No new baby yet though the phone rang early this morning and hope rose fast, to be dashed as quickly. Business call...no use!
Spent Saturday afternoon celebrating the Chinese New Year with Jane Cheng, Consul for Taipei. This is the year of the pig. Born in 1953 I am apparently a snake which in Chinese culture means a small dragon. Snake or dragon, neither conjure a positive image though this is a lucky year for the snake. We shall see. A healthy grandchild will be good enough luck.
Jane's party was interesting: a pink, whisky based punch which I avoided. I do not like pink whisky - only gin will do but it was also early afternoon and the car was parked on a meter. Only a fool drinks and drives. Then a suckling pig, roasted and toasted by the company then carved for our delectation. It brought to mind the only other occasion I have tasted suckling pig - in Rome for a rugby international and invited as guest of Ciao Italia to a Roman feast. Half way through the third course I discovered the meal would extend to 17, the thirteenth of which was the piece de resistance...the triumphal entrance of the porcetta. It was a challenge...
At the end of Jane's event, guests were proffered a red envelope with a golden pig on its front. I didn't open it until back home and was delighted to discover it contained a £1 note. I will keep this for luck and as a memento.
Today was the WEL Board meeting which was interesting with many positives to look forward to. It seems to be coming together but I have learned that development is a fickle business and what seems secure today can evaporate by tomorrow. The staff wanted to hear how we propose to replace Stephen - they are a good bunch, intelligent and good at their job. Hopefully their understandable concerns are reassured. We make an announcement tomorrow.
And also, the two most unusual requests in a long time and both arrive on the same day. A local community councillor who is a member of the swan protection society asks for my help to save the swans at Inverleith Pond. George is an interesting chap with many interests. He is an asset to the community council and I admire his diligence. He told me today his mother is a spiritualist which adds to my interest. I like him. The second request is to help my uncle who wants to advance his obsession with sailing galleons: I have agreed to help advance his campaign for a replica Great Michael to be constructed as a major tourist attraction in Leith. George's vision is to have the Great Michael, built in 1507 and launched in 1511 from Newhaven opened in 2011 - as a 500 years anniversary celebration. My uncle (he will forgive me for this) is an eccentric but his idea is sound. Interesting both men should be called George...
Tuesday 27 February 2007
Friday 23 February 2007
The future and all its uncertainties
Yesterday was meant to be a holiday. Instead it became another another 12 hour marathon.
Dentist first - a great way to start the day then on to meet the Chancellor. An accident on the Bridge meant he was an hour late and everybody was restless. Jack McC did the welcome then on to Gordon who was looking well. Clearly lost a bit weight and has the look of a man who knows the prize is in reach. His speech was astounding. Erudite, earnest...not a soundbite in sight. As good a rebuttal of nationalism as I'll ever hear. Did you know Scotland has 3 of the world's top 20 universities? Finland, Norway and Ireland have none. Did you know that Scotland's traditional industries of fishing, whisky, agriculture, steel and shipbuilding account for less than 5% of the country's jobs yet the creative industries and finance sector account for 7% each? Our knowledge economy is among the best in the world and 90% of our exports go to England? There was not a ya boo, smart alec remark in the whole speech and hardly a word of it was covered in the media today. Interdependence, networking, partnership & high skills...these are the hallmarks of a modern economy yet the nats would set up barriers, sieze us up with constitutional convulsions and hold us back while global companies rapidly withdraw their investment...big business likes stability and break ups are never calm...watched Alex Salmond on Question Time later - I dislike his habit of interruption, smugness, superficiality...he doesn't come over as a serious man ...too much the spiv...yet he enjoys great popularity. It terrifies me.
Later I chaired a public meeting of local residents concerned about the development of City Park. It was a thoughtful meeting full of intelligent comment and perceptive response. As far removed fromQuestion Time as it is possible to be. They are opposed to the development and I will do what I can to help though I fear it cannot be stopped. As ever, my task will be to negotiate the best to be had from an unsatisfactory situation.
