Monday 30 December 2019

See You Later.....Or Perhaps Never


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

As I'm approaching the fifty sixth year of my existence my status as grumpy old man has never been stronger. Though if truth be told I've hovered between that and wild optimism ll my life. However one thing I have noticed is that as I've become older supposedly little@ things start to have a demonic status all their own.

One of my pet peeves of recent years has been the phrase "See You Later". When I was young it was perfectly simple. It meant that you were going to see the recipient of that conversation that very day. What could be easier?

However a few years ago that started to change. I was at work and a woman was about to leave. "See you later" she said walking out of the door .

I didn't understand. I wasn't going to be seeing her for the rest of the week let alone that day. What was she on about?

Other people then started to say the same thing to me and I realised that it was a phrase that had taken a life of it's own which went literally went beyond the original meaning of the word....joining such descriptive transformations as literally itself or when the youth of today describe something as being "bad" when it was in fact good.

So I let it fester in my old man heart. That is until Saturday also at work when a guy said @See you later@ as he was also leaving. Now what made it different was that we were in Bridgend to the west of Britain and he was taking a four hour (and probably then some) to Norwich to the East.

It meant that not only was I not going to see this man for the rest of the day. I was unlikely ever to see him again. I knew from our conversation that he was not returning to South Wales and whilst I have no particular dislike for Norwich I've no wish to visit there either. And yet his last words to me suggested we were going to the pub that evening (of course not being a drinker he'd be disappointed when I become that boring guy)

Language evolves. But it also should make a degree of sense. Or else what happens is that it becomes worthless.

Until the next time.


















Sunday 29 December 2019

The Near Midnight Meanderings On A Movie With A Microwave Meal Part 22: A Night To Remember (1958)


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I haven't been well recently, which is why there's been a long break since the last time I've done this blog. But I'm back now for which I'm apologise.

So one of the things I'm returning to is going through and chatting about the movies the 2013 Radio Times Film Guide  bought in 2018 in W H Smith in Harlow for £2.50 when in Essex exile looking after my mother.

The most recent film then that I randomly recorded was Roy Ward Baker's 1958 production for J Arthur Rank about the Titanic disaster. So let's start  with that title.  A Night To Remember? Really!Surely it's one people would rather forget.

Of course such a movie is not easy. If it wasn't for the fact that it's a tragedy then you could joke that it's the ultimate spoiler. Everyone knows what happens next so creating tension is difficult.

I had wondered how to chat about this and then worked out that perhaps comparing it with the much more famous James Cameron Hollywood sugar coating romantic gush of a movie would be a good idea. I did see it but decades ago so these are scattered memories. It is therefore Clash Of The Titanics Part 1. When I get round to looking at Cameron's Titanic again then we'll come to Part 2.

Here's my initial reaction. I didn't like either film but for different reasons. In the case of A Night To Remember a lot of the reasons are technical. But some of this comes down to the script by thriller writer Eric Ambler. There is with few exceptions too little time is spent on too many characters. As the viewer, especially when the iceberg hits, you get a situation where you're introduced to one plot line and then suddenly are shifted to another. That's disconcerting

But like I said most of my dislike for the British film is technical. It's clearly done on a budget and it shows. You might think I'm being unfair in comparing a British movie in the late fifties with it's modern counterpart. But it's nothing to do with the actual sinking ( taken from a Nazi movie - unseen - on the subject). For example the decision to make it in black and white. I would argue (and did so in a Facebook group) that secondary to it's sinking the Titanic is remembered for it's extravagance. Black and White does not cut the mustard [or insert your colour here] Though I have to mention if you look at the set design of the restaurant it doesn't seem special either. The Hollywood version is better.
And before we leave the restaurant there is a scene when as the ship sinks a trolley hits a pillar. That pillar wobbles.

Being a British film it does seem more realistic when conveying a nation's pride at it's building and the class structure of the ship' s staff which mirrored society a whole. Class is an important part of both films but seems to be more authentic in the Rank one.

When the iceberg hits the Rank film seems to change it's patriotism to show Britain calmly dealing with this disaster. That is until you're shown that even when it comes to women and children to go on the lifeboats class is an issue as those on third find themselves locked in whilst those on the upper classes get to relative safety first.

Of course when it's about to go under then anarchy does rule.

Whilst there is a young Honor Blackman and David McCallum the true star in this film was Kenneth More. He was the upper middle class star of movies at this time. He was the comfy pair of acting slippers being representative of supposed British authority, calmness, decency and a sense of humour. Here he plays the number two of the ship and comforts his audience by being the only person to confront (albeit mildly) the only boo hiss villain here, the head of the shipping line.

I have know idea as to the veracity of this but the film seems to blame at least in part the disaster on a series of admin errors. To be honest it seemed too easy and to pat to have done this. Yet talking of blame it is interesting to note that in both movies the character that seems to have gone off lightly is the designer of the supposedly "unsinkable" ship. After all in it failed in it's first real test and no one confronts him.

You feel that even in it's budgetary constraints A Night To Remember could have been a better movie. Instead it ultimately become a disappointment.

Until the next time.





















Monday 28 October 2019

A Rugby Morning In Wales With A Halloween Postscript


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

It is a Sunday. A fact that means nothing to me as I'm working later. It's also bright. A contrast to the past couple of grey, miserable but most of all wet on an almost Noahist scale days that we've had to put up with.

I look at the mobile. It's eight something. The clocks being put back an hour overnight.It explains the good sleep I've had (yes I know) but also why the wife isn't beside me in bed. She's downstairs getting ready to watch the match.I

Yes that match.

Wales vs South Africa. Second semi-final of the Rugby world cup.

The previous day we saw England beat New Zealand. Let's make my position clear here. For the same reason I wrote about last year regarding England and the football World Cup though I support Welsh independence I'm supporting England. Simply because sport is different and you don't change your team in the same way that you would change say a brand of baked beans.

Also much as I like rugby (though never as much as football) I would not claim to be an expert or even fan knowlegeable. Indeed I hadn't watched any of the previous games before this one and only saw yesterday's game by being at the right place at the right time

But hey I'm going to pontificate anyway. It seemed to me that after the devasting first twenty or so minutes England were not really that special. The real acheivement was their ability to neutralise New Zealand. The All Blacks became the All Greys. The England coach Eddie Jones had done his homework (a man who let's not forget called Wales a "s****y" country).

Back then to the Wales game. Or rather the living room of the new house where the wife is firmly ensconced in front of the TV. I walk in. The match has started. She turns to me and asks me to go out and get two bottles of milk and a packet of cigeraettes. I can't really argue given that she's a) Welsh and b) recovering from major surgery.

Now I've learnt already that the  convinience store near us is a wierd place. It's not that it charges high prices taking advantage of it's captive audience for those just seeking the odd item like me. I'd discovered last Monday that it wasn't open in the early evening and now even more remarkably it wasn't open on a Sunday morning either. For those lucky enough to be under fifty five let me tell you that such shops were open in the seventies on a sunday. That's how wierd this is.

It means I have to take the car to the next nearest store I'm aware of. Walkable but just far enough for me to think that driving is the better option to get the stuff given the wife's condition. It's a Spar solely served by an attractive young woman with dark hair, Morticia like make-up round the eyes, a metal something on the nose and a dark top. It occurs to me that she is either the local Penarthian Goth or she had come to work straight from a Halloween party the previous night and powered herself to go through the morning with energy drinks.

It's all quiet. People are watching the game obviously. Unless you're working only English people with not that much interest in rugby are probably wandering around.
Anyway the items (at last) bought I return to the house. It's approaching half time. Wales are losing but not by much. You don't need to have seen the half to know that it's a tough game to call the winner.

Anyway the items (at last) bought I return to the house. It's approaching half time. Wales are losing but not by much. I decide to let her watch the second half alone. During the time I hear one whoop of cheering but otherwise silence. When she comes out of the room I know the result. Wales had lost. Agonisingly the diffTerence being a last minute penalty.

I suspect her reaction is that of most Welsh people. Disappointed but acknowleding that the team did their best. Perhaps the best word to describe it is sanguine.

Now a quick Brexit Halloween postscript. I was working that day and have to go through the A48 to Bridgend. Normally a quiet route, especially midday on a Sunday, the early part of it was jamful of traffic.

Why? A field had become a Pumpkin field. People could drive in and pick their own Pumpkin. Personally Pumpkins are overatted as food and it's remnants stink afterwards as if skunks were in a wrestling match. But clearly it's a minority view. Not only was the field busy but people had parked on the grass verge on the road outside. This included a disability van and an unfortunate guy doing some repair work under the engine.

And this is the point. Halloween as an event has sort of creeped up and taken over from the fireworks of Guy Fawkes. And whatever the origins as an event this is clearly an American construct. If it was European you know the Leave people would have been attacking it but  becuse (again as a marketing event) the origins are American they are silent. And yet the British event of Guy Fawkes has suffered for it.

The Disunited Kingdom we live in folks.

Until the next time.

Monday 21 October 2019

At Last We'ved Moved


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Well at last we've moved. We're now in Penarth. The Penarth according to brother in law's partner "Near the council estate" but no matter. Wife's dream has now borne fruit.

As I've explained before this is not my dream. Treorchy is where I wanted to go. But I owe my wife for being there when I was unemployed and suffering from depression. This I consider a debt paid.

Still it does not mean I dislike Penarth. It is as I've also explained before the urban version of a comfy pair of slippers. The street itself is very quiet but also very thin. Which doesn't help much when your driveway is full of scaffolding.

