Garden after the Azaleas.

We're away for a golf break today and tomorrow - at Carden Park, near Nantwich. 18 holes on the Nicklaus Course this afternoon, and 18 on the Cheshire Course tomorrow morning. Back campaigning tomorrow night. Just sharing three photographs from the garden. There was a lot of choice. First up is the first red hot poker of the year. I've still not seen anyone else growing Kniphofia northiae. It may be grotesque (with a flower spike approaching 12" long) but its very early (before Royal Standard) and inexplicably unusual. We grow lots of them, and they always excite the WI and Merched y Wawr groups that visit the garden.

We grow many sorts of allium, which are about as easy to grow as you can get, though some sorts die out and have to be replaced from time to time. Some varieties seed themselves. Its always a good idea to have them growing through other foliage, because their own leaves are dying back as they flower, and spoil the look. No good going to a party with lovely hair and dirty shoes. The bottom tier of the Cornus controversa variagata forms the backdrop.

Last photograph is another of the Vibernum marisii (I think). We grow lots of Vibernums, but this is the easiest and best of them all. There's a popularly used name referring to Xmas which I'm not sure of. Could be the 'Christmas Cake Tree'. Comment if you know.

Out Canvassing

Been out canvassing around Welshpool today with Emma Greenow, one of our four Conservative Euro-candidates. We took coffee at the Church House, where the Powys Eisteddfod Committee were holding a coffee morning. Lots of people there. Emma's mother, Sarah was along as well. I genuinely felt that we were very welcome. This was only in part because Emma and her mum are very charming people. I also thought that no-one felt any negativity whatsoever towards us, despite the public loathing of politicians that I see reported on in the media. After coffee, we delivered leaflets around housing estates in the town. We didn't knock on doors, but met a few people who were out and about. Again not one word of anti. We spoke to one resident at length who is just about to emigrate to Australia. His name is John Howard, so he won't have much trouble striking up conversations in his new home.

I already thought the criticism we've seen about three of the Conservative candidates living outside of Wales as parochial b*******. Today emphasised the point. I already knew that our top candidate, Kay Swinbourn is a first language Welsh speaker from Llandyssil, who currently lives in Ledbury, and our second candidate, Evan Price, has a property in Crickhowell and has very strong links with Wales. I was walking down Berriew Street with Emma and her mum, when Sarah pointed towards one of the shops (Aqua Sulis), and told me that she was born there. She used to live above Jones, a draper's shop in the town. No wonder Emma has such a love for Wales, and is keen to represent a Welsh constituency.

Another reason that people were pleased to meet Emma was that she was the first Euro-candidate who has been out canvassing in Welshpool (that I know of anyway). The reason that there is going to be such a low turnout on Thursday is that no-one knows the candidates. Wales is such a big constituency that there is no way that candidates can be widely known. That's proportional representation for you. I very much hope that the Conservatives defeat the Liberal Democrats in Montgomeryshire. If I'm going to create the momentum I need to win the General Election, we need the victory on Thursday. In theory, I was out supporting Emma today, but I felt as if Emma was supporting me. This is good. Mutual support is what friendships are made of.

Concentration.

If I manage to become a Member of Parliament, there will be no question of me needing to employ a gardener. Little Ffion is a natural. She noticed Mrs D stripping old bark off the white stemmed Betulus utilis, (you can also enhance the whiteness by washing them) and as you can see is taking her duties very seriously indeed. Its a skill she inherited from her father, who used to use exactly the same technique to strip wallpaper from his bedroom wall. I just love the concentration.

The Challenge facing David Cameron

Mr Frazer Nelson is a very talented journalist. He's going to be up there with Charles Moore, William Rees-Mogg and Boris. This week he wrote an article for the Telegraph that imprinted itself on my consciousness, and which chimed with the general theme of discussion at Thursday's meeting of the Welsh Advisory Board of the European Care Group (which I've chaired for the last two years). We all see this great threatening darkness welling up on the horizon, and thundering towards us, loaded with pain and suffering. David Cameron is going to find that Gordon Brown has emptied the cupboard. The Labour Goverenment has spent all the money - and left massive IOUs behind. Its like waiting for next month's Barclaycard bill, after going on a crazed spending splurge this month.

