Friday the 13th; not an auspicious start to the day! So, hoping to avoid any pitfalls today, I dialled into our regular virtual meeting with Dorset Council officials, senior councillors and my parliamentary colleagues. We were given the most recent COVID figures, which showed that there have been 205 covid deaths in Dorset hospitals and 171 covid deaths in care homes as of 11 November. 26 care homes out of 286 are closed, and 126 patients are hospitalised with covid, both as at the same date. We talked about other issues too and the meeting last just over an hour. We now hold them every two weeks. A short time later, I was heading to Portland on my motorbike to attend a meeting of the South Dorset Business Advisory Panel, chaired by Port CEO Bill Reeves. Several business leaders on the panel attended the virtual meeting, although Agincare Chairman Derek Luckhurst was there in person. We ran through the draft business plan that is being drawn up and will, when ready, be presented to Government. We all feel that it's our turn for some Government investment. Bill is doing an outstanding job and has run with the panel idea since I raised it with him about a year ago now. The aim is gather business leaders together and then commit to a plan for the future, where can apply for funds and have something to aim for in the longer term. Bill had kindly organised sandwiches, which were most appreciated. I was starved! Then back to the office to follow up on a number of constituency matters into the evening. Sticking to the back-roads, I took myself off for a long run. Always clears the mind. Meanwhile, chaos was ensuing at No 10, with the PMs' chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, getting his marching orders. Something like this had been bubbling away behind the scenes for some time and clearly the lid came off. I don't think this will be the last we hear of Mr Cummings! Wait for the expose on what 'really happens in No 10' to follow. Politics, eh!