Blogging roundup

The last couple of weeks have been hectic, so I'm going to do a quick sum up of the things I've done and the places I've been. Then I'll do conference, then I'll start on this week (Thursday already? You've gotta be kidding!).

Thursday the 9th was a fairly busy - I started by modelling for my good friend Fiona, who designed my wedding dress. My gown had taken a bit of a pounding in the ceilidh but Fiona had managed to put it back together again, and return it to a pristine condition. It's nice to have it, but it's more useful to use it - Fiona is exhibiting in a number of upcoming wedding fairs, and I managed to be pursuaded to pose for her. I've yet to see the photos, but I hope there's something she can use. From there, I had to high-tail it to Hamilton to attend the Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Board, still scrubbing wild makeup from my face!

I'm a substitute member on the SFR Board, so I don't get the opportunity to go to many meetings. It was important to attend this one, however, since the closure of Parkhead Fire Station in my ward was on the agenda. I appreciate things can't stay the same forever, and that the current station isn't ideal, but I don't think the proposal to close it and merge with Cambuslang (on a new site over the river in South Lanarkshire) is the right call. The FBU aren't keen either. With huge change in the area, including the Commonwealth Games arena and velodrome, I think there's more to be considered. The SNP and independent member on the Board all voted against the move, and Labour (including the Glasgow members) voted for the closure. I intend to blog more on this later; as the plans will go out for consultation, there's a lot still to play for.

The evening of Thursday 9th was the annual St Mungo's Academy Awards Ceremony. It's tremendous to see young people doing well and excelling in their chosen subjects, and I was proud to see how well the pupils had done. It's a real treat to attend. The event itself is very slick (as it needs to be when you're giving out so many prizes!), and entertainment was provided by the school orchestra, jazz band and the choir. One of the nicest things was the pupils who left at the end of the school year coming back in numbers to recieve their prizes. At my school, the prizegiving ceremony was at the end of the summer term, with prizes based on prelim results. The hall would be oven-like and everyone wanted to get out to let the summer holidays begin. At St Mungo's, the prizes reflect the actual post-appeal results. There was extra pride when the pupils who achieved 5 A Highers and 8 Standard Grades got up to take their bow. Doing it this way allows those still at the school to see for themselves what opportunities lie before them - work, travel, college, uni.

Saturday 11th - Scotland Norway. Having neglected to get tickets, I watched the game in Coopers with the usual suspects. It was bad. Very bad. There were many sorrows to drown, and there may have been some whisky involved.

Sunday 12th - I attended the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Open Day, and even managed to get my mum, dad and husband to come along and admire the beautiful buses.

There were a lot of very special and rare buses on show, some the only ones remaining of their kind. A good number had driven to the event especially for the open day, while others are garaged there permenantly. Some vehicles from the Glasgow Museum of Transport are being looked after by GVVT while the preparations are made for the move to the new Riverside Museum.

My parents (who're not that old!) enjoyed seeing some of the buses they used in times past, lovingly and painstakingly restored. A range of trucks, vans, and even a tank were also on show.

As you can see from this picture of the outside of the garage, there were plenty of visitors to the open day. Some of the buses were even running a free hurl to the Museum of Transport, and when I headed off to the Kelvin Hall after lunch, it was quite exciting to see a convoy of vintage buses running along Argyle Street.

The Kelvin Hall was hosting the Acrobatic Gymnastic World Championships. I watched and was impressed by the Gymnastics at the Olympics, but I was totally blown away by the agility and strength of the competitors in this event. You'll be able to see from the video some of the amazing feats, but seeing it in person was breathtaking. The gymnasts, male and female, were able to do the impossible. Flips, tumbles, throws, balancing feats. Huge skill, and I would imagine, massive pain, but truly phenomenal perfomances through it all. Check out the videos and the gallery - you'll be amazed.

In with the new... but the old still remains

I had the pleasure of following up on an earlier visit to the new Fordneuk Street Continuing Drinkers Supported Accommodation Project in Bridgeton for it's opening on the 2nd of April.

It's a modern facility, with care packages and staff on hand to give more focussed attention to the multiple problems the residents face. Health services are built in, along with laundry rooms, a kitchen in some rooms, a dining room and private garden area. I had been to visit before the residents moved from James Duncan House on Bell Street, and was glad to see that they were starting to settle in. These articles from the Evening Times demonstrate the change that has been felt by a few of the men.

At the opening, a lot of mention was made of previous hostels, like the Great Eastern, and ones which still exist in the city today. I took up the offer of a visit to see the comparison between Fordneuk Street, James Duncan House and another, smaller, hostel still in operation - it was like night and day. The difference between the huge, 250 bed institution and the new facility on Fordneuk Street couldn't have been more stark. Long corridors stretching into the distance, small cell-like rooms, toilets and showers shared amongst many other people.

I can't imagine what it must have been like to come to stay for the first time, or to live here indefinitely. The only thing near the experience (and I appreciate it's not even that close) was Hillhead halls of residence in Aberdeen, but even there the rooms were larger and had their own sinks. One remaining member of staff described what it was like at capacity, and how hard it was to make sure the residents were safe. The communal areas were, as you'd expect, massive to deal with the numbers, but things like the laundries were far too small (a couple of machines for the whole place). By most accounts, it wasn't an easy place to live or to work.

The other hostel we visited was much smaller. Despite the best efforts of the manager, staff and some of the residents, it still had an oppressive air. There were only a few showers for the entire place, and not many more toilets. It wasn't great.

I hope that the Council will continue to invest in facilities like the one in Fordneuk Street; having seen the alternative there's really no choice. I know building new facilities will take time, but we can't continue to let down some of the most vulnerable in society. I'm not on the Education and Social Work Committee , but I will watch the progress in the Council with interest.