Why I'm Going To Join Plaid Cymru

This I must admit has been brewing for a while now, but yesterday I decided to join Plaid Cymru.

Obviously it's the South Wales Steel situation that has pushed me over the edge. I know Port Talbot and it's a nice town. Although no one would say that the steelworks were a thing of beauty there are many things to laud about the place. For example if you compare the town centre to that of Bridgend's I know which one is better.

You could spend a pleasant few hours wandering around the promenade near Hollywood Beach, near Afan Lido football club.

They seem to me to be a proud people with a great deal to be proud about......but all their achievements are now in danger because of the Tata Steel decision to sell off their UK steel business.

We have a Conservative government apparently happy to let cheap Chinese steel flood the market (It's China policy being  summarised in one word...surrender) and yet not lifting a finger to help the indigenous industry. The lives of steelworkers and their families may be sacrificed on the altar of right wing economic theory. At time of writing the UK parliament is not being recalled to discuss the situation. Presumably because the people affected are mainly Welsh,mainly non Tory voters and not bankers.

As for Labour both at a UK and Welsh levels they seem to be impotent in dealing with this potential disaster. I listen to the First Minister of Wales and all I'm feeling is compassionate waffle.

And so I'm thinking if a whole town is potentially damaged by this decision what is the point of Wales staying in the UK? If Wales had been an independent nation then its hands would not have been tied and good,decent people would not have their lives put in danger this way because they would have had a government that would have fought for them, and only them.

Which leads me to Plaid Cymru.

Now as I've said before this has been brewing for a while. Labour has been the dominant party of government in the National Assembly since its creation. Yet Health and particularly education services have declined on its watch thanks to its Tory lite policies. What I see is a political movement that is living off past glories to hide present day failings. They act as if they have a god given right to control Wales from the privileged comfort of the Senedd.

And don't get me started on Bridgend Council (well not for today anyway). Let's say for now I'm not impressed by the way they run the area with all the skill of Laurel and Hardy without the laughs.

The policies of Plaid Cymru were always something that I was comfortable with anyway but the news about the steelworks have made me feel that I should do "my bit" to bring about a fair and independent nation.

Life as an independent state would not be easy. Life never is and mistakes would be made. But at least the people living in Wales would have a greater control of their own destiny than at present.

Of course being English this all seems rather odd. But I can't hide how I feel. For various reasons I won't be able to do this for a few weeks. When I do though I'll chat about it then

Until the next time.

In The Beginning Then...A Trip To Porthcawl. A Penguin is Bought And The Gaffer Is Borrowed

So it was a Monday.

The morning essentially begins as it normally does with a cup of tea, my one true drug of choice. Later on I have to get involved in that delicate nature of negotiations that is waking up a teenager for a school day. I've learnt that parenting an adolescent in these is exactly international politics. For if you don't get what you want sanctions are threatened. In my case usually involving the hiding of her Ipad.

The weather has been odd. For the past couple of days people have been complaining of feeling cold even though when I've been doing the early shift the car windows were not frosted up. Today however when I have the day off the windows are frosty. Not that hard but enough for the freewheeling spray of the deicer.

But it was also bright and I decided there and then before I did any promised shopping to the wife I'd go for a little drive to Porthcawl and have a bit of a walk there.

And that's what I did.

Porthcawl is a small seaside town about ten or so minutes drive from where I live. I've always liked it because although it its not without problems (what town isn't?) it has a certain individuality to it. The high street for example has a pleasing mixture of national brands and individual quirky shops. You compare it to Bridgend Town which really is slowly becoming an urban suicide note and you understand the contrast.

The quirky little gem that is Porthcawl Town

Mind you I'm not saying that everything's perfect. Here are relatively modern apartments known as "the bottle bank". I'm not to be honest a fan. If only because of the complete lack of assimilation with the surrounding buildings. It's like wearing an England rugby shirt amongst a group of Welsh fans.

The Bottle Bank:A boil on the face of the town

But, and it's a big but, Porthcawl can produce views that could make you make you think you were in the South of France and not South Wales (of course if you ignore the temperature). Here are a few examples:

Remember this is South Wales

Just takes your breath away

Last one

And the point is this. Wherever you are in Wales you are never far away from an absolutely stunning view. Views that would make you stop and stare. Today these were the views that made me do exactly that.

On an unrelated point I collect Penguin paperbacks for when I was younger they were the publishing house with the widest breath and generally the greatest quality. But only those mind you with their distinctive spines that would make it look good on a bookshelf. I had made a blog about it but boredom made me stop, But now I'm reviving it partly. I'll go and buy one at whatever cost but won't buy another until it has been read.

Well after gazing at the views I went to a the local Tenovus charity shop and bought this in an orange spined edition.

Iris Murdoch - The Italian Girl

I've only read one of her books before as a teenager. Which was rather odd if you consider that The Sea,The Sea is one of my favourite novels of all time. But then, so many books, so little time.

Unfortunately for me I didn't see any football memorabilia in my trip so in terms of footy stuff I went for Plan B today. I'm going to read every football book in every library in the Bridgend area. Now when I say every book I'm not including any "football funnies" type thing. So let's say instead every "proper" football book.

Which leads me to the choice I made in Porthcawl library.

Neil Warnock - The Gaffer

I always liked Neil Warnock, a man that always seemed to represent the classic caricature of a British manager though that's not saying he's without talent. Anyway we'll see what this book is like.

Until the next time.