A Fat Man On Feminism And Whether The Aforementioned Carwyn Jones Is The Welsh David Cameron

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Whilst the Conservative government in Westminster is lurching from one crisis to another undermining the whole United Kingdom ethos that "London knows best" It's worth remembering that the Welsh devolved administration is run by the arrogantly incompetent Welsh Labour Party.

It's soon to be ex First Minister and trainee roly poly Carwyn Jones has been in the news publicising Labour's attempts to make it "a feminist government". Starting with research to find out how it could do this.

But of course nothing says feminism more than a fat man in a suit who as Twitter suggested to me recently was "demob" happy. He has been First Minister since 2009. Why has he taken the action now in the fag end days of his leadership? And what action? Research. How long will that take? Then how long would any recommendations be debated and implemented?

So what appears to be seemingly positive actions by the Welsh Labour administration is in fact kicking the issue into the long grass. Women in Wales must be so proud.

But at least there is action in kicking an issue into the aforementioned uncut lawn. Yesterday at the meeting with Leanne Wood I chatted about in my previous post she mentioned that the Welsh Labour Government had exactly no plans for the consequences of a Hard Brexit in Wales.

Now at time of writing the only certainty with regards to Brexit is it's uncertainty. For the first time there was serious talk at a UK level of a stockpile of canned food. And yet this Welsh Government has made no planning whatsoever.

On a personal level you have to ask why Carwyn Jones has not done this. It seems after all the logical thing to do (and indeed something he should have done months ago). He apparently seems to have put his faith in Saint Theresa of May to get a solution that will include Wales. So to be clear he (albeit late) is happy to instigate research into making the Welsh government more feminist but not into planning for the consequences of a Hard Brexit in Wales.

What makes this non decision even more odd is that on of the big manufacturing plants that could be affected is the Ford Engine Plant in Bridgend...in his constituency.

Perhaps, just perhaps, the answer to Welsh Labour's inaction is that Carwyn Jones is doing a Cameron. He is after all not just leaving his post as First Minister in the autumn but also the Senedd in the next election. Perhaps, just perhaps when Wales sought a leader in these difficult times it in fact found itself with a moral loser, who just walked away leaving others to deal with the problems he didn't want to deal with.

Perhaps.

Until the next time.

Listening To Leanne Wood

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Although I've been a member of Plaid Cymru for about two years I cannot say other than paying my subs I've been active. Various reasons combine for this. Moving house. looking for a permanent house, work  and for the first few months of this year being in Essex exile as I was looking after my unwell mother were the main ones..

But I know I have to do more on this. And when I heard that Plaid Cymru leader was holding a public meeting in Church Village in the South Wales Valleys on an evening when both the wife and daughter were out and I wasn't working well it seemed a good enough start.

It was held in Centre For Lifelong learning. I couldn't take a picture of this relatively modern building as car regs were always in view. So let's instead look at the view on the other side.

And you wonder why I like the Valleys

The meeting was held in a small room in the complex and I guesstimate there was around thirty people there. Given that we're talking about a warm Thursday in July that was impressive. Ms Wood travels the length of the country for Plaid. She is a leader who clearly knows her responsibilities.

She didn't give a speech as such. What she did was to answer questions from the floor. She revealed her plan is to follow the Alex Salmond model with regard to independence. and given that nearly succeeded you cannot really question that.

She also implored members to get more fully involved with their local community (for which I intend to do more) as her key target is the next National Assembly and local government elections in 2021. Explaining that it was one of the reasons for their success in the Rhondda.

Regular readers know that I'm a supporter of Ms Wood and will vote for her in the forthcoming . Nothing that happened yesterday evening changed that.

She Speaks and you listen

Ms Wood also mentioned about the Welsh Labour Government's Plans for a hard Brexit...….there aren't any. More about that on my next post.

At the end a group picture was taken and yes I'm there in it. Sorry about that folks.

It was an interesting evening and something I plan to do more in the weeks and months ahead.

Until the next time.

The Near Midnight Meanderings On A Movie With A Microwave Meal Part 2: Night Passage (1957)

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Well continuing this relatively new haphazard series of me watching a film in segments after returning home late at night from the evening shift at work we come to this. A 1957 Widescreen western starring James Stewart and Audie Murphy.

In the days when televisions were black and white and (as they were not widescreen - you youngsters really don't know how lucky you are) they could only show a small part of the movie picture films were made like this to be as panoramic and colourful as possible to show the cinema going public what they were missing. This is a good example. If you want to see Panoramic American countryside time and time again then this is the movie for you.

