“You say ‘No’ to life and therefore you are not living.”

There is a film coming out shortly called “The Yes Man”. The film is based on a true story by Danny Wallace and is about a chap who, when suffering a bout of depression, decided the only way forward was to say yes to everything. And it worked. The ability to deflate somebody by saying “No”, “Don’t” or “Can’t” is obvious: just look at a child who is denied an ice cream cone when he hears the bells of an ice cream van. What harm would come from using more positive speech? Denials should be defined instead of unexplained one word retorts.   

On Saturday we went to see Scarlets play the Blues (it sounds quite musical) and they won! Despite not doing so well at the moment, I will bet there was no negative speech in the changing rooms before the match!  I’ll bet there wasn’t one player thinking “I can’t do this!”

I also think that people suffering in any way need to focus positively and truly believe that their situation will get better.

The Carreg will always be charged with a positive atmosphere. There is, and always will be, a good feeling associated with enjoying The Carreg Experience. This is as essential to us as the great food we are serving.

And we now have a bauble on our Christmas tree with “Scarlets” written upon it

“Feeling fine in 2009″

Ian

Dear Sir or Madam,

   I have placed a link to the The Carreg site on The Valley Connection Web Directory of Wales, based in Blackwood but linking to sites throughout Wales and the Borders. 

  Your site is listed under the categories  listed below.  Would you check the links and let me know if you feel that the categorisation is incorrect please.

If you feel that your site should be listed under different categories – whether existing categories or new ones – please let me know your suggestions.

  Depending on your policies and, of course, depending on whether you like the site, would you be kind enough to link back to my main page

or to my payroll services site at www.payrollwales.co.uk please.

  As well as payroll services, I am offering paid advertising on the individual category pages, details of which are at this Advertising link.

I will only place one advert per page of results, to avoid clutter and to improve the effectiveness of those adverts, so the fairest way to do this

is on a first-come-first-served basis.

  I hope that you find the site useful and that we can, between us, increase the traffic to each other.

You can see your links from the drop-down menu ‘Wales Directory’.  The categories in which your site is listed are :

 Restaurants      Cafes                               

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year

Bernie Matthews

There seems to be a mix of emotions around the year just past: economic spells of gloom and doom are occassionally brightened by a flash of optimism and hope that maybe this period of uncertainty may actually end. At the same time, if you’re someone whose is directly effected there is no doubt that it’s very hard to see the upside.

Confidence in the economy and our surroundings has to improve. One thing is for sure, we will continue to do what we are good at, which is providing good food at great prices in fantastic surroundings, which has always been at the heart of the Carreg approach to life – and frankly always will be. We will be putting together a calender of events for 2009 to suit all tastes and all pockets and this blog will be updated throughout. Our New Years Fundraising Dinner is already filling up and we have enormous interest in our ‘Blue Door Festival’ in May as well as our ‘Foraging Feast’ with Yun Hider www.mountainfood.org and other great events.

But before we get to caught up in the thrill of future projects, we think a decent holiday is called for, don’t you?

And so may we wish you a fantastic Christmas; and a glorious, beautiful new year!

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

Ian & Wendy, all our family, The Carreg Crew and all our lucky pets in the Tranquillity Garden X

Hi Ian/Wendy,

Just wanted to say thanks for the excellent meal I had at the BNI Christmas party last week.

The food was superb and the girls worked like Trojans looking after everyone, we all had a great time.

Looking forward to the next one,

To you and yours from me and mine…

Have a super Christmas and peaceful New Year.

Regards,

Wendy Parry

www.smart-tees.co.uk

www.hawkwindmuseum.co.uk

www.captainsensible.com

One of our visitors to The Damned’s after gig party last Tuesday was Nik Turner from rockers Hawkwind! I forgot to mention it in Wednesday’s entry, so I am really sorry, it was a privilege to have you here Nik, and fantastic to see your chemistry on stage with Captain Sensible and Co. I hope to see you here again soon, because I believe you live locally?

Stay golden!

Ian

Dear Ian and Wendy

I am so sorry for my very late reply to your email. Unfortunately your email landed in my junk folder, and during a deleting session, I have just come across it!

We would be very happy to send you some BHWT leaflets for distribution, and would be happy for you to put our link on you website.

I also thought you may be interested in our Eggselence Award.

This is something we give to eating establishments who use free range eggs. We have two versions, Silver for those who use free range shell eggs, and Gold for those who use all free range as ingredients also.

You would receive a certificate, some promotional literature for your restaurant, local publicity, and inclusion in our web based Directory of hen friendly places to eat.

If you would be interested in applying for this award, could you let me know, and I will ask Jane Cox to contact you with the spec.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards

Lisa Pope

The Battery Hen Welfare Trust

Last night we were fortunate enough to have Punk supremos “The Damned” play in Narberth. A visit to Narberth is no longer complete without visiting The Carreg and this is what they had to say…..

www.officialdamned.com

“well what a fantastic show in Narberth!  And then invited back to The Carreg for a tipple of Ravishing Red wine. Fantastic!  Must go…………………….. gotta drink them dry.    Stu  ~burp~

 what a wonderful evening thanks for the hospitality… DV.

Great hospitality!!! A cosmic night!! Best Fishes Monty XXXXXX

200 feet down the hill from queens hall is the bestest retreat from all the bulls**t!-Pinch

A Beautiful Place- Captain Sensible”

Thanks to everyone who came to The Carreg to celebrate “The Damned” coming to Narberth last night. It really was a fantastic evening and we made some wonderful new friends.

And buy “The Damned”s new album!! Let’s see if we can get them to Christmas number 1!!! Because they are nice guys and completely brilliant!!

If my children are reading this, then I hope this proves Dad’s not too old to have fun!

Take Care

Ian

“Dear Sir

As both a regular reader of The Daily/Sunday Telegraph and visitor to Pembrokeshire, I was somewhat disappointed to discover that in their current Restaurant promotion (Dine out from £10) not one establishment from Pembrokeshire is listed.

Prompted by this discovery I wrote to The Telegraph Group asking why such a beautiful and popular area of Wales had been excluded from the promotion. You may be totally unaware that such promotions are available. I am therefore sending you a photocopy of the reply that I recieved in the event that you may wish to be included in the next or any future promotions.

I wish to stress that I am NOT connected in any way with The Telegraph Group. Simply my Wife and I are regular visitors to Pembrokeshire and have, in the past, dined at your premises on a number of occassions.

Yours Sincerely

N. Francis”

This letter landed on my desk a few days ago and I am grateful to Mr Francis for allowing us to display it on our blog. I have spoken to The Telegraph Group who are now putting the wheels in motion to include The Carreg in their next promotion, which means a Pembrokeshire business will be involved in their next promotion and a special deal offered to their readers.

All in all, big smiles, full bellies, not so empty pockets and a good read as an added bonus!

Ian

Less than a week after I put a post regarding our fundraising New Years Dinner, raffle prizes and auction items are already flooding in. With the news full of doom and gloom at the moment it is good to see the genorosity of Carreg staff and customers, friends and neighbours, colleagues and generous organisations.

Warmest, heartfelt thanks to Glenda and Paul at Wriggly Tin/Signspeed; Carys Evans at The Cabinet Office in Goodwick,Fishguard, Stuart Dunlop and family and Gareth Davies over at Scarlets in Llanelli.

Their respective websites are:-

www.wriggly-tin.com, www.signspeed.com, www.thecabinetoffice.co.uk 

(Swansea area branch),

 www.scarlets.co.uk  

Stuart Dunlop and his family are just the nicest people who believe in what we are doing!

Take Care!

Ian