Another side of Lesley Riddoch

Happy New Year to everyone

From the team between Lesley Riddoch and the lady herself; all the best for the new year and , indeed, a new decade of opportunity ! Thanks again for your continued support and input, as ever.

The Feisty Lady and team

Cheerio 2009!

The decade is four hours away from ending. It's been a strange final week. My Uncle Bill Harper from Wick died last week and the funeral was on Tuesday. His widow is Kathlyn More – my mother's younger sister. So many of the extended More family drove up in a scattered convoy through ice and snow to get there. It was a heck of a journey. I had to get towed out of our ice-bound house near the Tay by valiant farmer Ian Miller before the journey even began (above). Then it was a solid, slow drive up the A9 – learning quickly to keep some distance from the car in front to stop it skooshing dirt up onto the windscreen. Since the temperature went from minus 5 to minus 16 by Aviemore, water jets weren't working – so car windscreens were just a hazy, grimy fuzz. And there was nowhere to stop. Laybys were full of scrappy lumps of snow – turned to jaggy mini icebergettes in the sub zero temperatures. There must have been 30 miles of the A9 where there was absolutely no chance to stop at all. So I'll confess I did what I saw others do crawling along at 30mph – I leaned out the window and threw water sideways onto the windscreen from a bottle. The raced to switch the wipers on once before the water froze solid!

The A9 was weird – I was either stuck in a convoy behind someone doing 30mph, or completely alone on a road that appeared to be flanked by an endless line of silent watchful people, swathed in white. Yip, you do go a bit mad on a long, solo journey like that. But what beautiful views – especially above the Ord in the snowy moonlight. The funeral was a heartfelt, really personal service for Bill. I didn't know he came from a family of 19 and ran away to join the RAF at 16, only to join the Navy instead when the day's RAF quota was filled. He went on to serve on four Arctic convoys as well as the D-Day landings and the relief of Malta. So many mysteries in our lives. I knew Bill as the generous, widely-travelled uncle who brought me stamps from Japan, a toy koala bear from Oz, and a wooden turtle apparently carved by a descendant of Christian Fletcher on the Pitcairn Islands. We'll all miss him. Meanwhile the water pipes were freezing back at home in Fife, so many thanks to our neighbour Gordon for keeping a watchful eye on the slow thaw, while we wait it out down in Edinburgh.

It's the first time I've spent Hogmanay in a city for maybe 20 years. Wherever you are – have a good one! And let's somehow find the energy to fix the world in 2010.

TIDAL TURBINES IN THE NETHERLANDS

The trouble with tidal turbines………. is that they need servicing and repair as often as the average car! That doesn't make them badly designed or fundamentally flawed. It does mean quite a performance though when a small thing needs fixed, like the green cable coming out of the top of this Tocardo turbine – a sensor cable that delivers valuable data on water speed, temperature etc. Indeed, while tens of thousands of politicians and activists gathered hopefully in Copenhagen last Friday, eight men in wellington boots were standing on a barge beside the Afsluitdijk. It's the dyke that stops the North Sea from flooding the Netherlands – and the two bladed tidal turbine has been spinning in one of the fast-flowing sluice channels between the freshwater IJsselmeer and the saltwater North Sea for the past 18 months. The sensor became dislodged during repairs to the sluice gates – but strange to relate, the final success of Copenhagen could rest heavily on this tiny sputnik of a machine.

The Tocardo will be one of the technologies deployed in an ambitious plan to reverse global warming, fossil fuel dependency and colossal power company profits. Two Dutchmen Hans van Breugel and Fred Gardner (that's him standing behind me in the picture) have set up a community energy company to deliver locally sourced renewable energy to 100k consumers by 2030. It's a fabulous idea and we should get onto it here -- for more, see my column in today's Scotsman www.scotsman.com and check out Equimar for new marine energy video in 2010.

