I saw the back of the 1807 leave the platform. I made my way to the Tube. The Tube was shut. I returned to the main concourse and decided to go to the walk-in medical centre. The lift to the entrance was broken and the alternative route was locked. I stood waiting for a platform for the 1822. I saw Steve (my ward councillor, leader of the opposition and one time very close friend, who I've not seen for the best part of a year). We stood talking and the 1822 was announced as cancelled. We debated whether to go to Balham and walk or wait for the 1837. We waited.
The 1831 to Balham was platformed; Ambrose walked past - like Steve and I, former ward secretary; former next door-but-one-neighbour of Steve (the in-between house was occupied by the national secretary of the Communist Party); former Angell councillor, had tried to deselect me in 98 - but, actually, turned out to be a good friend and flat-shared with an old Uni mate of mine for a year. Ambrose was clearly going for the Balham and walk option - he said he had a platform.
So Steve and I chatted. When our train came we watched Edward, a former Conservative councillor, walk further down the platform, followed not long after by a Labour Party person who had managed to go round losing votes when he stood in a marginal ward in 2002, and had to be kept away from the public on the day of the Stockwell by-election due to his very tight white t-shirt, extremely tight and short white shorts, black socks and work shoes.
Ah, yes the Stockwell by election. Won by Labour on a 10% swing from the Lib Dims (the day after David Kelly's funeral). The LibDims had spent the campaign denying they would abolish the green boxes. Last week Labour Group got hold of minutes from the Western Riverside Waste Authority where the two Lambeth LibDim reps had confirmed their intention to abolish the green box scheme.
Steve showed me what happens if you put 'Libs ' into predictive text (it spells Liar).
Meanwhile, a former Tory mayor of Lambeth has been jailed after being found guilty of electoral fraud - he was caught on camera filling in postal ballots and adding them to the pile on election night.
Our former councillor colleague Kitty has upped sticks and moved to the North West to fight for selection as a Parliamentary candidate for what appears to be a safe Labour seat - one with a 16,000 majority. the more eagle eyed amongst you will have spotted that he seat in question is Burnley, where the local council includes BNP councillors.
I suspect that it may have a fair amount of media attention in 2005.
