Thank you WW, I have just emailed my candidates (how exciting, UKIP have joined the fray here <roll eyes>) though interestingly the tory has no email recorded….

Becky
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Just to say, continuing looking closely at how the parties are planning to deal with the much-criticised EYFS learning and development requirements I’ve analysed the Lib Dem manifesto today. As far as I’m aware it is the first time that any party has admitted there is something wrong with this system, so I’m shared this blog post link with you - do comment if you feel moved…I think this is good news…

http://parentsguidetoeyfs.wordpress.com/

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w.w.

A bit of light relief from my inbox today.
While walking down the street one day a “Member of Parliament” is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

‘Welcome to heaven,’ says St. Peter.. ‘Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.’

‘No problem, just let me in,’ says the man.

‘Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.’

‘Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,’ says the MP.

‘I’m sorry, but we have our rules.’

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly & nice guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises….

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

‘Now it’s time to visit heaven.’

So, 24 hours pass with the MP joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

‘Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.’

The MP reflects for a minute, then he answers: ‘Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.’

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. ‘I don’t understand,’ stammers the MP. ‘Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time.. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.

What happened?’

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, ‘Yesterday we were campaigning… ...

Today you voted.’

LOL Jacqui!  Food for thought too…

Did anyone see the leaders debate last night?  I missed it as Sam was having a super-velcro night but have recorded and will watch tonight.  My dh watched and said that labour and tory came off very badly, like fighting school boys and lib dem seemed sensible and on the ball.

I bumped into our lib dem candidate today and have looked him up ‘online’ and I was wrong, he is local and has been here forever.  He is on lots of committees and voluntary bodies and helps run a charideee.  So, as green is a no=show it’ll be yellow’s getting my vote in May

Becky
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lib dem here too i think.

I think so too. Have done another election blog post today, if you get a chance, please have a look won’t you?
On http://www.parentsguide.wordpress.com
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Hi WW,

Just read through your summaries of the parties manifestos - are you going to look at the Green Party?  I can see it must be a pretty heavy duty job!!!!  I think you’ve written admirably, and your passion and style of writing are great draws.  Even for someone not familiar with the EYFS it’s an easy to understand post.

Well done,

Becky
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p.s. your link above is wrong   you forgot the ‘toeyfs’ at the end!

Thank goodness for that, ta very much. Seemed like no one else was doing that particular job.
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Yes, will look at the Green Party (in fact did that this week, but nothing on the EYFS although of course on other issues brilliant, and as I said - voted Green most of my life in Germany….

But Monday I hope (so they said - national newspaper is phoning re: EYFS - they may not due to changing news priorities, but that was all I had time for this week, not much possible in terms of writing at w/end. Need to be on the ball for possible interview which explains why focussed mostly on EYFS for this blog this week.
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After the debate, lib dens are only 3 points behind in the polls! It’s looking entirely possibly that they could end up being the shadow cabinet, and there’s even an outside chance they might win!

That really would be a change…..

Angie

Oh. I really do hope they go for it. Confidence is worth a lot.
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Hehehe, I’d love to see the face of the other two leaders if the LIb Dems did win!  Would certainly shake things up a bit!

Bit sad I missed the debates, I had meant to watch it.

They’re available on BBC ipayer, joxy, if you have access to it.

Angie

Ohhh thanks Angie, I shall have a nosey

You know I do feel rather sad about Labour, on the one hand they have been great for me; the tax credit system, the breaks I get as a childminder and as a single parent, the surestart centres and so forth.. just a shame they seem intent on eroding civil liberties and wasting money on schemes that won’t work (ID Cards) etc, the villanisation (um, is that a word? lol), of our youth, poor green credentials, and of course the Home Ed debacle. 

But then living where I do, it would be a waste to vote for Labour anyway; so my choice is Tory or Lib Dem…. well UKIP too but I know nothing about the guy standing and I do know that the Lib Dem candidate is a local woman who is passionate about local issues and has done a lot of good, whereas the new Tory Candidate has recently moved to the area after failing to win a local election else where…. and as this area is a safe Tory seat (Lib Dems do have a chance tho), I find it a tad insulting as it feels like he’s only come here to get elected and doesn’t really care about local issues and people.

It’s against my nature to vote Lib Dem too, Joxy, since father in my birth family was a community councillor for over 30 years since I was little and I always helped at election time. But I’ve combed through the policies now (which I know are ‘intentions’ rather than set in stone…) and I feel this is the most sensible option for me right now. At the same time I place my faith now in grass roots politics (i.e. not necessarily within the electoral system) to come up with the impetus for real change.
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