BNP

Did you Vote?

In Renfrewshire our electoral slogan is 'No Vote, No Voice'. I have repeated this quite a few times at work over the last week or so to those in my work who advised that they did not vote in last week's European Elections. When I voted around 8pm last week only 94 people had bothered to come out to vote at my polling place?!?

Part of the reason I get so upset by the whole not voting thing is that when I was young we had a real life suffragette living upstairs, in the warm weather she would come down into the communal garden and sit and tell us stories of when she was young. It really does make you realise how far we have come when you think about it, in my life time I knew a woman who was unable to vote because she was a woman. I used to think my mum and dad must hate this cause she is telling us about throwing toffee hammers through windows and chaining herself to railings, in reality my parents were incredibly proud to be her neighbour and her friend.

Don't get me wrong I understand the controversy over expenses and I understand why people are upset by this, my understanding however stops when I think that people think that voting BNP is somehow a reasonable alternative? It stops when I think about the gains made by the Conservatives and the SNP despite being caught in the mire as much as the Labour Party? I know we are the party of Government but surely it would take the collective will of Parliament to change a system such as the expenses and none of the main parties did very much to try and bring about this change.

The leader of the SNP is caught up in the expenses scandal, the Conservatives are in it up to their eyeballs as are the Liberals so in that regard you can see why people would be reluctant to vote for a major political party, but please vote for someone, spoil your paper make a protest instead of staying at home.

If you don't vote, you have no voice, so don't complain about Europe or the Political system if you didn't vote, you have no right to complain if you don't take part in the process.

Race for Life

The Race for Life

I have had one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling weekends of my life and I am still buzzing from the excitement.


Saturday was the wedding of two good friends John and Lucy, the bride was beautiful and the groom couldn't stop smiling it was a truly magical wedding and I was so pleased that they allowed us to be part of their big day. Even the obligatory dancing, which I am hopeless at, even more so when I am sober and have all of the usual inhibitions, was fantastic. The band were great and covered all types of music, even the bus ride home from Kilbirnie was a great laugh and I got home around 1am, later than I planned.

On Sunday it was an early rise for the Race for Life, and getting ready was a little more difficult than expected, as I lost the safety pins so I couldn't attach my number or my name plate on my back!

My friend Charlene picked me up and we were off to Glasgow Nautical college to meet up with the girlies. We had already had one injury before we got there one of the girls has been having joint problems as was unable to take part -doctors orders- but we soldiered on. When we got there Sharon and her trusted bum bag had spare safety pins (thank god) and a whole host of things (pens to write names in case we forgot, and well it was a Mary Poppins bag), we all got suited and booted with our numbers on the front and the names of those we wanted to run for on our backs.

Before getting on our way we took a group photo (will put this up when I get it), When we walked towards Glasgow Green we could hear the music and the stage announcers right away,

'Welcome to Race for Life Glasgow, the biggest Race for Life in the UK, 17,500 women are taking part today ...'

On arriving I had no idea it was going to be this big an event,


Between and 'Reach for the stars' warm up and Suzie Maguire of Real Radio breaking two microphones it was a great atmosphere. Lord Provost of Glasgow Bob Winter gave a fab speach, short and sweet and really fitting the occasion.

On Our way to the start line, which you had to walk to down the road and round the corner, getting ready to go (male cheerleader at the start shaking his pom poms) and we were off on a whistle tour of Glasgow, we managed to complete the course in under 1 hour and had a fantastic amount of support all the way through from the road sweepers out and about and clapping the racers on their way past, to the ordinary people lining the route and clapping and cheering.

Loads of different people taking part, with the wee white scotty dog with the pink whistle round it's neck to those suffering from cancer who were running to prove that it can be done. It is a humbling experience walking beside someone who has their own name on their back, to the family of James who were in the final stages with us, obviously a mother and sisters, you could write a book with the stories just printed on the back's of those taking part and I am sure that similar to me others will be writing about this and hoping that they touch even one person and compel them to either take part or at least sponsor us.

We crossed the finishing line to whoops and cheers and I don't think I have ever had such a sense of achievement in all my life, I know it is a small victory and it is only 5Km but crossing that line you feel as though you are doing something special and it is true the taking part is the bit that matters.