Frazer Nelson outlines the terrible mission that awaits David Cameron when he accepts Her Majesty's invitation to repair our national finances when the most spendthrift Prime Minister ever to hold power in Britain is finally prised from office. We have become used to the natural cheerfulness and self belief that he carries so casually. Yet, the mission which will be thrust upon him will require other qualities - implacable resolution and ruthlessness. People sometimes ask me what sort of Prime Minister I think David Cameron would be. I've taken to donning a solemn expression, and announcing slowly and precisely that I think he has the personal strength, ruthless will and bravery to cope with the storm to come.

But back to our European Care board meeting. Our business is caring for people in need - of all ages, but particularly those needing residential and nursing care. Most of our 'service users' are elderly, suffering various degrees of frailty and dementia. We know that there is going to be increasing demand for the services we provide. We also know that the capacity of the care sector will decrease as the regulatory authorities remove poor performers and impose new standards (like ending dual occupancy of rooms). Nothing new here. What's new is that the capacity of our nation to pay for this is going to fall - perhaps by 10%, or 20%, or ? I recall the moment when it really hit me. I was listening to Alistair Darling reading out Gordon Brown's budget in April, when he informed us that he planned to still be borrowing £100 billion in five year's time - and that based on unbelievable growth targets. This was fantasy. There are terrifying bills in the post, and the spending splurge is still in full flow. I fear for the elderly, the demented, the disadvantaged children with long term problem who will always need care. These are people with quiet voices. We must all pray that David Cameron has the steel to share the burden and ensure that these quiet voices do not pass unheard. I believe he has.

There is nothing funny about the 'Expenses Scandal.'

I read my Montgomeryshire County Times this afternoon. Even though I've enjoyed a nice dinner at the Talkhouse, at Pontolgoch I'm still seething at 11.30. The only way I can assuage my anger is to blog about it. Now' I try to avoid criticising our local MP. I'm his Conservative opponent at the next General Election, and I know any negative opinion from my keyboard will be seen as politically motivated. So I eschew the usual political knocking. Only real criticism I've made is of his continuing role as a political columnist for the Daily Sport. He should be ashamed of the rubbish he writes for this pornographic publication. Irritates me because it reflects badly on Montgomeryshire.

But I felt incensed when my eyes fell upon today's front page. I have not been an elected politician for over two years, but I still consider myself to be a politician - and I'm ashamed of what I have been reading in the Daily Telegraph over the last month. It has brought justified public contempt and disgust down upon the heads of politicians - all of them/us - teh fraudulent, the greedy, the foolish, the naive, and the completely innocent. We have read about what seems to me to be straight forward fraud, serious misjudgements as well as some genuine errors. And hundreds of MPs have done nothing wrong at all. But all of us are in the firing line. There is nothing whatsoever funny whatsoever about any of this. Much of it is utterly shameful.

Now, I'm not making any comment about any claim that Lembit Opik has made. But what the b***** h*** is he doing making a public exhibition of himself, posing for a photograph for our local newspaper, treating the whole thing as a joke. And its not as if the County Times photographer was behind it. I was at the Carnival last Monday, and I was told that he was planning this photograph as I went onto the field. I was told that he had gone off in search of the photographer and had promised to return for a posed 'stunt' making light of the 'expenses scandal'. I was told he was planning to do it before he reached the Carnival field. Now, perhaps I'm overreacting, but while our democracy is falling apart around our heads, I really do not want to see Montgomeryshire's MP treating this scandal as some huge joke. That's better. Got it off my chest.

Moral Questions over Dinner

Enjoyed dinner with Kidney Wales Foundation in Cardiff last night. Lots of talk about the introduction of the principle of 'opting out' from organ donation, rather than 'opting in'. Felt as though I was the only one in the room who disagreed until Assembly Member, Jonathan Morgan, who had been making a few ripples of his own yesterday, told me that he'd chaired the Assembly Committee which had considered this issue in depth, and had taken the same view as me. Anyway, my opinion is of little consequence because the Assembly Health Minister, Edwina Hart backs the change to 'opting out'. Edwina has many strong points, but listening is not one of them.



Coincidentally, there was a relevant and provocative piece in yesterday's Telegraph (on page 22 - after all the stuff about floating duck palaces and MP's 'opting out' of facing the voters at the next election). How's this for a question? Should transplants be given to people who are so unhappy with life that they wish to commit suicide? Yes is the easy answer,while there are plenty of livers, kidneys etc. available for donation to satisfy demand. But there's not. At present many people, desperate to live and with much to live for, die waiting for a replacement organ to become available. These are people who would be forever grateful for an organ which has been given to someone who doesn't want to live anyway! This debate usually centres around whether organs are given to people who need one only because they have so abused their bodies - and may well continue with the same lifestyle.

