Wasn't at TVC today quite in time to capture the mesmeric sunrise over the satellite dishes.....but had a lovely bike ride in this morning.
While Ed travels to AQ, after PM today, I'll be off on the cross-Britain trek that is the party conference season. Difficult to believe it's here again. Lib Dems in Brighton this weekend, then Labour in Bournemouth and the Conservatives in Blackpool. Lots of strong coffee required.
Any thoughts on how I can get through the three weeks?....
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Valium
O no, politicians, you won't need it.
How about some of that stuff that is so coyly marketed for 'bloating'. You could put industrial quantities in their tea urns?
Good morning, Sequin - Lovely to see you as ever!
Suggestions for what to take:
(1) Lavender oil
(2) Lots of bottled water
(3) Ditto fruit
(4) Ditto Sudoku, crosswords, or anything to take your mind of things once your minds starts to blow
(5) Your phone book so you can ring up your pals and let off steam/commiserate.
(6) Your sanity.
Oh, and, of course, our very best wishes, as we'll be thinking of you (as well as listening to your reports).
Just remember - It doesn't last for ever!
Why cannot councils use the money from selling council houses to build more council houses?
Silly team games based on words, would keep you all on your toes without taking you away from important little things such as work... for instance:
* Unseen crew : make up the names of ´óÏó´«Ã½ employees and advisers who only ever work the conference season
- Norma Snockers
- Major Strop
- General Gaines, etc
* Daily awards : at the team dinner each evening, assuming you have one, awards are given to individuals who have distinguished themselves that day. Next evening, the previous day's winners bestow the awards
- stupidest comment of the day
- best comment of the day
- flock-up* of the day, etc
Awards may be entirely virtual, or consist of a hat or badge which must be worn the whole of the day following the award
Such contrivances, among others, got SO and myself through several August bike tours of northern France some years ago.
Fifi
* Fifi Rhying Slang ... obviously ;o)
I don't envy you the job Carolyn. -
But if you fancy putting your feet up in an elegant lounge and have a cup of china tea served in some Edwardian china cups - then feel free to pop in and say hello, when you are in Bournemouth.
Aunt D - you beat me to it!
I'd recommend a small bottle of rescue remedy (internal use) and some clary sage essential oil to rub on your temples at the end of the day. And maybe a large blunt instrument for those moments of extreme irritation.
Good luck! x
Carolyn
In true ´óÏó´«Ã½ style why not just 'pretend' you're there. Actually you could be in the ´óÏó´«Ã½ canteen watching News 24. With clever editing of their interviews you could sound like you were asking the questions. We'd never know!
Tee hee
Roger (3) They weren't allowed to. Apart from that, they were forced to sell at a massive discount so didn't have enough money to buy the equivalent amount of housing. Funny how the buy-at-a-discount facility wasn't made available to tenants of private landlords.
It was the same kind of logic that said, "You appear to need more money than you have. Therefore we will reduce what you have."
Roger (3) They weren't allowed to.
It was the same kind of logic that said, "You appear to need more money than you have. Therefore we will reduce what you have."
Brilliant ideas. Also better raid Ed's cocktail cabinet before I go - fill up the hip flask. Though, Carl, your ´óÏó´«Ã½ canteen option is sounding increasingly attractive....
Hello Sequin.
Re: The conference season.
I find an instant way to calm jittery nerves is to start breathing slow and deep. This brings down the heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension, sending a relaxation response throughout your body and mind.
Inhale so that you can feel the air right reach into your abdomen. Take care not to breathe too fast-because if your vata vahi srotas or air circulating channels are not clear, the oxygen will be distributed unequally in your body; and that can do more harm than good.
Therefore, keep the pace easy and the rhythm steady. The use of an aromatherapeutic essential oil at this time-lavender, rose, jasmine or the Vata or Worry Free blend are good choices-will support your deep breathing activity. Do this at least twice a day for 10 minutes each, and you will experience a new sense of bliss.
Also, you really are what you eat. And if that is true, then eat foods that help you relax. Choose foods that help beat back stress-generating free radicals. All fresh and seasonal fruits, lightly cooked and spiced vegetables and whole grains will repair your tired mind and body, carrying the goodness down to the tiniest tissues.
