Not with our young people, who I'm sure will have surpassed previous year's excellence, but when the usual nonsense starts about "exams are getting easier" or they've been "dumbed down".

An old duffer like me has no idea whether exams have been dumbed down or not, but I think I do know when to say congratulations to young people when they have worked hard and got the exam marks they deserve.

To our bright young people, our future, I say well done and congratulations.

To those who would snipe about quality of exams I say shut up.
If the exams need changing make them later on, now's not the time to gripe about standards.

***

TOP marks to the organisers of the various shows at the weekend during all that appalling weather.

It just goes to show that with determination and dedicated organisers you can have a good time regardless of the weather.

Just look at the smiling faces on the pictures our photographer Phil Blagg took at Sarn and Trefeglwys Shows on Saturday and you'll see what I mean.

Well done to all concerned.

***

I'VE had an idea! Now that we've started the search to find our Pub of the Year, I think I should be carrying out some research of my own as a sort of "mystery customer".

I hope the editor will spring me a few quid to carry this out. Pubs be warned, if a cantankerous old fellow turns up on your doorstep watch out as it could be old Nelson carrying out his research.

In the meantime, don't forget to vote for your local, the voting slip's on Page 26.

***

IT never ceases to amaze me these days just how far our humble paper reaches. With its internet version the County Times is read all over the World.

Well here's a nice picture I was sent by a young couple on their honeymoon... yes that is the Sydney Opera House in the background. I must confess memories of my honeymoon with Mrs N are lost in the mists of time.

Elwyn and Claire Turner (nee Ainslie) write to me:
"We are on our honeymoon down under at the moment having got married on July 24. Our first stop was Singapore where we stopped for four days before moving on to Oz. Today we are leaving Ayres Rock for Cairnes having been in Sydney before Ayres Rock. Thought the CT may like the attached photo."

Well we do and thank you Claire and Elwyn for thinking of us on your honeymoon. We hope you are having a splendid time, please send us a bit of that lovely weather I can see in the background.