Hutchison & Chesser Community Council's new website

Local Community Council have got their new website up-and-running ... think it looks pretty good actually!

... better than this out-of-date map of the area, that's for sure ;-)

Just surviving

Just surviving having been abandoned by the family this week ... only a couple more days to go; will the microwave make it?

One upside of these enforced solitudes is the ever-welcome ability to play some unusually loud music ... have rediscovered Radiohead's "OK Computer" this week - it does have to be one of the best albums ever, for sure ;-))

Education the top priority

The Scottish Labour Party manifesto was formally launched this morning over in Glasgow ... you'll be glad to know I won't be reproducing the whole 100+ pages here ;-)

But the BBC Scotland "manifestos at-a-glance" section is well worth a quick look ... as I've admitted before I am biased, of course, but I really do think there is just no comparison between what the two major Scottish parties are proposing.

And I'm obviously delighted that education is featuring so prominently in the national manifesto ;-))

...

And as those who know me well will attest ... I'm no slavish opponent of independence, but is it a priority set against what has been launched by Labour today ... not for me it isn't; not by a long way.

Director's Weekly Meeting

Weekly meeting with the Director of Children and Families this morning ... not the usual 'Friday meeting slot' due to the Easter holiday period; thus a bit of catching-up to do.

Obviously been a bit of a quiet news period, with the Director's post itself attracting a bit of press comment yesterday ... anyhow, this didn't form the main basis of our weekly agenda! Second round of school-building programme (contract now finalised); Children's Services Inspection (ongoing); and many other such exciting issues to the fore ;-))

No Monday Surgery tonight

No Monday surgery tonight, due to the Easter Bank Holiday ... but back to a semblance of usual business tomorrow with a return to the 'proper' office and the usual round of scintillating meetings.

Maybe all that envelope stuffing wasn't so bad after all ...

Office Duties calling

Office duties all day today ... and it's Easter Monday ;-((

Mailings and leaflets coming out of our ears ... but at least the office conditions were better than this - primarily due to the presence of some really good caramel digestives.

Truly amazing what will inspire people in times of desperate need ;-)

... stomach is rumbling just looking at the picture ...

Bolton Abbey visit

Back in Edinburgh, after an all-too-brief couple of family days in Yorkshire ... I know, I know, should have been stuffing those envelopes (I will be tomorrow, honest).

Very pleasant visit to Bolton Abbey yesterday - in the middle of an absolute heatwave down South - and a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon spent on the local steam railway (which all the kids loved) and then wondering slowly around the Sculpture Trail within the grounds.

Everyone particularly liked this sculpture situated in one of the many streams running into the River Wharfe.

Rest of the family still away until this Friday; so microwave is again on emergency standby ... that's if I get any time to eat at all of course, given the amount of electioneering to be undertaken ;-))

Good Friday

Good Friday ... and hoping for a bit of family time over the next couple of days, before the final few weeks of the campaign consume absolutely every minute of every day.

A very happy Easter to one and all!

THE "election address" received

Should note that I received Sarah's election address today at home ... made all that lovely envelope stuffing seem worthwhile - well, almost ;-)

Needless to say, many, many more such enjoyable election tasks remain on the immediate horizon ;-(

Easter visitor chaos begins ...

Absolute chaos in the flat this evening as six adults and five kids all round for early Easter tea ... quite enjoyable really ;-))

... and managed to mainly stay off any discussion of politics completely. It won't last the weekend!

Candidate Burns

Am now formally 'Candidate Burns' for the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart Ward ... papers all lodged this afternoon and, amazingly, no amendments/mistakes required/made.

Was keen to get it all sorted before the Easter weekend, as I suspect there will be a bit of a late-rush of nominations in the early half of next week ;-(

The Columbus Run!

Bit of a blast from the past this evening with a 'phone message from a very old Scouting friend ... who is about to do The Columbus Run (later in 2007) ... and wants to 'park' the boat on George Street in Central Edinburgh - all part of a cunning fundraising plan I believe?

Haven't managed to call him back yet, but obviously I'll advise him to seek a suitable parking dispensation ;-))

Nomination complete

With some friendly prompting from my agent ;-) ... got my nomination papers for the City of Edinburgh local government elections completed today; so from tomorrow should be formally registered as the Scottish Labour Party candidate for the new Ward No.9 - "Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart".

A lot more detail - including maps - on the new Ward can be found here at the very informative Edinburgh Elections site!

VoteScotland

The "VoteScotland" website has some really good links and information on it now ... if you have any queries about the voting systems for the Scottish Parliament or Scottish Local Councils (both elections on May 3rd of course!) then do have a quick look ... of course, it's all as easy as 1,2,3 ;-))

Poor Car ;-((

My poor old Citroen Saxo ... whose suspension is under very serious pressure today as we transport lots ... (and I do mean "AN AWFUL LOT") ... of itinerant election leaflets from the main Party Office to the Post Office!

All part of the grand plan to ensure our very local, electoral message is delivered on time ;-))

At least I've now got a key to open the damn boot ...

Elections Consultative Group

Attending a meeting of the Elections Consultative Group this morning ... its a group chaired by the Council's Chief Executive (as Returning Officer) to which all the political parties are invited - keeping everyone updated on progress towards May 3rd.

All the more crucial this year, with the move to STV-PR for local government elections ... which isn't getting 'huge' attention yet with all the focus on Holyrood opinion polls ;-((

Just as I thought ...

Just as I thought; have spent the whole day - and I do mean ALL DAY - pounding the streets to try and deliver every piece of literature that refers to Sarah as an MSP ...

... and of course, every street I had to deliver to was a classic Edinburgh hill ... at least they all felt like that after the first four hours ;-((

Envelope Stuffing

Just spent the whole of Sunday envelope stuffing ... the sheer joy of election campaigns ...

... and the bloody weather was marvellous outside.

Ah well, lets hope it holds out until tomorrow, when we will all be in a blind-panic to distribute anything with 'MSP' on it before midnight Monday when the Scottish Parliament is officially dissolved!