Praise for St John’s care
I had to be taken to St John’s A&E on the morning of Sunday, July 2, after a fall at home.
I was amazed at the attention I received. I had every test before the doctor was satisfied that I was ok and well enough to be sent home.
I wish to thank all the staff for their professional help and care I received that morning.
They all do such a wonderful job, what would we do without them?
I, for one, am so very grateful.
Calltorethinkrenaming of localcanal I was delighted that the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh included a visit to the Kelpies during their recent royal visit to Scotland.
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend due to Parliamentary commitments in Westminster.
Her Majesty’s visit proves, that the Kelpies are fast becoming one of the must-see tourist attractions in Scotland.
Whilst I am not averse to the new canal being named after the Queen, I do believe Scottish Canals should revisit their decision to go with the ‘Queen Elizabeth II Canal’.
Queen Elizabeth II is an English title, there has not been two Queen Elizabeth’s on the throne in Scotland.
Elizabeth I reigned England from 1558 to 1603, during which time Mary, Queen of Scots, and then her son James VI, ruled Scotland.
IronyofEUpresidency
It is more than a little ironic that as Scotland, through being part of the UK, prepares to leave the European Union, Estonia, with a population around a quarter that of Scotland, has taken over the EU Presidency on July 1.
The presidency is responsible for driving forward the EU’s work, ensuring the continuity of the EU agenda, orderly legislative processes and cooperation among member states.
During the next six months this will focus on key areas, including single and digital markets, the energy union and closer integration of Eastern partners into Europe.
It also want to focus on the promotion of e-solutions and the information society in EU policy areas. Interestingly its prime minister, Jüri Ratas, has declared that Brexit is not a priority for the Presidency, a sign that the EU is moving on from Brexit, with bigger issues to deal with.
Estonia, which next year will celebrate its centenary of becoming independent, takes over from Malta in holding the presidency of European Union, an island with a population less than that of Edinburgh.
During the independence referendum, the Better Together camp claimed that the only way to guarantee Scotland’s place in the EU was to vote to remain in the UK. Indeed, Scotland was to “lead the UK” not “leave the UK”.
Times have indeed changed since September 2014 and we are, despite these assurances, heading for the EU exits.
Of course, we could have the best of both worlds, part of a single market with the rest of the UK - as promised to Northern Ireland in its relations with the Republic of Ireland - and still members of the EU.
For that to happen of course requires the confidence, as Malta and Estonia have demonstrated, to take full control of our own affairs and be the masters of our own destiny, leading not leaving the EU.