I will be in Vale of Leven Hospital today for a procedure involving my eyes. No, the Health Board have not asked that they be taken out in order that The Democrat does not see what is going on there and at the QE2 Hospital and Children’s Hospital anymore. I expect to have the weekend off. I haven’t gone away you know. Bill Heaney, Editor
Independent researchers found nearly three-quarters of cops went to work while “physically unwell” in the past six months – and over a third while “mentally unwell”. And the study – due to be published in full in the coming weeks – suggested one in ten of Scotland’s 17,000 officers drink alcohol or take prescription drugs “as a coping mechanism”.
After host Nicky Campbell read out a series of statistics about Scotland’s murder rate, prompting the First Minister to mount a defence of the Scottish Government, stating that violent crime was now at a “40-year plus” low. Recorded crime statistics are published each year by the Scottish Government. This refers to crimes which are reported and recorded by police and does not equate to convictions, nor does it include all crimes committed as not all crime is reported. The statistics separate out different types of crime with non-sexual crimes of violence and sexual crimes in two distinct categories.
It may be some consolation to you to know that it’s not just you lot who are being taken for mugs by the construction industry …
Joan Parr, director of Arts & Engagement, Creative Scotland, said: “Fair access to careers in the arts is one of the most pressing issues facing the creative sector. Providing transformative opportunities, these bursaries go some way to making entry into the arts a level playing field and ensures those with talent, but not financial backing, are given the opportunity to succeed.”
Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson said: “Boris Johnson must stop ducking scrutiny. His cowardly behaviour shows why he simply isn’t fit to be prime minister. How can we expect Johnson to stand up to Trump or Putin if he won’t even agree to a half-hour interview with Andrew Neil? It’s bad enough that the voice of Remain has been excluded from today’s debate. But it’s even worse that right now Boris Johnson won’t be held properly to account for his lies and extreme Brexit plans.”
The message of the angels was that this was good news for all the people, the broken-hearted as well as the blessed, the lonely as well as the loved, the poor as much as the prosperous.
For Christmas helps us re-calibrate our view of God. He is not distant from us, nor demanding of us. Rather he is “God with us” alongside us, sharing our joys and our sorrows.
Even if we do not have the means to have a traditional Christmas we can have a Christ centred Christmas and that can mean so much more. If you are able why not visit a local Church and perhaps the traditional carols will burrow their way into your heart and get you singing for joy.
Staff from across the Naval Base come together at the start of the Christmas “It’s a Knockout” event; The Unit Personnel Office Team take on the “Snowdrops keep falling on my head” challenge, and Members of the Submarine Qualifying Course take part in “Sing a song for Christmas” at the event. By Kim Hardie Military […]
