Illuminations

Another Blackpool early morning. I do feel sorry for those whose journey to work doesn't involve a tour of the illuminations.

In the BBC office - the wintry car park of the Winter Gardens - other reporters on daft o'clock duty shiver and sniffle.

The conference cold is omni-present. Three weeks on the road have taken their toll.

Home beckons for a day or two. A first Sunday off in four. Oh, hang on. It looks as if Alistair Darling is bringing forward the UK Government's spending review to next Monday. Marvellous.

And an election to follow? Another month away from home? Well it looks like November 1 even if Gordon Brown's people say he hasn't made his mind up yet.

What fun. All our Christmases have come at once.