Ah yes. The builders are still there. But it seems the wife's strategy of just moving in once habitable seems to be successful. They are after all these months putting a shift in. There is a very good chance now that it will be completed by the end of the week. It should have been done months earlier.

Of course as it was always bound to happen they're putting this effort in the worse possible week. Wife's operation was last week (timing is everything). It appears to be successful which for more than the obvious reason I'm happy about. This was her dream. To reach it and then become unable to enjoy it seems a punishment she does not deserve.

So I am back blogging. after this personally speaking eventful break. More regular stuff as I adapt back to the blogger groove.
Until the next time.

Monday 7 October 2019

Last Night I Dreamt Of Harlow


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

We haven't move yet but are about to. The saga of the builders has been the stuff of cliche which I'll chat about another day. Promise...

However we are actually going to move by this weekend at the very latest. So at very long last Penarth here  we come.

But in the meantime let's talk about last night when I dreamt of Harlow.That's right Harlow in Essex. A place I haven't been to for almost two years since I was in Essex exile looking after my seriously I'll mother. But there I am, in it's main shopping centre. Having a coffee with a woman (remember I prefer tea). A dark haired young woman I do not know in real life. And we are, shall we say, friendly .

"I have a girlfriend" I tell this mystery female. So I don't mention  that I'm married but I say I'm in a relationship. Like most  dreams  it makes no sense.

My mystery fling holds my hand across an uncrowded coffee shop.

"Don't worry" she says "I have a boyfriend".

What have I led myself into?

It then gets weirder than even that. For another character I've never seen emerges. He's bald,he's wearing glasses...and he's drunk.

He also knows us. For he threatens to reveal all.What do I do? Deny everything? Plead that he does nothing? No I prop up the drunken figure and help walk him out of the shopping centre with my mystery fling.

What this all means? I've no idea. For that's the moment when the alarm went on my mobile.

Dreams are annoying that way.

Until the next time


Saturday 21 September 2019

The Battle For Wales : How Mark Drakeford, David Cameron And The Queen Furthered The Cause Of Welsh Independence


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

This past week may seemingly have been quiet in the cause for Welsh independence but actually has been quite important and needs to be noted down.
Let's start with Welsh First Minister Mark "Jeremy's Disciple" Drakeford who in the Senedd earlier this week basically stated that the majority of Welsh people did not want independence. and basically tying himself and Welsh Labour to the Westminster Unionist fold that makes it part of the problem and not th solution.

Welsh Labour have been in recent weeks seemingly have pursued a twin track approach on the issue of independence. On the one hand there has been the fervent Unionists like Stephen Kinnock, the Labour MP we have chatted about previously on this blog talking up the "precious union" and talking down on Wales. As I've mentioned before about  Mr Kinnock (who in terms of Wales really is the London Planetarium of politics - Bald and pointless) he really needs to speak to his wife about small countries who are happily independent such as Iceland.I

But, including Drakeford, there have been another faction that has dipped it's tiny toe on the issue basically stating that under certain circumstances it cannot be ruled out. Thus the tactic seemingly is to muddy the waters and not lose further votes in local government elections to Plaid Cymru.

Now however by acting as he has done Drakeford has clearly fallen into line with what Jeremy and the Westminster head office want. There is no ambiguity anymore. Welsh Labour is part of the Unionist fold. It has, not for the first time, surrendered independence of thought.

Drakeford is right. At the moment the majority of Welsh people wish to stay in the union. But the polls show that support for independence is rising rapidly. Labour have been losing local by-elections to Plaid Cymru partly because it's clearly the party that seeks independence. It offers an alternative vision.What has happened in Scotland is happening in Wales. Many Labour voters are turning to Plaid. The loyalty to Welsh Labour is diminishing rapidly. Labour's nightmare is coming true.

Of course the twin track approach was always a stupid/opportunist strategy anyway but sticking to the Union come what may has/will damaged Labour and will continue to do so. Furthering the cause of independence in Wales.

So let's come to David Cameron and the Queen. I've not read Cameron's autobiography and have no wish to do so but this is the first political autobiography I can recall where the subject comes out of it even worse than before publication.

Of course Cameron came into this on a particular low ebb anyway. Not only did he call the Brexit referendum but then clearly as Prime Minister ran it so badly. Allowing the  Leave campaign to  make the running . Furthermore after having lost  the referendum he immediately resigns from the mess he created. Running away I'd argue to spend more time with his money.

Whatever you think of Theresa May, at least she tried.

Initially the focus of the coverage has been on Brexit, and specifically his views on Boris Johnson  and Michael Gove. But later it turned on events surrounding the  Scottish  independence referendum of 2014. where he revealed  he asked the Queen to act in support of the union during the campaign. Obliquely she did. Stating that people should "think very carefully" before  casting their vote.

As we all know the Unionist side won the referendum though subsequent events suggest that for the SNP it was  a defeat but of  a battle not the war.

Whether the Queen's remarks influenced voters who knows?  But it  might have done.

Now the  Disunited Kingdom media are focusing on the Queen's displeasure and the breach of royal protocol. Something I'm sure discussed in foodbanks everywhere. But there  is no denial that the story is true.

However the important point  in terms of  a Welsh  independence referendum is this. No Prime Minister will be able to  use a member of  the Royal family as a weapon  for Unionism again  If they try they will be attacked as a tool of Unionists, a puppet. Indeed the position of the monarchy itself  within Wales  would  be under threat.

A Unionist weapon has been neutralised by a Unionist. Oh the irony.

All in all then. A good week for Welsh independence.

Until the next time.

Wednesday 18 September 2019

Argh My Laptop's Dead


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Sudden death is always the worse for those around the deceased. If only because of it being so unexpected. There is shock mixed with helplessness. The inability to help. The inability to say goodbye because the swiftness of the departure As you get older you feel that pain towards inanimate objects as well. Though the pain is short lived ( as you can get a replacement) it is there.

Monday night then. I'm trying on the laptop to get a stream to watch the Aston Villa West Ham game (Nil-Nil so the hunt wasn't even worth doing it in itself) I'm on Google so not even on a website itself when suddenly the machine went ping, the screen went dead and just died.

I do everything I can to revive it. Switching leads, pressing the on switch very  hard that it hurts my finger but to no avail.

There is a very remote chance that it's alive however the only way to find out is to go to a repair shop. However I genuinely don't have the time given that we are actually going to be physically moving to our new home next Thursday.

And I am grieving. If only because in the past two and a quarter years it and the tablet has pulled me through as going on the internet it's been a portal to knowledge, communication and entertainment. So it's helped me not go quietly mad.

So it's likely to be dead. And I'm saddened by it's loss. Saddened as well that I have to go and get another laptop when this last one worked so well (and if you ask how I'm writing this mourning of a Microsoft powered ACER whatever it's through the Kindle)
At time of writing (3:19am - I can't sleep) there's a fly hovering around me. I will try and kill it.

It's  death won't bother me.

Until the next time.

Sunday 15 September 2019

In Which An Englishman Criticises Potential Public Irish Policy. No It Isn't Brexit But The Case Of Lyric FM


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Only a foolhardy Englishman would criticise potential Irish public policy without the risk of having Brexit thrown back at him.

Only a stupid Englishman living in Wales would criticise the possible closure of a radio station when he's not even part of it's catchment audience.

Only a ….well you get the idea that man is going to be me.

I learnt yesterday that the Irish public broadcaster RTE is considering closing it's classical music station Lyric FM. We'll chat about why later. But to be fair to me I have mentioned it occasionally in the blog before just saying that it's the best classical music station I know.

What makes it different? After all it plays classical tunes just like any other classical radio station. It broadcasts live concerts just like other classical radio stations. It seemingly is a clone of any classical commercial radio station you can think of  (RTE though a public broadcaster does commercials) with regular news, weather, traffic reports, competitions etc.

The difference is it's tone.

Bare in mind I'm talking generally now but let's compare Lyric FM with the two major classical music stations in the Disunited Kingdom BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. Radio 3 constantly has difficulty in hiding the impression that it's tolerating you but considers itself superior. The commercial Classic FM seems to suggest that it considers it's core audience are listening to it in between reading the Daily Mail and watching omnibus episodes of Murder She Wrote.

Lyric FM on the other hand treats you as a friend. It does not patronise. What it understands is that it may know more about the subject matter than most of it's audience but that does not mean the listeners are thick. Neither is it fundamentalist in it's music choices. It can play Chopin and Ray Charles in the same programme.

So having worked out the formula for the ideal classical music station RTE is now considering throwing it away. Madness.

And why? Well to be honest living on this side of the Irish sea I'm not completely sure. The article I saw online suggested that RTE had a general "financial shortfall" (how come? It is paid by a licence fee and commercials). The article suggested that regional services, sports and drama were also likely to be cut. It seems to me that if these reports are accurate the idea of RTE being a public service broadcaster at all would be called into question.

But back to Lyric FM. Some people would say well then what's the issue when there's the example of Classic FM? The private sector will provide. Stop moaning. However that tone I mentioned will go. You will find that (taken as a whole) commercial classical radio will just get blander and blander.

I have,no knowledge as to why RTE has got itself into this situation. What I do know is that it's created a special public service gem with Lyric FM and losing it will not help it's future at all.

Until the next time.



