I was ready for the abnormalities and was weighing my options. How would I react if they came slowly in a trickle?  How should I react if they came flowing in like wine from a wide-mouth bottle or gourd?  Would they come in the form of underhanded movements- all subtle like? Or would they be slammed into my face- like take that you ingrate of a freelance reporter who didn’t know enough to know your place?  I voted for slammed into my face- like take that you ingrate of a freelance reporter who didn’t know enough to know your place.

I figured that the game was nearing its end. If anyone wanted me out- well, so it would be. I was owed nothing- I hadn’t the security of a contract or staff writer position behind me. And the time for cowardly underhanded antics or moves which would suggest that it was thought I was more unintelligent than I really was had passed.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.

It was now “debate time”- which meant politicians would be debating bills, motions and all the other things that are supposedly important- in the House of Parliament. “Debate time” can mean debate in the lower house among the elected members of the House of Representatives or debate in the upper house among the appointed members of the Senate. Many reporters will tell you that they attach more importance to debates in the lower house. But that is neither here or there.

“Debate time” can also mean a reporter sits at home/office and watches/listens to the debate via radio or television, then call up politicians for elaboration during a break. Or, it could mean: they visit Parliament and stay there for a bit or until the conclusion.  Normally, reporters tend not to stay until the end- particularly on lengthy days when there are other stories to chase. That is sort of here and there.

What is even more here and there is the fact that I was sent by the online news company, or rather by the editor/CEO/etc to cover parliament.  Another freelance reporter was also sent. It was impressed upon us that we should really make the effort to attend in person (not sit at home/office and watch it on the local television station like some do- out of necessity, laziness or non-interest).  I went, I saw, I interviewed and then I returned to write up the stories.

So, I placed a call to ask after the meaning of it all.  I was assured that there was not much meaning to be had (that I believed!) and that this had nothing to do with an attempt to save money or any other scheme.  It was just that this one story was deemed the most important of the day.

Ok. Right….

Coming Next Tuesday: #39  Testing…testing…