I cannot answer this question - largely because its impossible to know where to draw lines, and make the choices. But the fact that I am asking myself the question tells me that there is a case for saying No, even if it impossible to compile a set of guidelines to make it possible. And I thought the question of whether 'opting out' was difficult!

Like Old Times.

Sorry, but unlikely to be time for blogging again today. Its 5.00 in the morning and I've just off to Cardiff for a meeting of the European Care Group in the Park Hotel. I chair the Welsh Advisory Board of this growing care company, and its my last meeting of the two year 'contract' I was given. I've learned a lot about the way we, as a society, look after old people - and a lot about the expanding problem of dementia. Even though I took the decision this week to put my campaign to be elected MP for Montgomeryshire as top priority, I may well retain my specific interest in this sector. No doubt it would become one of my priorities if I were to succeed. And I shall stay down in Cardiff for a dinner tonight, associated with Kidney Wales Foundation, another of the interests I'm likely to stick with. Been involved in the campaign for a renal dialysis unit at Welshpool Hospital for too long to leave it now - particularly since it really does look as if its going to come to pass. When it does, I will lead the chorus of "There's only one Edwina Hart". This rushing about, putting strain on the physical capacity of my body is just like it was when I was an Assembly Member.

Should have been down in Cardiff last night as well - for the first meeting of a discussion group about health services in Wales, with a focus on dementia, which is being promoted by the European Care Group (along the lines of something similar I attend at Oxford Uni) was held at the Park. But as a result of my new policy of giving top priority to my election campaign, I instead attended the Mayor of Welshpool's very grand dinner to celebrate her installation in this historic office for another year. Anne Holloway has always been a doughty fighter for her town. Pleased I went. Bis event. Main talking point was MP's expenses of course. Didn't meet anyone who did not think there should be a General Election this year. If Gordon Brown does not call it in 2009, I reckon he will go down to a massive defeat in 2010.

Power to the People.

David Cameron delivered a very important speech today. What makes it important is that if the opinion polls are correct, he will become our next Prime Minister. It was a signal about what sort of Government we can expect under the Conservatives. And because I cannot believe that the current discredited Parliament can survive beyond October, this could all be starting to happen before the end of the year. I never take that much notice of promises made by politicians that are unlikely to ever be acted on. Today's speech was different.

Lets consider some of these proposals. The most eye catching is the idea of fixed term parliaments. Personally, I agree with this change. But it is such a huge diminution of a Prime Minister's power that I can see a lot of debate in front of us. A four year fixed term would remove much of the uncertainty from our politics, and reduce the temptation to opportunism by future Prime Ministers. A genuine and welcome reform in my book.

The second change, which is already becoming reality, is the online publication of various spending, including expenses, party spending, lobbying costs and everything else you can think of. I've long reckoned that this is the key to a prudent approach. If the public is going to know about it, there will long and careful thought before incurring expenditure that might be considered excessive. Another good and deliverable reform.

There was also a lot about returning power to local control. Instinctively, I favour this approach, but there's is a lot of work transferring the principle into reality. There will need to be some hard promises in our manifesto to satisfy voters that this is deliverable. No reason why not.

Another huge promise is the curbing of the power of the Whips, and the granting of more free votes - a policy area which I've previously visited on this blog. I don't think its workable for a casual approach to three line whips. But if we are serious about returning power back to 'Parliament' from 'Government' there must be far less three line whipping. Since I became involved in national politics, I've 'enjoyed' a reputation for independent thought - and often been described as a 'maverick'. Suddenly, this characterisation sounds complimentary rather than critical. I don't know how this approach can be incorporated in a manifesto, but without it, the disconnection between our politicians and the people they represent cannot be repaired.

Its an exciting time in British politics. Out of the shambles into which our politics has collapsed over the last two weeks, there is real promise of a new, more interesting politics rising up in its place.

Boris at his best, and some of the other.

You should never be surprised by what Boris Johnson writes in his weekly Telegraph column. Today's was a mixture of brilliance and daftness. The first few paragraphs in which he portrayed our 'terrified MPs' as loaded on a Russian sled, being towed by knackered ponies through a moonlit forest, with a pack of ravening wolves in hot pursuit, tossing sacrificial offerings over the back, is Boris at his irresistible best. And his judgement that this Parliament is finished, and that Gordon Brown's Government has lost the moral authority to govern our country is spot on. "Its over. They must go to the country" he trumpets (if its possible to trumpet in writing) This is clear to all except the governing party, and its refusal to see will reap its own reward, when it is finally forced to allow the people their say.

