We in the UK have a new government and it’s a little different from what anyone anticipated.

Before the election, I spent time with the ideas from the manifestos of Labour and the Liberal Democrats swirling in my mind. I then voted not only with my heart but also tactically. I voted to keep the Conservatives out of power and I voted to move closer to Europe and adopting the Euro. I voted to be open to immigration. I voted with the hope of being represented.

The result has been that the Liberals and Conservatives have compromised and formed a coalition. Theoretically I have no problem with this. The Liberals could vaguely temper any rash or alarming Conservative idea, which is surely better than having no refrains in place at all. However, the areas the Liberals appear to have compromised on are unfortunately my Deal Breakers. And when the Conservatives name a somewhat homophobic MP to be in charge of equality…. Well, suffice to say I raise an eyebrow. I also cringe when I consider our new “obsessively anti-European” Minister for Foreign Affairs. Oh la la (la la la la)!

I am acutely aware that the only way I can bring about any sort of change is within my own life and in my own exchanges. When my Conservative voting* colleagues pointed their fingers at me this morning laughing and informing me I had “lost”, I was glad to take the afternoon off to do something practical toward my own future. In the end, each and every one of us is responsible for our own lives and how we live them. I can’t change the Conservative voters in my office, but I can control the hows and wheres of my life. I can choose how much I let others interfere with my day to day thoughts and my mood. I can choose to smile when the Conservatives tell me to “B^gger off back to New Zealand”** when I ask questions for which they have no answers or when they look at me confused because all they voted for was change regardless of the package. I could struggle with understanding their choices, or I can just let them be. I’m going to let them be. I’d like to say I could engage with them, but it’s just not my calling.

Over to you, Nick Clegg, et bonne chance!

* I appreciate not all Conservative voters are like this. This just relates to my recent and specific personal experience.
** I was born and bred in Britain, with every right to be here and vote for what I believe in.