Lib Dem Conference 2006

Our first ever political conference was a double edged experience that left us both wanting more and not wanting to experience it ever again!

What am I talking about...Well we got to the Registration Point fairly easily, but trying to extract useful basic information for newbies to conference from the yellow shirted stewards was probably just as easy as it is to try to communicate with those stewards that walk around a variety of events in flourescent yellow jackets!! As you may tell I am getting a phobia about the colour yellow (so why am I a Lib Dem!)
Following that, we were able to have a nice relaxing evening before the hullaballoo of Sunday.
Sunday was again a mixture of grapling around for answers and just following the crowd. Eventually we worked out where to go and what was going on, before being faced with the welcoming face of disabilty unaware stewards, who spent the whole time talking to my wife (who by the way is not my carer and never has been!!) Come the evening we spent it at another splendid night at one of the prestigous social gatherings of Mr C who it appears can arrange spectacular gatherings whether it be in Wolverhampton or anywhere else you care to mention. Then back on to further fringe meetings this time at the Bloggers Reception, where we had the chance to spend time sunbathing in the rays of that great blue blogger Iain Dale!!! (A photo would show our tongues firmly in cheek whilst meeting him!!)

One tip when trying to drive back late at night from Conference, don't start conversations with people you don't know, otherwise you might end up getting home after sunrise the following day.

All in all it was a good weekend and we didn't want to leave. Highlight of the weekend: Meeting all our friends socially and actually having a bit time to be able to talk to them, going out for a meal at Terre a Terre, opening a door and coming face to face with Ming! Low point: Yellow shirted stewards!

What price democracy?

I heard on Radio 4 this morning that door to door canvassers in Iraq had been kidnapped, arrested and one had even been beheaded! I think in light of this and other atrocities that get little media attention, we all have a responsibility to take our democracy a little more seriously. We all whine and moan about the sad lives we have but forget that there are millions of people worldwide risking their lives for just a small percentage of what we have.

Bank holiday fun

This bank holiday was one of our busiet and best weekends for a long time, starting with visiting friends in their new house, getting jealous not only of their house and location but also their musical talents !! I guess I'll have to brush up on my air guitar skills before I get an electric guitar!
Followed by a bbq at one of the top society events in Wolverhampton where only the cream (not necessarily the rich and famous) of West Midlands society get invited to, so I guess now we've been invited we're now included in this list !!
The weekend culminated in a family outing to Notting Hill Carnival, having been there before I knew what to expect...crowds lots of dancing, drinking, police, imaginative costumes and great music. The only thing is that you forget how loud it is, at one point I thought my ears would bleed and physically being pushed backwards as the floats went past blasting out music from speakers that filled the back of an arctic lorry!! The only thing that spoilt it was the 3 mile walk back to the car (tip: if going to Carnival, let the train take the strain, cars not welcome in area!)
All in all it was a great weekend spent with good friends and family.