But then he loses the plot by advocating a 'Parliament of Rebels'. I go part of the way with the great man. We do need MPs with a greater willingness to take principled stands. We do need many more 'Free Votes'. We must move away from the 'lines to take' mentality, which so disfigures our politics. There is nothing more damaging to politicians as a collective than what is called 'a good political answer' - which usually means sidestepping the question put. But its not possible to run a political system without some commitment to the team. I'm sometimes told that I have a reputation as a 'maverick', a charge I've always tried to resist. I will resist no more. Rather like some of the clothes I wore in my youth, I seem to have come into fashion. But No Boris, we cannot have a 'Parliament of Rebels'. It would become a 'Parliament of Chaos'. This time, I cannot travel all the way with you.

Let there be a little sympathy for them.

Judged the floats at Welshpool Carnival today - along with Lembit Opik MP. An unlikely team you might think. In fact, I've always got along quite well with him. Our discussion turned to the impact of the Telegraph coverage of MP's expenses on the mental state of the politicians themselves. It was an issue that Matt Withers covered in yesterday's Wales on Sunday as well. The headline 'Spare us the Sob Stories' informs us that Matt was not very sympathetic. For once, Matt and I do not think as one.

I recognise the inevitability that all those MPs who have acted 'improperly' (deliberate choice of woolly word) should step down as MPs, and anyone guilty of fraud should be prosecuted. But at the same time, I do have sympathy with many MPs in the present situation. Many years ago I found myself in a similar place, when I resigned as a Quango Chairman. I feel that I know the desperation that some of these people might be going through. Its the sense of injustice (whether justified or not) that weighs so heavily. To be 'tried' and judged in a national newspaper, with no effective means of defence, while holding a genuine certainty in one's own integrity and 'innocence' generates a mental turmoil that is very difficult to control. Its not really anger, or outrage, or sadness, but a sort of illogical 'blackness' that overwhelms rational thought. My own reaction was to search out solitude and silence. I'm told now that it caused much concern to the family at the time. I like to think that none of our friends noticed, but the reality was that I lost a few months of my life. Only fully recovered when I signed up for a course at Aberystwyth University and became consumed in academic study. Occasionally, I still get worked up about the injustice of it - but I always keep it bottled up.

Now this is not any sort of defence of MPs who fail the test of 'reasonableness'. Its not even disagreement with Matt's instruction to spare us the sob stories. Its just that I want to own up to being perhaps the only non-MP in Britain who feels sympathy. The only sensible response is to put up with it, and say nothing. If it is "unbearable for any human being to deal with" as Nadine Dorries tells us, its time to vacate the kitchen. Any attempt to justify or challenge will only make matters worse. No-one wants to hear, or believe anything that our MPs are saying at present - and won't until the people have had their say in a General Election.

Azaleas

I've promised to put up some more photographs of our Azaleas.

We grow around 50 of them, and they give us a terrific show of colour through the second half of May. This variety is called Gibraltar, and is my favourite because of its strength of colour.

Don't know what this one is called but its a real beauty. First year we've grown it, and I can see it becoming a favourite. One to look after and treat with a peaty compost, to show our appreciation.

This one is tucked in under a Maple on the side of the drive. Always attracts a lot of comment, and looks nice set off against the Vibernum which always flowers at the same time.

This Azalea is a great sight. Its about 10 feet tall, and is set back, so that you don't really see it until you are upon it. And because its in a shady spot, the flowers last a lot longer.

And here's a little group of three new Azaleas we planted last year. The colour is richer than it seems in the photograph. We planted another three close by. Should look quite a sight in a few years - one of the keen gardener's most often used phrases.

Fun in Rural Wales

A good way to make a few bob is to buy a clapped out old farm tractor, give it a like of paint and call it 'vintage'. Over the years, I've sent plenty of them to the scrapyard. But suddenly they are worth money. Vintage tractor clubs have become very popular. This morning, I joined an old friend, Chris Rowlands to 'cut the ribbon' thus sending 100 vintage tractors away on an 8 hour drive around the minor roads of Montgomeryshire. It was a huge event, beginning with an open air service. The Vicar of Welshpool, Bill Rowell came along and said a prayer for the event and then blessed one of the tractors. There was a mobile organ on the farmyard in the middle of Castle Caereinion. Mrs Roberts, the organist is the only living person (apart from my mother) who has changed my nappy. In case you think this is some form of politician's perversion, I should explain that I was only two years old at the time. The Mayor of Welshpool was, resplendent in her chain of office. We all sang 'We plough the fields and scatter...' Don't know why. We usually sing this at harvest time. Anyway there were hundreds of spectators, and several tractors pulled trailers loaded up with passengers out for a ride. All monies raised went to the local Air Ambulance Service.

