Volunteers needed to run Shadow Environment blog

Posted by on Mar 31, 2006 in updates | 3 comments Pic: Moi, with Robert and Greg, discussing blogging at Harlow Conservative Association When an invitation came my way to meet Greg Barker, Shadow Environment Minister, along with Harlow’s Cons parliamentary candidate, Robert Halfon, I could scarely believe my luck. Firstly, a great chance to catch up with Robert’s news – he is a truly genuine guy and a very hard working...
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My rhubarb lasagne is to die for

Posted by on Mar 31, 2006 in updates | 7 comments I didn’t expect this blog to turn into a Domestic Goddess column, but last night I cooked a sensational rhubarb lasagne. And it wasn’t the main course, but a scrummy pudding. It seems that rhubarb, recently ignored in favour of more exotic fruits, is enjoying an increase in popularity. In fact, all over the world, there are reports that rhubarb is THE pink cuisuine that everyone...
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My blogging scoop today

Posted by on Mar 30, 2006 in updates | 3 comments I have a scoop on the Conservative weblog today - headline news too – about the two Ministerial blogs run by Boris Johnson and David Milliband. Only time will tell which one will be favoured by bloggers and...
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A true, compassionate Conservative

Posted by on Mar 30, 2006 in updates | 3 comments One of the most sincere, genuine and hard working Conservative candidates I met during the election campaign last year was Robert Halfon, who suffered the most disappointing defeat, losing by a heart breaking 97 votes and having to endure three recounts. He secured a massive 6.4% swing – a clear indication of his popularity and successful campainging. His Association recognises quality when...
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Great news – I now have letters after my name

Posted by on Mar 30, 2006 in updates | 0 comments Great news – my application to become a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations has been approved. They have taken into account my prestigious PR work in Cambridge over the last few years and decided I fit the bill. What does this mean? How will it change my life? Besides being able to add the letters MCIPR after my name, it will hopefully mean new contacts and opportunities,...
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Boris blogs for free – should Milliband’s be banned?

Posted by on Mar 29, 2006 in updates | 2 comments It must be his moppish blonde hair, the naughty boy look, or the fact that he is fun, but Boris can run a free blog site with volunteers. He probably has a waiting list of willing girlies happy to help out too. His very loyal and dedicated blogger Melissa answered my question about how much it costs to run his site, compared to the £6,000 David Milliband’s department paid to set up...
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My amazing conversation with The Strumpette

Posted by on Mar 29, 2006 in updates | 3 comments I have had to break off from writing my profile of Peterborough for my agents agents to report on my reply from The Strumpette. I wrote asking her three questions: 1. How many hits has she had on her site; 2. Is she really as easy as she claims? 3. What advice would she give to a working PR mum. Her reply came within five hours and said: “With regard to hits, in the last 72 hours or so,...
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Everyone’s talking about the PR Strumpette

Posted by on Mar 29, 2006 in updates | 2 comments She is the American PR version of our Belle de Jour. And she has launched a blog revealing a naked journal of the PR business. She is The Strumpette. And as her blog is a big tease – it no doubt reaches parts that other blogs on business deals and RSS’s fail to reach! She reckons it is the first honest account of the PR business. She calls herself Amanda Chapel and she will quite...
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Two amazing facts from two ministers

Posted by on Mar 29, 2006 in updates | 1 comment How much does it cost to set up a blog? Nothing, at least I didn’t pay a penny for this. And it’s easy peasy to do, I managed it. Geoff maintains that anyone who can book EasyJet tickets on the internet can manage a blog. Maybe that was too tough a challenge for David Milliband’s team as he revealed on his ministerial blog that it cost £6,000 to set up. He said in defence to...
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A quaint letter arrived today

Posted by on Mar 28, 2006 in updates | 1 comment Anthony Day and his Venus The quaint letter which arrived on my door mat this morning stood out. It had been typed, the envelope too, something almost unseen today. It had been sent by my artist friend Anthony Day, who is well in his 80s and refuses to embrace new technology, even as an author of local history books. He prefers to sit and type away in his picturesque cottage with its pebble...
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Showtime in Stretham – My singing debut

Posted by on Mar 27, 2006 in updates | 3 comments Stretham Players, including a “guest” appearance by moi When I started this blog I explained about my fear of public speaking. I decided to face it head on by joining my local Stretham Players in a show of songs from the West End. I made my debut as a chorus girl and picked up a few tricks on the night, such as drinking warm water before going on stage to prevent the throat from...
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Beware – You could blog yourself out of a job

Posted by on Mar 27, 2006 in updates | 3 comments I took a blogging break yesterday to celebrate Mothering Sunday at my family’s request. Normal blogging has now been resumed. The Sunday Times Focus report yesterday highlighted how companies were doing Google searches to check up on applicants for new jobs. It appears you can have a perfect CV, but it will be worthless if the web search unravels a few home truths you either never knew...
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The Blogging Tories

Posted by on Mar 25, 2006 in updates | 2 comments That’s me I guess, as highlighted by my blogging mentor Geoff : The blogging Tories “This site i would imagine is Ellee’s nirvana. OK this is the Canadian Tories but who knows if the UK will be next. Especially now that Ellee has garnered support from Tim Worstall.” It seems The Sun has blogging plans for readers, according to Geoff’s hot off-the-press info: My...
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Politics Isn’t All Nasty

