Ann's Sedgley Blog

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The campaign for Electoral Reform Society has strongly come out against Government Proposals for MPs to decide how they should be elected – whether to make their appointment truly representative or keep our present first past the post voting systems. See the Make My Vote Count web site - a coalition lobby group, with an on-line petition and info about alternative voting methods.

The campaign to save the Woodhead Tunnel for public transport initiatives rather than allowing the National Grid to take it over for electricity cables, then seal up the two smaller tunnels it presently uses has caused a huge amount of public concern and debate. Apparently once taken over for cables, it cannot be used for anything else for forty years, i.e. the life span of the cables. It does seem like a great missed opportunity to improve public transport networks – if the work goes ahead without full investigation to decide on the best use for the tunnel. The only problem is that all three tunnels seem to be owned by the National Grid …

Students seem to think that we spend our morning breaks and snatched buttie lunches talking about them – we do, but only if they have driven us to despair or done something really outstanding. Usually we talk about our children’s birthdays, how long to the next holidays, the staff night out, how many points are in what we are eating and how one of our colleagues manages to walk so well in her 6 inch high heels.

This week we also had Sarah’s snake story. A friend of a friend’s rather large snake had got fed up with his diet of the odd roast chicken and was looking rather fed up. After consulting what ever a reptile Doc is, he was advised to spice up his diet. It didn't work, the snake didn't eat or look any happier. One night the python even slid into bed, laying right beside his wife. The Doc was consulted again – beware, he was told – it fancies her, she might be next!

Discussions next week will be interesting – as many of the staff mark exam papers, its really interesting listening to them, especially the strange things students sometimes write. We're also trying to get our deposits in for a trip we are running to Brussels. Perhaps somebody should tell the Government - teachers find running trips a pain, trying to get the £ in and their paperwork sorted out takes far too much time!

It’s my favourite time of the week. Our evening meal is cooking, my hubby has poured me a glass of wine, my lessons are planned for tomorrow and emails done. Last week was hectic but I was miffed with my students – who chilled out over Xmas and didn’t do any work, bar one or two ….. they worry me …..

Yesterday, I got the opportunity to talk with delegates to a cllr training course. As usual, I got talking to women as we sorted out tea/coffee and washed up (I’d offered to help for the first hour). One of them wakes up to views of Helvelin, from her bedroom window! The nearest I get to rambling, is leafleting … I need to plan an escape day …. It was also good to catch up with colleagues from outside our area – sometimes I think there are too few of us – I’m wrong – there are a lot of talented, committed, moral, focused and dependable LD folk out there (especially women)!

Sorry – at least I’m honest. With vest, jumper, thick fleece jacket, hat, Vibram soled rambling shoes (terrible grip on wet pavements), I braved the winter dampness to leaflet this morning. I’d even put extra protection nail varnish on – as I am apt to get my fingers stuck in snappy-flappy-nippy letterboxes and loose bits. I do enjoy being able to talk to residents as I deliver though – but few were out. One jumped out of his car to demand how we stand on congestion charging – he was delighted at our present stance – and suggested improvements needed for their neighbourhood. His suggestions were fed back to my two fellow cllrs and we agree they are worth exploring. All I need to do now is remember which house he lives in to report back to him!

Our new party leader, Nick Clegg’s New Year Message, is clear and motivational. We also need to work harder to get our message across to lobby for more people to vote for us. We need to work harder to do this by “using clear, precise and simple language, cutting through the jargon and the cant, exposing duplicity and manipulation.” Our messages need to express what we want to do and can do, not just looking good or sounding good. Language that is fit for purpose. (J. Humphry’s “Lost for Words”)

Today was one of my favourite days of the year. We rarely shop and have lunch out – but living next to the City of Manchester, it’s fun to do it from time to time. It’s also very necessary as Andrew accuses me scruffiness, far too often. Lunch was at Sam’s Chop House – a pre-44th birthday treat with a pint of Sam’s ale. Ignoring our efforts for the five fruit and veg a day – we debated over faggots or liver and mashed potatoes. I settled, for fish, chips and mushy peas …. with a decent wedge of lemon … scrumptious!

I love winter Sundays – curling up in bed with copious mugs of tea, the Observer and the Archers omnibus …… the boys have even risen before noon – and gone climbing to Edgerton Quarries, above Bolton (part of the Red Rose Forrest park), so as long as there’s no problem or rain, we’ll have a peaceful afternoon too. Whether they will be able to climb on slippery wintery rock, is another matter.

I started wading through my Case Work diary yesterday to see what we need to go back and check up on or contact people to follow-up as well as start to figure out what to put in our yearly annual feed-back Focus which goes out in March about the year and our work for our Ward.

Its also a great starting point to mull over the last year and start to think about priorities for the next in readiness for our Council Lib Dem Group ‘Away Day’ next week – or at least what I think are our priorities with my arguments in readiness for fighting/debating them with my colleagues …. which can be difficult as I’m married to one of them, he doesn’t do ‘favouritism’?

I got mine – both of – for my full-time teaching job and part-time political Councillor work/role for Bury MBC. So, why haven’t the Police got theirs? Bury MBC pays its share from our local Council Tax payers money into Police coffers and for one, I expect Police pay rises to he honoured!

Alan Gordon vice-Chair of the Police Federation commenting for the Observer, today, says that it’s caused the Government extreme embarrassment …. He thinks that ‘they were hoping that the whole problem would disappear over the Christmas break’ …. Will that be when the Police are at home with their families like teacher, me…. or WORKING …….. and feeling very annoyed that their public sector counterparts are hitting the Christmas Sales with their back-pay?

Switched to a relaxing Christmas cheer and prospects of a new read, last night – news of the shocking assassination of Benazir Bhutto brought me back to the reality of politics and violence in other countries, especially the dangers to women politicians when they put themselves forward to challenge the status quo. BBC 4’s Women’s Hour focused on this, this morning, beginning with the re-transmission of their July interview with Benazir and her hopes for the political future of Pakistan. They followed with superb piece about women in Kenya and how many are continually bullied by men who consider their place to be at home and not in the political arena.