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April 2008 Archives

Follow, follow, follow....

Posted by Andy Davies on April 30, 2008 1:54 PM

Its a nightmare trying to get to Moscow!
United sealed their place in this years final of the Champions League and now supporters face a task the equivalent of defeating Barcelona in getting to Moscow.
I've always been more concerned about the league than success in Europe, like many I use the old saying- the leagues are bread and butter.
I still feel that way. I'm still sick with worry not over who will face in the final, but whether Rooney's fit for West Ham.
The truth is that going into the final having lost the league would be unbearable and that going there as champions would obviously be a massive advantage as it did back in '99 (like we did in 1999, we've gone unbeaten in Europe this year).
Before the game last night, United supporters would already had known whether they had been successful in getting a ticket. The final whistle may have brought joyous scenes but were soon followed by the rush to make travel arrangements.
The stupidity in holding a final in Moscow is now there for all to see.
The cost to get there is increasing with every click of a search engine and has already exceeded the £1000 mark.
I'm trying to get there myself, having been there in 1999 I'm desperate to go again but already I'm looking at prices and feel I'm fighting a losing battle.
Train journeys from Lithuania, connection flights from Riga, nothing has yet raised my spirits.
But as I did when sat in the Nou Camp in '99 with five minutes to go, and as was spelt out on the Stretford End before last nights victory, I need to do one thing- BELIEVE.

Sorry Alan, I've got a spring in my step...

Posted by David Simister on April 29, 2008 2:33 PM

It’s a time-honoured Brit tradition that any good conversation has to start with the weather. My blog is no exception.

Sorry. I know it sounds a bit Alan Titchmarsh to devote an entire five minutes of your time to a slight change in the weather, but spring is A Good Thing. Especially if you’re like me, when a week of wintry weather has you sneezing like you’re getting commission for it, going gradually insane with insomnia, and just generally moaning because it goes dark every afternoon at 4pm.

Personally, I find Alan’s annual spiel about the blossoming of a single daffodil somewhere in Stoke a bit irritating, but even that’s not as depressing as a series he once did for the BBC aptly called Summer. Some of you may have even seen it.

For those who haven’t, it’s a perfectly nauseating blend of his dulcet narration, and millions of halcyon clips of children eating ice creams in Blackpool and Cure fans going surfing in Cornwall. Naturally, the BBC chose to show it in December. A time when most people were unaware of the sun’s existence.

It’s been like that for the last five months, so naturally the first time the clocks go forward and the temperature exceeds five degrees, I enter a state of euphoria which ecstasy, crystal meths and LSD combined would probably struggle to top. All because it’s a bit sunny.

Obviously warm weather has its drawbacks. Sweat. Wasps. Fat girls who think it’s okay to waltz around White Rose Centre in boob tubes. Luckily, such horrors are confined to only the hottest parts of summer, and right now you can take advantage of the still spring evenings by strolling down the seafront without chavs spitting on your hair.

Spring is much better. A time when drunks can return to beer gardens, men with midlife crises can lower the tops on their MGBs, and presenters of gardening programmes on the BBC can look forward to another season of boring us solid. I decided to mark the occasion by doing something I rarely do. Going outside.

So I apologise to all of you who might have seen the spiky haired reporter lapping it up by the beach the other day, donning the shades while astride a Raleigh Chopper. I’m sorry, it was me.

It’s spring and I got a bit carried away.

Martin Has Talent

Posted by David Rutland on April 29, 2008 9:31 AM

As part of our new Visitors Got Talent series, Martin Williams last night took up the challenge of line dancing with the Rhyl based Country Roots.


Look forward to Andy Davies abseiling down the Sky Tower, David Simister singing in a heavy metal band, David Rutland expertly tap dancing and our photographer, Tony Mottram, being dunked into a bath of cold beans.


Yes. We humiliate ourselves for your entertainment.
Suggestions in the box below please.

Intimidation Tactics

Posted by Martin Williams on April 24, 2008 12:38 PM

Maybe it’s because I’m news editor of the local paper. Maybe it’s because I have a face that needs a regular panel-beating.
Who knows?
But what is it with some of the men out there - why must they stare?
I walked from my car to the office this morning and was growled at by about 15 sweaty, knuckle-dragging oiks.
They didn’t seem to be on their way to work, unless they work in a tracksuit factory, and two of them stank of booze.
It doesn’t make a good impression. It doesn’t make you want to spend time in Rhyl town centre.
The nice men and women in our shops and cafes aren't so intimidating, they don’t stink of cheap cider, so what’s with these people?
Status? Is this their way of communicating with the world?

