Merry Christmas!!!

4.50.00pm GMT Thu 24th Dec 2009

Sharon Bowles MEP

I hope that you are getting some rest over the holiday period. I am spending this Christmas with my husband Andrew, our sons Remy and Damian and my father, who is now 95 - that is if we can get ourselves dug out of our various locations!

Like many others in the South East we have had our fair share of travel troubles getting to the Berkhamsted office in the period before Christmas. It is certainly deep and crisp and even here.

Ashley battled in from Aylesbury, rapidly gaining expertise in flat places to park in Berkhamsted when the ramp into the car park under the office became impossible to negotiate. Douglas and a Radio 4 interviewer arrived on the train from a relatively snow-free London and got a huge shock. Alex has it easy - he only has to walk over the road from his flat.

Brussels assistants Conan and Richard had a narrow escape, managing to get through the Channel Tunnel last Friday before the worst of the Eurostar delays. And Miranda - she safely went on holiday before the snow.

We will be back in the New Year refreshed for the challenges ahead.

Best wishes to you all.

Sharon