Hermione H-C reports from the ECR meeting in Prague:

How did we ever live without the internet? It's sort of like that skirt I bought in Jack Wills in June: I can't fathom how I survived last summer without it, now that it's here. Anyway, like most good things, you don't appreciate it until it's gone. This week I have had a forced sojourn from the net – no facebook, no popbitch, no horoscopes... frankly, it's a good thing that Prague is a pretty little town; gave me something to look at when we weren't 'in session'. I would have used the laptops provided by the Parliament, but our Group Sec kept glaring at me every time I strayed from checking my office emails. I maintain it's Parliamentary business to look up tips for walking on those cobbled streets in five inch heels – as they said in the marketing lecture, we need to present an attractive image to the public at all times. Can a girl not get any sympathy here?

Anyhow, the Study Day sessions themselves were a resounding success – the group, you will be pleased to hear, is fully united. We are all very much in agreement that what we need is to be forward thinking. Different. That we need to actively expand, and to become THE voice of the centre right in Europe. We're going to fight the eurocrats on one flank, and push forward a new, common sense agenda on the other. Hurrah! Can't wait! All we need to do now is figure out how, but I'm sure that won't present any problems. The future's bright – the future's...uh... do we have a colour yet?

Spotted: Ford walking away from Helmer – he saying “I can show you numerous studies – there is no climate consensus!”, she saying “I don't want to hear it, Roger!” So possibly not 100% united on all issues quite yet.

Actually, Prague really is stunning. I was under the impression that all these ex-Communist countries were rife with 1960s style concrete blocks, but apparently the Czechs have been very busy for the last two decades. I was delighted to discover, for example, that Starbucks is pretty big here; haven't had a macciato since I was last on the Kings Road. Pointed out to my old school chum Fi that if the Communists had had their way, all these people would still be drinking bad coffee grown in Siberia or similar, and wearing clothing made by babuskas on the banks of the Volga. She scoffed and told me that Starbucks was the scourge of the devil. I do wish she'd get past her socialism phase – these things are fine when one's 15, but sooner or later you really do need to get over it.

Arrived back late last night to discover something of a furore developing: apparently the Greens want to boycott the Presidential vote in Straz next week. Something to do with not wanting to vote on the President until Lisbon has been decided by the Irish, because at that point the powers available to the President will be different to those he hold now. It's an interesting point, although the Greens do appear to think they run Parliament at the moment. Will let you know how it pans out in next week's session...

Read more from Hermione H-C

here

.