Wednesday, May 26, 2010


We started out at Ad Lib (the west end location) as they had a private dining room with a - wait for it - iPod docking station. That way, we could listen to our embarrassing yet amazing 80s music tracks in private, the way the Good Lord intended. After a decent meal of posh pub grub and a few wines, we headed to Oran Mor, which, according to the "journalist", Marc Watson, is full of old hags like myself. Evidently now that I am 31, I am past my sell by date and should be put out to pasture. I suppose I should start acting my age. Thankfully, Glasgow is full of "older ladies" who love a good night out.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
5. Immigration
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Excited, as this is my first UK general election, (citizens of the Commonwealth who reside in the UK are allowed to vote) and heavy-hearted, because - if I am to believe the polls - it looks as though the Conservatives may well win and David Cameron will be the next British Prime Minister. And if that happens, I will be so utterly disappointed and angry.
I have only ever lived under a Labour Prime Minister since emigrating to Scotland, and although Labour have greatly disappointed me in the past (blatant anti-immigration policies), I still hold true to the idea of Labour. I want to believe in Labour. I think Scotland - once a Labour stronghold - also wants to believe in Labour but like myself, have been let down by them. And although I consider myself to be politically engaged you know what? I don't give a toss about the MPs expenses "scandal". I just don't. It's not the blatant abuse of expenses that I am let down by but rather, I am let down by Labour and what they used to be versus what they are now. That said, I do not dislike Gordon Brown. In fact, I quite like him.
It seems that since the beginning of the political campaigns, there has been one issue dominating the political field: immigration. The subtle context of these "debates" surrounding immigration, hint that there are too many of us here. And as an immigrant, I am - quite honestly - disheartened and disgusted. I worked so hard to move to this country - this city - that I love; most of us have.
I hate Tories. Not the people who vote for them. But the people they vote for. I make no great claims for that as a political position. But as an electoral category it is crucial. For I'm sure I'm not alone and it's pretty much the only thing keeping Labour going right now. It's certainly the only thing that could get me to the polls on Thursday.
I don't have a phobia about Tories. That would suggest an irrational response. I hate them for a reason. For lots of reasons, actually. For the miners, apartheid, Bobby Sands, Greenham Common, selling council houses, Section 28, lining the pockets of the rich and hammering the poor – to name but a few. I hate them because they hate people I care about. As a young man Cameron looked out on the social carnage of pit closures and mass unemployment, looked at Margaret Thatcher's government and thought, these are my people. When all the debating is done, that is really all I need to know.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010















