Busy day. Started in my parent’s house where I stayed the night before and went from there. Meeting to meeting to meeting. Invariably didn’t get half the things I wanted done, done. Managed to drop off one of the Mother’s Day prizes from last weekend though the person in question wasn’t in. Popped in to HQ off the cuff and had a good chat with one of the team in there. Did a ‘meet and greet’ with my cousin outside Donnybrook Fair in the rain as people walked home from work. Went well I think, if only for the visibility factor. Heard last minute that bike guys can’t do Saturday. Not happy. Phone call from the leader’s office. Going to be speaking at the Ard Fheis next week during live TV coverage time. This is going to ruin the next seven days for me.

Friday night and some personal time. Though I felt I should have been putting up more posters. Bit of dinner and a drink with a friend. We don’t talk about the campaign, which is brilliant. Was sorry to cut it short but busy weekend ahead.

Bus poster campaign has truly begun. Texts coming in from friends and family. One says: your secret is out, no turning back now. I laugh to myself but a flash of panic momentarily registers. Another wants to know for how long I am going to be staring at him while he waits for the bus in to work. I don’t know how many say they almost crashed the car. But it’s all good I guess. I just hope that people who don’t know me are also noticing it.

Canvas in the evening went well. Though a bit too cold to have the guys out. Met a nice young family who were very supportive. Made my day. Also received a donation form one person at the door, which I couldn’t believe. A very generous one too, should get us quite a few flyers. Upwards and onwards.

An education in postering was had tonight. This is the great thing about a small self-sufficient local campaign. You are involved in everything. We meet at 9, get a quick tutorial from one of the veterans and are off to work. Plan already laid out. Two teams of two. Me with the expert and we work quickly; H and T together.

The candidate isn’t supposed to put up posters himself for fear of injury but I was having none of that. It’s important to me that I experience every aspect of the campaign, but this is more about not asking people to do something I wouldn’t do myself. Bloody scary up there when the wind kicks up. But I get it done and I have to admit I enjoy the heavy-lifting side of campaign work. We all get home well after 12 but I have to prepare my words for the next day.

Coffee morning (which was in fact a bridge morning) went well I think. I was amazed at the amount of work that had gone into organizing it – I had no idea mum was doing so much. A very welcoming group and I think they enjoyed it. I came in at the end and said a few words. Well received. Great stuff and I hope there will be more of them.

Afterwards I went in to the Oireachtas to meet with my TD mentor. This is a TD from the country assigned to me by party HQ, to come out canvassing really, but it’s up to them how much of a role they ultimately decide to play. A good guy and very easy to get along with. Connection through my cousins helps. We had a good chat and I got some very sound advice and encouragement. He is certainly one of the people I will turn to when it all gets a bit too much (I think the yanks call them “boosters”).

Tried doing a video. Have been meaning to do this for ages but just haven’t gotten around to it. Went over to my brother’s and did it there. A lot harder than it looks and in the end I am only mildly happy with what we produce. Going to chuck it up anyway and see how it goes. Brother talking about making the website look better, has a friend who can help. I think it looks great but what do I know. Hope this isn’t going to upset the guy who did the other “new” one as he did a really great job.

Have big plans for weekend but weather isn’t looking so great. Got soaked this evening but I don’t mind as I feel it gives us an advantage when we stay out in it. Kind of like when I used to work on Sundays in Vienna.
Meeting after with H and T (logistics & volunteers). Didn’t really need to be there, which I realised immediately, as it was all about maps and marketing plans etc. Made a list of what I could have been doing. Doing it now. Knackered. And I haven’t even thought yet about what I’m going to say at this coffee thing tomorrow morning.
Phone call late enough about spending limits etc from one of the constituency executive. I’m not a numbers guy and going to be difficult to get our heads round it I think because the legislation is a first. Got to make sure we do it by the book – money is one thing where you have to be beyond reproach.

Afternoon visit to nursing home went well. Very nice bunch and one particular guy who was so old school you had to laugh. A real gentleman and with a very charming wife. I enjoyed it and had my sister along for support. Think they all preferred her to be honest.

Going to be an awful week for canvassing weather wise. And then there’s the late-night poster put up.

