Wednesday 17 December 2008

Did we really have a holiday?

Talk about hitting the ground running. Sue and Keith arrived back at Digbeth coach station at 3pm on Monday 1st. This after a day lasting about 35hrs. American Immigration asked for everyone to be available at 6am Easter Standard Time on Sunday so they could allow in all the people they had allowed out 7 days before. This took all of 10 minutes but we all had to wait around for an hour before getting any breakfast.
Travelling from Tampa to Heathrow via Washington was a prolonged experience, 7 hrs at Tampa Airport, a mad dash to catch a connecting flight in Washington after a delayed and very rough flight and then another rough flight over the Easter seaboard before crossing the Atlantic.
Heathrow was fine but the bus station was freezing after 80degrees in Florida and a hr flight waiting for the coach didn't help. This was livened up whilst boarding the coach when a family tried to push into the queue and Keith reminded then of their manners. Words were exchanged but order restored when they decided to get to the back. Justice was served when they had to take turns to stand all the way to Banbury.
The Group meeting started at 5.30, 4.30 for Keith, and it was a surreal experience trying to take it all in whilst jet-lag kicked in.
Here is a tip for anyone going to the States who has had hip operetions, you will set off the metal detector every time. This will entitle you to a free wanding and a massage from a member of the Transport Security Agency.
The following day Keith asked a couple of questions to John Lines without anything kicking off in the public gallery and he also spoke on 2 other matters.
Labour were quite poor again although Cath Grundy made a very good job of proposing a motion. She was quite impressive and Albert did not look a happy bunny. He can feel someone coming up behind him.
After that it was just meeting after meeting. Mind you there were some social opportunities as well. On the Thursday we all went to a Quiz night and fund-raiser for Keely. This was very successful and a great night.
The following night saw 6 Councillors at the Northfield HLB Christmas party at the Greenlands Club. Another great night and our thanks to everyone there especially Ruth Bowles,Kate, and Jackie from the Housing team who made a really good job of it.
On Sunday Sue & Keith took their grandson Christopher to Villa Park for a tour as part of his Christmas present. It is very impressive and even better than the last time Keith took the tour 10 years ago.
Last Sunday Keith and Sue were at the Town Hall for a concert by pupils from Birmingham's schools including Colmers School and Frankley Community High School. This was organised by the Birmingham Music Service and the standards were extremely high.
Things have started to slow down now which gives all 3 of us the chance to do a lot of leafletting and get our christmas card out to everyone in the ward.
We are doubtful if the holiday photos will be of any interest but we will publish them to the web and provide a link if anyone does want to take a look. Keith has a new camcorder and we hope to start putting some videos on here if he can ever crack the technology.