Mum came a narrow second in Leeds.

Two former housemates stood as 'paper candidates' for the Green party in Cambridge. Cat got 187 votes in Arbury (pushing the "English Democrats" candidate into 4th place). In Romsey, Keith came 5th of 5 with 189 votes in the city seat; but in the County Council by-election for the same ward, came 4th with 287, beating the Left List candidate. However, the Green party finally got their first Cambridge city council seat, which is presumably cause for much celebration. Elsewhere in Cambridge, the LibDems lost a seat to a "Labour and Co-operative Party" candidate, and Labour lost a seat to the Conservatives.

In my own ward of Castle, the ex-LibDem Independent councillor retained his seat. Personally, I found each piece of his literature strengthening my resolve to go vote LibDem instead, but 850 of my neighbours disagreed. I do have to admire him for managing to get out I think 5 pieces of paper through our door - the local LibDems did not manage so much.and ought to have a bigger team of volunteers. Mind you, they didn't ask me (not that I could have done much really). I feel a bit politically disengaged at the moment, with more than enough to keep me busy.

I spotted the name of a colleague of mine in the results list and confirmed it was him by finding his photo on the local Labour website. It caused a bit of chat in the office, anyway.

I have a medical booked on 21st May, to get my JAR class 2 certificate.

I have an eye test booked tomorrow, as I'm well overdue. I think it unlikely, but if I do need corrected vision to meet the visual requirements, I want to know in advance so I can turn up ready to pass.

I am doing much better at daily exercise in the last week. I am still too overweight to be happy with the idea of running but long walks, gentle gardening and ballet are all good.

This is the only serious opportunity in my life so far to apply to be an astronaut. I am intending to make a serious application, the best I can do in the time available. I'm not obviously disqualified by the currently-available information on requirements. I can think of several reasons that might disqualify me, but I'm going to let ESA decide that rather than not try at all. If I actually make it through first-stage screening I will consider it a major success.