Ethics man

It's one of those profound ethical dilemmas that confront contestants on Mr and Mrs, the recently exhumed TV show where politicians and celebrities demonstrate how much (or how little) they know about their partner.

It's your wedding anniversary. You are offered a ticket to watch your home team play in the FA Cup Final, for the first time in 81 years. It may not happen again while you are on this planet.

Do you

a) Turn down the ticket in favour of a romantic anniversary day out;
b) What could be more romantic than the FA Cup? Go to Wembley;
c) Compromise - find a gastro-pub with a big screen?

Unlike me, my wife didn't spend a significant part of her youth at Ninian Park, watching Brian Clark, Peter King, Bobby Woodruff, then Phil Dwyer, Adrian Alston, Tony Evans and company.

Mrs C is neither Welsh nor a football fan, but she was very understanding when I opted for option b) - at least that's what she said in the note I found waiting for me on my return home......

It was a fantastic day, a brilliant atmosphere and a far better game than last year's tedious encounter, even if the result was equally disappointing.

Patrick Collins wrote: "It was a real pleasure to have a Final without the presence of the so-called Big Four, with their blase fans and players wearing so-what faces, and rotational managers husbanding their reserves to prepare for more important tasks elsewhere".

As Jimmy Floyd "Cashinthebank" pointed out, the Cardiff fans stayed to watch - and applaud - as Portsmouth were presented with the cup.

A day well worth the domestic grief to come. At least next year's anniversary falls on a Sunday.

Brown backs Bluebirds - and Pompey

There was a buzz about Downing Street today as Gordon Brown prepared to face the world's media after one of his most difficult weeks in office.

Inside Number 10, hacks gathered to question the Prime Minister on the big issues of the day - the economic slowdown, the credit crunch, rising inflation, natural disasters, geo-political instability.

So naturally I asked Mr Brown whether he'd be supporting Cardiff City in Saturday's FA Cup Final. As a Raith Rovers fan, he has some experience in supporting underdogs so I wanted to give him the chance to send a message to the Bluebirds that he's on their side.

Here's the response, as delivered live on the BBC News Channel:

"Two days ago I met Dave Jones, the manager of Cardiff City, and some of the officials and I wished him well as he approached the Cup Final.

"I also met Sol Campbell at the same reception and having satisfied myself that he was going to be fit for the Cup Final I also wished him well in the match ahead.

"I think this is going to be a great match. I think it is essentially a clash in the great Raith Rovers versus Celtic match context, between the premier league club and the challenger and I wish both sides well in the tournament.

"Dave Jones has done a great job as manager but obviously Portsmouth has had a great season as well. It's going to be a great clash - look forward to watching it."

I got the balanced, even-handed response I expected but feared. Still, worth a try.

I'll be generous and resist the temptation to suggest Mr Brown is dithering or sitting on the fence.

It must be hell being PM - you get to watch the big domestic games spending 90 minutes of agony cheering for a draw.

I'm off to check the records to see when Raith Rovers last beat Celtic.......

The Welsh are winning

I was lucky enough, thanks to snow in Zurich Airport (it's a long story) to get a Wembley ticket yesterday.

Inevitably, many people with any connection with the city are now emerging out of the woodwork as lifelong Bluebirds.

Living in London, I can't claim to be a Ninian Park regular (although I was in my youth and saw my first game there in 1972) but the ticket found a good home.

It was an incredible day, one few people expect to see in their lifetime. It ended with Robbie Fowler showering Neil Kinnock in champagne - for once, he said, he was happy to be a champagne socialist.

In the final, City will be up against possibly the goalkeeper of the season in the Premier League.

But David James, once known as Calamity, is overdue a cock-up. He could be this year's Dan Lewis, the Arsenal keeper who let the ball squirm under his body to give Fred Keenor's men the cup.

Football has a global reach beyond any other sport. Holding major games in Cardiff helped sell the city's attractions in a big way - I once watched live games via South African TV while on holiday in Mauritius.

People across the world will soon learn that the city not only has a fine football stadium - it also has a mult-national team to go with it.

It's been an incredible year for Welsh sport, and it's not over yet, although I wish all discussion of eligibility for Europe could be postponed until after the final. It's tempting fate too much....

Hopefully the year of Welsh sporting success will continue in this Sunday's London Marathon, although I suspect that may be tempting fate too.

I hope to finish in a respectable time and to raise a few grand for a good cause - NCH, the children's charity.

I'm really grateful to those of you who have already sponsored me - your generosity has been amazing. You can see how much I've raised by glancing to the right.

For those who've struggled to locate your credit card before now, the good news is that you can still sponsor me online - and find out more about why I'm running for NCH. Just go to www.justgiving.com/davidcornock

With Parliament in recess and the marathon looming, I'll be resting, or "tapering" as athletes say, for the rest of the week - followed by a few days' recovery.

I'll be back when MPs return on April 21, although you may yet get an update on matters non-political between now and then.

"Fly Bluebirds, Fly"

I interviewed Neil Kinnock today on the big issue of the week: Cardiff City's visit to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final.

His prediction? A 3-1 win for Dave Jones's team.

His message? "Fly Bluebirds, Fly".

The former Labour leader, his tickets having safely arrived this morning, politely deflected my killer question. No, he hasn't got a spare ticket.