Absolutely buzzing I have still not come down from the roof yet, we got a medal and a goody bag which was totally besides the point, and better than that we raised an amazing amount on line for an excellent cause. So just in case you were waiting for us to complete please sponsor us now...

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/trs

Race for Life

SPONSOR US PLEASE!!

A group of the girlies from work and myself are going to be doing the Race for Life for cancer research in Glasgow this June. There are 11 of us taking part and the above link (http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/TRS) is where you would go to make a donation. We may only be walking the course but we are still training hard and hoping that we raise enough money to make all of us proud.


So many of our lives are touched by cancer and this is a great way of showing that you care, making a difference and who knows your donation of £5 could be that extra amount that funds the cure of this horrific disease. Over the last ten years alone we have made dramatic improvements in treatments and prevention so your donation really will make a difference.


Thanks have to go to TRS as they have been a fantastic support, please give generously, and thanks in advance from ...

Sharon, Rayleen, Karen, Sheila, Jennifer, Belinda, Nicola, Ashleigh, Charlene, Heather & Gillian. XXX

Bad Week for the SNP

Slogans, Cuts and Tax

This week has not been really successful for the SNP locally or Nationally. Nationally despite their protestations that they remained fully committed to a Local Income Tax the Flag ship policy was finally dropped.

The Local Income Tax was the SNP's 'Big Idea' it was the one issue they spent MORE time on than any other at the 2007 elections, more time than Education and Police and more time than independence, their so called reason for being. One SNP spokesperson is quoted as saying that they 'took command of the situation' by dumping it. An article in the Scotland on Sunday today contains a suggestion that MANY of the SNP MSP's won primarily because of this policy, and I am sure there are many people who voted for the SNP at the last election who would not normally have done so based on this policy that are now regretting their decision and many will now feel let down and deceived.

Locally the SNP presented their budget to Renfrewshire Council with a slight sting in the tail for their finance spokesperson Cllr Noon, as the Leader of the Council Cllr MacKay made the presentation of the budget himself rather than following long established convention (which I believe they stuck to last year) and allowing the finance spokesperson to present.

Could it be that Cllr Noon declined to do this as he did not agree with the budget being presented? Is there a split locally in the SNP? Or is it just that Derek is a bit of a control freak? I would have said glory hunter but having examined the budget there is no glory in taking responsibility for it.

Cuts, cuts and more cuts another £1Million cut in the Social Work budget and £2.5Million from the Education budget despite the propaganda on the Renfrewshire Council website. I was trying to put more information on the council's budget onto this article but the website for the Council will not allow access to the Council and Government section, conicendence? Make up your own mind.

SNOW DAY

Snow and Budgets

Edinburgh is a lovely city, and it becomes even more lovely in the snow, although you do tend to find that it doesn't lie as readily which is not great.  I have been mostly shut in doors today as the TV kept saying only make necessary journeys and I didn't think nipping down to Ocean Terminal to do a bit of impulse shopping was essential.  So instead I spent the day catching up on the days events through the Internet and the TV.  I am hearing from the Scottish News Reports that the budget decision may be 'fast tracked' through the Scottish Parliament this week.  

The word 'Fast Track' makes me wonder through if you are moving at that pace is it not in the hope that those voting for it won't actually notice the hidden cuts and charges contained in it?

I get a little suspicious when people start suggesting this don't you?  

It has been so good catching up with some relaxation, when I tell people I work in a call centre they assume that the conversation is all about Celebrity Big Brother and Survivors (or whatever the latest 'reality' TV show is), in all honesty we talk about Israel, we talk about Politics and we talk about the issues facing us, and most of the people I have spoken to are getting more than a little fed up with Salmond's threats to resign when he doesn't get his own way, talk about throwing your toys out the pram!  

I wish that they would take these things seriously instead of giving it the petted lip every time things don't go their way.  And I think the reaction of the crowd to the SNP leader on Saturday at the new St Mirren Park was a clear indication of this, talk about being humiliated, and before anyone starts yeah you would expect some booing for any politician but not so much the chanting that came after it!  I felt a little embarrassed for Provost Lawson to be honest as she did not look happy and them with their big shiny banner at St Mirren Park too, just shows you politics and football does not mix.

