So...the exams are over, I'm not due back at uni till September and so far the only things I have planned between now and then are an appointment with an ear doctor on Tuesday and a trip to see the League of Gentlemen's Apocolypse on June 3rd.  I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with my time after that.  I have pledged to start reading novels again, after a brief lapse due to having to read politics textbooks/non fiction books all the time.  My first aim for the break is to finally read (and finish) Don Quixote which has been on my shelves for about 2 years now.  Obviously I'll be doing some advance work on the dissertation (once I actually work out what that's going to be about) but I can't see that taking up four months.  I'm looking forward to a very dull time.  Although the news that the next episode of Doctor Who sounds like it was written by a slash fiction writer (bisexual American flirts with Rose then then turns his attentions to the doctor) has cheered me up a bit.

On a completely unrelated note, quote of the day from Father Ted:

Ted: "Miss Bartley, we've got a problem.  And you know what my motto is when I've got a problem?  I'm going to solve that problem.  Well, it's not really a motto, it's more a sentence.  But anyway...here's the problem.  We're surrounded by a bunch of thirty elderly women.  Actually, when you put it that way, it doesn't sound so bad.  Maybe we should just walk out."

According to the exit polls (which are usually wrong) Labour will win the election with a majority of only 66, which if the polls are correct is pretty small.  It also puts the Lib Dems on 53 ( a gain of only 2 seats!) and the Conservatives on 209 seats.  What can I say, only that I hope the exit poll has got it wildly incorrect again!  If the poll does turn out to be right we can at least take comfort from one thing - it will have meant that Blair actually told the truth when he said vote Lib Dem get Conservative!  Speaking as a member of the Labour party who has some sympathy for the Lib Dems I'm reminding myself constantly of 1992 to try and take away thoughts of 209 conservatives in the Commons.  It's the stuff of nightmares, surely......although such a result may make Blair's positon that little bit more untenable, which may mean we get PM Brown that litle bit sooner.  Which is 'A Good Thing'....the BBC coverage is entertaining as usual, what would Britain be without Peter Snow and his swingometer?  I particularly like his graphic of the three leaders walking down to 10 Downing Street, allthough pity the poor actor playing the policeman at the door, he has to stay there dressed as a comedy policeman all night!

As for Northern Ireland, our results won't even be counted until tomorrow - we're far too lazy over here to spend an entire night counting ballot papers.  I voted Alliance in the end.  We won't come second this year as we usually do but as long as we don't go down in vote numbers that's okay.

I'd like to take this opportunity to express my love for Jeremy Paxman

 If there is a better political interviewer in this country I'd like to see him.  The man is a god among journalists.....

Alright, yes, I want Labour to win, but if Labour voters in West Dorset would consider voting Lib Dem tomorrow - as recommended by Billy Bragg, of all people - then they could oust Oliver Letwin, which would just be so utterly fantastic, just like seeing Portillo ousted in 97 all over again (although Portillo seems to have redeemed himself of late....).  You know it makes sense.

 Get rid of him!!!!