I guarantee that those candidates who are successful in this election will arrive at the Assembly looking younger and feeling fitter. Old fashioned campaigning requires a huge amount of walking – and in a constituency like mine in Pontypridd, walking comes attached to a large number of hills.
So, on a day when the boffins have found that exercise is the best way to tackle obesity – may I recommend the delights of election campaigning to all. It's a bit like joining the Ramblers' Association – you have instant camaraderie and a lot of walking…. although I still can't find my pedometer!
Today, after my daily foray up the Garth. I popped in to see the highly successful over 50s swimming club at Hawthorn Swimming Pool; made teas and coffees for the postal voter letter – stuffers in the campaign office and then five of us leafletted half of Llantrisant before stopping for a well earned teabreak – they do that very well in Llantrisant – and then moved on to Talbot Green. This meant that we all walked up hill and down cul de sac for about 5 hours – definitely a defence against obesity!
When I watched Dragon's Eye this evening and heard candidates of other parties talk about the Labour vote "haemorrhaging" I would have to say that is not our experience at all in Pontypridd, and, talking to friends who are standing in more marginal seats – that does not appear to be their experience either. On the contrary, people have been really positive; and have run after us asking for a placard or a poster.
Earlier this week, launching our campaign in North Wales, Rhodri said he was gunning for a Labour majority and clearly that's what we have to do if we want to carry out our full programme.
He said, "Wales is on a roll - it is a much more confident nation now than it was in 1999. We are the envy of Britain with our free prescriptions, and the smoking ban introduced well ahead of England. Labour is creating jobs, with 1,400 good jobs delivered last week in Llanelli and Swansea.
"Labour is winning elections, with crucial by-election results going our way and swings to us from Plaid Cymru.
"Wales is on a roll and Labour is on a roll. I am up for this campaign, gunning for a majority in the Assembly so that we can continue to deliver record numbers of quality jobs, record investment in our public services and government that cares for everyone in society."
Now this is a message I can strongly support and it does appear to resonate well in Pontypridd where the bus passes, the free swimming for older people and children, the primary school healthy breakfasts and now the free prescriptions – strongly supported by our local doctors – are all policies that my electorate supports.
What do you think?