This morning was the first Fairtrade stall of the year at church and it was good to be back into the routine. People were very keen to get their stocks of favourit biscuits, coffee, chocolate and snacks. Unfortunately we realised that the routine wouldn't last long as we're scheduled for our April stall to be on Easter Sunday - not the best day for it! Much debate now about how we arrange things - a week earlier clashes with the blessing of palms and procession. Nothing's ever simple is it.
The coffee morning turned as it so often does into a mini surgery on planning issues. People know I'm on the planning committee and come to consult me over coffee on what their neighbours are planning, what developers are up to and the rumours that always permeate areas like Eaglescliffe and Yarm. Whoever said Sunday is a day of rest wasn't thinking of ward councillors!
A long phone call from a resident about the school/Preston Park and another call from a journalist about the same issue completed a morning's work.
Fortunately the busy-ness didn't carry on into the afternoon so a chance to do something other than be a councillor.