Essentially the plot is this. Trains carrying wages for railway workers building the railroad are being robbed by an armed gang. Stewart a down on his luck ex railroad guy is hired to carry these wages on the latest journey. And when I say down on his luck, he had to eek out a living playing the accordion and singing for next to nothing. James Stewart was an actor of considerable talents. But what this movie revealed was that singing was not one of them.

So when he's offered the job he does it. Not for the money but because "you belong to the railroad and it belongs to you"....yeah right.

Audie Murphy is Stewart's estranged brother and of course part of the train robbing gang. He is, ahem, on the wrong part of the railway tracks. Of course to believe that Stewart and Murphy are brothers even if Murphy describes himself as a "kid brother" really stretches your imagination. It was a good thing when I watched it that I was half asleep.

And the thing is. The biggest and only surprise in this film is that Audie Murphy is actually the better actor than Stewart. He gets to kiss the girl. He gets to say to Elaine Stewart (with blonde hair that seemingly was lacquered to death in the way it defied gravity) "Want to ride with me?" with a straight face (seemingly referring to going on a horse. The answer in either case was no). He is having fun.

Commercial Break time: You know when you're growing old when you remember the man selling the opportunity to reclaim PPI  for Gladstone Brookes when he was younger as well. Boy he's growing old. I remember the first ad for them. It was so rude. Practically calling the viewer an idiot if he/she didn't contact them.

Back to the film.

A word about it's title. There's no journey by railroad or otherwise in the night at all in this film (except in one very low key way). Why it was called Night Passage is beyond me.

Audie Murphy may have been the best thing about this movie (and he was) but he didn't save it. Not an awful picture. Just you felt at the end you could have done something better. As if you've wasted precious moments of your life watching it.

Until the next time.

Bridgend Indoor Market And The Christmas Decorations In July....Yet Another Update!!

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

THE STORY SO FAR

Bridgend Indoor Market has Christmas Decorations hanging up since July. I tweet the council saying that they really should be taken down. Their response? Basically nothing to do with them. I revert saying surely it is given they run the market.

NOW READ ON

Bridgend Council's Twitter feed respond to me. I genuinely wish I could tell you what it said. Genuinely I do. But I can't. And you know why I can't? Because they have since deleted the tweet. 

So obviously I would not be able to prove a thing.

I will say one thing about Bridgend Council's Twitter feed. I have my doubts that the person lives/works in Bridgend but what the deleted tweet revealed was that the person hadn't visited the market for at least seven months.

So in response to the tweet I cannot talk about I send them this picture. Taken in June.

Not impressive in June

Now this seemed to have stirred the Bridgend Council Twitter feed into a quick response. Which was this.

Bridgend CB Council‏Verified account @BridgendCBC

Replying to @EEnderinWales @Syren2010

We've been informed that some decorations may be in place in higher parts of the market space which are switched on when required, and left unlit when not - thanks.

12:25 PM - 10 Jul 2018

1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes

Best way I could to copy this tweet.

So the first thing I take from reading this tweet is that I think that I can reasonably assume that the council have now acknowledged that the decorations are theirs.

I have no idea what "higher parts of the market space" means. But as the picture shows the decorations were not that high and they did cover most of the market

Hanging Christmas Decorations ….whether switched on or not....are still Christmas decorations.

The Council have no intention of taking them down. Thus providing the stallholders with an embarrassing white elephant for about ten months of the year.

And you wonder why I call the council a  blog villan.

I'm not sure that I can take this issue further. But I might pass the ball to someone with more knowledge to see whether he can deal with it.

Until the next time.

Bridgend Indoor Market And the Christmas Decorations In July....An Update

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Regular readers to this blog will know of my previous recent posts regarding Bridgend Indoor Market in Bridgend Town. For whilst like the town itself there are swathes of stall closures there also seems to be an insult upon injury with regard to the Christmas decorations.....still there....in July.

Well I have been regularly nagging with blog villain Bridgend Labour Council on this. Basically asking when are these decorations going to come down. For it doesn't help in giving a good overall impression of the market (though obviously the empty stalls aren't great either). Especially as....after all ….it's July.

When I say nagging. It's more that I go on Twitter. Ask (politely) when the decorations are going to come down and receive no response.

That was until yesterday. When at last they came back and their answer was basically this. That the Christmas decorations are provided by town and community councils. "If you have any concerns about a specific area" (oh I don't know...Christmas decorations in July) then I'd need to contact the relevant town/community council concerned.