Tomorrow the weekend begins. My daughter who expects her 3rd child imminently is already late...who knows, perhaps by the next time I write I shall have a new grandchild - a lovely thing to look forward to.
Dentist first - a great way to start the day then on to meet the Chancellor. An accident on the Bridge meant he was an hour late and everybody was restless. Jack McC did the welcome then on to Gordon who was looking well. Clearly lost a bit weight and has the look of a man who knows the prize is in reach. His speech was astounding. Erudite, earnest...not a soundbite in sight. As good a rebuttal of nationalism as I'll ever hear. Did you know Scotland has 3 of the world's top 20 universities? Finland, Norway and Ireland have none. Did you know that Scotland's traditional industries of fishing, whisky, agriculture, steel and shipbuilding account for less than 5% of the country's jobs yet the creative industries and finance sector account for 7% each? Our knowledge economy is among the best in the world and 90% of our exports go to England? There was not a ya boo, smart alec remark in the whole speech and hardly a word of it was covered in the media today. Interdependence, networking, partnership & high skills...these are the hallmarks of a modern economy yet the nats would set up barriers, sieze us up with constitutional convulsions and hold us back while global companies rapidly withdraw their investment...big business likes stability and break ups are never calm...watched Alex Salmond on Question Time later - I dislike his habit of interruption, smugness, superficiality...he doesn't come over as a serious man ...too much the spiv...yet he enjoys great popularity. It terrifies me.
Later I chaired a public meeting of local residents concerned about the development of City Park. It was a thoughtful meeting full of intelligent comment and perceptive response. As far removed fromQuestion Time as it is possible to be. They are opposed to the development and I will do what I can to help though I fear it cannot be stopped. As ever, my task will be to negotiate the best to be had from an unsatisfactory situation.
Tomorrow the weekend begins. My daughter who expects her 3rd child imminently is already late...who knows, perhaps by the next time I write I shall have a new grandchild - a lovely thing to look forward to.
Wednesday 21 February 2007
humanity, ideas and hard work
Gosh, it's been busy. Two fourteen hour days on the trot and inevitably I can't sleep. Have decided to do the unthinkable and take a day off though am already making plans to fill it. Elections are here and this means time becomes a premium. Friends who are not politically active don't understand and get narky with my excuses ...'who cares whether you need to proof read another leaflet?' or 'why does it have to be you who helps out with telephone canvassing or stalls or how many b....y meetings does it take to run an election?' After 25 years of it my husband is used to being a political widower in the months before polling day and he helps where he can; my kids have never got used to it. They can't believe they actually liked helping to deliver leaflets when they were younger - it would take a bomb to get them along now. I can't explain the buzz of an election - if you don't get it, you won't ever: win or lose (and I've done both) it's a really positive, affirming experience to be able to meet new people, hear their thoughts, share your own. Humanity, Ideas and Hard Work are what keeps this world moving forward....and that's what politics is all about
Monday 19 February 2007
Fact and fiction - you couldn't make it up
Been a busy day. Stephen I has confirmed his departure for pastures new and this has brought fresh time demands in an already impossible schedule. Naturally, I am pleased Stephen is able to develop his career, test his skills in a new environment and I wish him well. But now there is work to be done establishing transitional arrangements and making sure the company is able to sustain progress. There is a good (but small) staff team at WEL and this will bring added pressure. I am working hard with key shareholder representatives to make sure things go smoothly.
I had an interesting session with Forth Ports earlier - a demonstration of their consultation strategy on their new masterplan for Leith Docks and beyond. It is certainly impressive and I wish them well. Their difficulty will be keeping it relevant as time rolls on. My own experience with Granton points to a moving population who either never knew or have forgotten the original consultation process. Relegating community consultation, once the initial 'big bang' is over, to the 'pending' list is a mistake: it needs to be constantly worked at, even if it doesn't seem like there's a lot to be said.
