Mat Davies is a Welsh ex-pat. Tredegar-born, Blackwood-bred, Mat has enjoyed life in Swansea and Cardiff but now lives and works in London as a senior HR manager. He twitters regularly and has an occasional, rambling blog called The Elephant in the Room. Mat is interested in politics, current affairs and sport and has a (probably unhealthy) detailed knowledge of heavy metal bands.

You’re never too old to have hiraeth

Why does our only non-Wales based Sixth Columnist write for WalesHome? He’s thought about it, and here’s his answer

All praise, no blame

Gone are the days of Tom Jones’ “Dad Dancing” turbo disco drivel: Praise and Blame is a record to be lived with, to contemplate

Elementary, my dear BBC

BBC Wales is now the major contributor not just to television drama in Wales but right across the UK – and the recent production of Sherlock proves it

There is a light that never goes out

Stuart Cable’s death meant more than the end of one of Wales’ most-loved public figures. He was one of us, and this country is the poorer for his passing

What a shame the pundits can’t go out in the first round

I KNOW the World Cup is only just over a week old and I know I should probably just lighten up and join in with the spirit of the thing but I have just about had enough of the endless, monotonous noise ruining my enjoyment of the world’s biggest football tournament. No, I’m not talking [...]

No divide and conquer

WalesHome.org’s latest Sixth Columnist argues that Wales cannot afford not to invest in broadband technology, and the training needed to end the digital divide

Wrong ‘uns are right

Crime drama has never been so popular. But is it still because it appeals to our sense of fair play, or because we are now more able to take a more unflinching look at the society we live in?

Jonathan Ross’s salary is none of our business

The debate of how the BBC remunerates its star attractions betrays the intentions of commercial media, and a desire to end public service broadcasting

No time to be Les Miserables

The departure of Judith Isherwood from her role as CEO of the Wales Millennium Centre should be seen as a watershed moment for the arts in Wales. Not only are we losing an administrator of considerable prowess but the arts scene itself, despite its vibrancy, diversity and colour, now has to re-invigorate and push forward when all around it will be urging caution and cutbacks.

The toothless pack

Major challenges face newspapers at both ends of the M4, and tired journalism reliant on press releases, repetition and cliche-ridden reporting is about the best way to make it worse