It’s been an Easter “stay-cation” for the Perry family this week and with brilliantly sunny weather, lambing under way and several visits to our favourite picnic spot on Cleeve Hill, near Rushall, it has been a chance to settle back into the rhythms of rural life and enjoy the beauty of Wiltshire. It is amazing what a little sunshine can do for the psyche – as the manager of my favourite farm shop near Devizes said “every single customer has been smiling” - and the national good mood will hopefully be helped along by the news this week that unemployment has fallen again both locally and nationally. In the Devizes constituency the number of unemployed claimants has fallen to 777 or less than 1.5 per cent of the “economically active” population as 51 more people found a job this month and can now enjoy the security that work brings. Nationally, the claimant count fell by 30,000 this month, or 251,000 since May 2010 thanks to the 1.5 million new jobs that have been created by companies across the UK as a result of the business-friendly policies of this government.

Even better news came in the form of a report that weekly wages had risen more than inflation in the year to February for the first time in six years (apart from two short months in 2010). Coming on the back of this month’s tax changes that will deliver a £700 annual tax cut to the average tax payer, and remove the tax burden from more than two million of the lowest paid workers in the country, it is an encouraging cocktail of economic good news as we settle in for the celebration of the Easter festival this weekend.

One ritual that marks this holiday for us locally is the Devizes to Westminster canoe race, starting from the Wharf in Devizes on Good Friday and ending right outside my office at the Houses of Parliament.

The race has been held annually since 1948 and despite the jolly atmosphere at the start line, it is a grueling marathon for both the non-stop and four-day competitors.

Indeed it defeated Sir Steve Redgrave two years ago (I mentioned this to fellow Olympic athlete and Conservative MEP candidate, James Cracknell last week who himself took part in 2009 and I can’t be sure he didn’t mutter “wimp” under his breath). However, I refuse to judge anyone taking part until I have done so myself and so very good luck to all competitors this year and to the Devizes Canoe club who have done so much to promote the sport.