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string(1785) "I usually read what Christopher Booker has to write in the Sunday Telegraph. Don't always agree, but reckon there's always at least a grain of truth there. But today I was quite shocked by what he'd written under the heading <strong><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/4092439/Our-Army-failed-its-test-in-Iraq.html">'Our Army failed its test in Iraq'.</a></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />I've long felt a bit vulnerable in debate whenever the subject of the Iraq War comes up. When our Prime Minister, Tony Blair told us that Saddam Hussein was a threat to the security of the United Kingdom, I supported his decision to send our armed forces to join the invasion of Iraq. Its only now that there looks a chance that history will judge this a justified action. The last year has transformed the position. Personally, I reckon that the international politician of the year was Nuri al-Maliki, Prime Minister of Iraq, who seems to have created Government where there was chaos - rather than Barak Obama, who so far has only won an election.<br /><br />But back to Christopher Booker. I knew that Michael Portillo had written something along the same lines before Christmas, but didn't read it. But I didn't approve. I find it very difficult to criticise our armed forces, young people from amongst us who put their lives on the line in the service of our security. I sometimes ask myself whether its a blind spot - or blind loyalty to our own team. Whatever, its shocking to read an article in the Telegraph by one of my regular reads, which describes the contribution by our armed forces in such a negative way. I shall read it again tomorrow, so that I can take it in properly. I'll never read Christopher Booker in quite the same way again."
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string(3075) "Decisions, decisions! What should we do? Should we spend, or should we save? Our Prime Minister is imploring us to throw caution to the wind, and borrow shedloads of money, and spend it. If I don't, I'll be sneered at as a heartless, 'doing-nothing', irresponsible person, not suitable for public office. He tells me that I shouldn't worry about repaying the borrowing, because we have 4 children to whom we can bequeath the debts. <em><strong>"Look at me",</strong></em> says Gordon Brown. <em><strong>"No Prime Minister in history has ever borrowed as much as me. I must therefore be the greatest</strong></em>.". And I daresay he could add that if my bank were to ask too many questions, I should fiddle - sorry adjust - my farm accounts to keep some of my larger borrowings off the balance sheet. And then I could tell my bank manager that all my neighbours borrow far more than I do, so he shouldn't worry - whether its true or not. He'll add that if I say it often enough, my bank will swallow it.<br /><br /> So I've just been looking at websites of treadmill and fitness equipment suppliers. I must spend, but also do my bit to justify all these Government millions that have been spent on a massive advertising campaign to combat obesity. I saw a two page spread in yesterday's Mail on Sunday, and thought it was an utterly daft and pointless waste of public money. And then I need to do something special in 2009 to help the Government meet its carbon footprint reduction target. Being a responsible citizen in Brown's Britain is very complicated. If I go ahead and order, I'll be delivering for Britain on three fronts - spending recklessly, providing justification for pointless advertising and cutting back on car use by ending our visits to fitness centres - hope it doesn't put it out of business! <br /><br />I was on the point of ordering when I read <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7810932.stm">this</a> on the BBC website. David Cameron sees virtue in 'saving'. I used to agree with this myself, but have tried to avoid using this word for months, because I didn't want our Prime Minister accusing me of being 'unpatriotic'. The more I've read about what David Cameron has been saying, the more I like it. Those things which I thought important, and have tried to pass on to our children as virtuous could be coming back into fashion. Encouraging people to save rather than spend everything. Being responsible about budgeting and not always looking to Government for the answer. Letting people keep more of their own money, so that they can decide how to spend it themselves. Government spending being restrained to sustainable levels, not expanding exponentially, squeezing out the private sector. And then there's this thing called a National Loan Guarantee Scheme (and £50 billion is big money) which will enable my bank to consider whether it should lend me the money I need. Plus lots of other things to get the economy moving. In fact its made me feel so much better that I may buy myself a treadmill to celebrate."
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string(1785) "I usually read what Christopher Booker has to write in the Sunday Telegraph. Don't always agree, but reckon there's always at least a grain of truth there. But today I was quite shocked by what he'd written under the heading <strong><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/4092439/Our-Army-failed-its-test-in-Iraq.html">'Our Army failed its test in Iraq'.</a></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />I've long felt a bit vulnerable in debate whenever the subject of the Iraq War comes up. When our Prime Minister, Tony Blair told us that Saddam Hussein was a threat to the security of the United Kingdom, I supported his decision to send our armed forces to join the invasion of Iraq. Its only now that there looks a chance that history will judge this a justified action. The last year has transformed the position. Personally, I reckon that the international politician of the year was Nuri al-Maliki, Prime Minister of Iraq, who seems to have created Government where there was chaos - rather than Barak Obama, who so far has only won an election.<br /><br />But back to Christopher Booker. I knew that Michael Portillo had written something along the same lines before Christmas, but didn't read it. But I didn't approve. I find it very difficult to criticise our armed forces, young people from amongst us who put their lives on the line in the service of our security. I sometimes ask myself whether its a blind spot - or blind loyalty to our own team. Whatever, its shocking to read an article in the Telegraph by one of my regular reads, which describes the contribution by our armed forces in such a negative way. I shall read it again tomorrow, so that I can take it in properly. I'll never read Christopher Booker in quite the same way again."
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string(2252) "I'd been concerned that this blog had become overly righteous during the festive season. Normally, the family would feature quite a lot at this time, but Mrs D tells me that they prefer anonymity. So in general, I've stuck with serious politics. But its difficult to stop a shard of innuendo slipping through. As Stanley Baldwin famously and rather pessimistically said about Britain's air defences in 1936 "The bomber will always get through". Well, one did last week, when I posted about Ffion Hague's splendid book about the women in David Lloyd George's life, The Pain and the Privilege'. Spin Doctor in the Wales on Sunday thinks this failing on my part is <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/columnists/2009/01/04/just-what-is-in-that-mid-wales-water-91466-22599546/">something to do with what's in the local water supply</a>.<br /><br />Today, the good 'Doctor' was much taken by the extracts from Mrs Hague's book, which I'd included on my blog. I have two complaints to make, though I'll not take them further than this reference. Firstly, there was no mention of the book from which I was quoting. Its such a very good book, which I hope my visitors will go out and buy. To know Lloyd George requires that you know what a randy old goat he was. Because communication between the great man and his women was by letter, the evidence of his manipulative charm is there for us all to read. That's why we'll never fully know John Kennedy and Bill Clinton, who were of the same stable, but didn't communicate in the same way. The evidence is not there.<br /><br />My second complaint is the photograph, at the bottom of the Spin Doctor column. Since the Welsh media have quite understandably put me very much on the back burner of late, I should be grateful for being the dominant forward presence - but behind me in the montage is Lembit Opik, Nick Bourne and the ever- coquettish Kirsty Williams. Good job I'm reading 'Rainbow Six' by Tom Clancy at the moment, where they all where bullet proof vests under their suits for most of the time! Perhaps I should send a consignment of 'Montgomery Spring Water', bottled at Harry Tuffins supermarket to the Wales on Sunday offices in Cardiff though - just to see if we can liven things up a bit."
