Last month I was in Finland undertaking a weekend of activity as a Naval reservist when I had a call from Downing Street asking me to return to the front bench as Minister for Defence People.

Next day I arrived at the MOD to find an Urgent Question had been granted in the Commons which meant I had a couple of hours to become an instant expert before facing my tormentors at the Despatch Box. Still, Quentin Letts in the Daily Mail said nice things about my debut, which raised a smile.

Every Remembrance Sunday I do two services – one in Trowbridge, the county town, and one in the afternoon in Warminster. Except this year. It’s the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War and a number of veterans and families will return to pay their respects.
I was a medical student in 1982 and far removed from the action. But this year I’m representing the Government in Port Stanley, which is a privilege.

Back at home my wreathes will be laid by fellow members of the Royal British Legion and in Warminster, where I’m branch president, my place will be taken by our very able chairman, who is himself a South Atlantic veteran.
Becoming a minister again means divesting myself of parliamentary roles I have accrued on the backbench such as chairing the all-party group on the National Trust which I established a few months ago. I will no longer be able, for example, to take such an active role in UK-Morocco relations which is a pity as we have achieved quite a lot.
Eyes down for the Budget on 17 November.

We just have to drive down inflation, which means making savings and raising tax. I loath the prospect but who can be surprised after the twin shocks of Covid and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

I console myself with the thought that predictions and forecasts are rarely entirely accurate and that, since the economic fundamentals in the UK remain positive, we may have a sharp dip followed by a relatively smart recovery towards the end of next year. But I don’t envy the Chancellor his choices.