Dear reader,

Covering the past however many years in British politics has been a rollercoaster. If I were Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey I would obviously illustrate that point by simply being pictured on a rollercoaster. But look – I want you to know I am writing this while on a rollercoaster. Please excuse any typos. Also: please consider supporting the Guardian’s election coverage.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that writing about the many, many recent prime ministers has been therapy, but it has felt good to “talk things through” with readers who have also been strapped to the rollercoaster with their eyes held open. Like in A Clockwork Orange, but instead of having to undergo extreme aversion therapy, you have to watch Boris Johnson embody integrity in public life. Maybe that’s the same thing.

Of course, other metaphors are available – in fact, UK governance has arguably worked very hard in recent years to become its own metaphor. So here we all are, shoulder-deep in the waters of the general election, as though it were one of our great rivers/brown-flag beaches. (Incidentally, read more on that subject via our brilliant environmental coverage.)

And if, like me, you consider yourself adrift on the currents of our times, then why not consider grabbing on to a life raft in the form of the Guardian’s political coverage? Our life rafts are very reasonably priced, starting at just £4 a month, and allow us to keep producing more life-rafts/multi-award-winning political coverage – without having a paywall. If you can afford it, please consider it. We quite literally couldn’t do it without you.

Marina Hyde
Guardian Columnist