V For Victory

The general election shocks and surprises of today has somewhat overshadowed the 70th anniversary celebrations of VE Day, when the fighting stopped in World War 2.

Some celebrations have taken place across the country. I saw on Facebook some photos that a friend took in Birmingham of a street party and they actually had a real Spitfire parked outside their new library.

But sadly there has been nothing similar in Nottingham. Some schools have done projects on the subject or dressed up in period costumes. They have lit a beacon in the Old Market Square, which I don't think was advertised very well.

So I've looked through my archive and selected this photo of "Churchill" that I took last year at the annual May Day Knees Up at the Brewhouse Yard Museum.

'X' Marks The Spot

Today the UK goes to the polls to vote for who is going to be their next MP, and which party will be in charge of the country for the next five years. We've had loads of promotional bumf through the letterbox over the last few weeks from all the parties that have put up candidates, telling us how wonderful their party is and what amazing things they are going to do to make the country better and richer.

I popped down to my polling station after work which used a local church hall for it's base to use my vote. It was actually quite a difficult decision to make. I had six candidates to choose from. I instantly ignored three of them, but it took some thought of who to pick from the remaining three, as I consider one candidate to be a friend, another I've met a few times, and the other represents the party I feel closer too.  So after some consideration I put my X in the box. Just have to wait until tomorrow to find out how everyone did, and whether my choice made it through.

I also had to vote for councillors to represent me on our local council. This was much easier, as I was allowed to vote for two people, so didn't take so much brain power.

Vote For Me

I went to the first of perhaps many Hustings events in Beeston, during the run up to the general election next month.

We have six candidates standing to be out next MP, but only five turned up to answer questions from the very large audience that had packed into our parish church. For some reason the UKIP person stayed away, which is probably just as well with their brand of politics.

For some reason Broxtowe is a marginal seat, and often features on the TV news. Our recent MP Anna Soubry only won by less than 400 votes, over our previous MP, Nick Palmer, with many think he'll be making a welcome return next month.

It was a lively debate, with topics ranging from Trident, the economy and HS2. Strangely there were no questions about the continuing privatisation of the NHS. Only David, the Green Party candidate mentioned it as part of another question.

There was a bit of a commotion when an old soldier got up a couple of times to complain about how the armed forces, especially the Army that were being poorly treated over their pensions, Government spend on kit and equipment and health concerns of soldiers.

He started off well, then it defended into farce, as his dad joined in the argument, and the vicar and verger had to break up the duo. Things then calmed down and the discussion continued.