October 4, 2007

8:50am Thursday 4th October 2007

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WITH the rumours of an impending election, life becomes difficult because when an election is announced MPs have 48 hours to vacate their offices.

Then they are no longer MPs but parliamentary candidates and cannot use any of the facilities available to MPs even though constituency work continues to pour in.

If the call does come soon as I have so many on-going cases and so many current concerns I hope I will achieve re-election to enable me to complete the tasks ahead.

At least I have further meetings with NHS and education managers before the deadline.

My Wyre Forest office has had more than 500 contacts in the last three months and this is not to mention the direct approaches to my office in London.

Thus, my advice to Mr Brown is to stick to his original view that the electorate will think more of him if he perseveres with running the country and solving some of the national and international problems that are so urgent now.

Owing to pressure of work I only supported one Macmillan Coffee morning this year but I was aware of many others and will wait to hear how much has been raised by this great effort by many.

I have learnt how important for fund- raising the London Marathon and other such runs are. It is immensely praiseworthy that people are prepared to put themselves through the gruelling training and these events to support their chosen charity.

Cancer and other health-related charities provide so much funding for research and improvements in care and services for patients that these efforts are irreplaceable.

I attended a packed and moving farewell service in Worcester Cathedral for Bishop Peter Selby. His work and outspoken comments at home and in the House of Lords were warmly praised.

Bewdley Festival, due to begin this week, has reached its 20th year and I joined the dinner to celebrate this milestone.

Don Maclean was the guest and I have not laughed so much for ages. His stream of anecdotes with hilarious and unexpected punchlines was a tonic and his dedication for those of us lucky enough to buy signed copies of his book, Closer to Heaven was "Keep laughing". What an appropriate message - if one loses one's sense of humour life does become more difficult!

Another successful event was the Young People's Environmental Conference organised by the Horsefair, Broadwaters and Greenhill Partnership at King Charles I School and aided by sixth formers and staff from the school and talks on Climate Change and Eco-Schools.

The youngsters from neighbouring primary schools obviously enjoyed the day and contributed readily. They even remembered recycle bins in designs of their perfect park when adults, who shall be nameless, forgot these.

I wish I could have heard the children's instructions to their parents on green issues on their return home.