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string(17) "Winter Wonderland"
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string(2337) "Never been more sorry that I'm a c*** photographer. The combination of fog and freezing temperatures produced the most amazing photo-potential in the garden over Christmas. All I've got is an cheap-ish four years old digital I bought when I was an Assembly Member.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SWEngSln1kI/AAAAAAAAAY0/4_63CuN_Xt0/s1600-h/DSC00706.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287550873208608322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SWEngSln1kI/AAAAAAAAAY0/4_63CuN_Xt0/s320/DSC00706.JPG" border="0" /></a> I noted from the publication of AMs allowance claims that some of them bought some quality equipment. This is the part of the garden we call 'The Glade'. These trees cost even less than the camera. I dug them up as seedlings on the farm. There are always a few seats around here in the summer, a shady spot which overlooks the pool.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SWEnW0rUPLI/AAAAAAAAAYs/aG7Ajigs_9Y/s1600-h/DSC00708.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287550710560603314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SWEnW0rUPLI/AAAAAAAAAYs/aG7Ajigs_9Y/s320/DSC00708.JPG" border="0" /></a> Nothing looks better in this weather than the grasses border, which is about 60 metres long. Can't add much to this photograph of a stipa and a miscanthus.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SWEnN7fbu_I/AAAAAAAAAYk/J_pHy8nS_PU/s1600-h/DSC00712.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287550557770988530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SWEnN7fbu_I/AAAAAAAAAYk/J_pHy8nS_PU/s320/DSC00712.JPG" border="0" /></a>There are very few mature trees in our garden. It was field when we moved in. But there are a few oaks down by the stream, which is the area I'm hoping to open up this summer. I think they add a nice backdrop to the seat/obelisk that we put in place last year. We have someone coming in to engrave N/S/E/W on it next month. For those who have been to visit, its on top of the mount which looks down on the pool - opposite the silver birch glade.</div></div>"
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string(29) "2009-01-03T22:54:00.003+01:00"
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string(18) "Wheels coming off."
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string(2228) ""I saved the world" was just a slip of Gordon Brown's tongue. We laughed at the Prime Minister, partly because he's not able to laugh at himself, and partly because we think he actually believes it. Well, it seems that he hasn't. All he's done so far is spend one hell of a lot of our money, and mortgage our children's future. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7809533.stm">The BBC </a>tells us that the Government is so concerned about the continuing state of our economy that many more billions are going to be borrowed to avoid an even greater economic disaster crashing over the United Kingdom. This is hugely embarrassing to the Labour Government, and a huge worry for the rest of us.<br /><br />We don't know what the Government plans are. Perhaps they don't know. Today's headlines are just part of a softening up process. Gordon Brown is on with Andrew <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Marr</span> in the morning, and we might have more idea then - but don't bet on it. One of the rumours would be particularly humiliating if it turns out to be reality. Buying up some of the 'toxic debt' that is secretly lying there on banks balance sheets would be because its a copy of the original '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Paulson</span> Plan' in the US, which Gordon Brown himself rubbished.<br /><br />Another plan seems to be another cut in interest rates - to almost zero. I cannot see the sense in this, because of the devastation its going to visit upon retired people who depend on their savings. And banks are not lending money anyway - so it wouldn't make much difference.<br /><br />Perhaps Labour will simply spend more of our money buying up more shares in the banks. Perhaps it will go the whole hog and 'nationalise' the banks. I cannot believe this will happen. It might give pleasure for those who would like to see the banks punished, and those who are philosophically antipathetic towards capitalism in principle - but it would be a disaster for Britain, from which I believe even Gordon Brown will hold back.<br /><br />Whatever, its clear that the wheels are coming off. Surely, the people of Britain must see that its time to change the driver."
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string(11) "Glyn Davies"
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string(29) "2009-01-02T19:59:00.004+01:00"
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string(26) "Join the Euro - No Chance."
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string(2655) "Lots of talk around at present about the UK jettisoning Sterling as its independent currency, and becoming the 17th country to sign up to the Euro. Its the <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/01/02/joining-the-euro-would-rescue-welsh-economy-91466-22591912/">dominant story in today's Western Mail</a>. For some reason that I cannot fathom, the massive devaluation in Sterling over the last few weeks is being presented as making a case for joining the Euro. Seems to me that it does the opposite. The consequences for employment and business of our not having been able to to allow Sterling to collapse over recent weeks are to awful to contemplate. Because our Government has made such a 'pig's ear' of managing the economy and its public borrowing has gone so far through the roof, and near zero interest rates have become necessary, a collapse in its currency was the only option left to create an economic environment where some recovery might be possible. No 1 son works in Cork, and he tells me that problems there are even worse than than the UK, but the Irish Governement is powerless to take the sort of action being taken in Britain. I'm told that the same applies to Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. All these amateur 'economists' are scribbling about the success of the Euro, it having reached its tenth birthday, at the very time its future is looking doubtful.<br /><br />Anyway, back to the many words of Aled Blake in the WM today. Lets see who he's wheeled out to fly the Euro's flag. First cheerleader up is Jose Manuel Barroso, the EU President. Well, that's a surprise. Next is Charles Kennedy, who has always been fully signed up. Then its Lord Mandelson, still on a mega- EU pension, followed by the still not ennobled Dafydd Wigley, another long term enthusiast. And finally, we have Mike German, who's been banging on about the Euro for as long as I can remember. There is also support from a representative of the EEF in Wales (Engineering Employers Federation). And that's it. The article could have been written any time in the last ten years.<br /><br />Truth is that the prospect of the UK joining the Euro has never been further from reality. Opinion polls have the opposition to joining flying high, and <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1103742/EXCLUSIVE-Tories-Britain-euro-vows-Hague.html?ITO=1490">William Hague is reported as telling us</a> that a Conservative Government will never agree to the scrapping of Sterling. The best contribution on the subject in today's paper was from Plaid Cymru MP, Adam Price, who dismissed the whole thing as "economic madness". Well said Adam."
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string(46) "A Prime Minister who was 'Hung like a Donkey'."
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string(2722) "I'm a slow reader. Since I take pleasure from the act of reading, as well as learning, I see no reason to rush it. So I've read just one book during 'Week 52' - which is my preferred description of the aimless interlude twixt Christmas and New Year. In part that's because little Ffion Davies has been with us quite a lot of the time. But its another Ffion who's written the book - Ffion Hague. 'The Pain and the Privilege', is her oblique look at the life of David Lloyd George, through the eyes and words of the women in his life. It's a long book, a great read and well researched - which has left me in a complex state of disgust and awe at what he achieved, both in debating chambers and bedrooms (and quite possibly broom cupboards) across the world. I've long been fascinated how a radical Welsh Liberal, representing just about the 'Welshest' constituency in the world, managed to become Prime Minister of Great Britain, maintained in that position by the Conservative Party - for six years. The only thing more astonishing than his political achievements was his appetite for sexual intercourse.<br /><br /><strong>Page 469</strong>. In 1931, Lloyd George's physician wrote to him after he'd undergone a serious operation on his prostate. In 1931, the great man was 68 years old. The page reads;<br /><br /><em><strong>"How wonderfully well you have done, though no doubt you realise that recovery is a tedious process, and when the 'slump' days come, not without discouragement. About sex, perhaps I can help you a bit - strictly the nearer you can keep to abstinence for many months the better - but if the Pauline view about 'burning' obtrudes itself, come what may, the wise plan is to keep to well tried love. In that way you avoid the emotional stimulus which any new goddess might promote and to the patient's detriment. This view, I think, fulfils the dictates of 'statesmanship' ".</strong></em><br /><br />Also in 1931 his Personal Secretary, A. J. Sylvester witnessed Lloyd George emerging from his bath, and wrote admiringly in his diary;<br /><br /><em><strong>"There he stood as naked as when he was born with the biggest organ I have ever seen. It resembles a donkey's more than anything else. It must be a sight for the Gods - or the women - in erection. No wonder they are always after him, and he after them ".</strong></em><br /><br />When I first began taking an interest in David Lloyd George, I was amazed by the sheer size of his performance. Its seems that I wasn't the only one! Anyway, Ffion Hague has written a very good book, which has left me feeling as if I almost know Lloyd George. I'm looking forwards to spending that day in the museum at Llanystumdwy which I've promised myself."
