I went door knocking again today with my team, as we do just about every Saturday through all types of weather.  The second person to open their door launched into a diatribe about how politicians only ever knock when there's an election on!  After he'd clarified that in actual fact, I was the only politician to have ever knocked on his door (when he was at home, anyway), I pointed out a couple of facts.  Firstly, as a parliamentary candidate from the real world, I hold down a full time job - I am not able to pay the mortgage and buy my own food without holding down a full time job (unique by the standards of some politicians, I know!).  If elected at the next election, I will dedicate myself entirely to being an MP and will continue to knock on doors.

Secondly, there are tens of thousands of homes in the Eltham constituency.  With the best will in the world, it is virtually impossible to call at every single door.  Even if it was, I usually find only about a quarter of residents are actually at home, whatever time of day we call.

Thirdly, I have been knocking on doors across the constituency for the last three years, as well as holding a series of public meetings to which thousands of people have received personal invitations.

After explaining all this, and answering a number of very interesting questions on a range of subjects, the gentleman realised I'd been at his home for nearly 20 minutes.  If I spent that time at every door, I'd speak to hardly anyone!  As I went to leave, the man shook my hand and assured me I would have his support.  Proof, that voters are not apathetic - they just want their politicians to make an effort to reconnect with them.

...and although the doorstep questions continued to be dominated by MPs' expenses, most people were pleased to hear what the Conservatives plan to do to mend Britain's broken society and broken economy, as well as repairing our broken political system at Westminster.

A selection of comments from people I spoke to between 10am and 4.40pm today:

• They're all the same, I won't vote for anyone
• Clive Efford's useless, I've emailed him six times and spoken to someone in his office but he hasn't helped me.  I won't be voting Labour again.
• I like David Cameron but how do I know you'll do what you say?  I'll read what you've said here and make my mind up.
• The sooner the better.  I'll be voting for you, don't worry about that!
• I'm a postman and our chief executive had a 700K bonus while telling us he needs to make savings.  No wonder MPs are taking everything they can get if they can get away with it!
• My main worry is crime.  Next door was broken into a few weeks ago, but the police haven't got the resources to tackle burglary.
• the football's on, you couldn't have called at a worse time, but I'll take a leaflet...