I’ve just posted two new pages in the Policy section of this site, following on from my Ard Fheis contribution: my speech on the Green Energy Revolution is here and information on the NewERA for the Irish economy is here.

The number of cranks calling or emailing me continues to increase. It’s a real drain to be honest. There are broadly three types. The ones who are purposely trying to get under your skin because they have other political affiliations (that people would waste their time in this way is simply beyond me); the ones who clearly have other problems in their lives and unfortunately have come across my contact details; and the ones who have such contempt for politicians that they think they can treat them like dirt and actively pursue them to do so. The third type gets me the most.
 
Was hit by a car today. Well, swept onto the bonnet. Bloody hurt but nothing serious, more of a fright to be honest.
 
Went to a meeting of the South East Area Committee on Dublin City Council in the afternoon. Though I follow the minutes regularly, it was my first time in attendance. Reminded me of a very boring EU meeting, the ones we would have on the side of some international conference on an issue that is serious, but not headline grabbing. This is not a criticism, more a reflection of the substance. Important, but not sexy.
 
The Councillors made good oral submissions and some had a detailed knowledge surrounding the various motions. They care. Can’t fault them on that. Was surprised that certain issues were only raising their head for the first time – overcrowding of bins for example – when it’s been a problem clear as day since the green bin arrived. Unfortunately I wasn’t surprised at how some other issues were handled – agreement to follow up on the possibility of speedbumps for a particular road, when the only speedbumps that can be put in will be largely ineffective because the road is part of a regular bus route (buses require ‘softer’ speedbumps which don’t really reduce a car’s speed).
 
Learned more than you can from the minutes. But this wasn’t a surprise, as someone who was formerly a report writer for international meetings and conferences. The good stuff is what gets left out.

Well, ard fheis went well. Got my speech out of the way, without mishap thankfully. Didn’t set the room on fire but I think it was a solid enough performance. Afterwards we got to relax and enjoy the rest of the day. A lot of networking and hand shaking. Not quite sure what to make of the whole affair. Felt like a family gathering in many ways, the different pieces that somehow manage to fit together.

There was a new quality to Enda’s delivery and I was very impressed with it. More relaxed, more himself. Here is the man to lead our country out of the current crisis, I am sure of it. And it falls to me to persuade the people I meet to believe it too.

Left late enough, after too many pints, but a good day.

Today was a day off, kind of. Got a phonecall at about 5 o’clock from somebody saying she had called the Gardaí on me because of my bike posters (see the picture below). According to her I was breaking electoral law, though when I called her on it she didn’t have anything to back her claim up. I was annoyed by just how offensive she was. No one likes being called a criminal and dishonest. How do the main players put up with it?! She eventually hung up, but not before she’d done enough to unsettle me, and my friend who was in the car and overheard the conversation.

Here’s a pic of the bikes we’ve had around the ward

Public meeting Thursday went well. Good turnout and a positive response to our initiative, so happy about it. Though I did miss a meeting on public transport up in Ranelagh which I wanted to attend. More meetings next week. All important but what about canvassing?

For the most part, things haven’t been going my way this week. This continued when another NTL guy came down to the house this morning, examined the internet box and said it was broken. It was an exact repeat of what happened 2/3 weeks ago. Unbelievable.

Cake sale in the morning down in Sandymount. Flew down on my bike in the sun which was great. Weren’t that many people there, and they had clearly made a big effort, so I popped around to the green to see if I could drum up some support. Two ladies with their kids headed over in the direction of the school, which I was pretty pleased with. I know this isn’t what being a Councillor is about, but I was still pretty chuffed to be able to feel like I was actually doing something worthwhile, if only very little.

The Ard Fheis kicked off this afternoon so I headed out to Citywest. Speaking in the morning and very nervous about it. Don’t think I have ever spoken to a room of more than 50 people and this is going out live on TV. Just want it to be done with so I can focus on the campaign once more. H and T and a few others coming out in support. Looking forward to a few drinks afterwards. Bikes and a flyer drop all happening this weekend, which the team have taken care of completely, given my own distractions. God knows where I would be without them.

