On Saturday morning I went to see the Sewell Toy Library, which operates out of the Christ Church Center in Magdalen Road. It was a pleasure to see in action – though my eldest did walk away with a deeply irritating piano – and there was a steady stream of people in and out. For a minimal cost, you can hire out toys and even play with a lot there and then. Knowing how fast my girls favourites come and go, this is a great way of ensuring they have something new to engage in every week. It is run with the help of 2 of the local – Labour – ward councillors and they and their team deserve a huge amount of praise for running a fantastic community initiative.
That afternoon we went on a fmily trip to try and collect as many “elephants” as we could around Norwich. One of the things you could never criticise Norwich City Council for is not putting on, or facilitating, enough free events for familiies in the City. We saw – at my count – roughly 27 of them. Emily enjoyed any with stripes on, although I was quite taken with the conceptual elephant on Millenium Plain outside of the BBC building. Emily literally kissed and hugged every elephant; a great afternoon in the sun.
Sunday morning we went out delivering leaflets in Eaton for our newly re-selected local candidate Niall Baxter. Niall ran one of the most amazing campaigns I have ever witnessed and no candidate could have worked harder. Niall is really well known around the ward now and I am thrilled he is to carry on working for local people; he added 4% to the Tory vote and made Eaton a real fight for the first time in years.
Yesterday and this evening we’ve spent the time putting the finishing touches to my parliamentary campaign team and writing our next leaflet and survey. Later in the week I am visiting a community group and meeting with the organisers of a youth football team. Busy, but enjoyable; so the hour I got asleep in the garden this afternoon because I was locked out was total pleasure!
In a world where the role of men in the family unit is under attack, mainly through the prism of science, it is good to be reminded of all the positive role models and the excellent fathers who make a difference day-in-day-out (and, yes, that goes for Mothers too). The girls – well, Louise, but let’s keep up the pretence – had prepared a mock up Evening News front page declaring that I had been made the new Fat Controller. Would I want to take on the role of running the railways? Not likely; or is it my uncanny resemblance to Sir Topham Hat?
We spent a largely dry day at the Eaton Park 80th Birthday celebration, and the girls loved the miniture steam trains and the dragons on procession! Well done to all the organisers, a good event – just a pity about the weather! From there we went over to Taverham Old Hall for our second Teddy Bear’s Picnic in 2 days (a trend starting?) and also a fete. A lovely day; the girls have spoilt me!
In what was meant to be an aside to the launch of the Tory families policy, the political story has appeared to move onto the decision of Leader David Cameron to invite the ITN cameras into his home to film the family at work and play (read more ). Actually I believe this can only add to the news coverage of what are set to be an excellent set of policies.
So should Cameron have done this? Undoubtably the answers is that this is a personal choice. Tony Blair played the family card really well and benefited; clearly Brown isn’t going to, and thats his choice. I actually think Cameron is right about one thing – the British public want to know what makes him “tick” and if we are to have this man as our next Prime Minister we’d want to know more about the kind of man he is.
I have never used my wife or family on any party political campaigning (although we did get our picture in the paper when Emily was born – a media hit that wasn’t reproduced for Olivia, may I add) but I do talk about my children both on this blog and on the doorstep – because they shape who I am and what my political beliefs are. People ask if I have a family and I always reply to them, normally in gushing terms!
Louise is ultra-shy when it comes to publicity and politics; she married me, not my career. She stays out of everything; occassionally coming with me to a fundraiser or even but her focus in life is being a great mum and a great teacher. She isn’t a trophy Tory-wife and I don’t expect her to fawn by my side at events and suchlike. If she ever chose to get involved, I’d support her, but I don’t think it’s likely! She supports me 110% – by keeping my feet on the ground, telling me when I’m being an idiot and occassionally smacking me with reality. That’s more important to me than anything else.
So, if Samantha Cameron was fine by it then why shouldn’t Cameron open his doors to the news, and thus by extension the nation? That’s what personal choice is all about; I may not do it, but I admit I was fascinated by the news coverage.
We’ve had a great day in our house and I am rather pleased to say that Louise had no idea what we had planned for her in the morning!
After the complusory lie-in and breakfast in bed (at which she wasn’t prepared for a two-girl fight over a pain-au-choc – Emily won, but Olivia gave as good as she got) came the present. Now Daddy really wanted to buy Mummy a smoothie maker, but as he has foolishly promised a nearly-3-year-old that she could choose, Mummy instead got a …
… toy sweet shop. Well, the shop was a toy but the sweets were very much real. Emily loves playing shop – she has a great imagination – but Olivia seemed to be more into shoplifting than paying for her goods. Oh well …
Then after this I managed to completely pull the wool over her eyes by arranging a surprise lunch at a new restaurant in the City, complete with family and friends on standby. Louise was totally stunned; more so for the fact she almost managed to walk past everyone she knows! The food was amazing and service very good; the restaurant was heaving and I don’t think I’ve seen anywhere that busy in a long time – but newly opened restaurants and Mother’s Day seems to attract a lot of people! Then from there, back to ours…
A really fun day out; the girls have been non-stop so we’re both shattered. Now settling down for an evening working on election material. A great end to a great day!
We’ve had a weekend away (aside from an interview with on the Congestion Charge and with the about city council finances) to celebrate my Dad’s 60th birthday. Needless to say there was a surprise party – photos and a brilliant video of my half-cut father trying to pay tribute to his family but failing miserably to come – and a fantastic night of eating, drinking and dancing. Emily was the star of the show and did a turn in her new spotty party dress; Olivia slept through most of it. This morning we went out, just the immediate family, for a meal at a new local French restaurant and then headed back to Norwich. This evening I have been working on some events and publicity for the new Norwich CF and writing to all those people who against the Congestion Charge.
