The Election and the Aftermath
on Lynn Sellwood (The Gambia), 10/May/2010 18:55, 34 days ago
Exhausting and Exhilarating.Exhausting, because I was walking in Stoke Newington for three days and those houses with 10 steps up to the front door and awkward letterboxes followed by 10 steps down and the another 5 down to the basement/garden flat and 5 steps back up for 30 or 40 houses in a row is challenging to the most dedicated "improve my fitness" fanatic. I now have even more respect for post men and women and can forgive them the red rubber bands in the street.Exhausting, because it was my son, Matthew, anglobuddhistcombine.blogspot.com/ who was standing in the local and parliamentary elections and I wanted him to win because he would be so good at it. I took every opportunity to tell those that asked that it wasmy sonwho was one of the candidates which I am sure was met with kind smiles and the inner thought that I was a batty old woman.Exhausting, because when the counts were done; not before people being denied the vote at Clissold Leisure Centre; it was clear that it had been a brilliant night for the Labour Party in Hackney but a devastating one for the Greens. I was so sad because of all the effort and work that had gone into the campaign and I always wanted a happy ending for them.Exhausting, because I drove back from Hackney to find the Blackwall Tunnel had been closed and I couldn't find the Rotherhithe Tunnel and ended up driving via Barking (who gave the heave-ho to the BNP) to the Dartford Bridge. Then I sat up and watched the Hung Parliament emerge and have been doing all weekend and I have been dying to tell the Labour party my very own cunning plan which is to let the Lib Dems and Cons stew on it  and make the horrible cuts that have to be made and let them feel the wrath of the electorate next time round. Instead it looks as though the tide has turned today and the Lib dems have extracted Gordon Brown's resignation!But I did say I was exhilarated too and that is because I was really energised by the passion and commitment of the Green Party activists in Hackney. Have a look at http://www.greenparty.org.uk/ Their beliefs and values gave me a boost and I can believe in the future again. Also, the number of people coming to cast their votes in Hackney (there was an increase in turnout as well as the 6% swing to Labour) gave me hope for the democratic process.I realised that work had taken up so much of my time that I couldn't be an activist for anything and in some respects my engagement with the world outside of work was negligible. Now I have a renewed energy for "getting involved" and I want to keep the buzz that has emerged back into my life.Just a quick update on other issues. Weight has stayed the same (too much tea and cake). Last set of innoculations tomorrow. Going to clear out the loft and shed this week to make space for more stuff! My sister is going to be fifty so I have put in a picture of her from our holiday in the New Year. Rumour has it that she did a handstand at a Soul Weekender in Caister but as yet I don't have the photo to prove it!