Grasses in variety

Weather's been unfriendly for gardening over the last few weeks. But its been terrific for gardens and plants that like a drop of water. And grasses like water. We grow a huge range. Today, I've showing off some of the miscanthus - which comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. I'm not sure of the Latin names, but this one is about 3/4 feet tall. We must have ten similar types to this.
This variagated miscanthus (almost white) is around 8 feet tall, just a foot or so shy of the similarly coloured arunda that we grow. Its seems bigger because it spreads more, and is stronger. Judge its size in comparison with the commonly grown purple Verbena bonariensis in the same photograph.Probably the best miscanthus that we grow.
This is a baby of the family, growing no more than 2 feet tall. Its a great 'front of border' grass, and so easy to grow. It will look good until I cut it down to ground level in March.
And finally to the old favourite, miscanthus zebrinus - so named because of its laterally striped leaves. You can buy a zebrinus in nana form these days, which makes a plant more suitable for a smaller garden than ours. But this plant grows big - about 6 feet in height and as much in spread. Its a lovely grass, spoiled only by its ubiquitousness.

The Politics Show.

Today's Politics Show was a must-watch for every Welsh Conservative. The UK section of the programme focused on David Cameron and Boris Johnson. We already knew that David is a class act. And we now know that Boris is as well. He came through a potentially very difficult interview with flying colours, and added some vintage, unique Boris at the end. Only comment I'd make is that its a bit rich for all these people to accuse Boris of 'politicising' the position of Chief Constable of the Met - that's the Chief Constable who's been openly campaigning for the 42 day detention without trial period, and ID Cards. Wrong on both counts, but a big help to Labour

Then in the Welsh section of the programme we had the Nick Bourne 'apology'. Felicity Evens is a feisty customer, but she did go on a bit. I thought Nick acquitted himself pretty well, all things considered. Lets hope that little squall has been put to bed.

But the interview that really struck me was that with recently resigned Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain. It was seriously impactful. He does not want to see law making powers vested in the National Assembly for a decade - at least. He informed us that the Labour Party (MPs, AMs and activists) are opposed to law making powers. He predicted that if there were to be a referendum on law making powers, it would suffer the same sort of defeat as that which befell the 1979 referendum. This was devastating stuff. And he has every intention of repeating all this whenever he's asked. Personally, I've accepted that that any referendum on law making powers for the Assembly before 2011 is a dead duck. Surely the scales have fallen from the eyes of the last believer.

One big question now is whether the Coalition Government will survive intact. Its now becoming clear that Labour never intended to run with it - Peter Hain would have been closely involved at the time. It was just a cunning plan (as Baldrick would say) to dupe Plaid Cymru into propping up Rhodri Morgan and his gang in office. (Can I apologise immediately if this is too offensive to Rhodri) And I daresay a few Plaid Cymru activists are asking themselves, after watching the Hain interview today, whether their own leadership had any genuine commitment to a referendum either - or was it the sniff of the 'ministerial car'. I can see an early meeting between Rhodri Morgan and the new Leader of the Liberal democrats - just to consider the possibilities you understand.

One Year Old.

Our georgeous little granddaughter, Ffion is one year old this weekend. She is a trouble and a joy. Into everything. She's over from Cork for the occasion, and the whole tribe have been home to help her celebrate.

We decided that she should make an early statement about her commitment to the environment, so we bought her a husky on wheels. Actually, it was No 2 son Patrick and Verity who came up with this highly successful birthday present. I'm pleased. If walking with huskies is good enough for David Cameron, its good enough for Ffion.

Congratulations Anoup.

Regular visitors will know of my involvement with a care business called EuropeanCare. Its involved in delivering services for vulnerable people. It owns and manages getting on for a hundred care homes. It also sponsors a 'not-for-profit' organisation (which we hope will become a charity) called RESEC, or Research into Specialist Elderly Care, based at Oxford University. Because this is a sector with so much potential for problems, I spent some time with the owner of the business, Anoup Treon before agreeing to become Chair of its Welsh Advisory Board. I judged him to be an inspirational man, driven by a genuine desire to improve standards of care. The Board has been operating well for just over a year.

Last night, at the London Park Lane Hilton, Anoup Treon was presented with the Lloyd's TSB Jewel Award for Business and Commerce Excellence. It is the 6th year the award has been presented. It is a highly prestigeous award, for entrepreneurs in the Asian Community in Britain. Experience has made me very pleased that I agreed to help Anoup by becoming involved with EuropeanCare. This award only increases that pleasure. Many congratulations Anoup.