Now that seemed to be classic political passing the buck answer. "Don't bother us go to someone else" seemed to be the subtext here. The trouble with the response , the simple fact as to why I tweeted them about it and what it appears the Bridgend County Borough Council Official Twitter account did not know was that they run the market.

Even being at my most charitable even if somehow because of some arcane local government law the decorations above the stalls in an indoor market are not the responsibility of the council then they, as the people who run the market (note that official Bridgend Council Twitter account) should be banging on the doors of the organisation whose responsibility it is and demanding the decorations are put down the next day. Given that it is...well...July.

And if the responsibility is completely theirs (as I suspect) then they should dismantle them  immediately. Image is everything they say. And Christmas in July does not help the Indoor Market one jot. At the very least the council owe it to the stallholders and customers.

Until the next time.

Why Scottish/Welsh Nationalists Should Thank David Davis

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I have mentioned in this blog before of a scenario due to Brexit that the situation becomes so bad people in Scotland and yes Wales too move to independence. I won't repeat it in detail here as I don't want to bore you. But this morning brought into focus another different reason why Brexit, or rather it's consequences might bring Independence closer than people think.

Any person from Scotland will have a greater idea about the independence referendum than I do. But I suspect that one of the reasons why the Unionists narrowly won was that enough people felt that to pull out of the United Kingdom would be leap into the dark. So better the devil you know.

However what we have seen now is that on Brexit it's the devil that doesn't know what to do. We have a situation where some sort of cobbled together tied up on the flimsiest of string deal on what we should do (without knowing what the EU response would be) was made between the cabinet on Friday and come this morning Brexit Secretary, the man who was supposed to be negotiating all of this (though apparently using the weapons of a white stick and a Labrador) resigns.

On breakfast TV and radio seemingly stormtrooper loads of Conservative MPs lined up to praise Davis and attack Theresa May. Her position as head of anything let alone Prime Minister must be questioned now.

Better the devil you know.

The Devil is supposed to thrive on chaos. But clearly under the shadow of Brexit this is not happening. The Devil is supposed to be strong and yet every day the government is undermined by people within it's own ranks. What is happening is that the government seems to be constantly buffeted by fundamentalist unionism.

David Davis' resignation seems to have brought it to a head.

And so back to independence for Scotland and Wales. In these times where politics seem to dominated by the insane. If the Devil does not know what to do then surely independence is not the scary option it was portrayed as at the time of Scottish referendum. Indeed you could argue that it could provide strong and stable government for these nations (irony city indeed).

So for bringing Tory civil war to a head nationalists in Scotland and Wales should thank David Davis. The Unionist that might have just helped destroy the union.

Until the next time.

English World Cup Success And Welsh Football Fans

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Until the arrival of Kuwaiti money the best title for a football book ever was Colin Shindler's autobiography Manchester United Ruined My Life. That title alone explained what it was like to be a Manchester City fan when Manchester United were seemingly winning everything and their local rivals were forever struggling.

Crucially even in the rare occasions Manchester City did well. United seemed to find a way to top it by doing something just that little bit better.

Analogies can be taken so far. But I suspect that's the position Welsh football fans feel like at the moment.

Outside of Wales the ABE (Anyone But England) reaction to England's World cup success is taken as jealously. Taken as a whole I'd argue this isn't the case. For most Welsh football fans England is the team you love to hate in the same way Manchester City fans love to beat United. Having a main "bad guy" is part of being a sports fan. If you are not in a tournament then you support the team your biggest rival is facing. Simple as. As an Englishman I get this and have no problem with it.

There is though an anger (as I've explained before) at the expectation Welsh football fans should support England. The example of the BBC Radio Wales phone-in asking "Are We All English Now". Or the Principality stadium speculating on the English team for a game (note the Principality stadium) or as I've seen this morning a Twitter ad from Budweiser offering a free drink to celebrate England's success …..in England and Wales only. This sublimation of Wales' own aspirations is something happily foisted upon this nation unlike Scotland.

And of course let's not forget Secretary State for Wales and walking doormat Alun Chucky Cairns happily letting the cross of Saint George fly over the Welsh office in London. Though let's face it who was surprised Chucky didn't argue about that?

What we have also seen is a preview of attitudes by some English people post Brexit. I've written before how Welsh people should prepare to be treated by some English Brexiteers in a condescending master serf like manner that they would not try on anyone else. This has also raised anger here.

Most of all though there is a certain sense of wistfulness that the magnificent achievement that Wales, smaller in the pool of player resources it could count upon than it's larger neighbour, was able to reach the semi finals of Euro 2016 seems now to have been a long time ago. During that time when companies tried to do England team promotions in Wales, were called out and shamefacedly withdrew them.  When Wales became Wales far more than any six nations would allow. When it acted independently from anyone else. When for a short time. It seemed free.

