Bloody Cheek?
Tuesday, April 17, 2007

I couldn't help but notice that Iain Dale linked to two Welsh blogs yesterday. One with a story about Lib Dems being perennially engaged in two-horse races, whatever the odds, and another about Plaid's Helen Mary Jones 'electioneering in a graveyard'. Cue the diatribe.

Except, of course, there's a very good explanation over at Sanddef's place:

Hedd Gwynfor said...
www.gwynfor.net is a website that I purchased to give my late Grandfather a lasting memorial on the web... I offered to build a website for Helen's campaign in Llanelli, and to host her site on my gwynfor.net webspace. I purchased the domain www.helenmaryjones.net to point to http://gwynfor.net/helen/.

My late Grandfather met Helen on numerous occasions before he died, and he was a great fan of hers. I know that my Grandfather would be extremely happy to be associated with Helen's campaign in Llanelli, and would want to help Helen's campaign in any way possible... Anyone who knew Gwynfor would understand that the only thing important to him was success for Plaid Cymru, to ensure freedom for Wales.

I hope that clears it up once and for all.

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posted by Blamerbell @ 12:19 am, ,


Y Cymry yng nghalon y we
Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Henffych blogwyr!

Mae'n debyg fod hen wr doeth y BBC, Vaughan Roderick, wedi ymuno a'r byd blogio Cymraeg. Cafodd groeso cynnes ar faes-e wrth i'r werinwyr tynnu ei sylw at y blogiau gwleidyddol sydd wedi bod wrthi eisioes.

Rhaid i mi gyfaddef nad ydw i chwaith wedi bod yn darllen y blogiau Cymraeg mor aml ag y ddylwn i. Felly, dwi wedi ychwanegu is-adran arbennig o ddolennu at flogiau gwleidyddol yn yr heniaith. Dyma nhw yn eu ysblander nefol:

Annibyniaeth i Gymru; Blog Cymru; Bratiaith; e-clectig; Golwg o'r Garn Wen; Golygon Gasyth; Gwenu dan Fysiau; Hen Rech Flin; Hogyn o Rachub; Rhys Llwyd

Os oes yna mwy, plis gadewch i mi wybod yn y sylwadau ac hefyd rhowch ddolen yn ol tuag at fan hyn. Dal ati bois!

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posted by Blamerbell @ 6:51 pm, ,


Five things...
Thursday, January 04, 2007

Iain Dale has tagged me to tell you five things you didn't know about me. This obviously depends on who you are. Some readers know far too much about me already.

1. I was principal 'cellist of the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales

2. Last February, the toenail came off both my big toes at the same time. What an excruciating coincidence

3. I'm a cleanliness freak - I don't think I've directly touched a toilet seat for some years

4. Next week, I'm having dinner with the Japanese Ambassador

5. I've been Cardiff City FC mascot three times, though a fourth appearance is unlikely

And as you digest those exciting revelations, I shall tag Chris Doidge, Croydonian, and a couple of politicians - Glyn Davies and Peter Black.

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posted by Blamerbell @ 3:44 pm, ,


Chris Doidge and Bangladeshi children
Friday, December 08, 2006

Labour blogger Chris Doidge is in an ethical quagmire this morning after reports that ASDA is paying its Bangladeshi workforce as little as 3p an hour to produce its clothing range.

Mr Doidge has been widely tipped to become the new face of George, ASDA's flagship clothing brand, in January, when it needs to push all the crap it couldn't even sell over Christmas.

Mr Doidge, a known wearer of the brand, would have featured in the supermarket's new campaign to tap into the blogosphere, with Iain Dale also rumoured to have been offered a three figure deal to promote its range of cheap ties.

A spokesman for Mr Doidge is still asleep, and therefore unavailable for comment.

Photo: Another person called Chris Doidge, holding a fish.

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posted by Blamerbell @ 8:12 am, ,


Iain Dale's guide to bookselling
Sunday, November 19, 2006

I've just been leafing through my free copy of Iain Dale's Guide to Political Blogging in the UK. Having got all the way to the back, something leapt off the page: £10!

