An early start to celebrate BBC Radio Dorset's fifth birthday at Dorchester Football stadium. I arrived to find a sea of familiar faces, some colleagues and friends from the past when I, too, worked for BBC Radio Solent and South Today. Presenter Steve was on top form as he led the show in his own chatty style. At about 0900 it was time to head to Swanage, where I'd been invited to visit St Mary's RC Primary School, led by the charming and very able Maria Gadston. I enjoyed a welcome cuppa with the newly appointed Chairman of Governors and we chatted about funding and other areas of concern. Then it was off round the school, ending with members of the school's council, who asked me several questions. St Mary's is a brilliantly run school and you can sense that from the moment you walk in. Not too for my next appointment at the Conservative Club, where I hold my regular surgeries. Clearly, these are in confidence. A hurried sandwich and then to Purbeck School to meet the head, Adam Darley, and other headteachers to discuss their concerns. Regrettably, somewhere along the line there was a hiccup over timings and while my neighbour, Mike Tomlinson MP, and I turned up at 1500 no one else did. We did have 30 minutes with Mr Darley and that was time well spent.