Tactical voting Scotland
http://www.pro-eu-vote-scotland.info/
Monday, 9 December 2019
Friday, 1 February 2019
Achieving the Best Start in Life for Children !
We really must not push childcare for very early years so much.
Families need support to care as well !
Toddler groups and playgroups are an approach that is good.
Mothers (or fathers if they are doing the childcaring) staying with kids at these young ages means that parent child bonding occurs and good communication skills are developed and children have a stable secure start in life. From this they can thrive. If parents need extra help with this then adult helpers at e.g. toddler groups can lead sessions in how to play and have fun with your children.
Toddler Group Christmas party :
This side of the debate needs to be heard - and I am afraid to say they may not be heard from very high achieving career women in media, politics etc - so we need to see a balance where work hours are reduced and not just childcare hours increased. If necessary families can receive funding to help with the difference in wages or salary due to this. But as childcare is currently subsidised (at great expense to taxpayers including single earner families who are highly taxed...) then why not subside parents doing this childcare ! Especially if it means the children get a better start in life. And who knows everyone might even have some fun along the way ! Its what life is meant to be about after all !!!
Another toddler group party !
Tuesday, 23 October 2018
Parents Night - Parents Evening
Whatever your school calls it, Parent's Evening can be a tortuous experience for some and a fun experience for other parents !! Certainly I was down with a cold this evening but as I sat perusing the Dux board and the Captains board I can see names from when I was at school. My family have attended the same school I went to. Really in many cases they should just go the whole hog and put up a Dux list of successful parents ! Why not !!
eg The parents you see who sit down to meet the teachers to hear how wonderful their kids are !! or the parent tonight who was having a conversation about one of their daughters who just had to get all As to compete with her older sibling ! They should all be up there in gold letters ! Well done !!
Now... do these parents realise that some other pupils just really don't care what marks they get? How can we instil in our children that its good to get a good mark? At least to get the best mark you can get. Or do we really want to ? Is it a healthy situation to be stressing over whether you will get all As... ? I have to say no ...
as a reasonably conscientious pupil myself when I was at school, who would barely have said boo to a goose (as they say... and what is that all about anyway - who would say boo to a goose .... ), but who did have their occasional moment of silliness at school but generally tried to do well ... it is hard to sit through a parents' night to hear about your child who appears to be genetically of a completely different nature to yourself and actually who perhaps shall we say has a lot of character....
Ah well it is time to go out now and forget it all !! I am heading out for a once a year catch up meal with old school friends - one featured on the Dux board and one featured on the Captains board !! And the other is like me - we didn't get on any boards and didn't get to be Prefects either !! I'm not bitter !! honest !! I did get her a "Perfect" badge done in Prefect badge style recently as a pressie !! Because let's face it we are all perfect in our own ways !!Friday, 19 January 2018
History of EU Citizenship
EU Citizenship originates in the free movement of workers in the Common Market.
This evolved into the Single Market (1993) with its free movement of people.
European Economic Area
The area that provides the free movement of people, services and capital within the European single market.
Membership is open to member states of either the EU or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
EFTA states which are party to the European Economic Area Agreement participate in the EU's internal market without being members of the EU.
However, they must adopt most EU legislation concerning the single market except on laws concerning agriculture and fisheries.
Article 20 of the Lisbon Treaty
1992
— to strengthen the protection of the rights and
interests of the nationals of its Member States
through the introduction of a citizenship of the
Union ;
CITIZENSHIP OF THE UNION
Article 8
1 . Citizenship of the Union is hereby established.
Every person holding the nationality of a Member
State shall be a citizen of the Union.
2. Citizens of the Union shall enjoy the rights
conferred by this Treaty and shall be subject to the
duties imposed thereby.
It seems to be worth fighting to keep our EU Citizenship !
Monday, 13 November 2017
The Timeless Agelessness of the Internet and Music Videos
In the past to play music we had records ... or we taped music from the radio ...
now .. at the touch of a button on a phone or iphone its possible to pull up the best music from any era instantly.
Music has become ageless and its a great thing.
Teenagers are listening to the best music from right back to the 70s, the 80s and these tracks compete with those that are being written in the 2010s !
now .. at the touch of a button on a phone or iphone its possible to pull up the best music from any era instantly.
