Two events today. First is to open the Polish and Eastern European Communities Open Day in Wood Green. What a wonderful community this is too. Less high profile than some – but full of children and families all absolutely delightful. Some of the older members sang carols and then there was a reception with fantastic Eastern European food. I’ll be lucky to get to Christmas without putting on half a stone before!

The pounds piling on were then not helped by equally delicious food at the reception following the lighting of candles for World Aids Day outside Wood Green Library. The heavens opened just as the ceremony was starting – but we all stayed to show that this is an issue that we care passionately about and it needs attention.

At the reception at the Winkfield Resource Centre afterwards, I said a few words about the situation re AIDS and HIV. My visit to South Africa was one part but the other was about the appalling rate of new infections we are now experiencing in London – more than ever before. And awareness has clearly gone down.

When AIDS hit the UK, the campaigns that were run to get us all to be aware and have safe sex were headline news. Now people seem to have relaxed and be thinking it won’t happen to them. But I can assure them it will – if they don’t practise safe sex. Don’t risk it!