Cardiff...

...is not nearly as interesting as you'd imagine if, for example, your entire prior knowledge of the place is based on watching Doctor Who.

There are a lot less gaseous aliens, and a lot more stag and hen parties. And the only thing vaguely resembling a planet-threatening Slitheen-designed power plant is an odd cooling tower shaped wooden chimney over the Welsh assembly. Although I assume this is mainly for funnelling hot air safely away from the politicians below.

Speaking of which, why do the Welsh have an "assembly"? What do they do there? I'm guessing visits from the nit nurse and talks by the local Chief Constable.

Before I get mugged by a dozen Welsh readers I'd better counter that with some England-bashing. Erm, the English are all rubbish at making cheese on toast. There, that should do it.

I'm not too sure about Cardiff, I went on a whim for no other reason that it was nearby and somewhere I'd never been before.

It seems like a place in transition. There are some admirable attempts to graft a modern city onto it's old industrial bones, with varying levels of success. The waterfront, for example, is aching to be a South Bank, but currently feels more like a Southend. Trendy wine bars seem to be fighting a battle with chip shops and vendors of tatt.

Maybe I'll go back in a few years time and see who won.