Saturday 14 September 2019

The Battle For Wales : Why Wales Should Not Enter England's Possible Civil War


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I have a link on my mobile to Microsoft's News service (it's a Nokia. Connected to Windows 10. And if that sounds impressive it isn't. They've stopped the model now). It alerts me to the news headlines. In truth I'm not sure how I arranged it. But from time to time the handset pings to reveal an article from a news organisation.

For the most part it's not that impressive. Telling me stuff I already know or stuff that I really didn't need to know. But a couple of days back it brought up an article that made me want to read it instantly.

By Alan Crawford on Bloomberg financial news agency dated September 12 entitled "Will Brexit Trigger The Nation's Next Civil War?"

(The link is here https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-12/will-brexit-trigger-england-s-second-civil-war)

Now I've raised the possibilities of right wing dictatorship in this blog many times. Also as this strand of posts obviously says I've mentioned a political battle in Wales between people who believe in independence and whatever the right wing turns out to be. But this English Centric article (though worth reading - Wales isn't mentioned once - Scotland and Northern Ireland mentioned once in passing) puts forward the possibility of a civil war within England as a consequence not just of Brexit but it also needs to be said the subsequent mess of British government negotiations afterwards.

The chances of such a scenario are slim. But it says enough about the Disunited Kingdom now that no one in 2019 could honestly say that it's not impossible. And that fact alone should make people step back and gaze at the mess in front of them.

After all we have a scenario now of a Prime Minister suspending Parliament and purging dissidents from his own policy. One of the greatest ironies of the media manipulation is where the right wing press will accuse Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of wanting to bring in a Stalinist administration and yet it's Baboon Boris Johnson who has acted in this way.

Secondly Brexit is an issue that has caused division like no other in my lifetime. The issue arises passion on either side. Some people, whether previous friends or family members no longer talk to each other because of the arguments it has brought. That as history tells is as good an ingredient as you can get for that civil war stew.

Add to that shortages of food and medicines and increased political violence should Britain crash out with a no deal Brexit.

So then what if England is at war? What then? And given the title of this post. What should Wales do?

Wales is not in an easy position. It doesn't have the reunification option of Northern Ireland, nor did it vote to Remain in the EU referendum. The Brexit Party won most of the European Parliament elections in May but that doesn't really count as the Remain vote was split.

That all having been said though it does have the option of independence. Brexit might be the cause of an English civil war but let's be clear it will just be different facets of Unionism fighting with each other. If the Welsh Parliament declared independence from England and neutrality in such a conflict I would suspect that in such a scenario that  majority of people living in Wales would accept it. Firstly because they would not be involved in a war and secondly because what is the point in being in a  union disintegrating before your very eyes?

I have never said in this blog that independence will instantly make life better. And this scenario probably more than any other will be the most challenging. Still I would argue that messy independence would be far better than tying yourself to a country at civil war.

Until the next time.







Friday 13 September 2019

A Short Post On Why You Shouldn't Blame Fireman Sam For Gender Stereotyping. Blame His English Translators Instead


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

So it appears that the media preschool superhero of the Welsh rural village of Pontypandy is in trouble because he's not considered by one English Fire authority as "not inclusive" and outdated and have stopped using him as a mascot for this particular service.  Focusing on the title "Fireman Sam" the argument is basically that this discourages women from joining the service.

Now this an argument that splits people into ways that you would expect, the sort of "this is political correctness gone mad" response. However those who feel that the title "Fireman Sam" should be replaced to something gender neutral are correct for various reasons. Starting with it would follow the original Welsh text.

Fireman Sam was originally a pre school programme on the Welsh language channel S4C. It's (original) Welsh title was "Sam Tan". Literally "Sam Fire".

So the point being is that in terms of his occupation the original Welsh title was gender neutral.

Sam is innocent of the charges brought against him. As the title of this short post suggests the real guilty party here are those who decided that his English title should be gender specific. Sam however could hardly be blamed for the decisions of others

Now personally I don't see anything wrong with changing the title of the show to "Firefighter Sam". However I am bothered that one brave guy is cast as an outdated sexist symbol when in fact he has been anything but.

Change the title by all means. But don't kill off the guy.

Until the next time.


No More VE Day Clelebrations In Bridgend Town? Another Potential Welsh Labour Nail In It's Coffin


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Yes it's been a while since my last post. 1001 different things have been happening. But essentially I haven't unfortunately had the time. Anyway not as if anything has happened in Britain in the meantime.

But it seems somehow fitting that my first post in a while concerns a regular blog villain, Bridgend Welsh Labour council.

Now since the blog began I've focused on the urban tragedy that is Bridgend Town which I've argued is due to the arrogant incompetence of the Welsh Labour council. I intend to visit again (I work nearby) later this month but if you're interested tap Bridgend Town on this blog's search engine and it will explain more fully.

So we have a town on it's knees without (unlike say other towns in the borough like Porthcawl) a clear strategy for it's future and this remember is before the closure of the Bridgend Ford engine plant next year.

Let's move to another strand. Bridgend Welsh Labour council have made swinging cuts to public services and they are proposing to make even more. They blame this on the cut in subsidy from the Welsh Labour government in Cardiff Bay. As I've said before if Welsh Labour blames Welsh Labour then it's Welsh Labour that's responsible.

The local paper, the Glamorgan Gazzette, has made a list of where the proposed cuts are going to be. If I discussed each and every one in detail then I would be still writing this post next week. But one caught my eye immediately as it seemed to show how incompetent the council is.

The council subsidies events in the town centre such as World war two V E day celebrations reenactments (hence the bunting in the town which has not been taken off for a year) Caribbean concerts, markets and the one which I've chatted about from time to time (as I happened to be there on those days) classic car shows.

Well the proposal is to cut this subsidy.

Now this subsidy is for other parts of the borough as well but let's focus on Bridgend Town. What it means is that one of two things have happened.

1) That these events have been unsuccessful in bringing people into the town.

2) These events have been successful in bringing people into the town and the Welsh Labour council are now proposing to cut them thus people won't visit and spend money in the town which desperately needs it.

Either way it only highlights how incompetent the Welsh Labour council have been in managing the town. How it's a town brought on it's knees by arrogant Welsh Labour incompetence and it needs all the help it can get. Instead it appears Welsh Labour just want to bang another nail into it's coffin.

Until the next time.



Sunday 1 September 2019

In A Disunited Kingdom On The Verge Of The Death Of Democracy Let's Chat About Gender Stereotyping As Light Relief....Through The Medium Of Two Dead Birds In An Attic


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Yes that's right. Gender stereotyping as light relief. That's how insane this Disunited Kingdom has become folks'

So yesterday the wife and I visit the house we're about to move into. Mainly because she has some issues with the shower (which I won't bore you with). However as I'm there she asks me to go up to the attic. Last time she went up there the wife saw two dead birds (presumably during the day the workmen forgot to close the window) and wondered whether they were still there or had been removed.

So gender stereotype number one. The wife is the sort of small woman who takes no messing from anybody. She will go all in to do things that are supposed to be "men's work" (even if I'm there and offering to do it). And yet when it comes to rodents or in this case dead birds she becomes the most girly girl in the history of girls. She just can't do deal with the situation. She is almost immobile. She'd rather walk out of the house and leave them there.

I've no issues with any small animal really that isn't a domesticated wolf (aka a dog) so I go up and yes they're still there. Like germs in a Domestos ad. Dead.

So gender stereotype number two: When the wife first saw the birds (I was at work) she asked the workmen to remove them. According to her they didn't want to do it because they were scared. That's right big strong tradesmen with tattoos over their tattoos were scared to deal with two dead birds.

Gender stereotype number three: Me. A man who you could deal with in a fight by just taking my spectacles off felt a rushing surge of testosterone in my veins as I proclaimed "I am Lord of this domain and I shall resolve this!!"

Or I just shrugged my shoulders and "I'll deal with it" (I'll leave you to decide).

But not at that moment though. I needed gloves and a couple of black bags as the birds were not the only things left in the attic. There was a sixties style suitcase (unopened), a tennis racket and various songbooks including one I noticed for Boyzone (which surprised me as I only thought they did cover versions).

I'll sort out the birds, open the suitcase and look at the other stuff properly on Tuesday. Obviously in the most manly of manly ways possible.

Until the next time.

Saturday 31 August 2019

The Insomniac Meanderings Post : The Almost September Edition


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

The first thing I need to say to regular readers, before I say anything else, is that I'm conscious that this blog is a little disjointed of late. This will continue for a while. Because within the next thirty days we will (at long last!) be moving.

Consequently things are being packed already. And in terms of the blog the learning of a few languages and the chats on movies for example will be put in storage until we've actually moved and bedded in. They will of course return. They are important to me.

Of course I'll still be reading (some things will never stop) but until we move it'll just be from the Kindle.

I am on this Saturday morning feeling as if I'm being drugged by kidnappers but I am awake. It's an odd feeling. Hopefully the cup of tea by my side will warm me up.

I also have a cold. September is coming. The weather outside is cloudy and grey. Rain is threatened.

Anyway a quick note on British Constitution. Only British Unionist politicians and academics would be proud of a constitution that isn't even written. Well now there are calls that there should be a written one. Thing is. It's too late. As I explained in my previous post Unionism as a philosophy is now dead. A written constitution will be the first document in history attempting to revive a corpse.

So independence is the way (there is even a Yes Cymru group for farmers I note). And when right wingers send me tweets regarding Wales being "too small etc" I just send them my recent post from the right wing magazine The Spectator about Iceland.

