91Èȱ¬

As I write this blog, I'm sampling the new nationalised East Coast Rail service for the first time.

And despite all the promises so far I've been offered neither peanut nor pasty - see earlier post.

I confess I am in First Class, but don't worry your licence fee is being used wisely.

Due to a quirk the indecipherably complex fares system the First Class fare for this train proved to be cheaper than the Standard.

There was a slight awkward moment when I saw a North East Conservative on the carriage.

I hastily explained that this was the cheapest fare available before he could do the calculation of how much extra he'll tell his party to cut the licence fee by if they get into government.

I am actually beginning a grand tour of sorts.

Today, I'm going to the Awards.

Sadly, I suspect I'm not in line for one, but instead just observing others get their gongs.

It's a mix of awards for politicians, journalists and academics.

I've been for the last few years, and you often get the frisson of sitting next to someone famous.

One year I was on the same table as Nick Robinson, Polly Toynbee and Jon Culshaw. (I wonder if any of them are blogging about the time they sat with me).

MInd you I've also sat next to my fair share of academics specialising in the Hungarian parliamentary system and the like.

Anyway, after the awards have been handed out, my next stop is Cardiff, as I'll be filming tomorrow in Wales.

It's all about the support the is offering its manufacturing businesses.

Some here in England are looking jealously at .

More on that in future entries though.

I think I still have some of the mud from Cockermouth on my shoes so I hope nobody looks too closely - at least I have an excuse.

It's one of those unfortunate parts of journalism that you do move on remarkably quickly from story to story while for the people affected in Cumbria, the whole turmoil is only just beginning.

I was glad to see the national news still giving good airtime to the events in the area yesterday though.

For the people re-entering their homes and businesses it must have been traumatic.

The most vivid coverage I heard was actually on the radio, as when one woman opened her kitchen drawers, you could hear the water sloshing around.

Eventually, the national media will move on - it's the nature of journalism.

But I'm sure we in the region will be covering the aftermath for some time to come.

Let's hope today's rain isn't as heavy as predicted.

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