There is a group of 16 older people who are learning the political history of Scotland at PEP and I've been asked to lead a session on the history of local government which means a lot of research and unearthing some interesting facts: did you know there was no form of Scottish local government till the 11th century? Did you know that the first feudal system was established to further the interests of the 3 Estates? The second major system to protect the interests of industry and capital? And most recently, to further the interventionist ambitions of central government? I'm currently reading about Wheatley's reforms and Major's - none of which seem like history since I lived them all. And I'm looking forward to the section on local government post Scottish parliament. That will require a chapter all to itself!
I once wrote a novel about local government in Scotland -fiction based on fact -and everybody who read it said it was good: a few agents even wanted to know if I'd written anything else: it was good, they said. Only nobody wants to read about councils, they said. Make it Westminster and we'll sell it. So that's on my to-do list when I've got time. Write another novel, but one people would want to read!
I had an interesting session with Forth Ports earlier - a demonstration of their consultation strategy on their new masterplan for Leith Docks and beyond. It is certainly impressive and I wish them well. Their difficulty will be keeping it relevant as time rolls on. My own experience with Granton points to a moving population who either never knew or have forgotten the original consultation process. Relegating community consultation, once the initial 'big bang' is over, to the 'pending' list is a mistake: it needs to be constantly worked at, even if it doesn't seem like there's a lot to be said.
There is a group of 16 older people who are learning the political history of Scotland at PEP and I've been asked to lead a session on the history of local government which means a lot of research and unearthing some interesting facts: did you know there was no form of Scottish local government till the 11th century? Did you know that the first feudal system was established to further the interests of the 3 Estates? The second major system to protect the interests of industry and capital? And most recently, to further the interventionist ambitions of central government? I'm currently reading about Wheatley's reforms and Major's - none of which seem like history since I lived them all. And I'm looking forward to the section on local government post Scottish parliament. That will require a chapter all to itself!
I once wrote a novel about local government in Scotland -fiction based on fact -and everybody who read it said it was good: a few agents even wanted to know if I'd written anything else: it was good, they said. Only nobody wants to read about councils, they said. Make it Westminster and we'll sell it. So that's on my to-do list when I've got time. Write another novel, but one people would want to read!
Sunday 18 February 2007
Children and us
Saturday morning and it's Mike's turn to walk the dog while I prepare breakfast. He's out by 7 and I take my time with his porridge. Hear the wail of sirens - police are busy...Mike returns. He is shaken. Caught up in a car chase - silver astro and 3 police cars. The astro crosses the carriageway, high speed heading straight for Mike and swerves only at the last moment. The police continue the chase. Their professional calm, risking personal safety impresses Mike.
Sunday's papers full of moral panic about the welfare of our children - gun shootings, UNICEF finding our children are the least safe in the western world, David Cameron declaring the future of our children is more important than the economic agenda. Stirring stuff.
On Thursday I read a report about educational achievement in 7 of the local primary schools which demonstrates that 83% of local children live in data zones that account for 20% of Scotland's lowest achieving (educationally speaking) communities. It makes depressing reading. Coincidentally, I visited all these schools recently. Most are housed in brand new buildings (whatever your view of PFI, it certainly allows for fantastic schools) and some of the children I met would make you weep.
One wee girl aged about 8, sobbing, eyes red & swollen, inconsolable:
'What's wrong?'
'This is her first week. She's finding it tough.'
''First week here?'
'No. First week at school.'
'But she must be 8. How has that happened?'
'Dad wouldn't let her mum bring her.'
She's eight, can't read, can't write, doesn't know how to sit in class, or play with the friends - can't stay awake because she's used to sleeping most of the day - I call that cruelty but her dad and mum both love her and she loves them. She's crying because she wants to be back home with them.
Another school: the headteacher tells me 40% of her pupils are under some form of social work supervision: one wee boy aged 6, parents both drug users and nowhere for him to go over Christmas. No foster family only a secure unit, so the headteacher takes him home with her for the holidays. She deserves a medal.
The council has poured money into providing services for vulnerable children like these and put even more in this year but it has the dispiriting feel of sticking fingers into dykes.
Drugs and alcohol in too large and consistent quantities make people lose their moral compass. Yet our society has a far too ambivalent approach to both. If you're even reasonably well off then taking drugs or too much booze is hip: if poor, it becomes a scourge. Those with enough money can turn to a broad base of support for help when a drug problem runs out of control. If you're poor then there isn't much.
