I am suffering the withdrawal symptoms already. Crisis is perhaps too big a word to use, but it’s pretty bad.

As I was leaving work today, I omitted to pick my mobile phone up off my desk. Result: one-and-a-half hours until I got home with no email, no ability to read or write blog posts, check train times or catch up on the news. And, obviously, no way of receiving phone calls or sending text messages.

Back home now I can at least make calls from the landline or Skype (although I only know a handful of numbers – the rest are in the Contacts section of, yes, my mobile). What would I do without modern technology?

My Nokia and I will be reunited in 14 hours. At least I have a new DVD from LoveFilm.com and BBC Two’s Thursday night comedy to take my mind off things.

In other news, I’ve written a piece for Liberal Democrat Voice analysing from a LibDem perspective Unlock Deomcracy’s new report on local politics.

Wednesday night is family history night, so I’m currently watching Who Do You Think You Are?, featuring Jeremy Irons. They’ve just shown the marriage certificate of his great-great-grandfather, Thomas Irons. He was a Chartist, and prior to that was a London policeman living at 10 Cowley Street, Westminster – a few doors away from the building (or the site at least) that became the SDP headquarters and currently home to the Liberal Democrats.

Thomas Irons was subsequently arrested in connection with a planned insurrection and ended up with an 18 month sentence in prison.

The EU has chosen a logo (right) to celebrate its 50th birthday next year. It was designed by Polish student Szymon Skrzypczak who entered it into the EU’s competition.

The licensing rules preclude me from editing the image, so I’ll have to explain the change I would make: swap the “E” with the “é”. It might be different in other languages, but in French “é” is pronounced “eh” rather than “uh” – in other words, more like the second syllable in “Together” than the third.

Pedantic, moi?

After two terror suspects who were subject to control orders absconded, the Government has threatened a kneejerk increase in their powers.

Tony McNulty said the measures had always been a “second best option” and were under review.

Hurrah! I agree with a minister for once. Control orders really are a second best option. Where we differ, I suspect, is that McNulty considers the best option to be the imprisonment without trial that was thrown out by the courts. I consider the best option to be actually having a trial.

The minister then appeared to go off message:

In response to suggestions the two suspects could carry out an attack at any time, Mr McNulty said: “On balance, I don’t think that’s the case at all.”

I suppose he has to balance striking fear with looking negligent…