Airport Security

I have just returned from holiday and am amazed by the type of security scrutiny we are subjected to.

All bottles of water and other substances are removed from you when you enter the departure lounge. You are then able to buy water, wine, oils, balsamic vinegars and other forms of alcohol which you ARE able to take on the plane with you. I appreciate that it is difficult for security to check that my sealed bottle of water I bring to the airport is not a bomb without possibly looking at it, opening it... have me drink from it even(!) but don't see why I can then purchase a second bottle of sealed water - indeed the same brand - and take it onto the plane.

I had exactly the same experience at Heathrow (outbound) and at Marco Polo, Venice (in-bound).

Incidentally anyone going through arrivals at Heathrow will I suspect be as horrified as I was last night - hundreds if not thousands of suit-cases strewn around the baggage collection area, clearly lost and not found. The number of children's buggies was countless. I was quite tempted to trade our slightly worn one in for a better model but morality got the better of me far too easily.

I heard a gret tip on radio last week - if you are travelling abroad then place a piece of paper on top of your luggage, within the suitcase, with your name, flight number and home address. That way if things do go astray they should be able to reunite you with your dirty laundry.

At least it makes it more difficult for BAA to auction it off at a profit!

When free swimming isn't totally free

The Welsh Assembly Government proudly announced free swimming for children during the school hols, and like everyone else I yelled "hurrah". Unfortunately it's at the discretion of individual pools, it seems. For example Pontardawe Pool offers open free access for children for most of the week - which is excellent. But not on Sunday mornings when I'm trying to teach my three year old to swim. Wait wait... I should explain that yes she's free anyway, but when my nine year old and her friend want to come too it makes it an expensive morning. "Aren't children free during school holidays?" I ask. "Yes" receptionist replies, "but not on Sundays cos we's really busy." A great headline but low on substance it seems.

Ponty Festival

Yep it's that time of the year again when the world descends on Pontardawe.

Forget Glastonbury, Forget Brecon Jazz... this is the real deal!

People from across the globe and even the County Borough (but don't let that put you off) will enjoy the sights, sounds and sometime smells of performers of all shapes and sizes. There's also a great craft market and lots of food. Oh and did I mention the bar...? Hic.

Hope to see you all there!

Reason 127 why Pontardawe is a fab place to live

Most small communities would be proud to have two of its "Indian" restaurants commended for quality and service. Indeed the Cardammon and Indian Cottage are much enjoyed and celebrated by locals and visitors alike. However our newsest "Indian" restaurant - The Baeji - has just been voted the best Indian Restaurant in South Wales by Evening Post readers.

Having visited on a number of occassions I must say that I was pleasently surprised by the quality of the food and the welcome - as I always have been at the other two popular venues.

To have three cracking Indian Restaurants is a bonus. But we also have three excellent "Chinese" takeaways and since the smoking ban was introduced a plethora of decent places to both eat and drink!

Blimey, it's no wonder I'm putting on weight...

Festival season

So, once again we're hitting Ponty Festival season, or Pontardawe International Music Festival as they do do call it in posh circles.

This year looks like being bigger and better as the community looks to being far more involved than in recent years. There's also a suggestion of good weather which would make up for last year's dire experience.

It runs from the 17th - 19th of August and is always excellent value. Can't wait to see you all seeing me seeing you there.

Labour are right!

Yep, it's got to be said, some Labour members were completely right at yesterday's County Council Planning Meeting. Cllrs Dai "Rocks" Lewis and Paul Thomas made some really good points, most of which were ignored by their group.

Paul Thomas for example argues that the proposed 4,000 home village at Llandarcy should on principle have at least 20% of affordable homes. Damned good idea. I wish I'd thought of that (though it's unlikely that I'd have got any support). Dai Lewis in the meantime talked about the necessity to challenge developments that have a detrimental effect on communities, particularly in regard to drainage, sewerage and access.

Again, bloody good sense.

It was the strangest Planning Meeting I've ever been to where Labour member turned on Labour member and I found myself speaking out in support of... um... Labour members Thomas and Lewis.

Maybe this Cardiff Bay coalition thing is going to my head. I need a lie down...

What comes around goes around

2 -1. No not a football result but the margin of victory of Plaid in Rhydyfro last night. I predicted a turnout of around 100 (pathetic!) and sadly was right.

Bob Williams was elected as town councillor for Rhydyfro which was a fantastic moment, stealing Labour's seat.

Unfortunately it came at a cost. The Labour candidate is more capable and committed than many others in her party and I have genuine affection for her and her family. It soured the victory slightly as I don't know why she doesn't have a seat.

But people are funny creatures of habit.

What many don't see is how much effort we as a group put into such elections. For something as "lowly" as a community council election we managed to get out on our campaign over the last 3 weeks 2 Assembly Members, at least two County Councillors, a former County Councillor (ok ok he was the candidate) and a Member of the European Parliament!!!

Not bad at all!

On that basis Bob deserved to win making Rhydyfro now a hotbed of Plad activism.

I still feel it's sad that the Labour candidate isn't on the Town Council where there appears to be a mini revolution taking place. Or at least potentially about to occur. As she said in her campaign leaflet - "it's a time for change!". And Plaid are providing that desired change!