Ha, could be quite a spectacles. The royal visits are mainly due to having some stateside visitors staying with us. Clara had views on the Hanoverian succession today.

Much horse-based violence under a blazing sun.

Mind ‘yer head

Bested by my own 6-month old daughter in the Hampton Court Maze.

On our way to a station whose platforms are in part suspended over the River Ember. I did not know of the existence of the River Ember until today.

Hydration break

Unusually, for a Scandinavian cross, it wasn’t offside.

Manager of our local random tat shop has checked his diary as to what the next notable date is.

Having travelled on this thing to Shimla I can confirm that a Pacer rides better.

Clara at the Science Museum considering whether the cradle board used by the Sioux to carry their babies is a preferable means of transportation to her pushchair.

‘I work for the Foreign Office.’ ‘Wow, cool. Is that in a diplomatic mission or secret stuff in Whitehall?’ ‘Well, I sit in an office on the northern fringe of Milton Keynes and compare local government registrar’s signatures on birth and marriage certificates with the signatures on our database.’

You had one job, picture editor.

You fools! You’ve just given Nigel Farage control of a navy!

Update from Clara’s visit to the Tower of London. That’s my girl.

One of the many excellent things about Bournemouth is that I can totally legitimately take an open top bus on a work journey from the conference centre to the railway station.

lol, this was meant to have a picture, rather than just be a random botanical greeting.

Nice video call with her anyway.

First ever night away from Clara feels…weird, even with the consolation option of going to drink warm pinot grigio with crowds of councillors.

Sights you won’t be able to enjoy from Bournemouth pier for much longer: the ‘Barfleur’ sliding in along the Purbeck coastline on her evening arrival from Cherbourg.

Imagining an electrical surveyor sent by Burnham to look over Number 10 and coming back sucking his teeth. ‘Gonna cost you, mate. Some of that wiring’s not been touched since Palmerston, and I reckon Ted Heath soldered in a few non-compliant fuses when he was at a loose end.’

Hope attendees at my conference fringe session won’t be distracted by the offer of sexy lobster over the road.

Well hello Bournemouth (Christchurch & Poole)

What should have been a leisurely 25 minute change became a 4 minute race over the footbridge at Southampton, but turns out you can be saved by the big green bus on professional journeys as well as Traveling Turtle ones.

Looks like I wasn’t the first person to think of this option. Just in time…

Feeling increasingly justified in leaving London at 9am for an event in Bournemouth at 4pm, tbh. (If there are any senior local politicians you have a grudge against, take pleasure from the fact there’s a decent chance they will be spending much of today on a rail replacement bus in Hampshire.)

Impressive safety consciousness from our local railway children, who have chalked up their hopscotch track so you hop away from the platform edge, moving trains and energised third rail.

Good night.

If I was Linda, I would be worried that my life had peaked with having my photo credit alongside this caption.

After having parted company with FIFA by mutual agreement over that minor confusion about the England v Mexico match timing, I’m delighted to be starting a new role this morning as Prince Harry’s spokesperson. Onwards and upwards!