Snowing in Switzerland...

Unfortunately no, I am not tucked away in the snowy mountains wearing nothing but my goggles, thermals and my bright blue woolly hat...but I know some lucky b..person who is. Oli 'Everest' Tuggey who is a pirate with Big Blue Kite surfing, is taking a break from the wild waters of Newgale to instruct a number of dare devils Snow Kiting on the snowy white pistes of Switzerland.

I headed off to Andorra last February but were a tad unfortunate with the snow fall, by the end of our stay the majority of the snow had turned to nasty icy ice. Typically, pretty much as soon as we left you can imagine what happened. Nothing but consistent snow fall covering the mountains in one big cuddly blanket of snow. From reading the 'Big Blue Experience Blog' it seems that the drifts on the side of the road with them are reaching clumps of 15ft, so I think that is kind of satisfactory don't you think?

Aside from enjoying the snow during the winter, Oli and the big Blue Team are busy bees teaching a number of people to Kite Surf, Kite Board, Wake Board, Paddle Board, Power Kite and charge along the shores on a bright yellow Zap Cat. Fancy your chances?!

As I mentioned the Wake Board in the middle of that sentence, I suddenly turned my thoughts to when Mart and I are going to get our boat out of the shed, give it a sprinkle of clean, shiny stuff and hit the Cleddau waters. I cannot wait, it is officially the season...soon! How so very exciting, early morning boarding, late night boarding, all day boarding, it is such a blast. Actually, I set you all a challenge there...get your wetsuit out of the cupboard, dust off the cob webs and let's get boarding! You seriously will regret nothing...

So back to the Everest, I sure you all are anyway, but keep enjoying your time in Switzerland and we shall welcome you back with typical Pembrokeshire weather of grey skies, heavy raindrops but bright blue seas and plentiful jellyfish...See you in April!

Big Hearts and Massive Kisses

After having scrambled through the long winded month we like to call January, full of empty pockets, dark mornings and the thought of having to wait ages for the next Christmas get together with friends and family, the thought of February makes me smile.

Nope, it's not my birthday, my wedding, neither am I having a baby or packing my bags to go to a warm, sunny country on holiday. It is a lot more simple than that guys, I love the loving feeling of Valentine's Day and the 'full' feeling after eating a mountain of pancakes sprinkled in lemon juice, raisins and sugar. I know that has probably sparked a thought in your head to when Pancake Day is upon this year, Shrove Tuesday. Only joking, Tuesday 24th February 2009.

Just to mention quickly, I haven't done a step of training to gear me up for my marathon walk as yet, as far as I can walk is from the car to the chippie. Large chips, buttered roll and a cheese and onion pasty. I have bought a brand new pair of walking trainers though, they just haven't yet made it out of the box! They look so clean...

Anyway, what are you and your loved one doing this Valentine's? Same old 'traditional' evening meal on the menu? Actually, in thinking about this I can imagine that the whole of Wales will be glued to their TV screens next Saturday won't they? I for one will be with Martin sat right next to me, beer in hand! It's Wales beating England in the Six Nations silly. I don't know you just can't help some people can you!

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi, Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri...

Okay, so maybe a lot of us aren't reverting to the old tradition of a meal and few drinks and opting for an afternoon of rugby instead, but if you are up for exciting ideas of how to spend your 'special' day or weekend, then look no further. As a free booking agent for a number of activities, attractions and accommodation throughout Wales I have so many inspirational ideas to give you!

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  Tackle the racing rapids with a chilly session of White Water Rafting


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  Plunge from the clouds like a bird and show your partner how your bones are made of steel with an exhilarating Sky Dive


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  Experience the beautiful Pembrokeshire Coast together with only your Pleasure Flight pilot to catch you smooching or


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  Tackle the rough countryside terrain, riding the bumps in the saddle of your Quad bike.

Those are simply the four activities that I could think of catchy descriptions for this afternoon. But as you can imagine we have so much more to tempt you! From Horse Riding to Kite Surfing, Paint balling to Tank Driving we have everything you could think of in between,. So give us a call and let our Activity Wales Team do all the hard work for you and make your 2009 Valentine's something to remember into 2010 and beyond!

