God knows what key I hit, but then suddenly, girding my loins for another go at this stuff, it all disappears AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHY!!

So where was I?

It appears that I had actually got to Mayor-making day and the Mayor’s Banquet – very grand title for a three course meal!!.  So, I am now well into week 8 and I suppose this might well be a good time for a bit of reflection.  But FIRST, I have a dental appointment at 11.00 am this morning and it’s 10 to, so I’ll get back to this shortly.

Well, doesn’t stuff happen.  It’s now 7.00 pm and I’ve been out all day!  So, at last back to the blog.  A lot of people say, “Are you enjoying it, Mr Mayor?” and I must say that I am.  To be thrust into this position without so much as a by-your-leave did leave a lot to be desired and the learning curve was exceptional.  My first decision was to change the Mayor’s Charity.  Christine, bless her, had decided on the Alzheimer’s Society, but I have chosen the Yorkshire Regiment Benevolent Trust.  This has, in the main, been well received.  My second decision was to agree to go on all the Mayoral engagements that had already been diarised for Christine.  Well, it’s only right, isn’t it?  In fact the very first I’ll never forget.  It was a tea-party in the Ashcroft Nursing Home in Cleckheaton hosted by the Alzheimer’s Society!!

At the weekend, I was at Newsome parish Church twice.  On the Saturday to crown their Jubilee Queen.  That was great fun.  I bet you didn’t know that when the Mayor bends forward, his chain falls off!  Now I have learned how awkward that is and making sure it doesn’t fall off again us VERY GOOD for the posture.  I’ve also learned that sitting down without knowing exactly where the chair is, can be quite exciting.  It is a considerable relief when bottom meets chair, I can tell you.  Committed  my first faux pas at Newsome, when I commented to a stall-holder and Green Party member that it “wasn’t compulsory to vote Green”.  I really don’t know why Green Party members all seem to have had a sense of humour by-pass.  Anyway, I’ve learned not to be so Party Political and so damned partisan!!

Since then, it has been a rare merry-go-round – church services, opening fêtes and Diamond Jubilee events, attending sports days, plays and orchestral concerts.  I have done 3 Civic Events, including the Huddersfield Town Reception, which was a great success;  the 60th birthday party and 60th wedding celebrations for the Jubilee in Dewsbury Town Hall was a huge success.  The Kirklees Music School Swing Band were brilliant, but the staff of the Town Hall were excellent, so thanks to all.  The visit to Paddock for their street party was really well planned as it took place in sunshine in what has otherwise been an appalling summer for rain

Karen and I have been to the theatre – Romeo and Juliet at the LBT, Fiddler on the Roof in Dewsbury, Harvest also at the LBT (that was a black play, but really well produced).  We’ve been hosted by the Huddersfield and Colne Valley Lions, the Huddersfield Scouts, Rotary and the British Legion.  We’ve been to sports events in Leeds and Huddersfield, a dragon boat race in Wakefield, a British Legion Memorial at Nostell Priory, Flower Festivals and Flower Demonstrations, Carnivals, a fantastic music extravaganza at the Galpharm, Awards Dinners and Breakfasts, a Folk Festival (superb) and so it all goes on. As at today, I have attended 82 engagements.  How the Civic Office maintains all this, I really do not know, but they do and their support is superb.

And over all this, I have been setting and running The Mayor’s Charity Appeal.  We will be walking the Kirklees Way, abseiling down buildings, holding charity concerts and dinners.  There will be bucket collections at supermarkets, gala days, climbing Mount Everest (on a climbing frame), swimming the channel (in swimming pools), pony-trekking, school collections, church collections and on, and on, and on.  It is really humbling to be involved with such a great bunch guys who are doing so much for me.

And the people I have met have been so welcoming, so generous and so warm.  What an experience. A year that I will never forget.

Got to go.  This is getting far too sentimental!  Cheers

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