An incredibly busy couple of days.
Monday was spent in Cardiff, settling into the Wales Office building in Cardiff Bay, meeting the very welcoming officials and generally getting my feet under the table. There was a very successful visit by the Prime Minister to the Assembly, where we met the Presiding Officer and the PM and Secretary of State had a private meeting with the First Minister.
Yesterday I got my feet under another table; this time, the one in my office at Gwydyr House, the Wales Office’s principal base, in Whitehall. Again, a round of meeting more officials, who were equally welcoming.
In the afternoon, I crammed with colleagues into the overflowing Commons chamber for the election of the Speaker. Not only were there hundreds of new faces, I had the experience for the first time of viewing my colleagues from the Government side.
The election procedure was conducted in stentorian tones by the new Father of the House, Sir Peter Tapsell. Sir Peter is a formidable yet well-loved figure, and appropriate tribute was paid to him by Sir Malcolm Rifkind, who informed the House that its new Father had first entered the chamber in 1959, having previously worked for Sir Anthony Eden.
John Bercow was re-elected by almost universal acclamation.
Then back to Gwydyr House, and more meetings.
Cardiff Monday, London Tuesday. If it’s Wednesday, it must be St Asaph.
Llongyfarchiadau David, Y Cymro Cymraeg cyntaf yn Nhŷ Gwydyr ers i Syr Wyn ymadael!
Congratulations David on being the first Welsh speaker in Gwydyr House since Sir Wyn left!