The Final Countdown

The Count is always exciting and I have been to many since 1997 when I first became involved politically helping in our local office.



The Count is restricted in numbers and I had been in Northants till the Polling Station closed


and went home opened a bottle of wine and stayed awake most of the night.I had been in Dudley helping the previous evening and wished everyone good luck





The results came flowing in and a blue pattern emerged on the Countries map but what also was clear was that neither the Conservatives or Labour would have that majority vote they required to take over the next Government.





I had heard from the young adults in Dudley who had given their time to help voluntary deliver and canvass the area and kept in touch on the chat line on facebook and who were proud of their candidate who they supported.The photographer had been efficient in making sure the recent photos taken at the count were on facebook for those to see who coundnt attend the count that evening.The candidate Chris Kelly had looked nervous to begin and then after his winning speech he spoke on radio and had gained confidense.The results for Dudley North came in much later on Friday afternoon and although hadnt gained that seat had come really close.





News began to arrive on facebook from friends around the Country and I realised we would ned to keep in touch especially if another election was to be called.


friday evening I met friends,councillors and the new MP Chris Heaton Harris at the Conservative Club for an informal gathering and yesterday a message from Chris on facebook


to say he was on his way to London where he would meet the team there.


I had known Chris for over ten years during his polictical career when he was an MEP for the east Midlands and supported him when he was selected as our local candidate.





The final countdown and a friend photo appeared on facebook taken by her daughter.Karen and I had attend SOS High School back in 1968 and one of her daughters was attending Sheffield Hallam. I had linked a friendship with BUCF group and had attended a meeting with the Shadow Minister for International Development at Birmingham University during the election.


photos of that meeting soon appeared on facebook for everyone to see who entered my site.


I shall speak today at the Market Place event supporting our Youth services and for those who attend I can make aware how facebook can bring people together and engage with Youth today giving them the opportunity of reading more about polictics,religion,crime, families,the environment and health and well being, these are important issues in their lives today.





After the results were announced and it was clear that important decisions were to be made


there were those who had entered my site to become friends on facebook which has now incresased to over 320 friends.

I was pleased to see that Ed Vaizey was busy in london with the team helping to make those decisions.

We had all voted for change but also for our Country and our leader David Cameron has tough times ahead with important decisions to make and needs our support,our proffessionalism,and the team working together, "We are all in this Together"

The results were still arriving on Friday afternoon and a decision who will go be in Government still hasnt been decided.

Messages were sent through facebook with concern with what happens next but also messages that are memorable to those who will always remember the General Election 2010 and the amount of seats that were gained by the Conservative Party also thsoae who came a close second will have that chance to try again.

The Campaign had been long for those candidates who were selected three years ago and had begun their campaign at that time.

A tax rebate in 2008 had given me the opportunity of travelling the country helping with the different campaigns and soon came to realise which were marginal areas and which were winnable and where I could help most.The whole programme of events for each campaign had been significant and many people had volunteered in each area to assist getting those programmes achieved and the results started to flow in the early hours of Friday morning this week.









I had recieved a letter from David Cameron written from "The Bottom of his heart, thanking everyone for their help in this General Election and those who had voted Conservative.









It had been an impressive result and all those who worked with him also sent everyone a huge thankyou.









Now important decisions have to be made and we have to be patient knowing whatever is decided is right for our Country.

New Learning /New Knowledge/ New Experience

The True meaning of Christmas 2009 ;- we all will have experienced the change in climate over the christmas break and difficulty taking that journey visiting the family or just getting out of your close where you live, made you stop and think. I had seen family in the SW when I booked a table at the Ancient Gatehouse Hotel for lunch in November so at Christmas time I was able to see my own children when they visited that week..I walked to venues for lunch that week before christmas and left the car parked at my flat. I joined together Christmas day and assisted with a lunch for those on their own. I had been on my own since 1997 and had often helped with this lunch. I attended Christmas services that week. a tree of love linked with those who attended the Cathedral in Northants to remember those who had died and many had donated towards lights lit on the tree.I sang with the group on Christmas eve childrens mass and read and was eucharistic minister on christmas day mass.


