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We've been to Europe.

The laptop didn't enjoy it and refused to work, hence the lack of communiques, but despite a heavy schedule and a lot of fixing on the hoof in foreign languages, we did.

Well, the weather was kind and we escaped the storms that caused havoc further south.

Strasbourg's historic centre looked even more charming from the water as we recorded from a boat; much to the amusement of tourists.

And what a pleasure it was being whisked around the Alsatian capital on their delightful trams.

You know, after a ride across France in a silent and speedy train to be delivered to a city-wide tram system you realise we're in the 21st Century, something that seems to have escaped the notice of successive governments here.

We've come to the plenary session in to see how Europe's facing up to the fiscal challenge.

We meet up with the East's Labour . He's travelled down from Brussels on the Tuesday to return to Belgium for Thursday's summit.

Yes, 12 times a year they go through the rigmarole of travelling across France to vote while most of the EU's committees' work is done in Brussels.

"And Strasbourg's not easy to get to," remarks Mr Howitt.

He is worried about the future of EEDA - - which appears to be the kind of "low hanging fruit" the Chancellor is seeking; ripe for the plucking to save some dosh.

Cuts. It's all we hear. It's why we're here.

We return to grid-locked Blighty, to the same old roadworks. A high-speed railway here?Still a generation away.

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