Now that the dust has settled ...

Reflections on Glasgow East
Well what do you make of that? Apart from the bold Mr Salmond himself, who would have predicted that result? I always thought that the by-election would be close but I genuinely thought that a 13500 majority was just too much to overcome. Just shows you how wrong you can be.
So what happened? Well, firstly, let's take nothing away from the SNP. As I said last week their candidate is a very popular local councillor - increasing his majority at subsequent council elections - and he didn't put a foot wrong despite the constant media attention. There were some sneers about his quiet manner, his lack of pzazz and the fact that his Leader was constantly by his side. Whatever the detractors say, he was quietly effective and he chimed with local people. The voters knew what they were getting when they elected him.
Then there was the campaign itself. When you are on a high, as the SNP undoubtedly is, it's quite easy to get supporters out and working - the sense of excitement is there, you're enthusiastic and the adrenaline's there. The SNP had hundreds of willing volunteers available, and their presence on the streets was impressive. Come a General Election they would not be able to flood constituencies across the country, of course, but this was a remarkable achievement nonetheless.
So I don't think it's quite as simple as saying that Labour lost the election - the SNP had to go out and win it, and they did. They enthused people to work for them, they enthused voters to go out and vote for them - they deserved their victory.
As for Labour, where do you start? There's the suspicious (for some) circumstances of having to call a snap by-election in the first place, then your preferred candidate decides not to turn up for his selection meeting (more questions). You then have to quickly rewrite the rule-book to lever another candidate in - and only then can your campaign begin in earnest!
And that's against a backdrop of crippling fuel prices, high interest rates, food prices going through the roof and rising unemployment. You've just lost your leader in the Scottish Parliament, your chums at Westminster have supported (then belatedly rescinded) the abolition of the 10p tax band and, shortly after deciding against cutting back their own ample expenses. To top that, in the crucial last week of campaigning your government announces bold new plans to get claimants off welfare and back into work -and the by-election is in one of the poorest and unhealthiest constituencies in the country! Add to this potent cocktail the fact that this Labour government has become one of the most unpopular since records began, you begin to see that you might have a bit of a problem here ...
And yet despite all that, I thought Labour would hold on. Too big a majority, I thought, and turnout will be poor - it always is there. Well turnout was low, but those people who did choose to vote sent a very clear, if unpleasant, message to the Labour government, and it is simply not good enough to say 'we're listening - we share your pain'. Patronising words won't win the seat back or convince an increasingly sceptical and disillusioned public that Labour really cares about ordinary people anymore.
However I believe that there is absolutely nothing to be gained by ditching Gordon Brown, as some hysterical back-benchers are demanding - a change of leader will not change the Party's fortunes, and honestly - what ambitious Labour MP would want that job right now? No, if it wasn't clear before it should be crystal clear now - it's time to ditch the 'New' and to get back to real left-of-centre policies. That's what Labour is for

This week's pic is NOT George Foulkes and Eric Pickles enjoying a spot of rough and tumble for the cameras - it was taken at a community fun day at the Civil Service Playing Fields last Friday!

All To Play For (2)

An auld fiddle plays the best tune?
It's my birthday today - thanks for all the cards and presents, it took me hours to open them all - twenty-one again!
Actually fifty-one's not that old - although it does look like it when you type it out in full. Apart from failing eyesight (cannae read a thing without the specs), dodgy knees, greying sideburns and creaking bones I feel fit as a fiddle. With my change of diet and new fitness regime of the last few weeks I have managed to put on two pounds: I am strongly tempted to return to my trusty Golden Wonder diet next week!
Getting older does have it's advantages, I'm told - but I've yet to find out what these actually are. However the alternative to growing older isn't really a palatable option, so we soldier on. And growing older doesn't mean that you have to grow up!
I am inspired by Greg Norman's performance in the Open this week. He starts the final day with a lead of two shots, despite having played little seriously competitive golf over the last few years - and he's 53! He looks extremely fit and seems to be enjoying himself immensely. My guess is that he, too, has discovered the benefits of the Golden Wonder diet!
I'm off to open the rest of my presents - if I can find my glasses!
The image above is neither Greg Norman nor myself, although this chap looks how I feel some mornings.

