Still No' Fair

The last week's been dominated by the ongoing saga of the (Un)Fairer Scotland Fund. Indeed, this subject has increasingly dominated my waking life for weeks now, and there's still no end in sight.
Tuesday was supposed to be decision day, with more time set aside on Friday just in case it should be needed - and I've no doubt it would have been. However we received an email on Monday afternoon to tell us that Tuesday's meeting had been cancelled due to a 'conflict of interest' of one of the panel members. The whole decision process had now been put on hold until - after the Forth by-election. Hmmm ...
On Thursday I was part of a deputation from the Edinburgh Community Representatives Network (ECRN) to argue at Full Council for a fairer allocation of the fund - because of the formula used to calculate FSF allocations for each of the city's Neighbourhood Partnerships North Edinburgh loses out by around 40%. In cash terms it means that there is something like £800,000 less available for the 17 Forth projects who currently receive FSF. The deputation got a fair - if at times ill-tempered - hearing, and while I think we won the argument we predictably lost the vote. Very depressing.
The fallout from last week's decisions will rumble on into this week and FSF will dominate my life for some time to come, I fear.
Meanwhile, other life goes on as normal. Brian is home in less than three weeks and the house is still very much a 'work in progress' - it's a race against time to have this finished before he gets home, and it's a race we're losing at the moment.
And talking about defeat, Hibs did their level best to do just that against Hearts in yesterday's Derby at Easter Road. A goal up in the first minute, things looked so good but the ascendancy was quickly lost and Hearts deservedly equalised before half time. The second half didn't match the first for excitement and I have to say that Hearts edged it. As it was, though - the conditions were awful - I think both teams will be happy to settle for a point. Speaking to impartial observers, they say a draw was a fair result. Life's not always fair, however, as I'm sure the FSF situation in North Edinburgh will show - eventually.

Apocalypse Averted?

The government's attempts to shore up our teetering banking system appear to have worked; it was seat of the pants stuff, but the financial markets have reacted positively and the crisis appears to be over - for now at least.
More than a few commentators have noted that Gordon Brown looked like a man transformed while he was tackling the crisis, and while Brown and Darling haven't quite become the new Chuckle Brothers it's true that both men appeared to relish the challenge of saving the banking system. His status - maybe that should be 'stock'! - has risen as a result, and the present economic challenges have certainly put an end to any ideas of a leadership challenge.
With usual political hostilities put on hold, there's been an added bonus for the Prime Minister, who has been able to show a leadership that has not been apparent over the recent troubled months. It's a bit like when the safety car is brought out during a Grand Prix - there you are, lagging miles behind a distant runaway leader, when suddenly there's an accident - the safety car comes out and the whole field closes up again. Normal hostilities will resume in due course, obviously, and the government will face criticism over it's failure to regulate the worst excesses of our greedy bankers, but Gordon's at least back in the race and the predicted Tory landslide at the next election now seems rather less certain. Glenrothes may show us just how the public has responded to the new Brown.

The Return of the Prince of Darkness

Who'd have believed it?He's back - arise, Lord Mandy! One of the most devisive and controversial figures in recent Labour Party history is back in the Cabinet, to the bewilderment of many. A man who was forced to resign - not once, but twice - is back in front-line politics, and enobled with a seat in the House of Lords too! David Blunkett - not perhaps the finest judge of character himself - described the appointment of 'Fighter not a quitter' Mandy as 'a masterstroke'. Many others have been rather more critical, however, and if Gordon Brown believes Mandelson's appointment will bring an end to the internal plotting against him and unite the party he's got this very wrong. Mandelson's a habitual conspirator and he'll never change. Watch your back, Gordon!

Another Return
Another far more popular figure made a return last week. Postman Pat (above), is back,with hos old chum Jess the cat of course - and he's been promoted after all these years! Who knows, maybe Pat will follow the Alan Johnson route and become a member of the cabinet too!

Worst Kept Secret Is Out
Popular local lad John Loughton is to stand in the forthcoming Forth by-election. John is perhaps best known for winning Big Brother Celebrity Hijack earlier this year, but there's an awful lot more to young John than that. I've known him for a number of years and watched him grow into a socially aware, honest and articulate young man who passionately cares about his community. Yes, he may be naive and he may not have all the answers - who does? - but he's willing to stand up and fight to make his community a better place. He's rejected overtures from the big political parties - expect the dirty tricks to intensify as the camapign develops - and has decided instead to be his own man. I admire his fighting spirit, and I know he has gathered a lot of support among the organised North Edinburgh community. He's certainly added a new dimension to the by-election, generated a lot of press interest and he's committed to running a positive campaign, hoping to enthuse voters who are turned off by the traditional 'ya boo' style party politics. Critics who would write him off as a joke candidate do so at their peril.

Other News
The world's financial systems teeter on the brink, Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling promise to 'do whatever it takes'. What exactly that might be is less clear, however.
Young Derek Riordan is banging in the goals for Hibs just as in the bygone days of yore - sorry, wrong club ...! Happy days at Easter Road, however.
Happy birthday to Janice Russell, who is 60 this week. Attended a pre-birthday celebration at Slateford Bowling Club on Friday night. £2.05p a pint - the more you drink, the more you save! - suffered for it on Saturday though ...
We're hoping my mum may get home from hospital today - great relief for all concerned, particularly my dad as it's been a very worrying couple of weeks. Her treatment, and of course the staff, were excellent - top class.
Fairer Scotland - the final presentations took place last Monday and now the really difficult part begins: thrahing out the detail of who gets what. There's just not enough money to meet the needs of all the projects, and a number will be receiving bad news following decisions that will have to be made next week.
No heating all weekend following the start of building work at home - cleared out bags and bags of books, clothes and the clutter of 20+ years. Good news for the local charity shops, but hard work for Caroline and me - be good to get back to work for a rest!
Hopefully the heating will be working again tonight - frostbite is setting in as I type this!
See you next week