³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

We put the tents up okay - I just watched Chris and hoped for the best. Having brought a few creature comforts I thought my tent looked quite cosy - if a tad bijou.

We headed off into the night and to be frank, we had a hideous start. While waiting for the off, we were surrounded and assailed by the biggest cloud of midges I've ever seen in my life. They got up your nose, in your eyes and ears and all attempts to bat them away failed miserably.

We eventually had a really good time - the expert's (Iori Jones, Wildlife Conservation Ranger) foxy noises were eerily realistic and after he had put out a few calls we watched a young dog fox for quite some time, warily minding his own business foraging for food in a quiet field. That was quite special and I think one of the first times Iolo has seen me actually quite enthusiastic about an animal.

On the way back we saw loads of deer and some bats and that was all fine. Sleeping in the tent however was not! We headed for bed at around 3am and I was wide awake at 4am - cold, cramped and with the thin sleeping mat underneath me giving precious little comfort. My forehead was covered in a million bites and I seriously considered taking off - the thought of a hot shower and my own bed was so tempting. But we had been asked to stay and there was filming to be done in the morning (your classic campfire breakfast apparently).

So I opted for my car and made myself cosy, with the remains of some coffee, my duvet and pillows, the car heater and the World Service. I finally slept at about 6 and got another hour in before everyone finally surfaced, filming was done and we all headed home, another mission in the project completed!

Where does patriotism end and racism begin?

While in Dolgellau, something someone said over dinner really surprised me. A few people commented on how disappointing it was that the majority of the hotel staff were from overseas. Having lived in London for such a long time and worked with a rainbow nation of people and then been involved in the pub trade where staff can often be from anywhere in the world, I was quite surprised that anyone picked up on it at all, let alone with a negative attitude.

I suggested that the same people would not be surprised to find non-native staff in an English hotel and they agreed. I was actually a bit shocked that people seemed to be voicing quite racist views, in this, the 21st century.

I do understand the ardent patriotism of some of my fellow country men and women - but don't we want to be inclusive too? I am a proud, if non Welsh-speaking, Welsh person and I do get the whole thing about wanting to preserve the language. But surely for us to be a modern nation, Wales must move with the times. I thought that we were a country that welcomed everyone - Cardiff in particular is a place where all cultures and creeds live together and one of the city's charms is its 'immigrant communities - the Italians, Polish and Afro-Caribbeans to name a few. To me it adds nothing but richness to the culture and I take great exception to the idea that Wales is only for the Welsh.