Vince Cable finds that the recession is cobblers in Hampshire
One of those crazy co-incidences happened when we were out with Lib Dem Deputy Leader Vince Cable campaigning in the village of Alresford in Hampshire.
Dropping into local businesses, as you do, we were talking to the local cobbler Bob Barrowman whose splendid portrait is on the right.
And that shiny pair of shoes is the strange co-incidence.
This well-to-do part of Hampshire has been the scene of bitter scraps between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Vince's visit shows it'll be just as hot this time.
After the great man left the shop it was Bob the Cobbler's chance to comment, and the camera rolled. "It's a very well-heeled area" he says. "Take these four pairs of beautiful shoes I've just finished."
"They belong to that Conservative chap, George Hollingbery!"
Turns out that George, the Tory candidate, and Lib Dems bitter rival in Winchester and Meon Valley, is a regular customer.
The Lib Dems faces were a picture when they realised that the brogues they'd been admiring would shortly be turned against them, but they said at least it showed Mr Hollingbery expects to use up some shoe-leather in the contest ahead.
Welcome to the hustings! I'm Peter Henley, the BBC's political reporter in the south of England. From parish councils in Sussex, to European politics in Oxford, this is the blog for you. 
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