Flooding is one of the most devastating aspects of nature we can experience here in Britain.

So many livelihoods and homes have been ruined by it across the country.

December was the wettest month on record in the UK.

Tredegar got the second heaviest rainfall in the UK for one day this January.

But it is too easy to handwave these incidents away as one-offs that are unlikely to happen again, when they keep happening.

The Government’s cancelled a scheme in Leeds and turned down applications to improve protection in York and Cumbria.

They might not be able to stop the rain, but they should be preparing Britain for the worst if the worst is becoming an all-too common occurrence.

Though having said that, it is a perfect illustration as to why the Paris agreement about climate change was so important.

I believe describing it as global warming doesn’t take into account the many ways in which the world’s ecosystem is changing as a result of man’s actions.

We cannot keep kicking the can down the road and putting the burden on future generations to solve the problem.

Unless the NASA boffins are seconds away from cracking interstellar space travel, this planet is the only one we’ve got for at least a very long time.

The other topic that is beginning to dominate Parliament is Europe, as talk of the referendum begins to pick up steam.

I am strongly of the opinion we need to stay in the EU because it has brought so many benefits to Blaenau Gwent.

The Heads of the Valleys road improvements, Abertillery town regeneration and the Learning Zone all owe their existences in a big part to European funding.

It’s about the business it creates for our companies and the jobs created to help fulfil that business.

There is too big a vacuum that would have to be filled if we were to leave.

I don’t want Blaenau Gwent to be left behind in a rush to exit the EU and I don’t believe the people in the borough should want that either.

Finally, the Rugby World Cup has made the wait for the Six Nations Championship a little bit easier this year.

I’m definitely excited, maybe a little optimistic and certainly looking forward to a few weekends of the country rallying around our boys.

Talupe Faletau had a great World Cup and I hope the former Pontygof Primary pupil from Ebbw Vale will keep it up come February.