A Merthyr mystery adventure in the Valleys

Lembit sent us on our way with a gift, a faggot each. "Don't look at them, just eat them, they taste much better than they look!", he advised. We certainly needed the sustenance for the next leg of the journey.

Anyone who knows mid-Wales will be familiar with two roads, the A470 and the A483, which link North Wales with Cardiff and Swansea respectively. They wind their way around the hills, occasionally joining together, passing through some incredibly pretty scenery. Quick, they aren't, but they have their compensations.

Through Llandrindod Wells and Builth Wells we passed, and onwards to Brecon, where we stopped for a quick bite of lunch. As we drove away, back the way we had come, I noticed three LibDem stakeboards, encouraging me to vote for Roger Williams. "They weren't there half an hour ago, were they?", I mused. "No,", replied Ros, "but there's a fourth in the hedge!". Yes, the Brecon and Radnorshire LibDem stakeboard team were hard at work...

We arrived in Merthyr Tydfil on time, and met Amy and Kevin. Amy Kitcher is our gallant candidate in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, the public face of a campaign organised by Kevin, her husband. The team is small but enthusiastic, and they are determinedly taking the fight to Labour in one of its most traditional strongholds. If places like Montgomeryshire and Ceredigion are places where liberalism has been strongest, Merthyr is a contender for similar status for Labour. The difference is that Labour take places like this for granted, barely bothering to campaign.

On the doorstep, I found the reception to be polite, and in some cases even warm. There is much grumbling about the uselessness of the sitting MP, and a sense of pleasant surprise that someone cares enough to knock on their door. Amy is great on the doorstep, and a number of people took posters to display.

Returning to the campaign HQ, there was a crisis. The supply of teabags had run out, so I volunteered to make good the shortage, hung my jacket over the back of the chair, and enjoyed a nice cup of tea. All too soon though, it was time to go. Our next event was only and hour or so away...