Free Prescriptions to end ?

Today's News of the World is reporting that the Assembly Government is going to abandon its policy of free prescriptions for all. The report is under the name of Jamie Lyons, who did a stint in the National Assembly before moving to London. In fact it was Jamie who brought to public attention the personally embarrassing story which involved the toxic mix of 'Tory politician without trousers, Welsh farmer, sheep, and police' that I'm sure some visitors will remember. That was a surprisingly big news. But this story will be very big news indeed - unless there's a categorical denial, devoid of weasel words when the First Minister answers questions in the Senedd on Tuesday.

The reasons given for this stunning reversal of the previous Labour Assembly Government's flagship policy is that its cost much more than expected, in part because doctors are prescribing over-the-counter drugs like Vaseline, and that patients from England are registering with Welsh GPs in order to qualify for free prescriptions. All of this was entirely predictable, and I, along with all other Conservative AMs at the time warned about it. We said that while free prescriptions are very nice, they would be an unacceptable drain on the rest of the NHS in Wales.

If this story turns out to be true, there are some interesting political implications. I cannot see Plaid Cymru agreeing to it, bearing in mind the unwavering support they have always given. I don't know what the Conservatives and the Lib Dems would do. Opposing the introduction of free prescriptions for all is not the same thing as reintroducing prescription charges. All I do know is that such a policy reversal would make Rhodri Morgan look a lot sillier than any dossier could possibly do.

Go buy the News of the World.

Edna Mopbucket rang me from Birmingham last Wednesday, straight after the leader's great speech. Full of it she was. She loves Wales, and she reckoned that Wales was being taken really seriously by the Tory leadership. I was a bit surprised after reading some of the smarty pants comments on Welsh media blogs about this. But Edna wasn't having it. "Mr Cameron only had time to attend two area meetings - and Wales was one of those". She was bubbling. In fact I thought she was being a bit disrespectful when she went on "That Dave of yours is a bit tasty". I told her to calm down. But I wanted Edna to do me a favour. So I buttered her up by saying she was the only one who could pull this favour off. Always works.

I wanted her to try to wangle a day's cleaning down at Wapping, and find out the truth behind the claims made in this week's Sun about who's going to be on Celebrity Big Brother, when it starts up again in January - and who's behind the rumours. Well when she rang me tonight, she was on fire. Nothing to do with what I wanted of course. "You really must buy the News of the World tomorrow" said she. "There's a really juicy story and its about Welsh politics and its going to run all week". And do you know what? My Edna would not tell me what this story is. I pleaded. Told her that my blog has no chance of overtaking Iain Dale, Guido and ConservativeHome in the visitor numbers game, unless I have a few gossipy exclusives. She laughed and rang off. Nothing I can do but be down in the village at 7.00 in the morning for my copy of the News of the World. I reckon that it must be juicy for the London based media to be covering Wales. If she rings me later, I'll post again.

Barrel of Fun

Speaking in a language learned in adult life can add greatly to the gaiety of conversation. My growing confidence in using the Welsh Language has already produced some 'howlers'. This week a friend on mine, of an Eastern European background, was expressing satisfaction at having the upper hand in negotiations with a lady - and announced to all that "I had her over a wheelbarrow". I realise that occasionally its a case of 'needs must', but this does sound both uncomfortable and riskily unstable!

The Reshuffle.

So what do we think of the reshuffle. Its difficult to think much at all beyond the Mandelson factor - a truly astonishing decision. I reckon a few Labour MPs will be giving Joe Kinnear a run for his money in the profanity stakes. But what about the Welsh connection. Well, despite much contrary prediction, Paul Murphy is still there. We had been led to expect that he might be put out to grass, and that Scotsman, Jim Murphy would take over both Wales and Scotland. I know Jim Murphy - but only just. He played football for the Westminster team in the annual Parliamentary shield. He was a very good player indeed, and could keep-i-uppy for several minutes. Wonderful ball control. He was so good that our striker, Gareth Davies (ex-Welsh stand off and Post Office Ltd) decided the only way to deal with him was to flatten him and give him a full blooded roughing up. Anyway, Jim has had to make do with Scotland. There's a lot of cross party respect for Paul.

