Even the monks were laughing at me!

So, I headed along to the Annual Kathina Cermony at the Buddhist Vihara (temple) in Maryhill today and they couldn't have made us more welcome. I went along with Bob (Doris - mate, MSP and employer) and Mary who is responsible for me having gone to Sri Lanka to work earlier this year. For the two of us it was pretty special because we're both really missing Sri Lanka and the people so to be in a buddhist temple taking part in the ceremony, eating Sri Lankan food and meeting lots of new people was great. I was thrilled when they offered me a blessing and after tying the string round my wrist, the Venerable Rewatha translated what had been said. When he told me all my dreams and wishes would now come true, I got a little bit excited and found myself exclaiming "YES" and sticking my thumbs up in a John Mason fashion! It's all about getting caught up in the moment and I certainly do that! (Don't ever go to the cinema with me, I always forget it's not real!) Anyway it was a much lovelier way to spend a Saturday than getting soaked in Cardendendenden or whatever it's called :-)

More photos of the ceremony are here.

Glenrothes by election

Oh my goodness, I just checked how many folk had come onto the blog today and the numbers have doubled! I'm now annoyed at myself for not updating sooner on the Glenrothes by election. It's really just not been possible. Hardly any sleep last night once I got back from Fife, working all day (I try not to blog-on-the-job) and straight out to a dinner at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery tonight. Tomorrow I'm going to the annual Kathina Ceremony at the Buddhist Vihara in Maryhill but I'll do my best to blog after that. I have a lot I want to say. I think probably I'm not as worried by the result as many other people but I guess I come from a different standpoint to a lot of other people in that I think it's good not always to get what you want. I'm sorry we didn't win, I wish we had but I wasn't overly surprised and I'm not terribly concerned. I will explain why tomorrow ...

D Day

I'm heading off to Glenrothes now and it's going to be a long day but I cannot wait! Nothing will dampen our spirits today. The day started at 7am with frantic texts and calls to find transport for people whose lift had fallen through. I feel like a juggler sometimes in this party. I did all the phoning and texting from my bed, dressed as I was like a MUMMY (no heating) and I did spare a thought for the SNP folk who're doing the early starts on polling places in Baillieston, in Forth and in Glenrothes. So now, thermals on, pieces made, hat scarf and gloves strangling me, I'm off. I won't predict, I never do. It comes of long experience of by elections and knowing that ANYTHING can happen. I am quietly confident but it ain't over till it's over. Right, blogging won't get votes. I'm off!

Obama takes Ohio, SNP win everywhere else!

As I watched the results come through last night with a group of friends, others were texting. This was the funniest one. Patrick Grady, Westminster Candidate for Glasgow North texted me this photo with the above caption. I'd love to claim the credit but I can't. It made us all laugh anyway!

Obama, son of Jock Tamson

I love this story about Alex Salmond claiming Obama for one of our own. Apparently he has some Scottish ancestry, as did a previous 12 US presidents. So ... he's invited Obama to "come back" to Scotland during Homecoming Scotland 2009, the fantastic campaign to get Scots visiting Scotland next year. If it works, that is ONE visit I am NOT going to miss!

Obama's the President Elect of the USA

Just a very quick post for the moment. Am very sleepy because I stayed up half the night to watch the US Presidential Election results. I stayed over in Edinburgh and watched with some friends including Esther who is from Ohio. We managed till 2.30am and couldn't stay awake any longer. We were fairly confident by then but I can't tell you how fantastic it felt to wake up to the news that the USA had elected Barack Obama as their 44th president. The BBC questioned whether or not the world's expectations of Obama were too great. Well, of course they are. But if he does nothing else he achieved two great things yesterday.

He has changed the course of history for the better for African Americans - traditionally African Americans don't have top executive jobs and now he's gotten THE top job in the world. That HAS to have a knock on effect. And he's dramatically changed the world's perception of the United States. I am a good example of someone who is exceptionally cynical of the USA but last night, that country gave me hope that all is not lost. The time for deeper analysis is later, the days when we realise Obama is not a saint will arrive in the not too distant future but this is a GOOD result, and those of us feeling slightly emotional about it should be allowed our dewy eyed moments.

Final Saturday in Glenrothes

Off to Glenrothes shortly for the last Saturday of campaigning and really looking forward to it. Of course I'm looking forward to getting my life back when it's all over but I've really enjoyed this by-election. And today should be fun. The SNP has around 1000 members heading to the constituency right now and apparently the Labour Party has coachloads of Labour members coming up from England. Shame there's no such thing as doorstep subtitles because I'm not sure they'll be able to figure out the Fife accent! Still, it'll make for an interesting atmosphere.

In all the times I've been in Glenrothes campaigning I've only seen / met ONE Labour activist. That was Lindsay Roy, the candidate who seemed to be wandering up and down the road looking for someone, anyone :-) To be fair he seems like a nice enough man, thrust his hand into mine and said how nice it was to see me. He's obviously one of that breed of political activist who thinks we're all pals underneath.

My view of that is that this would be fine if it were a game we were playing and after 90 minutes we could shake hands and say cheerio. But it's not. It's about people's lives, it's about our country's future. So although I was polite to him, today I'm going to do everything I can to make sure he doesn't win and the people of Glenrothes DO - by electing Peter Grant as their next MP. Better go - I've told the Glasgow members not to be late for the bus, better not be late myself!