 

 

 

Cycling in Holland

Greetings from snowy Hoorn, north of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Holland is just a province of the Netherlands (ok two -- north and south Holland actually), so people get as tetchy when their whole country is called Holland as Scots do when Britain is called England.

Moving on, we're here as a guest of Fred Gardner, renaissance man, engineer and modest revolutionary whose company Teamworks creates tidal and wave energy devices. And energy efficient housing for Africa. And now – a community energy company which could be a model for the rest of the world, and maybe the only way global warming targets can be met while switching away from fossil fuels before they run out or become exorbitantly expensive.

It's fiendishly simple. People demonstrate demand and provide seed capital by joining the energy company, private capital (happy there IS demand) backs the solar, wind and tidal projects and the profit on the energy produced (usual "lost" to power company shareholders) helps subsidise the higher than average unit cost of new renewable energy technologies. That helps them to become more efficient and cheaper through use – the way ALL technologies finally become mature. And by 2022 when oil and gas prices are projected to rise enormously, all these renewable technologies will be more cost effective. The snag? People must work together across every civic, political and cultural boundary known to humans.

If there's a place it could work it's here. The co-operative spirit is in with the bricks – or rather in with the dykes. Since much of the Netherlands is below sea level and even reclaimed from the sea, the Dutch know the value of joint working. If one farmer built a dyke to keep out the sea, he was still vulnerable to flooding if his neighbour had not. So from 1300 the Dutch set up polders - local groups for discussion and joint action. That has encouraged a live and let live outlook seen at its best on the narrow streets where bicycles have primacy and any motorist involved in an accident with a bike will be presumed to have caused it. The result is a society where more (very stylish) women cycle than men, where mums and kids cycle together to and from school with all the health benefits that confers on "stay at home mums" in particular. Compare and contrast Scotland where yesterday's report by the Chief Medical Officer suggests men are closing the longevity gap on women. It seems Scotsmen are starting to get the message on exercise, smoking and weight control - women aren't.

Better health habits are easier to acquire as part of a herd not as an individual. And the herd here cycle...... and drink the weirdest buttermilk and caramel custard.

They're also playful. At a restaurant last night Mr Smith said he couldn't see the menu cos he'd forgotten his specs – so the waitress came back with a selection of five sets of glasses that had been left behind by customers.

"You've no excuse now", she said, handing him a fine-fitting pair of women's specs.

"Ah, but it's all in Double Dutch," quipped the ever ready Mr Smith.

We had tortillas – which works in anyone's language. As ever a trip away from home provides copious food for thought.

 

 

Eddie Izzard in Belfast

I've just had to take a break from the relentless cheeriness of Sports Personality of the Year, to say well done Eddie Izzard. He's just been given a special award for his round Britain charity run, but if he felt any temptation to play the comic and steal the show – Eddie resisted. In fact, from his low key "performance", it looked as if the incredible 6 weeks running a marathon a day (!) has been a life changing event. Comedians easily reach a lot of unusual places these days but becoming an athlete after just 5 weeks training and being accepted as a peer by Britain's elite – that's an exceptional and inspiring achievement. There was only passing reference to his 1105 mile run at last night's Eddie show in Belfast's Odyssey Arena. I'm told it has a 6000 capacity – in any case it was completely stowed out.

