REDESIGN IS FIRST STEP TO PRIVATISATION

November 11, 2019

News reaches me today that the SNP Council have supported the Health & Social Care Partnership’s decision to spend £400,000 on employing “Change Managers” to “redesign” all the care services.  This is the H&SCP that recently increased the charge for the emergency Alert Alarm System by 100% and also increased Daycare charges again for vulnerable people by 60%. … More REDESIGN IS FIRST STEP TO PRIVATISATION

GENERAL ELECTION: WILLIAM KEEGAN ON ECONOMIC ISSUES

November 11, 2019

Wilson was a skilled strategist and tactician. Whether or not David Cameron – less serious, and essentially a public relations man – was consciously trying to emulate Wilson (in going over the heads of his Eurosceptical wing, John Major’s “bastards”) I have no idea. But he made a real mess of it, and we are where we are: not to put too fine a point on it, we are the laughing stock of the world, and the British polity is up the creek. … More GENERAL ELECTION: WILLIAM KEEGAN ON ECONOMIC ISSUES

WALKING THE DOG …

November 11, 2019

This is Baxter, Linda Speir’s lucky dog who gets taken to the Long Crags for his walks. Baxter has become familiar with the hills, woods and undulating fields at the back of Garshake. So familiar that he thought it would be a good idea to tell others who could benefit from a good walk for their health’s sake.  Get out there and enjoy it, the hills are alive with the sound of fit men and women – and gorgeous wee dugs, of course. Pictures by Linda Spier … More WALKING THE DOG …

COMPETITION TIME

November 11, 2019

Bell Centre Butchers, Dumbarton DUMBARTON SHOP ONLY COMPETITION TIME 🙌🏻🙌🏻 1 day competition ! For a chance to win 4 of this weeks meals . All you have to do is like this post, tag 5 friends and share 😌 Winner will be announced tomorrow morning 💪💪

BIG SPARRA COFFEE AND RECORD SHOP TO CLOSE

November 11, 2019

It’s come time for team Sparra to sell up and move on with our other projects.  We’re closing our place in Glasgow Road, Dumbarton, for good on the 24th November.. 
What will become of the mighty Sparra? Well Big Sparra the trademark will be gone for good but this wee shop will live on. We’ll let you find out in due course but needless to say the new version will be a great and useful addition to our local community and we wish the new owners every success in the world. … More BIG SPARRA COFFEE AND RECORD SHOP TO CLOSE

POLICE AND SCHOOLS RAISE AWARENESS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE

November 11, 2019

Councillor Karen Conaghan, Convener of Education, said:  “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Police Scotland and The Champions Board to raise awareness and educate our young people on the issues of domestic abuse and violent relationships. By using early intervention we promote the value of positive and respectful relationships to our high school pupils.” … More POLICE AND SCHOOLS RAISE AWARENESS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE

GENERAL ELECTION COVERAGE ON BBC SCOTLAND

November 11, 2019

On polling day, General Election 2019 – The Results on BBC One Scotland, from 9.55 pm, will be presented by Glenn Campbell with analysis from Brian Taylor plus guests throughout the night. 

Laura Miller will be mapping out the story with state-of-the-art graphics, Rebecca Curran will bring the latest news as the result roll in and Martin Geissler will be getting the reaction to the big stories from key figures. BBC Scotland will be at every count, ensuring all the key moments are captured as they happen.

The results night coverage on BBC One Scotland will also include The Election Café at Pacific Quay where Nick Sheridan and Fiona Stalker will hear from journalists and other commentators.

