Well actually I arrive at 2pm at Gail and Martin’s house for my special ‘training to canvass’ day for canvassing virgins. It is quite daunting if you think about it – having to go and knock on strangers’ doors. All human life is there – but I generally come back pretty heartened at the general goodness of humanity. There are exceptions to that rule – but the vast majority of people are decent and polite – whatever their political leaning.

In fact, nearly everyone canvassing for the first time comes back pleasantly surprised how polite and friendly people are when you knock on their doors – so overcoming that initial fear is the key to getting more people canvassing.

Neil (my agent) and I have gotten there early in order to prepare the boards with the various bits and pieces needed like maps, instruction and postal vote forms as well as the canvass cards themselves.

But suddenly the hordes descended – and we were hard put to get them out in pairs quickly enough. We must have had 20 or more people out – some learning – some teaching. It was fantastic – and we canvassed nearly half the ward.

I took Monica out myself to train her on the doorstep. The first few doors she came with me. “Hello – are you …? I’m Lynne Featherstone and we think Tony is about to call a General Election. Might we have your support or will you be voting for someone else?”

See – easy peasy! Within six doors Monica was off and running and at her very first door found a Lib Dem supporter who wanted to take a poster! Flying start…

Attend public meeting at Tetherdown School where they are discussing the plans for expansion. The first scheme was fabby but too expensive – about £7 million. Haringey Council then came up with ugly, grotesque schemes – costing about £4 million.

Thank goodness the parents protested – the school would have been ruined by the brutality of the council scheme. Pressure from campaigning on lack of school places in the Muswell Hill area seems to have spurred the Government into extra spondulicks – so that at least now there is a version of the first scheme in its infancy at around £5 million from which something good can be delivered.

There is a balance to be struck, as one woman in the audience pointed out, between the desperate need to provide more places double-quick as so many children can’t get into local schools – and rushing and creating a monster.

It’s another burden placed on local schools and families by the council’s failure to plan ahead properly for school places in the first place.

Lots of burly and generally white men come to watch the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) in session. We are in session unusually at City Hall as last time we were stormed by the FBU (unions) – they forced their way into the LFEPA HQ committee room and blew whistles. It might not sound dreadful – but the noise pierced our eardrums, two colleagues were spat at and we could not move as they barred our exit. One member had some severe problems with her ears. Not acceptable behaviour whatever the circumstances. And rather daft anyway – who really thinks such behaviour helps win you friends to your side of the debate?

This time therefore, they have moved the meeting to City Hall for security reasons. The protesters are here over the planned closure of Manchester Fire Station and redeployment of 10 fire engines. The FBU heckle and jeer. Change is always difficult – but the new London Safety Plan puts fire engines where there are people and on a risk-assessed basis (i.e. where they are most needed to fight fires). So we all support it.

Then get a call from BBC London to go to College Green for a TV prerecord on the Tube. (A “prerecord” is where they film an interview in advance for use in a later piece, often on the following day). Basically the House Commons Transport Select Committee has announced its findings: shock horror – the PPP deal for the Tube is crap. Well – far be it from me to say I told you so – but I told you so.

Special campaign action day in Woodside ward (Hornsey & Wood Green). We all swing in to action to get leaflets out – and some of us, including me, go door knocking. Previously a hard Labour area – but definitely going our way judging by the softness of the Labour vote.

I met only one Conservative couple who said that as the Tories didn’t have a prayer in Hornsey & Wood Green they would vote Lib Dem too.

Then catch up on emails and letters. There is a steep increase in correspondence and emails asking for political positions on a variety of issues and all of the questionnaires to Prospective Parliamentary Candidates have started to arrive.