“I can’t string a sentence together so I’ll get through to this chap using the power of thought, and a bit of blinking and spitting�

I’m not going to start walking around with my head down because I find it amusing, if anything.
It’s a little like High Noon. You spot a bloke about 20 yards away heading towards you, more often than not he has a dog and an unsteady gait. He may be drunk, who knows?
I’m usually wearing a shirt and tie so he probably thinks I like interior decor and wear a coat in the summer.
His reaction to this is to take the centre of the pavement and stare me down. I usually smile, sometimes I shout “thanks mate� and give the thumbs up.
My two pet hates are bullies and rude people. I won’t put up with either, and neither should you.
If we were all a little more considerate the world, and maybe even Rhyl, would be a lot better place.

All hands to the pump...

Posted by Andy Davies on April 23, 2008 12:07 PM

News that our floodlight application had been accepted is being celebrated almost to the same extent of our title winning celebrations.
For us at Prestatyn Town it's a huge victory but now there is another obstacle in our way. The Welsh Premier League have rather unhelpfully denied our request to the May 1 deadline for alterations to the ground to be complete.
That means a lot of hard work is needed to be done and I urge anyone wishing to help with the work to get in touch with the club and get down to the ground, any contribution will be much appreciated.
Us players I'm sure will be doing our bit (as if winning the league by 12 points at the least wasn't enough!) and try to secure our promotion to the Welsh Premier.

In other football news, John Arne Riise has just been stopped by Merseyside Police on the M62 - apparently heading in the wrong direction!

Video: David Cameron visits Rhyl

Posted by Dan Owen on April 18, 2008 3:34 PM


Conservative leader David Cameron makes a surprise visit to Rhyl as part of his whistle-stop tour of North Wales.
See next week's Visitor for the interview.

The Apathy and the Ecstasy

Posted by Martin Williams on April 11, 2008 3:53 PM

I’m fed-up.
Why? Well, two things really, and both are linked to the same problem - apathy.
First of all, let’s talk about the Grange Hotel, one of Rhyl’s great landmarks, virtually destroyed by fire last month.
The whole town seems to be upset about the loss of such an historic building. We ran a two-page spread covering the story and twice asked for readers to send in their photos and memories of the venue.
The response was appalling.
I must have bumped into 50 people in the course of the week, all adamant they would bring in a picture. Only a handful of them did.
We received a lovely photo from a lady in the Peak District, but people within a mile of the office couldn’t be bothered to share one grain of emotion.
Which brings me to last night’s Miss Rhyl competition, organised by the May Day committee. Myself and reporter Andy Davies were among the judges.
The committee have managed to keep May Day going for years, since its heyday in the 1970s and 80s.
The council do their bit, but the residents of Rhyl don’t support it like they used to.
Apparently, 10 girls were all ready to take part in the contest, which was held at the town’s rugby social club.
Let’s just say the number was less than half that, but in winner Georgina Ford we have a pretty, confident young lady who looks forward to representing Rhyl on social and fundraising engagements throughout the year.
Runner-up was the lovely Amy Rastin, who was just pipped to the post. She herself would have made a great Miss Rhyl and should be very proud of herself.
As I mentioned, the event wasn’t well-attended.
You would think that a girl might want to be Miss Rhyl? Some might find it cheesy, corny or a little out-of date, and maybe to some it is.
But I don’t think caring about your town has a shelf life, does it?
To be honest I think most people in Rhyl seem to be sitting back, complaining about the area and doing absolutely nothing about it.
Here’s a tip, if you feel the need to sit there and moan, make sure you’ve exhausted every possible avenue to happiness, prosperity and progress.
If you haven’t lifted a finger, give us all a break, and give hard-working organisations like the May Day Committee the support they so richly deserve.

Magic Bus, Magic Bus.

Posted by David Rutland on April 8, 2008 2:55 PM

SITTING on the top deck of an open top bus in freezing cold weather is not my idea of a good time.

