Weasel words

Off to Duddingston House this evening for the Oyster Club - the House is amazing. Built in the 18th century for Lord Abercorn and allowed over the centuries to fall into rack and ruin, it was bought over 15 years ago by Bruce Hare, eminent architect and arch critic, not without reason, of Edinburgh City planners. He has done a fantastic job restoring the mansion and giving it a chic, ultra modern twist. I recommend if you ever have the opportunity to visit, grab it with both hands.

Tonight's speakers were Bruce himself and (Lord) Jamie Sempil whom we met in New York last week. His ambition is to create the largest Highland Games ever, in Edinburgh in July next year and the largest gathering of the clans ever seen. It will be an exciting, unforgettable occasion, I am sure. Tonight's occasion was, as ever, very well attended, a stimulating mix of people from every part of Edinburgh's society.

Before I left for the evening I spent an hour reading the papers for Tuesday's Children & Families Committee. I am dubious.

On the one hand we have a paper spelling out the enormous disparity in achievement between children in rich and poor areas of the city and lots of weasel words about having to do better: then we have a departmental reorganisation that removes some of the key posts precisely intended to support those intervention measures...no logic there and precious little commitment...Tuesday promises to be an interesting afternoon.