A visit to the pub followed by a trip to seaside?  It doesn’t like a tough week does it?

On Sunday the Labour Party Conference starts in Brighton.  I’m aware that for many people ‘conference’ as it’s known is a bit of mystery – what exactly do we all get up to for four days every September?

It’s worth reading the newspapers next week, or watching the coverage on BBC News and BBC Parliament – but I can also give you an insight into what I’ll be up to next week.

Yes – there will be some socialising as I catch up with friends and colleagues I haven’t seen much of in the last year – but it’s also a great chance to get a lot of work done.

So while on the Sunday morning I’ll be on the football pitch – hopefully scoring a few goals against the Parliamentary Press Lobby for the MP’s team – I’ve also got a diary packed full of meetings with transport groups and organisations – from Transport for London to Network Rail and Passenger Focus (the consumer rights group).

It also gives me a great chance to get involved in some policy debates outside of my brief – this year I’ll be speaking at a fringe event on bringing the trust back in to politics.

For my readers of my website and those who follow me on Twitter I’ll also be speaking at the ‘Twinge’ event on Monday evening – hosted by Channel 4’s Krishnan Guru Murthy – where we’ll be discussing the role the internet, and applications such as twitter and facebook, have to play in widening democratic participation.

Even if you’re not in Brighton you can send questions for the event, and follow the debate, via Twitter and at the website here.