The Count

Last time i posted it was the morning after the election, it was the count, clearly i was up mega early, i just couldn't sleep and it was so quiet as the kids weren't here. I was just waiting for Paul to get up so we could go out and have some breakfast before we had to be at the Marine Hall for 10am. The atmosphere in the Marine Hall was excitement,  of course at the beginning everyone feels they have a chance, after all it could go either way and you never know what could happen, the polls aren't always right. In the centre of the room the tables went all round like a giant horse shoe with the counting staff in the middle and each group sectioned off with a sign stating which election they were counting. My count was to last, as the other approx 12 counts were all Lancashire County Elections and mine was a borough by-election, this was going to make it along day. we were all allowed to stand on the outside of the tables and watch as they first checked the number of papers against those they had issued and then started to separate them. This is where everyone is leaning over the table trying to count and guess who has more and as they are piling them up you are trying to judge which pile is bigger. Once they have finished that they start to clip the papers together in piles of  them band them up in hundreds and then they stack them up in a tub. This is then point that everyone is watching anxiously as you can clearly see who is winning in most cases and once they have done you can workout the winner. The only thing i can liken it to is being at the casino, everyone stood round the table , you can feel the nerves and excitement and also the disappointment. I never expected to feel such a range of emotions that i did, as they started announcing the winners, as they did this each time a count was finished even while other are still going on, i felt a surge of excitement and pride when one of my party was elected, when it cam to the other  candidates that i had been out canvassing and leafleting with from my association i cried when they won as it really felt like a team effort. Paul was with me and was so excited and was keeping me sane as i was swinging from one thought to another. Finally it was my turn for the count and i couldn't stand up as i was shaking that much, my heart was pounding and i couldn't breath, once they started stacking them up it looked quite close but then i seemed to get ahead and when they had finished it looked like i had won, but i couldn't believe it. I went upon the stage and they made the announcement i had won and by a good amount! I came off the stage straight to Paul, i was shaking, everyone was congratulating me, it felt amazing! I have never felt so proud of myself and so excited what lies ahead. Paul has been amazing and so supportive , we really are a team and this victory was as much his and the whole teams as it was mine. After i received a letter with invites for various events with Councillor Emma Ellison on the front..... It all starts here!