All to play for (1)

Final countdown in Glasgow East
The political parties and the media have moved into overdrive as we move into the last few days of campaigning. The papers are full of it, the blogosphere is filled with thousands of postings about it, party activists can talk about nothing else - the only people who seem slightly less than enthusiastic about the whole political circus are the local punters themselves.
The word is they are fed up with being accosted on the local streets by strange alien visitors from another world brandishing leaflets as they nip out to the shops for their 'Sun' or 'Daily Record', or fighting their way past yet another camera crew as they try to get the Lottery ticket on in time. They are not even safe in their own homes - if it's not some eager canvasser knocking on their door seeking support it's the dreaded telephone canvassers - sometimes called Jocasta or Justin -calling during East Enders or Corrie or when they're trying to feed the bairns. The double-glazing and kitchens salespeople can't get through to offer their 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunities' for the party political telecanvassers queueing up to offer even better deals!
The end is nigh, though - what passes as daily life in the East End will return to normal come Friday, when the media circus will have moved on and all that will be left are dozens of leaflets littering the streets and lamp-post posters awaiting removal.
The talking points of the last week were the intervention of Taggart actor John Michie, who was out on the streets campaigning for Margaret Curran. Only last year the same actor is recorded on film making a passionate plea for independence! Following this revelation the Glesca thespian exited stage left (or maybe stage right?)and has not been seen on the streets again. It's not uncommon for actors to play two roles in one production but this is surely a case that would baffle Taggart himself!
The other 'highlight' was Newsnight Scotland's hustings edition on Thursday night. It was a disappointment, we learnt nothing new and chairman Glenn Campbell didn't exactly cover himself in glory. Dimbleby, Paxman - even Kirsty Wark - he is not.
The Tory candidate has no change of winning so was quite relaxed; no doubt it's been a good experience for her and she'll find a seat in due course.
The Lib-Dem was the identikit Lib-Dem wallpaper candidate - unremarkable, uncontroversial and saying what he thought the studio audience wanted to hear. Again, he'll be back.
The SNP's Councillor Mason is an accountant to trade with a background in the church, so it was always unlikely that you were going to get a song and dance routine from this chap. He certainly came across as competent, though, and as one of Glasgow's longest serving councillors - and a resident of the East End - he didn't let himself down under the glare of the studio lights.
Margaret Curran is often described as 'feisty'. That's usually seen as something positive, but it's a quality that seems to work both ways with the Labour candidate and she appears to be turning off as many voters as she is garnering support for the cause.
Ms Curran's style is to 'talkveryveryfastandsaylotsandlotsofveryveryimportantthingswithouteveryreallyansweringthequestionthatwasputtoherinthehopethattheinterviewerwillforgetthequestionheaskedinthefirstplaceandallowingmargarettoansweratotalydifferentquestionormakeacompletelyunrelatedpointinstead'
She's very good at it, but it's dreadful to watch and a pain to listen to. Why not just answer the questions?
Labour is also said to be worded about problems with having two Currans on the ballot paper - Frances Curran is standing for the SSP, and they fear that this could cause confusion amongst voters. This has been an issue before but you've really got to ask: if voters cannot distinguish between the two different parties on the ballot paper should they really be allowed to have the vote at all?
The fate of the candidates will become clear in the early hours of Friday morning. My prediction (forget the golf and Euro 2008 forecasts!)? While the SNP will certainly get their vote out I still think Labour will hold on, on a much reduced majority and on a very low turn-out. And whatever the result, at least the good folk of the East End can feel safe to leave their homes again to enjoy what's left of their Glasgow Fair holidays.
Incidentally the pictures above are not Glasgow's East End, but pictures I took on the way to work the other morning - North Edinburgh shares many problems with our cousins out west. (As dear Kirsty might say 'More on that story later').

