I admit there's not a lot with this list, but this is from my memory and I will give you some background of the places and ghost stories involved with the places so come with me for a ghost story before going to sleep. :)

CASTELL COCH, Tongwynlais

There are castles all over the United Kingdom, and most of them are pretty scary, regardless of whether they have a history of paranormal activity or not. Castell Coch, however, is unique in two ways. Firstly, the division between this world and the next seems to be particularly thin as ghostly goings-on are regularly reported. Castell Coch is a relatively new building when compared to other castles, yet it’s widely regarded as one of the most haunted places in South Wales. Castell Coch was built on 13th Century ruins in 1870, meaning it is just a couple of decades more than 100 years old. It was designed by architect William Burgess, commissioned by John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, the Third Marquess of Bute. Crichton-Stuart intended the building to be his little hideaway in the hills, but apparently, it failed to meet his expectations. The following owner of Castell Coch, a Lady Gwendolyn, was driven out of the building not long after it came into her possession. According to Gwendolyn, she frequently encountered the spirit of a woman dressed in white. Though the ghost did not appear to be malevolent or in any way interested in the business of the new owner, Gwendolyn, like most people, decided it was one haunting too many and went packing. The woman is not believed to have any connection to the castle, but rather to the centuries-old ground upon which it was built. Her time on earth was marred by the loss of her son, who disappeared when still a child. It was later discovered that the boy had fallen into a well and drowned, though the woman never learned of this. She still roams the area around Castell Coch, presumably searching for her son, unaware that he has moved on. I have never actually been inside the grounds of Castell Coch, but I have been around the area before as a few years ago when I was doing security I actually went there and had a walk around, I did not see nor feel any paranormal activities, but you know maybe one day when I do venture inside it, I will. 

SAINT FAGAN'S, Cardiff

St. Fagans is a village on Cardiff's outskirts, known for St. Fagans Castle. This Elizabethan manor has extensive gardens, with fountains, the Italian Garden and a rosary. Also within its grounds, the open-air St. Fagans National Museum of History showcases historic buildings relocated from across Wales, including a farm, a tannery, mills and a chapel. The Museum stands in the grounds of St Fagans Castle and gardens, a late 16th century manor house donated to the people of Wales by the Earl of Plymouth in 1948. There are over 50 historic buildings from all over Wales have been re-built at the Museum including a Victorian school, a medieval church and a Workmen’s Institute. Visit Llys Llywelyn – a medieval prince’s hall, see the Victorian school or pick up some Welsh food from 1920s Gwalia Stores. Visit the animals on Llwyn-yr-eos Farm or call in to see our craftspeople at work in the smithy, the clogmaker’s workshop and the corn and woollen mills. St Fagans Museum is said to be the most haunted museum in the country. A vast history of buildings brought from all over Wales as a means to preserve the culture and reputation of Wales and the home to an Elizabethan Mansion built on the foundations of a castle dating back nearly 900 years. It is said that many of the ghosts at St Fagans came with the buildings, that they have a permanent attachment to them. Or are the spirits at St Fagans those who perished in the mighty civil war battle fought here in 1648? Or could it be that the spirits here are those of the various families who occupied the land over the years, and of those who may have worked and farmed this mystical land. I have only been to St. Fagan's once as a kid, and it was a part of a school trip to learn more about people in the 19th century and their lives and while walking through the shops and being in the classroom it felt to me like someone was watching. That's the only paranormal experience I remember having there which had me unsettled during the trip. 

CARDIFF CASTLE, Cardiff

Cardiff Castle is a beautiful place situated in the centre of Cardiff and has an on-site museum and manor home. Only as recently as 1st September this year (2022) visited the insides of the castle grounds and museum and as of writing, I have not ventured in the illustrious manor house walls BUT you can tell this place is so special and although at first-hand experience with my walk through the castle and museum that I had nothing paranormal happen or felt anything ghosty that's not to say this place has no hauntings. Onto the history of this Castle now; The site on which Cardiff Castle is built has been one of the most important pieces of land in all of South Wales since the 1st Century. It was here that the Romans built one of their many defence structures during their time ruling over what would later become the United Kingdom. It is believed that the original Roman fort lasted for about thirty years, coming down just before 100 AD and a part of the original Roman wall's is still up inside the Museum in the Castle. After Roman rule came to an end, there wasn’t a lot of activity on the site until the Normans came gallanting along in the early 1000s. After being passed from owner to owner, Cardiff Castle fell into the Bute family’s hands, who held onto it until 1947, when the Fifth Marquess of Bute presented it to the county council. Obviously, there is a lot of history at Cardiff Castle. So it should come as no surprise that paranormal activity at the building is reported with a startling degree of frequency. Of the many haunted rooms in the castle, one of the most active is the stockroom, where items are moved around and rearranged almost every morning by an unknown force. The few who have been lucky (or unlucky) enough to be there when this was going on, report that the items are moved by a ghost garbed in a white skirt, resembling more a cloud of smoke than a human. The daily paranormal activity also occurs in the main dining room of the castle. It is here at a quarter past three every morning that the doors of the room open and shut by themselves, regardless of whether they have been locked. Frequently spotted at Cardiff Castle is the spirit of the Second Marquess of Bute, who oversaw restoration on the site but died before it was completed. He is seen to navigate the castle like the traditional ghost, walking through walls until he gets to his desired location. For the Second Marquess of Bute, that location is a room next to the chapel, where he passed away in 1848.