But much more interesting is the elevation of Jan Royall, now Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, to the Cabinet as Leader of the House of Lords. I first met her when she was head of the European Office in Wales. She was known in Wales because she had been a special advisor to Neil Kinnock. I do not know Jan well - but well enough to know that I like her. She was the hostess at the Wales Kidney Foundation event in the Lords that I went to a few months back. I would have much preferred someone I don't like to have been given such a huge promotion. I really do wish her well.

Art and History in one.

I know a man who knew Lloyd George - and I was talking to him tonight. It was fascinating listening to Lord Hooson describe chatting to the great man at the National Eisteddfod about the 'Peace in our time' letter that Chamberlain brought home from Munich in 1938. Emlyn also told me that he'd been selected as the Liberal candidate to replace Lloyd George when he stood down - but never fought it because there were boundary changes. Caernarfon's loss and Montgomeryshire's gain. I must find time to read Ffion Hague's book about the Lloyd George love life. Emlyn's read it and recommends that I do the same. And then he started telling me about some of his discussions with Churchill. Amazing.

We were both at a reception at the Oriel Davies Gallery in Newtown. The occasion was to celebrate the Gallery being awarded the Arts Council of Wales Beacon Award 2008-10. The Gallery is the only recipient of the award in Powys. 80,000 visitors are attracted to Oriel Davies every year. It has some very good exhibitions. Last time I was there, the actual Monet painting that starred in The Thomas Crown Affair was there in person. I found it particularly fascinating because I'd just seen the film for the first time the week before.

My enjoyment of these events is linked to who's there. Tonight, it was full of friends. Now I'm home and thinking about it, I imagine that Lloyd George, Churchill and Chamberlain were there as well. That's the wonder of direct contact with history. There's also a nice little restaurant attached to the Gallery. If ever you're in need of a break as you are near Newtown, why not slip into the main car park and have a coffee in the Gallery which is adjacent to it.

I'm Backing Bourne.

There seems to me to be a basic misunderstanding of what 'unity' involves in politics. It does not involve blind loyalty to every policy espoused by the party leadership, or to sycophantic backscratching either. Mutual back-slapping love-ins never win anything. In my opinion, there is not enough serious, considered debate within parties. There is too little disagreement, not too much. Commitment to 'unity' involves not undermining behind the back while pretending to support to the face.

I notice it suggested on one or two blogs that I 'attacked' Nick Bourne in one of yesterday's posts. First thing to say is that, on this issue, my opinion is of little significance. Its just my opinion. I do admit to an element of disagreement over an issue, but its not right to call it 'an attack'. In fact, as far as Nick's leadership of the Assembly Group is concerned, I hope that this particular BBC story is without foundation. Personally, I hope that Nick Bourne is given full backing by the Conservative Group in the Assembly to carry on as leader - if there is any discussion of this issue over the weekend.

Let me , as no more that an occasional commentator on Assembly issues, post what I thought of the issue at the heart of this. Generally, I'm not keen on personal attacks against political opponents, partly because it usually benefits them. So it follows that I wasn't keen on the few words referring to Rhodri Morgan's dress sense, used in an otherwise excellent 39 page dossier of criticism of his record as First Minister. Unfortunately, these few words have totally diverted attention from the remainder of a very good piece of work. My attitude was "Damn it - some you win, some you lose". And because there was some public criticism, I would have felt obliged to give the document my full public support. I also thought that Nick should not have disowned the document on a Radio Wales programme, particularly since he had signed it off himself. But so what. Its no big deal. This is the sort of disagreement that crops up all the time in politics - and everywhere else for that matter. It certainly does not warrant speculation that Nick should be replaced. This is simply a daft reaction.

So there we have it. I've been moved to post under the heading of 'I'm Backing Bourne'.

Good and bad news for kangaroos.

Call me an old fashioned prude if you must, but I find men who fart to be rather uncouth. Thank goodness that women seem to be physiologically programmed not to indulge in this unpleasant practice. It appears that kangaroos are the similarly programmed. These creatures give off far less methane than the usual domestic livestock. According to today's Telegraph, their dubious reward for this natural politeness is that Australians are going to start eating them in great numbers. Its yet another initiative in the long term battle to protect our climate from global warming.

We've known for many years that cows in particular cause huge damage to the environment by their methane production. It has led to much academic research and political discussion. Now, Professor Ross Garnaut from the University of New South Wales is taking this research to its logical conclusion by suggesting that Australians should forget the 'Skippy factor' set aside their squeamishness and eat kangaroo instead of lamb and beef. He suggests that by 2020, beef cattle and sheep numbers should fall by 7 million and 36 million respectively, allowing for an extra 34 million kangaroos up to a total of 240 million.

