Hallelujah!

Anyone know how many Cornwall Council departments are under-achieving to such an extent that they need a special agenda item at their scrutiny meetings for "Good News?"

A risk-averse press release

I'm grateful to South West Lib Dem Euro MP Graham Watson for sending me a press release which calls for a "risk-averse approach to nuclear power." So much more sensible than the alternative.

Off the rails

If you are a First Great Western train passenger I'd love to know what you think of the idea that it might be cheaper for shareholders to surrender the franchise than to upgrade the rolling stock. FGW emails me thus:

"We have to take a decision before the end of the year as to whether we are going to exercise our contractual right to extend the FGW franchise to March 2016."

Time and motion

Today's Guardian has got us all wondering which 5 per cent of BBC staff in Cornwall are under-performing. It would mean there are probably two of us. I suggest that to make it fair, it should be another column on the weekly rota.

More than 5,000 petition over NHS changes in Cornwall

The Cornwall Council on-line register of paper petitions is a site worth keeping an eye on. For example, more than 5,000 have now signed this Labour-inspired one:

"Petitioners oppose the move of Adult Community Health Services, including the operation of the 14 Community Hospitals, out of the NHS to a Social Enterprise Community Interest Company and asks Cornwall Council to debate the matter at a full meeting of the Council so that all 123 elected representatives of Cornwall can consider the issue fully. It also requests that Cornwall Council carry out a referendum to see whether the people of Cornwall support (or oppose) this move BEFORE implementation by NHS Cornwall."

It must now be debated at the full council meeting on 29th March. Interesting.

What do you think of it so far?

This blog is now a year old - give or take a few days.

In the continuing interests of reader-engagement, feedback and quality control, I invite you to submit your opinions about any or all of the 570 entries penned so far.

This was the first blog of its kind, specific to BBC local radio. In these cost-conscious times I should point out that the burden on licence-fee payers is nothing at all, as it's written in my spare time (as a form of therapy.)

Among the stories which subsequently attracted a wider audience, there's been quite a bit of stuff about Cornwall Council, whose constitution has had to be reviewed twice because of blog entries. The blog was first to report that the general election Con-LibDem deal would mean constituency boundary reviews leading to Devonwall. The blog can also claim to have re-written the official timeline of Cornish history - who can forget the Kilbrandon Report? There have been hitherto unplumbed inquiries into who spent what during the general election campaign. My personal favourite was the one about the council visit to the lap-dancing club: Flashman & The Angels.

It's clear, though, that the blog has its critics - who are also cordially invited to say why I should spend more time on the tennis court.

Thank you for reading - and whether you like it or not, another year of blogging is about to be foisted upon you.

Saint Therese

I'm ashamed to admit that until yesterday I had never heard of Therese Coffey, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Suffolk Coastal.

But now that she has tabled Early Day Motion 1593 I have no hesitation in describing her as charming, witty, intelligent, hard working and stunningly attractive.

If you haven't already read Early Day Motion 1593 then I urge you to do so, as I'm sure you'll agree it's the most perfectly crafted form of words to enter Parliament in a very long time.

Indeed, you might like to draw Early Day Motion 1593 to the attention of your own Member of Parliament, possibly encouraging them to add their own names to what I'm sure will be a very long list of supporters.

In the interests of balance and impartiality, I should point out that other EDMs might be available.