State opening of Parliament. I arrive about 10.15am and having been instructed fill out a prayer card and pop it in one of only two remaining seats. This is the parliamentary equivalent of towels on deckchairs – and so long as you report for prayers, you can keep your seat for the rest of the day.

Black Rod comes and does his thing – calling the Commons to go across to the Lords. We all troop through. As I am vertically challenged and standing at the back – my view is just of the top of the Queen’s crown and occasionally glimpsing her face.

Back to the Commons. We adjourn and then reconvene at 2.30pm for the opening debate on the Queen’s Speech.

This debate is traditionally opened (what isn’t traditional here) by an old backbencher and a new backbencher. They’re meant to give funny speeches. They were ok – but not that funny … then Michael Howard had his go – followed by Tony ‘I’ve listened and learned’ Blair.

Clearly he hadn’t as the 45 bills were the same program he waned last time – so the old game is back in town and it’s ID cards, removal of civil liberties and so on.

It is all pretty interesting for me at this stage. All the characters who have peppered my TV screen for years are live in the room. And the proceedings are all novel and certainly antiquated. I would love to think it could change – but the boys school is in evidence and better people than I have tried in the past – so the key will be learning how to use Parliament to deliver the things I need to fight for in Hornsey & Wood Green.