I’ve sent most of the last two days in St John’s Street, Cardiff, setting up the stall for the Cardiff Christmas Market and for the first day of trading.  Our stall is just under one of Cardiff’s new WiFi access points(facing the Bright House electrical and furniture shop), so it seemed like a good opportunity for a quick update from the site.

The market stretches from the junction with Duke Street down into the Hayes and runs from now until 23rd December.  Over 80 businesses will be here over the period, specialising in local products, hand made arts and crafts, unusual and personalised gifts and good food.

We’ll be here until 23rd November, then we’re back again for nine days at the end.

Today’s been something special, with ‘Step into Christmas’ taking place all around us.  There has been live music, parades, Father Christmas (the real one) and real reindeer.  I’ve not seen much of it as I’ve been sitting in the stall like a rabbit in a pet shop, but I’ve heard the music and served a lot of very excited families.

We’ve had good dry weather so far, the streets are lit up beautifully and there’s a great atmosphere.  …and the comedy musical nun has just trundled past. It’s well worth a visit.

I’m very pleased that I have finally managed to get to one of the WordPress Users Wales sessions, this one organised in conjunction with the Software Alliance Wales.  It was a very useful few hours that left me with plenty to think about.

Reflecting WordPress’s origins, much of the day’s activities focused on blogging and making sure the right people know about the blog (particularly through social media). Not so much on static web pages or using WordPress to deliver transactional services (although they were mentioned).  I left with a wealth of new ideas, and useful reminders of things I already knew I really should be paying more attention to.  It was great to meet up with some old and new friends (and to be reminded about the challenges of working on communications in the public sector!).

Many thanks and a big round of applause for the organisers and speakers.

Key things to me to remember?

• Post regularly
• Don’t let technical tinkering and presentation distract you from the creating the content
• Social media is an essential tool for directing and filtering the flood of online information
• Share, and others will share in return

I must pin them to the fridge.

We’re back from holidays and open for business again.

Our next public event is another Paws4Tea event with Four Paws Animal Rescue.  It’s at Graig Community Centre, Caerphilly Road, Bassaleg, Newport, NP10 8NE from 2 until 4.30 pm.

More details are available on Four Paws’ forum.

We’ve grabbed a space at Roath Craft Market this Saturday, 29th June.  We’ve not attended this market for a few months, but it’ll be good to be back, show off our new products and see what’s changed.

The market takes place in the Mackintosh Community Centre, 38 Keppoch Street, Roath, Cardiff, CF24 3JW.  It is open to the public from 9:30am to 1pm.  The Roath Farmers Market takes place at the same time in the car park outside, so you can get cheese, organic veg and cakes as well as freshly picked crafts.