Our readers say that’s enough of your sauce
Last Wednesday’s Observer (January 9) story regarding the Tory councillor accused of‘unacceptable conduct’after sending a Christmas gift of red and brown sauce to Stirling Council interim chief executive Carol Beattie drew much comment.
The gift of ‘Carol’ brand condiment by Trossachs and Teith member Jeremy McDonald was meant as a joke, according to party colleagues, but SNP rivals said it was not the sort of behaviour women should have to face.
Rod Moore said:“Two bottles of sauce with her name on them – the world has gone nuts if anybody thinks that is anything more than a joke.”
Karen Elizabeth Matulewicz said:“Oh come on. If a work colleague said that to me and that was the result of his‘innuendo’I would laugh. It’s a joke.”
Eileen Martin added:“Absolutely pathetic. There’s no sexual harassment, it was just a work colleague having a laugh. She should have been grateful or handed them to a food bank.”
Amy Hope Boyd said:“People need to lighten up, that’s funny.”
Tommy Cattigan posted“How is this sexual harassment? Reading the article the lady who received the gift hasn’t made a complaint. Could that be because she has a sense of humour?”
Marion Taylor added:“Really? Is this all the SNP councillors have to worry about. A wee jokey present at Christmas is now sexual harassment and full of innuendo! The only innuendo I can see is that the recipient might like chips but of course that is wrong too. A bit ‘fattist’. Beware any male member of staff whose partner gives birth. A present of Daddies sauce may be coming your way. I am not naive but fed up with all this nonsense.”
We also had a number of comments on our front page story which told how mourners attending a funeral at St Mary’s Church, Stirling, while attending the funeral of a 29-year-old Raploch man. Blame was placed on a broken on-street parking ticket machine. Stirling Council officials confirmed five tickets were issued – but for parking in ‘residents-only’bays.
Malcolm Corrigan said:“Taxing the bereaved; Stirling Council stoops to a new low.”
Jim Monaghan:“Mourners had informed the council about the meter not working so they then send out wardens to book the mourners; disgusting actions. The council should offer a public apology.”
Colin Gray:“Whilst I sympathise with the bereaved family, why is it that some people attending funerals seem to think the parking regulations don’t apply to them. Parking regulations are there for a reason; break then and face the consequences.”
Kevin McLeod:“People were parked in resident-only bays. Residents pay for permits.”
David Cox:“It would be useful if people read the article before jumping to conclusions. It explains that only five tickets were issued and these were to people parked in specific residents bays – not to the people in‘pay and display’bays who couldn’t buy tickets due to a broken machine.
“People are saying there were no other legal parking options but only five cars were ticketed for parking illegally, so presumably everyone else managed?
“There is free parking 200 metres away on Cowane Street and 300 metres away around Orchard House.
“People need to focus on why they were there and remember the young man whose funeral they were attending, rather than getting themselves wound up over a few people who parked illegally and were ticketed for so doing.”