Now that England have reached the semi finals of the World Cup Euro 2016 seems an irrelevance to English fans now. As it should be.

So what can Wales do to return to those heady 2016 moments? Well more knowledgeable football minds than me could do a better job on that issue. Starting with my wife who says the Welsh women could start the upturn qualifying for their World Cup by beating their opponents in the last qualifying match next month.

Their opponents are England.

Better keep my mouth shut on that.

Until the next time.

On Books: Read,Borrowed And Bought. Including A Booksale And Why I Might Have Underestimated Bernard Cornwell

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Now that the World Cup is slowly drawing to a close probably the only good thing is that there's more time to go back to reading. I must admit in the past month or so to having slowed up on it whilst there was the distraction of the global footy.

But now normal service has been resumed. And let's start with the book I've read since I last chatted on the subject.

Bernard Cornwell - Fools and Mortals

Now I slight digression is called for to explain why I've never read a Bernard Cornwell book before. In the mid nineties I made the mistake of watching a programme in the TV series of his Sharpe novels. All about the adventures of a British soldier in the Napoleonic wars. And to be honest in my early thirties it just didn't seem that interesting anymore whereas previously I would enjoy them. Only later did the explanation come clear.

I was growing old.

Also though as I've mentioned in this blog I read a C S Forester Hornblower novel about a year back and didn't like it. It's patriotism was over the top. The sort a member of UKIP would love. So not for me.

So Mr Cornwell's books have been avoided....until now. And let me say I loved Fools and Mortals. Set in Elizabethan times it follows a (literally) Shakespearean theatre company in the days where female roles were played by men. One of whom turns out to be the main character. William Shakespeare's younger brother.

Did Shakespeare have a brother? I don't know and it doesn't matter. It's a historical entertainment. Indeed I'll go as far as to say that as an entertainment it's the best book I've read this year.

I might still be right about his Sharpe novels. But reading Fools and Mortals has made me realise that should opportunity come I should give them a go.

I mentioned in my last post that I was going to spend part of Saturday in a book sale in Sully where I'm currently renting. I haven't bought that many books since we moved out of Bridgend so wasn't going to pass away the chance here.

(Another quick aside - Still renting at the moment whilst looking for "the place" - We thought we'd found a house and had an offer accepted only to drop out when the survey revealed a house that didn't so much need updating as upending and demolishing. It was that bad.)

It was held in The Old School Hall, now used for community activities.

Signs and Balloons For Books...I Love It

There was a good selection on display.

Full On Trestle Table Action

Now the price range was 1 book for a pound or six for five pounds. The intention was to buy six. The idea was two were those suggested by my favourite book podcast Backlisted, Two were going to be Penguin Paperbacks and two were going to be "Welsh" books as I've recently realised that I've not been chatting about Welsh books and their authors and this will change.

So the first book was:

Raymond Chandler -The Big Sleep

This is the sort of book I feel I know about even though I haven't read it. Certainly a book I should've read by now. So soon a literary bucket list will be ticked (An author on Backlisted by the way).

Now I only bought one "Welsh" book in the end. Could've bought more but wanted to avoid books by Catrin Collier or Dylan Thomas or about rugby.

(To be fair I've yet to get round to the audiobook I've got of Dylan Thomas' poetry - which I think is better listened to than read. And was tempted by a biography of Richard Burton. It's hardback brick length put me off. When we eventually more somewhere I will seek it out)

So it came to this.

Oliver Balch - Under The Tump 

Then I saw a Penguin Paperback.

Honor Tracy - Mind You I've Said Nothing

"Forays In The Irish Republic" is the description to this travel book. Let's just hope it's not cliché Ireland.

The next one was suggested again by Backlisted

Elizabeth Taylor - Mrs Palfrey At The Claremont.

The next does not fall into any of the categories I intended. Still....as I'm a fan

Clive James - Even As We Speak

And finally. Recommended by Backlisted and apparently David Bowie.

Spike Milligan - Puckoon

All for £5....

And that's not all. Went to the nearby library afterwards. The next book on the non fiction pile to read there was...

Jo Hardy - Tales From A Young Vet

All I can say is. If she can't get me to be interested like James Herriot could then she's failed.

No pressure then.

Until the next time.

The Insomnia Ramblings Post: Welsh Heatwave Edition Part Two....Yes You Read That Right!!!

