Opik accused of being unfaithful and borderline alcoholic by former fiancee
Private discussion of Sunday Mail story in here. Saturday 16th December 2006
11:34 pm
Private discussion of Sunday Mail story in here. 11:25 pm
Christmas Rubbish Collections
As in previous years, there will be no rubbish or recycling collections on Christmas Day (Monday 25 December 2006) or Boxing Day (Tuesday 26 December 2006). The next rubbish collections will be the following week on the normal collection day - i.e. Monday 1 January 2007 (there will be a collection on New Year's Day) or Tuesday 2 January 2007. If you would normally get a paper or multi-material 10:58 pm
My Christmas list
I'm not that tempted by the items on the lists of leading Liberal Democrats. 10:50 pm
Bar Humbug!
It has been a bit of bar humbug session at the moment. It's not because I am a prude or have something against Christmas. In fact I usually enjoy the Christmas session, writing cards and wrapping up presents, sending Christmas wishes to love ones. But sadly I have struggled to get into the festive spirit this year. Now don't get me wrong I have tried not to spoil the atmosphere for anyone. I 10:47 pm
Day 2168: Ticket to Ride
Monday: Oh NAUGHTY Mr Balloon! He has been caught FARE DODGING! Being a CHEEKY SCAMP Mr B was able to blag his way out of the £20 fine. He says that he bicycled to Willesden Junction and bought a ticket there but that he lost it during the journey. Perhaps he accidentally left it with his CHAUFFEUR to drive it to the other end. "I don't routinely break the law," said the Conservatory leader who has previously confessed to routinely breaking the law on drugs. Mr Tim Gordon has a good question to put to Mr Balloon. Obviously, Mr ... 9:35 pm
Spain finally growing up over Gibraltar ?
Spain today finally restarted direct flights from Spain to Gibraltar and allowed aircraft flying to Gibraltar to overfly Spanish airspace after a gap of 40 years whilst Spain has been acting like the dictatorship it was in 1965 when these bizarre restrictions were imposed. I think today's move is a healthy one and, perhaps, a sign that Spain is finally growing up in its relationship with Britain and Gibraltar. The fact that the people of Gibraltar are so overwhelmingly keen to remain British is less to do with their Britishness, more to do with their being anti Spanish. ... 8:29 pm
For the first time in years I voted in a TV talent show
I've watched most weeks of the X Factor and since the start of the series and have felt for some time that Leona Lewis was the star act. Tonight's show showed the way a singer can sometimes sing something absolutely beautifully and effortlessly. So that is why I voted for Leona (the last time I voted in something like this was for Will Young about 5 years ago), and I would urge you all to do the same ! 7:31 pm
Sardines, X Factor and European glory
Well, I spent half an hour being shuffled around outside Leeds railway station dressed as a sardine yesterday morning. I promise I *will* definitely post a photo on here in the next day or two - not least because you can't see my face through the costume anyway, ha! Currently still up in Leeds, at my brother's. My two nieces Catrin and Isobel are just upstairs having a bath, giving me a little bit of time to watch some X Factor uninterrupted. Yes, yes, I know it's not exactly inspired television programming, but it keeps me entertained. Have ... 7:20 pm
Tuesday Evening to Saturday!
The Community Council meeting on Tuesday night included an excellent presentation by Network Rail on their Tay Rail Bridge improvement works. We also did the prize draws from the Christmas Week which you will be able to read (in a day or so) at www.wecc.org.uk. It was very concerning to learn about Monday's road traffic accident at Sinderins involving a local pedestrian who very unfortunately sustained a broken leg. I have asked the City Council to advise me of the details of the accident after these are received from Tayside Police, in order that we can ensure that the lights ... 5:38 pm
The Welsh MP and the pop star
Rumours abound of two newspaper exclusives tomorrow that may have some repercussions on Welsh politics. It seems that Lembit and Sian Lloyd have finally called it a day and that Sian will be spilling the beans to the Mail on Sunday. Meanwhile, I have been told that the News of the World will contain details of an alleged relationship between a certain MP and one of the Cheeky Girls. What a dull life I live! Update: Sure enough the Mail on Sunday article includes the claim by Sian Lloyd that Lembit had been cheating on her with ... 1:12 pm
A Marbelous Trip
As predicted the Parthenon Marbles came up at every meeting during our two day 'marathon' round of meetings in Athens. Massive Greek media interest followed us around the city, especiall... 1:09 pm
As a liberal, with power comes responsibility
Whilst I am in a vaguely philosophical mood, I might as well add to my comments of yesterday. Many of you will have realised that my blog contains quite a lot of detail on the day to day workings of a political party, yet there is very little 'insider gossip', and this has been a deliberate act on my part. As Regional Secretary, a surprising amount of information passes before me, some of it 12:35 pm
Guardian advent 16th December
Todays link takes you here. Crazy Frog cover of Last Christmas on You Tube. Nuff said! 12:06 pm
Inland Revenue cocks up - It happened to me too
The BBC reports that the Inland Revenue has sent out hundreds of thousands of letters telling peeple there is a gap in their National Insurance payments and that they owe £371 or they miss out on pension benefits. Read the story HERE. It is amazing it has taken so long for this to come to light as I received a letter two months ago telling me this. When I phoned my employer to get a duplicate P60, they told me that this has happened to dozens of people. The BBC estimate here is that 4.7 million people were ... 11:40 am
Day 2167: TORCHWOOD: Random Shoes
Sunday: I have flappy feet so I do not need Random Shoes, but my Daddies have lots. I have decided to help them! I will put all of the LEFT shoes in the fridge and all of the RIGHT shoes in the cooker. That should sort them out! Let's see… The week after Suzie Costello coldly informed us that there was nothing after death, nothing at all, we have the story of a ghost. They could hardly have had this episode before "They Keep Killing Suzie" or Gwen would have had a great put down for ... 