With each day that passes I feel more and more like a politician. Going to need a long shower after all this.

Out in my parents’ house for the night so I can use the internet to work on some correspondence. This after another long day with little to show for it. It’s 1.30 am and all the letters I have been working on for the past 45 minutes are lost somewhere in the computer. Not what I needed right now. Murphy’s Law in full effect. And I’m taking it out on my family now. Bet they love me calling out. My headstone will read: “Tolerated by his family, hated by technology. Here lies a broken man”.

A long day. And not necessarily a good one. Got home and just had to go for a walk to clear my head. Went down by the Strand and then back up through Sandymount. Passed a very senior Minister doing the same as I strolled along the promenade. Wanted to say hi and how’s it going. Have found a new degree of sympathy – or is it now empathy? – for these people. But didn’t.

It started very early at a local businessman’s meeting at which I did less than impress, unfortunately. Afterwards I went to view an office up on Ranelagh main street. Old pal from Toronto days showed it to me. Great place but can we afford it? Talked to a few local businessmen, which put me in better form.

A pal back over from London called over to help me with some data entry stuff. Completely mundane and sorry not to be giving him something more interesting but it’s actually crucial stuff and the information, when put to use, should yield us circa 200 votes, hopefully.

Didn’t get to canvass as volunteer pulled out at last minute. Annoying, but knackered anyway – probably wouldn’t have been any use. Off to public meeting in Rathgar. Nice venue and good speakers but I didn’t make any sort of meaningful conversation.

What a weekend. We followed a full day Saturday of meet and greets with a big flyer drop on Sunday. All of us, bar H, didn’t realise about the hour going forward so we were a bit slow to start (again). Not quite the well-oiled machine yet. Though as someone said to me recently, we won’t be until the week after the election.

In all, 8,000 flyers went out and we had a huge team for the afternoon slot. Some new people too, so all good. Weather really makes a difference in terms of numbers.

Photocall with the bikes at lunchtime down by Herbert Park. Bit of craic. Bikes look good. Hopefully they had an impact. H and T got the last meeting posters up while I dropped some of the team home. Sunday evening off and it was just what I needed. Dinner in Diep in Ranelagh followed by some couch time.

A lot to do this week, between the two public meetings and the Ard Fheis at the weekend. Internet is still acting up. Another NTL guy came out last week to identify the problem. This week the guy who can actually fix it should be coming out. Something tells me he’s going to forget a part or something.

8.30: drop off flyers to one of the team, to get dropped during the morning. Back to bed as not feeling well during the night. Up at 10am and off to work. Get lost on way to a coffee morning. End up missing parish sale in Rathgar as a result which annoys me. And then we start late with our meet and greet in Rathgar (outside of the bakery). Morning not going well.

But it soon turns around as we have an old hand with us out today and he works his magic. Talk to lots of people. Brilliant stuff. Off to Rathmines for more of the same. I pop in to McDonalds for breakfast/lunch. Horrible stuff but it’s cheap. We put in another Trojan effort outside the Swan centre and I really feel that we are doing good work. As I walk off up the road a lady stops in her car to tell me that I have her number one. Great feeling.

Back home to meet E to give her posters for bikes for tomorrow, then off to Wanderers to meet some of the lads there after their match. A reunion of the old team. A little miffed I wasn’t asked to tog out, though I tell myself it’s because they know how busy I am. Evening meeting doesn’t go ahead. Spend evening working on website stuff. How sad. Big flyer drop tomorrow for public meetings next week, and I need an early night too. Though maybe just one beer down in O’Briens. We’ll see.

I’m experimenting with some video – the ward is simply too big to get to every house in person, so perhaps video can help bridge that gap. But it’s harder than it looks!
First video blog post