Silly Season

You know it's the silly season when some remarks by an MEP in the states about the NHS spark a national debate; old comments posted on a blog some weeks ago about MP's expenses make headlines once again and the BBC repeats remarks by Lord Mandelson about his last year's holiday. I'm about to depart the silly season here by taking my annual holiday with my family when we will be visting Cuba. This is country none of us have previously visited, where people we have spoken to who have been all tell us what a great time they have had, and where there is a system of Government quite unlike anything I am familiar with. I'm looking forward to relaxing and being able to spend some time together, to seeing things done in a different way and trying to understand the way of life there. I hope to post the odd blog entry or two from internet cafes but hope that I will be forgiven if I don't achieve that. September will leave us just months away from a General Election, and from then on in the pace of local political activity will speed up. I will return, I am sure, refreshed & raring to go.

Tribute to Hazel Bell

Hazel was a very determined Rugby Councillor who died a year ago and gave me much very valuable advice in my early days as a member of the Council. I was unfortunately unable to attend her funeral as we were away on holiday at the time and so I was very pleased to join a large group of people today who, despite the rain, gathered in Caldecott Park where a plaque was unveiled in her memory. In addition, a path is to be named "Hazel Bell Way" which stuck me as very appropriate since Hazel had a very distinctive and effective way of getting things done, with a straightforward and direct approach. I know that she is sadly missed.

Eastlands Delivery Team

We increased the size of our team delivering leaflets this week by the addition of more 6th formers wanting to help us make a change. As the General Election gets closer, people are contacting us to offer help which will be of great assistance when the time comes. There is a real mood that Labour's time is now up and real support for the realistic approach we are putting forward to dealing with the country's problems - especially among the young.

Hillmorton Branch Barbeque

Association events have continued throughout the summer and on Saturday Hillmorton Branch put on what is now an annual event in the garden of Chairman, Bill Sewell. There was again a great attendance, a relaxing afternoon in the sun and a good time raising money for a very important cause!

Ending the Couple Penalty

There are several meeting with residents on the doorstep while out canvassing which stick in my mind. One occured during the County Council by-election 18 months ago when I met a young couple with children. They told me that there had been difficulties in their relationship that caused them to live apart, but that they had recently got back together again, partly for the benefit of their kids. They told me that they were shocked to find out that they were better off financially living separately. So I was interested to learn yesterday about a new report from the charity CARE reviewing the couple penalty, showing that the numbers of people affected by this is growing. This is a matter we must address urgently in Government. Quite apart from the long term savings from reducing the number of households by encouraging couples to stay together, there is so much evidence that children benefit substantially from being brought up in a household where both parents play an active role in bringing them up.

Bulkington part 2

I took a video camera with me to Rwanda but unfortunately it was faulty. I replaced it on my return and my first chance to use it was yesterday. I hope to make more use of it on the blog as we approach the General Election.

Bulkington Team

Back to regular campaigning, today I had a team of sixth formers & students between school & University out with me delivering leaflets and talking to residents in Bulkington.

Reflections on Teaching

I am now back in Kigali, where there is a better internet connection, waiting for our flight back to the UK. I thouroughly enjoyed my time with my class and hope that the language exercises we worked on will have improved their English. The teachers take a number of subjects which have been taught in French up to now. A change of policy by the Rwandan Government, wishing to align itself with English speaking East Africa and the Commonwealth is the reason for the programme we have been involved in. Yesterday we held a closing ceremony with each class presenting a song. My class chose "Old MacDonald had a farm", and had great fun with the farmyard noises. I was later presented with some superb gifts which will remind me of my time with them. While we worked to a lesson plan, there was room to work on issues that interested the students, and I had a fair amount of preparation to do each evening. I now have a healthy respect for the job all teachers do and an understanding of how difficult the role can sometimes be!