Second meeting of the day with very same officer. However, this has been set up by me following my hump scrutiny and discovery of the ‘magic’ hump. That is a road hump that if set to 20mph goes flat (deflates) instantly if you are driving at 20mph or lower but remains a hump if you are speeding. Clever!. The inventors approached me to say they were looking for a borough to trial the hump in. I had a meeting with the Labour Exec Haringey member and negotiated for Haringey to be the first borough to do this.

Thus – this meeting. However, after the presentation, it transpired that it might not be absolutely ‘free’. It would be heavily subsidised – but not free. I didn’t think that was good enough – this is early days for this invention and unless and until they trial it properly in a borough along a couple of roads – they won’t get buyers. However, if they do trial it properly – they could clean up. The inventor was instructed to go and negotiate further with his MD and come back with a better offer – so watch this space.

I am the guest speaker at our own local Liberal Democrat ‘Pizza and Politics.’ We have a guest speaker, policy debate and pizza and wine at Laura Edge’s flat for a fiver to cover costs. It’s a good evening and we always have a lively debate. Not unnaturally I am speaking on Transport – and could have been there all night. I have yet to find a single person in London who does not have strong views on transport and a desire to discuss them with me!

What is good about these evenings is they are no holds barred, no political correctness and we have a jolly good ding dong – not necessarily on party lines. It also comes as a welcome relief to most of local political activism – which tends to be about raising funds and delivering leaflets!

Struck down with mother of all colds – how????? It’s summer.

Off to Hillfield Park street party – organised each year by local resident Peter Thompson. Peter is a local hero in my view and does tremendous good work in the community including free legal advice to those who need it, Neighbourhood Watch stuff and this street party.

I am presenting a tribute to the ex-beat officer from Muswell Hill, Bob Stevenson – who although he has moved on after his years in this area – has come back for the afternoon.

Prior to that, Peter has asked if I can come a bit earlier to judge the best pet (non-canine) contest. Sadly – there is only one competitor – so although after strenuous efforts they drum up a few more – there wasn’t a need for my Solomon act.

Scoot over to the New River Sports Centre for Peter Norton’s leaving party. He is the Director of Environmental Services and I have been dealing with him on masses of issues locally ever since I was elected to the council in ’98. Very sad to see him go – a very genuine person and solid as a rock in often very stormy waters. I wish him well.

Along with everyone else – watch the England match. Excruciating experience – as always. We didn’t play well – but we was robbed! I like ASDA’s marketing ploy the next day to offer free eye tests to any Swiss Nationals who present their passport at their stores. In fact, for any Swiss referees, they are not only offering an eye test – but offering to throw in free specs!

Dash straight over to the first meeting of the new term for the Fire Authority. Deadly dull – and all as expected – which is probably very good news for London. The one issue that could cause ructions was taken outside the meeting – and that is the staffing of the new anti-contamination units to combat any disasters that may befall London.