I am at this moment drafting a post suggesting that the worst case scenario for Brexit will be that the island Oliver Mcqueen gets stranded on is a perfect metaphor for what Britain will become. An article in the BBC News website today  discussing discussing the foraging of food does not help. After all surely such an article would have had more relevance in the summer not now (almost September). So why is this up there?

Anyway wife's awake. Things to do (and pack). Until the next time.






Thursday 29 August 2019

The Battle For Wales : After Suspending Parliament Unionism Is Now Dead


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Well after what Prime Minister Baboon Boris Johnson did yesterday in suspending parliament one thing is clear.

Unionism is dead.

Unionists will survive (for now) because those will have power will seek to keep it. But Unionism is dead.

For after all if a Unionist government in Whitehall is happy to suspend the Unionist Parliament in Westminster (which as I've explained before has had a nervous breakdown in itself) then it's an action which once and for all has reduced Unionism to be a power grab and nothing else.

Now I know what some of you will say. "What about upholding the result of the EU referendum?" Well what about it? As I've also explained before the problem of the referendum, and the source of everything that has happened since, is that people voted on the destination not the route to get there. Who outside the cultish right wing truly voted for a No-Deal Brexit? Who?

So then what we have are right wing Unionists flexing their muscles uncaring about the democratic oversight of parliament. Whitehall truly rules. Johnson, Rees-Mogg, Gove. They represent the establishment without any pretence of decorum.

What that this do to the Scottish and Welsh independence movements? Well by overriding the will of parliament Boris Johnson has provided nationalists with more weapons to fight independence with. This is ultimately a right-wing English manoeuvre. A fact not lost.

In Wales Mark "Jeremy's Disciple" Drakeford has called the Senedd in early to discuss the Baboon's actions and how a no deal Brexit will affect people here. But let's not forget that as Finance minister he was the man who help surrender Welsh powers to Theresa May for a seven year period. These powers now to be controlled by the Baboon and his Welsh consul Secretary of State Alun "Chucky" Cairns. No one in Wales voted for this. And yet this is what's happening.

Therefore in Scotland and Wales the independence movement will grow (I'm assuming Ireland will be reunified - After all if Arlene Foster thinks that the suspension is a good thing then that's another DUP dinosaur manoeuvre) and will not be stopped. Independence is for Scotland and Wales the only other alternative to the right wing regime amongst us. And how can unionists now claim independence will provide chaos when they have helped cause the death of the philosophy they claim to follow?

I, I must admit, have not been the greatest at making predictions but I'm going to make another one. When Wales and Scotland become independent, and they will, historians will look at the actions on the 28 August and will mark that this was the day when the point of no return was reached for Unionism.

Because Unionists killed it.

Until the next time


Wednesday 28 August 2019

Whatever The Finsbury Park Mosque Attacker Is......He Is Not Welsh....Yet Why Is That Impression Given?


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

In June 2017 Darren Osborne drove a van into a crowd coming out of the Finsbury Park Mosque in London. One man was killed.

I remember at the time being appalled at the time. Then being truly stunned that he had rented the van from a place in Pontyclun, almost at the beginning of the Rhondda Cynon Taff area. Which he meant he drove all the way along the M4 to London to commit this hate crime. I didn't understand how a Welshman would have been prepared to do this at a place so far away.

He is now in the news again following an alleged assault on a fellow prisoner. And this time Twitter has informed me of something I wasn't aware of.

Whilst he lived in Cardiff .He's not Welsh.

He was in fact born in Singapore and spent his formative years in Weston-Super-Mare.

Now you may say, rightly, that this really has no baring on the crime which he committed. What is also true and needs to be stressed here before I go on is that I'm not saying that there is no one born in Wales capable of committing a similar act.

But the thing that Twitter pointed out was that the Wales Online article explaining the latest incident gave the impression that he was Welsh.

So I looked instead at the BBC Wales online article and it too gave a similar statement. It said "Osborne, from the Pentwyn area of Cardiff.....". But again this gave the wrong impression. He might have lived there but he wasn't born there.

An admittedly quick skim of articles at the time of the Finsbury Park attack and subsequent trial were also similar in their wording unless they spoke of his background. Only then was it revealed he wasn't Welsh.

So the question needs to be asked why is the impression given that Osborne is Welsh?  Well I've no idea. At best it's lazy journalism.

But what I do know is this. Trust in news organisations is diminishing at a rapid rate. This general impression that Osborne is Welsh has now lasted over two years and it continues today.

All people want are all the facts.

Until the next time.


Monday 26 August 2019

The Battle For Wales : Why Ireland Will Be An Independent Wales' Friend


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Something odd happened to me on Twitter yesterday. I responded to a tweet from the pro-Leave group Turning Point UK which showed two young women called "The Grant Sisters" speaking about Britain, Ireland and the Irish backstop with all the patronising fluency that apparently reading from an autocue would suggest.

I won't go through what they said. But just imagine being taught by condescending vacuous supply teachers and I think you would start getting the right impression.

I tweeted that I would want the sisters to speak about Ireland and the backstop ...in Ireland.... in front of the Irish and then they would get the cold chill of reality.

And to my amazement the likes to that tweet came in their hundreds.

Brexit has not caused a rift in the relations between Britain and the Irish Republic but the reaction to the Irish backstop has. You know that thing that's actually helped peace in all of Ireland for decades. And the thing is this. Why is Westminster so surprised that the Irish Republic are being firm on this? Why is Westminster so surprised that Dublin is acting in the Irish interest?

As for the Welsh Labour government it's trying to improve Wales-Ireland relations but truly it's hands are tied due to the mess the party has found itself in regarding it's attitude to Brexit. The only true clear thing about Labour policy here is that it's policy is as clear as mud.

What the British government has been under May, and even more so under Baboon Boris Johnson, is arrogantly incompetent. It is a lazy attitude. It smacks of disrespect of an independent nation. It also suggests Ireland is, even subconsciously, still a colony in their eyes.

But of course it is Wales and not Ireland that is the last truly Serf nation in Europe but as the calls for independence rises (including a leader piece in this week's Economist magazine) it's interesting to chat about what an independent Wales's relationship would be with it's other neighbour across the sea.

Now before going on this crystal ball gazing assume three things:

1) Brexit occurs

2) Wales will be independent

3) Whilst not a full EU member believing that the priority has to be the bedding down of independence, Wales is a member of the subsidiary EU organisations eg EFTA like Norway and Iceland (there it comes again. Iceland mentioned three times in this blog in just over a week!).

So where do begin? Well let's start with the obvious. Unless England turns into A State Of Denmark (The novel by Dereck Raymond depicting an undemorcratic England - though interestingly Scotland and Wales being independent - no longer as far fetched as it would appear even five years ago) Wales would still want to be good neighbours with the only country it shares a border with. After all good neighbours become good friends.

However even a most democratic and free thinking England will be resentful at Welsh independence. It would be after all a divorce so it should not be a surprise if it threw (even literally) road blocks along the way. Ireland would provide help to alleviate whatever England decides to do.

You might say why should it? After all Wales voted for Brexit. It seemed to tie itself to Westminster. But even now Wales is a different country to what it was then. Welsh independence would change the dynamic of the country. Of how it's viewed around the world. No longer would it be seen as a Serf nation of London. And Ireland would be one of the first countries it will need to reach out to. Being as it is the neighbour across the Irish sea

In the short term Ireland will be damaged by Brexit. But in the long term it will adjust as a member of the EU. It will have 26 other countries to help it and I'd argue would be in the longer term more prosperous than it has ever been. Consequentially it will become Wales' gateway back into Europe both as an example and as a route for easier trade. This would not be quick and simple for Wales. Nor indeed should it given it voted to get out and indeed as I stated before the bedding down of independence should be it's first priority not attempting to rejoin .

Also if England does go A State of Denmark route. Then there would be potentially security issues for the Celtic nations that surround it. And that includes the Republic. Therefore co-operation between Ireland, Scotland and Wales will be needed.

Now I'm not a fan of the "Celtic nation" idea combining the three nations together. But there are some shared issues and, ironically enough, the state of England could be one of them.

Socially relations between the Irish and the Welsh have always been good. I remember years ago being in a pub in Cardiff where after a Six Nations games the fans were having a whale of a time. I was the odd one out. Not because I'm English but because I don't drink (I was with the wife's brother who invited me). A big burly Irish guy put an arm on my shoulder and said:

"Why don't you get p*****?"

Under the circumstances not an unreasonable suggestion. Thankfully he wandered away singing something so that moral maze was avoided.

I've never been to Ireland. But based on the Irish people I know the "Italy with rain" tag I love about Wales does appear to apply to the Republic as well.

Good neighbours become good friends.

Until the next time.











Sunday 25 August 2019

I Am Not Mr Summer So Am Happy September Is Approaching


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Regular readers will know that I'm not Mr Christmas and will probably have had a suspicion of this from previous things I've written about in the past. But let me make it clear. I'm not Mr Summer either.

One of the reasons I'm writing about this now is of course Brexit. I get the feeling that there has been some sort of plan to put Brexit on the back burner for a short while. "Enjoy the summer" the propaganda would say. "Don't worry about Brexit"  "Relax". We're doing the work whilst you don't have to. It's that sort of thing that makes me hate summer even more this year. The feeling of disaster whilst few are truly noticing.

It's as if we are being lulled into a European (oh the irony) Siesta.

This summer for the most part has not been of the blisteringly hot weather that I truly can't stand. The sort of heat (which happened last year) where your brain wants to do things but your body doesn't have the energy towards. If I'd believed in God I'd say that was a blessing.

