Cool Wales

I don't know if it's to do with St David's Day but there are plenty of news items around at the moment and it is a reminder that there is plenty to celebrate.

The rugby seems to be back on track for a start. As for soccer,

there is not only Swansea's historic 5-0 win in the League Cup Final and Gareth Bale at Spurs going from strength to strength but Ryan Giggs will probably play his thousandth game at senior level today.

Meanwhile, in Hollywood Shirley Bassey was performing at the Oscars and Michael Sheen has been unveiling a Hollywood star on the walk of fame for Richard Burton and the Stereophonics have a new album.

Glastonbury

Listening to the news this morning I heard that the Arctic Monkeys went down well at Glastonbury (clearly important national news) and included a version of Diamonds Are Forever in their set - a tribute to Shirley Bassey, who, it said, is also due to appear. I've checked this out and indeed 'the spangle-clad septuagenarian will perform her most unlikely gig yet: sandwiched between James Morrison and the Manic Street Preachers on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury'. She is in "the living legend slot". I think we can safely put this under the heading post-modern. It is typical of the way the wackiest institutions slowly get tamed and end up repeating all the showbiz cliches. I mean Shirley Bassey is what my parents generation listened to. What goes round comes round, I suppose.