Cynhadledd meddwlau (Conference thoughts)

I spent most of Friday and Saturday last week at the Plaid Cymru conference in Llandudno. A few days on, here are some thoughts about it and, as you'd expect, some selfies!

It was my second visit to Llandudno in a couple of weeks as Cathy and I had a day there on our North Wales holiday in September. I'd had a late one on Thursday night, getting back from the HU's gig in Bristol. It was an early start on Friday, leaving Cardiff at 6am with fellow delegates Ben and Jose. 

On the way up we talked politics for a bit and about Warhammer for a bit, because serendipitously we all shared both interests. We got to Llandudno before lunchtime and in time for the big afternoon speeches at Venue Cymru, the large theatre and conference centre on the sea front. It was a bit strange being back there because I remember working a large NHS conference in Venue Cymru well over a decade ago.

Lovely Llandudno

This was my second Plaid Cymru cynhadledd (after last year's in Swansea). I was asked what I thought about it by Emily, a political analyst who was doing a "vibe report", and I said that overall I thought the vibe was celebratory without being smug. It was different to last year's, with Plaid Cymru now the party of (minority) government but it felt like everyone was very conscious of meeting the electorate's expectations.

I thought Rhun ap Iorweth's leader's speech was very good - managing that line between celebrating winning the election witb a sense of purpose and acknowledging the election only being the beginning of working hard for Wales. 

My favourite moments were hearing my friend Anna give her first conference speech as Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, and then hearing my chwaer calon Sara speak in support of a motion to give the Senedd more control over justice and equalities legislation.

Sara was also involved chairing a fringe meeting about improving nursing care. There were several similar thought provoking panels. One of our local Senedd members, Kiera, chaired a great session on youth mental health which included a powerful real life story. 

There was also a main stage session about social care that included an incredibly brave testimony from a care worker about the awful exploitative employment conditions many care workers are trapped in. She got a deserved standing ovation and I hope the campaign to improve things gains traction.

I voted on some motions, including an emergency motion for the party not to accept crypto-currency donations. I also voted in the party's internal elections and was very pleased when Sara was elected Director of Equalities.

In the exhibition I met Zahid from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. A lovely man who was willing to spend time chatting.

On the Saturday there was a protest about Palestine outside. It was the only time I saw any police in Llandudno. I think they over-estimated the likelihood of trouble with over 20 officers and at least 3 vehicles deployed. There were no arrests.

The exhibition also had a display of Plaid Cymru history.

Conference also provides a chance to catch up with friends and meet new people. Along with the South Cardiff representation, I had encouraging conversations with former Grangetonian Huw, and also met Danny from the Rhondda. 

Jose, Paddy and me
repping South Cardiff with Rhun

Gyda ffrind newydd Danny

It also was a chance to meet people who were there for other reasons. I told journalist Will Hayward that I'd read his most recent book (reviewed here) and thought his summary of the problems in NHS Wales was spot on. I also met Ben (a different Ben) who was there in a lobbying capacity but who I hadn't seen in several years - a most welcome catch up.

The two days went by really fast, and soon we were saying goodbye to Venue Cymru. I took a photo of the marvellous dragon on their information desk before I left.

My August 2026 monthly round up

I did a fair bit of travelling in August. The month started with Cathy and I making a last minute overnight trip to Kent (via Oxford). We stayed near Whitstable, had an evening in Herne Bay, before briefly popping into Canterbury to pick up some new art we had bought online. 

Herne Bay sunset

Canterbury museum

We really liked the places we visited, and would like to return to that bit of the world for a proper holiday sometime. (And to go back to the museum when the Smallfilms gallery is open!)

I also spent a weekend in Shrewsbury, which included a trip with my mum on the Shrewsbury Town supporter's coach to Birkenhead to see Tranmere v Shrewsbury. I'm going to post a separate football review of the month, so you can read more about it there. But on the Sunday I went feeding ducks before church with my sister-in-law and an assortment of niblings.

Cathy and I had another road trip and just about stayed in Cymru this time when we met up with Cathy's aunt and uncle in Monmouth one weekend.

At the top of the Cynon valley, I went on the Tower Zipwire with Sara - my ride down was a birthday gift. I've already blogged about it, complete with video. 

There was another delayed birthday gift this month because I spent my Lego Store gift voucher that Connor gave me for my birthday. I bought the new set of Derpy the tiger from K-Pop Demon Hunters on the day it was released and built the set the same evening! He's fab. (Thanks Sara and Connor for being so generous!)

In the evening of the solar eclipse, Cathy and I went out onto The Marl (the big park near us) to experience it. You can't tell much was happening in this selfie with the sun.

In politics, our local Plaid Cymru branch is looking ahead to the council elections next year. We have started going out on some fact-finding canvassing, with sessions on the eastern and northern edges of the "South Cardiff" area. It's been fun knocking doors in the sunshine, and I hope we get good weather into September as well!

I went to seven football matches in August, but I think that's enough games to merit their own post! Check back tomorrow (or the day after).

And in case you missed it:

• My book of the month was Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis
• My album of the month was Sanguivore by Creeper
• This month's Blood Bowl game saw my first ever win for the Norse Team (and some fierce snacks!)
• Our street got resurfaced - but there was a twist!
• I acquired another philatelic passport (this time from Japan) for my collection 
• I also bought some new action figures that were a homage to Action Force 

Zipwire half century

A handy day off on Friday just gone, and I cashed in my birthday promise from Sara - a zipwire at Tower Zipworld up by Hirwaun.

