Ellee Seymour

If you usually spend Friday nights blogging, you may have noticed it was a bit quiet on the Tory front last night. That’s because we met up in London. A few bloggers had arranged to get together for a pre-conference drink, and distance was no object for some.

 I thought if Alan (Daily Propaganda) can hot foot it from Switzerland and Prageutory from the Czech Republic, then the least I could do was jump on the train from Ely to meet up with them, as well as William (Croydonian), Dizzy, Tom (Injured Cyclist) and a surprise and welcome appearance from Iain, in between his TV appearances and media appointments.

Can you identify which blogger fits the face? Thanks to Geoff for coming along too and taking the pic.

It was really good fun and I hope we can do it again sometime, invite a few others along too.

Btw, apologies for the late post, that dreaded Norton anti-virus was flashing red this morning and said I had an urgent problem that needed resolving immediately. Three hours later …..

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What an extraordinary revelation, the report that suffragettes planned to shoot Prime Minister Herbert Asquith at the beginning of the last century, such was their desperation to vote.

I admire the restraint shown by police who responded by merely redoubled their precautions, fearing that publicity resulting from the women’s arrest would further inflame the situation. Yet these “half-insane” women had apparently been practising their skills at a shooting range.

They obviously didn’t carry out their plan, I’m sure their heated passions at the injustice of their situation simply fired up their imagination. They realised they needed to take drastic action to get their message across, just like Fathers4Action today.

There is one unsung hero we should remember for his immense role. The Pankhursts were fortunate enough to be inspired by a very supportive and liberal husband/father who used his legal training to draft legislation that helped emancipate women. He was a remarkable man and didn’t mind the scorn showered on him by his peers for supporting equal rights for women.

If only they knew how 100 years later, voter apathy would become so prominent among both men and women. We owe them so much, such brave acts to ensure justice for women should never be forgotten.

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It’s not just the blue shark that is an endangered species, the crustaceous Cromer crab is in danger of fast disappearing too.

Nobody knows why supplies have halved over the last three years, with traders reporting their worst season for 30 years. Some wonder if the seas have been over fished, whether the blame lies with increase in the voracious velvet crabs which could have been taking all the food stocks.

Ian, like me, is a lover of North Norfolk and feasting on Cromer crabs is a treat I always look forward to. Cromer and crabs go together like Newmarket and its scrummy sausages, like Melton Mowbray and  pork pies, the two are inextricably linked, it’s a crucial part of the town’s identity and impossible to imagine not tucking into this seafood delight during my summer visit there.

I’m wondering if it is linked to the environment, the shallow waters becoming warmer, making it a haven for the fiercer velvet crab which attacks the brown edible Cromer ones when they are at their most vulnerable during the moulting season. It seems there is no shortage of these red edible crabs off the Yorkshire and Devon coasts, but I’m sure they don’t taste the same there ….

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I can only imagine the euphoric delight experienced by the latest female descendents of our esteemed Chinese philosopher Confucius.

A fifth-update on the family tree is being currently carried out which will include women for the first time after 2,500 years. The 77th generation descendant of Confucius agrees they have to “adapt with the times”. Up until then, their existence had been ignored.

It doesn’t sound as if Confucius had a high regard for women, he was quoted as saying:

“Women and people of low birth are very hard to deal with. If you are friendly with them, they get out of hand, and if you keep your distance, they resent it.â€?

The family tree is a mammoth task, regarded as the world’s longest, recording more than 80 generations. The descendants will number about 1.5 million when it is completed and published in 2009.

Here are some of Confucius‘ wise words of wisdom which might help you get through the day, and please feel free to create some of your own own via the comments:

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have.

If you enjoy what you do, you’ll never work another day in your life.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.

The superior man is firm in the right way, and not merely firm.

I think my advice to Confucius would be :”Understand women, make them your friend and enjoy the rewards and wisdom this brings you.”

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David Cameron must be delighted with the speed that an EU-India free trade pact is coming to fruition.

My MEP Robert Sturdy (pic)is Conservative International Trade spokesman and naturally delighted. We are already India’s biggest trading partner at some 40 billion euros annually.

Our press release today endorsed plans to strengthen and develop strategic trading links, which will be mutually beneficial.

Robert said:

“British Conservatives are particularly fond of India for historical reasons and we are proud of the legacy of freedom and democracy the UK left behind at independence. We strongly support freer trade globally and believe in India’s economic dynamism. As India’s traditionally foremost economic partner within the EU is Britain, we will champion the cause of closer trade ties if an EU-India FTA is agreed”.

I’m hoping this will not only benefit the big boys in business, but our smaller traders too.

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The crusade to oust St George as England’s patron saint is gathering momentum and will be heard in Parliament.

Conservative MP David Ruffley also believes it is time to restore the title to St Edmund (see pic). He plans to raise it as a debate in the House of Commons on behalf of his constituency.

He said:

“I’m going to be reading the petition to the speaker and the members of parliament in the House of Commons.

“I believe, as a Cambridge University historian, that the true and first patron saint of England is not St George but St Edmund.

“About four decades before St George we had our own martyr – St Edmund.

“If we can get a really big petition from right across East Anglia, I’m sure it will get the fur flying.â€?

Whatever the outcome, I’m sure the Sicilians will want to keep St George, who is also patron saint of the town of Modica, where there are some splendid statues dedicated to him. Many thanks to Welshcakes Limoncello for this fascinating info.

I’m afraid I agree with West Suffolk MP Richard Spring, who does not believe St George will be toppled, that St Edmund is a great figure of local history – and should be celebrated as such.