LLANCAIACH FAWR MANOR, Nelson

I have talked about this and my experiences a lot in the past as I have visited this place twice, once as a kid and the other time when I was a teenager. I felt like someone was watching me and I have seen a crib move, and also I felt like I was pushed in the armoury as I fell down and almost tumbled down the staircase. Furthermore, I'm all good and fine, but you know there's a weird prepense I felt there, and I do want to go back and visit again and see if I get any other feelings or weird goings-on. Nobody is quite sure just when Llancaiach Fawr Manor was built, but references to the building appear in John Leland’s Itinerary, released in 1537. The consensus is that the manor was built in or around 1530. It was constructed on the ruins of another building and was designed so that it would be handily defended should relations between Wales and Britain break down. Today, the Grade 1 building operates as a living-history museum, though visitors to Llancaich Fawr Manor experience a bit of undead history while they’re there. The manor’s ghosts are many in number and varied in their behaviour, with almost every room in the building having its own spirit assigned to it. Rather than simply materializing – which they do with some frequency – the manor’s spirits make themselves known through blasts of cold air, random scents, and disembodied sounds such as footsteps and voices. Many expectant mothers who have visited the castle have reported feeling uneasy and dizzy upon entering the building, with most having to sit down or leave before their condition worsens. This could be linked to the spirit of a young boy who is often seen and heard by the manor staff. It is believed that the boy met his end after falling from one of the manor’s upper rooms, which left him with fatal injuries. However, the injuries do not seem to plague the spirit in the afterlife, as he is quite active and has been reported to tug on the sleeves of guests and lead them by hand throughout the manor. One paranormal researcher who investigated Llancaich Fawr Manor even claimed to have summoned the boy using a simple ball in a cup toy. According to the investigator, she was aided by the child in landing the ball inside the wooden cup after multiple failed attempts to do it herself. Some people recall seeing maid's or a lady in the garden or staring out the window at the garden also. This has been featured on some paranormal investigations and tv shows such as Most Haunted. You can read my past blog on this lovely Manor here - https://1stmetalgodsblog.blogspot.com/2019/11/llancaiach-fawr-as-kid-ghost-story.html

Visit these places and let me know if you have had any spooky experiences and of course view more paranormal locations and luscious locations on the Visit Wales website. 

Also check out the RCT website. 

Thanks for visiting my blog and viewing this post! :)

Stay Spooky!

Save The Cinema - Film Review

In 1993 one Welsh town had a hell of a fight on it's hands, a fight to save their cinema. Hairdresser Liz Evans campaign's against the closure of Carmarthen's Lyric Theatre against the plans of the towns corrupt mayor and what follows is a true story and a feel-good story, full of drama, laugh's and heart warming inspirational moments.

The cast which includes; Samantha Morton, Tom Felton, Wynne Evans, Rhod Gilbert, Erin Richards and Jonathan Pryce are so good and these fantastic actors stood out the most to me and I also enjoyed Susan Wokoma as Dolly who provided a lot of the comic relief in this film.

The locations are gorgeous and of course they would be it's the green, green grass of my home aha. This film makes you appreciate the sense of community and community spirit with how the story and the length of Liz Evans and her family and what they went through to keep this pillar and landmark to still be standing to this day in the heart of one welsh town. Kudos to the non Welsh actors in this cast as their accents are also brilliant and pretty spot on and I for one was entertained and smiling wholesomely at them all and at this film and story overall. Not to give much away but this cinema was saved thanks to someone pretty big in Hollywood with one iconic cinema classic blockbuster from 1993 which helped saved the Lyric thanks to headstrong Liz Evans.

I watched this lovely film with my girlfriend in Neath's Gwyn Hall Cinema along with a small crowd (due to current covid restrictions). We both really enjoyed this film and left the cinema smiling and feeling good and we would love for more people to see this film. 

Brilliant feel-good film 

You can watch this film on Sky and see it in some UK cinemas too. 

I hope to visit Carmarthen one day and to see The Lyric Theatre in person too!

Thanks for visiting my blog, I hope you too watch this film and enjoy it as much as I did. 

Stay Shiny!

So, I've Got Covid-19 - 10th September 2021

So as of writing, it's 11th September 2021 at 3pm and NHS text me at 1:20pm to tell me I am Positive with Covid-19. I avoided covid well for over a year and a half but it has finally got me. Track and trace called me on Wednesday and said my isolation period ends on the 19th at midnight so basically from the 20th I am freeeee. 

