12th December
In the morning I met with Shelter to look at joint work we can do regarding publicity for the Housing Act

In the afternoon I went to Derby to help out with the course-rep training, and catch up with Alarna, the newly elected welfare and education officer.

13th December-
Student co-operative housing meeting in Manchester- between illness and annual leave we were a bit thin on the ground but we composed the report for Manchester University on the project. Then it was back to HQ in the afternoon

14th December-
The first NEC meeting of the week, lots of formal business and management issues discussed- my report on the co-op project was on the agenda but when we only had ten minutes left I got it postponed to the next morning- for the best I think as I talk too fast at the best of times!

I then went to the board dinner of UNIAID, the student’s charity. This was at the bakery school at South Bank University, so was all cooked by students there, in their own restaurant. We had a very positive discussion about the future of UNIAID, and its role in 2006. And let it be noted I was not one of the NEC getting up to debauchery at the ESIB event, neither was I late or hungover the next day…unlike many colleagues!

15th December-
The second NEC meeting- started off with my report on the co-op project, which you can read on my blog. For me the most important thing about taking this report to the NEC, and the presentation the week before, is about getting this properly back on the NUS agenda- as I said at the meeting its such a massive project the NEC need to really get behind it and engage with it, rather than just the VP Welfare. We got through lots of motions, both of mine- on sexual confidentiality for under 16s, and the Loughborugh situation passed unanimously. Following the meeting we had some festivities, including NEC secret Santa (where I got a lovely present from Mel) and then it was off to the NUS Christmas party.

Friday, Monday and Tuesday were spent tying up loose ends for the close of 2005 before heading home for Christmas. 2005 was a most surprising year for me- I never would have thought last January it would have turned out as it did, but it was probably one of the most exciting challenging and memorable years I can recall. Happy New year to everyone lets hope for a happy and peaceful 2006.

Veronica

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