Like humans, these old tractors find too long a journey to be a bit of a strain. They don't all make it. I went up to the Cefn Coch Inn to welcome the convoy home, and this poor old girl didn't make it. She had to be loaded up onto the tractor 'ambulance'. For those lacking much knowledge about vintage tractors, this is usually called a 'little grey Fergie'. It was great fun being involved with 100 individuals who are very clearly completely mad. So much fun that I've asked a tractor 'restorer' to give me an estimate of what it would cost me to do up a 40 year old Massey Ferguson that I still have in my ownership. I'm hoping she and I may make our debut at Llanfair Caereinion Show in September, where's there's always a good display of vintage tractors. I've always found it impossible to see 100s of people doing something daft without wanting to join in. I suppose that's why I'm standing for Parliament.

The Changing Role of MPs.

Can't escape from the expenses storm swirling about our heads. Two more MPs announced their retirement today, Andrew Mackay and Ian McCartney, the latter citing ill health. David Cameron is baring the teeth of a leader who will do that which has to be done. And several people telling me that they have no intention of voting next week. Doesn't help that hardly anyone I talk to has any idea who the candidates are. That's Proportional Representation for you. And I was asked if I wanted a receipt by the 'Mr Whippy' ice cream seller at today's YFC County Rally.

And now I've just relaxed with today's Telegraph, skipped the first few pages to avoid the subject, and I find the Charles Moore is at it as well. But from a rather more interesting standpoint. Over the last two weeks. I've heard the quote "In the name of God, go" a few times. Charles reminds us that when the MPs went, Oliver Cromwell established a dictatorship. Gordon Brown could be planning to 'Do a Cromwell' as we speak. Certainly, all of his ideas lead in this direction - a new Government Quango to decide on MP's pay and conditions; a discouragement of outside earnings; a payment for simply turning up; These changes will lead to more taxpayer's money for politicians, greater dependence by MPs on the taxpayer, and less scope for independent thought and accountability to constituents first.

I agree with Charles that with change in the offing, we need to restore the authority of the individual Member of Parliament as a power in his or her own right, defending the interests of constituents, exercising independent judgement - not just a peg which can simply be told which hole to slot into. I suppose I'm lucky in that I'm of independent means (made it myself before you ask) and would not be dependent on the taxpayer. I also really do think that representing Montgomeryshire is a higher calling than any movement up the greasy pole of ministerial ambition. This doesn't sound quite so unusual as it did a month ago. Maybe, some good will come out of this expenses chaos.

When men were men, and women watched

Montgomeryshire YFC Rally today, held in Llanbrynmair. I always enjoy this annual festival of competition and fun. Takes me back to my youth. Our Berriew YFC team used to practise regularly, honing our attack by attaching the rope to a vehicle with its brakes on, and honing our defence by attaching the rope to the trunk of a tree with a bit of give in it. The tug of war is a very serious competition. This photograph was of an early round. Around 500 watched the semis and final. What is new today is that the ladies take it as a serious competition as well. In my day, we men stove to impose our dominance on the other teams, while the ladies were simply required to appear demure, shout encouragement and admire our virile physicality. This appreciative audience inspired much strutting and muscle rippling. It wasn't a place for showing off your mind. Today the girls are sweating and striving alongside the blokes. Call me old fashioned but it doesn't seem quite right to me. They'll be playing rugby next. For the record, Dolfor YFC won the Men's Championship, while Llanfair Caereinion won the Ladies. I arrived in some style. An open top Four Wheel ATV happened to be leaving the car park for the Rally field when I arrived, and the two lads upfront offered me a lift. I stood up in the back, for all the world as if it was a Pope-mobile. When I asked whether my exposed position complied with health and safety, the driver said "F*** health and safety", and opened the throttle. I was tempted to perform the 'Royal Wave' but thought it would be seen as a touch ostentatious. I also enjoyed watching Emyr, drawing heavily on a fag as he commentated on the tug of war. The YFC movement is still in very good heart.