Thatcher's housing revolution which substituted public responsibility with private investment has never been addressed by Blair. So the poor have effectively been ghetto-ised. No community comprised largely of people who are poor as a result of chronic ill health, disability, age or infirmity has enough internal capacity to withstand the added impact of a statistically significant number of people who are also crippled by substance abuse. So, if you're poor and have a drug/alcohol problem you're effectively on your own...and so are your children.
So, Mr Cameron and Mr Blair, let's see some action on social housing policy that breaks up the concentration of poor people living together in one area: let's see some consistency on public attitudes to drugs and alcohol and then maybe, just maybe all the investment for vulnerable children and families would pay some dividend.
But that also means we've all got to change our attitudes too. Most of us like a drink, too many take a relaxed attitude to drugs (Mr Cameron's response last week was lame to say the least) and most don't really care where the poor live so long as it's not too obviously close to us. Until we're really serious about addressing our own attitudes then don't expect much change at the top.
Sunday's papers full of moral panic about the welfare of our children - gun shootings, UNICEF finding our children are the least safe in the western world, David Cameron declaring the future of our children is more important than the economic agenda. Stirring stuff.
On Thursday I read a report about educational achievement in 7 of the local primary schools which demonstrates that 83% of local children live in data zones that account for 20% of Scotland's lowest achieving (educationally speaking) communities. It makes depressing reading. Coincidentally, I visited all these schools recently. Most are housed in brand new buildings (whatever your view of PFI, it certainly allows for fantastic schools) and some of the children I met would make you weep.
One wee girl aged about 8, sobbing, eyes red & swollen, inconsolable:
'What's wrong?'
'This is her first week. She's finding it tough.'
''First week here?'
'No. First week at school.'
'But she must be 8. How has that happened?'
'Dad wouldn't let her mum bring her.'
She's eight, can't read, can't write, doesn't know how to sit in class, or play with the friends - can't stay awake because she's used to sleeping most of the day - I call that cruelty but her dad and mum both love her and she loves them. She's crying because she wants to be back home with them.
Another school: the headteacher tells me 40% of her pupils are under some form of social work supervision: one wee boy aged 6, parents both drug users and nowhere for him to go over Christmas. No foster family only a secure unit, so the headteacher takes him home with her for the holidays. She deserves a medal.
The council has poured money into providing services for vulnerable children like these and put even more in this year but it has the dispiriting feel of sticking fingers into dykes.
Drugs and alcohol in too large and consistent quantities make people lose their moral compass. Yet our society has a far too ambivalent approach to both. If you're even reasonably well off then taking drugs or too much booze is hip: if poor, it becomes a scourge. Those with enough money can turn to a broad base of support for help when a drug problem runs out of control. If you're poor then there isn't much.
Thatcher's housing revolution which substituted public responsibility with private investment has never been addressed by Blair. So the poor have effectively been ghetto-ised. No community comprised largely of people who are poor as a result of chronic ill health, disability, age or infirmity has enough internal capacity to withstand the added impact of a statistically significant number of people who are also crippled by substance abuse. So, if you're poor and have a drug/alcohol problem you're effectively on your own...and so are your children.
So, Mr Cameron and Mr Blair, let's see some action on social housing policy that breaks up the concentration of poor people living together in one area: let's see some consistency on public attitudes to drugs and alcohol and then maybe, just maybe all the investment for vulnerable children and families would pay some dividend.
But that also means we've all got to change our attitudes too. Most of us like a drink, too many take a relaxed attitude to drugs (Mr Cameron's response last week was lame to say the least) and most don't really care where the poor live so long as it's not too obviously close to us. Until we're really serious about addressing our own attitudes then don't expect much change at the top.
Tuesday 13 February 2007
It's all for the birds
Generally I get up early and am out to walk the dog while the rest of Granton is still snoozing. I like those 45 minutes of quietness before the day begins. About 5.45 you can tell what the weather for the day will be by how loudly the dawn chorus sings. If it's unrepentantly joyful the day is going to be dry and fine, slightly uncertain - then the weather will be mixed and if silent ...then sure as God made little apples, it's going to bucket.
