Just a few days left........

6 may 2010 is when the UK gets a chance to vote for the men and women who will represent us in Parliament. For the first time in 100 years there is a real chance that a third party the Liberal Democrats could gain enough seats to provide an alternative to either the Conservative or Labour parties. Some form of urgent change and new thinking is urgently needed in my opinion. It's easy to be cynical and say it is all a flash in the pan which no doubt the Murdoch-owned press will try and do. It has been so in the past that support has polarised around one party at the last minute but I'm not so sure about that this time. My prediction is for a balanced Parliament and a government formed on that basis - co-operation rather than adversarial confrontation. Whether I'm right or wrong we will see next week....

Mab Jones - Guardian Guest blogger

Check out the very talented Cardiff performance poet and writer Mab Jones who has written a guest blog in the Guardian with details of local literary events in South Wales. Mab also has her own blog and website where you can find out details of her work and her forthcoming book 'Welsh Wool'.

Mab also co-curates with another poet and writer the monthly poetry and literary event 'Poetry on Tap' and also runs the highly successful comedy and variety club Jam Bones Events.

She's planning to be at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer - so look out for her!

Mab has also been featured in my 18 month photographic project on performers and performances - a book forthcoming on that hopefully later this year!

The Big Residency - Postcards

Wales Millennium Centre from 19.00 - come and see our postcards and write your own!

Happy Holiday season and Best Wishes for 2010

Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for 2010! The Visual Diary is having a break and will return later in January to report on a visit to Berlin by the Swansea Met MA group which will include a visit to the Reichstag.

Happy Holidays everyone!

History Heroes

Deb Fisher November 2009 (c) Rhys Jones

A friend, Deb Fisher, will be appearing in the BBC History Magazine next February writing about her history hero, the poet Siegfried Sassoon. Check that out for an interesting article! I have just completed a small photoshoot with Deb commissioned by the Beeb for this article - they needed a half-body shot. We all have heroes and people that we look up to and are inspired by and some of those can be our friends as well. Many friendships have ups and downs and some go through difficult periods especially if the friend in question becomes embroiled in contoversy and is seen perhaps as less than inspiring in a particular circumstance. It is important to stand by that person - whatever they have done is just a passing event whereas a friendship is for life and spans a whole collection of events. Maybe one day we ourselves may need that support.

A chance for change for our future

The UN Climate Change Conference begins in Copenhagen today where our leaders have come together to negotiate a treaty which will be so important for the world in the years ahead. It is important that we don't get any more prevarication and fudges - there should be no doubt that we are in a period of serious global warming which is having consequences for all nations. Developing nations need the help of the wealthy nations - we all need to help each other. We can all do things individually to consume less, waste less and live our lives in without having every new gadget that comes onto the marlet. I'm not advocating a return to the harsh conditions that our parents endured - just think before we act. I'm a serious over-consumer so I'm going to commit to change - hope you guys will as well!

St Andrew - a day for Scotland

Scott Clan Tartan

My grandfather on my mum's side of the family was born in Dundee and our family are part of the Scott Clan. Today is a day for remembering the Scottish roots of my family which I have to confess I have been less close to than the Welsh roots but nometheless I am proud of them and I do feel affinity. The Scott clan originated from the border region and the name is very common in Northumberland as well as in the lowland region south of Edinburgh.