Day 4 of jury service. I was picked for a jury yesterday, which we completed within the day. It was a very short trial, although obviously I'm not going to go into any more detail.

I'm waiting now in the assembly area - basically a holding area for jurors waiting to be chosen for a trial, or waiting for their trial to start. As someone mentioned the other day, it's a bit like sitting in a airport lounge waiting for a delayed flight.

The trial itself was remarkably like what is usually shown on television. It particularly put me in mind of the court scenes shown in 'Judge John Deed' - the judge occasionally directing the lawyers, and asking questions of the witnesses when he wanted to; the harsh cross-examination of the defendant by the prosecution lawyer. The bit that was truly novel was that not normally portrayed in such dramas - discussion in the jury room, which clearly I can't go into any further. Suffice to say that I really felt the responsibility of making what was clearly going to be a life changing decision for the defendant. I was a little shocked by how some didn't seem to feel that responsbility. In particular people just desperate for their next cigarette as there was no smoking in the deliberation room. It was also a surprise (although I don't suppose it should have been) to find ourselves locked in with bailiffs standing at the door.

Still, now I'm sat in the assembly area again waiting to see whether I'll be picked for another trial, and it'll start all over again.

My summer holiday is now over, and I've just started my first week of jury service. Now, obviously I'm going to have to be a little careful about what I blog about jury service. So I'll skip over that for the time being and do the summer holiday first.

The holiday was a week away in a cottage half way between Abergavenny and Monmouth. Despite all the rain, we managed glorious sunshine for 3 days, and modestly reasonable weather for the remainder. I'll have to try and work out how to add the coordinates for Google Earth (which is cool - you should try it!) so you can see for yourself. 3 major walks (including our first 'real' hill walking) and 2 smaller ones, plus pony trekking in the Black Mountains.

The list of places we visited is quite long - Puzzlewood, the Blorenge, the sculpture trail in the Forest of Dean, White Castle (which was within walking distance of the cottage), Offa's Dyke Path. We saw a canal lock in operation, got lost up a hill, visited South Wales mining country at Blaenavon (the big pit), and two steam railways. All managed without major rows. It was a fantastic time, and has left us with the urge to go back to this area next year because there was so much we didn't do. Photos will be available next time you visit in the obligatory Harrison family scrap book.

As for jury service. Well so far it mostly involves hanging around in a slightly shabby, crowded, 70's style cafeteria waiting for your name to be called. Nothing controversial to write home about at all.