War of Attrition

Well Lee Westwood and Colin Montomerie are at Birkdale for the last two days after all! Both players got in right on the cut line of +8 so are among the first out this morning.
Conditions are severe for the early starters again and Lee Westwood is perhaps wondering why he bothered - he's already six over par for his seven holes this morning, +14 in total ... Monty has at least survived the first hole without dropping a shot or even falling out with anyone!
Predictions? With my Open bets down the swanney already it's looking like a complete lottery - only nine shots covered seventy odd players before play started this morning. The late starters may have the best of the weather again so that will favour the overnight leaders, and one or two players managed to put together a run of birdies yesterday. That said, though, I can't see anyone pulling away from the field - in difficult conditions it's too difficult a course to knock in a big sub-par round I reckon. (Warning: This from the man who tipped Czech Republic to win Euro 2008.
My tip is that any final score below par will finish in the top six, -2 or -3 will almost certainly win the Open and that a play-off for the Championship is more than likely. As to the ultimate winner - look for someone who is no worse than four shots off the pace at start of play today, i.e. no more than +3. (Translated: haven't a clue!) Okay, my three against the field now are Harrington, Duval and Furyk - so don't back any of them!

The Luck of the Draw

Sodden Birkdale!
Friday afternoon, mid July, and it's p*ssing down again. I'm watching the world's top golfers squelching their miserable way round Royal Birkdale and the gale force winds and driving rain are making the game's elite look like your bog-standard Sunday morning hackers.
I've never played golf but I enjoy watching the Open - and it's even better when the conditions make it a bit more interesting; the wind and rain are a great leveller.
No Tiger this year of course, but even had the Great Man been at Royal Birkdale I very much doubt that we would witness huge sub-par rounds and mile-wide winning margins.
It always looked like it was going to be wide open this year so I couldn't resist having a small investment given that the favourite was 8 - 1. With the recent Czech Republic Euro2008 disaster fresh in my mind the stakes were small, but potential returns are impressive.
Luck does play it's part in golf and the weather is one of those things you can't predict, so I shrewdly (I thought) avoided placing a bet until after the first round, watching which players were adapting best to the horrendous conditions as similar rotten weather is forecast for Friday and Saturday.
Those players out early on Thursday had the worst of the conditions (although it was hardly balmy in the afternoon) so were due to enjoy the 'better' weather today as those who went out late on Thursday started their rounds early on Friday.
After careful consideration my two 'investments' were Senor Miguel Angel Jiminez, a crafty Spaniard who copes well with the conditions and finished his first round on just two over par, and England's Lee Westwood, who was further back on +5 after day one but who has been in good form and was reportedly unlucky not to make a better score on Thursday.
It is now 5:30pm on Friday. Jiminez finished his round some time ago on +14 - that's some achievement and probably the worst round he's shot in his professional career! The pressure of having my money on him was clearly too much and he's heading home. Poor Lee Westwood can't buy a putt for love nor money and he is dropping dangerously close to the cut line too.
Monty is dropping shots right, left and centre and he is glowering magnificently, stomping his way from one hole to the next with a face like thunder.
They do say golf is a good walk spoiled, and I think Monty would agree with that sentiment just now. The storm clouds are gathering - fore!

Service Interrupted

A thousand apologies, dear reader, for the delay in posting this week.
This was caused by three issues outwith my control:
(a) What seemed like a thousand acres of decking had to be power-washed before staining could take place on Monday - and this took far, far, longer than I thought it would, and
(b) dear daughter Knutt has commandeered the computer to download pictures and new music to her Ipod.
(c) a malfunctioning mouse (probably caused by (b), but I'm not blaming anyone).

I'm back on-line now, though, and I hope you appreciate the effort I've made in revamping the site - it's all for you, you know!
Despite the new title, there were very few adventures last week - two meetings about Fairer Scotland Fund being the highlight (highlight?) The date for the joint meeting of projects and community councils has been set for Wednesday 23 July at The Prentice Centre - hopefully more information will become available before then (though I don't think much more funding will be!)

