Knick Knacks

You bring your life with you - at least parts of it. MPs and Senators almost universally experience loneliness and a sense of detachment from those parts of their lives they possessed before coming to Ottawa. We compensate by filling our offices with memories and mementos from home or travel. For me, with three young children, seven kids and three grandchildren altogether, their closeness to me through pictures and letters is essential. And so, I bring a part of them to reside in Ottawa with me.Now that I've moved into my new office, lots of people ask what it's like. It's totally different from the old one in West Block, but it does have the advantage of possessing more wall space where I can place those things important to me. So here's a quick view to let you know what I surround myself with to stave off the forces of loneliness. It works to a degree, but nothing beats walking into the front door of my house, my constituency office, the food bank, an airstrip in Africa or gathering with good friends.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVAT9Jvc63M&w=480&h=390]