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Well at time of writing it's 3:37am on a Saturday morning. The Welsh heatwave (yes I know) is still continuing. Seemingly making my insomnia worse. The situation is so bad that in certain places there is (whisper it slowly) talk of water shortages. In Wales....Yes I know. Climate change deniers....take note.

In other news regular readers will I suspect guess that I'm disappointed that there will be a leadership contest for Plaid Cymru. Won't write about it for the moment (as I've nothing really to say) other than I suspect you won't be surprised that Leanne Wood has my vote.

The silence out there seems specially eerie this morning. Interrupted only by my sneezing. Hot, bothered, unable to sleep and have a cold. A Connect 4 of irritations.

It is 4:17am now. And slowly dawn is inching forward. The day will be busy. Not only am I working bur will be going to a book sale in the nearby village of Sully. Haven't been to one of these in ages and must admit to being a little childishly excited. More of that though tomorrow.

4:56am. Definitely daylight now.

Of course today will be England Sweden in the quarter finals of the World Cup and I'll be missing it due to work. Not particularly bothered. Missed England Columbia for the same reason and England won. No you don't have to thank me for England's victory....really you don't.....oh alright then.

5:13am And I hear a sound that makes me remember the one exception to my opinion that no animal should be hunted for sport....seagulls. I mean they are the bullies of the avian world pushing ducks in lakes just to get at bread. I mean what do they do which isn't intrinsically putting them as the baddies of the bird world?

You may remember the Bridgend Indoor Market where the Christmas decorations are up despite the fact that it's well, June. Well it's been put to me that blog villain and local authority donkey Bridgend Labour council leave them up there because it costs more to take them down. Well if true (and I've asked the council....again) then it's a false economy because the image it presents to customers is not good and they might not return again. I mean....come on....Christmas decorations in June.

Ah well sun's bright out there. Got to get moving...have a book sale to get to.

Until the next time.

Back To The Seventies/Eighties In Wales? Nuance And The English Owned Holiday Home

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

 "Nuance" is not a word that you often hear in political debate. Particularly now.That you advocate one policy does not necessarily mean that you automatically support methods used to obtain it. Or that you might disapprove of an action but understand the motives behind it. The mainstream media just wants you to pigeon hole you into a set of views and that's it.

When I was much younger, less left wing and more politically neutral. I still looked at a map of Ireland and knew then by sheer geography that it should be one nation. That did not mean however I supported IRA bombings. Nuance you see.

Now I say all this because I've read an article in the Daily Post which suggests a rise in second homes in Wales bought by English people who (I presume) are unable to buy such homes in [insert EU country here] because of Brexit.

The consequences to the local communities of people from England coming down for the holiday seasons and then leaving homes otherwise empty would be immense. Young people in particular would be unable to start on the property ladder as prices rise.The Welsh language could in some places also suffer.

Here again let me point out that there is a fundamental difference between those people who move to Wales and those who buy a second home here (as I mentioned in an earlier post). If you move into a community then your intention is to be there for life not just for Christmas (Easter, Summer etc).

Now the article has an estate agent giving the contrary argument. Stating that bars etc spring up specifically because of the money the second home dwellers could provide. Point is however that's only during the holiday season. Outside the holiday season what then? Have you ever seen a seaside town in the off season? I rest my case.

Clearly what is needed is a combination of higher council tax for holiday homes (which some councils are doing) coupled with the replenishment of the housing stock for local people. Unless this happens there will be a social timebomb awaiting Wales.

Which brings me to the seventies and eighties. When faced with a similar issue some Welsh nationalists set fire to (uninhabited - that fact cannot be stressed enough) English owned second homes. Which led to the rather amusing joke "Come home to a real fire....Buy a holiday home in Wales".

Should no action be taken for the local communities affected then I can see history repeating itself. I personally wouldn't approve (Violence will not help and the mainstream media would smear the whole nationalist movement with a "violent" brush) I find myself remembering the words of then Hibernian manager Alan Stubbs on being asked to condemn a pitch invasion during the game by Hibs fans celebrating their likely (and eventual) victory in the 2016 Scottish Cup.

The Hibernian manager said he did not condone....but he understood.

Now there's a man who understands nuance.

Until the next time.

The Near Midnight Meanderings On A Movie With A Microwave Meal Part 1: Yes Man (2008)

Hello there.Hope you're feeling well today.

So it begins the "just a bit of fun I've no idea how this will pan it" idea of me coming home late at night from work and passing the time by watching a movie in about two/three days.

Wednesday at eleven. This was what I pinged from the microwave.

Mini Mega Meaty Pizza - I know you're impressed

In fact I know you'd be really impressed when I told you that it was the second pizza I had.

