To ask whether you are aware of the NATO summit taking place in Wales in September?

[emsiewill]

If you live in South Wales you are probably aware that 82 of the world's leaders, including Obama will be at the NATO summit taking place at the Celtic Manor in Newport on 4 - 5 September.

If you aren't local, you probably aren't aware that this is the largest security operation ever undertaken in the UK. That steel fences have been erected around the Celtic Manor and all around Cardiff, already causing traffic chaos.

And that this is taking place a mile from my house, I am on the route of one of the "peaceful" protests, and, with the current conflicts taking place in Gaza, Iraq and Syria, I am shit scared that the summit will be targeted by militants of one persuasion or another, and I and my family and neighbours will be directly in the firing line.

So, if you are not local to me, have you heard about this summit?

And here's some pics of the march...which was very peaceful - about 500 people according to one source (I'm rubbish at estimating numbers)

Marine 1 flew over our house.
We waved.

Fab photos of Mount Pleasant School.

We're looking forward to the military fly by tomorrow morning.

Am in Newport and have heard/seen lots of helicopters going over. But - genuine question - those who have seen Marine1 flying over, how can you tell???
On a separate note, I drove to Cardiff airport and back in record time today - the roads were empty!

We are looking forward to the fly past too, ds is 7 months and he has been excited watching all the helicopters today.

Some photos from our garden.

hadagutsfull marine one was followed in by 2 other aircraft, hard to describe but it's a different type of helicopter to all the other military ones that have been around for days. I didn't see them set off for cardiff last night but heard them return :) I'm sure he is the only private aircraft that is currently allowed to fly in he airspace. So I'm just putting it all together and making a BIG guess that it's Mr O!

Here's a few photos I took from up at Christchurch (not an original idea, there were loads of people up there!).

My boys in obligatory "wearing the silly cap" photo (car courtesy of thames valley police), over at b&q this morning. Had a breakfast picnic sat on the car bonnet, then watched the planes :)

Yes marine 1 is a lot bigger than the other helis.

Thanks howitis I'll have to wait till next time then! I've only seen the usual ones. So glad i saw the fly past
from my workplace. It's a shame I couldn't stay home though as the view would have been even better. DS (17) managed to rouse himself in time to stick his head out of the window apparently ...

We judges watched him fly out about 30 mins ago, feel a little :( now.

Just!

Yes, I know what you mean. All feels a bit anticlimactic now. Still, I think Newport came out of it well. No arrests here (only 4 in Cardiff I think), police very friendly & light-touch. And the 'Vale of Usk' looked beautiful in all of the TV pictures.

That's the great thing about living here. So much beauty on our doorstep. And brilliant people (I fell over while out running on Tuesday - Lovely lady picked me up, gathered the pieces of my phone & insisted on driving me home.)

I

Emsiewill well said :) hope your ok after your fall!

This note left by 'out of area'police stationed at one of the roundabouts moved me to tears...

That's so lovely.

I also love Obama's jaunt to Stonehenge. The photos with that family are lovely.

Love the note, love the pictures, loved the fly by, love the Facebook coverage and the local 'in-jokes' that have been on there.

This week has been pretty incredible around here, we've seen sights and people that we are unlikely to ever see again.

I'm a bit that it's over, we were just getting used to it!

We will try to string it out a bit longer though with a trip to Cardiff Bay on Sunday.

Also have to say I think the South Wales Argus have been brilliant this week.

I would love to go to the Bay on Sunday to get on one of the ships, but I have a feeling it's going to be rammed...

Thank you to all those who have been involved in NATO. I have to say at first I was really scared.

The aircraft and all the buzz and excitement has been amazing. While watching the fly over this morning I met some of my neighbours and had the DC over to play ( with the parents) tonight the children have played while we have had a few drinks.

1 of my many pics

Another

We had a fantastic afternoon in Cardiff Bay yesterday. Yes it was extremely busy, but the atmosphere was fantastic.

I'm kind of missing seeing the police around and having the merlin helicopters buzz past every couple of hours!

Saw this on Facebook this morning, and it made me smile...