10:48 am
Scottish coalition turning frosty as election nears
Polling day for the Scottish Parliament lands in May next year, and the election ‘air war’ is heating up already. Last week’s Scotland on Sunday newspaper lead with a story placed by anonymous Labour sources saying that, if Labour were to go up roughly six seats (that’s quite a big ‘if!’) at the election, they [...] 10:44 am
Obama wowing New Hampshire, John Edwards leading in Iowa
In the US, Senator Barack Obama is getting a phenomenal welcome in New Hampshire and has raised $1 million from ordinary people. A presidential run seems very likely. New Hampshire is, of course, the first election in the presidential primaries. Candidates have to make a good showing there. The first serious primary, however, is often thought to be Iowa. Interestingly, a recent poll from Iowa 10:17 am
West Park wins a Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance award
My local park - West Park has been awarded a Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance award. This is excellent news the award is only given to venues that achieve excellence in all elements of the visitor experience. 10:00 am
Simon Hughes wants to hear from you
Party President Simon Hughes is consulting members on how best to run a new pair of awards, one named after the late Patsy Calton, former MP for Cheadle, and the other after the late Harriet Smith, a star activist, organiser and Conference Revue singer. The idea of the awards is to thank and recognise otherwise unsung [...] 9:01 am
One Doctor's View: "Closing Hospitals Killing Patients"
The link is to a post from a doctor who calls himself Dr Rant. He makes the point that the cuts in ambulance services and hospital services are impacting on care of patients. I have now received the "hospital at night" documents from the government, but not managed to work through them. The real question is one of identifying when the government's cuts have impacted on patients. Dr Rant 12:31 am
Democratic control of Senate hangs by a thread
I have not seen this reported anywhere on this side of the pond but according to the Washington Post here Senator Tim Johnson a Democrat from South Dakota is critically ill in hospital recovering from stroke like symptoms and emergency brain surgery. Were he to fail to take his seat in the Senate a replacement would be nominated by the Governor of South Dakota Mike Rounds. Governor Rounds just happens to be a Republican. In the new Senate the split is currently 51 Democrats (including 2 independents who say they will vote with the Democrats) and 49 Republicans. ... 12:25 am
Loans for peerages: The Times says the Levy and Blair stories do not tie up
Excerpt: According to the Times Lord Levy is to be interviewed for a third time by police investigating allegations of loans for peerages after his testimony was contradicted by Tony Blair, The Times has learnt. 12:02 am
Blogging - when a good idea turns sour
I have had a unique opportunity to re-evaluate the risks and rewards of blogging in the past week, having attended the meeting where the revocation of an individual's membership of the Liberal Democrats was decided upon, in part due to her blog, and watched the travails of Bob Piper, the Sandwell Labour councillor, whose decision to include a somewhat unfortunate image of David Cameron as a 12:01 am
On the road to Timbuktu
An e-mail arrives seeking my signature on a statement of opinion to support a bid by Hay-on-Wye to be twinned with Timbuktu. Apparently, there is competition for this prestigious position from Glastonbury and York. These three places have arrived on the shortlist from a group of 50 applicants. Who would have thought that a city in the West African nation of Mali situated on the trans-Saharan caravan route would have attracted so much interest from towns and Cities all over the UK? Next time I go to the Hay on Wye Book Festival I will be watching out for camels. ... 