Music has become ageless and its a great thing.
Teenagers are listening to the best music from right back to the 70s, the 80s and these tracks compete with those that are being written in the 2010s !
Sunday, 24 September 2017
The QE2 Story
A giant of the Clyde, the QE2 liner, turned 50 this week. There has been a fair amount of publicity on the radio and newspapers, and to commemorate the event, a faithful bunch of enthusiasts also gathered in Clydebank to commemorate the occasion !
I have family connections to the QE2 as my father worked as an engineer at John Brown Engineering, who famously constructed the QE2. Almost 10 years ago my brother Robert Lightbody started a website after a conversation with some other enthusiasts on board the QE2. He started a forum "The QE2 Story" - "Keeping the Legend Alive" and through this medium many have posted their memories, of the construction, of working on board and of sailing in this fantastic liner.
The main administrators of the QE2Story website decided to organise a 50th Anniversary celebration of her launch. We gathered on Friday at Clydebank Town Hall which is positioned right behind where John Browns Engineering used to be.
The event organisers had done a fabulous job and had organised the day down to the last detail.
We were piped into the hall and then received our welcome packs. And we began to swap stories of what had brought us from near and far to gather at this commemoration event.
We moved through to the main hall which had been laid out as though we were indeed on a cruise, with us all sitting at round tables. First speaker up was Ian Johnstone from Glasgow School of Art and he covered the finances of John Browns and how they came to be the shipyard which built what was originally known as Q4 ! But on launch day came to be known as QE2 !
She had been reluctant to leave and had had to have an extra push to launch her on her illustrious career. But what a career. It has not yet been bettered.
Our day was launched by a commemorative cake being cut by none other than the daughter of the famous John Rannie, the Managing Director of John Brown shipyard and a naval architect, who oversaw construction of QE2.
Next speaker up was also from Glasgow School of Art, Prof Bruce Peters, who set in context the design ideas behind the interiors of QE2. She was not going to emulate the Victorian designs of so many of her predecessors but would instead have her interiors designed to the last detail in a more modernist approach. She was the original 60s girl ! Many top London and UK interior designers were involved, with some with full responsibility for particular rooms.
And Bruce Peters pointed out how the room we were sitting in was very appropriate as it had been designed by the person who designed the interiors of the Lusitania.
Next up Ronnie Keir who spoke about the construction, having worked since the age of 15 at John Browns. He told how every aspect was done "on site", from a 15 ton steel block arriving, to the melting, casting into gears, blades, plates etc. So the turbines, gears etc were all built on site. Nowadays for such a construction, different parts would be purchased from specialists. He recalled a moment when arriving in the ship to see some of the platers dancing a tiller girl routine on the stage of the theatre. That would have been worth seeing. It was obviously very hard work - "character building" work as he described it but with lots of camaraderie too.
From then on we heard tales of her time on the high seas. She sailed once again in our memories. We heard of the time she sailed with brave soldiers and brave QE2 volunteer crew to the South Atlantic during the Falkland conflict. She set off with soldiers perched on every available point including sitting in the lifeboats. She was waved away and set sail, avoiding icebergs en route and stopping to offload the men in South Georgia.
One of her captains Captain Bates entertained us with his stories of his time on board. His teacher hadn't expected him to make much of himself, saying he "spent his time looking out of windows". But his eventual job required him to do exactly that ! He was a very entertaining speaker and now uses his skills to help others experience being on a canal boat with the Seagull Trust.
Other sessions were chaired by another QE2 Captain and by the designer of the QM2, Stephen Payne.
We heard from someone who had worked as a head of on-board entertainment. And we also heard about what the future might hold as she sits in Dubai awaiting development.
Here are the speakers and organisers from the day:
The next day there was a boat trip organised to go down the Clyde to see what was left of the John Browns yard and the place where QE2 had been launched and then sat while being fitted out. We also were to go up the Titan Crane.
But before all that we were to witness a re-union of two Clyde greats - the MV Balmoral (most widely travelled UK passenger ship) who was sailing a weekend of Clyde excursions and the newly rescued SS Queen Mary.
We witnessed the handing over of a painting between the captains. There is much work to be done but the plan is to get Queen Mary sailing again in two years time.