And Croydonian raises an interesting question, why not St Alban, the first martyr of Britain? So many worthy saints to choose from, but I think St George is safe for now…

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It’s very rewarding when after issuing a press release for a client, the editors from two Cambridge glossy magazines call almost immediately asking for higher resolution pics to be sent.

The pic in question was Xanthe (left) taken by Pali Rao (right), one of two stunning shots which won him high commendation from the prestigious International Photography Awards.

Pali was naturally proud of this recognition for the second year running and wanted some Cambridge PR, he asked me to promote him locally and in national photographic journals, including Professional Photographer and Professional Photographer.

A good story sells itself, and I knew Pali would hit the headlines with his winning creativity, though it makes a considerable difference if a press release is presented professionally. I’m speaking from experience as I have worked in newsrooms and seen how many dull and uninspired press releases end up in the bin.

I overcame a new challenge this week – issuing a press release to national educational and sports correspondents in Germany on behalf of Felsted School, Essex. The school’s hockey team is shortly heading there on tour – with a one of their pupils and team members who is a German international player. I subscribe to a top media database that lists every publication in the world and was able to access these valuable media contacts.

I always feel it is a false economy when companies cut back on PR to save a pound – that’s surely when they need it most of all!

For anyone interested in photography, Pali used a Nikon D2X with tungsten lighting to achieve this winning effect. I think it’s smoulderingly fabulous.

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Last night I was told how Bulgaria and Romania can offer great business opportunities for the UK, and I met some traders who have already established contacts there.

The question that was repeatedly asked was why is our Government keen to push trade links with India and China, but not doing the same for our European neighbours – western and eastern?

India and China might be great for the larger businesses, but what about the SMEs? Good point.

Just in case you do plan to trade with Bulgaria, here are some valuable tips from, Zircon who have prepared the rough Business Guide to help steer you through.

• Shaking the head means “yes”, while nodding means “no”. Very important MEPs remember this during debates.
• They will only take calls on mobile phones, they live, breathe and die their mobile phones.
• The men have big egos and big bellies – avoid massaging the wrong one!
• They are addicted chain smokers and often take a ciggie break half-way through a meal.
• The average monthly salary is £100; this is the only declared salary, the rest is paid in cash
• Education is valued more highly than houses, cars or business success. All children are expected to get a university degree and a Masters. We could learn lots from this ethos.

It seems this new land of milk and honey has areas of natural outstanding beauty and stunning archaeological sites and could become the next destination for medical tourism too, specialising in dentistry and plastic surgery. They are also big on organic produce; 40% of their trade is in agriculture, largely organic due to being behind the times. If you buy an organic cucumber from Sainsbury’s, the chances are it came from Bulgaria! This should help meet our growing demand.

Despite these countries having to be reined in to meet EU standards, the message was not to be deterred by perceptions and prejudice. Anyway, we have a few bad apples in the UK too.

I like the fact that these countries appear “wild and untamed”, it would be boring if we were all alike, very civilised and, er English. And, of course, they like us too…

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Prime Ministers’ wives should seemingly be seen and not heard – that may have been a requisite in days gone, but Cherie’s free-speaking has broken the mould, not once, but twice.

Nobody believe she did not mean those words when she accused Gordon Brown of lying, she’s obviously at the end of her tether and Brown’s tribute to Blair was too much for her to bear.

Her spontaneous remark spoke volumes and will have considerably dented Brown’s public esteem. It’s a natural response from any woman who feels someone is behaving like a hypocrite towards her husband. She’s obviously sick to the back teeth of him and couldn’t hold back her true feelings.

However, those few little words might have worked magic for her if they help prevent Brown become the next Labour leader. Speak on Cherie, let it all out …

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A campaign has been launched today to oust St George as England’s patron saint and replace him with St Edmund, who was the country’s original saint before he was toppled.

It is strongly felt St Edmund should be reinstated and a petition is being jointly organised by the East Anglian Daily Times and BBC Radio Suffolk which will be presented to the Government.

St Edmund’s Day is celebrated on 20th November to mark an heroic king who ruled the Anglo Saxon realm of East Anglia between 855AD and 869AD.

According to legend, he was captured by marauding Viking invaders before being tied to an oak tree and, after refusing to renounce his faith, was left “bristled like a hedgehog” by a a volley of arrows (see pic). His  decapitated head was thrown into the woods where it was protected by a wolf. When his body and head were re-united, they miraculously joined together leaving only a pale red mark – the true sign of a saint.

He was England’s patron saint until the position was usurped by St George around 1100AD, famed for fighting a legendary dragon, a symbol of the devil.

Very little is known about St. George’s life, but it is thought he was a high ranking officer in the Roman army who was killed in around AD 303.

He was tortured to deny his faith in Christ. However despite some of the most terrible torture even for that time, St George showed incredible courage and faith and was finally beheaded near Lydda in Palestine.

Centuries later, people are still blindly killing for their faith, little has changed.

I didn’t realise you could chop and change saints, both St Edmund and St George sound very worthy candidates for the title. I’m not sure if people care enough to want a change after all these centuries, though I can understand the local pride felt by the people of St Edmundsbury towards their saint and how they feel he was unfairly toppled.

I don’t know how the city marks the day, but Bury St Edmunds should fly the flag and pull out all the stops to remember its saint on 20th November, especially in schools.

Unfortunately, very few people care about celebrating St George’s Day, I doubt it is even on our school curriculum, our own honourable members voted against making it a public holiday, shamefully, most people know nothing of their patron saint, I don’t feel there is enough public interest to justify a change of saint. Or do you think differently?

Unlike Barcelona where they are really pulling out the stops to celebrate their saint day, could you see this happening here?

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