Would you like NATO on your doorstep?

[Patrick]

Absolutely astonished - though I shouldn't be, by the security and ghettoisation of Newport and Cardiff because of that NATO meeting. Does it show the "Out of Touchness" of Leaders that it's got to the state now where they can barely walk amongst us?

Remember when the Queen came to Hereford. It was hell trying to get my washing done. hoiking suitcases over security barriers and stuff!

[trubble]

We had Obama and The Queen visiting within days of each other. Leading up to it the security was very intense. Armed patrols on the motorway, just staring. Our police are not regularly armed. There was an armed guard standing at various statues etc such as a local small one which had been previously destroyed by the IRA. The radio asked us not to come out to wave at our visitors, especially at the Queen. They were so scared. That is why it was so nice that once she had arrived and we all saw the safety of it, people began to greet her, but by that stage she was in Cork so she missed her chance to meet me. And then when Michele Obama came to visit Bono on a separate trip, we were all allowed to stand wherever we liked and Bono brought her to his local pub to rub shoulders with the hoi polloi, and my father hoi polloied with the rest of the barflies. Weird, she hasn't been back since then. Maybe security is a better option sometimes.

[Patrick]

I shall write to the Palace this instant to discover why the Queen didn't go out of her way to meet you! That's absolutely shocking.

.......and we'll try and get 'chelle round an all to make it a bit of a party! eh?

[aubrey]

I assumed Newport was somewhere in the US, like Newark.

[Patrick]

Hello Aubrey! Hope all's well? It used to be English of course, Newport. Wonder if when Wales votes for Independence if Scotland does they'll fight for it.

Still wondering How Berwick feels!