I spent the afternoon canvassing with Christine Jardine, our Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for the Donside by-election. Christine got a warm welcome on the doorsteps. Residents are disillusioned with Labour locally and thoroughly scunnered of the SNP! Independence is not popular on the doorsteps in Donside.
We were joined by Jo Swinson, MP and the Right Honorable Lord Stephen
13-19 May 2013 has been designated Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief Awareness Week. I was fascinated by an email I received via NHS on this subject advertising an event in Aberdeen today. I went along to the Bon-Accord Centre to see if I could get some more information.
The group organising the event is an alliance of organisations and individuals working together to raise public awareness of ways of dealing with death, dying and bereavement and to promote community involvement in death, dying and bereavement.
I spoke to a GP who is part of the group raising awareness locally. We discussed issues around self-regulation of funeral directors, organ donor registration and the most common issues people have with death and dying. Life is for living so it goes against every instinct we have to start planning for our death. Every adult, of whatever age, needs to look ahead and ask “what if?” An “Age UK” survey gives the following top 3 reasons why we should plan:
Save family the burden.
Peace of mind.
We’re all going to die!
Thought-provoking stuff and I have added the link to my favourites on the right hand side of my home page for easy access to remind myself to start planning! I hope you find it useful too. The link is http://www.goodlifedeathgrief.org.uk/content/online_resources/
The picture below shows some of today’s selection of “things I want to do before I die” from people in and around Aberdeen who visited the stand! I’m afraid I couldn’t squeeze in another “me too” beside George Clooney, I was pipped to the post!
The Scottish Liberal Democrats in Aberdeenshire Council today welcomed Cllr Fergus Hood to the group.
Speaking today, Cllr Martin Kitts-Hayes, Liberal Democrat group leader, said Cllr Hood will make a ‘big difference’ to the work of the Liberal Democrat group on the Council.
Willie Rennie MSP, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, has welcomed news that Councillor Fergus Hood has left the SNP and joined the Liberal Democrat group on Aberdeenshire Council.
Cllr Hood was re-elected to the East Garioch ward in May 2012.
Commenting, Willie Rennie MSP said:
‘The Scottish Liberal Democrats have a strong record of delivery in Aberdeenshire and I am delighted that Cllr Hood has joined our hard working local team.
‘On Aberdeenshire Council it is the Scottish Liberal Democrats who are working to build the stronger economy and fairer society that we all want to see. As part of the administration we are working hard to create jobs and boost key local services. I know that Cllr Hood will make a big contribution to our work in the months and years to come.’
Commenting, Cllr Hood said:
‘It is the Scottish Liberal Democrats who have the right policies for Aberdeenshire and are delivering in administration on the council.
‘Liberal Democrats on the council have been a huge support in helping deliver real progress in my ward.
‘This was not an easy decision to take but ultimately this is the right choice for me and the right choice for people in my ward.’
Scottish Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Martin Kitts-Hayes added:
‘I am delighted to welcome Cllr Hood to the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Having worked closely with Fergus on the council I know that he is a strong local champion who stands up for people in his ward.
‘Scottish Liberal Democrats are working hard to build a stronger economy and a fairer society in Aberdeenshire. I know that these are aspirations that Fergus shares. He will make a big difference as part of the Liberal Democrat group.’
Saturday saw a very successful launch of Better Together Aberdeenshire. The event was well attended by local residents, councillors, MSPs, MPs and the business community. After the official launch, campaigners took to the streets of Inverurie where the majority of local people we spoke to want to keep Scotland within the United Kingdom and agreed that Scotland should be building bridges with Westminster. A superb day which saw many new campaigners sign up to local grassroot groups.
I look forward to working with the whole team!
http://www.dundeewestend.com/2013/04/north-east-scotland-liberal-democrats.html
……. to all at Westhill Primary School who have recently been awarded £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund “Awards for All” grant. The school will develop their playground in order to provide active play opportunities for pupils and local children. The project meets the Awards for All outcome of ‘People and communities are healthier’. This grant will fund a traversing wall, seating planters, timber fence, tipi, woodland bridge and learning curves.
Well done to the team!
It’s surgery time again – Westhill Library – 1000-1100 hrs this Saturday, 2nd March 2013. No appointment necessary. See you there!
My day is filled with Full Council (today elected members discuss the Revenue Budget and the Housing Budget Account for 2013-18), day job after that and Westhill & Elrick Community Council in the evening.
Celebrations will have to wait.
Happy Valentine’s Day everybody!
I will be holding my first surgery of 2013 at Westhill Library this Saturday, 2nd February from 10-11am. No appointment needed. See you there!