Lots has happened in the last week while I’ve been too busy to blog, but the one thing I must mention is the death yesterday of the 5th Earl Russell.

I met Conrad only a handful of times but knew him enough to feel dwarfed by his intellect. When Conrad was called as the last speaker against the motion in the monarchy debate at party conference last year, I knew the motion would fall. With thirty seconds before my summation to come up with a counter to his points, it took me several days.

Committed to his students as a professor, Conrad took a strong interest in student welfare issues. He was a former vice-president of LDYS and a regular speaker at LDYS fringes at party conference. At the student funding fringes at spring conference in Southport, we shared a few thoughts about the impact of top-up fees on university libraries. As someone who had worked for many years as an academic in the US, he railed against the Government’s attempt to Americanize the student funding system here.

Conrad was the liberal anchor of the Liberal Democrats. Although his hereditary peerage dates back to a Liberal Prime Minister, he was a true liberal in his own right and the party will have a permanent hole at its heart with his passing.

I’ve barely been back in Leeds and it’s time to head off again. I’m returning to Hartlepool this evening as the by-election reaches its climax.

Blogging has been light, but I have a good excuse: my mobile phone, provider of my home internet connection, was stolen at the weekend. Spending half an hour at Lewisham police station at 4am on Sunday morning was, of course, joyous. As well as the ability to telephone, text message and web browse, I’ve also lost my radio, alarm clock and mobile blogging tool.

Still, it’s an excuse to get a nice upgrade. I’m thinking of a Nokia 6600. I’d like to be able to watch videos but still need infrared. It will be a shame to lose the radio and torch though.

I’m so tired.

Got to bed around half four last night only to have to be up bright and early this morning to speak in a debate (including writing the speech). That did go well despite my hangover.

On Tuesday, I did a fringe panel as a contributor – first time for me. I talked about the other parties’ higher education funding policies, identifying their pros and cons and outlining some of the best arguments to use when debating them.

I was also roped into doing a panel debate on Five Live. Loads of contributors but, because I was speaking as a LibDem and it was about us, I was able to say more than the previous time I was on a similar panel debate when I manated a couple of sentences. I was in a BBC booth in Bournemouth with John Pienaar, who was pleasant about my performance. I’ll check when I get back to Leeds whether it’s available on the Five Live website.

Jody‘s speaking just before 4pm before she shoots back up to Hartlepool. I’ll definitely be in the hall for that. Oh, and I must mention that The Keetch touched my back the other day. The backache has now subsided. Coincidence, or something else?

The media have been describing the mood here in Bournemouth as “upbeat”, presumably because that’s what our press release said. But it’s absolutely true. Everyone here is really positive about our recent poll ratings and potential for next year’s expected General Election.

Last night’s LDYS Race Night went very well, thanks in particular to our hosts Baroness Scott and Lembit Öpik. I went to an excellent fringe on party funding from the New Politics Network this lunchtime, and tonight it’s the Association of London Government disco.