It was classic Izzard – lateral, crazy and bold. What other transvestite comedian could come to a fundamentalist land of zero tolerance towards gays and perform an entire routine "disproving" the existence of God? Our friends Malachi and Maureen observed that if the audience was a typical cross section of the Northern Ireland population, more than half would be regular church-goers. And yet here they were laughing at the notion that any self respecting God would surely have turned up at the first moon landing. Last time I saw the Bangor boy (Eddie used to live just a few miles from our house in Belfast when he was 5) he had just triumphed over an equally awkward audience in stern Stornoway and then laid-back Ullapool. Relaxing after an utterly bizarre and wonderful gig, during which he removed several paintings in the Ceilidh Place clubhouse to reveal a plethora of thermostats ("has no-one told the Scots that air moves?") everyone else including my Eddie worshipping brother Graeme fell asleep. After attempting to liberate a final bottle from behind the locked courtesy bar and breaking a tiny cocktail table in the process (sorry Jean!) we realised it was time to call a halt. Mr Izzard's parting shot was a slightly unexpected question – what's your favourite cocktail dress? Not having that kind of a social life (even twelve years ago) I was at a loss. "Cleavage darling, that's your best feature. And mine... legs. Box pleats – I love them. And so saying the inexhaustible Mr I siddled off, kicking his way through imaginary box pleats, ruffles and satin. In fact we'd had a long conversation about the island of Eigg – and several years later Eddie was performing in Edinburgh the same night as a big Eigg benefit concert. We sent a message along – and the messenger came back with a cheque for the appeal. Nice one.

One wee thing. It took almost an hour to straighten up after that Odyssey gig. Am I the only six footer who finds auditorium seating excruciating? Meantime more helpful knee related hints from strangers – MBT shoes. Opinions folks?

London Life

Strange things learned during trip to London. West Ham fans sing (and thanks to a tomboy fixation in the early 70s I now have to say Jimmy Greaves at this point) –I'm forever blowing bubbles. Why? My friend who's 8 months pregnant has only become anxious about the birth since going to ante natal classes. She also can't find any non fussy babywear and is ordering everything from a Nordic online firm –and was therefore well pleased with the right-on reggae babygro we picked up in a fab shop on Leith Walk the Cat's Miaou. It says "Get Up Stand Up" in Jamaican colours. The free Evening Standard has already seen off its trashy free-sheet competitors, London Lite and the London Paper – and it may well be performing miracles with the mindset of the average Londoner, who now reads weighty, thoughtful pieces on the Tube and bus instead of celebrity driven trash. I read a fab piece by Simon Jenkins about the green benefits of living in the city as opposed to the country. I've got to say he's right. On the other hand, well connected lefty and Scotty friends tell me of their horror at the way people in high places are lapping up the Tories. Uncritical articles are commonplace. And never mind policy being created on the playing fields of Eton – its friendships made in the bars of Knightsbridge, clubs of Soho and ski slopes of Zermatt that are changing allegiances. Bus travel is slipping back as an easy option for strangers. Even the shortest trip costs £2 and you need exact change to buy a ticket from a machine before you board. At 9.30am (after the rush hour) it was still standing room only all the way down the Holloway Road. Mind you people were very jolly, talkative, and helpful with mums and prams. Makes me wonder if the droid-like behaviour that comes over the same people on the Tube is down to lack of daylight.

Thinking about last night's Press TV programme, it's bizarre that the only chance to have a really long ,thoughtful talk about the future of Scotland is.... not in Scotland, and not even with an audience of Scots. There's something so wrong about the way Scots broadcasting has turned its back on robust debate – it would make me weep if I hadn't developed a thick Buddhist hide. One of the tenets of Buddhism apparently is that Life is difficult. Another (roughly paraphrased) is that It ain't over till it's over. No-one can say whether any single experience has been good or bad at the time. This economic crisis could be the making of us. It could force sloppy, complacent thinking out. Even lack of mature debate could create a head of steam that bursts with political impact at a useful time. Like an election. Who knows.

Meantime though I'm looking forward to a weekend with my ol man in Belfast, meeting our friends writer and journalist Malachi O'Docherty and his wife Maureen and Michelle and Tom Marken. Oh and we're off to see Eddie Izzard on Saturday night. Dead on.