I must admit to have approached Yes Man starring Jim Carrey wearily, if only because I had read the original book by Danny Wallace and felt that after a good start it waned towards the end. Must admit that there is not much of the book I actually remember. But I scraping through my mind I think I'm safe in saying that though films say things are "based on a true story" this one took the true idea and then ran away from the book as quickly as possible.

The story is essentially this. A depressed man with a dead end job and whose girlfriend has left him gets persuaded to say "YES" to every offer he receives by a self help guru. Imagine if you will a less manic Liar, Liar and you'll get the drift.

It is a comedy. But what impresses about this film (and it's not a spoiler to say this) is that there is a sort of wistful sadness about a lot of it as well.

But of course being free to air television let's pause chatting about the movie and go to a commercial break. There are mad stupid ads out there I tell you.

Let's leave aside the car ad without a traffic jam. There's never a car ad with a traffic jam in it!!

Sheba Cat food: A man stops proposing to his girlfriend because his cat wants Sheba Cat food. I mean can't the cat wait? What sort of malign moggy makes it's owner do this? And what sort of weak willed owner actually accepts this? (There is another ad where a guy doesn't go into bed with a woman for exactly the same reason....I know.

Halifax Bank: Where some weird guy from the bank tells the Wizard Of Oz characters (other than Dorothy - she's too young) that he can get them mortgages. Point is....none of them have an actual job except for the scarecrow and he does it for free. And yet the Halifax bank can give them mortgages. Does not inspire confidence.

There's also an ad for Tempura mattresses. Which was interesting because in Yes Man there's a product placement for exactly the same company.

Back to the movie. It also stars Zoey Deschanel as the oddball love interest and Terence Stamp as the stylish English self help guru. Hardly a strain for both of them although Stamp does steal every scene he's in.

Perhaps if you split Carrey's films as a star (ignoring his children's movies) as serious and low brow then this could be considered middle brow. Not heavy but not Dumb and Dumber either.

I liked this film. And (sorry Danny...or as I'd better say Mr Wallace) I preferred it to the book because I know my reaction to it was better.

So when Jim Carrey was asked whether he wanted to do this movie. It was a good thing he said yes.

Until the next time.

I Support England In The World Cup. I Do Not Expect Welsh People To Do the Same

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Well as I'm writing this England are in the quarter finals of the World Cup having beaten Colombia on penalties. Yipppee!!! The weather is still hot. England win in a penalty shoot out and you still don't think anything has changed in the world?

England now face Sweden. Who let's not forget defeated Italy to get to the World Cup in the first place. They look like a team who battles for each other. Not unlike England under Gareth Southgate. It will be a tough game I suspect.

Now I've explained in a previous post that I've no problem with supporting Welsh Independence and supporting England in the World Cup. For the simple reason that football is different. I'm not going to repeat myself here but something has happened this morning which deserves a chat. Following England's victory last night a BBC Radio Wales morning phone-in has asked the question now that England are through to the quarter finals of the World Cup "Are We All English Now"?

There is one response (well polite one anyway) to this question

Why?

Fans of Wales should not be expected to follow England. It doesn't mean that you should be condemned if you do. But what's wrong is the expectation here promulgated by the national Radio broadcaster that if England is in a competition and Wales are not then Welsh fans should like good little serfs move to the side across the bridge (yes that bridge).

Trust me also when I say that English fans will have no respect for Welsh fans who do this. And why should they? It's not their team.

Let's take the question to it's logical conclusion. If Wales are out of the six nations rugby championship and England are not should Wales rugby fans support their nearest neighbour? Or if Cardiff City are out of the FA cup but Swansea City are not should bluebird fans suddenly go all Jack? Of course not. It's a stupid, stupid, question for the BBC to broadcast. You have your own team which defines your nation's identity. It's who you are.

This though leads us into a different question.

Why did BBC Radio Wales broadcast it in the first place?

The national radio broadcaster should be representing the nation. Not discussing how it can be a lapdog of English success. Wales will not be respected as a country if it looks East in how it should think or act. For BBC Radio Wales to do this is a national disgrace from the national broadcaster.

If Welsh fans want to follow a team I'd suggest a nation that has relatively recently achieved independence in Europe. Probably the closest nation I'd suggest to Wales.

Croatia it is then.

Until the next time.

Could It Be That The Renaming Of The Severn Bridge Is Actually A Good Thing?