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["title"]=>
string(15) "In with the New"
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string(2466) "The New Year is usually a time for introspection. What are we hoping for? What are we going to do? Same for all of us. And there are several fronts on which this self-examination takes place. This post considers the political 'front' as we move into what I believe will be a General Election year. Tim Montgomerie on Conservativehome tells us that he's going to do his political introspection by drafting <a href="http://conservativehome.blogs.com/centreright/2008/12/what-is-conserv.html">'A Statement of Conservatism'.</a> One of what he calls the components of this 'Statement' will be <em><strong>"Government should be as small as possible, but as large as necessary</strong></em>". This principle is one of the fundamentals of my personal view of what constitutes Conservatism.<br /><br />So how does David Cameron's New Year Message measure up. <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/simonheffer/4031463/The-Tories-must-give-us-cause-for-hope-in-2009.html">Simon Heffer in today's Telegraph</a> seems to be checking up on David as well - and offering advice in his own inimitable way. His article focuses on the issue of 'the size of the state' rather well. The line that caught my eye was<br /><br /><em><strong>"It is inequitable, outrageous and economically suicidal for all of the burdens to be borne by the private and productive sector when the public and unproductive one is coming through the worst economic crisis for 70 years with just the odd bruise"</strong></em><br /><em><strong></strong></em><br />Anyway, back to the 'Message'. Here's an extract;<br /><br /><em><strong>"...the modern Conservative vision is of responsible government and responsible business helping to build a responsible 21st century Britain - where social reform and decentralisation strengthen our society, where a stronger society reduces demands on the taxpayer, and where lower taxes, a less interfering bureaucratic state and green growth combine to produce a sustainable economy".</strong></em><br /><br />and another<br /><br /><em><strong>"Where is morality in asking our children to pay off our debts ?.........Where is morality in encouraging people who have borrowed too much, to borrow a little more?"<br /></strong></em><br />I know its only a New Year's Message', but that presses all my buttons. I hope I won't be mocked as slavishly sycophantic, but I see the foundations of a winning, 'responsibility manifesto' taking shape before our eyes."
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string(24) "A Lesson for Councillors"
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string(474) "I've just read that in 1974, Bramber Parish Council decide to switch off its street lights for three days as a cost saving measure. Following the experiment, the Council Chair issued a press release announcing to the taxpayers of Bramber that there had been a saving of £11.59 on the Council's electricity bill. At the following meeting the Council Treasurer informed Councillors that it had cost £18.48 to switch the lights off, and £12.00 to switch them back on again."
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string(16) "Beavers in Devon"
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string(1447) "Be very careful if you are visiting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lifton</span> in Devon in the New Year. A local farmer, Mr Derek <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Gow</span> is going to lay the most infernal of temptations in the path of every sweet toothed male in the land. He wants to catch a male 'on the loose'. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7805128.stm">The BBC warns us </a>that he's been setting 'Honey traps' that have the scent of a female beaver. Last time I heard of a honey trap being used was when I was a teenager, with a big interest in boxing. A new loud-mouthed young heavyweight named Cassius Clay was carrying a big honey trap about his person, seeking to catch the World Champion, Sonny Liston, whom he referred to the 'Big Ugly Bear'. No-one gave Clay a chance of winning - but he did when the 'Bear' failed to emerge from his corner for round 8. It was one of the biggest shocks in boxing history, and launched the incredible career of the man who became <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Mohammad</span> Ali. Anyway, back in Devon, it seems that an escapee male beaver, weighing in at about six stone, is wreaking havoc in the area, cutting down trees and making a thorough nuisance of himself. Strikes me there could be potential for this form of hunting as a popular country sport - without the controversy involved in fox hunting."
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string(50) "Who have Plaid Cymru selected to fight Segway Man?"
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string(3012) "As we enter what I believe will be General Election year, I need to take stock of who my opponents will be in Montgomeryshire. This morning I was talking to a 'noise' in local Plaid Cymru who told me that their candidate has now been selected, but strangely, wouldn't give me a name. Interesting tactic I thought. Perhaps it will be a shadowy Guido-like figure with no name - until he was eventually exposed. I'd been expecting David Thomas to run again. I'd like that because he's a thoroughly good man. I suppose David Senior could have another go. David is also a good man, but not speaking Welsh is a huge disadvantage - particularly since one of his opponents has gone to the trouble of learning. Maybe they've gone for someone just starting out - like Heledd Fychan, who works for Elfyn Llwyd and has strong Montgomeryshire roots. I don't know her, but I check up on her blog. She's one to watch I think. And then there have been rumours that Sian Lloyd will go for it. That would put the fox amongst the chickens, and guarantee that little ol' Montgomeryshire becomes a media-fest. Anyway if anyone knows who the Plaid mystery person is, comment anonymously so that I can assist a little with name recognition.<br /><br />I've met the Labour candidate once, and he seemed an OK fellow, but he'll have to make a bit more effort to make himself known. Bruce Lawson will be surely be flying the flag for Ukip again. He's good company as well. Now you can see that there's not going to be too much ill feeling in Montgomeryshire on Election Day. Unless things are stirred up a bit by the BNP or an anti-Assembly 'independent'. All I'm doing is reporting the rumours.<br /><br />And of course there's the incumbent, Lembit Opik, standing for the Lib Dems - though I keep hearing stories of him being deselected, or retiring to pursue a media career. Personally, I don't believe any of these rumours. In yesterday's Wales on Sunday, Martin Shipton ran <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/12/28/lembit-opik-primed-to-bite-back-91466-22558649/">a two-page spread under the heading 'Opik primed to bite back'</a>. Apparently, he's decided that perhaps the distinctive way he does politics is 'frightening the horses', but he claims that its his way of 'creating a political stampede'. Anyway the report goes on to tell us that he's keen on a debate about legalisation of hard drugs, engaging with international terrorists (I should make clear that this in no way implies any support for terrorism. He threatened to sue Martin just for asking a question about the subject) and he wants the Liberal Democrats to stop sending out mixed messages on the economy. There was no mention of his latest part time employment as Political columnist for the Daily Sport. Whatever, he will be the man to beat come election time - which could be soon. So Plaid Cymru had best get its skates on and tell us who they have chosen if they are going to have any chance of catching the man on the Segway."
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string(11) "Glyn Davies"
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string(29) "2008-12-29T13:33:00.003+01:00"
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["title"]=>
string(32) "Living with Parkinson's Disease."
