Week 3 update

No office yet - am still camping in the office of Robert Syms and Geoffrey Clifton Brown [thank you gents], occupying the end of a desk and trying not to get in their way.
We are beginning to get on top of the correspondence but bear with us if replies are delayed.

Had multiple meetings today on all manner of topics from Data Protection to FOI, chats with Gerry Foley of Tyne Tees, the BBC and paper journalists, and my campaign manager from the election, Chrus Galley, who will head up the Farming task force we are in the process of setting up

Tomorrow is the Queens Speech: for details of what is in it go to the telegraphs scoop =

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/liberaldemocrats/7753762/The-Queens-Speech-Bill-by-Bill.html

Haydon Bridge School

Was lucky enough to be asked again to Haydon Bridge School by John and the team; am trying to go round all the schools in the summer, as a first step; met many of the students who had grilled me before the election [particularly the ever questioning Charlie] walked in to the French class and had to then conduct a conversation in French; did ok until they switched to Russian!

Had a good chat with John as to the fate of High Schools and plans for the way ahead; it is a great school.

Thank you party

An amazing thank you party took place on Saturday at Eachwick, just outside Ponteland, where Charles and Rachel May kindly lent us their house and gardens; we had 200+ people come - who had all helped to stuff envelopes, put up signs, deliver leaflets, canvass or tell on election day.
Every volunteer was given drinks and a hog roast - paid for by me [and not on expenses I should add]. The hog roast was produced by Anguis Nelson and Richard Dodd and was delicious. Quite an achievement to feed 200. As Richard commented there was not a vegetarian option.