A busy morning in the office and then to my Associatoin HQs for two meetings. The first was with the charming Julie Connolly, the SW Regional Officer for the Royal College of Nursing. She was doing a tour of MPs to lobby hard for more pay for NHS staff. The fact that the Government has just announced such a move was perfect timing. Julie was grateful for the Government's intervention and she is now consulting with her members as to whether they accept the offer or not. I hope they do. We had a good conversation, touching on many areas of health care in Dorset and agreeing on many points. After about an hour, Julie headed to Bournemouth to meet my colleague Conor Burns. Next in were two very interesting men that I'd asked to meet. Baron Miles and Jason West have established an organisation, whose aim is to promote Weymouth and Portland in a positive and optimistic light. They are already working with the local authority and others and are now planning to seek residents' views on what they want for the resort and area. What was so refreshing and inspiring was that both men see that they, residents, have a major role to play in the future of the area and it's not just down to local and national politicians to resolve each and every issue. Their optimism was infectious and I wish them well. Then I hopped on to my motorcycle and drove to the new fire station in Radipole Lane for one of my regular surgeries.