Similarly my dislike (tidying up aside) of gardening has not been hidden from this blog either. Are you say. Summer means you can relax whilst watching the fruits of your efforts bloom. Thing is. What are you watching? Grass and flowers. Hardly a movable feast for the eyes.

Nor am I a beach person. Or indeed a picnic person. And let's go on about picnics for a while. I'm a man. So the idea of being able to eat food whilst swatting away insects that try to hover over the offerings on the picnic sheet seems to require a degree of multi-tasking beyond my intelligence.

It was actually worse when my daughter was very young, because summer holidays especially meant having to keep her occupied for six whole weeks . Even as a child I knew that the summer holidays were exciting to begin with, became deadly dull (these were the days before the internet and where there were only three television channels) only for you to frantically make it exciting again as you realised that the return of school was about a week away.

So as hard reality of Brexit approaches I've noticed articles talking about "Staycations" and "Charity clothes shopping" as if it's a good thing. Quietly we are being lulled into a very cold place indeed.

Personally I'm happy September is approaching. Happy that things will start moving again and that summer is going. For both personally and as a Disunited Kingdom, reality is rarely a siesta.

Until the next time.









The Case Against Adults Reading Children's Books For Their Own Pleasure


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I have spoken about this before albeit briefly but a Twitter spat I was involved with made me feel "Ah well let's write about this" and marshall my thinking in some sort of regimen rather than the microwave of thought through a tweet.

When chatting about this previously I mentioned that it was my view that adults should not read for their own pleasure for reasons some of which I'll mention as we go along here.

I must admit I've nuanced my views a little. I've mentioned in the past chatting about Film/TV series the feeling of Nostalgia for the American comics of my youth as well as mentioning Neil Gaiman's intriguing work Marvel 1602 (which gave the answer to the question no one asked "What if a number of Marvel characters moved to Elizabethan England?") began to grow within me. So I now get the power of nostalgia and of rereading books you enjoyed as a child.

Also I'm not talking about people learning to read as an adult. Indeed when I started to learn Welsh I read many children's books, including those for pre-school, so I'm aware of the female powerhouse that is Sali Mali. I get that learning to read comes in stages and that "children's novels" are just such a stage.

But these are exceptions. For the most part adults should not read children's literature for their own pleasure. Why?

The main reason is simple. There are as I've made clear so many books and so little time. So why waste them on children's /young adult books when there are literally tons of adult tomes out there waiting for your eyes to discover them?

But there is also the point that it's rather pathetic trying to jump on a bandwagon (say, obviously Harry Potter) that was not designed with you in mind. Why invade the kid's space? Few people will applaud you for it. Indeed when as I've mentioned before the late great comedienne Linda Smith wanted to put such adult Harry Potter readers into Room 101 the studio audience instinctively applauded her.

What do you get reading the Famous Five for example (I was never a Famous Five fan. The Secret Seven was my Blyton series of choice) ? Lashings of ginger beer whilst solving mysteries?  You're an adult. Act like one.

Until the next time.



Saturday 24 August 2019

On Books : Including The Best and The Most Disappointing 2019 Read So Far


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

We have met Kate Chopin before in this blog. 2017 when chatting about her book of short stories The Awakening. I liked it and was looking forward to reading her first novel At Fault when the wheel of book reading fortune came it's way.

So let's now ignore the plot.

This novel was published in 1890 and set in Louisiana. There are people of colour but essentially supporting characters /servants for more sophisticated white people problems. The N word is used as well as other racially charged epithets. Also in a dinner party talk about "Negroes" is not considered suitable.

You might say that I'm writing from 21st century left wing sensibilities. Well why not? I'd also respond by saying that there is nothing in the novel to suggest that Ms Chopin disapproved of the social order at that time.

So let's now chat about the story (without spoiling things). It's too rushed. Especially the ending which struck me as being too convenient as well. Furthermore there is one plotline which is abruptly cut about halfway through for no believable reason. It's as if Ms Chopin either had a deadline to reach or was bored and wanted to finish it as quickly as possible.

There are (taking the book as a whole) three main characters and we know the two that Ms Chopin wants us to feel sympathetic towards. However my sympathies led me to the more flawed and yes more human third one.

In short then I've read worse books than At Fault this year. But given The Awakenings and with a third of the year to go it's the front runner for the most disappointing book of 2019.

So as I'm chatting about the next book Jonathan Coe's 2001 novel The Rotters' Club let me start by saying that I finished it in hospital on an early Wednesday morning. The last time I tried to do this was whilst waiting in an early morning whilst a day operation was being performed on my mother.in Essex almost two years ago. As I said at the time John Le Carre lost out to an overwhelming desire to sleep.

This time it's in South Wales and I'm still the one waiting for an operation to finish. The person having the day operation - though different -is my daughter. Now firstly everything went fine and she was out the same day. That's all I'm going to say regarding that.

I do need to mention however that (though I obviously started it days before) I didn't fall asleep this time. On that score then Coe is a better writer than Le Carre  ( yes it's important. Le Carre couldn't hold my attention Mr Coe did).

The Rotters' Club is mainly set in the seventies and for the most part (though adult characters and their dramas are included) focuses on a group of teenagers in Birmingham where amongst other things there was a British car industry. Now almost literally a bodywork of it's former self and (as Bridgend Ford's factory would attest to) perhaps being even less than that in the future.

There are many seventies references in the novel and I do worry for this novel's future when all the people that lived through the decade have passed away. For example the ending of the first part of the book, whilst brilliantly constructed, wouldn't be as effective on those who were not around then.

Also though it makes me sound like a Brexiteer I did not like the chapters relating to a Danish holiday if only because it seemed so out of kilter with the rest of the book.

But really why should I care about what I said about the novel's future? I lived through the seventies (was nine when the story properly starts - 1973) so I get the references which with quiet subtle genius are woven into the manuscript. And it works. It reminded me of that time. What Mr Coe provided me was a time machine to my youth. Including the teenage angst as the decade rolled on.

Ignoring the Danish part the characters and their situations were believable. All emotions were laid bare in front of us. I should also mention that I should probably claim be the only reader who supports an independent Wales (mentioned in a speech in the book) and was born in Forest Gate in London's East End so aware of the Princess Alice pub that is also mentioned (albeit in a short passage). A pub that along with the Odeon cinema (in the days where they showed just one film a week - but on a massive screen - no multiplexes then) was a landmark of the area at that time though I never went in as children were banned from entering pubs then let alone drinking alcohol .

So even taking the Danish chapters into account The Rotters' Club is the best novel I've read so far this year and although part of it is me wallowing in nostalgia like a hippo in mud it's also to do with it's quiet brilliance. I truly cannot recommend it highly enough.

Which is more I can say about Olive In Italy by Moray Dalton (actually a pseudonym for a female writer). Published in 1909 it's about what happens to a young English woman (called an "English rose". Of course she is) when she travels to Italy to be with her relatives there.

This novel has the rare trick of mixing melodramatic twaddle with mind numbingly dull twaddle. Twaddle though is the thing that stands out. Best avoided.

Until the next time.











Friday 23 August 2019

The Battle For Wales : The Right Wing Magazine The Spectator's Unexpected Own Goal When It Comes To Welsh/Scottish Independence - Yes We're Talking Iceland Again


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I normally come across the right-wing Spectator magazine from time to time on Twitter and that let me tell you is enough. Happy to publish pieces by Rod Little and Toby Young it is a magazine that really should be renamed "Defend The Indefensible".

But yesterday on my Twitter timeline came an article by former Icelandic Prime Minister David Gunnlaugsson entitled "Why Britain, Like Iceland, Will Thrive Outside The EU". Basically it stated that if like Iceland Britain became a member of the linked to the European Economic Area (EEA) at least temporarily then all it's No Deal hassles will be gone in a flash.

You know why the article was published. Here is a proposed way out of the cliff edge that the current Disunited Kingdom government is pushing towards in the event of a No-Deal Brexit by someone who's not born here but has political experience.

Now regular readers to this blog will know that I'm a Remainer end of. But I'm not going to argue with the economics of the article here simply because I would not claim knowledge of Icelandic politics or it's economy. My ignorance.

It is therefore for others with greater knowledge of Iceland to argue over the article in itself. I would though mention in passing that Mr Gunnlaugsson is a member of the centre right Progressive Party and resigned as Prime Minister following the "Panama Papers" tax avoidance affair. So, like most things in the Spectator magazine, he is as neutral as a train track.

But twice in a week I'm drawn back to Iceland when discussing Welsh/Scottish independence. Let us say for the sake of argument that we unequivocally accept Mr Gunnlaugsson's article. Then small, tiny Iceland is "thriving". That is the same small tiny Iceland that broke off it's union with Denmark in 1918 and became an independent nation.

So if small, tiny Iceland is "thriving" then why not Scotland? Why not Wales?

The Spectator magazine, unexpectedly then, even through a right wing prism, has argued that nations can become independent and "thrive" away from a constricting control miles away. Even though it probably didn't realise it at the time it's made a right-wing argument for Welsh/Scottish independence.  An own goal I'd say.

Who would have thought it?

Until the next time.




Tuesday 20 August 2019

Why Should You Fight For An Independent Wales? Because Life's Too Short To Shrug Your Shoulders


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Sometimes life is such that the unexpected hits you when you're already groggy from what it has already thrown at you.

Yesterday was one of the three days this week I have off. I'm at the house wondering when we can actually move in. I see a light at the end of the tunnel but there's still a tunnel and we're consequently in that twilight zone between starting to get ready for a move but being unable to get everything into full systems moving out mode.

