Sunday was a good day. Long schlep in the Carneddau to the summit of Tal-y-Fan and back from Deganwy. Finally, at the sixth time of trying, got to visit Llangelynin Old Church with no-one else about, had the summit to myself, then got my favourite seat in The Albion. Mark it up as a big W.

Terrible photo because I was a good three miles away, but saw a sizeable dust devil form on top of Mynydd y Dref above Conwy this afternoon

A double dose of me in issue 467 of @wsc.co.uk, which is on sale now. I’m in the main mag reviewing UEFA’s summer fortnight in North Wales for the Euro Under 19s finals. And I’m in the 2026-27 season preview pull-out taking a wild stab at #DRFC’s fortunes.

Of course, buses, that famously middle and upper class mode of travel.

What a let down of an evening. As if the game itself wasn’t bad enough, I just made one of my favourite ever gags in our football team group chat it got absolutely nothing.

Yeah, I thought you'd say that to be fair.

Huge respect to Y Gwasanaeth Tân who’ve somehow managed to bring the wildfire on Sychnant Pass above Dwgyfylchi and Conwy under control. Could see how quickly the fire was spreading from here (5 miles away) yesterday evening. Incredible effort to get control of it in the warm wind we’ve had today.

Issue 466 of @wsc.co.uk is out now in newsagents of reasonable repute. Includes me summarising the entire 2026-27 League One season in 750 words while resisting the natural urge to laugh at Rotherham. Plus a @danielgraywriter.bsky.social match of the month and the usual @camsell59.bsky.social joy.

25 June 2016 I remember crying walking away from the stadium. Tears of joy and disbelief. All I’d ever wanted was to qualify, now we were quarter finalists. We met up in a bar near the stadium. Plan was to move on after one or two drinks. We were still there seven hours later. A gorgeous night.

25 June 2016 Wales 1-0 Northern Ireland Terrible terrible game. Incredible joyous celebrations.

20 June 2016 Wales 3-0 Russia We spent a day wandering the cafes and bars of Toulouse contemplating the many possible scenarios that could see Wales progress. Yet none of them involved seeing Wales produce their most complete performance ever. We were olé-ing by the hour mark. Neil Taylor scored!

16 June 2016 Wales v England The long celebrations for Bale’s goal were something, but otherwise this was the flattest day of the summer - felt less like an international tournament and more like being in a big crowd at an edgy second tier local derby. Took some good photos though.

15 June 2016 In a Lille bar we got very comfortable (largely due to a barman serving us 8.2% beer in pints) for France vs Albania. I had a pocket full of these Welsh/French stickers I'd printed up so dropped some on every table. In the post match celebrations we realised patron was covered in them.

15 June 2016 I'd bought pretty expensive tickets for Russia vs Slovakia as my mate Tom and I were going to be in Lille on that day anyway. I felt quite smug at my planning... then following the trouble with Russian fans in Marseille, people were outside the stadium literally giving them away.

In the queue for that game I got chatting to an Irish fan in a novelty tricolour wig. I asked him if he fancied Ireland’s chances. He told me so long as he had his lucky wig on they’d be grand. He’d worn it although qualifying. It was foolproof. Then on the way into the stadium I took this photo.

13 June 2016 Was passing through Paris on the same day as Ireland played Sweden at Stade de France and got persuaded by other Wales fans and try for a ticket off a tout. Succeeded and duly entered into the drunkest atmosphere I’ve ever experienced at any sports event ever.

Might as well turn this into a thread of Euro 2016, '10 years ago today' nostalgia. So, at about 4.30am on 12 June 2016, I was cycling through the streets of Bordeaux on a hire bike singing 'Hal! Robson! Hal Robson-Kanu!' to the tune of Salt-n-Pepa's 'Push it!'

Man, has it really been 10 years?

Nice to see Leonard Cohen interviewed during half-time of the Wales v Ghana match. Didn’t even know he’d played for Manchester United… or Wales for that matter.

My love for Getdown Services grows stronger. They rocked up in Llandudno tonight as support for Super Furry Animals. Delivered a 30 minute set at 100mph; openly abused the crowd until they matched their vibe and still left the place wanting more. 10/10 If you’ve not seen them yet, do so, soon.

15 miles of walking around the sunny lanes of Ynys Môn and a 5-3 thriller. Readers, I made the right choice. I now present to you a visual representation of fourth tier Welsh football.

MC Hammer has entered his seniors coach trip era

Appraisal season is relentless. I’m not even his line manager.

The new issue of @wsc.co.uk (464) is out now. Includes 750 words from me on Wales’ World Cup (non) qualifying campaign.

Our old university football team group chat is 17 blokes complaining about the effects of getting old… …and this prick, who’s really ruined the vibe by going off and qualifying for the 400m final at the European Masters Indoor Athletics Championships

Wanted to share with you a photo from a much happier time in my life… …just under three hours ago.

It’s international week and the latest edition of @alternativewales.bsky.social is out. Includes words by me on great, underwhelming, and occasionally memorable Wales football shirts…

The latest issue of @wsc.co.uk is out now, the 40th anniversary issue, and features words by me. I reviewed Pete Davies’ brilliant book on a season with Doncaster Belles for the Shelf Life series. I also make a cameo in their look back over WSC’s last/first 40 years, which was a pleasant surprise.

Was walking up in the Carneddau today, when a passing walker asked me if the ponies on the hills are wild.

There’s always that annoying bit when you’re learning a language where you’re taught sentences you’ll never have cause to use.