Office launch and other such interesting information.

I don't have much tolerance to blog today unfortunately. Its been a busy week, and next week looks even busier from what I see in my diary- but luckily we have recess on the 21st of July so I have more time to spend here in Neath, and around the region. Last night I opened my office 'officially' and hosted a party for members. My office has been open a while, but we've had a lot of work done to it as the rooms upstairs were a little run down! Jocelyn Davies AM, Deputy Minister for Housing delivered an inspiring speech about Plaid in government, and we later had some musical entertainment from two young people from Neath who are members of the National Youth Choir of Wales. Everyone was in good humour, knowing that summer is on its way ( whether the nice weather will follow suit is anyone's guess!)

I also took part in a panel debate with new Sabbatical Officers in an NUS training day alongside Andrew R T Davies AM, Kirsty Williams, and Alun Davies yesterday. I enjoyed taking part in the discussion, but was a little disappointed that some of the panel members decided to talk the Assembly down to young leaders. I want to be able to inspire young people to get involved in politics, not put them off by saying that chamber debates are boring! Anyway, I'm sure the NUS will have enough to keep them busy on the campaign front in the near future, especially with the changes in FE, the student finance review and the Welsh language education strategy. Good luck to them!

Have a nice weekend all.

A Levels too easy? Give the poor students a break!

I haven't had much time today to scout the news pages as I've been busy at my Constituency Office in Neath. My Community Officer and Administrative Officer started work on Tuesday and we've had a few teething problems with the phones and printers. Apologies therefore if you have tried to ring and there has been no answer!

It's all sorted now, and ready to go. We can get down to working with local people, and local groups. If you ever want to get in touch the number is 01639 643549. We are going to distrubute leaflets in the area around the office in Melincryddan tomorrow, as a starter initiative to encourage people to use the Office and to pop in for a cup of tea now and again. I can't remember how many times I've walked past Peter Hain's office in Neath, only for the shutters to be closed, so I think creating an open and friendly office is a must for any elected representative.

The one news story I couldn't miss today was the yearly A Level results. Well done to anyone reading this that has receieved your results! I really do feel sorry for you with the media story yet again this year leading on 'Are A Levels getting easier?' This was the same story as when I received my results over 7 years ago now! Please, can we not just congratulate our young people instead of criticising them all the time?

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Dwi ddim di cael llawer o amser heddiw i edrych ar beth sydd yn y newyddion oherwydd rwyf wedi bod yn brysur yn fy swyddfa yng Nghastell Nedd. Fe wnaeth fy Swyddog Cymunedol newydd a'r Swyddog Gweinyddol dechrau gwaith yn y swyddfa ar ddydd Mawrth, a da ni wedi cael ychydig o broblemau gyda'r ffon a'r offer yn y swyddfa. Ymddiheuriadau os oes unrhywun wedi bod yn ceisio ffonio, ac heb cael ateb!

Mae popeth yn gweithio'n iawn nawr, diolch byth, ac da ni'n barod am y gwaith caled. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gysylltu a phobl lleol, a grwpiau lleol, ac os da chi byth am siarad, neu os oes mater o bwys gennych, plis ffoniwch y swyddfa ar 01639 643549. Rydym yn mynd i ddosbarthu taflennu yfory o gwmpas ardal y swyddfa yn hysbysebu ein gwaith yno, ac ennyn pobl i pigo mewn am baned o bryd i'w gilydd.Rwyf wedi cerdded heibio swyddfa Peter Hain ar sawl adeg, ac mae'r swyddfa wastad wedi bod ar gau, ac hwn sydd wedi gwneud i mi sylweddoli bod cael swyddfa agored yn angenrheidiol i unrhyw aelod etholedig.

Un stori yn y wasg nad oeddwn i'n medru anwybyddu heddiw oedd stori canlyniadau Safon A. Da iawn i unrhywun sy'n darllen y blog yma sy wedi derbyn canlyniadau heddiw ma. Rwyf wir yn teimlo piti drostoch bod stori'r cyfryngau eto mor ddiflas a negyddol ynghylch y peth. ' A yw arholiadau Safon A yn mynd yn haws,' yw'r prif stori. Yr un stori a phan wnes i dderbyn fy nghanlyniadau i dros 7 mlynedd yn ol! Plis, fedrwn ni jyst llongyfarch y myfyrwyr am un dydd, yn lle beirniadu pobl ifanc dro ar ol tro?