Up fairly early again but only because I wanted to take  a new photograph of St. Joseph’s Church. The morning light is softer and the sun is in the right quarter. The new roof is nearly finished and I need the new photo for next month’s entry in the Hadleigh Community News.

Then it’s time to collect a neighbour who is going to ride shotgun for me and be my extra pair of eyes at the vote count in East Bergholt High School. Contrary to expectation they are already counting the votes for Hadleigh South as we walk in. Votes are being transcribed onto tally sheets and it’s obvious that some of the counting staff do not understand what they are doing. Indeed one transcriber was escorted from the premises.

My new Tory colleague Kathryn Grandon comfortably gets into second place and so has a seat on the District Council. Kath was in tears of joy at the result.

My ward’s  votes are counted (not transcribed) in the early afternoon. I come top with 595 votes up from 381 four years ago. Lots of congratulations and recognition of all the hard work.

I’m then off to Asda to buy a celebratory cake and six bottles of sparkling Saumur from Majestic – more later.