Officially my symptoms started 9/9/21 as my forehead was hot but I thought nothing of it. Apparently Covid is in your body 2 days before showing symptoms so I probably had it from the 7/9/21. I am just listening to what track and trace told me and what the gov has said about it all.  

How did we get here?

Well let's recap the last couple of days and then my symptoms and I will update this during my 10 day isolation and make a blog post on when I am fully recovered so if that sounds good to you, let's crack on!

So 8th September my dad felt rough and did a lateral test and it was positive then he went to have a PCR test done and the next day the results came back and it was positive. My mam then did her test and that came back positive too and this was the same day as my dad's positive. 

I did lateral flow test 9th September and I felt fine and the result was negative, I went off to work all fine but felt warm in my forehead when I got home from work and I thought of it as just from me being hot in work and the next day then on the 10th I did a lateral flow at 12 midday and 30mins later the result said negative THEN after having food at 2pm I started coughing and felt chesty coughs and my forehead was warm and I was producing phlegm. I emailed my workplace about my condition and then I went for my own PCR test. 

My symptoms started 2pm Friday with chesty cough and warm forehead which amped up in the night to a pressure and boiling hot head and my coughs have been more debilitating to me. I had severe cold flushes on my body before going to sleep and after waking up. I feel tired and run down in my body. There is a dull ache in my left arm funnily enough and yes that is same arm I was fully vaccinated with months ago and that's mad I have an ache there. I think If I had not that bad reaction to the first dose and If I was not fully covid jabbed that I would be in a hospital right now or worse. I feel like shit and It annoys me that I have it. Nothing we could do really about that as if two of my household had it then it was just a ticking time bomb for me until I caught it.  

Anyway I hope this eases and I heal up super soon and I never catch this again! 

I woke up this morning 11/9/21 with left blocked nostril and less of a cough but later on in the day it's there still. The heat fluctuations are really nasty and they make me just lay down until it passes. 

12/9/21 I woke up blocked left nostril again, chesty cough and the most dry throat ever and nothing is touching it.

13/9/21 Woke up as per norm from the other days just abruptly thank you ill body. So Today I'm full of like head cold and like a cold, today's symptoms to me feel like a cold but not a normal cold but like SUPER COLD not in terms of temp as I hot in my head of course. My nose is blocked and stuffy and also runny at times. Track and trace contacted me today and the lady on the phone was lovely and yeah lots got sorted and I should be free in just over a week from isolation. 

14/9/21 Woke up, high temp blocked nose, head ache and sweats most of the day. Lost my taste and smell. Every day since the 11/9/21 I have not felt hungry at all until my stomach growls. 

15/9/21 temperature, dry throat, headache, sweats, cant smell and taste. Coughing alot again. 

16/9/21 same as yesterday minus sweats and dry throat at the moment, not coughing too much, just feel blocked in my sinus's and I can't smell and taste. Sorry I'm going through a lot right now and I feel like total shit. I am so tired. I want to go and be free and healthy again. 

17/9/21 Just feel tired but always feel tired with this bug. Forehead feels hot to touch. Nose feels blocked. I feel like total shit, unsure if its just covid or if it something else or if its both. 

18 & 19th September 2021 - I felt alive more so than any other day and only symptom was that my nose was blocked when I woke up. Can faintly taste and smell. I feel fine besides this. Not really noticing a cough if anything I do cough too and far to say it's related and more so like my normal throat/chest clearing cough. Happy Days! YOU CAN TAKE MY TASTE AND SMELL, BUT THERE'S ONE THING YOU WILL NEVER TAKE, MY FREEEEDOMMM!!!!!

20th September, I woke up feeling fine, blocked nose still however. I did a covid rapid test and that showed as negative. Time to go get my freedom back. 

THANKS FOR FOLLOWING MY COVID DIARY JOURNEY, IT'S BEEN ROUGH.

GET YOUR JABS PEOPLE

GET FULLY VACCINATED!

LET'S END COVID 19!!!!!

Random Ramblin's 45 - May Rant 2021

 Rant time!!!!! 

I'm frustrated with some stories and so I'm going to just post my angry thoughts here about them to keep me sane and not from exploding in myself. It's mental health week and itv is good boy for always promoting "Britain get talking" yeah let's talk about all our feelings let's be humans and let's just rant too its normal and healthy. Anyway....

The uk gov can't keep us under their thumbs, it's like a soap TV episode where some baddie be plotting takeover to keep everyone quiet because if not they will pass flu on to everyone and kill everyone as they promised and made threats to, in order to control everyone and they  the baddie makes themselves out to be "The greater good" by trying to make themselves appear to be a good guy when really they are salt of the earth.

The UK gov are so stupid for Inviting other variants over by letting anyone from any country into ours because they care more about tourism or rather TEH MONEH! The UK needs to take note of New Zealand tactics and lock down borders ffs. This is getting ridiculous and I will not live my life locked up and restricted, if I wanted that life I'd go to jail myself and I'm not the only one in UK who feels this way and I'm sorry but I have to say it. 