Anyway I was there when I suddenly get a phone call from work. I don't know about you but I always worry about getting a sudden call from the place of your employment. At best they want something. At worst you've done something wrong (that's never happened. But it doesn't mean you don't have the fear it will).

It turned out that work wanted me to come in for the next two days (days I was on leave for) because the woman who was there "had a fit", was now on an ECG machine and so was incapable of doing any work for the rest of the week until the doctors exactly knew what happened.

I said yes to today (until we move in every little amount of money will help) but for reasons I won't mention now tomorrow was simply impossible.

Later though I'd begun to think about the lady herself. Like me she isn't young but there was absolutely nothing which suggested that all of a sudden her long term health was going to be called into question. And when something happens like that to someone else you cannot yourself think about your own health, your own future and yes what you have done in the relatively short time before your time is up.

And one of the things it made me realise is that life's too short to shrug your shoulders. If there are battles to be fought then they need to be fought. Shrugging your shoulders. Letting the bad guys (and girls - you can well imagine new Home Secretary Priti Patel stroking a white cat whilst expecting the arrival of James Bond) do what they want to ravage your life.

So even in a (like me) small way fighting (metaphorically) for an independent Wales is important. Because what I'm not doing is being a bit part extra in a movie of my own life. You are trying to make a difference. Trying to make things better through a new, independent Wales.

So I wish the lady well. But what happened to her made me realise that there is no time to wait. The thing about waiting till tomorrow is that one day you won't be around to see it.

Until the next time.


Monday 19 August 2019

The Battle For Wales : How Labour MP Stephen Kinnock's Wife Could Shut Him Up On The Issue Of Welsh Nationalism


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Stephen Kinnock MP is the son of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock. A man who moved from left wing firebrand to a seat in the House of Lords and who most people of my generation will remember as the guy who lost an election to the then most pathetic Prime Minister in my lifetime (Theresa May subsequently taking over the mantle) John Major.

His child goes to private school, which, whatever you feel about such an institution, is an unacceptable action for a Labour MP to take.

He often appears on TV with that level of arrogance of which Welsh Labour have honed through the years. The sort of "I'm Labour listen to me no one else knows better" tone. This he put into print on Saturday with an article "warning" about the rise of Welsh independence in the Western Mail.

I won't go into detail about the article. Truly it's not worth it. He repeats what is clearly a Welsh Labour tactic of linking Welsh nationalism with it's English and Trumpian equivalents. I've written before about this tactic and explaining that Welsh Nationalism is different and I won't bore you with it here. Similarly I've written debunking the "Wales is too small/poor to be independent" argument. An argument it needs to be mention which former Welsh Labour Minister Carwyn Jones (though still a Unionist) also rejects.

But Twitter reminded me that Mr Kinnock's wife is Danish. Not only that, she was the Danish Prime Minister. I thought, OK, Denmark is a small nation, perhaps it was colonised in it's history before becoming independent? (I know about the Vikings by the way - I'm not that ignorant of the history of Denmark - but of the years in between yes ashamedly I am).

Well it turns out that Denmark was not the colonised (if we exclude being occupied in World War 2). It was in fact the coloniser. And one of those countries it colonised was Iceland.

That's right. Small, tiny Iceland.

But Iceland wanted independence from Denmark and it became an independent nation as recently as 1918. You can imagine the Danish press at the time saying that it was too poor/small/isolated to survive on it's own.

And yet there it still is.....independent.

Of course as I've said before bedding down independence is not easy. It's had it's troubles. Particularly in my lifetime after the banking crisis of 2008.

And yet there it still is....independent.

(This is the moment to point out that I wasn't the only person to have discovered this. If I'd stayed on Twitter it would have saved me a whole load of internet digging. But there you go)

This whole strand of posts is designed to chat about what I believe to be the forthcoming political battle for Wales between Plaid Cymru and other forces for independence and whatever the right wing eventually turns out to be. Mr Kinnock's article displays Welsh Labour's desperation as it sees it's strength ebbing away.

So if Kinnock tries to boringly patronise again on the question of Welsh independence ask him if Iceland can be an independent nation why can't Wales? And if he still gives a rubbish answer then tell him to speak to his wife.

Until the next time.



Saturday 17 August 2019

On Books : Including How Brexit Can Affect The Reading Of Even An Eighteenth Century Novel


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Regular readers will know that I've a low opinion on Brexit (and it hasn't happened yet!) and I've mentioned before how it's affected from time to time how I read a book even if written years before the referendum and it's consequences. Now it's affected my reading of a novel published in 1778!

Evelina, written by Fanny Burney, for reasons which I won't spoil, begins with the reader making the assumption that the novel is going to be anti-French. Inwardly your mind groans.

However whilst the French characters can be idiosyncratic they turn out not to be evil but human. Indeed the counterweight to my initial thoughts is the character of Captain Malvern, who is so pro British and vehemently anti-French you would have wondered whether if this had been a non-fiction tale his descendants would have been all leave voters and Brexit party candidates.

It's clear that Ms Burney does not have a high opinion of the Captain. Which makes me confident that she would have voted Remain in the referendum. But the fact that these thoughts occur to me shows how Brexit permeates my thoughts in the most unlikeliest of places. And don't forget I've not mentioned the main character yet!

Evelina is a story of an inexperienced country girl going to London for the first time. We've all read and seen similar tales throughout our lives and I'm not going to spoil anything by saying that the general arc of the plot won't be a surprise. However Ms Burney does hold surprises along the way to show she's more sophisticated a writer than the story may at first appear. Not only in the deft way she handles the Continental characters but that it is slightly (and I do mean slightly here) more racier than I'd expected.

So as an entertainment I'd recommend it. Indeed I'd go as far as to say I've enjoyed this book more than (of the books I've read so far) any of the Jane Austen novels I've read.

As is my way with regard to the Kindle if I find a writer whose works I can get for free I tend to download all of the free books by that author. Which explains why although Samuel Butler was a novelist my random way in picking the next book to read turns out to be Evolution: Old and New. Mr Butler's views on the subject.

The book was interesting in two ways. One was in the introduction of other writers in the field. But the other was the way he attacked Charles Darwin. Firstly saying the Darwin's Origin Of The Species would not be remembered after his death (when it powers on as the work on the subject) and then by generally suggesting Charles Darwin rehashed the work of his namesake Erasmus Darwin.

I've learnt subsequently that later in life Butler regretted these views. Something that holds him in credit. Still irony that Charles Darwin is remembered today and Samuel Butler barely so.

Regular readers will know that Anton Chekhov (rather like Jane Austen) is in a category of writers that I call "Literary Switzerland" in that whilst I don't dislike them I don't understand why they're considered "great". They will also know that I don't see the point of reading theatre plays for your own pleasure.

But as regular readers will also know I am the slight hypocrite so I read The Seagull hoping I'd have a definitive opinion. But no. I'm still neutral. When it comes to Chekhov Switzerland is my home.

Until the next time.



Friday 16 August 2019

Waiting For Wickes : The Sequel


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

This is a post I didn't expect to write. As I said in the original (and probably better than this sequel) post Wickes were to deliver the bathroom suite to the house yesterday. This they did. Unfortunately in doing so they damaged the bath. They will though be delivering a new one today time unknown. Hence until 11:30 this morning I'm on standby

So this is a meandering post again. What will I talk about? The weather? Cloudy and wet. Though not Wednesday wet.

I also have a cold. So this is not gearing up to being a great day.

It is, incidentally as I'm writing this, 7:40am.

Let's start then by talking about Welsh First Minister Mark "Jeremy's Disciple" Drakeford. I know you're itching to know where the political Mr Magoo was. Let me enlighten you. He was at a celebration in Cardiff Castle.

OK you'd say. Politicians go to functions like this all the time. True. But this was for the anniversary of Indian independence! I mean didn't he understand the subtext? Is he due an irony transplant operation? He really is walking from one political mishap to another.

Brexit. Well it had to be in here didn't it? Could there be martial law due to shortages of food etc? Well yes. But would it be successful given that Britain's military is at it's lowest for the ninth year. To think in is such a Disunited Kingdom you can't trust the military to organise a coup in the post Brexit shambles.

It's 9:41am. Wife rings. 11:30-12 the most likely bath arrival but Wickes will ring later. I could actually do it at this time. But it will be tight. I need to go to work soon after twelve.

My cold is getting worse. I've had a Snickers bar in a "feed the cold starve the fever" tactic. So far not working.

Weather outside is, if anything, worse out there.

Time to go. No final call but will need to wake daughter up in case I have to go......and like all teenagers....she won't like it

Until the next time.

Thursday 15 August 2019

The Battle For Wales : The "Terrible Collaboration" Of Welsh Unionist Parties


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

One of the big news headlines of yesterday was Prime Minister Baboon Boris Johnson accusing former chancellor Phillip Hammond of a "terrible collaboration" with the EU and thus causing Britain to crash out in a no deal Brexit. It's not for this post to go into detail here. Though you cannot help feeling that the groundwork has been laid for who to blame should a no-deal Brexit occur.

"Not me guv. Oh no blame those who said exactly what was going to happen. Not me who promised the milk and honey".

What is important here is the use of the word "collaboration". Boris Johnson is a journalist. He knows the power of words and it's effects. Collaboration brings images of second World War France and those who worked with and not against the German invaders. In a Disunited Kingdom that's a dangerous word to use. For those with extreme right wing views and to the edge of sanity might feel justified in putting pro EU politicians in danger.