Dawn Walk

A few days ago I set a challenge to myself to join my mum and dad in partaking in the Dawn Walk, Pembrokeshire to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Research. A couple of days on and I am beginning to wonder whether training for a 26 mile walk is a little too adventurous!

I used (and I stress that word greatly) to be a relatively fit kind of person, riding two horses pretty much everyday of the week, with the riding came the mucking out, carrying the hay bales, the large water buckets, walking to the field to round them up and now I do absolutely nothing, diddly squat. So there you have my problem, I cannot begin to imagine where I start to be honest!

Martin (my partner), is being very reluctant in joining us at the moment, I think the damage it would do to his regular drinking schedule is more than my life is worth. So, I am zipping my trap and hoping that when he sees my figure taking shape and my glowing skin (I will hide the rather disgusting foot sores), that he will not think twice about jumping on the wagon and making our team complete.

At this point I would just like to add that if anybody out there has any advice whatsoever about how I begin devising my training session, your knowledge and fine wisdom would be greatly received! In other words don't hold back...!

I was debating whether to let my mum and dad be the brave candidates and take a back seat by joining them half way at the 13 mile point, but I did think that would just be a little bit lazy. If I am going to do this then I might as well go the whole hog, right? You can though take that option if you don't fancy the 26 mile slog, I think either goal is fair play.

The date is set for Sunday 17th May 2009 and will begin at 06.00am sharp. I can't understand why on earth such a time has been invented, but I suppose that is the whole point of the title, 'Dawn Walk' really isn't it, so if you began at say 09.00am you may have to revert to the 'Mid Morning Walk' instead. But let's not get into all that jazz and concentrate on the cause behind sores. See what I did there?!

Macmillan Cancer Support is an outstanding charity that doesn't need any other explanation than what it says on the surface. They provide great support for those who live affected by cancer, along with their families, friends and carers. I would also like just to mention that they have set themselves one mighty impressive mission, in that their primary goal for 2010 is to reach and and improve the lives of everyone living with cancer. Good luck!

When I hear that goal and then turn the attention to my own goal in being able to somehow walk 26 miles in a few months from now, I have to say that my goal does sound a lot more possible than I once thought.

That is why I am going to train hard, drink water and only have a bag of chips once a week and complete that Dawn Walk of 2009! I will most definitely keep you posted during my progression to fit bird!

Business is Ballooning!

I am delighted to be shouting from the rooftops that business is absolutely booming at present an long may it continue right the way through the year! It's great when the phone doesn't stop ringing and you walk through the door at 9 and it feels like 10 minutes later you are walking right back through at 5! Not only does the constant bustle and talking make the day pass right on by, it also let's our team know that we must be doing something right and that is a bigger incentive than most.

I would now like to introduce you to yet another fantastic, exciting and unique operator that we are delighted to have join the crew at Activity Wales, Bailey Balloons. I think you can at this moment begin to imagine just what they offer and if you are thinking Hot Air Ballooning then congratulations, but on the other hand if you thinking bird watching say, then I at this point I would accept defeat as you are absolutely 100% incorrect.

Bailey Balloons are quite frankly brilliant. They offer you a once in a lifetime experience that plain and simply cannot be missed by any man or beast. Now if you are thinking ok, it would be great to go on a balloon ride, full stop. You are wrong. This is more than just a balloon ride people this is one massive, gigantic big deal. You help to prepare all the bits and pieces for take off, find out interesting facts on how the balloon operates and when you're on your way back down safely, crack open the bubbly, enjoy a chilled glass of champers and receive your very own special flight certificate. How about that for class?!

If you are like me then mornings can sometimes, just occasionally come around and slap you in the face leaving you in average mood for around the first couple of hours that day. On the other hand, I do believe that some people embrace the rise of the sun and are able to welcome a brand new day with a gracious, sparkly smile and open arms. If only.

