I think we all deserve a week away from politics, and a weekend of national celebrations and tributes to an extraordinary woman and public servant is the perfect alternative.
The Queen has been such a presence in our national story for the entirety of my life, and for the vast majority of us, that we are almost in danger of overlooking how extraordinary it is to do any job for 70 years. It is all the more inspiring as it is a job which she was born into, rather than choosing, and which she has carried out with such steadfast integrity for the whole period.
It is right therefore that so many of us locally will share in the tributes and celebrations. All over the Borough of Ashford there will be events to express our admiration for Her Majesty.
I will be attending church services, beacon lightings, dedication ceremonies and drinks parties in honour of the Jubilee. And on Saturday I will be trying to get around as many village fetes as I can to join in the festivities.
It is a sign of how much genuine affection there is for the Queen that all of these occasions are being set up very willingly. There is absolutely no sense that people are doing this because it is expected of them. We all want to say thank you and do it in a way that would make her proud.
Each of these small events is just as important as the great national concerts and fly pasts that we will also be seeing over the next few days. The true test of national affection is precisely that things are being arranged in every locality, and not just at the big centres. We are lucky in our head of state and privileged to be around this moment of collective gratitude and celebration.