I haven't had as much time to read as I'd have liked this weekend, but Second City Politics is something of an eye-opener. Sadly, all the quotes within are anonymous - I'd love to know which Tory it was who predicted a solution to Birmingham's housing problems by 1975, and which one claimed that businessmen are a deprived community. More on that later in the week..

As it's the first week of the Month we have Labour Group tomorrow and full Council on Tuesday. I'm hoping to speak at Council so I've been writing my speech over the weekend. Whilst I am now able to speak standing up (a considerable improvement over years past), speaking at the Council meeting is still a bit daunting. I've only spoken once and I was more nervous about messing up the microphone system than losing track of my speech. I'd probably worry were it not for the fact that most of the Chamber don't seem to really listen to anyone speaking.

I had a night off last night though, and went to see a pantomime put on by the Bandywood Families Project - not in my ward, but next door in Oscott, and featuring my fellow Councillor John Cotton as King Richard. It was a fun night, and I think everyone on stage enjoyed it as much as the audience did. Sadly I don't have any pictorial evidence of John in his costume (including tights) but I'm sure he'll think to post it when he sets up his own weblog!