Too hot to think or work properly – so by the evening I drift out onto the terrace of the House of Commons for fresh air and because, quite frankly, it is absolutely beautiful. To sit with a drink gazing out on the Thames as it rolls endlessly by, and to watch the river boats and the back drop of the London Eye, is a real perk of being an MP. I know that lots of people think MPs have loads of perks etc – but in my experience this is the real perk of being an MP. As the sun begins to set, late on a summers’ evening, the lights that bath Parliament in a golden glow come on and it is just the loveliest experience to be able to sit out on a balmy (if a bit sticky) evening with all that as a backdrop.