The following day, 13 December, Sally Magnusson will take up the story for BBC One Scotland from Westminster as the country digests the results. … More GENERAL ELECTION COVERAGE ON BBC SCOTLAND

PETRA AND PALS RAISE £65,000 FOR MARIE CURIE

November 11, 2019

Feeling proud of my Marie Curie family.
Last night we realised we have raised almost £65,000 for the charity – more than enough to fund three full time nurses for a whole year.
We’ve battled sickness, diarrhoea, extreme sleep deprivation and exhaustion but every one of the 27 (aged 27 to 70 plus) who began this trek nine days ago are today ALL attempting Everest base camp despite only six of us having trekked at altitude before. … More PETRA AND PALS RAISE £65,000 FOR MARIE CURIE

GREEN CANDIDATE

November 10, 2019

Dunbartonshire Greens will contest both East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire seats at the general election, it has been confirmed.

The branch took the decision as it is clear no other party recognises the urgency of the climate emergency, which cannot wait for Brexit or independence.

Scottish Greens candidate for East Dunbartonshire, Carolynn Scrimgeour, said:

“Voters across the country must be given the chance to demand action on the climate emergency as it is the most pressing issue facing our country. I’m excited to run a positive Green campaign in East Dunbartonshire to say we need action, not words, to prevent irreversible climate change.

“We’re as committed as ever to ensuring Scotland’s future as an independent country in the European Union, but change to protect our planet cannot wait, and the Scottish Green New Deal we’ve proposed can start that action now”.
… More GREEN CANDIDATE

DISHONESTY IS THE SECOND BEST POLICY

November 10, 2019

He thinks for a moment. “Genuinely, I think the internet and the smartphone have been a disaster for civilisation,” he says. “I think it would be very helpful for us to see it as a disaster, see it as something like nuclear weapons or . . . I was going to say the invention of heroin, but morphine is a wonder drug, so there’s an upside to heroin which I really can’t f**king see with the internet. It’s easier to get taxis, but that’s it. It’s addictive. It changes the nature of discourse in a horrible way. What was billed as the democratisation of knowledge has turned into the death of truth.” … More DISHONESTY IS THE SECOND BEST POLICY

GOLDEN JUBILEE HOSPITAL PARKING ALERT

November 10, 2019

Golden Jubilee National Hospital Clydebank From Monday 11 November 2019 until Summer 2022, all patients and visitors using cars or other vehicles will need to access the Golden Jubilee National Hospital Clydebank entrance at Agamemnon Street only. This is because the link road between the hospital and the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel will be closed … More GOLDEN JUBILEE HOSPITAL PARKING ALERT

PUNCTUATION

November 10, 2019

A councillor in Glasgow once asked me to help him put a press release together. “Give me your notes then and I’ll do that for you,” I said. “Aw naw, I don’t waant yet tae write it fur me son, jist tae gees a haun wae the wee curly bits.” – Bill Heaney … More PUNCTUATION

CONCORD COMMUNITY CINEMA ON WEDNESDAY

November 9, 2019

A WEE LOOK BACK 57 is at 1.30pm on Wednesday 13th November in the Concord Centre, Dumbarton. The programme  features films on ‘A Hurl Round Glasgow’ from Glasgow Heritage Group, ‘Scotland’s Highlands’ from Canadian traveller Rick Skene and ‘A Visit to Isle of Man’ from our own Lawrie Pennycook. Admission £2 to include tea and buns from Sweet Success Cafe at the interval.  All welcome. … More CONCORD COMMUNITY CINEMA ON WEDNESDAY

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

November 9, 2019

Dear Editor, Cllr Bollan and Dumbarton and Alexandria libraries. Pictures by Bill Heaney More cuts in jobs and services coming from the SNP Council with their latest attacks on the Library and Leisure Services across West Dunbartonshire. Over £300,000 to be cut from these services with a minimum of 12 jobs to be cut along … More LETTER TO THE EDITOR

POLICE CAMPAIGN TO CUT SPEEDING AND USE OF MOBILES

November 9, 2019

We know that using a mobile phone, driving while distracted, travelling at inappropriate speeds and not wearing a seatbelt are significant factors in fatal and serious injury crashes. This is why we take the matter seriously as they are avoidable, which makes it all the more tragic when people are killed in road crashes under these circumstances. … More POLICE CAMPAIGN TO CUT SPEEDING AND USE OF MOBILES