Working on correspondence. Have just remembered that bus shelter posters should be up tomorrow. I’m nervous about it. Two people recognised me from the flyers in the pub on Saturday during the match. This had two effects: one, the lads got p-ssed off with it because it’s all they hear from me these days (me me me, campaign campaign campaign); and, two, I felt uncomfortable, as if I was being vetted, being judged on there and then. What it must have been like doing this before the mass media… A lot easier, I would think.
Staying the night in my parents’ house because I need the internet. It’s broken in our house. NTL guy came out last week, inspected our box and said it needed repair, but that wasn’t his job. Brilliant.
My folks have made the house a campaign-free zone in terms of talking about the election and it’s actually great. A lot more relaxed because of it, I think.

‘Meet and greets’ yesterday went great, especially down in Donnybrook. On home turf so I guess it was to be expected. And new member of the team was fantastic, a real addition. Some of the lads joined us too, before the match, and my brother and niece popped down also, so a real buzz. Down to Kiely’s for the match, good to see it packed again.
Was meant to buy ladders today for putting up posters for public meeting coming up, but took some time for myself and went for a walk on Dun Laoghaire pier instead. Selfish, but needed. Meeting to discuss correspondence etc afterwards. Went well.
Some confusion with one of the other party candidates over division of territory for canvassing etc. Candidates aren’t meant to talk about this stuff, their managers are, and I can understand why. Conversation could have quickly gotten out of hand. H says not to let it stress me as it will only get much worse. Discussed later with one of the local party members, a good guy and solid advice.
Popped out to folks to see mum for mother’s day (and get some dinner). Need to organize canvassers for the week but don’t think it’s fair to be texting them on a Sunday evening. Noticed heightened activity from other canvassers this weekend. Think we need to move to 6-day operation – 4 evenings canvassing, Friday evening meet and greet, and Saturday three meet-and-greets. But where will the people come from?!

It’s great weather and I’m looking for excuses to go out and cycle, but I’ve a hell of a lot of paperwork to get through – following up on local issues, corresponding with the council etc.
Might manage to get out later to pick up some vouchers for the Mother’s Day draw we are doing tomorrow outside a couple of shopping centres. The idea is for them to guess the score of the rugby later tomorrow and I call round with the prize on Sunday (another great idea from one of the team).
Met with a party stalwart last night for a long meeting. Didn’t get home till about 12. It was great though. The meeting was in his place and I understand that it’s a ritual that many before us have followed. H (my campaign manager) said it was like going up to pay our respects to the Godfather. Reminded me of something I read about Blair and Campbell back in the day. (S***, I wonder if H is keeping a diary?). Learnt a lot and glad we finally did it. Could have sat up all night talking campaign strategy and history etc.
Got home to an email from local journalist I had met earlier that day at a meeting in the Rathmines library. It was late but no time like the present, so I thrashed out a response that will hopefully make it into her next issue. She is seriously dedicated! Went to bed thinking of an angle for a speech I have coming up. Looking forward to June 6 already!

Today we went down to some of the LUAS stations with the new sandwich boards to meet people going into the parade and give them the latest flyer. I wasn’t sure about the protocol on this – whether or not it was appropriate to canvas for support on a holiday, but the team assured me that it was OK. So down we went.

It was nice actually. A fantastic morning, weather wise, and everyone heading into town was in a good mood. We did some light canvassing, talking to people, and had a much-needed laugh. So good stuff and I’m happy with it.

The LUAS clearly needs to get its act together though. While it is a great addition to the city’s transport infrastructure, there wasn’t nearly enough trams on to handle the numbers choosing to take public transport into the city centre. Something that needs to be looked at I think. For all public transport on all holidays and weekends.

Brunch after in Hobart’s on Ranelagh Road. Packed as always, which is great. The team talked a little bit about the week ahead and some of our ideas about doing a video to send around to whoever is interested in the campaign and in local politics in general. The guys are great and “the machine” is now working without me which means I can focus my energy on meeting people.

Afterwards, I cycled in to town to meet my niece, my brother and his partner. Great day for a cycle and no cars at all on the road. Bring on the summer. We talked a little about this grow your own food lark. They think it’s great and are getting into it. While I do think it’s a bit too trendy, I suppose it would be a satisfying and worthwhile pursuit.

Back in the house now and my internet is down (again). I want to try and get a second submission in for the draft Dublin City Development Plan – deadline is tomorrow. But I’d also like to go for a pint while there’s still a bit of light. Instead I am writing this, which I suppose is a happy medium. Trying not to think of all I have to do tomorrow and looking forward to a big day for the Irish rugby team on Saturday.