How to avoid the world cup...

I doubt that anyone can have escaped the fact that the world cup kicks off this Friday - it's all everyone was talking about here in our staffroom over lunch today (and was met with a rather glazed look from me.) Leanne has organised a world cup sweepstake and Sarah has been collecting football stickers - I may be in the minority but will be doing everything I can to avoid anything vaguely football related over the next month! Sadie is in agreement.

Pembrokeshire is the ideal place to sit it out - local pubs are showing the matches but the next few weeks are going to be the perfect time to make the most of abandoned beaches - long walks and swims with just a few fellow football widows will be blissful (just look at that picture of a deserted Druidston!) And think of the quiet shops and restaurants! Last week some of the ladies here enjoyed a girls evening out in Carmarthen, with its new cinema, restaurants and shops, and i'm sure we'll be heading back soon as an antidote to the football madness.

Some non-football related events on over the next few weeks include photography workshops on Skomer Island, a guided walk around Ramsey Island with an RSPB warden on 10th June, a butterfly workshop and guided walk around the Teifi marshes at the Welsh Wildlife Centre near Cardigan on 13th June and a new exhibition of ceramics is on at Picton Castle until the end of the month. Picton Castle is also hosting music, picnics and croquet on 13th June (ready for the approaching national picnic week) and on 17th June there is a summer concert in St. Mary's Church in Tenby. So the next few weeks don't have to revolve around football - and I know that nearly everyone here in the office will disagree with me (and most of the country in fact) but there is so much more to a Pembrokeshire June and July than sitting in front of a huge TV. I'm actually quite looking forward to it after all!