Further more with the jail note. Reports on news was saying "Prisoners are campaigning for vaccine because they don't feel like they are being treated as human beings and a part of society" I'm sorry but they did bad shit and for a reason, are removed and not apart of society anymore and should just leave them there but vaccinate the staff working there because only way prisoners could get covid is from staff bringing it in, in the first place. Again I'm sorry but had to say something, I can't feel bad for people in jail unless they are falsely jailed. 

TV rant, the friends reunion for months has been built up on "it's a new episode" and then lots of pointless celebs announced for it and then people are saying "it's just a sit down chat" so they've falsely advertised this for months so pardon me for feeling resent towards this "reunion episode" now. 

Cardiff wanting to demolish motorpoint arena for a canal has me annoyed. RCT council wanting to destroy things and replace with houses which may I add are thrown up and tend to lack some safety checks and features is wrong too and annoys me. They want to get rid of a bridge to put another bridge in, further down in Aberdare, it's a bit daft so is the new Heads of the valley road proposal and don't get me started on how ugly the environment is looking with so many trees destroyed around RCT. And don't get me started on irresponsible people who are reckless drivers and the people who start forest and wild fires they are pricks.

All drivers just like all people have a duty of care, it's just a shame so many people are shallow and idiotic to forget about that duty of care.

Peace to everyone! Try to have a good day, I feel better for ranting haha. Thanks for reading!

Llancaiach Fawr As A Kid (a ghost story)

When i was younger, i went on a school trip, we were a crowd of 30 on a bus, we were headed to an old house, an ancient house, a house of such rich history, a house that has not been lived in for quite some time, it was a manor house, it was haunted.....

We got there at this historic beautiful Victorian manor, got off the bus one by one buddied up with our friends and were swiftly greeted by people dressed as people of the past and they took us under their wings for an educational tour of this great manor house....

one by one we walked through the rooms, the kitchen, the bathroom, the lounge, then made our way upstairs to the ladies bedroom first, there in the corner was a crib and it moved very slowly as the floor boards also creaked and squeaked.......

I pointed at it and yelled "look its moving on its own", my school chums and the Victorian dressed actors turned round and the crib stopped and the Victorian lord told us that famously this has been spotted to be moving at times rocking back and fore and no one knows why or how.....

There' no breeze, no wind, it just moves on its own at times rocking back and forth by its own means, we ventured to the next rooms like the master bed room, where i smelled a smell of burning, and oak like scent but nothing more......

The next room was the armoury where all us kids and teachers sat down on benches and were told the history there of said armoury and of swords and armours and chain mail that was made or held there, when we got up and lined up to go downstairs and out into the gardens, i lost balance somehow and fell and i almost went down the stairs...........

I was alright got up dusted it off and followed everyone else out to the gardens, i had goosebumps when in the gardens on the tour i looked up at the manor house, i seen a figure in the window of the master bedroom, a lady, i thought it was one of the actors, but i never really knew the truth behind that one.......

I never had any real explanations of what i seen or felt that day and they still have me curious even to this day.........

WOS (WORLD OF SPORT) Wrestling ITV - Episode 1 Review 28/7/18

"This is the dawn of a new era! The jokers, clowns gone, but only the best, brightest and dedicated athletes get on this platform. WELCOME TO WOS WRESTLING!" 

The episode start's strong with the booming voice of WOS GM Stu (FKA: Wade Barrett) Barrett echoing throughout our tellies with a video package playing showing these great talents in slo-motion with the atmosphere building and shows the action, the talents warming up and showing the fans all hyped up. We are then welcomed by Alex Shane and So Cal Val and I must say it's so refreshing to have a female commentator on full time for a wrestling show and not have a team full of men, having grown up with the Attitude Era of then WWF to now in WWE, TNA, NJPW, ROH and so on it's so common to have full team of male commentators. 

Stu comes into the ring to cut a promo on the return of WOS and the glory of British wrestling today quite frankly and how the clowns, the idiots, the jokes are gone and only the best are to enter this prestigious ring but he is quickly cut off by WOS Heavyweight Champion fan favourite GRADO! Grado is considered to be the modern era Big Daddy of WOS. Stu is not happy with Grado smiling and prancing around as her enters the ring whilst fans cheer and chant for Grado. Stu reluctantly shakes Grado's hand. Grado looks at Stu and say's how he thinks that Stu is thinking how much of a joke Grado is and that he is not in good shape. Of course Grado admits he does not go to the gym he walks his dog twice a day hey sometimes even three and he does it with pride and he also wears the WOS title with pride. Stu definitely has it in for Grado as Stu declares that Grado is not what Stu see's as the future of WOS as he announces the first match. 

