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Caesar visits his MP in Westminster

It's only just light and we are having a run on the Heath, we are going somewhere exciting today, I knew it!! Wendy was packing and planning all yesterday, and then last night she gave me a bath.

Off to Poole Station and on to the train. Train journeys are a doddle, we do this quite often and the staff at Poole are used to helping us on to the train with a ramp. I did have a long look out of the train window as we passed through the New Forest, it looked lovely and inviting and muddy, just right for a romp, but not today.

Waterloo, not quite so good, no ramp to meet us there. Wendy's friend Susan got out of the train and spotted the ramp being used to get the refreshment trolley off the train and she bagged it for us. Straight to the taxi queue, but the barriers make it difficult for a wheelchair and luggage so Wendy and I wait at the end of the line while Susan queues. A kind taxi driver spots our predicament and comes round the queue to pick us up. He crams all our luggage, wheelchair and everything into the taxi and off we go to the House of Commons. Place is swarming with police, of course President Bush is coming the same day as we are.

The Serjeant at Arms has said he will meet us when we get there to make sure we can get in without a problem. He has asked us to come through the Carriage Gates, the taxi has to stop and it is checked by 3 policemen underneath, inside and under the bonnet. Do they think I would let Wendy get into a taxi that I hadn't carefully sniffed all over?

The Sarjeant at Arms is waiting with our MP Annette Brooke, to greet us, we have met her before. We are going to leave our luggage in the place where Annette can hang her sword. Swords? Has anyone told President Bush that every MP can bring a sword to work?

Now we are going to explore the lift system, lifts a bit small, but we all squeeze in and up to the Central Lobby. Great crowd of people are waiting for the Speaker to come into the Commons behind the gold Mace, well behaved though, no one treads on my tail.

Up in the lift again to the Strangers Gallery, we have tickets for Prime Minister's Question Time, security very tight, we have to hand everything in including my biscuits, I hope we get them back. Wendy gets a splendid position in the wheelchair, we are high up so she can see everything and I can put my paws on the wall and have a good look too. We spot Tony Blair, his folder has Post-it notes stuck all round the outside! Two Jags Prescott, and Jack Straw. Then opposite them, Michael Howard and Teresa May, then on the next bench Annette and Charles Kennedy. What a rabble, shouting and jeering, Dogs for the Disabled would not tolerate such a noise from us, we are taught that interrupting is rude. Two people are ejected from the Strangers Gallery by Black Rod's men and quickly marched away by policemen. Can't they read, I saw the notice that said no waving of banners or shouting, yelling 'War Criminal' when Bush's name is mentioned is not very polite.

There is a very nice carpet for me to lie on beside Wendy. After Tony Blair has answered his questions some people start to attack David Blunkett rather loudly. I can see Sadie (David Blunkett's guide dog) is not impressed she makes herself very small, curls up under the Front Bench and lays her head on his foot when he sits down. Anyone would think he gave that journalist the job of footman at the Palace himself. Did you know the corgis have toast and marmalade for breakfast? Sadie was at the Palace this morning and she says she saw crumbs sticking to their whiskers, sounds fattening to me. We working dogs have to stay very fit and alert, I start the day with kibble and yoghurt.

Now it is time for lunch in the Members Dining room. Lovely carpet for me to lie on beside the table, and I read the Commons Order of Business. The food smells very good, but not for me, I will get mine later. The staff are all very friendly and say Hello. Annette goes out to a Division while we have our coffee.

Annette needs to give an interview so we go out into the garden and I have a good sniff around, Sadie is out there too.

Next into Westminster Hall, this is very old, the only original part of the Palace of Westminster. The rest of the building has been destroyed three times, twice by Fire and once by bombs, but Westminster Hall has survived each time. Interesting plaques on the floor tell me that the Queen Mother lay here after she died, as did her husband the King, and Kings and Queens before them.

Now we go to the House of Lords, Annette calls it 'another place', she is not allowed to sit down in there would you believe, but I can!! The Lords is busy, but they don't shout so much. Some of them are in fact snoozing after their lunch so I do the same on their lovely red carpet. Their chamber is all a rich red colour and beautifully gilded and decorated.

Finally we make our way to the Terrace. Members of all Parties keep stopping to talk to me, they are all very friendly, it is a good thing dogs are apolitical. Fresh air on the Terrace, it is late afternoon in mid November and still the air is warm and the sky a lovely colour. I put my paws on the wall and watch the boats on the Thames and see the lights coming on the buildings and the London Eye.

Now it is time to leave, William Hague holds the door open for us as we collect our luggage, the Sarjeant at Arms calls us a taxi, and the friendly policeman helps us cram everything in, and we go off to our hotel, close to Hyde Park so I can run there in the mornings.

We have a lovely big room, Wendy has a big bed and there is a single bed too, how considerate! They must know it is going to be a busy week for me!

Thursday, shopping, sightseeing, then Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the evening at the Palladium. Wendy thinks it might be a bit noisy for me so the Really Useful Company say I can sit in the Box Office with the staff.

Friday we visit the Rabobank who sponsor me, they always make a big fuss of me.

Saturday and Sunday we are going to Discover Dogs, where Wendy and I will do a display for the Good Citizens Award. Then on Sunday evening we are going out to dinner with the MD of Snoozzzeee Dog, they have given me a dog bed.

Monday we go to Madame Tussaud's, Wendy wants to take lots of photos there and you will be able to see them all on my website at http://www.k9assistance.co.uk. when we get back home on Tuesday.

Lunch in the Members Dining Room		By the Thames
Caesar and policeman		Wendy, Caesar and Annette Brooke

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