On a separate issue I plan to release the full answer from the BBC to my complaint regarding the DEC appeal and their refusal to show it, I have asked that they get back to me if they do not wish this to go ahead with the reasons why, so watch this space it should be up (if they have no reason to wish to hide such a standard response) on Thursday.

Disaster Emergency Commitee Gaza Appeal

Homecoming 2009 A Waste?

Highland Games and Golf

OK so some people reading this might think well she is Labour (therefore anti Scottish) and we don't expect her to get on board, but I have spoken to friends who are of the nationalist persuasion and they agree, showing the Homecoming advert in Scotland (almost on loop round about Burns anniversary) is a complete waste of money and time.

I honestly could put my foot through the television when it comes on, Eddie Reader who has a fantastic voice (and sounds good in the advert cause the song is fab) but who seems to think that being Scottish means that you must love Burns poetry and appreciate it's beauty (sick of getting it forced down my throat) or two random rugby players (who no one I have spoken to knows), it took me while to work out who some of the others were too, but the biggest insult has to be Shir Sean and Lulu. Shir Sean who couldnt even be bothered to attempt to sing - come on do it with some gusto mate- and Lulu who has decided she has a Scottish accent after all, or at least she has it this week.

The whole campaign is an insult to normal Scottish people a lot of whom are struggling to cope in the current climate, the worlds biggest Highland games are we being serious? What about a massive rock concert twinned with the Celtic connections and leading onto a massive investment in town twinning and exchange trips for young Scottish students? What about an unprecedented investment in Scottish Schools and Scottish Home Care for the Edlerly show the world that the homecoming is not just about those overseas coming home but about social justice and caring for each other, guess that is too much to expect.

The SNP locally have slashed home care budgets, slashed the wardens service in the elderly homes and slashed the budgets for education closing educational establishments, they have let the Roads in Paisley go to the dogs and are singularly uninterested in the people of Renfrewshire, but then what more could we expect?

The BBC and Gaza

SKY and BBC Pro Israel?

I ask this question based on their almost inexplicable refusal to air the DEC (Disaster Emergency Committee) appeal for humanitarian aid in Gaza. I have read a few posts lately from supporters of the appeal and have been astounded by the level of attacks that they have been subjected to, and I fully expect to be attacked myself for this post.


One such blogger I have come across is http://fromgaza.blogspot.com/ written by a Palestinian doctor living in Egypt, it is an eye opener and one which is written from an eye witness of the tragedy so to speak, this blog is written from a perspective of human suffering and uses posts from those inside Gaza.


To address any imbalance I tried to put in a pro Israel blog here but I am finding it difficult to find one who has posted on the above blog who allows their profile to be seen.


The BBC and Sky have disgraced themselves by even suggesting that the UK public are not intelligent enough to know the difference between a news report (which should be balanced anyway) and an appeal by a charity for support for humanitarian aid. I find it difficult to swallow the excuses given by both the BBC and Sky and impartiality, both of these stations have been universally condemned for this action and rightly so, if you have not already done so please make a donation.


I would also urge people to write to the BBC and Sky regarding their decision.

Scottish Budget Crisis

Dishonorable SNP

The SNP budget has been voted down and immediately Alex Salmond decided that the best idea would be to try the same tactic as last year and threaten to resign if they did not get it through next time.

To be honest I am getting sick of his idle threats, the fact that he is willing to jeopardize the stability of the Scottish system by even hinting at this gives you a measure of how dishonorable the man is. Most if not all of the news reports that I have seen so far have called this a crisis for the SNP, the Greens are furious at the idea that the SNP would think that coming up to them minutes before the vote and saying yeah we change change it if you like after knowing for months exactly what the greens want would actually work.

This episode has shown the audacity and sheer arogance of the SNP and in particular Mr Salmond who must take the blame for this fiasco.

WALK FOR HOPE

CHOOSE LIFE

Saturday is an important day in the centre of Paisley, it is the annual Choose life walk for hope, and the event just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Unfortunately I will not be able to make the march this year due to previous arrangement but I would urge as many people as possible to get along to Paisley Town Hall for 2pm.


