Stood up

You can't imagine the stick I've had from all my followers complaining about the time it's been since my last post. 

I was at the Durham International Leaders conference for school leaders a couple of weeks ago.  It was 9.10am.  I was due to speak for 25 minutes at 11 in a double act with (Lord) Michael Bichard, who would speak from 11.25 to 12.15.  My phone rang and I left the room to take it.  Michael's train was at a standstill, with a 'person under the train'. 

10.30  I ring Michael.  Where are you?  Will you make it?  What were you going to say? Answers: Being towed round the coast to Newcastle.  No.  Things you won't be able to say on my behalf.

10.40  I tell the organisers what has happened and they ask if I can manage on my own.  Quite an ask when the other speakers are Alastair Campbell, Estelle Morris, Kate Adie et al.  Of course, I say, stretching out my material in my head as I do so.  I walk off to find a quiet area for ten minutes. 

I speak for 75 minutes, using every possilbe anecdote, example, witticism I can think of.  I speak in a high voice.  I speak in a low voice.  I move subtly from one point on the platform to another, cleverly demonstrating the shift in political ideology I am trying to explain.  When I finally give up and look down at my watch, it is 12.15.  Relief par excellence.

It's taken a while to recover.