Blog
The wonders of walking, is it the new rock’n’roll?
My last Toastmasters’ speech a couple of weeks ago was about the many wonders of walking; my joy of belonging to The Ramblers’ Association and the Ramblers Group in Cambridge. There were many smiles when I told the audience they could literally walk into love,...
Is Helen the UK’s top fundraiser?
At a time when fundraising is close to crisis levels for some charities due to the credit crunch, Helen Bearfield- Smith has raised a staggering £1 million in two years in East Anglia for Teenage Cancer Trust. It means that a new specialist unit at Addenbrooke's...
My delayed Freedom of Information response
I am still waiting for a response to a Freedom of Information request I submitted on 1st November. I had an acknowledgement the following day stating: “Your request is being handled under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), and you will receive...
Gordon Brown and Margaret Thatcher on climate change
Margaret Thatcher, 6 December 1990 at the 2nd World Climate Change: “The threat to our world comes not only from tyrants and their tanks. It can be more insidious though less visible. The danger of global warming is as yet unseen, but real enough for us to make...
A festive treat to rival Pamela Anderson
I’m taking my music loving pa-in-law to an amazing Christmas show tomorrow in a tiny Norfolk hamlet which attracts 130,000 people a year, boosting the local economy by a cool £8 million. The £2.5 million Christmas Spectacular in Thursford is pure thrilling...
Why can MEPs switch jobs so easily?
Around 200 eager beavers have applied for the safe Conservative seat of West Suffolk to succeed Richard Spring. I believe they include a recently elected MEP. Being elected an MEP back in June was a huge privilege, and I do not understand how they can now renege on...
Cheaper bananas thanks to EU trade deal
The price of bananas – the favourite British fruit – is set to fall following an EU trade agreement which has been welcomed by my MEP Robert Sturdy. Robert, international trade spokesman for European Conservatives and Reformists group, welcomed the EU’s move to...
Ready and waiting for the 2010 general election
Whether it's next March or May, our Conservative candidates will be more than ready for the 2010 general election. I recently met up with Elizabeth Truss, our parliamentary candidate for South West Norfolk, who describes the issues important to her and constituents on...
My bank manager is desperate for his bonus
I had a call from my bank this morning – Barclays – asking if I wanted a loan. The call was quite timely as my son has just broken the oven door and it is going to cost more than £300 to repair the shattered glass, with the repair booked for 23rd December, which...