Australian Floods

Everyone has seen the news about the tragic events that are taking place in Australia at the moment.

This has been brought close to home by one of my constituents and avid facebook friend, Peter Scholefield. His wife is caught up in the floods as she is currently in Australia.

Below is the email I received from Peter, who described his wife's situation:

"My wife, an Australian but a proud Harlow resident since she married me and moved to Harlow, 8 years ago, is stranded in Toowoomba in the floods as she is over there visiting her mum who is dying of cancer. They are ok but I'm speaking to her on the phone and it is devestation out there. 4 people have already been killed just down the road from where we got married and over 60 are missing. The damage is going to cost billions to repair not to mention the emotion loss of people whose friends and family members have died . I was wondering, in your position, if you could possibly promote the fund to help these people?

If you could I would be most grateful. I have been up all night keeping in contact with family and friends there and worried sick. Thank you for your help.

Peter"

I encourage people to support the Australians and help those suffering in Australia at this time. 

For more details of the Flood Fund, please click HERE.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Collecting for the nation

Vanda and I were very lucky yesterday. In contrast to last weekend's wind and rain, we visited beautiful Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire and accompanying gardens. The weather could not have been better. Glorious sunshine which illuminated the house and grounds. The House was left to the National Trust in the 1960s, by Lord Fairhaven, whose sole purpose was to collect a unique collection of paintings, clocks and other ornaments, in order that people may enjoy them for generations to come.

As a watch collector, I loved that every room in the House had a remarkable ornamental clock of some kind or another, as well as a number of ancient and unique Grandfather clocks in the corridors.

Outside, the gardens were vast, seemingly infinite. Wondrous trees and plants, even a Mill (still making flour), and numerous sculptures. You could be there a whole day and still not see all the acreage of gardens. To say the view was breathtaking is an understatement.

It was a tremendous day, rounded off by dinner in the John Barleycorn Pub in Threshers Bush. The sun was still shining in the evening, so we ate our tasty meal outside. A lovely end to a perfect day.

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing,Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

A day in Cambridge

Despite the weather and heavy M11 traffic, yesterday, we decided to enjoy the Bank Holiday and went to Cambridge.

It was well worth it. Even with clouds and dark skies, the City was a wonder. In a spontaneous moment, we got in a boat on the River Cam and were given a tour and history of some of the Colleges on the river bank - St John's being particularly stunning. Its incredible to think that some of these buildings took close to a 100 years to build.

At the end of the day, we went to a tea shop, trying hard to resist all the goodies on display! We didn't stay for long especially as Vanda is rather partial to anything chocolaty.

Anyway, I thought you might like to see some of the pictures!

Robert Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

My favourite place in Harlow

Last night, before I went to Roydon Parish Council meeting, I was very pleased to be invited to Parndon Mill by owner, Sally Anderson, to see a new exhibition, by local Artist Liz Boast. I love Parndon Mill, it is my favourite place in Harlow. It is just so beautiful, both the Mill and the Canal outside with the Boats propped up against the Moorings. In fact, as the two pictures above show, there is no better guide to the changing seasons, than seeing Parndon Mill in the Winter and the Spring. When I visited Parndon Mill after Christmas, it was if I had entered Narnia. Yesterday, in the early evening Sunshine, it looked like Aslan had returned.

Inside the Mill, the exhibition was original, and imaginative. Etchings of dog headed men, were particularly unusual. It was good to see the pictures and I enjoyed meeting some friends there, like Mark Cotton. Mark is a particularly lucky architect, as his office is actually inside Parndon Mill, so he works from an office with one of the best views in the County. All in all, going to Parndon Mill Gallery was a wonderful way to spend an hour after work, with good wine too!

Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering.

Wind, Rain and Hailstones but still there is canvassing!!!

We had an Action Day today in Staple Tye - for the by election on 30 April. When I stepped out of my front door this morning, and saw the weather, between you and me, I secretly hoped it might be cancelled!!

But no such luck! Local Conservatives are determined to win the by-election and were out in force. So Vanda and I went out to leaflet outside Lidles in Staple Tye. Vanda (my girlfriend) is from Brazil and used to 90 degrees weather, so she was freezing. We warmed up with a short break thanks to some McDonald's Cappuccinos.

We had a really good response in Staple Tye, and many people wished me luck in the General Election, even though it might be next year.

People are fed up with Gordon Brown. One lady told me how she had saved all her life and now her savings were worth nothing - thanks to the Government's mishandling of the economy.

After a hot soup lunch in Latton Bush, we were out again canvassing in Copse Hill Close. Again, a really good response - even previous Liberal voters were waivering and said they might vote Tory this time. I love the big hand in Gladwyn Court, so the photo shows Clive Souter and I standing by it, after a good afternoons efforts.

Tonight some friends have arranged a 40th birthday party for me in a Pub in Roydon which should be fun! More on that in my next post.