Best wishes Andrew

I have just returned from a jog as I start preparing for the Gwyl Y Felin 10k. On checking the news I catch up with the story about Minister Andrew Davies. Andrew is Labour to the core and I wish him well in the coming days and weeks.

It seems we all need to take more notice of our own Government's health messages.

I look forward to seeing Andrew back at work and campaigning.

Action better than words

I didn't think "I feel your pain" was a response that would be sufficient for the 10p issue. So I welcome today's statement by the Chancellor that shows we can move to sort out issues for the low paid as well as the big money issues around the credit crunch.

Sure there will be opposition moans and groans, and insincere accussations, but this does show better action - action that will count more than thousands of words.

Arianrhod - the search continues

Some comments suggested I had only posted queries about Arianrhod due to the election. Well an election period is a legitimate period to ask questions about any overlap of private and public interests, and seek answers. The matter is of legitimate public interest and the research continues.

I will be e-mailing Mr Alun Ffred Jones AM, as suggested by some commentators, to ask the questions. The press may have beaten me to it so the answers shouldn't take long.

I would also like to ask if all other Plaid Cymru AMs have declared any shareholdings in Arianrhod on the Assembly register ?

I cannot see any entries in the January register so can I suggest any oversights need tidying up quickly.

Sea aliens?

Yes I'm in a phase where the digi camera is not far away and tonight's eye catcher was a concrete lorry reversing in to the Menai Strait. With eager volunteers keen to repair Y Felinheli sailing club slip way but from a distance I saw some space ship with aliens from the sea plot! (yes the mind works in strange ways on occassions).

Old Trafford here we come

and of course in case you thought I was not going to mention it, here is the web site story about WBA returning to the Premiership. A good season with FA cup semi final, major entertainment and promotion.

As Boris of London might say "Well done chaps".

A break from the politics

Some time to look around the local area and enjoy the (mostly) nice Bank Holiday weekend. Just a short distance from the back door is this cove and after the heavy downpour earlier today a nice mix of evening sun and water running off the land. The joys of a small digital camera making us all great artists!.

Energy to move forward

After Thursday's drubbing the biggest challenge in a people centred activity like politics is to establish a fresh energy to meet the new challenge and move forward. Arfon Labour started that process today, with some de briefing on the council elections, taking stock of Gwynedd Council and I spooted a number of smiles at the losses which beset Plaid cymru and their local leaders. Comfort in small matters!

Realistically Plaid are assumed to retain the driving seat on the council as they only need to offer some sweeties to a few Plaid friendly independents. It is unclear whether Llais Gwynedd have enough cohesion to build a 'rainbow' and take up power - they know what they oppose, but have they the cohesion around what they would do? Perhaps they will remian the awkward squad, picking fights to unsettle Plaid.

But Labour face the bigger challenge, and we must bring a clear focus on why Arfon must choose Labour at the next Westminster election. Perhaps people will now more clearly realise the Tories are a threat in Westminster and it is in Wales best interest to retain Labour MPs. This is very important to us in Arfon and is a message we must push home in the campaigning times ahead.

In spite of Adam Price's speculation, of Plaid working with the Tories, it is not a prospect many in Arfon would relish.I wonder what Hywel thinks of working with the Tories?

1.30pm

National coverage is gloomy for Labour. Onwards and upwards !

Interesting to see results emerging in the Meirionydd area of Gwynedd who have counted tonight. Llais Gwynedd and independents gaining it would seem.

1.00am

The bloggers are now mainstream occupying chunks of BBC coverage - was this the idea or is that now the transfer to mainstream ?

Anyway back in Gwynedd I detect a bad night for Plaid and possibly Labour : predict Llais Gwynedd delivering results.

So will they show their ex-Plaid, or some other face: my posting about the independent/Llais Gwynedd axis looks interesting.