Evening Times article

Monday's Evening Times ran an article on health issues in the upcoming elections. It highlights the proposed hospital downgrades and mentions the campaigns of Jean Turner, David Smith and myself. Read it here.

Article by Margaret Cook

West Lothian 'Stop The NHS Downgrade' Campaign have received permission from Margaret Cook to reproduce her article "Disappearing wards and asset-stripping symptoms of PFI failure", originally published in the Scotsman.

Read all of this very pertinent article here.

I Wouldn't Go to the Van Dressed Like That..

There is a story of a man who wanted to be a saint. He had read about the desert fathers, who lived out in the wilderness and didn't wash or cut their hair or nails. So he decided that he was going to do this; he didn't wash, grew his nails and hair long and lived on the street~(and no, he wasn't from the west of Scotland). Naturally, people were put off and did not stay long enough to hear his sermons. So he cut his hair and nails, washed himself and found somewhere less smelly to sleep, and people came and listened to him. The moral? People can be shallow in their judgements but it's not your business to judge them either; don't trip them up on something that doesn't matter.

Your blogger has been campaigning over the past few days, and this problem of image has reared its ugly head. For example, should you wear brown boots that are comfortable, with a black suit, or should you go for the killer stilletto black ones? I went for style over substance and my feet are kilt, I can tell you.

Then there's colours. Red is Labour, green and orange are a bad idea, black and yellow is SNP, blue is Tory. I finally settled for purple cos I don't look good in pink; I look like a bottle of Pepto Bismol in it.

Not to mention blouses versus jumpers. There's an extremely annoying fashion going round that insists on plunging necklines and short sleeves for blouses that is absolutely freezing; either that,or the alternative is a kind of winciette blouse that looks like it's off a public information film about clothes going on fire. Or it's the jumper, but if you're a carer like me, you tend to steer clear of jumpers, especially stripy ones, which are the standard BBC drama code for 'loser' in a sitcom. Is there a fashion designer out there that can keep a campaigning girl warm and fashionable? Let me know.

Doc Dave Smith

Wahey! yet another health independent has declared in Glasgow Cathcart. Dr David Smith, a retiring surgeon, is to run against Charlie Gordon, former leader of Glasgow council. He says he is dismayed at what has been happening to health services in Glasgow and feels that party politics has been detrimental to decision making on health in Glasgow. You're darn tootin', David.

Your blogger does not wish to appear shallow, but thinks that David will beat Charlie Gordon on looks as well as brains. A rather dishy doc, and we are sure that he will win a large percentage of the female vote - all on political issues, of course. Go gettem David!