Meanwhile on the Clyde, a Clydebuilt rowing festival was taking place with over 100 rowing boats having rowed all the way from Dumbarton Rock right to the centre of Glasgow. Here are two of the teams:
It was then on board the Clyde Clipper for our trip down the Clyde ! Flying a QE2 flag !
Past the Transport Museum and the Tall Ship then on past the various Clyde dock yards, with an accompanying commentary and then we arrived at the Titan Crane. The staff there are very enthusiastic and a font of information. We could see clearly why John Browns had moved downriver to Clydebank to take advantage of the fact they could launch large ships outwards, making use of the fact the River Cart joined the Clyde at that point to give a larger width for launching.
On the way back it was three cheers to the QE2 and then we disembarked. Some headed back for a relaxing drink at the Crown Plaza while others headed back across the world, back to the normal everyday lifes without the QE2 !
Will the days come back when we see such sights again as the QE2, Concorde and the Red Arrows flying in formation ? Who knows - but we certainly did a good job of remembering them this weekend !
Happy 50th QE2 !
Have a look at some memories - this month's photo competition on The QE2 Story Forum: https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,7439.0.html
I have family connections to the QE2 as my father worked as an engineer at John Brown Engineering, who famously constructed the QE2. Almost 10 years ago my brother Robert Lightbody started a website after a conversation with some other enthusiasts on board the QE2. He started a forum "The QE2 Story" - "Keeping the Legend Alive" and through this medium many have posted their memories, of the construction, of working on board and of sailing in this fantastic liner.
The main administrators of the QE2Story website decided to organise a 50th Anniversary celebration of her launch. We gathered on Friday at Clydebank Town Hall which is positioned right behind where John Browns Engineering used to be.
The event organisers had done a fabulous job and had organised the day down to the last detail.
We were piped into the hall and then received our welcome packs. And we began to swap stories of what had brought us from near and far to gather at this commemoration event.
We moved through to the main hall which had been laid out as though we were indeed on a cruise, with us all sitting at round tables. First speaker up was Ian Johnstone from Glasgow School of Art and he covered the finances of John Browns and how they came to be the shipyard which built what was originally known as Q4 ! But on launch day came to be known as QE2 !
She had been reluctant to leave and had had to have an extra push to launch her on her illustrious career. But what a career. It has not yet been bettered.
Our day was launched by a commemorative cake being cut by none other than the daughter of the famous John Rannie, the Managing Director of John Brown shipyard and a naval architect, who oversaw construction of QE2.
Next speaker up was also from Glasgow School of Art, Prof Bruce Peters, who set in context the design ideas behind the interiors of QE2. She was not going to emulate the Victorian designs of so many of her predecessors but would instead have her interiors designed to the last detail in a more modernist approach. She was the original 60s girl ! Many top London and UK interior designers were involved, with some with full responsibility for particular rooms.
And Bruce Peters pointed out how the room we were sitting in was very appropriate as it had been designed by the person who designed the interiors of the Lusitania.
Next up Ronnie Keir who spoke about the construction, having worked since the age of 15 at John Browns. He told how every aspect was done "on site", from a 15 ton steel block arriving, to the melting, casting into gears, blades, plates etc. So the turbines, gears etc were all built on site. Nowadays for such a construction, different parts would be purchased from specialists. He recalled a moment when arriving in the ship to see some of the platers dancing a tiller girl routine on the stage of the theatre. That would have been worth seeing. It was obviously very hard work - "character building" work as he described it but with lots of camaraderie too.
From then on we heard tales of her time on the high seas. She sailed once again in our memories. We heard of the time she sailed with brave soldiers and brave QE2 volunteer crew to the South Atlantic during the Falkland conflict. She set off with soldiers perched on every available point including sitting in the lifeboats. She was waved away and set sail, avoiding icebergs en route and stopping to offload the men in South Georgia.
One of her captains Captain Bates entertained us with his stories of his time on board. His teacher hadn't expected him to make much of himself, saying he "spent his time looking out of windows". But his eventual job required him to do exactly that ! He was a very entertaining speaker and now uses his skills to help others experience being on a canal boat with the Seagull Trust.
Other sessions were chaired by another QE2 Captain and by the designer of the QM2, Stephen Payne.
We heard from someone who had worked as a head of on-board entertainment. And we also heard about what the future might hold as she sits in Dubai awaiting development.