A 5 man elimination match, winner gets to face Grado in the main event for the title. Out comes Rampage, Sha Samuels, Crater, Justin Sysum and Adam Maxted and the match gets underway. Crator gets to work taking all of the men down forcing the rest to work together to take him down. Maxted was apparently on Love Island as we hear about it several times with some good wise cracks coming from Val like "Perhaps he should go back to that Island" and Crator get's disqualified by not letting go of Maxted while the ref counted and before swiftly making his way to the back Crator goes for all the others again inflicting pain and destruction in his wake. Sha and Rampage seem to be teaming up taking on Sysum but Sysum comes back taking both out with a double clothesline. Sysum goes to the corner and takes out Sha and Rampage again with a cross body. Sha and Rampage's team up goes awry following a failed double team attempt with Sysum quickly pinning and eliminating Sha. Rampage runs at Sysum but Sysum quick steps out of the way enabling Rampage's shoulder to hit the ring post as Maxted comes back and quickly tries to pin a distracted Sysum but fails. Maxted and Sysum show off each of their agility in the ring it's quite a spectacle. Sysum goes for a dive but of course it's too much high risk and Sysum does not get all of it as the ref counts to 10 Sysum gets in the ring but Rampage is pushed back into the ring by Sha and the ref is confused as Stu announces both men will be in the main event for the WOS title against Grado. Great start to the night with this match. 

Next up we have what's set to be an amazing bout with British Bulldog Junior taking on the aerial assassin Will Osprey. Now before we get into this match Will Osprey is a legend he is a living superhero with the things he can do in the ring simply phenomenal British talent. Action gets underway with Bulldog showing his strength but Osprey is showing his speed and his agility but Bulldog is also agile when he shows he can kip up. Bulldog is so strong the crowd chants one more time for a body slam and Bulldog gives us another and then get's Will in a vertical suplex for what seems like minutes. Bulldog plays dirty going for the legs of Osprey but Osprey does counter into a pin but fails but Osprey then rebounds off the ropes for a cheeky pele kick taking down Bulldog. Osprey goes for a springboard and hits it and then signals for the end by doing a some sort of spiral flip, I have no idea what that move is called but that was insane but he does not get the pin again. This match is so close it's so good! Crowd loves this match too. 

Osprey screams trying to put away Bulldog he is frustrated but he goes to kick Bulldog but gets countered but then runs up Bulldog trying the pele kick again but gets countered into a delayed German suplex but he still can't put Will away. Bulldog tries again but Osprey lands and kicks Bulldog in the head but as Osprey runs the ropes hoping to take out Bulldog, The British Bulldog counters with a nasty clothesline taking out just decimating Osprey and OSPREY KICKS OUT OH MY GOD! THIS IS AWESOME! SERIOUSLY OH MY GOD WHAT THE WORLD WAS THAT IT WAS SOME SORT OF INSIDE OUT STANDING FLIP! AMAZING PURE AMAZEMENT THIS MATCH IS! Alex Shane on commentary continues to call Osprey a wizard. Osprey goes for a flip off the ropes to Bulldog but Bulldog catches him and goes for a powerslam but Osprey escapes and delivers a dragon suplex to Bulldog. Will is showing strength but he is wincing every now and then from the pain delivered to his leg by Bulldog. Osprey goes from the corner hits a spinning kick on a downed Bulldog and goes for the pin 1, 2, WOAH IT WAS SO CLOSE! Osprey looking to finish by going up top, tried a 450 splash i think it was but Bulldog put's his legs up hitting Osprey and Bulldog has him this has to be it for Will and after that Will still kics out but now Bulldog hits a sit out power bomb and WILL STILL KICKS OUT! THIS IS AWESOME YES I AGREE CROWD! Bulldog takes Osprey up the top but Osprey is fighting back as Osprey escapes and hits a "cheeky fernandos kick"? Bulldog still on the ropes. Osprey jumps at Bulldog but Bulldog catches and jumps off the ropes! VICIOUS POWER SLAM AND THAT'S IT THAT IS THE END OF THIS MATCH! OMG THIS WAS A HELL OF A MATCH MY GOD! That was a hell of a story these men told in the ring a story of speed vs strength it was nonstop awesomeness. 

We go backstage to see Rhys and Sabian cutting a promo on how they are the best tag team in WOS and that they are going to win the tag title tournament and become the tag team champions. 

Tag team tournament kicks off now with, Rhys and Sabian vs Kirby and JOEEEEEEE HENDRYYYYYYYYYY! Joe is another fan favourite getting everyone to wave their hands side to side. Hendry and Sabian go at it first both showing off their technical wrestling abilities. Hendry tags Kirby in following a tag team move but Sabian gets Kirby in a headlock slowing him down as he continues to get the better of Kirby but Kirby mounts a quick comback and tags in Hendry again. Hendry gets stopped by Rhys outside of the ring as Rhys gets tagged in then. The double team is proving too much for Hendry he needs to tag in Kirby soon or this won't end well. Kirby is distracted by Sabian and Hendry accidentally bumps Kirby off the apron whilst the dastardly duo of Rhys and Sabian keep Hendry out of his corner and down on the mat. Hendry is being pumped up by the audience as he continues to kick out and not give up as Sabian and Rhys keep delivering with their tag team moves dominating the ring. Sabian goes for a dive but Joe moves out of the way and tries to tag Kirby in but Kirby leaves the ring saying Joe is a cry baby and that it's his match alone now but Hendry is fired up nonetheless and fights on 2v1 and Hendry does a fallaway slam to both men wow most impressive. Hendry shows off his wrestling skills once more getting Rhys in an Ankle lock but Sabian dropkicks hendry enabling the duo of Rhys and Sabian to team up and successfully pin Hendry. Not a bad match. Sabian and Rhys are a most impressive team. 

