Parliament is in recess follow a full week in Westminster.
On Monday I met with the Housing Ombudsman to follow up on RBH's progress setting right the appalling mess which lead to the death of Awab Ishaak - we had frank and worthwhile discussion and agreed to keep in regular contact to ensure tenants are at the forefront of any decision making.
On Tuesday and Thursday I sat as a member of the Bill Committee for the new Energy Bill - Committees are used to scrutinise (and hopefully improve) Bills before they get their final reading to become a law. The Bill is incredibly technical and we expect to be sitting for many weeks.
On Wednesday I was drawn for a Welsh question. Obviously we're not in Wales, so I asked about Small Modular Reactors which will be highly relevant to the North of England when they get the go-ahead.
I also met with the team at Batton of Hope a mental health charity focused on suicide prevention. A lot of you have written to me about mental health provision so I wanted to follow up.
Wednesday also presented an opportunity to speak to the CEO of Avanti West Coast. I was hugely disappointed with his attitude and expressed my profound disappointment with the service. They are drinking in the last-chance saloon and change is desperately needed.
Later in the week I met with the Jo Cox Foundation, named after the murdered MP for Batley and Spenn and focused on issues of loneliness and civil society. It was great to hear about the amazing work they're doing in her name.
Lastly I had a catch-up with the Education Secretary. It's so refreshing to speak to someone who cares so passionately about the skills agenda and I passed on what local colleges and school have been telling me.
No update next week as I'm going to take the chance to get caught up on constituency matters and a bit of life admin at home.
Stay safe and enjoy the weather!