Choose life do extremely important work helping those thinking of suicide and now those who have been affected by suicide. You will note that Scotland's suicide rates have been in the news reports lately and too many people can't see a way out and unfortunately end up taking their own lives, projects like breathing space and choose life offer someone to talk to when it gets too much.


If you know someone who has been affected by suicide or someone who has committed suicide please take the time and go to the march. The people I have had the pleasure of speaking to on these occasions are family members of those who have taken their own lives and their strength and honesty was completely overwhelming, their acceptance of new people and willingness to explain their situation made the whole experience humbling. Please go along an support them and go for a cup of tea afterwards have a chat see what I mean.

Alex 'Thatcher' Salmond

On Yer Bike

On Margaret Thatcher and her policies Alex Salmond apparently thinks that Scotland and I quote "didn't mind the economic side so much. But we didn't like the social side at all." Of Course the problem we had with the Poll Tax wasn't the economics it had nothing to do with the fact that we were down and beaten by years of recession and unemployment with the decimation of our national industries, it was because well it just wasn't very nice!!

Does anyone else see the problem here? The fact that the First Minister of Scotland decided that in order to clarify his position had to call a radio call in show shows a level of desperation that no other leader of our country has ever even considered displaying, the scary thing is that the SNP will try and spin this as being in touch with 'the people'.

While talking to a few friends -a few of whom are SNP members- even they agreed that this made them look stupid, although on the back of the SNP locally awarding the directors of service a 16.7% pay rise and then having the bear faced cheek to write to the strikers that 2.5% was not enough, it kind of pales in comparison. I believe (and this is from sources actually present) the question put was if all of the workers and the directors are all in the same team will they be suggesting 16.7% for the ordinary worker?

I loved the fact that the SNP think that laughing in the face of Unison members when they ask the above is the done thing, it shows an incredible level of political naiveté from Cllr's Lawson, Mitchell and Adam who apparently think that the Unison members are beneath contempt.

Unlike the self proclaimed 'Tartan Tory' Salmond, I understand why Mrs Thatchers economics were bad for Scotland and I did mind them, as did the Coal miners, the small businesses and those of us affected by the Poll Tax. I wonder if Mr Salmond would consider this as a social or economic policy?

Watch his space for the next 'Salmondism' you know something like a 'Bushism' only not quite as politically articulate.

My Name

Raelene Boyle

Lots of people are named after their mother or father, or a loved one or friend I was lucky enough to be named after this woman (Photo above) an Olympic champion, so just in case you were interested here is a wee bit about Raelene Boyle

The woman above (Raelene Boyle) is an ex Australian sprinting champion and an Olympic silver medalist three times, she took part in a number of Olympics and is where my parents got my name, as they were watching when she was competing in the 1976 Montreal games. The number of people I have met that have said 'Rayleen that is an unusual name' is massive, even in University where I was surrounded by students from across the globe I always got the same thing.



My understanding is that the name Rayleen is not as unusual as you might think, well at least not in Australia and there is even a facebook group for the Rayleen's of the world to share stories of how we got our names etc and the spellings!


Raelene Boyle was the first woman to carry their Countries flag in the Olympic opening ceremony in 1976 and although she did not win any medals that year - from what I can tell this was mainly down to being disqualified for two false starts, which were later shown not to be false starts - she was widely recognised as one of the outstanding talents of her generation. Raelene Boyle has suffered from breast cancer and help set up a charity called 'Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation' which raises money for cancer awareness, you can donate to the charity or learn more about it by clicking on the name above.



I like that I am named after someone different, I suppose it is a little like being named after the Jamaican athlete Usian Bolt who yesterday smashed the Olympic record for the mens 100 meter, those children would have their own story to tell. Having an unusual name is great, people rarely forget your name and in itself it is a bit of an icebreaker which is great with me being the shy retiring type!

So if you are pregnant and sitting in front of the TV forget about calling your child Leona after the singer think about calling them after someone more unusual and interesting give them a story behind the name.

Social Work

What Went Wrong?

