48 hours in Cardiff

The first weekend in November saw the Australian Rugby Union team face off against the Welsh. We were lucky enough to secure tickets for the game so decided to make a bit of a weekend of it and headed for Cardiff early on Friday morning.

We took the cheap route of the National Express coach and ended up in Cardiff by half one. After a quick, refreshing nap, Cara and I decided to check out Cardiff Castle.

Cardiff Castle stands in the centre of the capital city and has been there since the 11th Century. The castle passed through many different families and during the early 20th century a lot of the surrounding areas had been sold off leaving little but the castle.

During World War II the castle was used as an air raid shelter which you can walk through on a self-paced tour.


We found a cute little pub near where we were staying. we met Hanna at Gassy Jacks for dinner and they also had £6 pitchers of cocktails! I was still recovering from my jet lag, but the girls managed to get through Round 8 jugs.

After a sleep in, we got ready for the game and met the rest of our group for lunch and pre's. (pre-drinking).

Once we had eaten and had our fill of cheap drinks (Cardiff is the place to go for cheap drink and eat!) we headed to the stadium and watched the Wallabies absolutely annihilate the Welsh.

spot the angry Welshman

all rugged up against the Cardiff weather

After an amazing win by the Australian team, we headed where every Aussie (and most of the Welsh) end up for a good night - The Walkabout!

I found a sheep! Must have wandered in from the countryside.

> National Express return cost us £15 return, however we did end up paying an extra £15 because we decided to go back to London earlier.

> Rugby tickets cost us £60.

> General entry tickets for Cardiff Castle are £12.

Invictus Games 2014

INVICTUS
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul. 
William Ernest Henley

Last year Prince Harry visited Colorado for the Warrior Games. The Games gave him the idea to bring a similar idea to London and the Invictus Games were born.

The Invictus Games brings together injured and sick service personnel - current and veteran - from 14 countries whose Armed Forces have served together. The Games use the power of sport to support recovery, rehabilitation and spread awareness throughout the wider community about what our servicemen and women go through in serving their country.

The Games ran from 10 - 14 September and sports included Athletics, Archery, Swimming, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby, Indoor Rowing, Road Cycling and Powerlifting. 

On Saturday I went to the last session of Wheelchair Basketball. There were 6 teams participating: Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA, France and Denmark.

The first game was to determine 5th and 6th place between Australia and New Zealand. 

Followed by France v Denmark, then UK v USA. 

The confidence that the players displayed was amazing. Whenever anyone took a fall they would get straight back up and continued playing. 

Everybody played really well and the final scoreboard looked like:

6. Australia

5. New Zealand

4. France

3. Denmark

2. USA

1. United Kingdom