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string(2926) "<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SVjP8dy2yaI/AAAAAAAAAYc/8CrUQEbWnh8/s1600-h/DSC00683.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285202800416311714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SVjP8dy2yaI/AAAAAAAAAYc/8CrUQEbWnh8/s320/DSC00683.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>BBC Wales' Carl <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Yapp</span> has published <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/7769002.stm">this story </a>online about the wonderfully positive attitude taken by John and Sue Day towards the Parkinson's Disease from which they both suffer. They've become friends of mine since I became President of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Montgomeryshire</span> group of the Parkinson's Disease Society. It must be very rare for a married couple to both suffer from the affliction. Even more unusually, John's brother and late father were also affected.</div><div> </div><div>In the interview with Carl, both John and Sue are calling for a specialist nurse to be made available to fellow sufferers in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Montgomeryshire</span>. I note the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Powys</span> Local Health Board comment in the article claiming that supporting Parkinson's Disease sufferers is a "top <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">priority</span>'. Well, I'm pleased about that - but I'll believe it when something happens to justify such a statement. The reality is that (as usual) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Montgomeryshire</span> happens to be the place where its said to be difficult to provide a service.</div><div> </div><div>At least there has been a bit of help for John and Sue, courtesy of a reader of my blog, who donated the fabulous sum of £10,000 to Parkinson's Disease Wales, on condition that £1,000 of it was spent in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Montgomeryshire</span>. So far about a half of the £1000 has been spent on sessions for local sufferers to learn to live with the impact of the Disease. I do need to check how the other £9,000 was spent - and report back.<br /></div><div>There is a terrific group of supporters in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Montgomeryshire</span>. The officers of the group called in our office last week for a Christmas drink and mince pie - and to receive a cheque for £100 which we'd raised for them in a raffle. Left of photograph is Anne <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Smedley</span>, Chair of the group, who is tireless in her support. No-one who <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">receives</span> honours tomorrow will deserve their recognition more than she would.</div>"
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string(38) "Gordon Brown - The Hammer of the Poor."
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string(2634) "Warning! This is a partisan post, written under the influence of a dark mood. The cause of this darkness? I've just read <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7802154.stm">this bilge </a>from Mr Liam Byrne, Cabinet Office Minister. I do not know how he can bring himself to speak in such a way - and on a Sunday as well.<br /><br />How will our children, and their children, look back on what's being done to their futures by the current Labour Government. Will history record the 'spin' or the reality. Will it describe Gordon Brown in the way he wishes to be remembered, or the way he deserves to be - as Britain's worst Prime Minister of modern times. Will he be remembered as the Chancellor/Prime Minister who spent and borrowed so much that he brought the British economy to its knees. Over the last day or two, some Bishops have <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7801667.stm">used their pulpits </a>to help open the eyes of the British people to what this man has done and would like to be allowed to carry on doing.<br /><br />What's instigated the Bishops to speak out is the realisation that its the poor who are going to pay the heaviest price. He was found out when he abolished the 10p tax rate. But the leopard doesn't change his spots. Its still the poor he's going to target. He preferred an ineffective temporary cut in VAT, rather than help poorer people by raising the starting rate at which income tax is payable. And to recover the money this pointlessness will cost, he tells us he plans to raise National Insurance Contributions - a direct tax on jobs, which again is going to put more people on the dole. The Bishops have seen through him. It will not be long until everyone else, at least those with eyes willing to see, will do the same.<br /><br />Its the hideous 'spin' that grates with me. The whole 45p tax rate issue is nothing to do with raising money for the Exchequer - but to make it appear that he's hitting the rich. It'll probably raise less money for the Treasury, rather than more. He witters on about tax credits, knowing full well that many of the most needy don't claim it because its too complex. He shouts at the banks to lend more to support business, but he knows the terms on which he has lent the money to them to re-capitalise are on terms so unfavourable that they will want to repay as soon as possible. Its all 'spin'. And worst of all, he's raising Government borrowing to levels never dreamt of before - and trying to put all the blame on others. No - even worse than any of this , is that the Prime Minister seems to believe what he says. Its terrifying."
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string(29) "2008-12-27T23:28:00.002+01:00"
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string(27) "A war with no end in sight."
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string(2173) "Its seems that much worse because its Christmas. No sooner have Christians the world over celebrated the birth of Christ, signalling hope for a better and more peaceful world than full blown hostilities break out in both Israel and the Gaza strip, close to the area where Christ was born. Actually, they broke out in Israel some time ago. There have been a series of rocket attacks on Israel from inside Gaza, which may not have killed many people - but have created so much fear that an Israeli military response became inevitable. I never believe even a half of what I hear reported on the news from conflict zones, but it does appear that hundreds have been killed in the Gaza strip by Israeli assaults. It also appears that many of the dead are non combatants. Its awful news made worse by its inevitability. And the worst aspect is that no-one seems to have any idea how to bring it to an end. No-one that is except President Ahmedinajad of Iran, who would sort the problem out by killing the entire population of Israel - or at least pushing them all into the sea. We knew there was a fair chance of this conflict flaring up before Channel 4 decided to give him a platform to deliver his 'Alternative Christmas Message' on Christmas Day - one of the most offensive actions by a media operator in the history of British TV.<br /><br />Some responses have been predictable. I wonder at how anyone can take a view on such a complex issue with any certainty. US Secretary of State, Condeleezza Rice has called on Hamas to end the rocket assaults, and UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has called on Israel to stop the 'disproportionate' assaults on Gaza. Some put the blame on Hamas, while others condemn the Israelis. And there's some of us who read of what's happening in a resigned way, not knowing what to think. We just want it to stop. In due course there will be a ceasefire. lets all pray that it is agreed soon. But we know it would only be until the next time, unless there is some long term agreement guaranteeing Israel's secure future. What an irony it would be if a democratic Iraq were able to play some part in bringing it about sometime in the future."
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string(22) "Nice and easy does it."
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string(2515) "Front page of today's Western Mail, and First Minister in the National Assembly of Wales is out walking his dog, looking every inch a man already in retirement. Turn the page, and there he is sitting in his armchair in front of the fireplace at Michaelston-le-Pit, complete with Financial Times lying casually unopened on the floor. There's a mug within arm's reach, possibly containing a pre-nap Horlicks. Mr Rhodri Morgan is a picture of contentment. Who would ever have thought that Wales' GDP (or GVA) has fallen and carried on falling throughout his term as First Minister.<br /><br /> Apparently he's been thinking about what his Government can do to help Welsh business cope with the recession. He been telling Western Mail's Chief Reporter, Martin Shipton that <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/12/26/why-foot-and-mouth-crisis-will-help-wales-beat-global-downturn-91466-22542508/">his strategy</a> is based on what he did in the Great Foot and Mouth Crisis of 2001. I wonder if he's planning to bury all the casualties in a great big hole on top of the Eppynt again. He thinks it will all turn out OK though, because "there <em>will be Irish tourists popping over to Fishgaurd for the day".</em> No problem - or at least there won't be as long as there is no turning off of money coming from the Treasury. His main worry seems to be that the Barnett Formula will not be reformed to give Wales more public money and that some of the money given to those now losing their jobs and becoming dependent on the state will come out of the funds currently given to Wales. Private sector - what private sector?<br /><br />Its worth quoting<a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/12/26/is-rhodri-morgan-happy-to-play-role-of-observer-91466-22542509/"> Martin Shipton's reflections </a>after his latest interview with Mr Morgan; <br /><br /><em><strong>....Rhodri Morgan seems increasingly withdrawn from the hurly-burly of political controversy. He doesn't want to enter the AMs expenses row, and he certainly doesn't want to get involved in speculating about how the leadership contest to succeed him will pan out. Instead, he's happy to act the role of observer, not attempting to pretend that the world's economic problems will be solved in Wales - or even that Wales' economic problems will be solved from Wales....."</strong></em> <br /><br />Oh, and before you go Martin, put that old recording of Wales winning the Grand Slam on again, and pass me the Horlicks."
