lavish graduation, a festival, a castle and lots of cake and sausages - Amma is here!I experienced my first ever graduation as a guest rather than a graduand. Having done it twice already, now it was my brother's turn to dawn the heavy, heat-radiating gowns and the cardboard hats while the dotting mother and older sister embarrass him royally.
However, I was completely blown away by the post-graduation party with champagne, strawberries and cream along with a full-orchestra supported jazz band, singing Frank Sinatra classics.Is this a graduation party or a wedding, I pondered?
Then Maindee Festival in Newport went beyond my expectation. It was a great experience being a host on the main stage, and I would love to get more involved in festival organisation. Even though it wasn't my job, sound techies for the main stage thought that I was the stage manager at one point.
Compering the main stage gave me the chance to introduce some mind-blowing acts such as the Impact All Stars & Vaguely Artistic whose band members had learning disabilities.
I also got the chance to flirt with an adorable ginger, Glaswegian drummer to three-piece indie-folk band Sparrow & The Workshop.
The festival ended with a bang with Justin Adams (ex-guitarist for Robert Plant), and West African maestro Juledah Camera. I was off stage dancing my bootie away. I feel so privileged to have experienced and met the headliners to this years WoMat Festival.
Caerphilly Castle was the next destination for me and my mum. I bribed my old work colleagues with chocolate muffins and showed my mum the 2nd biggest castle in the UK. At Christmas time, an episode of Doctor Who had been filmed there and the Tardis had been left behind too. Recently an episode of BBC's Merlin had been filmed there too.My mother also savoured the delights of the local tea room, Glanmor's in Caerphilly town centre, with a Lamb Cawl followed by a lovely cuppa. This truly Welsh experience was just short of being serenaded by Tom Jones, and spooned by a sheep.