Today, despite early dampness, the feathered choir was in full voice and I dressed accordingly - no overcoat, just a jacket...the birds never let me down.
If only the rest of my day had been so certain.
A day full of unravelling threads and knots and obstacles. A day I'll be glad to see the end of.
Only one bright spot. The Partnership AGM. Apart from one sulky expression on the face of a fellow well noted for turbulent histrionics , everyone seemed to enjoy the event. A thoughtful meeting, reflecting on the lives of good companions who made a difference to Pilton by their actions and who sadly died this year - and looking towards a new future with neighbourhood partnerships, community councils and proportional representation. The one constant in life is change - if you don't count the birds, that is...
Today, despite early dampness, the feathered choir was in full voice and I dressed accordingly - no overcoat, just a jacket...the birds never let me down.
If only the rest of my day had been so certain.
A day full of unravelling threads and knots and obstacles. A day I'll be glad to see the end of.
Only one bright spot. The Partnership AGM. Apart from one sulky expression on the face of a fellow well noted for turbulent histrionics , everyone seemed to enjoy the event. A thoughtful meeting, reflecting on the lives of good companions who made a difference to Pilton by their actions and who sadly died this year - and looking towards a new future with neighbourhood partnerships, community councils and proportional representation. The one constant in life is change - if you don't count the birds, that is...
Thursday 8 February 2007
A good day
Well, that's it. The last budget of the Administration. Very good news for Granton: new primary school for the Granton waterfront, the new primary school to replace Granton primary scheduled to begin in 2008 and the money committed to re-align Lower Granton Road. I couldn't have asked for more. Along with the £6 million for Royston primary and the new community centre - and the £4 million going into improving the housing stock - it's been an excellent budget for Granton - the result of many months of petitioning, persuading and nagging. Good budget for the rest of the city too: Labour pegged the council tax increase to 1.5% and the rent increase to 6%. Both the Tories and Lib Dems went for 2.5% and 7.4%. Key features of our budget include £0.5 million for supported bus services (should help with the No. 32 bus), more police for youth action teams, more for roads and pavements, more for vulnerable adults and children, for older people and for schools - all in all, a good budget which re-stated Labour values.
After, the whole Labour Group went for lunch to say a private farewell to those 11 who are leaving the Council voluntarily. Ewan made an amusing speech that put everybody in good heart. It's been a good day.
After, the whole Labour Group went for lunch to say a private farewell to those 11 who are leaving the Council voluntarily. Ewan made an amusing speech that put everybody in good heart. It's been a good day.
Wednesday 7 February 2007
On being a Board member...
Last night was the last meeting of the North Edinburgh & Leith LDC. It was memorable for one thing namely, all the landowners in Edinburgh's waterfront were present to answer questions from the public. It was, I hope, a useful dry run for the new waterfront communities partnership which is due to be established in the next month - bringing local communities and landowners together in one room on a regular basis to discuss the new developments. The questions were calm yet searching and certainly provoked a great deal of interest - I was disappointed that nobody from the North Edinburgh community councils were there (except DMcD who had a very particular question to ask) since there was a lot of information they might have found helpful. I'm hoping the community partnership will be up and running shortly and that it might shed more light for the community on how property development works. The one thing I have learned on the Waterfront Board is that private development is a reactive, risky process, very much at the mercy of the market. The contrast between that and the markedly planned, more certain processes of major public agencies like the Council or say, the Health Board, is very sharp. It's been an interesting and occasionally difficult, journey for me: trying to marry the transparency of the public sector to the legal obligations and discipline of shareholder accountability. Both Billy (F) and I being board members has meant we have been able to bring the community agenda to the table. And being on the WEL table has meant it has forced it on to both other tables too. But now we have finished the preparation stages and there are real houses and jobs, real parks and public places it is, I think, increasingly important for improved openness by all 3 landowners.