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string(41) "A-hunting we will go - in record numbers."
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string(2809) "Been down to Welshpool this morning to the traditional Boxing Day meet, outside the Royal Oak. I'd not been before 2005, when Parliament supposedly, and unwisely in my opinion banned hunting with dogs.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SVTOiyomEVI/AAAAAAAAAYU/qBp10HMC4fg/s1600-h/DSC00698.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284075359915348306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SVTOiyomEVI/AAAAAAAAAYU/qBp10HMC4fg/s320/DSC00698.JPG" border="0" /></a> I've been every year since, and so have many hundreds of others. The country past-time has never looked back. As always, the hounds were looking well. They have not been put down, as they would have been if the hunting ban had been as successful as had been intended by those who supported it. <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3918865/Has-the-hunt-outfoxed-the-law.html">This thought provoking article </a>in today's Telegraph, questions whether the Act has been effective. It also asks what seems to me will be a tough question for a future Conservative Government. Should we seek to repeal what is an increasingly ineffective law. We are committed to giving Parliament an opportunity to reconsider the ban. Personally, I feel that the current Act will have become so discredited in another year or so, that reopening the issue may not be the best option. We'll have to wait and see on this one.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SVTOaNQcV5I/AAAAAAAAAYM/Yqi8LCIsUPw/s1600-h/DSC00701.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284075212442982290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SVTOaNQcV5I/AAAAAAAAAYM/Yqi8LCIsUPw/s320/DSC00701.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />There were 79 horses following the hounds today - a new record for the Tanatside. Severn Street was full of horse flesh - a truly impressive sight. Last year there were 59 horses, and we all thought that would take some beating. Encouragingly, there were lots of young people there today. The future of hunting looked extremely rosy. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SVTOS6iHgeI/AAAAAAAAAYE/KMeqj_3t2uU/s1600-h/DSC00704.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284075087157756386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SVTOS6iHgeI/AAAAAAAAAYE/KMeqj_3t2uU/s320/DSC00704.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div>I suppose there's a case for claiming there were 80 horses today - but this little fellow didn't follow the hounds. He wouldn't have been able to keep up, and anyway, he's probably afraid of foxes.</div></div></div>"
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["title"]=>
string(17) "Planning for 2009"
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string(2119) "<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SVPvHH0RvrI/AAAAAAAAAX8/83fsS49N-cI/s1600-h/DSC00696.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283829693472161458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SVPvHH0RvrI/AAAAAAAAAX8/83fsS49N-cI/s320/DSC00696.JPG" border="0" /></a> Twixt Christmas Day and New Year's Day is the time to make plans for the approaching year. This does not include 'family' issues, where planning isn't calender-confined. It would be very nice if one of them favoured us with another grandchild though - but out of my control. I'm thinking more 'politics', the farm and 'gardening'. This year the big 'politics' plan is already in place. I've not wavered from my expectation that a General Election will be held in June. And I'm set on a course to retire from active farming next year. So the planning over the next few days will be confined to how the garden might grow in 2009. I spent an hour or so today on pre-planning. While out there, I was struck by the colour of the witch hazels. There are lots of varieties, but my favourite is the lemon yellow 'Pallida' - probably the most commonly grown Hammamelis of all. We've a few dotted about. I've include a photo - and another of the orange witch hazel that we also grow a few of. On a gloomy Christmas Day its the 'Pallida' that stands out. <div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SVPrzbkAcnI/AAAAAAAAAXk/zY3iS8I4R00/s1600-h/DSC00695.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283826056640361074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SVPrzbkAcnI/AAAAAAAAAXk/zY3iS8I4R00/s320/DSC00695.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SVPrW9mukpI/AAAAAAAAAXc/pElv2IKnvk4/s1600-h/DSC00694.JPG"></a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SVPrBhMjwgI/AAAAAAAAAXU/dHfvWc5qE80/s1600-h/DSC00697.JPG"></a><div><br /> </div></div></div></div></div></div>"
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string(6) "Wilbur"
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string(1927) "Life is often not fair. Some of us are born lucky - with a nice-looking face, a good body and of generally attractive appearance. But Wilbur is scrawny, has a misshapen body and suffers from a pronounced limp. There's no gentle way of putting it. Wilbur is ugly.<br /><br />And its awful to always be the one that is never picked. When I was a young farmer, country boys went to dances and chose from the array of females sitting around the outside of the dance floor. These days, I daresay the females do the choosing. Occasionally the top choice had to be rejected because there was insufficient petrol in the van. No use offering to see a lady home if she lived outside the range of the fuel gauge. It must have been awful to be the one never picked, never offered a lift home. Just as it must have been sad to be the only one who never managed to 'pull' at all. This is exactly what happened to Wilbur. He was not 'picked' by anyone.<br /><br />Sometimes the Wilburs of this world have the last laugh. The Wilbur in this story was a Norfolk Black turkey, who had spent his early years on a 'pick-your-own-turkey' farm in Totnes, Devon. All 49 of his 9 month old mates have been 'picked' during the run-up to Christmas, and taken away with the promise of specially 'dressed' for Christmas Day - leaving poor old Wilbur on his own - rejected. His owner, Peter Hayford, Chairman of Turkey Club UK has now decided that he will become a pet, and in future will be allowed to roam free on the farm amongst the cattle, ducks and geese. Wilbur will become 'one-of-the-family' and will live out the rest of his days in a happy and peaceful environment.<br /><br />So on this Christmas Eve, don't be despondent if you are no oil painting, or you feel that you are being left out, or the world is not being fair to you. Pour yourself another glass and think of Wilbur - and where his 49 mates are now. And have a very happy Christmas."
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string(2785) "This could be a 'minority interest' post, but it should be significant for any Powys County Councillor who cares about our wondrous landscape. Regular readers will know of my scepticism about onshore wind as a renewable energy resource - particularly on a large scale. Unfortunately, the Assembly Government has decided to ignore my advice and has given a bright green light to the 'industrialisation' of much of the uplands of rural Wales. As a democrat, I accept this - even if I don't like it. But what I cannot accept is that it should proceed in a way which greatly increases the environmental desecration. <br /><br />I'm referring to the haphazard granting of planning consents for wind farms, with no regard for how they are to be connected to the National Grid. This is ridiculous. "<em><strong>What about the bl***y pylons"</strong></em> has for so long been my plaintive cry. What happens at present is that a developer seeks planning consent for the wind farm, but makes a separate approach to a power supplier for a connection to the Grid - which the power company is statutorily obliged to provide. So when Celtpower Ltd seeks consent to triple the output from Llandinam wind farm in Montgomeryshire, Scottish Power are obliged to provide a 132 kv cable all the way to Welshpool, upsetting a lot of people living near the village of Kerry. The reason this is madness is that National Grid is going to build a 400 kv cable from Shropshire to a 'hub' somewhere in the Carno area (the horror of this makes me shake with despair) - which would be the natural connection point for the Llandinam wind farm, leaving Kerry out of the loop altogether. But this cable isn't going to be built until 2015.<br /><br />But I have news for the developers. Last week, 'concerned of Kerry' objected to the Llandinam wind farm because of the impact of the cable. And the reply received from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) was very interesting indeed. It read thus;<br /><br /><em><strong>".......Should the relevant Planning Authority (RPA), Powys County Council object, then the Secretary of State will be obliged to call for a public inquiry to be held into the application......If the Secretary of State does call for a public inquiry to be held, he will issue in advance a statement of the matters which seem to him relevant to his consideration of the application. The views of those objecting will be taken into account, together with all relevant factors, in identifying these matters."</strong></em><br /><em><strong></strong></em><br />Now that makes sense. The public inquiry will be just the occasion to thrash out the madness that is being visited on the glorious uplands of Wales by these turbine inspired Philistines. Over to you County Councillors."
