Well that was the week that was.
After more than 50 years as a journalist you come to expect and accept that no day is the same. But deputy Prime Ministers one minute and Shetland ponies stealing the show at glitzy award ceremonies the next takes some beating. There is a constant thread to all the madness, it shows Torbay is in a great place.
Let's start with Mrs Angela Rayner. She popped in for a surprise visit to a meeting in Westminster where I was honoured to be representing the Bay along with 75 other local authorities, towns and resorts.
The day-long session was all about the government's Plans for Neighbourhood funding of which Torquay will receive £20 million over the next 10 years.
Alex Norris, Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, opened proceedings to explain how and when the government wanted the money spent. With due respect to Minister Norris, you could sense there was bigger stuff to come when a burly bodyguard-looking gent was waiting for the moment to usher somebody into the room from behind a side curtain. Suddenly Mrs Rayner, also Secretary of State at the MHCLG, emerged.
The funding was the same as that awarded to the Bay and Torquay under what was then called the Long Term Funding Plan for Towns by the previous Tory government before they lost the general election. The aim of the initiative, whatever the name, is the same.
This will be money that will be spent on schemes and projects which will improve and enhance the lives of the community in Torquay , especially those living in deprived areas and the community will have a major say in what the funding is spent on as a giving 'power back to the people' was a clear message from the two Ministers on behalf of the Labour government.
Now on to Shetland ponies and one pony in particular. Patrick the Pony, the self-acclaimed Mayor of Cockington and loved and followed by many fans in the Bay and thousands of followers on social media.
Patrick, with owners Kirk and Hannah Petrakis, probably received more nominations than anybody in this year's Torbay Weekly Naturally Inspiring Business Awards. He wasn't shortlisted - there were some concerns about how he would make it on to the stage and his acceptance speech - but we thought he should still play a part on the night, eventually having selfies with guests for a contribution to Rowcroft Hospice.
So the deputy Prime Minister and Patrick Pony both within 24 hours of each other, both in different ways celebrating and marking where we are at the moment in the Bay.
Torquay and Torbay was the only local authority from the entire West Country to be in the room in Westminster and the feedback we have had from the awards has been heart-warming, humbling and simply fantastic.
Almost 350 people in the room, more than 100 entries, both record numbers and Patrick the Pony on the red carpet.
Only in Torbay.
On behalf of headline sponsors Torbay Council, Mayor Barbara Lewis presented the Overall Business of the Year to worthy Rowcroft Hospice. Other council leaders were at a different awards ceremony in London where the Bay had been shortlisted for its work with the community under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It didn't win but was in the company of some much bigger authorities. This week they go to the capital again after being shortlisted in national public awards for a local initiative tackling tooth decay among the resort's young children.
Up there with the rest and best.
The same theme is emerging following the Bay's attendance at the recent UKREiiF Investment and Infrastructure conference and exhibition in Leeds. Up against far bigger players, the Bay came away with investors interested in backing our current huge regeneration programme with council leader Dave Thomas revealing that conversations which began and were progressed in Leeds, especially with pension funds, have led to further, 'positive conversations'.
Cllr Thomas said: "Officers have been to London to speak to the people we were introduced to. The conversations are looking positive. You would not have pension providers wasting their or anybody else's time if they were not really interested in what we have to offer."
I hope they didn't mind, but I highlighted the Bay's current once-in-a-lifetime position with my few words at the start of the business awards:
* With government funding and a public private partnership with developers Milligan and Willmott Dixon we have more than £200milliion to spend on game changing regeneration projects.
* The Strand and Torquay harbour has been given a brilliant new look - the Dame Agatha statue was a stroke of genius - the redevelopment of the Debenhams site will follow and then we have the Union Square plans.
* In Paignton the Victoria and Station squares will be regenerated and new plans have just gone in for Crossways.
* In Brixham the town centre will be given a fresh look and the fish quay extended.
* We are going to get a new Epic-style photonics park in Paignton, sea defences and public realms in Paignton and Preston are going to have millions spent on them.
* Repair work has started on Oldway Mansion, the Paignton Picture house is being restored and Dame Agatha - or at least some of her unseen works and artefacts - could be moving into the renovated Pavilion.
* There is even movement at Living Coasts where inspirational underwater conservation company ARC Marine is about to move in.
*Branded hotels have been and are being built.
* All this redevelopment is being seen as a catalyst for the millions being spent on private sector schemes especially in and around the Torquay waterfront.
And, of course, we have Patrick the Pony.
So, my message to the powers-that-be intent on shaking up without stirring local government is please 'hands off the Bay'
And to us in the Bay what else than Now is the Time. Grab It!