Conducting an interview with a cabinet minister while the bus is bouncing over bumpy roads is even less fun than you might imagine.

But that’s the situation I found myself in today, when less than an hour before deadline I had to find Ed Miliband - Minister for the cabinet, and find out what he was doing in Rhyl, before banging out a lead story for tomorrow’s paper.

The bus he was to travel on was early. The Virgin train he arrived in was late. It was cold and we were waiting.

Basically, the situation is that as the man responsible for the government’s policy on social exclusion, he was keen to see some of the worst areas in the UK.

Naturally, Rhyl was at the top of his list.

So there we were on the bus, an assembled throng of reporters politicians and support staff bouncing our way through Rhyl’s west end with Chris Ruane pointed out the local sights and sounds.

Standing at the front, in clear contravention of the Arriva “No Standing� sign, Mr Ruane told Mr Miliband about deprivation in the area - just the stuff he wanted to hear.

I’m sure it was a worthwhile visit and that action will be taken as a result of the visit, but even bigger questions will have to be raised as a result.

For instance, why did Ed Miliband spend the entire guided tour wearing a Rhyl FC scarf?

Perhaps he fell in love with the team while on a seaside trip as a child and has the Visitor delivered every week to his London pad so he can devour Dave Jones’s award winning match reports.

Unlikely?

Maybe he caught the team’s performance against Llanelli AFC on TV and was so impressed, he immediately bought a scarf from ebay.

But despite scouring the internet for a good five minutes, I was unable to find any profession of love for either Rhyl or for the beautiful game.

Perhaps he was just cold.

Crack open the Champagne!

Posted by Andy Davies on April 7, 2008 3:41 PM

We only needed a point, but made extra certain of the Cymru Alliance League title with a win and three points at Llanfairpwll.
In a game which in truth we made difficult for ourselves, we managed to show tremendous character second half to overturn a 2-1 scoreline to run out eventual winners, 3-2.
In the jubilant scenes that followed the final whistle it was fantastic to share the moment with so many of our supporters who had travelled down to watch.
Also it was a great gesture from the Llanfairpwll players to stay and applaud us off the pitch.
For now, we as players will have to sit and wait to hear whether we will gain promotion to the Welsh Premier league but that will not stop us enjoying the moment. The celebrations in Prestatyn on our return went on long into Sunday morning with our band of supporters providing their own unique soundtrack of the day!
Be sure to read this weeks visitor for reaction from Saturday's game and for my column.
Also look out for an 'extra time' special in coming weeks looking back over the season with manager Neil Gibson.

I still don't get it

Posted by Martin Williams on April 5, 2008 3:18 PM

Since returning to the Visitor I've been astounded by the number of calls we've had from residents who don't receive the newspaper every Wednesday.
It seems at least half of Rhyl, Prestatyn, Rhuddlan and the surrounding villages either have rogue paperboys, or are there no paperboys to distribute them?
If you or someone you know is not receiving the Rhyl and Prestatyn Visitor, please call our subscriptions department on 0151 3304956.

Champagne on ice...

Posted by Andy Davies on April 3, 2008 4:14 PM

Those of you who read the sports pages will be aware of my column 'extra time' which has followed my first season playing for Prestatyn Town football club.
Last Tuesday saw Bala's fading title dream ended at Denbigh with their 1-0 defeat. This means that only Llandudno can finish equal on points should they win all their remaining fixtures and we lose our final three games. Llandudno will also need to make up the 24 goals to overtake our goal difference!
All over, you would think.
But the players have said for some time that we wanted to go out and earn the title on the pitch and not have it simply handed to us by our rivals losing. A point our better at Llanfairpwll this Saturday will clinch the Cymru Alliance league title, a tremendous achievement for the club and the town.
The trophy will not be presented should we get the result we need on Saturday but that won't matter to me.
Being able to walk off that pitch at full time knowing that all the work we've all put in since June has paid off and to call ourselves Champions will be enough to spark huge celebrations.
The trophy can wait for now, just so long as we can say we're the best!