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string(34) "Putting the record straight - ish."
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string(2447) "I'm not gay. Never been even a flicker of interest in that direction. When I was young I thought there was something wrong with gays - men in particular. I think most of my contemporaries thought the same in those days. When I became an adult and thought about these things, I accepted that some people are just made that way - and so what. So like most people I was quite shocked to hear it reported today that <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7797269.stm">the Pope has declared homosexuality to be a greater threat to humanity than destruction of the rain forests.</a><br /><br />One reason this interested me is that my regard for the Catholic Church has risen over recent years. In particular, I think that the Church of Rome takes the sanctity of human life rather more seriously than other religions. This sense within me grew during passage of the Human Fertilization and Embryology Bill through the House of Commons earlier this year. And one of our sons has recently married a Catholic girl as well - so there's now a family interest in the Catholic Church.<br /><br />Which brings me to the point I want to post on tonight. Not surprisingly, fellow blogger, Iain Dale, (and many others) has taken great exception to what the Pope is reported to have said. I read some of the comments on his blog post, which included some from Greg, who sought to defend the Pope. The gist of Greg's interpretation of the Holy Father's words were that they were about the sanctity of the human body, and that sex should be an act of creation within marriage - an aspiration which is beyond most human beings, who are, of course, imperfect. In the interests of balance, I thought it was worth repeating the only part of the Pope's speech which referred to rain forests.<br /><br /><em><strong>"But in so doing,</strong></em> (abusing the sanctity of the human body) <em><strong>the human being lives against the truth, and against the Spirit creator. Rain forests deserve, yes, our protection, but the human being - as a creature which contains a message that is not in contradiction with his freedom, but is the condition of his freedom, does not deserve it less"</strong></em><br /><strong><em></em></strong><br />Its still out of touch with the way many humans choose to live their lives today. It may be very idealistic, and divorced from reality, but it does not appear to be as blatantly homophobic as has been generally interpreted."
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string(35) "Agreeing with his Lordship - again."
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string(2637) "I can never understand why there's excitement when a politician states what is blindingly obvious. I'm just catching up on today's papers, and the Western Mail is making a big deal of <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/12/22/don-t-rush-a-referendum-warns-dafydd-el-91466-22526886/">Lord Elis Thomas' opinion</a> that there should not be a referendum on law making powers for the National Assembly until after the next Assembly election. There's less chance of this happening than there is of Brynle Williams winning the next series of Strictly Come Dancing. And that's how its been for the last twelve months. When the Plaid Cymru/Labour Coalition was created, I did think for a few short months that it was on, but rampant inertia gripped the preparation process almost from the start, and killed the idea stone dead. The only thing left to decide is who knew this was a stitch-up from the start - or was it just Plaid activists who were stitched up? Whatever, and not for the first time, I agree with Dafydd El. A pre-2011 referendum can now be declared a deceased duck.<br /><br />I also agree with the Presiding Officer than there should be a big opinion poll lead for law making powers before any referendum is held. Since I accepted the wafer-thin result in favour of establishing a National Assembly in the 1997 referendum, I have supported the case for full law making powers in devolved subject areas - but only if the people of Wales are genuinely in support. At present I see support for granting more power to the Assembly as going backwards. Since the last Assembly Election, there has been a shocking lack of leadership, as Rhodri Morgan freewheels ever so gently to that great political resting place, somewhere on the Cardigan Bay coast. And his likely successor, Carwyn Jones shows all the dynamism of a three-toed sloth after a good lunch. And badly handled publication of AMs salary increases and allowances have brought public opprobrium down upon the heads of the National Assembly in a way which makes it a real effort for anyone to link the word Yes with anything to do with politics.<br /><br />So David Davies' No campaign can take a break. There's nothing else for it but to make the Legislative Competence Order system work. I'm in need of another day in the Assembly, talking through how its working out. My eyes may be set on a seat in the Palace of Westminster after the next General Election, but I have said that one of the main reasons I want to be a Member of Parliament is to do what I can to make this ridiculous system work. Looks like there's going to be plenty to do."
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string(26) "The Art of Self Promotion."
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string(1829) "Today, I set about generating publicity. I thought it was a really worthwhile cause. I took no more than a bit part role. I suppose I'll have to take this sort of thing more seriously as we build up to a General Election. Tonight, when I read my favorite blogs, I realised just how much I still have to learn.<br /><br />This morning, at our Conservative Christmas do in the office, someone asked me whether our local Montgomeryshire MP was going to be appearing in Celebrity Big Brother next year. "No idea", said I, and "I cannot understand why people are talking about this". Well, I know now. It seems that the aforementioned MP is ringing up newspapers to tell them that he might be taking part, and is encouraging them to run speculative 'Will he-Won't he' stories. Looks as if he's trying to create a situation where he can announce that he's not going to do it because he wants to be regarded as a serious politician. Same thing happened a few months back. The News of the World ran the speculative story that he was going to appear in a celebrity reality TV programme, which was then denied with great fanfare, because of a commitment to being serious. Our local newspaper actually ran a 'reader's poll' to advise him whether he should take part or not. Must admit I always suspected it was the MP, himself who tipped off the newspaper in the first place.<br /><br />Anyway, this time the ruse has been sussed. We're indebted to Matt Withers for <a href="http://blogs.walesonline.co.uk/achangeoftrouble/2008/12/a-poor-use-of-time.html">this bit of information</a>. Perhaps newspapers won't be so easily reeled in this time. I wonder whether there will be another 'reader's poll' . There did seem to be some sort of testing of opinion going on over the mince pies in our office this morning. I didn't stay for the result."
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string(24) "Tokyo? - or rural Wales"
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string(1324) "<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SU_GUqItqrI/AAAAAAAAAV0/oTg90n6WKlQ/s1600-h/DSC00688.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282658946139400882" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SU_GUqItqrI/AAAAAAAAAV0/oTg90n6WKlQ/s320/DSC00688.JPG" border="0" /></a> I recall falling into debate with the Local Highway Authority in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Powys</span> some year's ago concerning a request from a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Newtown</span> business to take over the maintenance of the roundabout from which access is gained to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Powys</span> College. The sign was to be made of wood and about 24 inches by 12 inches. I saw it, and it was a very tasteful sign. It was refused because it might prove to be a distraction to motorists.<br /><br />Well, I took a photograph at the same location today. (You can see the aforementioned roundabout, top left). I really don't think I need to say much - except that one of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales' concerns is the growth of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">unnecessary</span> 'clutter' which disfigures the beautiful countryside of rural Wales."