Danish Blue

Yesterday, Shadow Secretary of State for Wales joined me for an hour in Welshpool. Here she is turning her hand to a craft known as sand art, watched by Texas-based expert, Andy Hancock and pupils of Hafren School, Newtown. She is creating a castle, and very definitely not a floating duck palace. Location was the Montgomeryshire Canal Museum in Welshpool, which is run by the effervescent Eva Bredsdorff. Eva in a Danish import of long standing, and I was very impressed to hear her and Cheryl conversing in Danish. Bet that's something David Cameron doesn't know about one of his Shadow Cabinet members.

Declaring war on Bambi.

Llanerfyl Merched Y Wawr (Ladies of the Dawn) visited our garden tonight. You may laugh, but I really enjoy my occasional job as a garden guide. It what I may do when I finally draw stumps on my political career. I also fancy working on a supermarket check out, but I fear that I would talk so much that my throughput figures would be inadequate. Anyway, the most discussed innovation in our garden tonight was the subject of this photograph. You may well ask, what on earth a radio, tuned into Radio Cymru is doing wired up, protected from the rain some 100 yds from the house. The answer dear friends is deer. I know there will be lots of you who cried when you were kiddies watching Jungle Book. And Bambi may be one of your most cherished memories. But when the b******* visit my garden and chomp on my favourite plants, my childhood love evaporates more quickly than the unrequited love I expended on my first five year old girlfriend did. I switch this radio on before retiring to my bed every night, and leave it on until morning. Its works a treat - until this week. It was around 3.00 in the afternoon, and Bambi was grazing contentedly on my Hostas right in front of our sitting room window. I thought I was seeing things. If only. I've read about how easily love can turn to hatred. Well its true. I could have popped an air gun pellet into her backside, but I was so stunned that all I did was say "Boo, go away". All I've shot in the last 40 years is one Grey Squirrel, and that upset me - but I could well be applying for a licence to hold a rifle. In the meantime, nothing for it but more noise pollution at Cil Farm.

A period of silence.

I'm going to take Iain Dale's advice - and not post a word about this expenses issue for the next week. I know it might carry on dominating our politics, and I might end up talking to myself, but when the atmosphere is so febrile, its very easy to cause unintended offence - which I've done without realising it. I do not want to do that - unless somebody's trodden on my toe too hard. Life's too short. So onwards to something different.

What might she find?

We don't often have 'royalty' visiting Montgomeryshire - so we try to make something of it when anyone with even a tenuous royal connection calls in. And last night, such a person was spotted in the Royal Oak in Welshpool - the BBC's Jenny Bond was in town, so I'm told. She presents a television programme which is based on searching through the attics of celebrities, looking to find items of interest. I'm not absolutely certain of my facts here, but I'm told she was in Montgomeryshire to sprot through the attic of our local MP. Visitors to this blog are invited to suggest what interesting items she might find!

"Well Said" Jonathon

Really interesting discussion by the panel on Dragon's Eye tonight. The Conservative (Jonathon Evans), the Lib Dem (Roger Williams) and the Plaid rep (Hywel Williams)) were all in favour of an immediate General Election. The Labour panellist (Paul Flynn) made a spirited case against, and I concede that he made good points. But I'm afraid his logic was trumped by Jonathon. There are some huge problems facing our Parliament - not least that the UK's triple A credit rating is under threat. The brutal truth is that the people have no confidence in the current Parliament to deal with these issues on their behalf. Our politics is completely fossilised and devoid of authority - and will remain so until the people have their say in a General Election. For anyone who cares about Parliamentary democracy, the next few months if there is no Election will be a period of despair.

My Favourite Plant

While the political chaos in which our MPs are embroiled continues unabated, tomorrow afternoon I'll be retreating into our garden - preparing for my first garden visit of the year. Llanerfyl Merched Y Wawr are coming for a walk around Cil Farm garden. I will be the guide. I'm hoping that its a nice day, so that I can at least run the mulcher over the lawns. Although the garden is bedecked with a fine display of weeds (because I've been so otherwise occupied over the last three months), the Azaleas are out in all of their glory. I'm often asked which is my favourite plant in the garden. There are lots of contenders, but the winner over a twelve month period is Cornus contoversa variagata. Its looks really good this time of year. Its a bit pricey, but worth it. Its size can be assessed by relating it to the suitably sited fork.