MAIN EVENT TIME! Triple Threat for the WOS title. Rampage V Sysum V Grado. The action kicks off with Rampage taking on Grado. Sysum also takes out Rampage out of the ring infact as Grado starts the infamous cult classic wrestling chant EASY! EASY! EASY! Haha a chant not heard in a long time. Grado bumps into Sysum trying to fend him off with high kicks as Sysum and Grado then shakes hands but Grado pulls Sysum in for a headlock but Sysum escapes the hold as Grado shoulder barges into Sysum and Sysum does not move as Sysum tries it on Grado, Grado moves out of the way causing Sysum to fall flat on his face, which was pretty funny. Grado and Sysum play fun and games with easy chants galore and even Grado applauding Sysum landing a backflip. Here comes Rampage to break up the fun and games....and he gets set out of the ring again by these two. Sysum slides through Grado's legs and then is pulled out of the ring by Rampage and is attacked by him there. Grado pulls down his straps goes outside on the apron runs and HE JUMPED OFF THE APRON ONTO BOTH MEN TAKING THEM OUT! Grado gets Rampage in the ring tries to pin but to no avail. Rampage elbows Grado down and then get's Grado into a suplex hitting that, he pins but oh a 2 count. Rampage hits a side suplex on Grado pins but again a 2 count. Sysum is coming back  and shoulder dives into Rampage getting him down as Sysum legs it to Rampage GRADO COMES OUT OF NOWHERE WITH A WEE KICK and now Rampage tries a piledriver but fails and GRADO COMES OUTTA NOWHERE WITH A CUTTER! GRADO TRIES TO PIN RAMPAGE BUT SYSUM BREAKS IT UP! Sysum goes up top 450 to Grado thats it surely, Rampage throws Sysum out of the ring as Rampage sets Grado up for an implant ddt and oh no that's it! NEW CHAMPION RAMPAGE! 

Next week we have a ladder match and the tag tournament continues but that's not all as next week they crown the first WOS WOMENS CHAMPION!

Wow well what a show, sorry but the second match was the best of the night but hey great show certainly made an impact! 

IF YOU WISH TO WATCH WOS WRESTLING TUNE INTO ITV 5PM SATURDAY'S! 

Alternatively you can catch up on the ITV Hub. 

Watch, support, love British Wrestling!

SUPPORT WORLD OF SPORT!

SCORE: 4/5

Written by: Scott Jones

Photo credit: WOS Wrestling & ITV

NHS appreciation post!

So the NHS has turned 70 it's crazy to think it's so young.

It's also crazy the amount of abuse the service gets and it's staff and that some government officials want to bring an end to the NHS.

If it wasn't for the NHS giving us free healthcare here in the UK our country would be so bad. We don't want to get into having to pay for hospital visits or stays, sorry but this might sound selfish of me to say but I don't think it's right to have to pay to get medical attention. I think it's a human right to get it for no payment options or taking out insurance to make sure we'll be ok if we do get hurt or ill. If we had to pay for our health services I think we in the UK would be in so much debt it's scary and let's hope it never happens.

In case you didn't know, I was born with a broken leg and for years up until I was 12, I was in and out of the hospital getting my leg re-broken and surgically repaired to go straight instead of inwards and I had physio to walk and I had to get specially made to fit shoes for my feet.

Top it off as a kid I also suffered from epilepsy so yeah how fun is it to black out, shake and lose consciousness and all my bodily functions while trying to breath and what have you, super fun am I right? Nope but you know that it's no fun or no laughing matter.

I once worked for the NHS as apart of the clerical team in Aberdare for a few months, it was apart of an apprenticeship scheme I did for TTC. Great team to work with I hope they are all doing well. I have family who also work in the NHS so they do some tremendous work also. Just felt like adding this in.

Anyway, the point is that without the love and support from my perants and the NHS and all the South Wales specialists I have seen and had help from for all of these years it would not have been possible for me to walk or to even live without the NHS.

I can't thank all the past and present staff of the NHS enough for their amazing work. To think 24/7 for over 70 years they've been hard at it saving so many lives it's amazing just phenomenal.

Thank You NHS!

2017: What Have I Learned?

So that's 2017 wrapped up. Another lap around the sun complete, another number added to us.

There's been good and bad, like any other year really. We've lost stars and we've lost a lot of good people last year too. . We've all had new starts too and even if you say nothings changed, something has.