Sitting in work on one of my breaks during the week I noticed one of these trashy women's magazines that I almost never read (unless I am in the doctors surgery waiting room) in it I noticed an interesting article on the Social Worker involved in the Victoria Climbie case. She was cleared of being at fault in the case by a tribunal and I thought that it was interesting they showed her side of the story and her grief and anger over the whole tragedy. But at the time, the tragedy reminded me of something that struck me from a fairly early stage in my professional life, there are some sections of public sector workers who only ever get into the press if something goes wrong.


I don't think I have ever seen an article in the main stream press congratulating a social worker for helping a child with behavioural difficulties stick in at school and get their Higher results, or the teacher who gives up their spare time to take kids to the theatre because it will help explain what Romeo and Juliet or A Midsummer Nights Dream is actually all about, and most of us know one or both of those I have just described. Think about the relatively low paid social care worker in a children's unit helping give young people a sense of home and security as well as the emotional and intellectual support to continue in school and achieve academically.


I don't think enough emphasis is placed on public sector workers as a whole but, Social Workers definitely seem to get the rough end of the stick, it is their fault when a child like Victoria Climbie gets killed, it is their fault when a parole violator breaks the conditions of their parole and commits a crime and it is their fault when the unruly teenager decides to break the windows on their next door neighbours car because he wouldn't give them their ball back!


Society fails to acknowledge and accept that we can never fully mitigate such risks, and I know that is not a popular view I wish we could stop every tragedy like this happening but the simple truth is we can't. We could have the most robust system EVER in place and tragedies like this would still take place.


Social workers will never be able to stop every tragedy like Victoria Climbie but they can minimize them when the system works, that is why we have child protection committees in every council with all appropriate agencies represented. I have been to a few of these meetings as a Councillor and it is never easy but everyone present has one thing in mind what is best for the child. I loved the title of one of the reports to come out of the Scottish Executive when I was a Councillor .... 'It's Everyone's Job to Make sure I'm Alright' because it is.


For my part I wanted to say thank you to all of the Social workers who have helped shape my life. From my Aunts, one a retired social worker and one still serving, to the people I worked with while a sessional worker with Social Work and all of those I worked with while the Deputy Convenor on the Council. All of you made a profound impact on my view of what Social Work can do when it works, and the difference it can make not just to a child's life but, to the thousands of vulnerable clients throughout Scotland who rely on you for help.

Goodbye To A Friend

David Ramsay

As many readers of this blog might know before I was so heavily involved in Politics I was a long time member of Paisley Youth Theatre and as a member I met a lot of lovely people and made a number of close friends who are still friends to this day. Unfortunately recently we lost one of those friends and that loss is keenly felt by all who knew him.

David Ramsay until fairly recently was the Musical Director of PACE Theatre company and it was in this capacity that I came to know him and become his friend. I think myself lucky that I met David -although the first time I met him he had a parrot on his shoulder (long story don't ask)- he always had time for me and believed in me and my ability as a singer. David and his wife Pauline were probably more PACE for me than anything else, that is not to disparage the other excellent members of staff that PACE have, but I spent a lot of time hiding behind my big sister trying to be the third spear carrier from the left, and David or DR as we affectionately called him would not allow this and although he did not push you to the front he fostered your talent and helped you believe in yourself.

I will miss DR because he was and is my friend, I cannot begin to describe what he meant to me and I am not going to try, instead I am going to leave a memory in the hope that all of you reading this who knew him will similarly leave a comment with a funny/nice memory of your own. We have had to say goodbye to DR but we do not and will not forget him, to so many us he will never be forgotten he sneaked in and made a DR shape in your life so unassuming and quiet but always there if you needed him. David leaves behind his wife Pauline and two young sons as well as his mother and brother and extended family all of whom will miss him.

Recording the song for 'Cuts Both Ways' in the PACE office downstairs, we had been rehearsing for about five minutes when the workmen outside the office window started with the pneumatic drill and they continued for about half an hour in between bursts we tried to lay down the track and we would get almost all the way through and the drill would start again, after about an hour and a half of this DR says wait here a minute. Five minutes later he comes back in the room and says right we have ten minutes lets go! DR had went outside and convinced the workmen to stop for ten minutes so that we could record the track. And I must admit to being suitably impressed with the results, it's true what they say you can do wonders in post production.