IT'S been a hectic, kaleidoscopic whirlygig for the last few weeks, from which I will try to extract some themes in (as they say on Strictly) no particular order.

North Wiltshire: I spent Thursday to Monday in the constituency. I had surgeries in Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett, Malmesbury and Box. 40 or 50 ‘cases’ are often more easily solved face to face. I had a meeting with the Chief Constable to discuss the (questionable) investigation into the late Ted Heath.

There were two appearances on Sunday Politics, and umpteen BBC Radio Wiltshire interviews. Several recess for the hot air balloon flight over Malmesbury which we are planning to commemorate Walter Powell MP’s tragic demise. (More about that later.)

I read a lesson in the wonderful Malmesbury Abbey Carols alongside Jilly Cooper, Ellie from Countryfile and High Sheriff David Hempleman-Adams. I attended dinners in Compton Bassett and Didmarton, receptions in Hullavington, Bowood, Pewsey and Neston, carols in Bremhill and Corsham; a ladies' luncheon Club at Whatley Manor and welcomed 35 political supper clubbers to our house for a Christmas chat and supper (Philippa is a marvel). I went to DPD in Royal Wootton Bassett to observe their Christmas rush of parcels. And that is just some of it.

House of Commons: I try to speak, or intervene, or ask a question most days (not always successfully), and chair committees and Westminster Hall debates on behalf of Mr Speaker. I have a bit of a barney with a Labour Whip who will not accept my ruling on some obscure matter.

Defence: Defence Committee meets twice a week. I am especially annoyed by the ambulance-chasing lawyers who have made 4,000 veterans' lives a misery by their disgraceful hounding of them. I also ask a question in the main Chamber about it.

As chairman of All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces, I chair two dinners for briefings by Generals, and as chairman of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme see students off on all kinds of military educational visits.

As Patron Elect of the charity which sends boxes off to all our servicepeople deployed overseas on Christmas Day, I launch this year’s 7,500-box effort. Defence is my main interest, partly from a constituency and partly personal standpoint.

North and South Poles: another interest is the world’s cold places through my chairmanship of the Parliamentary Group for the Polar Regions. I welcome Sir David Attenborough, HSH Prince Albert of Morocco and broadcaster and explorer Ben Fogle to a briefing in Parliament on Antarctica. There is huge security and other fuss, but we seem to get through it without dropping too many googlies.

Brexit: is everywhere. Most Parliamentary business has paled into insignificance beside it. I wonder how long it will be before people get thoroughly bored with it. I have to say I am increasingly of the view that we should just do it – next Tuesday seems like a good date – and sort out the consequences afterwards.

Private life: and in amongst all of that I still manage to see Philippa (probably sufficiently often from her catering standpoint!). But she also works for me, so we are in non-stop electronic communication, and she spends a day or so a week in London as well. And I still find a little time to ride my old horse out from time to time. It’s a hectic old life; but I love every minute of it.