A bit of deja-vue last Sunday as we baptised Olivia in much the same way as we did Emily two years earlier – same parents, same church, same priest and roughly the same people! There were, of course, 3 key differences – the Godparents for a start plus also the decision to switch from homemade jam butties to M&S platters!
Most strikingly though was that two years ago the only child present was Emily herself … this time it was a real kids party with thes babes almost outnumbering the adults (or, given the noise, it felt so!) We must be at an age where all our friends are having children.
We were clearly trend setters! Our redoubtable priest, Father Tony McSweeney, very clearly took charge and even put my brother in his place! And we even managed (somehow) to get cleared out before evening mass at St. George’s. A great day!
Photos: Top: Ft. Tony at work, Middle: The Godparents (Katie, Pauline & Chris), Bottom: The Parents & Olivia talking to God
Apologies for the lack of posts this week – it’s been hectic! Thursday I attended a campaign co-ordination meeting in Suffolk for the next general election. I am very impressed at the level of professionalism being put in by both CCHQ and by the Area team and the reports from the targets seats seem to be very positive and the level of activity from across the region should have Labour and the LibDems VERY worried!
Unfortunately Olivia has been sick and so I was able to attend the Ann Widdecombe dinner at Oxburgh Hall – which is a shame as she is always good value! However, Saturday came and we managed to get out to a friend’s marriage blessing at St. Pauls in Hellesdon. They married in the USA but wanted to allow their friends and family who didn’t get out there the chance to witness their vows. It was a lovely service and the highlight was the bride and groom taking the unusual step of doing their own music – literally! Heidi has an amazing voice and she sung with Christian playing the music. Amazing!
It was then over to the People’s Republic of Dussindale for an exclusive drinks party involving a Waitrose-a-thon (don’t ask). And then onto UEA for the 1990s reunion. Lou and I cannot believe it is 10 years since we started at UEA – almost the same length of time as Blair’s reign. God it feels like a long time! There was a fantastic party in the Square and sitting out in the rain, supping on cheap booze and chatting to old friends it felt like I’d never left. It really was a who’s-who of UEA alumni! Old flatmates, senior Tories, people from my course and those randoms who you recongise but just can’t remember their names! The music was all 1990s and it was good to see Chesney and S-Club7 in the top 3 songs of the decade. Although was slightly miffed not to include Take That’s “Relight my Fire” or Robbie William’s “Angel”. Well done UEA – you know how to throw a party!
I’m afraid the toll of a certain number of G&Ts was evident this morning and so the day has been spent recovering. Tomorrow and Tuesday I am out on a retreat day with Year 9 in Poringland so I better get an early night!
After last night’s excitement, and with Emily safely tucked away at Nanny and Grandad’s house, Louise and I decided to enjoy some time together and go out for breakfast. Norwich at 10am on a Sunday is a strange but pleasant experience. I am a city-boy … I need the buzz of City life and love the fact that Norwich is always busy. But this morning it was so quiet – almost disturbing but actually quite relaxing. We managed time round the shops, bumped into friends around the book shops (how did we manage without coffee shops inside book shops?!?) and ate breakfast without having cereal pinged at either of us.
After lunch, we picked up Emily (and of course, the ever-ready Auntie Katie) and headed out to the contrasting quiet of the county to travel in style, via firstly a small wooden motorised boat (yes… it did just cope with my weight) and then miniture steam railways. Emily, of course, loved it and thought it was Thomas the Tank Engine. Olivia … well, just slept.
We are very lucky to live in a county like Norfolk with so much to do … who ever said I’d be bored after the election finished? Last weekend we went to little Chloe’s christening down in Kent and next weekend Lousie and I are away again! This week is the AGM of the Council, first meeting of Scrutiny, post-OFSTED party and the Notre Dame VI Form Leavers Dinner. Don’t expect much blogging…
Today was all about Emily and we had family up to spend the day with us at - I still think one of Norfolk’s hidden treasures. We got the chance to see the big cats at play, some rather lazy kangaroos and monkeys up close. Olivia, of course, missed the lot by being asleep and Emily missed the seal feeding by walking head first into a tree. Other than that the weather was great, the cafe made a decent cup of tea and everything seems good with the world. In fact, we drifted so far away that you might have even forgotten we had a rotten Labour government… or, maybe not!
Emily’s birthday has been a bit of a festival – starting Wednesday and going through until today, but finally the giant “I am 2″ banner is down and we can return to some normality. All we have to do now is slowly watch the balloons deflate and drip-feed Emily her new toys day-by-day.
Oh, and destroy that bloody awful signing birthday card my brother sent her.
We are just packing the last few bits (when I say “few”, anybody with one small child let alone two will know how ironic that is meant to be) for a couple days away. We are heading to Oxfordshire to see my Aunt and Uncle and then onto London after that. Hoping to catch up with old friends and see some family. Posts will be light (or non-existant) until we return!
, , , , , , , | 
Posted by antonylittle 
, , , , | 
Posted by antonylittle 
, , , , | 
Posted by antonylittle 
We were clearly trend setters! Our redoubtable priest, Father Tony McSweeney, very clearly took charge and even put my brother in his place! And we even managed (somehow) to get cleared out before evening mass at St. George’s. A great day!
