No dramas this week, and I'm gradually picking up strength as each day passes. Yesterday Victoria came over to help with paperwork, and thanks to her the files are in relatively good order. There's a lot of weeding that needs doing in the long term, and selection of files to be archived at Hull University, but that's an endless job.

Today is the 50th anniversary of my membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and I had a nice letter and certificate from them.

One of the consequences of being in coalition for the LibDems in the Lords is that funding for the work of our Whips' office has been cut off, and even though we are having to operate on a greatly reduced staff level, individual peers are being asked to contribute much larger amounts towards the running cost. At the same time, the allowances for Members' expenses are being consolidated into a single £300, or £150 if a Member chooses to take the lower amount. No indication is given as to why anybody should forego the whole £300 or why, having done so, they aren't allowed to claim any intermediate amount between £150 and £300.