I thought everyone knew the broader diagonal white stripe should be at the top left hand side of the flag nearest the flagpole, but evidently not.

Some people might be reading this little rant and thinking who cares, well I do, and I guess a million other do to.

To deliberately fly the flag upside down is a signal indicating a situation of distress and is an insult to the crown, and theoretically it is still a crime in the UK.

So for those of you who are still unsure about how to hang the Union Jack, here is the golden rule: The UK flag is not symmetrical.

On the side next to the flagpole, the thick white band is above the red band on both diagonals, the white band being part of the cross of St Andrew, the Scottish flag and the red band being part of the cross of St Patrick, the Irish flag.

***

'WHAT should I do with all this bumf for the elections?" a pal asked me the other day.

I thought I'd given him the best advice possible when I told him to just chuck it in the bin.

But since then I've had a call from someone far more sensible than me.
Suzanne Sheppard rang me to say she was exasperated by the amount of paperwork she'd received from the various candidates in the Welshpool area.

"It's driving me mad!

"In the last five days I've had five bits of paper from one of the candidates alone, not to mention all the other bits and pieces from the others.

"I'd suggest that anyone in my position should do exactly the same as me and put them straight into the recycling bin!"
Good advice Suzanne and keep up the recycling – she admits she's "recycling mad!"

***

DAFF as a brush! Sorry for that, but the idea that Welsh councils are buying their daffodil bulbs from England is bizarre to say the least.
Thank goodness Powys has not fallen into that category.

During a bit of electioneering nonsense by the Tories, they claim to have unearthed the startling fact that information obtained by Shadow Environment Minister Darren Millar shows local authorities are using suppliers on the other side of the border, and also in Holland.

I'm happy to report that Powys has not bought any daffodil bulbs in the last three years so they are obviously using our good Welsh stock – unless someone knows otherwise.

***

IT'S no secret to all of us who live in Mid Wales that we have views and beauty spots to rival anywhere else in Britain or the World.

This week is National Bread Week (May 5 to 11) and the competition to become Wales' Best Picnic Spot, part of the Warburtons Picnic Awards, is heating up.

10 Welsh picnic sites are battling it out in the regional heat to take the title and with only days left to register votes (until May 16), time is running out for the public to have their say on where they think the best place is to picnic in Wales.

There are several spots that you'd expect to see on the list for top picnic spot like the summit of Snowdon and Tintern Abbey, but the only one from County Times territory is Clywedog Lake.

I've had many a splendid walk with my trusty hound in that beautiful area, so make sure you give it your vote visit www.welovebread.co.uk

***

WHAT a waste: According to a BBC survey on "throwaway Britain" every household throws out about £600 worth of food that went off after we failed to eat it. I can't believe the Nelson household throws out that much grub – I'll be monitoring it!