|
We live in the
Towy Valley, West Wales, in the heart of the Welsh countryside,
close to the town of Carmarthen and Llanelli one of the greatest
Rugby Clubs in the world called " Scarlets", which has revolved
around our main assets which is coal, hence Cynheidre Colliery.
Carmarthen is a
market town filled with character and history, based on
agriculture. Passing through the town is one of the best salmon
rivers, The River Towy, which is on route to our beautiful
scenic coast lines of Pembrokeshire.
The town is
situated around 10 miles from Laugharne, the home of one of the
most famous talented poets in Wales, Dylan Thomas.
Around 3 minutes
from our home in the village of Nantgaredig is one of our new
national treasures, The National Botanical Gardens of Wales,
which presents one of the largest glass domes in Europe.
We are a family
of four, Andrew, Mandy and our two children Arwyn and Sian.
I was brought up
in a small coal mining village of Ponthenri, educated in the
Gwendraeth Valley, and at seventeen was working with my father
at Cynheidre Colliery waiting for an opportunity to came to
move to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore,
Middlesex. At nineteen I moved to live in London working at Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, where I
met my wife Mandy, who was training to be a nurse.
After twelve
fantastic years of living in London we moved back to Wales and
started our Family. Our first child was Arwyn, he was studying at Bro Myrddin
Secondary and gained 11 Gcse's and 3 A levels, he then went on
to study at Swansea University where he has just graduated in
the summer 2008 with a 2.1, Arwyn is now specializing in
the cardiac unit at the West
Wales General hospital.
In November 2009
Arwyn the WELSH, BRITISH AND EUROPEAN Power lifting
Champion represented GREAT BRITAIN at POWER LIFTING in
LAS VEGAS, i had the honour of joining the team on the
trip as a guest, the whole team did superbly with Arwyn
first of all winning a SILVER MEDAL, then the GOLD MEDAL to
become WORLD CHAMPION, in doing so he was awarded with
the trophy for the team as the best pound for pond lifter of
the championship, it gets no better than that. In 2010
Arwyn defended his WORLD TITLE in Bath UK an awesome result
for any sportsman, Arwyn has been invited by the British
team to defend the title for the third time in November
at the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP show in PALM BEACH MIAMI USA watch
this space.
Next came our
daughter Sian, she was also educated at Bro Myrddin school and
gained 13 Gcse's and 5 A levels. She then studied LAW at
Cardiff University where she gained a 2:1 degree,
next she studied the LPC AT Cardiff university to become a
lawyer where she gained a high distinction a credit to herself
as well to one of the best university's in the UK.
Sian is now a CRIMINAL
Lawyer with one of the top law firms in Cardiff which has made
us so proud.
After a great
success in London I set up two Businesses, the first a
building and decorating company which we serviced the needs of
the public in mainly west Wales, the second a property
company which we have built up our own portfolio of commercial and residencial property's
that has gone on from strength to strength .
Mandy's career has
been 30 years of hard work and pleasure, from qualifying as an
RCN nurse to specialising in Orthopaedics at the Royal
National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore Middlx, working in
the Royal Free hospital in Hampstead in the Neurology
department, then the A&E unit at Edgeware General as
well as in many other top London hospitals, she has
brought her wealth of experience and knowledge
back to West Wales where is now is a SENIOR SISTER covering
the trust.
We had our
first dog twenty odd ?? years ago, a Boxer, and named her Bess. She
was a beautiful red and white bitch, who was full of life
and wickedness, she brought us plenty of fun, and we remain
to have great memories of her.
Our first love
was the Bulldogs but we were unable afford one to
begin. 100yds away from our home was a Bulldog called Towy
Vale the Minstrel, he was a fantastic brindle dog who was a
winner at Crufts, as soon as we set our eyes on him we
were determined to have our first bully.
Our first
Bulldog was Bunty "Trudan Scarlet Ribbon", she was a red
and white bitch, with great energy and true character. We
were very proud of our first Bully and were very grateful to
Rob and Sheron Williams of Trudan kennel for letting us have
her.
We were
always going to the Bulldog shows to study the breed and
gain advice from experienced breeders, then we were hooked
on showing.
We contacted
Noel Morgan of Ringablok Kennel, a well and respected
breeder and Bulldog show handler, who kindly allowed us to
mate our Bunty with his dog Captain Pugwash of Ringablock.
From this mating we had eight puppies and began our
journey by started our own name in Bulldogs
We applied
for our Affix through the Kennel club which was granted..
CELTICPRIDE. Celticpride
represents Wales, Scotland and Ireland as a Celtic
Nation.
The
journey has begun.........
"
Imagination is more important than
knowledge.
Imagination is the language
of the
soul.
Pay
attention to your imagination and
you will
discover all you need to be
fulfilled
!!"
Acknowledgements.
My success
is not about materialistic achievements but about the
relationships we build, for me the amazing support, love
and laugher I share with my wife Mandy and children Arwyn
and Sian, that has been my foundation enabling me to
fulfil my dream and drive towards happiness and
success.
It might
sound a strange piece of advice I had all those years ago
from my dad, when everyone is going in one
direction looking for THE NEXT BIG OPENING, it's often
the opposite path that leads to success, that's the path I
chose, doing the unexpected has taken my business and
hobby on such a wonderful journey, which has made me,
my family,
and my dogs what we are today.
I'd like to
take this opportunity to thank my friends and people
that have helped me along the route contributing towards
our success in business as well as with our hobby the
Bulldogs.
A special
thanks to Billy and Margaret Goodwin of Britishpride
Bulldogs for giving us the opportunity to have
Britishpride Gold Coin at Celticpride ( SONNY ) a
male of dynamic characteristics, smart and intellegent an
ispiration to our team Celticpride Bulldogs, and also for
the guidance in the early years along the championship
campaign route of showing.
What i have
noticed along the years that if you study the world around
you, ask the right questions, the decisions make
themselves, with the correct knowledge and techniques you
will go on the journey to happiness and success.
After my
unexpected heart attacks in December 2007 i've taken a
completley different outlook on life, now i understand
that the Journey i have been on can be taken away
anytime, the most important thing of the journey is love
and happiness, live the dream.
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is the future, today is a
gift - which is why we call it the "present "
"
Don't go where
the path may lead you, go
instead
where there is no path and
LEAVE A
TRAIL .
Fear is
false evidence
of what may
appear to be !! "
Thank you
all.
Andrew
Without passion life would be a bore !!!!
 Click
the dragon to E Mail us
 Click
the book to sign the Guestbook
|
