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As Caerphilly Observer readers will know, I’ve been highlighting the scandal of council houses in Caerphilly county lying empty for months while vulnerable families and individuals are living in unsuitable accommodation.

In my role as your Senedd Member, I met Caerphilly Council’s chief housing officer and I was given firm assurances that the lettings will be quicker in future due to changes made to the system. I will be watching very carefully to ensure this happens because it will benefit families and reduce housing income loss for the local authority.

I recently had the opportunity to visit Ruperra Castle in Draethen with the preservation trust, which is desperately trying to save this significant structure from collapse.

It is a Grade II listed building built 400 years ago this year, which has had quite a role in the history of south Wales from playing host to Charles I and to the military in World War II.

The castle is a ruin but I do fully support the work of the preservation trust to operate it as a heritage site for the benefit of the public. I wish their efforts well because I recognise the importance of preserving our history.

I’ve also had the opportunity to attend a Men’s Sheds meeting in Abertridwr. Many of you may not be aware that there are more than 70 of these organisations across Wales.

They are all community based and offer the opportunity for men to connect with each other, share skills and activities and are aimed at combating social isolation. Men’s Sheds offer an environment where men are able to talk freely and obtain help and support when required.

Plaid Cymru held its Spring Conference last week and in decades of attending these events this was by far the most positive I’ve known. A record number of delegates attended and there was a real buzz around the conference centre in Newport.

It is now just over two months to the Senedd election but there is still much work to do to persuade voters in Wales that there should be a Plaid Cymru government led by Rhun ap Iorwerth, rather than one led by the hard-right Reform UK.

Voters in Caerphilly rejected the divisive policies of the right when I was elected at the by-election last October, and I’m confident that the good people of Wales will do the same in May.