This report extends to 620 pages, and one of its authors describes kangaroo meat as low in fat, high in protein and clean in that the kangaroo is the ultimate free-range animal. It should also help counteract the negative impact that too much Fosters's have on the bodies of Australian men, and make Australia a much more pleasant place to live.

Hey Mr Postman, What's happening?

Been out leafleting in Abermule tonight. I'm going to be 'available' outside the village Post Office on Saturday morning. There is one dominating issue - the future of the local Post Office. Let's recap on the story so far.

As part of its programme to close 2,500 Sub-Post Offices in England and Wales, and create 500 new 'outreach' services in their place, Post Office Ltd has decided to close Abermule Post Office. Its also been decided that this growing village should be one of the 500 that will receive a new 'outreach' service, of which there are four different types. The original consultation proposals suggested that this service should be a 'Mobile Van', linked to a nearby Post Office, probably Newtown. But there's been a problem. There is no place to park the Mobile Van. So we have impasse - and limbo.

Because I like to keep in touch with what's happening in Montgomeryshire, I follow up on these issues. I like to be able to answer Montgomeryshire people's questions. So where are we now? First thing to remember is that Post Office Ltd decided some months ago that they intend to close Abermule Post Office. Over the last month or so Post Office Ltd has been so preoccupied dealing with the fallout from its closure proposals in North Wales proposals that there has been no time to implement this decision and deal with the 'impasse' created in Abermule. But this period of 'limbo' is now coming to an end. Sometime during the next few weeks Post Office Ltd are returning to Abermule to discuss what sort of 'outreach' service is going to be introduced.

I'd still like the decision to close Abermule Post Office to be reconsidered. I know that I may not succeed in winning this argument, but I'll keep on asking for a rethink while there's even a small chance of success. I expect a few people to raise this in response to my leafleting.

All for one and one for all.

When I was a young man, there was a mad Irishman named Willie John McBride leading the British Lions. He was fantastic. No-one in his teams ever took a step backwards - and if there was trouble anywhere on the park, Willie's supporting battalion were on the scene in seconds. Didn't matter who started it. He was a great leader, respected by his men - who would have died for him. His force of personality made him a winner as well. Perhaps its because of the years I spent as a No 7 that I learned the importance of backing when it mattered. Like every openside my job was to be at the breakdown, whenever and wherever. I was often in a spot of bother (and I admit to causing a bit of it myself). As a rugby player, I never remember seeing my captain walking away when there was flak about.

Reason this came to my mind was this silly little story that the BBC has blown up into a silly big story. Now it may well be that I was a touch uncomfortable with a line or two in the 39 page 'Clown Prince of Wales' dossier published by the Conservative Assembly Group last week- but I sniffed a bit of flak coming our way. So I just want to make it clear that I consider the dossier to be an outstanding piece of work, and congratulate those who, with so much effort and skill, prepared such a good comprehensive demolition of Rhodri Morgan's record. And to those who suggest this might have caused a bit of offence to Mr Morgan, let me tell you that he is perfectly capable of looking after himself.

The Speech

I heard most of David Cameron's conference speech today, reclining in the car. I have just read the text of it. In my opinion it was a very good speech indeed. It was the speech of a man who demonstrated that he has the ability to lead Britain as it's Prime Minister. We already knew that he had energy, charm and an inherent ability to engage with people. We now know the Conservative leader has the moral fibre to put our country back on track, after the promiscuous and opportunistic years of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, two men who I believe history will judge to have been amongst Britain's worst ever Prime Ministers.

There was much in the speech that I liked, and very little which I didn't. But what I liked most was his refusal to promise tax and spending changes that his audience would like to have heard. David Cameron refused to promise that which he did not know he would be able to deliver. He knows that he may take over a country in the mother of all messes. He accepted the constraints that this prospect imposes upon him.

"If we win, we will inherit a huge deficit and an economy in a real mess. We will need to do difficult and unpopular things for the long term good of the country."

"So I will be asking all of my shadow ministers to review all over again every spending programme......even that will not be enough"

This man gets it. I don't expect a great surge in the opinion polls tomorrow. I do not think that was his objective. The shambles that is the world's banking crisis will keep a strong focus on Gordon Brown. But it will look different in a few week's time. In my opinion, we witnessed today a decisive step in the development of a man who could well prove to be one of Britain's greatest ever Prime Ministers.