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

Well Blog villain and Secretary Of State for Wales and Poison Dwarf wannabe Alun Cairns has got his wish. Yesterday the Severn Bridge was officially changed to the Prince Of Wales Bridge by the bridge's namesake. You wouldn't have notice it mind. For Chucky Cairns has perfected the art of the secret ceremony (he must surely be a Mason).

No screaming schoolchildren at the sight of royalty waving flags and giving flowers on the Royal "annual week in Wales" (that's from the govt's Twitter feed). No just a visit to the "plaza office" by the royalty. An unveiling of the design for the bridge signage (more of that later) a couple of speeches by the royal Charlie, Chucky Cairns and First Minister Carwyn Jones (who I bet didn't think this was going to happen when he said he wanted to be invited to the ceremony).

And that basically was it. No publicity. Very little fuss. Hardly any media that was that.

Let's quickly chat about the signage design. A basic looking red dragon with what seems to be a white chain along it's neck (which to some, including me, symbolising England). It would not surprise me at all if it was designed outside of Wales. Typical Cairns not caring about the detail just the image.

So to the question why was the opening so cliché Masons in it's secrecy? Especially as when Chucky announced it a few weeks back it was in a in your face glitterball manner?

Well the answer is simple. Despite Chucky having said that he spoke for the "silent majority" polls revealed widespread disapproval across Wales at the name change (thus showing Cairns lacks the mystical powers he previously suggested he had).

People, whatever their political beliefs otherwise felt railroaded about this. Demonstrations were planned. What Cairns didn't want was any kind of trouble in front of royalty. Chucky was....in other words...scared.

And that is why I would suggest the the renaming of the Severn Bridge is actually a good thing. For it stirred people in a way that would have been unexpected a few years ago. They wanted a say in this which was denied them by Chucky.

Let me explain one thing. I am a Londoner. But unlike Cairns I am not London's man.

People will not forget this. No matter how much Westminster would like them to.

So perhaps if it has stirred an anger no matter how small in the hearts of the people living in Wales against the diktats of Westminster then the renaming of the Severn Bridge has in a weird way helped in the cause of Welsh Nationalism (though I'd still wouldn't thank Cairns). And when the time comes to rename the bridge I still hope that my suggestion pulls through.

Ponty.

Until he next time.

Introducing The Near Midnight Meanderings Of A Movie With A Microwave Meal Series

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I have in this blog explained my return to work routine before. I'd come home at around 10:40pm and after doing the bits and pieces you need to do am ready to ping whatever microwave meal comes my way.

The meal itself would not be anything too exotic. The lateness of time and my belly would exclude that. Mainly I go for microwave Italian. Spaghetti, Lasagne you know the drill.

Anyway at about eleven I have a tray with the meal, a cup of tea and my backside is plonked onto the sofa and I watch the TV before my body says "That's it. Time for sleep. Record this now or else you'll be missing this as you nod off"

But the question now is what do I watch? Previously at this time have been happy to watch episodes of Castle or Bones but I've watched them all now so what next? Which is where I remembered this....

Radio Times Film Guide 2013

I bought it Jan/Feb this year in Harlow whilst I was wandering the town centre before visiting my mother in hospital. I don't know why I bought it. Well actually I do. As the picture shows it cost me £2.50. The original price was £25.

So here's the plan I'm going to watch films on the TV taking this book as the guide. There are two simple rules.

1) The film must be mentioned in the guide.

2) The film is shown on a free to air channel. That way everyone has the chance to watch it.

So for most movies we're talking about two sittings,two microwave meals and more than two cups of tea.

And then I'll chat about it.

Do I think I'll complete the book? Of course not. It's just a bit of fun.

So if you were thinking that what the world needed most of all was a fifty something man rambling about films over a microwave meal...then I've got it covered.

Until the next time.

Plaid Cymru: Co Leadership Or Coup?

I really didn't want to write about Politics today. Really I didn't. In fact if I was going to write anything today it would have been about how my voice has suddenly gone all croaky overnight. So deep it could touch gravel. I reckon it's the weather. After all I've lived in Wales since 1997 and I cannot recall a time when it has been so hot for such a long time.

But there we go. The first item on the Welsh news today was an article written by leading Plaid Cymru AM Adam Price suggesting that Plaid Cymru should have a joint leadership. This, on top of the gradual criticism of current leader Leanne Wood, seems to building to a possible challenge to her for the position which has to be done by Wednesday.

The article in the Nation website is worth reading but whether his reading of the situation is correct. (And I've dealt with some of these issues in this blog previously) what I want to focus on here on his proposed solution and  it's timing. After all you have to ask the question why is he doing this now? Why not months if not years before?

