Bessie and Molly the Return

The Return of the Wonder dogs

OK took this one while out and about in the Fountain Gardens last Saturday with the dogs, the gardens are gorgeous at this time of year with the tress losing their blossoms and the paths redone all that is missing is the fountain, but it seems that the well of opportunity that existed under the Labour administration for upgrading the parks in Renfrewshire has run dry, much like this amazing fountain under the administration of the SNP and Liberal Democrats.

Frosty the Snowman

LEON REDBONE

With it being Christmas and all I thought that this would be a fantastic time to post this video, I found it on You Tube last night and thought it was amazing hope you enjoy it and best wishes to you all for the festive season....

Wee Nicky slips up AGAIN

Deputy First Minister Wee Nicky has got to learn that just cause she says it doesn't make it so! Her latest is that entry into the EU for an independent Scotland would be automatic, this by no means assured, in fact, the majority of the legal opinion is that this is NOT the case. The automatic membership of the EU would not be for Scotland but for the remainder of the United Kingdom.



Her assertion that the EU would want Scotland because it is Oil rich backs up the argument that Scotland would not gain automatic entry into the EU, why? Because, why would it matter whether they would want Scotland or not if an independent Scotland had automatic entry? Her own words prove that even she does not believe her parties rhetoric. The fact that she 'Can't' reveal her legal source is more than a little suspicious and the fact that she refuses to confirm whether the Scottish Government's own legal department agrees pretty much says they don't or she and the SNP would be shouting it from the rooftops.



Now do not get me wrong my understanding of this topic is limited (as it seems is wee Nicky's) but, having limited study of the articles of association in University I have to say wee Nicky's statements are dubious to say the least. Personally I don't think it will be an issue given that I do not think that Scotland will vote to become independent, but, even if it was, I for one would like to see a little more meat on the bones of the SNP's policy here, for instance how many seats do the SNP think they will get at the 'Top Table'? Do they believe that an independent Scotland would have the same power of veto as the rest of the UK? What would they do on the new EU Constitution?


I will leave it at that for now, but it is certainly something to think about.

Erskine on a cold morning

My sister and I ventured out to Erskine Yesterday morning with the dogs, while walking along the beach we managed to take a few photos including this one of a huge ship being led into the open waters, it is a pretty impressive sight.

Happy Halloween

Happy birthday to my wee cousin as well, enjoy yourself people.

SYLVESTER

And the fish

SNP IN TROUBLE

LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY

The SNP both nationally and locally have been up to their eyes in it this week, between the SNP locally cutting £2 Million off the budget without being able to tell the Council members where the cuts would be made, and from what I hear they were also unwilling to give a long term commitment to continuing the Labour Party policy of no compulsary Redundancies, and the SNP nationally being voted down in the Parliament over their plans for their Skills initiative.

On the second case it doesn't look as though they will be paying much attention to the defeat in terms of policy, as they seem to be suggesting they will go ahead with it anyway.

Interestingly enough on the Local front according to press reports the SNP/Liberal Democrat Administration will be cutting £1.1 Million from the Education budget in Renfrewshire and over half a Million from the Social Work budget, what the PDE didn't cover was that despite being very specific about the amounts being cut, the SNP were not so forthcoming in terms of what this would mean to front line services and staff, we shall wait and see.

PEDAL FOR SCOTLAND

LEUKEMIA RESEARCH

This Sunday starting from Glasgow Green there is a massive cycle race, starting from Glasgow and heading to Edinburgh click on the link above to find out more information but it is in aid of Leukemia Research one of my FAVOURITE charities!!

Alastair Campbell is opening the event, he has been a major supporter of the charity for sometime, if you are interested visit the website get involved!

WALK OF HOPE

CHOOSE LIFE

When I was the Local Councillor and the Deputy Convenor for Community and Family Care, last year and the year before I had the privilege of being invited along to the Walk for Hope in Paisley Town Centre, and even though I am no longer in that role I was intending in joining the walkers through the town centre on Saturday. Unfortunately due to work commitments I was unable to attend but I was delighted to see the article in the paper today, over 100 people took part according to the coverage and I am delighted by the response.

Recently the issue of suicide prevention has taken a more personal theme for me as one of my friends recently lost a brother to suicide, no one can understand the grief and confusion that comes unless you have been through it yourself, last year I spoke to many mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters of people who had committed suicide and saw first hand the excellent work carried out by all of the agencies but in particular Rosemary Mullan and the team at Choose Life, I was delighted they got such a good response this year and fully intend on being with them next year.

Anyone interested should visit the Wynd Centre in Paisley tomorrow between 10am and 1pm for the excellent information morning co-ordinated by ChooseLife Renfrewshire and involving Breathing Space, First Crisis and ChooseLife, remember you are not alone and don't be afraid to ask for help.

The girls enjoy some time out!

The photo is of the dogs enjoying a day out in Erskine. There are some fantastic walks in this part of Renfrewshire so if you are looking for something to do today keep it in mind.

PR THE RESULTS

NOT QUITE THIS WEEKS POLL

OK so it lastest quite a while more than one week, a couple of months to be more precise but I have noticed an interesting trend in the results of late. When I first posed the question regarding the nature of proportional representation and whether or not it gives a disproportionate amount of power to smaller parties the results were vastly different from those I am about to announce. At the beginning it was almost equal, and the no's even had it by a slight margin, but you will see now that the results are pretty conclusive...

The Question: Proportional Representation gives a disproportionate amount of power to smaller parties

The Answers ...

Totally Agree: 72% (144 votes)

Agree: 0% (0 Votes)

Don't Know: 0% (0 Votes)

Disagree: 6% (12 Votes)

Totally Disagree: 22% (43 Votes)

Now before anyone starts on about me doctoring the figures by voting loads of times myself, I set up the poll so that you (including me) can only vote once in a year! This stopped the usual suspects (you know who you are) from trying to skew the results to the response that suited their agenda.

It happens that this was my opinion, that proportional representation is disproportionately favourable to the smaller 'King Maker' parties like the Greens in Holyrood or the Liberals in Renfrewshire Council, their agenda is foisted onto a public that didn't vote for it, and in some cases the parties didn't even stand enough candidates to win the election (Greens nationally and the Liberals on Renfrewshire Council) and so were always intending on being the King Makers so to speak. I can't help but wonder if the reason the voting patterns for this poll changed so dramatically over time, was that those getting involved noticed something either nationally or locally which drew them to this conclusion? It would be interesting to know.

For now thanks for dropping by,and thanks for voting, I will get another poll up and running pretty soon.

MY NEW DOO

EVENTUALLY GOT ROUND TO IT

Got my hair cut and coloured last Saturday for a gorgeous wedding. Loving it, doubt if I could get it to look like this again though! Eventually got round to getting it cut, again another of those things that I never got time for during the campaign so delighted I had time to sit down for two hours and get it cut and coloured, also delighted that there is a fantastic hairdressers down the road from my flat!

BESSIE THE SIDE KICK

ANOTHER MOBILE POST

This is another mobile post so Bessie does not feel left out, she may look cute but she is fierce!

MOLLY THE WONDER DOG

MY FIRST MOBILE BLOG

This is the first blog entry I have made in a while and it is also the first blog entry I have made via my mobile phone. I must admit I wanted to get the mobile blogging up and running during the recent elections but the service was only available in the US at that time so had to wait.

The above photo is of Molly (of course) taken with my new camera phone extrodinaire blogging, photos, video messages and calling the lot very impressed with it so far.