Posted by on Mar 25, 2006 in updates | 0 comments My MEP Robert Sturdy has friends from all political parties. Just because he is Conservative, it does not mean he has no regard for those who support other Parties (after all, we do live in a democracy). Robert quite rightly judges each person on his or her own merits. I am heartened to see that Boris Johnson, whose fall from his bicycle has now attracted more than 170 comments on his post,...
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Lunch With Justine Greening MP

Posted by on Mar 24, 2006 in updates | 0 comments Justine Greening MP One of my enduring memories of 5th May 2005 – the date of last year’s General Election – was watching Justine Greening sweep to victory and being surrounded by the world’s media. She was later to be seen by the side of the former Tory leader Michael Howard when he announced he was stepping down during a visit to her stomping ground in Putney. So when I...
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Many Thanks To Tim Worstall

Posted by on Mar 23, 2006 in updates | 0 comments Many thanks Tim Worstall, one of the UK’s most highly regarded bloggers and an author on the subject, for recomming my blog (please scroll the page down to find my name). I look forward to reading your book. Here is what Tim said: “Spreading the love around a bit there’s Ellee Seymour. Has worked for local papers over the years (interviewed Arianna Huffington when she was still at...
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A Visit To Great Ormond Street Hospital

Posted by on Mar 23, 2006 in updates | 1 comment My son David Let me introduce you to my eldest son David, he is 15 and suffers from chronic osteomyelitis, a terribly painful infection he has had for more than 2 1/2 years, a pain he has borne with strengh and courage and never a bad word. Because pain is something you get used to when it repeats itself, it’s almost an accepted way of life and can be dealt with silently and stoicly by...
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Minister Milliband Refuses to Converse with Bloggers

Posted by on Mar 22, 2006 in updates | 0 comments David Milliband has a very trusting face and I’m sure he meant well when he started his blog, only he has fallen at the very first hurdle by not only failing to reply to those who started a conversation with him, but refusing to discuss topics that do not form part of his ministerial responsibility. This very issue was raised by me last week on the Minister’s site, particularly as the...
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MEP Robert Sturdy calls for Environment Secretary to Resign

Posted by on Mar 21, 2006 in updates | 0 comments MEP Robert Sturdy is naturally outraged at how Margaret Beckett, the Environment Secretary, fails to take responsibility for her department, which includes Food and Rural Affairs. His letter calling on her to resign was today published in the Eastern Daily Press. The issuing of a new single farm payment has been delayed from the end of March to the end of June, causing terrible hardship for...
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How Open Should Ministers be on their Blogs?

Posted by on Mar 20, 2006 in updates | 2 comments David Milliband and I are now officially having a conversation. This time two days ago he had never heard of me and now I am urging him to be open about his views on all issues, not just ministerial matters, when he updates his blogs. I’m delighted that someone else has blogged him endorsing my views. I really have started a conversation here – and with a Minister too. If anyone else...
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Meet the Newsman Behind the Specs

Posted by on Mar 20, 2006 in updates | 2 comments Fellow newshounds might enjoy logging on to Nick Robinson’s blog, the bespectacled BBC political correspondent. I see he is also a favourite of David Milliband, who has so far failed to include my comment on his site – very bad form if he is promoting honesty and open debate – maybe later. When I first saw Nick on the Beeb, all I could see was the heavy dark frame of his specs,...
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The Day I Met Arianna Huffington

Posted by on Mar 19, 2006 in updates | 3 comments I followed up one of David Milliband’s recommended links from his blog after noticing that he is an admirer of writer Arianna Huffington’s blog. I met her once when she was Arianna Stassinopoulos, she must have been with her true love Bernard Levin then. They had a truly deep love affair which sadly did not work out. I was a fresh faced cub reporter on the Wisbech Advertiser and...
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Government Minister David Milliband challenged about his openness

Posted by on Mar 19, 2006 in updates | 2 comments It’s never been easier to access a Government Minister – or has it? David Milliband, the Minister of Communities and Local Government, went live a couple of days ago and I decided to check out his blog. Having spent last night reading one of the most authoritive books on the subject, Naked Conversation. I now have a good idea what it is all about – and that is to have an open...
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The greatest pleasure in life

Posted by on Mar 18, 2006 in updates | 2 comments It’s not what you might be thinking! For me it’s about giving. Just read tonight’s Cambridge Evening News’ “Living & Life” supplement and learn about the “lucky ones” at Headway Cambridgeshire, the brain injury charity, who survived horrific accidents and are now leading happy and fulfilled lives. I’m afraid there is no weblink. I am a new...
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Blogging PR and Headway celebrations

Posted by on Mar 17, 2006 in updates | 2 comments John Bridge, President of Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce Kate Lewis and Anne Campbell Robert Sturdy MEP with Peter Cranswick at Welney WWT Today I put my PR blogging ideas to the test at a networking breakfast organised by Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce There were a lot of blank faces around the table, it is still a totally unknown and unproven entity to them. I intend to swot up on my...
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