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Some of
our councillors visited Parliament a while back for a meeting with the
SNP MSPs who cover their area, here we are at the bottom of the Garden
Lobby stairs.
Hamilton Golf Club on Saturday evening to make the reply to the toast to
the lassies. Wonderful evening, everything went really well, excellent
food, some good speeches, a lot of laughter and a great deal of bonhomie
– until the lights went out! A speech read by candlelight – I suppose
it’s traditional – and I didn’t have to do the washing-up, so I must
have come up to scratch, which is a relief because I’ve got a few to do
this year – maybe I should demand candlelight?
Come
Monday and it was time to meet up again with the film students to
complete filming, going round the places that have been special so far
in my life. They’re a fantastic bunch and I hope they’ll do well
(actually, I hope they give me a copy and then all become incredibly
famous). Here’s some shots of them at work – and a cheeky smile to
anyone who can identify the building where we ended up.
Tuesday night I was at Stirling Castle for a reception for the Scottish
Motor Neurone Disease Association. This association is full of
marvellous people who do an incredible amount of work to make sure that
the issues surrounding Motor Neurone Disease are kept to the forefront
as well as raising money for research and patient support. SMDA was
launching its new logo which you can seen on the website at
http://www.mndscotland.org.uk/
where you can also read all the news and information about the
Association. I also had the great delight of introducing campaigners to
the bosses of a couple of NHS boards – there are some ladies who make
sure that people in positions of power pay attention!
Something worth remembering if you’re ever at a do in Stirling Castle –
it’s not very warm; it took me ages in the car to warm up again, but it
was worth it to support a cause I care about.
Wednesday and into committee for consideration of the Additional Support
for Learning Bill where Adam Ingram is doing a fine job as the Minister
in charge of the Bill. Interestingly, he was referring to the passage
of the original ASL legislation and the fact that he and Fiona Hyslop,
while in opposition, had pointed out that the legislation needed the
changes that he was now introducing. We may have taken some time to get
there but at least we’re putting it right now.
Thursday in the chamber was, as usual, interesting – except that this
time Annabel Goldie called Alex Salmond a haggis! Well, at least he’ll
be in the Broons this weekend (Glebe Street not Downing Street) |
