Week
beginning Monday 24th October 2005
Before I do anything
else, I must remind readers of the smashing photo of the babies and
toddlers in our parliament chamber which I ended my last diary entry
with – Fiona Hyslop and young Paul were in the photograph and Paul’s
two older siblings tell me that they’ve never had their photos taken
in the Parliament or put on the world-wide web – ridiculous! So, to
make up – Sarah and Neil, two of the loveliest visitors I’ve had in my
office (and their mum’s no’ bad either):
Back to Strathaven late
on Sunday 23rd after a great two weeks in Cyprus –
sunshine, food and good company of three sets of friends who also
chose Cyprus for their October holiday. First time I’ve been in Cyprus
and would happily return. I just love to travel and am lucky that I
can. We came back to some sad news though – two elderly friends had
died during the fortnight. Two grand characters who added richness to
my life and to that I know of many others: McKillen of McKillen (John)
who was so well known in East Kilbride for his love of Scotland and
work on behalf of others, and who actually had been at school with my
father when they were children in Whiteinch, Glasgow. And, another
fine Scotsman – Malcolm McSporran from Clydebank who gave me huge
support when I started work at the local Housing Association twenty
years ago and was one of the most ‘lovable rogues’ I’ve ever known –
like McKillen, Malky was always looking out for folk, and always had a
twinkle in his eye. Rest well, both of you.
I see Calum had a moan
in his piece about my taking my ‘crackberry’ with me on holiday to
Cyprus and firing off ideas in all directions. I hate to admit it, but
he’s absolutely right, I was being a right pain-in-the-tonsils – I’m
not going to do that again (changing one’s mind is of course a woman’s
prerogative).
Last year when I was in
East Timor communication by mobile was possible in Dili, the capital.
However, when we were staying in Peirara in the remote district of
Lospalos, there was no electricity, no telephone or radio signals.
It’s probably the only time in my life where I was completely cut-off,
unable to contact anyone or have them contact me. There was something
rather calming and pleasurable about that isolation. Since Amorin
returned home after graduating though, he’s able to email and text us
regularly because Peirara now has an electricity generator and a
communications mast nearby. I do feel a wee bit sad that when I visit
again next year Peirara will have changed so much, but of course
that’s an entirely selfish ‘western’ view, because the difference to
those who live there is immense and should be welcomed.
I was glad to get back
to work on Monday, especially as my first task was to welcome George,
a pal from East Kilbride and a staunch campaigner for trade justice
and debt relief for undeveloped nations, and do the ‘tour’ of the
Parliament followed by lunch – a grand way to settle back into the
routine. That was over all too soon though and back into the real work
– meeting with the Committee clerks to discuss the next day’s
Committee Meeting, checking the mail for the last two weeks, sorting,
sorting and more sorting. It struck me, because there was two full
weeks’ worth of mail, just how much paper comes into our workplace,
and indeed how much is put in the recycle bin without even being read.
At a guess, last Monday I must have instantly recycled 90% of the mail
received over the preceding two weeks. I know that sounds bad, and as
if I couldn’t be bothered, but it would be absolutely impossible to
give attention to everything that arrives in my mail-tray. With the
best will in the world I cannot read the annual report of every
organisation which sends it to me, I cover Central Scotland (10
constituencies) and cannot possibly therefore read publications and
missives from organisations which operate solely in other parts of the
country. It’s the same with emails – organisations and individual folk
often send an email to all 129 MSPs. Whenever I’ve given a
presentation to community and other groups about ‘Contacting your MSP’
or ‘Making your Voice Heard’, I stress over and over again that the
secret is to ‘target’ individuals/check who has particular interests
in your field/make sure you know who it is who represents you. Too
often it can be counter-productive to lobby every elected member – we
get so many ‘round robins’. Also, when I think of the amount of wasted
paper in my own small office and multiply that by 129 MSPs.
Catching up on
constituency cases with Davie on Tuesday morning before heading back
to Edinburgh, and parliamentary work with Calum on Tuesday evening. In
between was the European and External Relations Committee. My second
shot in the Convener’s chair, and you know, it felt quite
comfortable! We’ve decided that our business programme for the coming
session will include looking at the new regime for the operation of
European Structural Funding, the potential for co-operation and use of
European funds between Scotland and Ireland, the European Commission’s
Communication Strategy, and the operation of European regulations in
Scotland. Quite a workload coupled with keeping a watching brief
meanwhile on the European Services Directive and the Lisbon Strategy
to promote social inclusion. Busy, busy.