MY LIFE IN 2017

For me, I started the year low being let go from my job in a game shop. It was sad indeed and I still miss working with the wonderful people there. I knew it was coming however and then I moved on. For a short while it was back to the dole be forced to do all that crap with them again for 30 odd hours a week until I landed my job with a local cinema chain. "A dream job for you" people told me. It was a good fit I won't lie and it's funny how few years ago I applied for a role there and I failed but this time I was successful. I'm so happy i got this role!

We all have our good and bad days, sometimes the bad days are brought on from others while other days it's just our own troubles. You know The Miz was voted wrestler of the year and I feel like I'm The Miz of my work. No matter what, I always put my blood,sweat and tears into everything I do, I'm not a throwaway, I work my hardest for what I want and I always try to improve upon myself. I also want to thank all my family and friends for putting up with me as ever, you make my day's, months, years go great, much love and respect for all of you!

Highlights?

Star letter in gamesmaster mag.

Game review published in gm as reader review.

New job.

New friends.

New ebooks released.
Held a Bearded Dragon.

Went to London for a lovely day out with work and went to madame tousauds and planet hollywood.

Went to Birmingham for work sports day and got to semi finals.

OVER 50K Blog views!

So what have I learned? 

I have learned that I'm quite the juggler, juggling life, work, YouTube, writing and social life altogether it's been hard but I've done a decent job. I have learned I am a bit harsh on myself and I've got a bit of a short temper and that I can and I will keep improving myself.

What's Next?

It's took me a couple of days to compose this post but I will say the past 8 days I have cut down what I eat and with work I'm always on the move almost every day so being active and eating less should do the trick of weight loss for me, i am keeping an eye on what i eat and how frequently and cutting down the junk so fingers crossed this works out and i come out of 2018 much lighter. This year i want to write more and bring you more ebooks and just enjoy life. I'm off to the gym with James soon, so i got to wrap it up here but everyone thanks for the love and support as ever!

I wish you all the best year ever, have a nice day and stay tuned for more wicked blogs from yours truly!

ICW Cardiff 5th November 2017!

Oh my goodness, oh my lord, oh holy fucking shit! So as the title above states i attended my second ICW show in Cardiff's Tramshed and it was off the fucking chain! Icw i have been following since BBC did a documentary on the company back in 2014 i think. ICW is the best British wrestling company in history!

First of all i went with me best mate James and we had VIP tickets which meant we can go in earlier than any one else and we got to meet the ICW tag champs The Marauders, Jimmy "Fucking" Havoc, Chris Renfrew and Jack Jester! Not only that but because we had VIP tickets we got to sit ringside and have a free shirt too! 

The matches were overall insanely good, never a dull moment. Sure i think as a crowd to start we were not so lively but we all then woke up pretty quickly and fired everyone in the ring up and pissed some off too but hey it's wrestling, we are fans and we are fucking Welsh so we are a lively dedicated bunch! 

To top the icing on the cake off we also had a surprise appearance from Pete Dunne the WWE Uk Champion and then another HUGE surprise in the form of the legendary game, king of kings, cerebral assassin himself Triple H! 

The place went absolutely ape shit for The Game! My jaw dropped i could not believe it! In fact when Mark Dallas said Triple H everyone was in disbelief like "What? No fucking way!" as Triple H's theme was playing and then out he came through the motherfucking curtain and holy fucking shit it was the most unexpected shocking surprise i have ever seen and for years i have wanted to see this legend in the flesh before my very eyes and there he fucking stood a couple feet infront of me! I was just oh man i could not believe it, if you could have seen my face oh it would paint a million pictures and get about 1.2 Million Likes on Instagram easily it was just wow i can not believe it, the atmosphere in Tramshed holy shit, videos do not do it justice! 

https://www.facebook.com/InsaneWrestling/videos/10157027262240620/ - Me and James are in the video at one point for few seconds!

GO SEE ICW!

GO SEE FEAR & LOATHING X AT THE HYDRO 19TH NOVEMBER!

Mother! - Film Review

Slow, Interesting, Complex, Disturbing & Horrifying!

Mother!

It's lovely in style and in it's cast and the brave direction and writing but I'm disturbed I even sat through this. Well my hands were scratching my head and just holding my face as I was utterly shocked by what I was watching so it got me reacting and had me thinking a lot about what is occurring. 

The first half was interesting and my mind was running around investigating trying to piece the film together and figure out what sinister thing is hiding underneath the bright colours onscreen.

The second half just fought back against my detective mind and threw it against the wall and stood on it and jumped on it repeatedly as the film played out to its conclusion.

It's 18 for it's strong violence but it should have also added strong disturbing scenes to it's content advisory. I seen the trailers before hand and I was really interested because it had great actors and there was Aronofsky attached so I knew it was going to be interesting and good.

The film is not bad by anymeans as I appreciate it's style and just being original and doing things I've not seen in a film before and that's brave!

Mother! 

Gets a 5/10 from me.