Animal attraction

Posted by Martin Williams on April 3, 2008 3:27 PM

I have a great idea.
It will boost the economy, give shoppers more safety and amuse me greatly.
We should turn Rhyl High Street into a zoo.
“What are you talking about Martin?�
Well, hear me out. Or carry on reading, or whatever the phrase may be.
Bars surrounding the area from the clock tower to Vale Road bridge would be my first move, creating a large rectangular ‘attraction’.
It’s already a better idea than the Children’s Village.
And what will we fill it with?
As I look out of my window I see two dogs and a man who looks a bit like a rhino. Not because he’s a little on the corpulent side, I wouldn’t be so insulting.
No, it’s the grey T-shirt, that prominent gait, and the ice cream he’s holding could be turned upside down and used as a horn.
On lunch I spotted more dogs, dozens of seagulls and some pigeons. Last week I even saw a cat on Wellington Road. I’m sure we could catch it.
My colleague David Rutland has just spoken to a woman who discovered a penguin on Prestatyn beach. There may be more, we may be able to create a water feature near Piazza.
Honestly, I feel like Dr Dolittle when I walk around the town centre, only the creatures I come across are either violent, barking or swooping on shoppers and shopworkers.
It’s starting to tick me off, as you can probably tell.
I still haven’t heard from the dog warden by the way. It’s been four weeks.
If he or she were ever to turn up in the area with one of those large nets they’d have a field day.

Where am I?

Posted by Martin Williams on April 3, 2008 1:40 PM

It's been a tough few weeks here at our Rhyl HQ.
Myself, Andy Davies and David Rutland have been covering both the Visitor and the Vale Advertiser since the departure of Matt Sims, and while we've worked hard and done a decent job, it'll be a relief when our new recruit begins on Monday.
David Simister will be covering the Vale Advertiser (Denbigh, Ruthin and the surrounding area), which will ease the pressure on us.
On a personal note it's been great dealing with the Vale again, having covered the patch from our Denbigh office in 2000/01. So many great characters, so many good stories.
But taking calls from people in such a wide area has befuddled me.
I've been news editing stories from Denbigh to Dyserth, Rhyl to Ruthin, and Prestatyn to Prion - it's been fun, though taxing at times - for all three of us.
We look forward to welcoming David and will give both newspapers fresh impetus in the coming months.
Thanks for your continued support.

Give Wellington Road the boot

Posted by Martin Williams on April 1, 2008 4:33 PM

Parking in Rhyl.
What an absolute disaster this situation is.
There are double yellow lines along Wellington Road, yet if I’m driving along the one-way street I have to check there is nothing to my left before moving into the next lane if I want to progress.
Why? Because in its wisdom the council has allowed disabled motorists to park along the right hand side.
It’s one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen. Stationary motors up and down the High Street and Russell Road, even on the pedestrianised area because people can’t be bothered walking the extra 300 yards to stuff their faces at Subway.
Denbighshire County Council has carried out a review of existing parking restrictions and is proposing new plans that cover streets in an area with set boundaries.
The boundary to the north is by the West and East Parades, the boundary to the east is Bath Street and Grange Road.
The south is by the railway line and the boundary to the west is Crescent Road, Vaughan Street and Elwy Street.
The main purpose of the proposed new restrictions is to ensure that identified traffic management and road safety issues are addressed by appropriate prohibitions of waiting, loading and unloading and to allocate the remaining road space where on-street parking can be allowed for time limited waiting periods and/or permit holders, loading only, disabled badge holders and taxis.
Information will be posted on the affected streets until this Friday (April 4), and then what?
Some say the council are to blame for this situation, but ignorant drivers are also at fault.
Last week I saw a guy get out of his car, skip across the road and into the bookmakers. If he can jog across the street he can park half-a-mile away.
Then again, there are no spaces anywhere near the town centre, and this was one bad egg. Many disabled drivers could not walk that far.
Here’s a solution. Demolish the Bee and Station pub near the town’s railway station and replace it with 20-30 parking spaces. That would account for the motorists sprawled across this area of town.
The pub has been closed for over 10 years, what are they waiting for, the arrival of Stringfellow’s? Knock it down for goodness sake, it’s an eyesore, we need parking spaces and if that’s the first thing tourists see when they get off the train I’m surprised they don’t turn around and go home.

This page contains an archive of all entries posted to The Day to Day in the April 2008. They are listed from oldest to newest.

March 2008 is the previous archive.May 2008 is the next archive.

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