Scots Referendum Question - Exclusive

A Birthday Remembered

My father would have been 73 years old today. Sadly, a decade and a half has passed since he was taken away from us. I was touched by my elder daughter Laura's words on Facebook:

Again today so sad I cry
Another year has passed us by
Wish heaven had a phone to call
And wish you the happiest birthday of all.

Underneath her hard exterior lurks a sensitive wee soul!

Old Posts Revisited - Scottish Lonely Hearts

Grossly overweight Buckie turf-cutter, 42 years old and 23 stone, Gemini, seeks nimble sexpot, preferably South American, for tango sessions, candlelit dinners and humid nights of screaming passion. Must have own car and be willing to travel. Box 09/08

Aberdeen man, 50, in desperate need of a ride. Anything considered. Box06/03

Heavy drinker, 35, Glasgow area, seeks gorgeous sex addict interested in pints, fags, Celtic football club and starting scraps on Sauchiehall Street at three in the morning. Box 73/82.

Bitter, disillusioned Dundonian lately rejected by longtime fiancée seeks decent, honest, reliable woman, if such a thing still exists in this cruel world of hatchet-faced bitches. Box /41

Ginger-haired Paisley troublemaker, gets slit-eyed and shirty after a few scoops, seeks attractive, wealthy lady for bail purposes, maybe more Box 84/87

Artistic Edinburgh woman, 53, petite, loves rainy walks on the beach, writing poetry, unusual sea-shells and interesting brown rice dishes, seeks mystic dreamer for companionship, back rubs and more as we bounce along like little tumbling clouds on life's beautiful crazy journey. Strong stomach essential Box 12/32

Chartered accountant, 42, seeks female for marriage. Duties will include cooking, light cleaning and accompanying me to office social functions. References required. No timewasters. Box 3/45

Bad-tempered, foul-mouthed old b*stard living in a damp cottage in the ar*e end of Orkney seeks attractive 21-year old blonde lady with big chest. Box 40/27

Attractive brunette, