Do you recall the excitement you felt as a child, during the run up to Christmas? Those final weeks really dragged didn't they? Counting down to my Westminster debut felt a lot like that.
The family had had friends round for the preceding weekend. It was also a time for celebrating my brother-in-laws birthday. Yet a part of me could not help but think of that place next to the Thames. It held such an allure for me. I couldn't wait for Monday to arrive.
Everything was organised like clockwork. Shaved the night before - check. Made sure to hide the embarrassing cuts - check. Bag packed - check. Blackberry on charge - check. I had even hung my suit jacket and (pre-tied) tie on the door under the stairs. I didn't even watch the morning news as I ate my breakfast - I could catch up on that when I bought the daily newspaper. My entire routine was designed to get me up and out the house as quickly as possible.
After making my way through the sardine tin of the London Underground again, I arrive at Westminster tube station. If Caxton House had looked Orwellian, it paled in comparison to this place. Grey and with Brunel like concrete struts at its ceiling, Westminster tube station was built straight out of 1984. Neither do I think that many tube stations exit to a more maginificent sight than this one did; the Houses of Parliament. Around the corner was Portcullis House, where I would be working in the Office of Stewart Jackson MP.
I had previously been to a reception at Westminster Hall, with the National Deaf Children's Society, so I was familiar with the security protocols. As in airports, my bag and suit jacket were scanned with an X-ray machine. Since my permanent clearance had not yet been granted, a photo was taken for my visitor pass too. A member of Stewart's staff escorted me to the office. Everything was built with wooden panels up there, including the doors to the bathroom and the tearoom; which blended into the walls. Although clearly a design of form over function, I quickly acclimatised to this.
The Office of Stewart Jackson MP was shared with the Office of Ben Wallace MP. I was introduced to Ben's Parliamentary Assistant, his American intern and also Stewart's Parliamentary Assistant. I already knew Stewart's Researcher from Peterborough. Everyone made me feel very welcome and, reinforcing the point I made in 'Arctic Origins', they were all keen and patient to communicate with me, both in the office and during lunch.
It was a relatively quiet week, with some general administration, casework, testimonials to draft and some research to do. Yet a particular highlight was watching Stewart lead a debate about Government policy on Tourettes Syndrome, in Westminster Hall. Did you know that despite popular perception, only 10% of sufferers have coprolalia or involuntary swearing? I didn't. I look forward to having more of these misperceptions corrected for me in the future.
I have begun to find my feet at Westminster and thanked Ben and Stewart's staff for helping things go so smoothly for me. I wonder what tomorrow will bring? If last week is an indication of what is to come, I can't wait to find out.