It's a great set up, with a long zipwire over a lake followed by the "fastest seated zipwire in the UK" to get you back down to the main complex. 

You can also get a video of the zip too - of course, this is my point of view so you only really get the evidence that Sara did the zips!

We also did the Tower Coaster in the main site. It's a high speed ride through trees and tunnels. It's also great value, as you get three goes round for the ticket price. That was handy as Sara's twins both wanted to go round with 'Uncle' Jon - so they were both able to get a turn screaming next to me.

Diolch yn fawr, Sara, for a memorable half century birthday present!

My June selfie photo dump

The monthly round up post was a bit too long to include all the selfies I took. So here is a special edition photo dump.

Very early on in the month I went to Shrewsbury as an overnight stop on a work trip. I stayed at Hotel Mum and went out for tea with the proprietor.

I also saw Dave on the same trip.

Here's my football four person selfie with Sara, Steve and Scott, when we went to watch Wales women versus Czechia.

Sara and Scott are former work colleagues and it was a bumper month for selfies with people I used to work with.

I met Matt and Jo at a big charity expo - which was also at Cardiff City Stadium, funnily enough.

Kate was at the same event.

I took a selfie with Justin at a Plaid Cymru gathering.

And I met Heather for lunch as we continued our tradition of marking the solstices. 

And a few solo selfies. Firstly, my double-sided sherbet ice cream at Tafwyl.

Here's a selfie from on my way in to my Cymraeg exam in Treforest. My confidence was unfounded and I suspect I have done terribly.

And a selfie from my canvassing session in Treorchy to finish off.

My June 2026 round-up

Another busy month. On tbe blog I shared my good news about my diabetes recovery, my book of the month, my album of the month and my summary of the football season after I went to my final football match of the season and watched Wales women win against the Czech Republic. (And in tabletop sport, the dice were kind to me and unkind to Bryan when we played Blood Bowl!)

Cathy and I went to two gigs: Garbage in Cardiff Castle and Counting Crows in Bristol. We also had two cinema trips this month. The first was Masters of the Universe. I own one MOTU t-shirt and made sure I wore it. 

I liked the film. It was the perfect mix of homage and gentle mockery of the original 1980s cartoon. 

Cathy and I both wore suitable t-shirts when we went to see a tribute to the Muppets followed by a screening of The Muppet Treasure Island.

I had a nice work-related surprise when I was told I was one of a handful of people nominated as a 'Voice Champion' by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. I didn't know anything about this until I opened an email with this certificate attached. It made a grey Tuesday morning a bit special.

I made it to the Keep Grangetown Tidy litter-pick this month. Nothing very exciting to report this time in the three bags of trash I collected.

After a few weeks off, I was back on the canvassing trail. I went up to Treorchy to encourage people to vote in the council by-election. 

I was back knocking doors with James from Pontyclun. It was like old times! (As in, just a few weeks prior!)

Canvassing is great exercise. I ended the session by calling into a chip shop for a tray of well-earned sglodion! They were delicious. #NoRegrets. (Richard, the Plaid Cymru candidate, won the election with 70.8% of the vote!)

Canvassing wasn't my only political activity of the month. I went to the Tafwyl festival to help out on the Yes Cymru stand. While working there I met several Senedd members I knew, and got pics with a couple of them.

Senator Gonzalez

Senator Crowley

We had lots of interest from passers-by, and with the Westminster government sliding into even more chaos, the discussion about independence feels as timely as ever. 

One of my longer days out this month was to Swindon for the AGM of the British Thematic Association, the stamp collecting group I've been a member of for 16 years now. The meeting was at the stamp fair, Swinpex. 

It's been a good stamp collecting month for me, with two new philatelic passports added to my collection (from France and New Zealand). At Swinpex I bought a few stamps for my collection of pangolins on stamps, including this one produced by Sarawak in 1950. For a 76 year-old stamp, it's looking very crisp.

And at the end of the month we had a heatwave that set new temperature records in Cardiff. My impulse buy to help us cope was half a giant watermelon. By the time we finished it the heatwave was over!

Hand for scale!

Another election reflection: yn dathlu yr enill

On Saturday I went down to Cardiff Bay as I heard there was a celebratory photo planned on the steps of the Senedd. You'll have seen better photos than this, but here's mine

I got there early. So did the media.

It was great being there and meeting so many people I campaigned with. It was selfie time!

A decent-sized crowd had gathered by the time the new Senedd members came out. There were loud cheers. Rhun ap Iorweth made a speech. He then spoke to the media but had to stop because the crowd started singing the anthem. 

After the big official photo and the speech, I got some photos with sparkly new Senators! (Justin took these)

Sara was soon doing a media interview.

Later that day I was very lucky to be in the Siambr when Sara took her oath and officially became a member of the Senedd. 

The celebrating wasn't over - in the evening the campaigners in Sara's constituency were having a gathering, and I was invited along.

Heledd Fychan gave the opening thank you speech and made the astute observation that "there are no 'Plaid Cymru heartlands' any more. That really struck me as a great summary of how big the victory was.

Sara also spoke and read a slightly updated version post-win version of her poem that featured on a Plaid Cymru advert during the campaign.

Looking back, a couple of days later, it's almost hard to believe I was there watching such special moments. As a way of marking the end of such a busy and unusual week, it was immense.