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Someone is refusing to get on board - the gloom and doom tour, that is.

"No-one pretends that the financial situation is going to be good, but it's no good going to voters with a message of doom".

The voice of Carwyn Jones, First Minister and the leader of a Welsh Labour party where some had been starting to wonder already whether all we were about to be fed over the next twelve months was a diet of pointing a finger at Westminster, inter-governmental bickering, anger directed at Gwydyr House that at times felt synthetic ... and not a whole lot more.

Perhaps Mr Jones and his team have heard the same question. The answer - - is 'no'.

The stance on the Welsh Labour party and its prospects in next year's Assembly election? Positive.

On the day , his stance on cuts? "It's not going to be good", rather than "bad".

His personal stance as a leader? Out and about during the election campaign, people were very warm and positive;

On the referendum? Giving the impression of being more positive than his predecessor, asked Martin Shipton? "All I've done is put into practice what I've always believed in".

Earlier this week I asked the three politicians who took the government and opposition party lobby briefings for three adjectives each - three words that best describe the first month of relations between Cardiff and London. We were all, I felt, a bit fed up with the over-used "constructive".

Tory leader Nick Bourne offered innovative, workman-like (if that's not un-PC he added) and respectful.

Soon to be Lord German used at least a hundred words before plumping for just three: listening, understanding and developing.

Labour's John Griffiths was hard pressed to break away from the 'c' word but came up with business-like, followed by realistic and ... positive.

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