THE run-up to Christmas is always a busy time, and this year has been no exception.

I’ve been out and about in Penarth and the wider constituency in recent weeks, and it’s been a real pleasure to meet people as they go about their preparations for the festive season.

Earlier this month I took advantage of the late-night shopping initiative set up by a number of independent traders in Penarth. I’ve written before about the importance of supporting local businesses, and this was a fantastic opportunity to do just that, particularly as it fell just before Small Business Saturday.

There is so much choice in Penarth, and I picked up some great Christmas gifts for friends and family. It was also a good opportunity to talk to local traders about the challenges they face, and it’s clear that the support they receive from Penarth people is all-important, so I’d urge everyone to drop in and pay them a visit.

On Friday evening last week, I was delighted to sing at the Christmas Voices event at the church of St Peter’s, Old Cogan. It was an honour to once again take part in the annual concert at this tiny and historic place of worship. It really did put me in a festive frame of mind, and I hope those who came along to listen enjoyed it as much as I did.

It was also a pleasure to meet with schoolchildren from Evenlode Primary last week who - like youngsters from Albert Primary the month before – paid a visit to London and enjoyed a tour of Parliament. The children were enthusiastic and politically aware, and asked some very interesting questions about Parliament and my role as an MP.

I’ve also been busy meeting residents here in Penarth, both on the doorstep during my visits with the local Labour team, and at my regular constituency surgeries. I’ve held two surgeries in Penarth in recent weeks – one at West House and one at Glyndwr Hall – both were busy, with a mix of people seeking assistance from their MP on personal cases, and also those wanting to discuss broader issues in the run-up to the General Election in May.

I already have two further surgeries set up in Penarth for the new year – on January 10 and February 14 (check the Penarth Times closer to the date for further details), but of course if you need assistance in the meantime you can contact my office.