TV DEBATE SUN 7PM

I've just enjoyed a very strange evening recording an hour's show about Scottish independence before a London audience of young, black women (in the main) and a couple of voluble Scots. It was a Press TV event, chaired by Andrew Gilligan, filmed in a studio in deepest Chiswick with a four strong panel of myself, SNP MP Angus Brendan MacNeil, Labour MP Gavin Strang and UKIP MEP David Campbell Bannerman. It seems the prog is on Sky Channel 515 on Sunday night at 7pm and repeated a lot during the week. Channel 515 – hardly mainstream Sky you're thinking. And you're right. Turns out Press TV is funded by the Iranian government. And the channel broadcasts mainly Iranian news – the Iranian Al Jazeera as it was described. I'd be more worried about the Iranian connection if I could see any interest Iran might have in promoting or subverting Scottish independence. I think I may also have been a bit mouthy. Doubtless you'll let me know what you think!

GLUCOSAMINE REVOLUTION

A quick word of grovelling thanks in the ongoing knee situation to Benny the fab physio from Caledonian Physiotherapy in Perth – whose advice on how to keep calling surgeons directly led to a sudden MRI appointment last week – and to Sally Coyne, Senior Media Relations Officer at the Scottish Parliament who put me onto Glucosamine.

Seems it's a supplement made from crushed crustacean shells (!) that aides cartilage and tissue repair. WHY DID NO-ONE IN THE NHS TELL ME ABOUT THIS!!!! Sally and I were observing the usual courtesies min a phone call when I decided to cut through the cloak of "I'm fine – how are you – I'm fine" nonsense, to say "I'm not fine." My knee is rubbish! Amazingly (or psychically) Sally had experienced just the same bother from a medial ligament strain and had been rescued by a gym buddy who recommended glucosamine. It worked she said. In just three days.

I aborted the day's trip to Holyrood, headed off to Holland and Barrett and popped some gluco immediately. Three days later – I have the fluid-ish movement of a human being of 23 (ok 42) (OK 49) again, not a lady of 85. Result! Maybe its placebo -- in which case – hurray for placebos!

I've also contacted a local herbal medicine specialist, who's just moved to Spain, and we had a longer, more connected conversation about my whole health -- head–to-toe – than I've managed to have with anyone in the NHS for years. And I have really good doctors! Anyway, I'm waiting for a cocktail of herbs, I've ordered Omega 3 and I'm thinking positive for the first time in months.

Gosh I feel dangerous.

REVOLUTION AMONGST ONE YEAR-OLDS

Anyone with an hour free in Dundee today …come on down! In light of the recent education rammy between councils and Fiona Hyslop, we should have an interesting debate tonight.

CHILDREN 1^ST

125th Anniversary Lecture

   

Thursday 3rd December 2009, 7pm

The D'Arcy Thomson Lecture Theatre, The Tower Building, Dundee University

   

   

CHILDREN 1^ST invites you to attend our 125th anniversary lecture titled 'Killing with kindness' delivered by Lesley Riddoch, journalist and broadcaster.

Lesley Riddoch is one of Scotland's best known commentators and broadcasters.  She has held many influential positions including assistant editor of The Scotsman and contributing editor of The Sunday Herald.  She is perhaps best known for her broadcasting with programmes on Radio 4, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Scotland, for which she has won two Sony speech broadcaster awards.

   

Lesley will draw on her considerable research and experience, to suggest that the current absence of universal, affordable childcare from the age of 1 is helping to perpetuate class inequality and to create future generations of inarticulate children, destined for exclusion from employment and full participation in society.

Drawing on Scandinavian models Lesley will argue for a wholesale change of emphasis in funding and thinking to end the present situation where society attempts to "retrofit" soft skills onto teenagers (largely unsuccessfully) instead of fitting them properly first time round between the crucial learning ages 0-3.  summary

Join us for what promises to be a challenging and thought-provoking event.

   

Tickets are £10 and include canapés and refreshments. Please note that this nominal fee is non-refundable.

Location: The D'Arcy Thomson Lecture Theatre, The Tower Building, Dundee University
Event date: Thursday 3 December 2009
Contact name: Belinda Robertson
Contact phone: 0131 446 2300        
Contact email: info@children1st.org.uk