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string(1756) "I suppose this could be called a 'promotional' post, on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions. Its about an initiative called 'Employ Ability' - a scheme to provide meaningful employment for those who suffer from a long term disability of some sort. I'll even include the web site - dwp.gov.uk/employability<br /><br />Kevin Gordon works for Makefast Ltd, in Newtown Montgomeryshire. He lost the sight of his left eye when he was a teenager. So when he was diagnosed with angioid streaks in his right eye, he knew he would not be able to carry on working as a press setter.<br /><br />Now, Kevin has over 20 years experience, and Makefast managers didn't want to lose him. So they promoted him to a role where he helps other colleagues develop their skills. They also purchased a range of magnifiers and other equipment to help Kevin do his job. Makefast's Ltd's production engineer and Manager, Mike Mills (who is well known in Montgomeryshire circles because of his public work in the town of Montgomery) says<br /><br /><em><strong>"Kevin is a long term employee who has years of experience that we did not want to throw away"</strong></em><br /><em><strong></strong></em><br />The DWP have used Kevin's Story as part of its national promotion of 'Employ Ability'. I've published it on my blog, hoping that Montgomeryshire's local newspapers will give publicity to it.<br /><br />My comment is that<em><strong> "I'm proud that a Montgomeryshire business has made such a thoughtful and constructive response to a long term health problem of one of its valued workers. I hope that the publicity that this has generated will inspire other businesses to take the same enlightened approach if confronted with similar circumstances. </strong></em>"
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string(1432) "At least Brecon and Radnorshire Lib Dem MP, Roger Williams looks after his fellow Welsh MPs. Well, one of them anyway. According to Spin Doctor in today's Wales on Sunday he's ridden to the rescue of Ceredigion MP, Mark Williams, who has recently been described as one of the most anonymous MPs in Parliament by a national newspaper. The cause of Roger's gallantry was an attack on Mark's Plaid Cymru Parliamentary opponent, Penri James, with whom I took dinner some weeks ago at Aberystwyth. He seemed a reasonable enough fellow to me. Anyway, Penri is supposed to have accused Mark of doing nothing to resist local Post Office closures except issue <em>"the usual 'horrified, annoyed, angry, dismayed' type of press release".</em> Doesn't seem that bad to me, in the cut and thrust of political fray. But Roger has written, demanding a full public apology. To be fair, Roger knows that Mark did more than that. At least he stayed at Westminster for the vote to suspend the closure programme earlier in the year, while Roger and his Montgomeryshire colleague just b*****ed off back to Wales without even arranging a 'pair'.<br /><br />Spin Doctor also informs us of another opportunity for Roger to offer support to a Welsh colleague - who has tabled two Early Day Motions concerning the Segway personal transporter. It's reported that not a single MP has signed up to either of them. Where are you Roger in his hour of need."
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string(16) "Being Patriotic."
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string(3075) "Decisions, decisions! What should we do? Should we spend, or should we save? Our Prime Minister is imploring us to throw caution to the wind, and borrow shedloads of money, and spend it. If I don't, I'll be sneered at as a heartless, 'doing-nothing', irresponsible person, not suitable for public office. He tells me that I shouldn't worry about repaying the borrowing, because we have 4 children to whom we can bequeath the debts. <em><strong>"Look at me",</strong></em> says Gordon Brown. <em><strong>"No Prime Minister in history has ever borrowed as much as me. I must therefore be the greatest</strong></em>.". And I daresay he could add that if my bank were to ask too many questions, I should fiddle - sorry adjust - my farm accounts to keep some of my larger borrowings off the balance sheet. And then I could tell my bank manager that all my neighbours borrow far more than I do, so he shouldn't worry - whether its true or not. He'll add that if I say it often enough, my bank will swallow it.<br /><br /> So I've just been looking at websites of treadmill and fitness equipment suppliers. I must spend, but also do my bit to justify all these Government millions that have been spent on a massive advertising campaign to combat obesity. I saw a two page spread in yesterday's Mail on Sunday, and thought it was an utterly daft and pointless waste of public money. And then I need to do something special in 2009 to help the Government meet its carbon footprint reduction target. Being a responsible citizen in Brown's Britain is very complicated. If I go ahead and order, I'll be delivering for Britain on three fronts - spending recklessly, providing justification for pointless advertising and cutting back on car use by ending our visits to fitness centres - hope it doesn't put it out of business! <br /><br />I was on the point of ordering when I read <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7810932.stm">this</a> on the BBC website. David Cameron sees virtue in 'saving'. I used to agree with this myself, but have tried to avoid using this word for months, because I didn't want our Prime Minister accusing me of being 'unpatriotic'. The more I've read about what David Cameron has been saying, the more I like it. Those things which I thought important, and have tried to pass on to our children as virtuous could be coming back into fashion. Encouraging people to save rather than spend everything. Being responsible about budgeting and not always looking to Government for the answer. Letting people keep more of their own money, so that they can decide how to spend it themselves. Government spending being restrained to sustainable levels, not expanding exponentially, squeezing out the private sector. And then there's this thing called a National Loan Guarantee Scheme (and £50 billion is big money) which will enable my bank to consider whether it should lend me the money I need. Plus lots of other things to get the economy moving. In fact its made me feel so much better that I may buy myself a treadmill to celebrate."
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string(1785) "I usually read what Christopher Booker has to write in the Sunday Telegraph. Don't always agree, but reckon there's always at least a grain of truth there. But today I was quite shocked by what he'd written under the heading <strong><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/4092439/Our-Army-failed-its-test-in-Iraq.html">'Our Army failed its test in Iraq'.</a></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />I've long felt a bit vulnerable in debate whenever the subject of the Iraq War comes up. When our Prime Minister, Tony Blair told us that Saddam Hussein was a threat to the security of the United Kingdom, I supported his decision to send our armed forces to join the invasion of Iraq. Its only now that there looks a chance that history will judge this a justified action. The last year has transformed the position. Personally, I reckon that the international politician of the year was Nuri al-Maliki, Prime Minister of Iraq, who seems to have created Government where there was chaos - rather than Barak Obama, who so far has only won an election.<br /><br />But back to Christopher Booker. I knew that Michael Portillo had written something along the same lines before Christmas, but didn't read it. But I didn't approve. I find it very difficult to criticise our armed forces, young people from amongst us who put their lives on the line in the service of our security. I sometimes ask myself whether its a blind spot - or blind loyalty to our own team. Whatever, its shocking to read an article in the Telegraph by one of my regular reads, which describes the contribution by our armed forces in such a negative way. I shall read it again tomorrow, so that I can take it in properly. I'll never read Christopher Booker in quite the same way again."
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string(36) "Taking the Waters of Montgomeryshire"
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string(2252) "I'd been concerned that this blog had become overly righteous during the festive season. Normally, the family would feature quite a lot at this time, but Mrs D tells me that they prefer anonymity. So in general, I've stuck with serious politics. But its difficult to stop a shard of innuendo slipping through. As Stanley Baldwin famously and rather pessimistically said about Britain's air defences in 1936 "The bomber will always get through". Well, one did last week, when I posted about Ffion Hague's splendid book about the women in David Lloyd George's life, The Pain and the Privilege'. Spin Doctor in the Wales on Sunday thinks this failing on my part is <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/columnists/2009/01/04/just-what-is-in-that-mid-wales-water-91466-22599546/">something to do with what's in the local water supply</a>.<br /><br />Today, the good 'Doctor' was much taken by the extracts from Mrs Hague's book, which I'd included on my blog. I have two complaints to make, though I'll not take them further than this reference. Firstly, there was no mention of the book from which I was quoting. Its such a very good book, which I hope my visitors will go out and buy. To know Lloyd George requires that you know what a randy old goat he was. Because communication between the great man and his women was by letter, the evidence of his manipulative charm is there for us all to read. That's why we'll never fully know John Kennedy and Bill Clinton, who were of the same stable, but didn't communicate in the same way. The evidence is not there.<br /><br />My second complaint is the photograph, at the bottom of the Spin Doctor column. Since the Welsh media have quite understandably put me very much on the back burner of late, I should be grateful for being the dominant forward presence - but behind me in the montage is Lembit Opik, Nick Bourne and the ever- coquettish Kirsty Williams. Good job I'm reading 'Rainbow Six' by Tom Clancy at the moment, where they all where bullet proof vests under their suits for most of the time! Perhaps I should send a consignment of 'Montgomery Spring Water', bottled at Harry Tuffins supermarket to the Wales on Sunday offices in Cardiff though - just to see if we can liven things up a bit."
