Powys - How Very Dare You!

BBC Wales' Political Editor, Betsan Powys, suggests Powys (the constituency) is quite immune to electoral excitement. But I can report that this year Powys was very daring.

Early in the Montgomeryshire count Lembit Opik said "the art of democracy is painted by the public and we don't know what the picture's going to look like yet". Two hours later the Conservatives had 9 seats.

The victorious Conservative candidate for independent (Liberal) stalwart Llanfyllin, Peter Lewis, declared, "it's time for people to show their true colours." Glyn Davies had turned into Neil Armstrong: "it's a big step and a first step", he said.

By the end of the count most of northern Montgomeryshire had turned blue. Even Llanrhaeadr -where the first Welsh bible was translated - had fallen.

And Mr Opik was nowhere to be seen.

I'm Sorry I Haven't a Balloon - The Antidote to Election Games

I was in the Senedd and a small boy, about 10, was carrying a balloon.

A security guard went up to him. "No balloons allowed" he said. The guard took the balloon from the boy and chewed a hole in its neck. The boy was rather surprised.

I asked the guard why he'd done it. He said the Senedd has banned balloons: latex allergies. "If people with a latex allergy pick up the balloon there could be trouble." But of course.

The balloon was given out in a function at the assembly.

Surely a better way of getting rid of all the hot air…etc etc