Now I'm not in any way accusing members of Welsh Unionist parties of sleeping with the enemy. Centuries of the Unionist mindset can and has led people to believe that the "union" has benefited Wales when it's far from the case. I have attacked (and will continue to do so) Unionist politicians Alun Cairns and Mark Drakeford amongst others for their actions but I will accept one thing. They believe what they're doing is right and they believe in the union.

So Wales is not France in the second world war. Because the mindset of Wales being part of the United Kingdom is centuries old and embedded in the psyche. It's a mindset that's difficult to shift but now thanks ironically to Brexit that shifting has begun.

I have in this series of posts argued that Wales is slowly entering a political battle between Plaid Cymru and whatever the right-wing eventually turns out to be. You could argue that the greatest enemy for Welsh Independence is dislodging this "United Kingdom" mindset for the majority of people. So it's why the "terrible collaboration" of Welsh unionist parties needs to be examined.

Let's ask one question. When was the last time that either the Welsh Conservative or Labour party did anything for Wales that their respective London bosses would object to? Not disagree with you understand but object enough to oppose. I can't think of one example. These examples may exist but I'd be certain they are few and far between.

I've said this before but remember one of the Unionist arguments against Welsh independence is that Wales would be too poor to survive? Whilst acknowledging there would be a period where independence would have to be bedded in that argument is rubbish. However even if it was accepted 100% the flaw is that it's the situation now under Unionism. It is what Unionism has given Wales.

Welsh Unionist parties would say that the umbrella of the United Kingdom has been good for Wales but if they believe "Wales is too poor" (for centuries please note) then surely the question they have to ask is "Why?" . Is there another option? There is. Which of course there is. Independence.

But this terrible collaboration of the Welsh Unionist parties has recently allowed for the cancellation of the Swansea Bay Power Project, the lack of any electrified main  railway line west of Cardiff and the surrender of powers for seven years to Westminster. I could go on (for centuries) but you get the drift. Welsh Unionist parties agreed to this. They collaborated. They did not fight for Wales and I'd argue one of the reasons for this was they are too embedded with the "United Kingdom" mindset.

Wales though is changing. Welsh Labour and Conservatives though powerful are becoming dinosaurs to the new political order.

And we all know what happened to the dinosaurs.






Wednesday 14 August 2019

The New Waiting For Godot. Waiting for Wickes


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

The saga of when we'll be moving into our new house goes on. However the good news is that there is light at the end of the tunnel (though we still are in that tunnel) and so we have started ordering stuff from Wickes. Today the delivery of tiles is expected. Tomorrow the bathroom units.

Hence it's 7:11am as I start writing this. I'm available until 11:30am when I have to prepare for work. Then the works supervisor will take over. The hours of delivery are 7-1pm. So there's nothing constructive I can do as I'm waiting for Wickes.

So this post will be long or short then. We shall see. So yes it will be a meandering.

Wife and I picked the tiles at Wickes on Monday. It took two hours for us to agree. Each of us had our likes and dislikes but we didn't argue. A classic marital shouting match situation but everything was calm. Trust me we've shouted at each other over a lot less.

Weather is pouring out there. Guess who left two umbrellas in the car......

A quick word on the case of Jeffrey Epstein. Many things have been written by people more knowledgeable than I. But in terms of whether people think he was murdered and didn't commit suicide well duh. It's not an unreasonable conspiracy theory. After all how many movies/TV shows we've seen where the guy/woman is in jail but has the power to damage others is found dead in their cell? Whatever the truth the conspiracy theory is not unreasonable.

English Labour MP and Shadow Cabinet Minister talking about a second Scottish referendum has just stated her opposition stating that she's had "enough of referendums". That's perfectly fine. Not living in Scotland she won't be voting for this one. Sorted.

It's now 8:08am. Which means thanks to Wickes I've lost one hour of sleep.

8:26am. Wife is awake. Left her mobile with me in case Wickes call. I hope they don't call now. She has an old phone and I'm just scared they'll ring and I press the wrong button trying to answer it. First World Problems.

Going through my email Amazon have just sent me an email recommending an illustrated version of  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.....What?!!! I don't care about preparing of the supposed festive season. It's August!!! If I was interested in working in a place which has Christmas all year round I'd set up a stall at Bridgend Indoor Market!!!

Outside is not just rain but windy as well. The sort of wind you can hear with the windows closed. And I left the umbrellas in the car....

8:50am Text from Wickes. Tomorrow's delivery is between 11:23-15:23. Which means I can't do it as I'll be going to/in work. So there'll be no sequel to this post. Well not until we know when the Kitchen will arrive anyway.

9:19am Wife's phone rings. Is it from Wickes? No. It's a text from a friend. False alarm.

9:30am Daughter awake. She didn't want to go to Wickes on Monday arguing that she wasn't a "tile enthusiast". Events proved her right it has to said.

9:52am Wickes have called. They're there!!!

Got to go.

Until the next time.













Sunday 11 August 2019

Gordon Is Not A Moron......But Britain Is Not Sleepwalking Into Oblivion. It's All Too Awake.


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Regular readers will know that I'm a fan of the idea of parallel universes. So you have to wonder how the rest of the Disunited Kingdom would have fared if Scotland had voted for a independence in the 2014 referendum. I say this as one of the people who is apparently credited for the result going the other way, ex Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has written an article arguing that the Disunited Kingdom is "sleepwalking into oblivion" amid nationalism.

It's an interesting article and worth a chat. But let's start with the statement that is grabbing the headlines. Britain is not sleepwalking into oblivion. It's jumping head first into it.

Again the parallel universe digression. What would have happened to the structure of Britain had the EU referendum voted to Remain? Who knows? But I suspect the pretence of the Union of a United Kingdom within the European Union would have remained.

But Brexit is about to happen. And the combination of potential Irish reunification, an emboldened Scottish push for independence and here in Wales, that voted for Leave, an increased support to become free means the move towards independence for the Celtic nations is not one as a result of any midnight wanderings. We know what we're doing.

What has pushed independence ironically enough is not the result itself but the absolute cack handed way the "British" government in Westminster have handled the situation concerning Brexit since. History won't need to judge the governments of Teresa May and Boris Johnson as incompetent. Those of us living through these times know that already.

After all the Baboon Johnson tactic is now to go all second world war and spirit of the blitz with the possibility of rationing and shortages not impossible. Thing is Winston Churchill didn't start the war. Nor did he fight them in the beaches by leading the people over a cliff top first.

One of the failures of Gordon Brown's article is the lumping together of the "Nationalisms" of the four nations. I've chatted about before that Scottish/Welsh Nationalism does not say "We're better than you". It offers a more tolerant vision for people who were born and live there. But a vision that does not require acceptance by people working near a big clock many miles away. English nationalism on the other hand seems to be moving towards a sort of Sieg Hilelism with every day that passes. The point is the lumping of these very different Nationalist philosophies is a Labour trick which for example the Welsh government finance minister has used before. It is, let's be clear, the response of the desperate.

As I read this article he states that even a post Brexit Scotland will face thousands of job losses as a result of withdrawing from Europe. But this is not an argument to stay in a Union that has caused this turmoil in the first place. As I've said regarding Wales the benefits of independence will not be seen immediately. Rome was not built in a day but it was built. But independence will offer the Celtic nations a vision, a future. Whereas sticking with Westminster will only offer the temporary comfort of an abusive partner.

Gordon Brown's article is that of a man who knows full well that events are moving against his Unionist philosophy. Events that will lead to the break-up of this Disunited Kingdom are seemingly inevitable. He would do the Celtic nations a better service in helping them plan for the future than moaning from the sidelines.

Until the next time.


Saturday 10 August 2019

On Books : Including One Of The Best Books I've Read This Year....And One Of The Worst


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Murder In Stained Glass by Margaret Armstrong is one of those rare things, a book where the blurb seems to have got it completely spot on but the cover doesn't. The Kindle edition (where I got it for free) seemed to suggest a killing in a skyscraper. This couldn't be further from the truth.

However the cover also states that it's a "Lost Crime Classic". If classic means old then OK (first published in 1939). If classic also means good then definitely OK. For whilst I do have some issues with it judged purely as an entertainment it's the best book I've read this year.

It had everything that the Max Carrados stories when I last chatted about books did not starting with an interesting middle-aged single female amateur sleuth Harriet Trumbull. Let's stop there. Female amateur detectives in novels around this time (and of course they were rare in themselves) were either young and pretty or pensioners with a brain. The fact Harriet Trumbull is middle-aged is unique in itself.

Then there is the death itself in a kiln (hence stained glass) which seemed novel enough to me.

It has the required twists, turns, suspects and genuine surprises you would expect from a mystery novel. It also, interestingly, has for the time some interesting moral conundrums you wouldn't expect from something written for entertainment in 1939. Margaret Armstrong understands that sometimes life has it's shades of grey (and I'm not talking about fifty here).

As I said I do have issues with it. Whilst set in the tail end of the thirties depression (mentioned in passing) it does seem to fall within the tradition of the time crime stories of the well to do amateur sleuth whilst many people were in reality suffering economic hardship. Also the ending did appear to be rushed to me.

However it should hide the fact, and it's worth repeating, that judged solely as an entertainment it is so far the best book I've read this year.

Some books get lost then. Some books should have been let out in the wild and left to die. Oronoko (published 1668) by Aphra Behn, who was I know now the first recorded professional female writer, should have been left to rot.

