The CDBC81 Blog: May 2017

Wednesday, 24 May 2017

That's me just back from being at the Glasgow Lourdes, also known as the disability assessment centre.

That's me just back from being at the Glasgow Lourdes, also known as the disability assessment centre. According to the UK Government you go in ill or disabled and come out miraculously cured. If that was actually the case I would have no complaint whatsoever. What usually happens however is you remain ill, and probably more so, as you have had the income you need to exist taken away for no reason other than they require to remove half the attendees from benefits so that the company contracted to do the assessments can get its bonus. And then you require to go to tribunal to get the money you are actually entitled to back and in the meantime have to live on air and water alone. I have yet to see what positive this actually achieves apart from a big needless bureaucratic jungle (jobs for the boys) which results in the weakest and most vulnerable in society ending up in misery and on the breadline. Perhaps Ruth Davidson and Theresa May can actually tell me (as Nicola Sturgeon asked Ruth to do on Sunday). #FreeScotland #Dignity #Lourdes #Bonus #UKGovt #TheYESmovement #MAYhem #NicolaSturgeon

Tuesday, 16 May 2017

The Westercraigs Nusery School saga continues (now almost 10 years and counting)

This is a deliberate direct copy of the post made in December 2014 as the position has not changed one jot!!!

I have lived in Meadowpark Street for 20 years now.

Having the secondary school opposite was an advantage as it meant an almost open outlook and barring the odd issue with vandalism and litter there was never really a significant problem.

With the arrival of the so called 'temporary' Westercraigs Nursery in summer 2007 all that changed.

The 'temporary' Westercraigs Nursery School in 2007

With the secondary school the times when there is noise were limited to morning before the pupils went in, lunchtime and also when the pupils finished.

With the nursery the noise levels are much greater, and can last all day. To get away from it I moved my main bedroom to the back of the property which has the drawback that is comes directly off the kitchen but this inconvenience is less when compared with being disturbed if I sleep later in the day as I am long term unwell.

I have also had to invest in double glazing at the front to reduce the adverse noise pollution which was a financial outlay I could well have done without since I am living on benefits of about £100 a week, but the resulting reduction in noise has been terriffic.

Of course I can do nothing about the visual polution - rather than an open space used for car parking during the day we are now faced with straggly bamboo trees and half broken bamboo fencing both placed there temporarily after a meeting with the Council in 2011 in front of a grey portable cabin structure which never melts in the background as it is so in your face.

Even if it is warm I don’t usually open my front windows (particularly in the room I am in) as otherwise I frequently cannot hear people speaking on the phone or indeed concentrate on anything (even with them shut this is difficult).

I now also feel really uncomfortable being in the my front garden during the day as I was told on arrival by an employee of the school that I was not to disturb the children by cutting my grass! Nice to know that they consider their neighbours (not!).


The playground for the Nursery School children

I now keep my blinds largely shut during the day and as a result live in twilight world most of the time, but it better than looking out right into to the office of the Nusery School.

I don't really understand the positioning of this school here. It is far too close to homes and is therefore bound to cause disruption. It is also not a suitable location due to the shape of the site. Looking at the picture on the right it can be seen that the playground is divided off from the main school grounds by an access road to Whitehill High School campus. The needless additional hassle to the staff must be considerable on a daily basis as they must accompany the children between each half on each and every occasion. It also must be costing Glasgow City Council a fortune to rent the temporary buildings. They have plenty money for needless alterations to George Square that they can see from their windows but don't seem to care very much for what the residents can see from theirs.

I continue to look forward to the nursery being moved although by the looks of things despite it being considered ‘temporary’ it is becoming more and more permanent by the day (and I also have to say more and more unsightly). So I think I shall probably be dead before it moves at the rate Glasgow City Council moves.

It really has ruined staying in this street as previously it was quiet and tidy looking. I would never have moved here if that had been directly opposite the flat I intended to buy. If my circumstances had been different I would be moving to get away from it, as several of my neighbours have done all ready.

Temporary. almost 10 years and counting!

Previous posts on this subject:

SUDDENLY BUT NOT UNEXPECTEDLY...

Suddenly but not unexpectedly after fighting bone cancer for almost 4 years my Mum passed away on Saturday 8th April 2017 at home in her own bed. She had had a good day on Saturday being out going to and from hospital for a blood transfusion. She had enjoyed the lovely weather, the spring flowers and bird sounds, spring being her favourite time of year as she had become recently almost housebound. She particularly enjoying the time with, and chatting with my brother. She passed away very quickly shortly after returning from hospital in the evening whilst still in his company. She didn't quite make her 86th birthday which would have been on Sunday but pleasantly had all ready received a birthday card and was looking forward to the big day.

Mum I miss you so much but I am pleased that your recent suffering is now at an end and you are with your recently departed sister who passed in January.

Mum and I October 1984. Just about to go out to celebrate my brother's 21st birthday by having a slap up tea at Dallam Tower Hotel on Dundonald Hill above Loans.

My Mum on Largs seafront after a shower of rain during the 1930s.

Her funeral service was held at St Meddans Church of Scotland, her church of over 40 years, at 12 noon on Thursday 20th April and afterwards at the South Beach Hotel, South Beach, Troon. There then was a private cremation at Masonhill Crematorium, Ayr on Friday 21st April 2017. In attendance were only my brother, my Dad and myself.

My Mum's funeral flowers. She loved her flowers and was a very competent flower arranger (she won a competition and was so surprised when that happened) so the flowers were very important and well chosen by my niece and sister in law. My only request was that they should include freesia as these were her favourite flower of all due to their beautiful scent. I always tried to have freesia within sniffing distance of her whilst she was ill. The blue/ purple colours were also chosen as these were her favourite colours. Thanks to Kirstie's Flowers in Troon for these.

Mum's funeral flowers at Masonhill, 1

Mum's funeral flowers at Masonhill, 2

Mum's funeral flowers at Masonhill, 3

My Mums ashes are to be interred at Largs Cemetery on Monday 29th May 2017 followed by lunch at Nardini's restaurant.

This was beside my Mum's bed throughout her illness.

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