BACK TO NORMAL?

So, the `festive period` is over and done with once more and today it seems that things are getting back to normal - whatever that might be. Kids are back at school (well, they are here,) people seem to be back to work, tv programmes returning to normal schedules and the patterns of life are picking up where they left off before the mayhem began.

This weekend produced a mixed bag of `news` to awake me from my festive slumber. Some of it was uplifting, such as Manchester United being dumped out of the FA Cup by Leeds. Now, I`m not a big fan of Leeds as a club, but any team that enrages the ridiculous Ferguson gets my thanks.

Some of it was, however, decidedly depressing, the most prominent being the obvious fact that the election campaign has truly begun. Yesterday, we were treated to the cringe-inducing sight of Dave Cameron holding a newborn baby whilst sitting at the bedside of an anxious mother where a camera crew just happened to be passing by. I don`t trust politicians and I certainly distrust the motives of those who think it appealing to be seen holding innocent babies. Mind you, Gordon Brown`s weekend was no better. I`ve completely given up trying to find any semblance of credibility in anything he says or does, for it is patently obvious that his sole purpose is to ensure that he stays `in power`, even if he is only `in office.`

There`s speculation about when the general election might be, but as Gordon wasn`t elected in the first place, you can be pretty sure he will hang on like grim death until the latest date before he has to call the election. Looks like May then, but that means we could have about 150 days of this pointless `campaigning,` at the end of which we might end up voting for neither of them. Nick Clegg and the LibDems, UKIP, the Greens and all the others have been remarkably quiet so far, which may be the wisest and the most appealing thing for them to do.

One would imagine that following on from all the furore over the MPs expenses, the broken promises over such things as the referendum on the EU constitution and the total discredit which this Parliament has brought upon itself, then we would face the prospect of a general election with at least some enthusiasm as a golden oportunity to be rid of the culprits. However, at the end of 150 days of tortuous, incestuous, schoolboy antics, I`m not sure we will care very much about any of it any more. Which is normal.