Where's the common sense.

So many people are approaching me about all sorts of issues since I became the Conservative candidate here in Montgomeryshire - more than when I was Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales. When I've been away for a few days, its a job to catch up. I wouldn't mind having Phill back to help. I'm quite surprised by some of the issues. Here's two from today's mail.

First up is the cost of trade refuse disposal. The business concerned wanted to dispose of three domestic sized freezers, one fridge and a grill. The quotation from Powys County Council to collect and dispose of them was £744.50. I had no idea that such huge amounts were being demanded. If I was running a small business, and faced with this sort of expense, I could well be tempted to just leave them somewhere uncollected. What makes it seem so unfair is that the same equipment from a 'domestic' premises are collected and disposed of free of charge. Seems to me that there's quite a large grey area here. Anyone with any suggestions about what advice I should give?

Another issue raised with me today was the need for an Energy Performance Certificate on any property before it can be let - a new requirement from today. This EPC cost £55. Since there is no consequent requirement on the property owner to take any action whatsoever, it seems to me a complete waste of time and money. Anyway, I called in on the letting agent this morning to find out more. I was told that no prospective purchaser had ever asked for sight of any HIPS information or a EPC (which has been reqiuired for a sale for some time) before a property has been sold. We're talking hundredds of sales here. What on earth is the point?

I cannot do anything about either of these issues, except comment on the madness of it all, thus adding in a tiny way to the seething mass of resentment that must surely one day explode and lead to an outbreak of common sense.

A Taste for Voyeurism.

Nasty shock this morning. Received this unbelievably distasteful photograph in my inbox - my Liberal Democrat opponent in Montgomeryshire, wearing a garish, off-the-shoulder, ill-fitting leotard. Decided immediately that it was indeed unbelievable. My instinctive response was that we would not have to wait long for a 'statement' declaring it to be completely untrue, and that the supposed leotard wearer wanted only to be a serious politician, president of his party and hard working MP for Montgomeryshire, who would not dream of doing something so tacky. The whole thing did seem an awfully 'convenient' media opportunity to me. Sure enough........

Celebrity Big Brother is just not my sort of programme. I used to think this type of television was no more than rather dodgy 'voyeurism'. But I have found myself quite gripped by Lisa Forrest's blog in the Daily Telegraph, where she lays out her private traumas for us all to read about. I feel that I know and like Lisa, and want to sort her pathetic husband, Matt who has left her for greener grass elsewhere. So it turns out that I don't mind prying into a private life after all. It appears that what grates with me is the 'celebrity' bit. If Big Brother was based on the first random ten people to walk out of Starbuck's, I'd probably want to watch it myself.

Tough Choices Ahead.

Been reading about George Osborne's ideas to limit Council Tax increases in England. Put simply, he's saying that any English Council which limits its proposed Council Tax increase to 2.5% would receive a grant payment from the Treasury which would reduce the increase to nil. Several consequences occur to me, beyond the assumed pleasure this will bring to Council Taxpayers and that it would cost a fair sum of money.

Firstly, it will put enormous pressure on councils to limit increases to 2.5%. Its not compulsory, but all I can say is that if I was a councillor in England, I would not vote for any other figure. Secondly, limiting spending to this extent will mean some seriously difficult decision making for councillors - and why not. For too long, the taxpayer has been hammered beyond reasonableness.

But what does this mean for Montgomeryshire. Well, nothing directly. But it seems to me that about 5% of any additional spending by the Treasury (which would be nil if it was derived through savings in other devolved subject areas) would be added to the annual block grant which passes to the National Assembly for Wales. But there would be no requirement that any increase would be spent to limit Council Tax increases. It could be spent on another of these 'freebies' that have been a feature of Assembly spending over recent years.

I daresay I'll be accused of adopting a Westminster focus (seems to happen quite often at the moment) but I reckon that this is a shrewd and innovative idea. For many years, my opinion has been that Councils should live within the discipline of 'no more than inflation' increases - except where additional financial burdens are imposed on Councils by national Government of course. Its not going to be liked by some councillors though, and I'll be interested to read about reactions when Council Finance Officers have worked out the figures.

My link with Birmingham.

