I SPENT a week abroad last week (yes, it was lovely, thanks for asking). While work emails and keeping abreast of local goings-on very much took a back seat, I did, however, find myself glued to the hotel room TV. G&T no more than reaching distance away, granted.

While Andy Murray's victory at Wimbledon was watched more for reasons of historical significance than for a genuine love of tennis (or Murray), it was the comings and goings in Westminster that kept me out of the sun for longer than I had predicted.

For my generation, it would be hard to recall a more dramatic few weeks in British politics than those we have witnessed since June 23.

Even despite the ceremonial, somewhat dry and old fashioned way we, as a country, welcome a new Prime Minster through the doors of Number 10, I spent most of the Wednesday evening that saw Theresa May installed as the new First Lord of the Treasury unable to drag myself away to even sample the 5* all-inclusive a la carte.

It got me thinking. Whether you voted 'Remain' or 'Leave' in the EU referendum, that momentous day in British history, and everything that has so dramatically followed, has really opened the eyes of the masses to politics. This can only be a good thing and I include my sport-obsessed self in that.

As Mrs May made her first speech in Downing Street, I sat adding football-related analogies to her quotes like some deranged, gin-soaked Andrew Marr with sun-stroke. "She won't want to see that again."

But never before has politics been so interesting, or so important.

Recent changes in Westminster have shown the true characters of many politicians to those only just getting to know them following the referendum. They had previously sat, many slumped and borderline asleep, in the chairs of the Houses of Commons every Wednesday for PMQs. At least in the eyes of the public, anyway.

David Cameron's little hummed tune and forthright 'RIGHT!' as he entered Number 10 following a press call, forgetting in all the madness that his microphone was still on, showed more than an air of normality, not to mention relief, from the departing Prime Minister. The way he spoke, teary eyed, about daughter Florence climbing in red boxes inside Number 10 could have been the words of any proud father.

Michael Gove's leadership press conference in front of a non-TV camera friendly beige wall was, however, a sad indictment of the kind of attention to detail apparently lacking from the former Justice Secretary's brief quest for the Conservative leadership, but perhaps represented perfectly his lack of visible persona.

New Chancellor Philip Hammond, ironically dubbed 'Box Office Phil' for his knack of never making headlines, we learned, went to school with, of all people, Richard Madeley and was a trenchcoat-wearing, left-wing 'Goth' who read the Guardian.

As for Boris Johnson, one only needs to log on to social media to view a multitude of GIFs of the new Foreign Secretary wiping out kids on the rugby field or insulting Barack Obama.

On the other side of the House, Angela Eagle's reaction upon hearing Mr Johnson had been appointed to run the Foreign Office was dubbed 'unprofessional' by many. Or perhaps it was just the same kind of initial exasperation exhaled by the vast majority of the general public?

As for Mrs May, despite her early rhetoric surprisingly having more than an air of the left about it, what we have got is what was sold. Steely, determined and with a hint of the Maggies about her, she looks the part and sounds the part. And thanks to the referendum, more people are now looking on with a keen, watchful eye. Many of them probably didn't even know who Theresa May was four weeks ago.