Every September feels like the start of a new term (and new political year) in Westminster just as it does in every school. This year the Parliamentary calendar has made the restart more dramatic than ever, as we all come to terms with a new Prime Minister.
Although it is all change at Westminster, the events of the summer act as a reminder to me that though Prime Ministers come and go, the matters that people care about in their daily lives stay broadly the same.
Across the country people are worrying about energy bills and rising inflation. Here in Ashford there are the continuing issues with the M20, Eurostar services and water supplies.
On the roads we have at least seen the end of Operation Brock for the summer. Apart from the initial chaos for a few days, it has been slightly frustrating but no worse than that. The current roadworks which have now resumed are to ensure that the barrier can be deployed, and equally importantly taken away, more flexibly in future. This ought to mean that if and when Brock is needed in the future we should not see annoying weeks when it is not needed but is still in operation.
Eurostar services are going to be a longer fight. The company has said that it will take two years before it can look at the prospect of re-opening Ashford and Ebbsfleet. One of my first tasks with the Transport Secretary is to put the case that the UK taxpayer has funded the high-speed line, and that part of what the taxpayer bought was the opportunity to travel from Kent.
As for water supplies and the drought, I think it is time to restart the debate on a new reservoir in Kent, and this is another matter for the new term. As ever, the autumn will be a busy time.