The point that I am making is that Bailey Balloons can offer all you happy, morning people an Early Bird Flight and trust me, you will see the sun rising! I suppose when you think about it though, the morning is a pleasant, peaceful time of the day, when the cows are yawning and the cockerel is squawking funny noises and so I think I would probably make an effort to get out of my cosy bed for this ballooning experience.

For those guys who feel that they prefer the lie in, then fear not as they also have a flight just for you too. We like to call it a 'Hot Air Balloon Experience Flight' with Bailey Balloons. Both flights give the opportunity to really see our beautiful welsh countryside as though you are flying sky high like a bird.

Welcome and Embrace 2009

Here we are having a spent a ridiculous amount of pennies over the Christmas and New Year season wondering whether 2009 will bring tremendous quantities of full-bellied laughter or tears. Let's hope for the sake of everyone around us that it is certainly NOT the latter. Though I suppose we could be talking tears from way too much laughter! I didn't think of that.
Well I just thought that I would entertain you all as there is nothing like starting the New Year with laughter, and plenty of it. Please find to follow a few quotes...

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to.

The proper behavior all through the holiday season is to be drunk. This drunkenness culminates on New Year's Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're married to.

New Year's Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.

I have made absolutely no New Year resolutions at all, full stop. Why, because what is the point when I know fine well that I am going to break them. By saying 'I am not going to eat chocolate' makes you think of chocolate and so you will want to eat twice as much than you would have before because you know that it is really naughty and you shouldn't be eating it. Sound Familiar? Actually I have started this New Year by telling you all a fib. I did make one, to get on a four legged beast with large nostrils and a tail. No, not a frog a horse, really I miss horse riding. So yes that is my resolution. I am going to get back up on a horse, I didn't have a bad experience or anything, I used to be pretty good and own 2 of my own, but due to 'growing up' and having to take responsibility for my self and actually get a job meant that I no longer really had much time for them disappointingly. Have you made any? If not I can give you a few to choose from...

I will contact Activity Wales to book my Tandem Sky Diving Slot
I will contact Activity Wales to book my White Water Rafting Experience
I will contact Activity Wales to book my friends and I to 'spot some spooks' (Ghost Hunting!)
I will contact Activity Wales to book me to go and squash a car with a battle tank
I will contact Activity Wales to try my hand at JCB Driving
I will contact Activity Wales learn how to Surf

The list could keep going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on, but I will stop here.

Honestly, how better than to clean your wotsits and 'detox' your insides with a few activities that we can make happen with Activity Wales Ltd. Just pick up the phone and dial. Need the number? 01437 765 777 or 01437 766 888!

Christmas has been and gone again!

Just when we all get geared up for the jolly festive season, wrapping our gifts for the family, stocking up on plenty of beer and choccies, Christmas has been and gone again by the time we can say Santa Claus. All that remains is a pot belly, a hole in our pockets and empty chocolate wrappers!

I can sort of understand why people like to start Christmas back in October, it gives the sparkling season that extra little bit of shelf life doesn't it? But then on the other hand, if you keep all your Christmas fever bottled up inside until around 2 weeks before Christmas, you will be bursting into Christmas tunes such as 'I wish it could be Christmas Everyday' dancing around in circles, whilst everyone else is sat with their head in their hands because their Christmas presents are wrapped, wine is chilling and the Turkey is stuffed and in the oven!

I do hope that you all enjoyed your Christmas however you chose to celebrate, mine has always been a family affair and I couldn't imagine it any other way. I couldn't believe it on Christmas Eve mind, we had a take out from the Indian in town and they were fully booked for Christmas dinner. Now call me old fashioned but an Indian spread on Christmas Day?! Shame it was full I could have booked for 11! Only to save my poor mum cooking and dad from peeling the sprouts though.

This year was rather sad for me really, mum had to break a little news to me in that this was the last year I was to gratefully receive a stocking. Being 21 in July 2009 meant that I am soon going to become an adult. Wake up and smell the coffee...

I suppose that Christmas is for the children really isn't it? Of course I know that, I just can't imagine not being one anymore! Seriously though, seeing my little nephews and niece opening their mountains of presents on Christmas afternoon was lovely, children simply make Christmas, it is a time of great joy and anticipation for children of all ages I believe.