I wonder how many copies he's sold, given that you can download it for free on his own website?

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posted by Blamerbell @ 7:52 pm, ,


Iain Dale and the establishment
Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Iain Dale tells us he's a blogger, an Essex Boy, West Ham season ticket holder, Audi lover, golfer, iPod addict and so on.

But he's also a signed-up member of the establishment.


Strange then that his new internet TV station, 18 doughty street, should pretend not to be. It's 'anti-establishment TV,' all about 'empowering the little people,' says Dale.

Recent guests include David Trimble, Ann Widdecombe (twice) and David Davis. Little people, if they are there, must be so small they aren't showing up on the screen.

But last week, Dale admitted what we knew all along. 'Guido and I have joined the media Establishment according to the Press Gazette's LIST of the 50 People Shaping Online Journalism,' he writes on November 10th.

So why deny it? Dale could soon be a Tory MP, and he's already getting irate at suggestions from certain Welsh bloggers that perhaps he isn't being as frank as he'd like to be.

There's a pub around the corner from 18DS. Here's a map. Iain, if you're reading, get down there, talk to people and start taking the establishment less seriously.

It may be fun talking to big names, but that won't empower any little people.

[Note: This entry was mistakenly published with an October entry date earlier today. It's now republished with the correct date. Iain Dale responded thus: 'Saucer of milk anyone?']

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posted by Blamerbell @ 8:11 pm, ,


Iain Dale and the establishment
Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Iain Dale tells us he's a blogger, an Essex Boy, West Ham season ticket holder, Audi lover, golfer, iPod addict and so on.

But he's also a signed-up member of the establishment.


Strange then that his new internet TV station, 18 doughty street, should pretend not to be. It's 'anti-establishment TV' all about 'empowering the little people,' says Dale.

Recent guests include David Trimble, Ann Widdecombe (twice) and David Davis. Little people, if they are there, must be so small they aren't showing up on the screen.

But last week, Dale admitted what we knew all along. 'Guido and I have joined the media Establishment according to the Press Gazette's LIST of the 50 People Shaping Online Journalism,' he writes on November 10th.

So why deny it? Dale could soon be a Tory MP, and he's already getting irate at suggestions from certain Welsh bloggers that he perhaps isn't being as frank as he'd like to be.

There's a pub around the corner from 18DS. Here's a map. Iain, if you're reading, get down there, talk to people and start taking the establishment less seriously.

It may be fun talking to big names, but that won't empower any little people.

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posted by Blamerbell @ 5:50 pm, ,


Tory blog tiff
Friday, October 27, 2006

Ever thought all those Tory blogs are just a bit too chummy?

Well one young conservative clearly thinks so. And in making his point he's taken on the leader of the right-wing blogistocracy - Iain Dale.

Young James Skinner of Conservative Future says that just like all the other 'scum' Dale is guilty of the political establishment's old tricks. He takes particular issue with Dale's smug swipe at Margaret Beckett's appearance.

But then Dale doesn't get it all his own way. A canny commenter on his blog remarks that Dale's voice bears more than a passing resemblance to that of Rick Stein. I think he should be invited onto Iain's Tory TV programme so the viewers (all three of us) can decide.

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posted by Blamerbell @ 8:43 am, ,


Ignore maths questions
Wednesday, October 18, 2006

I've just asked Ashley Crossley, conservative candidate at the last election, what the answer is to 8x7. My mouthpiece was Iain Dale, presenter of Vox Politics on 18 Doughty Street.

Ashley lost to Julia Goldsworthy in the Falmouth and Camborne constituency last year.

Julia subsequently shot up the Lib Dem ladder and became Shadow Chief Secretary of the Treasury within a year of getting elected. Journalists were queuing to trip her up - she is after all young and female - and she duly fell flat on her face.

8x7? 42 she asserted.

The Indy and the Mirror had fun with that one.

Ashley Crossley, though, refused to answer.

This is, of course, the correct approach.

Except that he's a partner and tax lawyer in the biggest law firm on earth. Surely simple sums should be rolling off his tongue?

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posted by Blamerbell @ 10:17 pm, ,