election

Polling Day

Tim MaidmentLeave a comment

–Edit– This was meant to be published on the 7th May, but for some reason it lurked in my drafts folder until now…

It was a very very long day yesterday, starting before dawn outside one of my libraries as a small cluster of people I’d never met before gathered, bundled up against the morning cold. Eventually the person who had arranged this meeting appeared and I let them all in.

Not the start of a mystery novel, but rather the start of a day of local elections – and I’d agreed to let this library be used as the local polling station. I ran through all the building access and fire safety information, including how to lock up, and after an hour of helping to shift some furniture I was on my way.

A full day at another library, and a significant portion of that was spent meeting the new supervisor for the cleaning contractors and bringing them up to speed on issues and priorities, and then it was back to the first library to check up on the election.

They said they were happy to lock up, but I agreed to be on standby as I lived locally – and so my day ended a little after midnight.

Today I need coffee. Lots of coffee. I am very tired. I am dealing with today’s storms in teacups. All will be well.

Election Night

Tim MaidmentLeave a comment

And so the wait begins. I’m not staying up for results; as I have said to a number of people over the last few days: I prefer to experience the inevitable existential dread over a cup of coffee in the morning.

And yet I am nervous. I have been deliberately avoiding the news and social media today as far as possible. As an unashamed Leftie and member of the LGBTQIA+ community I am scared for what another five years of right wing rule will bring.

I work with and serve people who have had their lives torn apart in the last ten years of Tory rule. I am worried over the language of division and hate that colours so much of the conversation around me.

I hope my fears are baseless. I hope my visions of the near future are wrong. I ardently hope that whatever tomorrow brings will actually lead to a brighter place for us all.

Please let me be wrong.