But here we are, on New Years Eve ready and waiting to welcome a brand new year. I wonder what this year will bring for us all? I know something for certain, come Easter our phones will be ringing with people wanting to redeem their Christmas Gift Vouchers! I say Easter, but it could be much before that as many activities do run all year round. There is always some silly sausage wanting to go White Water Rafting or Kite surfing during the colder months, and with Activity Wales we are happy to accommodate those crazy people!

If you have been bought a Gift Voucher for Christmas and are unsure of any details or how to activate your Voucher, then please do contact any member of our Activity Wales team and we will be happy to help. You can reach us on 01437 766 888.

I am going to spend the majority of today trying to decide where to head for tonight, I know I am boring and am so NOT organised, but I like to think of myself to be the more spontaneous type!

Anyway, whatever you wild fires are up to tonight, do enjoy, be careful and look forward to a cosy lie in tomorrow morning! See you in 2009...

Happy New Year!

2 Days After the Night Before...

Here I am, bright eyed and bushy tailed working on Saturday 20th December, the weekend before Christmas after having one fantastic night sleep. Quite frankly I really couldn't be feeling much better, which is a large step up from the feeling around the office yesterday.

Including myself, the majority of the peeps were just a little tired rather than spaced out and blurry eyed, having consumed a large quantity of alcohol. Well, actually there was an exception to that rule wasn't there Flaming Hot Monster Munch? Or should I say, Amy (as in Winehouse)? Now if you are keen reader's of this Activity Wales blog then you will completely, 100% understand the reference to 'Flaming Hot Monster Munch'. If you haven't got a clue, then you really do need to start reading this blog a lot more!

I really do have to say how lovely everyone looked at our staff Christmas party on Thursday, again if you didn't even know that we were having a Christmas party READ more often other wise I'll begin to think that I am typing to myself all the time! Seriously though, everyone really did make an effort and I just wish that they all continue to do so during day to day work life, we are such a handsome bunch of people!

Sorry company poacher's we belong to the 'Chief' of Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire and Activity Wales and are not up for auction.

I know the question that you are all craving to ask, 'Did my heels hold up?' Well I am extremely proud to reveal that my dancing shoes were on until around midnight, approximately 3 hours of dancing. Pretty impressive hey? I was down and grooving and I certainly was not the only one. Our team, for the majority of the dancing evening spread across half of the dance floor shaking our hips, throwing our hair and kicking our legs. If you think our unique moves sound awkward and challenging, just try and master them, it is not for everyone!

I am only joking about the wayward moves really, if I am being truthful I have to confess that we all (including the handful of guys), for a number of weeks now have been rehearsing the Macarena, Thriller and The Casper Slide! I tell you what mind, shaking my booty for hours on end definitely put my fitness levels into perspective, I have none! How unfit am I? You know the phrase, 'Sweating like a Pig?' Hmm...

Food was gorgeous and there was plenty of it for all, washed down with bottles of Red and White wine which set us up for anything. Well, you kind of already know that after reading about the dance moves that were displayed!

It is lovely to mingle with your work crowd and have a laugh and a joke with them, it is just a shame that you realise what you let slip the morning after and sink into a pit of regret! I am not speaking from experience or anything, I just watch too many movies! 'I can't believe I said that...!'

The other worrying aspect of a fantastic night out is when you walk into work the next morning and you witness a few whispers, a little chuckle and suddenly every starts busting your 'Sex Bomb' moves on the tables! I am just lucky that Build Me Up Buttercup never reached the CD player!

Bed came for me and Mart at around 2ish, but there were still a few dirty stop outs lingering like a bad smell until a little time after that I believe. By that time, you can begin to see the bar guys glaring at the very last crowd that they need to get rid of so that they can pack up and go home, wiping the same beer glass for round 10 minutes! I'm only joking, the service was excellent all night long.

All I feel that is left to be said now, is a big, italic THANK YOU for a great evening, and let's gear up to do it all again next year!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!