Time this week after the christmas period to relax at home, swim at the leisure club and to see the New Year in my flat. I had watched as the sky adorned with white firweworks last night and rested my back whichwas aching again. I knew from experience when my back gave way and I couldnt move in 2001 that occassionaly when it slipped again I have to excericise and rest.


The Change in Climate effects us all in different ways and 2009 we experienced the full range of weather changes throughout the year and will remember the floods in Cumbria where bridges collapsed and people died and others will have replace so much that was destroyed.


A visit to Buckingham Place garden party in my pink outfit where I enjoyed afternoon tea ,listening to the Jazz band and a walk around the Rose garden when the rain came down likeI'dnever seen before with hailstones too and we could just stand with our umberellas and I did have my trenchcoat with me to cover the outfit.


The sun came out in Buxton when I visited for a day to attend the Opera House to hear David Cameronspeak.I had taken a picnic and later called in at Tissington to stop for lunch.


I had traveled to Derbyshire many times since 1973 when I began at the hotel in Daventry and spent time relaxing, and walking goldie the hotels dog around the dales.


Christmas 2009 and my visits to the Nursery and Childrens centre I had tried to capture christmas as it was 100yrs ago with cutouts to decorate for the tree,hide and seek. musicalpass the parcel with a gold coin for them all, a story to read and songs to sing.


Everyone will capture that true meaning in their own ways, with family,friends and those who have kept in touch with you over Christmas.


Now for Change in 2010;-a new learning, new knowledge and a new experience with the change in 2010. I had re-captured the headline in our localpaperduring 2009 and found that by August 2009 the town was weathering the economic slump well.


We had began to build and strengthen our Communities, working hard together to achievethe outcomes by Dec 2009.with Community spirit there was new build, the chance for the young to join together each week at the Vineyard Community Church.a new durable playarea at Nene Hall which will give the young the chance to play out at anytime.and a prestigous award for development design before they were even built giving Daventry a sustainable construction centre.I had always kept the headlines of interest since I began writing myself in 1996 and headline in December 2009 show that the results of a consultation have kept plans for a Marin afloat in Daventry.


I shall be Getting Back to Work in 2010 with mornings work in Rugby and my Councilloring will still keep me busy with meetings to attend, Governors, DDC, NHS etc.





WorkingLInks for Northants had achieved their targets in the last quarter of the year with over 400 people getting back to work.There many still unemployed and with new initiatives hopefullyGetting back to Work will be their aim too,



I had read at Mass this evening ;- the Epiphany of the Lord ;- I read from St Paul to the Ephesians 3;2-3 / 5-6 / a revelation with the mystery unfolded.



Plan Now for Change;- but change will have taken time not only shaking up the House but our own persoanl affairs too , News came through this year that areas of the Church were changing too with some of the Anglian Clergy being trained in the Catholic Church. other areas were being sorted too.The Church are also working with Climate Change and Overseas Development.



The knowledge that we have experienced through sharing Life together ;- on my trip down the Nile I visited the Valley of the Kings and went deep into the mountain side to discover tombs,

I walked deep,deep into this mountianside on my own, too deep in thought to realise I was alone. and then towards the end lights appeared and a single tomb, the walls all coloured brightly with artists pictures, it was amazing, not allowed to take photos but I have a postcard that pictures the tomb.The Sound of Light Show on the last evening held at the tombs in Luxor told the story of the Pharoahs.Once home in one of our village churches where my children were baptised, above the door read......................................................Walking Humbly with our God ;- the Bishop of Northants theme last year. I had returned from that trip Down the Nile and said there was still lots more to discover and the following year another tomb was revealed.

New learning / New Knowledge / New Experience and Change Now in 2010.