Main reason that I try to avoid party conferences is that I don't enjoy them. I never have. When the Conservative Party was lagging behind in the polls, I felt a responsibility to turn up. So I made the sacrifice. But now that more people want to attend our annual do than watch Man U play Chelsea, and there would be dozens of potential 'interviewees' for every media 'op', I decided that I wouldn't be missed. So I've been engaged in a few days research into Welsh-Spanish cultural relations, and a meeting of the Welsh Advisory Board of EuropeanCare Cymru (which I chair) in Swansea. Of which more later.

But I wish I'd been in Birmingham yesterday to hear Terry Pratchett speak. Mr Pratchett is the 60 years old, politically unaligned, best selling author who is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. Since he joined the 700,000 or so people who have been diagnosed with this illness last year, he has done wonderful work raising the profile of Alzheimer's, as well as donating a big chunk of his personal wealth to research. I would have liked to have been there to applaud his courage and generosity. If I'd known he was going to be there, before I committed to my Board Meeting, I would have 'bitten the bullet' and gone to the Conference instead.

And now a word of thanks to Lord Mayor of Swansea, Coucillor Gareth Sullivan, and to Mrs Gwenda Thomas A.M.. EuropeanCare sponsors a 'not for profit' body named RESEC - or Research into Specialist Elderly Care. We are putting effort and resource into doing what Terry Pratchett was doing in Birmingham today. Last night, the Lord Mayor hosted a reception for RESEC in the Mansion House, and Mrs Gwenda Thomas, Deputy Minister who is responsible for this area of policy within the Assembly Government agreed to attend and speak. Although I didn't make it in time from Liverpool Airport to here her speak, I did make it in time to meet and thank her. She is a star.

Among the issues at today's Board Meeting were the way that EuropeanCare Cymru might introduce an 'advocacy' scheme for vulnerable people, and the way our recently introduced 'lay visitors scheme' is working. Really good and constructive meeting, exactly the sort of meeting which I would expect Terry Pratchett to approve of.

The reason why.

Over the last two days I, along with many others have been wondering why the people of the United States have seemed more inclined to punish Wall Street financiers than save their own pensions. Well this little synopsis of the collapse of Leaman Brothers reported on page 7 of today's Telegraph provides some inkling of the answer.

Bank goes bust. Shareholders get wiped out. Creditors stand to lose more than $100,000,000,000. Bankruptcy causes further crisis of confidence in entire banking system, requiring $700,000,000,000 bail-out funded by taxpayers. Employees get $3,500,000,000 bonuses

Only change I've made in to write in all the noughts - because the word 'billion' has become so devalued over recent days. And I wasn't sure whether 'bail-out' is spelt correctly.

Back home - sort of.

Only just recovered from the shock. I've just typed in 'bloigger.com' in error, and up came Adult Friend Finder - a site featuring 24 photographs of very well blessed young ladies in provocative pose. I was quite taken aback. The shock was all the greater because I'm so tired, having left El Rompido Golf at 6.00 this morning for Faro, then Liverpool, and finally Swansea for a reception and dinner tonight. Managed, after a bit of difficulty to get this flashy new laptop operating in the Ramada Hotel. Its No 1 son, Edward's computer. I hope he doesn't think I've been visiting dodgy sites on purpose.

Really enjoyed my week off. Played 18 holes every day. The North Course at El Rompido Golf is a great test. Its such a good course that the management won't allow buggies on it after rain. And it rained on the last two days. The par 5s average 550 yards. And managed to read a fair bit as well - a really nice World War 2 love story by H E Bates about an English pilot from Worcester being shot down over France, and falling in love with a French girl, and they both escape over the border into Spain. OK, you can stop sneering. I have a romantic side, and I really enjoyed it. And a pacey thriller by Val McDermid called Beneath the Bleeding. Tonight, it will have to be the papers for tomorrow's meeting of European Care Cymru in the Ramada. Welcome home. Will be able to catch up on what's been happening in the world tomorrow - and at Birmingham

Speaking of Spain, I should mention cycling, which is a big big sport there. I imagine that the continuing achievements of the amazing Nicole Cooke are receiving more coverage and plaudits in Spain than here in the UK. Following on from her brilliant gold medal at Beijing, she has just won the World Championship road race, outlasting the Dutch girl, Vos to snatch victory after 3 hours in the saddle. She is simply brilliant. Possibly the biggest loss of 'perk' resulting from loss of my position as an Assembly Member last year is that I wasn't invited to meet this wonderful ambassador for Wales when the Olympic winners were invited to the Assembly.

I've missed updating the blog over the last few days, and there are so many issues I'd like to post on. I