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string(17) "Winter Wonderland"
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string(2337) "Never been more sorry that I'm a c*** photographer. The combination of fog and freezing temperatures produced the most amazing photo-potential in the garden over Christmas. All I've got is an cheap-ish four years old digital I bought when I was an Assembly Member.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SWEngSln1kI/AAAAAAAAAY0/4_63CuN_Xt0/s1600-h/DSC00706.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287550873208608322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SWEngSln1kI/AAAAAAAAAY0/4_63CuN_Xt0/s320/DSC00706.JPG" border="0" /></a> I noted from the publication of AMs allowance claims that some of them bought some quality equipment. This is the part of the garden we call 'The Glade'. These trees cost even less than the camera. I dug them up as seedlings on the farm. There are always a few seats around here in the summer, a shady spot which overlooks the pool.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SWEnW0rUPLI/AAAAAAAAAYs/aG7Ajigs_9Y/s1600-h/DSC00708.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287550710560603314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SWEnW0rUPLI/AAAAAAAAAYs/aG7Ajigs_9Y/s320/DSC00708.JPG" border="0" /></a> Nothing looks better in this weather than the grasses border, which is about 60 metres long. Can't add much to this photograph of a stipa and a miscanthus.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SWEnN7fbu_I/AAAAAAAAAYk/J_pHy8nS_PU/s1600-h/DSC00712.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287550557770988530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sBV0W-R15m0/SWEnN7fbu_I/AAAAAAAAAYk/J_pHy8nS_PU/s320/DSC00712.JPG" border="0" /></a>There are very few mature trees in our garden. It was field when we moved in. But there are a few oaks down by the stream, which is the area I'm hoping to open up this summer. I think they add a nice backdrop to the seat/obelisk that we put in place last year. We have someone coming in to engrave N/S/E/W on it next month. For those who have been to visit, its on top of the mount which looks down on the pool - opposite the silver birch glade.</div></div>"
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string(18) "Wheels coming off."
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string(2228) ""I saved the world" was just a slip of Gordon Brown's tongue. We laughed at the Prime Minister, partly because he's not able to laugh at himself, and partly because we think he actually believes it. Well, it seems that he hasn't. All he's done so far is spend one hell of a lot of our money, and mortgage our children's future. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7809533.stm">The BBC </a>tells us that the Government is so concerned about the continuing state of our economy that many more billions are going to be borrowed to avoid an even greater economic disaster crashing over the United Kingdom. This is hugely embarrassing to the Labour Government, and a huge worry for the rest of us.<br /><br />We don't know what the Government plans are. Perhaps they don't know. Today's headlines are just part of a softening up process. Gordon Brown is on with Andrew <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Marr</span> in the morning, and we might have more idea then - but don't bet on it. One of the rumours would be particularly humiliating if it turns out to be reality. Buying up some of the 'toxic debt' that is secretly lying there on banks balance sheets would be because its a copy of the original '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Paulson</span> Plan' in the US, which Gordon Brown himself rubbished.<br /><br />Another plan seems to be another cut in interest rates - to almost zero. I cannot see the sense in this, because of the devastation its going to visit upon retired people who depend on their savings. And banks are not lending money anyway - so it wouldn't make much difference.<br /><br />Perhaps Labour will simply spend more of our money buying up more shares in the banks. Perhaps it will go the whole hog and 'nationalise' the banks. I cannot believe this will happen. It might give pleasure for those who would like to see the banks punished, and those who are philosophically antipathetic towards capitalism in principle - but it would be a disaster for Britain, from which I believe even Gordon Brown will hold back.<br /><br />Whatever, its clear that the wheels are coming off. Surely, the people of Britain must see that its time to change the driver."
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string(26) "Join the Euro - No Chance."
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string(2655) "Lots of talk around at present about the UK jettisoning Sterling as its independent currency, and becoming the 17th country to sign up to the Euro. Its the <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/01/02/joining-the-euro-would-rescue-welsh-economy-91466-22591912/">dominant story in today's Western Mail</a>. For some reason that I cannot fathom, the massive devaluation in Sterling over the last few weeks is being presented as making a case for joining the Euro. Seems to me that it does the opposite. The consequences for employment and business of our not having been able to to allow Sterling to collapse over recent weeks are to awful to contemplate. Because our Government has made such a 'pig's ear' of managing the economy and its public borrowing has gone so far through the roof, and near zero interest rates have become necessary, a collapse in its currency was the only option left to create an economic environment where some recovery might be possible. No 1 son works in Cork, and he tells me that problems there are even worse than than the UK, but the Irish Governement is powerless to take the sort of action being taken in Britain. I'm told that the same applies to Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. All these amateur 'economists' are scribbling about the success of the Euro, it having reached its tenth birthday, at the very time its future is looking doubtful.<br /><br />Anyway, back to the many words of Aled Blake in the WM today. Lets see who he's wheeled out to fly the Euro's flag. First cheerleader up is Jose Manuel Barroso, the EU President. Well, that's a surprise. Next is Charles Kennedy, who has always been fully signed up. Then its Lord Mandelson, still on a mega- EU pension, followed by the still not ennobled Dafydd Wigley, another long term enthusiast. And finally, we have Mike German, who's been banging on about the Euro for as long as I can remember. There is also support from a representative of the EEF in Wales (Engineering Employers Federation). And that's it. The article could have been written any time in the last ten years.<br /><br />Truth is that the prospect of the UK joining the Euro has never been further from reality. Opinion polls have the opposition to joining flying high, and <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1103742/EXCLUSIVE-Tories-Britain-euro-vows-Hague.html?ITO=1490">William Hague is reported as telling us</a> that a Conservative Government will never agree to the scrapping of Sterling. The best contribution on the subject in today's paper was from Plaid Cymru MP, Adam Price, who dismissed the whole thing as "economic madness". Well said Adam."
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string(46) "A Prime Minister who was 'Hung like a Donkey'."
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string(2722) "I'm a slow reader. Since I take pleasure from the act of reading, as well as learning, I see no reason to rush it. So I've read just one book during 'Week 52' - which is my preferred description of the aimless interlude twixt Christmas and New Year. In part that's because little Ffion Davies has been with us quite a lot of the time. But its another Ffion who's written the book - Ffion Hague. 'The Pain and the Privilege', is her oblique look at the life of David Lloyd George, through the eyes and words of the women in his life. It's a long book, a great read and well researched - which has left me in a complex state of disgust and awe at what he achieved, both in debating chambers and bedrooms (and quite possibly broom cupboards) across the world. I've long been fascinated how a radical Welsh Liberal, representing just about the 'Welshest' constituency in the world, managed to become Prime Minister of Great Britain, maintained in that position ]]></plaintext></div></div>