Here are the speakers and organisers from the day:
The next day there was a boat trip organised to go down the Clyde to see what was left of the John Browns yard and the place where QE2 had been launched and then sat while being fitted out. We also were to go up the Titan Crane.
But before all that we were to witness a re-union of two Clyde greats - the MV Balmoral (most widely travelled UK passenger ship) who was sailing a weekend of Clyde excursions and the newly rescued SS Queen Mary.
We witnessed the handing over of a painting between the captains. There is much work to be done but the plan is to get Queen Mary sailing again in two years time.
Meanwhile on the Clyde, a Clydebuilt rowing festival was taking place with over 100 rowing boats having rowed all the way from Dumbarton Rock right to the centre of Glasgow. Here are two of the teams:
It was then on board the Clyde Clipper for our trip down the Clyde ! Flying a QE2 flag !
Past the Transport Museum and the Tall Ship then on past the various Clyde dock yards, with an accompanying commentary and then we arrived at the Titan Crane. The staff there are very enthusiastic and a font of information. We could see clearly why John Browns had moved downriver to Clydebank to take advantage of the fact they could launch large ships outwards, making use of the fact the River Cart joined the Clyde at that point to give a larger width for launching.
Another classic shipbuilding name from the past - Barclay Curle - and another of four remaining Titan Cranes on the Clyde - this one built by the famous Sir William Arrol's company who are famous for building the Forth Railway Bridge.
The Titan Crane in Clydebank and the red QE2 flag flying again on the Clyde:
On the way back it was three cheers to the QE2 and then we disembarked. Some headed back for a relaxing drink at the Crown Plaza while others headed back across the world, back to the normal everyday lifes without the QE2 !
Will the days come back when we see such sights again as the QE2, Concorde and the Red Arrows flying in formation ? Who knows - but we certainly did a good job of remembering them this weekend !
Happy 50th QE2 !
Have a look at some memories - this month's photo competition on The QE2 Story Forum: https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,7439.0.html
Monday, 26 December 2016
You Look Good ! Thank You ... but ditch the Selfie Stick !
This is an excerpt of numerous exchanges I have seen in Facebook chats and the like from the under 20 age group.
The "selfie generation" ...
First step - pose, pout and take the photo !
Second step - post your favourite for everyone to see !
Third step - acclamation floods in ...
Step 4 ... the subject of the photo then "thanks" those flooding them with praise ...
Now maybe its just me ... but in my day, at the same age ... this just did not happen.
And I do think its not that healthy.
We are born with our looks. We need to live with them. And in fact there really is nothing so attractive as a happy, smiling face and someone who is full of energy and life.
We were really pretty much taught in my day I would say that we had to have a career. Women were not making a big thing about their looks. But even more than just a career, find hobbies etc that interest you. Educate yourself, have fun, take part in sport, help others, give your time to others, whatever takes your fancy. But get the focus away from yourself.
If its all about looks and you happen not to have great looks then where are we then ... And in fact sometimes its not all that great to have good looks either, as from my experience it can attract all the wrong types of attention. Yes sure you get asked out a whole lot more. But you are often being asked out by people purely attracted to your looks. Not to your actual character.
So come on folks, get a life. And ditch that Selfie Stick !
The "selfie generation" ...
First step - pose, pout and take the photo !
Second step - post your favourite for everyone to see !
Third step - acclamation floods in ...
Step 4 ... the subject of the photo then "thanks" those flooding them with praise ...
Now maybe its just me ... but in my day, at the same age ... this just did not happen.
And I do think its not that healthy.
We are born with our looks. We need to live with them. And in fact there really is nothing so attractive as a happy, smiling face and someone who is full of energy and life.
We were really pretty much taught in my day I would say that we had to have a career. Women were not making a big thing about their looks. But even more than just a career, find hobbies etc that interest you. Educate yourself, have fun, take part in sport, help others, give your time to others, whatever takes your fancy. But get the focus away from yourself.
If its all about looks and you happen not to have great looks then where are we then ... And in fact sometimes its not all that great to have good looks either, as from my experience it can attract all the wrong types of attention. Yes sure you get asked out a whole lot more. But you are often being asked out by people purely attracted to your looks. Not to your actual character.
So come on folks, get a life. And ditch that Selfie Stick !
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