Sadly I'll have to keep things brief for the moment due to other more pressing things to do, so I'll just mention in passing:

The classic Nadal Federer Wimbledon Men's Singles Final - perhaps the best ever?

David Davies epic(!) win in the by-election he himself inflicted on his constituents - still not clear who gained out of this farce, although I am very disappointed with the Militant Elvis vote!

Margaret Curran has hit the ground running in Glasgow East, despite seeming to have a problem in knowing where she lives! East end, southside - it's easy to get confused ... sometimes there's just too much choice!

Much more next weekend, when normal service will be resumed.

This week's picture is fearless (gormless?)Page, who showed a distinct lack of interest when all the power-hosing was going on. Mind you, for a cat who was stood on as a kitten (damaging his back) and has since been attacked by foxes - twice - (damage to back legs and losing his tail) a simple hose clearly holds no fears!

Silly Season?

It's July - the school holidays are here and of course it's tipping down with rain. Politics normally winds down for the summer recesses now, and it's traditionally the 'silly season' for newspapers with not much news but lots of column inches to fill.
That's all change this year though. First we had wee Wendy's departure and this week the Lib-Dem's Scottish leader decided to relinquish those onerous duties and return to the back benches. Nicol Stephen does have four young children, and trekking back and forth from Edinburgh to Aberdeen can't be a lot of fun (if quite lucrative) but Nicol's decision does some to have been made with undue haste.
Some have suggested that there are some murky secrets to come out (in particular about the Aberdeen by-pass), and that the Lib-Dem leader chose to leave at a time when the spotlight was on Labour's current travails. Time will tell, but I do hope that he really is leaving to spend more time with his family - he's always come across as a decent, inoffensive chap if a less than convincing leader. Even if there is less pressure on his time now he has given up the leadership, though, he is still an MSP and the same old grind of commuting will continue. Life must have been so much easier when he had the ministerial Mondeo on tap ... and some evil ne'er-do-wells are suggesting that the loss of status, salary and all the other trappings of power are the real reasons for his departure. Surely not?
Politics can be a very selfish business, and whether you're just a humble toon cooncillor or a lofty Euro MEP it's tough to balance the demands of the job and family life. Glasgow councillor George Ryan apparently took counsel from his wife - 'Yer no' stonnin'!' when he belatedly decided not to stand for Labour in the by-election caused by the resignation of Glasgow East MP David Marshall. According to some newspaper reports Mr Marshall is also very much a man steeped in family values and keen to see as much of his family as he could - even to the extent of employing them to work from home for him at a cost to the public purse of around half a million quid! Anyhow, Mr Marshall's decision to retire - officially on health grounds - has caused Labour a bit of a headache.
On the face of it it should have been quite straightforward. Glasgow East is one of Labour's safest seats, with a majority of 13,500. It's one of those seats beloved of the Labour Party - 'ma granda aye voted Labour, ma ma and da voted Labour an ah'm votin' Labour' - where in days gone by there was no need to count the votes, just weigh them. Times change, though, even in the West of Scotland, and there is real fear in the ranks that the seat could fall - in a year of disasters for Labour, this really would be the disaster of disasters.
Local MSP Margaret Curran has now thrown her hat into the ring so she'll be a 'shoo in' for selection. Until this weekend she had been actively considering standing for the leadership of the Labour Group at Holyrood, but it seems she's now willing to come to the party's aid to fight the Westminster seat. Malcontents (yes, the cynics are everywhere) have suggested that she would never have won the leadership election anyway - she is blamed by some as being the insider responsible for leaking details of Wendy's expenses - and that her Holyrood seat will disappear (and her career with it) through imminent boundary changes.
Whatever her reason for standing, there's no doubt that she faces a real battle to hold on to the seat. The bookies - who usually get these things right - have now installed the SNP as favourites to take Glasgow East. I think they may be wrong this time though.
While a swing of that magnitude is not unheard of, I can't see the SNP enthusing the electorate enough to overturn a majority of that size during the traditional Glasgow Fair fortnight. Also, like her or loathe her Margaret Curran is at least a nationally known politician - a 'big hitter' in a world where there are currently few around. I think she'll just scrape home, and any majority at all will be hailed as a momentous victory by Labour given recent circumstances. An opportunity to draw a line under all that's gone before and a chance to say: we're over the worst, it's bottomed out and the fightback starts here.
Should Labour lose, expect the usual 'mid-term one-off','electorate taking the opportunity to give the government a kicking but we're listening to them and we fully expect to take this seat back in the General Election' stuff, but everyone knows it's rather more serious than that. Losing Glasgow East will see what's left of Labour's fair weather funders abandon ship, taking their wallets with them and with the General Election just two years away that could really be the final nail in the coffin. Labour is basically skint, and you can't fight elections without funds.
There's a hell of a lot riding on the 21 July result - the stakes just don't get any higher.