In essence the plot is of an African prince who is tricked into slavery and what happens to him. Initially it gives out the following:

1) African rulers (including the Prince) sell their people into slavery.....what?

2)If his subjects see that the prince is also on the slave ship then they're happy at the situation....what?

Later in the book this pro-slavery view gets a 180 degree turnaround. But even then you think that Ms Behn is not so much anti-slavery but anti-cruelty to slaves. And the fact that the lead character is a prince does appear to influence her views.

Without going into the plot in detail it is potboilery twaddle. If it was written by a man then it would have been forgotten. In the interests of equality it should be forgotten as well.

So the story so far. Robert Macfarlane writes one of the best books I read in 2017 The Old Ways. There he recommends the writings of George Borrow a nineteenth century English writer. I find that his works (some of them anyway) are free on the Kindle and think "yes OK I'll get them" only to dislike what I've read up to now.

Now read on.

In quick succession I've read three more (short) books. Containing translated ballads. They were:

The Tale of Brynild, King Valdemar and His Sister, Romantic Ballads, Translated from the Danish and Miscellaneous Pieces, Grimholds Vengeance Three Ballads.

And I disliked the lot of them.

There are a number of possible explanations:

1) The (mainly) Danish poetry is rubbish. Possible. But it would up to me to learn the language first to be sure.

2) It's a ballad. So it needs music. Possible but who knows?

3) I've never hidden the fact in this blog that generally I'm not Mr Poetry so why am I surprised? Very possible.

But as I was reading these books another possibility came into my head. That George Borrow might have been able to speak many languages but it doesn't make him a great translator. Few British people speak Danish so at that time any translation would have been looked on as piece of scholarship when in fact it might have been not that good. The number of people in Britain living in the nineteenth century and expert in (mainly) Danish poetry probably could have been counted on the fingers of one hand after it had been attacked by a chain saw.

Perhaps George Borrow is just too highly thought of?

And finally William Ewart Gladstone by James Bryce. I thought when I got it for free it was an autobiography but no in fact it was written soon after his death so it's relatively small size means it should be treated as an obituary than a biography. Thing is of course decades later the general reader is not really that interested in contemporary obituaries.

One thing I should though in passing mention. Mr Bryce states that Gladstone was essentially Scottish though born in Liverpool because that's where his parents came from. OK. And yet he goes on Gladstone had influence on the "English parliament".

Yes I know.

Until the next time.










Friday 9 August 2019

Carwyn Jones ....Reluctant Fighter For Welsh Independence? Let's Hold Back The Laughter And Chat


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

This week in the Eisteddfod Ex Welsh Labour First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones has made headlines not so much fighting for independence but acknowledging that it's no longer an option for the wild of thought and that it's now in the mainstream of Welsh political thinking.

Whilst he is still a Unionist he stated that the argument "Wales is too poor to be independent" is untrue. He did say it's economic benefits would not be quick, which to be fair I have constantly stated in this blog.  but nonetheless Wales could go it alone.

He also stated that should Scotland and Northern Ireland leave the Disunited Kingdom there was no future or indeed reason in Wales clinging onto England. Even more so I'd argue one that is turning into the dystopian extreme right wing State of Denmark of the novel by Derek Raymond. Also that Wales given this possible scenario should prepare for the possibility which is also true.

Mr Jones mentioned that he believed in a more "equal partnership" of the nations in the United Kingdom. Something that he didn't appear to aspire to when he actually had the power.

So what should we think of Carwyn Jones, Reluctant fighter for Welsh Independence? Well let's start by thanking him for demolishing the "Wales is too poor to be independent argument". That a senior figure in the Welsh Unionist side has so debunked the argument can only be welcomed and used as a weapon against those who try it out again.

That said....

Carwyn Jones was until December the First Minister of Wales. Note that when he had the power he did nothing to help Wales when faced with Westminster pressure. Indeed one of the things he will be remembered for is that he surrendered Welsh Brexit powers to Theresa May. Who else surrendered to her? The worst Prime Minister in my lifetime (so far).

When he had the power he was in the vanguard of Labour Unionist rule. Only now when he is demob happy and sees a rise in support in independence does he let his mouth run free.

I have read an article that Carwyn Jones' views and those of some other Welsh Labour party officials represent a new strategy by Labour. Basically appearing to park their tanks on Plaid Cymru's lawn. Personally I don't see it. Firstly this suggests a level of organisation that I've never seen Welsh Labour possess.

Secondly it mirrors the clear as mud Labour strategy on Brexit. A "I don't believe in independence but I can't discount it" policy doesn't really make clear what their plan is.

Thirdly Labour are providing mixed messages anyway. There is the Carwyn "I'm a Unionist but..." approach (also as we've chatted about before adopted by his successor as First Minister Mark Drakeford) but there's also the approach of Finance Minister Ken Skates equating Welsh Nationalism to the English extreme right populist version.

And finally when it comes to Welsh independence the voters know well enough which political party has always battled for independence...and it's not Labour.

Until the next time.





Tuesday 6 August 2019

Meanderings On Death


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Yesterday I got a call from my mother. It wasn't good news. A family friend in London with Alzheimer's tripped and hit her head and is in hospital. Her condition is worse. So much so that she has forgotten how to use a knife and fork. This is the critical point. When my father had it this is what turned what was a mental condition to a physical one. For he forgot how to eat. Consequently what could be given to him was obviously less (I fed him (he was in a hospital at the time) on chopped tinned food as it would be easier to eat.

He became weaker. And therefore venerable to pneumonia which is what killed him.

Apparently the doctors don't see her surviving by Christmas.

She is actually the second person now who is slowly dying on my timeline. The other is a relative of my wife's. Two people slowly dying at the same time means that you cannot help but think not just of them but (as I've long past the arrogant age of youth when I think I'm invulnerable) your own mortality.

The wife suggested I should go down to London and see her but personally I don't see the point. My father did not know me, his only child, when Alzheimer's hit him so a trip now would be pointless.

I have offered to visit the wife's relative but she's said no. Why? Because I've rarely seen her. Not because we didn't get on (we did) but because of my afternoon/evening shifts at work and my phobia of dogs (she bred them).

So if I suddenly turn up to visit it will be obvious why. It will seem like a procession for the dying. Last chance to see and all of that. Whatever my (genuine) motives it would be upsetting for my wife's relative. I get that.

And you know what? Immediate family aside I think should the time come for me and I find myself dying slowly though with my full mental faculties intact I don't want such a procession for me either. Sort out the paperwork. Read as many unread books. Watch as many unwatched films/TV series. Perhaps watch Game of Thrones or Killing Eve when they've long gone out of fashion and from immediate memory.

Perhaps though I will be what my mother said in hospital last year when she thankfully pulled through an illness last year and I offered to pay for the (very expensive) hospital TV which she declined saying she was "too ill to be bored".

I think though ultimately I want my loved ones to have a settled life when I die. That I become a pleasant and sentimental memory but they go on with their own lives. If I had the power to choose I think that's the one thing I'd truly want before I go to the big sleep.

Oh and be able to watch one full 90 minute game featuring West Ham (winning of course!).

Until the next time.


Sunday 4 August 2019

When The First Minister Of Wales Doesn't Even Know His Own Constituency


Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

So First Minister of Wales Mark "Jeremy's Disciple" spent Friday not trying to work out why like the dinosaurs the once mighty big beast of Welsh Politics the Labour party is slowly dying out (latest example the Brecon and Radnor by-election - they were not expected to win but to almost lose their deposit is a disaster) but instead went on a constituency surgery as an assembly member.

So he does a constituency surgery. Fair enough. It's his job and then goes to Twitter to chat about what he's done. OK.

There is a new Redrow housing development in his constituency called Cae St Fagans. This is where his Twitter post comes from.

And he states that he's in Fairwater.

I would argue he's in Pentrebane. Which, whilst described as a "small village" in the builder's website (and I digress to say that whilst someone in Redrow knows the Welsh for village is as far away from the image of one you can get) is a working class area almost literally further down the road.

And I know that because I lived there.

Now I know what you're going to say. If it's in Pentrebane why does the builder call it Cae St Fagans?

Well I'd arfue the village of St Fagan's is literally even more further down the road  from Pentrebane. And it has, the better "image" presumably for the sort of houses that Redrow want to sell. Calling it Cae St Fagans ( St Fagans' Field) is just marketing.

You could also say that Cae St Fagans is not Fairwater, St Fagans or Pentrebane but an area in itself. This might be true. Incidentally something I'm looking into about Cardiff is their new build policy. There have been accusations that both in residential and business development the Labour council have basically allowed the character of the city to be slowly new built to death. I cannot say I've knowledge enough to provide an opinion on this. Though on a superficial level there does seem to be a case to answer.

Anyway whether Cae St Fagan's is in Pentrebane, St Fagan's or it's own being the point is it's not Fairwater.

If you go from the centre of the city (say Cathedral Road for those in the know) then of the four areas we're chatting about it would go as follows....Fairwater, Pentrebane, Cae St Fagans, St Fagans. Each separate entities.

So we come back to the central point of the post. Mark Drakeford calls an area of the city Fairwater when it isn't. It is his job to know his constituency and yet this shows he doesn't. Is it just another example of the arrogant incompetence of Welsh Labour? Who cares where you live as long as you vote for them on election nights?

Does it matter? Of course it does. How can people trust the First Minister of Wales to fight for the area he's supposed to represent when he doesn't appear to know where he is?

It's not a good look.

Until the next time.