So let's deal with Mr Price's "joint leadership" idea. Well to me it's a non starter. After all if the SNP and Sein Fein don't need a joint leadership then why should Plaid? Also to the electorate it just gives a muddled picture of the party. After all the Greens have a joint leadership and until Caroline Lucas leaves she's one of the leaders. Now name me the other one. Unless you're a Green Party member I bet you can't without going online.

A leader is the focus of the party to the electorate and in that Ms Wood has succeeded. We all know that even in a scenario of joint leadership that Mr Price has proposed she will be damaged. And that is assuming she'd accept such a humiliation of her position. She'd every right to walk away.

So the Price is wrong.

I have no idea of Mr Price's motives, let me stress that, but let me tell you the impression that it and all the recent attacks on Leanne Wood gives. It gives the impression of middle aged men trying to put the upstart woman in her place. That's the impression it gives me and I suspect I'm not the only member of Plaid who thinks that.

(And as I've said in my recent post on Ms Wood's leadership a lot of the people attacking Leanne Wood now could have help shorten the disaster that was the leadership of Iuean Wynne Jones but failed to do so)

The best position for Plaid Cymru is that there is no leadership contest. As she has acknowledged the time to truly judge her is after the next Assembly elections. But for what it's worth she'll have my vote if a contest is called this week.

Until the next time.

Will Alun Cairns And Andrew RT Davies Hold Onto Their 2015 Principles And Possibly Fight Against The Vale Of Glamorgan Council? Let's Discuss...

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I have before in this blog discussed the proposed introduction of car parking charges in the Vale Of Glamorgan area specifically Barry Town. I've argued that whilst there were other factors to be taken into consideration car parking charges was one factor in the urban tragedy that is Bridgend Town. As a consequence people went to the free out of town shopping facilities with the consequent damage to the town centre business.

Now however there is a proposal for a "parking strategy" that will be put to the Vale of Glamorgan council shortly prepared for them (at their request) by the firm Capita.

I won't go into detail of the proposals across the borough, that would only bore you, (and it would bore me) besides I'm hoping soon to chat about the town of Cowbridge. For now let's focus on Barry Town and nearby Penarth.

The recommendations from Capita are basically as follows. Charge for what was free but do it on a tiered basis. So the first two hours would be free, three hours £1,four hours £2,five hours £5/£4 (depending whether it's a Long or Short stay car park - something they propose to create) and all day £4 and £5 (depending again on Long or Short Stay).

So you ask what's wrong with that? Two hours free relatively cheap rates otherwise who could argue?

Well two thumbs pointed at this guy

Firstly and let's be clear here, those prices will go up. You know it and I know it. Once the principle of free parking is breached then there will nothing to stop the council raising it in the future.

Secondly even as they stand the fees will not encourage regular visits to either town centre. People will just go in, do what they have to do and leave as quickly as possible. It will not be instant, but businesses will start to suffer and some might go to the wall because of the loss of regular custom.

The Bridgend Town rot starts to set in.

Interestingly a similar proposal regarding car parking charges was made in 2015 and had some vocal detractors then. Let's start with blog villain, political glove puppet and wannabee Englishman and tall person Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns who said in his website “Council tax payers in Barry will find it hard to understand how charging up to £5 to park close to our high streets is going to help regenerate Barry"

And although it appeared from the page he wasn't against car park charging in principle (of course he wouldn't be he's Alun Cairns) he also said  "However they must do the right thing to support the people that live and work locally and work to encourage trade that builds a community rather than introduce unimaginative and ill-thought out charges.”

Here's the page. https://www.aluncairns.com/news/car-parking-charges-barry-cowbridge

He wasn't the only Conservative figure who was against this in 2015. Former Conservative leader in Wales and the Welsh answer to the question "Who ate all the pies?" Andrew RT Davies said the proposals were a

“tax on the high street” 

and

" If you charge prohibitively you drive shoppers to out of town shopping centres and it is the businesses on the high street that suffer as a consequence" 

That page is here. http://www.barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/news/10291008.Vale_of_Glamorgan_car_parking_charges__tax_on_the_high_street____AM/

So, to be clear, basically speaking I find myself agreeing with Andrew RT Davies and Alun Cairns!!!

I feel sick.

The thing is though in 2015 the Vale Of Glamorgan council was Labour run. Now it's a Conservative led Council with independent support. Vale voters and Vale businesses are entitled to know whether these high profile Conservative figures will stick to their principles or will they flip flop (in Mr Davies' case roll) their way out of them.

And if you have any doubts on what car parking charges can do Bridgend Town is about forty minutes drive away.

Until the next time