Last week, our esteemed Westminster parliamentarians showed their solidarity with us poor, down-trodden taxpayers and decided to eschew an above inflation pay increase. Very noble, but sadly their good intentions were rather over-shadowed by their decision to hang on to their 'John Lewis list' expenses gravy train. Unsurprisingly, the public appear to be less than overwhelmed by their elected representatives actions. The words 'snouts' 'troughs' and 'greedy bastards' have been very much in evidence!

Sport

Sadly but predictably, 'our' Andy was put in his place by the awesome Spaniard Nadal at Wimbledon, and overnight became 'sullen Scot' as opposed to 'true Brit'! There's a huge gulf between Federer and Nadal and the rest - a bit like the Old Firm in our Premier League - and as there is just one year's difference in age between Murray and Nadal it's hard to see the Scot ever being able to narrow that gap and become a champion. The match was man against boy; the Spaniard was just too strong and powerful and there is no shame in losing to one of the world's two true greats.

More Spanish success at in the Euro final last Sunday too, and it was truly a case of 'the best team won'. Sure, others had their moments throughout the tournament - the Croatians briefly shone, the Dutch looked unbeatable for a while and even the Russians looked likely winners at one stage - but ultimately it was the Spaniards who lifted the trophy with some sublime football (watching them, it was sometimes like being back at Easter Road under Mowbray!)
Sadly, I was unable to focus on most of the Final action on Sunday night, having imbibed too freely at Ken Harrold's birthday party earlier that evening - but I think I enjoyed it.

Finally a note of sympathy to Spartans, who lost out on a League place to Annan Athletic. The local club recently picked up a much-merited Community Award and it was disappointing that they didn't get the place. Given the parlous state of some clubs' finances, though, (who mentioned Hearts?) it may not be too long before they are elevated to the Football League.

Work

The diary was relatively free this week (as is usual when the schools go off) and a lot of time was spent discussing Fairer Scotland Funding (sorry, this will keep coming up!) A meeting of all the projects affected, along with the local community councils) has now been set up for later this month.

Home Sweet Home

Other than a sodden but fun barbecue at my brother's yesterday, cars dominated the domestic agenda this week. The Picasso's exhaust blew on Monday and also needed two new tyres, and this was followed by a full service and MoT test on Thursday. Around £700 poorer, I have come to the conclusion that cars can be an expensive commodity!
Also Knutt finally relented and took her car in to get a flat tyre checked when other motorists kept flashing her and pointing down at her wheel - she had cunningly got round the problem of the noise caused by running a nearly flat tyre by turning up her radio. Sadly, that, in itself, did not really resolve the problem and Knutt has just found out that it actually costs money to run a car. You learn something new every day!

£700 poorer I shall have to tighten the belt a bit (and not because of a shrinking waistline - despite my best efforts I have PUT ON three pounds this week!)and no social activities are planned in the near future. At least I can sit at the window and watch the young foxes frolicking in the garden (pictured above) - that's free!