Ellee Seymour

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 candidate.

And secondly, an opportunity to discover what the heck Greg is doing about getting his green message across to the public. Who has ever heard of him? Do people know what his thoughts are on important environmental issues? Most crucially, do they believe in him and his green policies? Do they believe he will deliver after the lamentable performance of Tony Blair’s government?

With a nation holding passionate views about climate change and nuclear power, as well as waste and recycling, why aren’t our green leaders blogging about it? Where is their inspiration and passion to take us forward on these issues?

Wouldn’t this be a great conversation? One massive conversation, in fact. And hopefully our team would listen, take note, give a response and encourage the debate to develop.

Greg was interested in a weblog, he really was. But he needs a team of volunteers to run it. After all, he said, Boris is Boris. He can easily muster up an army of volunteers with his flock of fans.

Please pass the word around.

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 should be dishing up.

But is rhubarb a vegetable? Has it been suffering an identity crisis? Even, in Aussie, everyone is talking about rhubarb.

You would imagine the supermarket shelves to be heaving with tins of the pink stuff, but in fact there were fewer in stock than any other fruit.

The reason I presented this gastronomic explosion of the tastebuds - a combination of sweet and sour with the silky softness of the sheets of pasta and glorious custard, finsihed with a crunchy almond topping, was a farewell dinner for one of my salsa dancing partners Scott, a dashing American air captain, who is soon heading for training in Alabama and then possibly to Iraq, or some other inhospitable location.

So I made sure his meal with us was memorable. Not only did Scott think the lasagne was great, but he took a “doggy bag” away with him so his friends at work could sample it too.

And yes Scott, in answer to your question, I do have a younger sister, but she doesn’t cook.