The film to me is disturbing and horrible in the nature of the content in the last act but it's also complex and interesting even if it is a bit slow to begin with. If you suffer from any post traumatic stress don't watch this film. If you do decide to watch it, please be aware of its violent nature.

If you were intrigued by the trailer or from my review then see it. Please remember it is graphic and disturbing and that I warned you, as this is not a film for everyone. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WITH POTENTIAL SPOILERS!

After seeing the film and going home to write this i decided to watch some behind the scenes and interviews with Aronofsky. It is a deep film which is biblical and about life it's self or so i believe. I now understand a lot more and the idea Aronofsky went with and it's a good point and it's really interesting to bring it to life in this way through this film.

FUN FACT: Darren Aronofsky said it took him 5 day's to write this film script!

That's all from me on Mother! What did you think of the film? Let me know.

Thanks for reading, see you next time, stay shiny. :)

Random Ramblin's 33 - A Witty Title

Could not think of any other perfect title to sum this post up or to even start it so here we are everyone, welcome to my blog and to RR 33....How did we get to 33 let alone past 10!? Oh well lets get roight into the nooos.....

Hello there metallic nation, are you well? Hope you are. I am fine thanks for asking.

I hope GIFS are working again i was having problems with them once my spiderman review was posted weird....

Been working on 7 Ebooks almost finished them, of course it's taking its time and i do get delayed due to gaming, films or time i spend in work or making youtube videos or just writing other things or just socialising with friends really lol.

John is just looking for my ebooks in a store.....they will be there some day John.....some day...

New series has started on my youtube channel called Weird News Sunday where Sunday's i post weird news commentaries, its bizarre and i plan to keep doing this til end of summer so far with time depending on things you know see how it goes.

Just heard George A Romero has died :'( R.I.P. The Godfather Of Zombies.

A female DR WHO eh? Don't have nothing to say besides it be a miracle if the new cast and crew got me hooked on Dr Who again. I've not watched a full series since Tennant left. I'll just wait and see how the first episode with the new faces in control do to then decide if it's worth continuing to watch or not. Was quite funny how I went to text James the news but I ended up texting my dad it instead lol.

Took this stunning picture of our gorgeous Moon from my Nikon camera. Took few others but i felt this shine out more than the rest. I had a overwhelming response of love for the photo also on facebook.

Woke up with a Sparrow flying about in my room. Weirder ways to wake up I suppose....

Been a mostly boiling month to say the least. 

Been having some crazy days lately. Hope its not just me. The other night i seen a bright white flash come from outside my window it was 5am at the time, i seen it enter through my blinds and i looked out and there's nothing, no cars, no moon, no thunder or lightning. I think i am in the twilight zone.

Friday I was at work and well i was out front setting up to get ready to serve and my colleague was out the back. I say this again there was just us two and the doors to public were locked still as we had not opened shop. Well anyway i was looking at the paper work and i looked up and i jumped a mile honestly, it freaked me out and still has me spooked that i seen an old man in a grey flat cap hat and grey jacket look straight at me from the other side of the counter right in front of me. Honestly i swear i seen that. I jumped a mile, its mad how i could make out such details aswell, It was that clear the old man was stood in front of me, opposite my counter and the doors to public were locked and all other doors are fire exits in the building were and only me and my colleague who was still out back had only access to get in. Looked up, I seen the man i jumped a mile, blinked and he was gone it was the strangest thing. Bah i think i'm just finally going crazy or something yet again most likely :P

TV BIT

Glow, Better Call Saul Season 3 and Izombie Season 3 were all amazing. Murdered for being different was a heartbreaking biopic. 

FILM BIT

Me and the two James's watched War For The Planet Of The Apes and we enjoyed it. I hope we can have more, this series has been amazing so fingers crossed. 8/10 

Finally seen Baby Driver after my colleagues been saying i should see it and how amazing it is. I seen it and i really enjoyed it 8/10 

Seen the Mist and Twilight zone movie both good. 

Seen Spiderman Homecoming twice and i will link a review down below.

Hate the looks of the new Jumanji film. 

GAME BIT
Completed Mass Effect: Andromeda (see link below for review)

Been mostly playing Ghost Recon Wildlands its an ok game been having fun playing with new friends i made on it. I'd give the game 6/10 tbh.


Overwatch i played  a few games of last night for the first time since January i think...

I always play supercard, legacy wars and rocket league as ever lol no change.

LINKS YOU SHOULD VISIT! 

SPIDER-MAN: Homecoming Review - https://1stmetalgodsblog.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/spider-man-homecoming-superhero-drop.html

Mass Effect: Andromeda Review - https://1stmetalgodsblog.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/mass-effect-andromeda-galactic.html

Weird News Sunday Commentaries - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWb-u6-0RdA

So to summarise its not been a particularly entertaining month for you to read in the recent times of my life but there we go.

Now before you go, i want to say THANKS FOR STOPPING BY, THANKS FOR READING.

SEE YOU SOON!