When I look back on my
diary for Wednesday and Thursday last week I have no earthly idea how
I got through it! Calum’s revenge perhaps? Anyway, I’m still in one
piece – that holiday in Cyprus must have done me good right enough.
All meetings with work catch-up at night and at the few available free
moments I had:
Wednesday:
Rural Schools Campaign
– there really should be a presumption against closing rural schools
as they’re often the heart of small communities.
German Consul General
– to discuss my visit to the Saxony Anhalt Parliament next week.
Royal College of Nurses Forum
– the ‘Wipe out Infection Campaign’ – Action Plan to combat MRSA and
other such bugs.
Tibetan Delegation from India and Nepal
– Really fascinating people though, with such a mountain to climb in
terms of Tibet gaining any degree of independence from China. These
MPs in exile, and others, were visiting us to investigate the workings
of devolution. The Dalai Lama visits Scotland again in November – I
would dearly love to meet him again if invited.
Thursday
Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees
– rally outside Parliament to protest about the Home Office methods of
removal of asylum seekers who are to be deported.
"Not too sure about that strange
lady!"
"Maybe she's okay after all"
Our Lady’s High
School, Cumbernauld –
grilled by pupils in the ‘Meet your MSP’ session. Enjoyable as ever
though.
Tibetan Delegation from India and Nepal
– over lunch this time – have you ever tried to explain ‘Mulligatawny
Soup’ and ‘Pork on a Pyramid of Bashed Parsnip with Asparagus Drizzle’
to a bunch of Tibetans? You learn something every day you know – I
thought, for some reason, that Tibetan Buddhists were teetotal. Not
so; I learned this over lunch from the obvious enjoyment of the white
wine which I was told was like a drink which Tibetans make from rice
and grain. I understand now that it’s only the monks who are
abstemious!
Film about the Vucaj Family –
the family who were recently deported to Northern Albania after living
5 years in Drumchapel, Glasgow. Campaigners have visited them in
Albania and filmed the reaction of the Vucaj children to their new
home. I do have mixed feelings about the making of, and the content of
the film I must admit, but no mixed feelings about the fact that these
youngsters should have remained in Glasgow.
Of course, all of the
above meetings took place in between running in and out of the Chamber
for parliamentary business and taking part in debate. I was mad too
that I didn’t get taken for supplementary questions on child safety
and on brownfield development – I was hoping to raise in Chamber the
issue of the two years decant from Strathaven Academy to East
Kilbride, and the other ridiculous idea being floated by South
Lanarkshire Council of building in East Kilbride’s much-loved
Calderglen Country Park. I’ll try another day.
By far my most
uncomfortable experience on either Wednesday or Thursday was my
interview at SNP HQ to see whether I can go on the potential
candidates list for the 2007 elections. It’s really hard to be judged
by your peers – that Annabel and Colin can be right scary at times!
Not true – they’re pussycats compared to Allison and Willie. This is
me getting my defence in first.
Local all day on Friday
and then the Consular Corps Dinner on Friday night in the magnificent
surroundings of the Signet Library in Edinburgh University. The start
of my weekend’s social activities, which saw me through Saturday
afternoon at the Strathaven Fairtrade Group’s open day (as ever turned
into an informal surgery!) and Saturday evening at the Greenhills 2000
‘Seventies’ night – glam rock – happy memories. First of all, a
confession to make though – I’m an Elvis freak – I had to have two
days off work when he died. In fact at the time I was saving up to go
see him in Las Vegas. My earliest musical memories are Presley and
Sinatra – the first courtesy of my mum and the second of my dad – and
I still love them both. So, Saturday night was fab, because Elvis was
alive and well and performing at Greenhills Community Hall, East
Kilbride. I even got the special job of mopping his sweaty brow at
regular intervals –palpitations! Not only that, but I got a cuddle –
see below – me and the King (King Joe Eddison fae Paisley actually,
but never mind, a girl can dream … …)
Glamrock Greenhills
Linda Fabiani: 31st
October 2005
Email Linda at
Linda.fabiani.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