Antioxidant herbs replete with nature's own intelligence know how to combat this potent enemy, and can help you fight it too. Eat herbs and fruits to supplement your healthful ´óÏó´«Ã½ diet and they will make you feel bright and sunny no matter how gray things look around you.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day are essential for efficient flushing out of disease-causing toxic matter from your system. When the urge for a hot drink hits, try, a delicious herbal beverage that calms without the side-effects of coffee. What's more, some of them tastes just like coffee!
Moderate exercise is a great way to de-stress. Yoga, which is an integral part of ayurvedic healing, is a way to exercise all parts of your body, while also soothing nerves and balancing the mind. Yoga is very useful when feeling less than cheerful.
Finally, don't forget to send Eddie and all the froggers a postcard from the seaside. :0)
Gin....and lots of it.
Oh and a packet of Smokey Bacon crisps for that once in a lifetime moment.
DIY
Jonnie, I Presume you don't award asbos for folk putting their feet up ;-)
I was once loaned a joke shop, imitation dog turd. You could have lots of fun with one of these this during conference season.
Eg puting on seat after one politician has left and before next sits down.
Splutter! Stewart, you made me laugh all over the keyboard.
Avoid staying too long at the parties, even if there's free champers.
Laugh at the silly so-and-sos, inwardly if possible (esp if using fake dog turd). If it gets really ghastly, imagine them sitting on the loo.
You could start by improving the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s coverage.
In recent years it has seemed entirely pointless for you to attend since most time is spent talking to MPs and other reporters. Just occasionally the love-in is interrupted by a fleeting visit to the Hall where you allow us a disjointed passage spoken by A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.
We are in a democracy and the party conferences could be our once a year chance to see it in operation. It's up to you.
To borrow an idea from a well-known weekly magazine:
Conference Bingo!
Ask Nick & co to produce a list of "buzz-words" for each party - then tick off each word/phrase as you hear it.
Alternatively, borrow a body language expert for a day - they're always good at pointing out the messages the policiticans are inadvertently conveying if you focus away from their mouths.
Or if things start to get too boring, find a friend of a friend of someone who may do a Walter Wolfgang - given sufficient persuasion :)
To borrow an idea from a well-known weekly magazine:
Conference Bingo!
Ask Nick & co to produce a list of "buzz-words" for each party - then tick off each word/phrase as you hear it.
Alternatively, borrow a body language expert for a day - they're always good at pointing out the messages the policiticans are inadvertently conveying if you focus away from their mouths.
Or if things start to get too boring, find a friend of a friend of someone who may do a Walter Wolfgang - given sufficient persuasion :)
To borrow an idea from a well-known weekly magazine:
Conference Bingo!
Ask Nick & co to produce a list of "buzz-words" for each party - then tick off each word/phrase as you hear it.
Alternatively, borrow a body language expert for a day - they're always good at pointing out the messages the policiticans are inadvertently conveying if you focus away from their mouths.
Or if things start to get too boring, find a friend of a friend of someone who may do a Walter Wolfgang - given sufficient persuasion :)
Oh DIY (12) you beat me to it! Mountains of GIN of course, preferably Bombay Saphire!!
Conference bingo is a great idea. You could embellish it as follows, depending on how many are in the team:
- list of words/phrases: at this moment in time; as I have always said; with the greatest respect; weasel weasel etc etc etc
- everyone contributes at least one
- put them all into a hat, and everyone draws their own out at random
- prize at dinner (or other convenient get-together) each day, to keep everyone motivated .. and each day's prize is more worth having than the day before's
Fifi
fifi @20, among the words should be 'conversation', 'dialogue', 'change', 'listening', 'forum', and probably 'jury'...
We've had the *first* 'citizens' jury', with great fanfare and a Prime Minister in attendance; does anyone want to put money on the second, where, when, who will turn up for it? Come to that, was anyone here asked at any point to have a 'conversation' with the government, a government, a minister or even somebody's cat?
Cynical? *Moi*??
Yes, Mr Fish (21), I have been invited to many a "Big Conversation" event -- and attended some. My fellow attendees seemed to find them very rewarding and useful. Those who critcise tend to be those who have never bothered to attend, in my experience. I'm afraid I refuse to play the "all political engagement is a waste of time" game -- if we all did that, where would we be?