Budget day tomorrow and Granton will be pleased, I think. Some very good pieces of news for the local area - but more of that later.
Budget day tomorrow and Granton will be pleased, I think. Some very good pieces of news for the local area - but more of that later.
Saturday 3 February 2007
The sun is shining and maybe Scotland will win
I decided to edit my blogsite- deleting the oldest stuff to make way for the new. A bit like a spring clean. It's a lovely spring morning - the first snowdrops are peeping through, the birds are in full voice and we were at a wedding last night. Things feel full of promise and it lifts the mood.
Council meeting on Thursday - these are the dog days of the Administration, the lull before the storm of elections. Only the Budget is of real importance then the long slog of an election campaign.
Usually I like elections. Win or lose, elections are what politics are about. Connecting to people with ideas, with words, with personality. Been fighting elections since 1979 now - that's a lot of campaigning. I've always tried to campaign positively but I sense 2007 could be a negative, dispiriting affair as all parties fight it out for the middle ground. I don't think the public like it but public optimism is thin on the ground and political campaigns usually reflect the mood of the moment; seen Labour both thrashed and triumphant and will see them thrashed and triumphant again. Politics is a cycle - like the seasons.
I do feel sorry for Mr Blair. Love him or loathe him, he has presided over the most fundamental changes and the most prolonged period of economic success the UK has ever known. Yet this must be the sorriest fin de siecle - a labour government caught up in a scandal it can't shake off about baubles for already very rich men for whom, frankly, the question of a knighthood or a peerage should be immaterial. Their validation comes from their own success. What kind of self made magnate would view an honour they know they've had to pay for as something worth having? It would just be a case of the emperor's clothes and I don't get it. And I do question whether a man as clever as Blair - lawyer as well as politican -would let himself be embroiled in something as mucky. The whole thing puzzles me. I think I would also like to know a little bit about the officer who's investigating the case - his/her personality and motives are important in this too. Like a referee at a football match, the investigating officer has a critical role in the outcome. Ah well...greater brains than mine will be pondering over this dilemma and it will all come out in the end. The worst part is, it all adds to public disillusionment.
However: the birds are still singing and the sun is still shining and maybe there will be a decent referee when Hearts meet Dunfermline in the fourth round and maybe Scotland will beat England in the Calcutta Cup - as someone famously said: things can only get better!
Council meeting on Thursday - these are the dog days of the Administration, the lull before the storm of elections. Only the Budget is of real importance then the long slog of an election campaign.
Usually I like elections. Win or lose, elections are what politics are about. Connecting to people with ideas, with words, with personality. Been fighting elections since 1979 now - that's a lot of campaigning. I've always tried to campaign positively but I sense 2007 could be a negative, dispiriting affair as all parties fight it out for the middle ground. I don't think the public like it but public optimism is thin on the ground and political campaigns usually reflect the mood of the moment; seen Labour both thrashed and triumphant and will see them thrashed and triumphant again. Politics is a cycle - like the seasons.
I do feel sorry for Mr Blair. Love him or loathe him, he has presided over the most fundamental changes and the most prolonged period of economic success the UK has ever known. Yet this must be the sorriest fin de siecle - a labour government caught up in a scandal it can't shake off about baubles for already very rich men for whom, frankly, the question of a knighthood or a peerage should be immaterial. Their validation comes from their own success. What kind of self made magnate would view an honour they know they've had to pay for as something worth having? It would just be a case of the emperor's clothes and I don't get it. And I do question whether a man as clever as Blair - lawyer as well as politican -would let himself be embroiled in something as mucky. The whole thing puzzles me. I think I would also like to know a little bit about the officer who's investigating the case - his/her personality and motives are important in this too. Like a referee at a football match, the investigating officer has a critical role in the outcome. Ah well...greater brains than mine will be pondering over this dilemma and it will all come out in the end. The worst part is, it all adds to public disillusionment.
However: the birds are still singing and the sun is still shining and maybe there will be a decent referee when Hearts meet Dunfermline in the fourth round and maybe Scotland will beat England in the Calcutta Cup - as someone famously said: things can only get better!
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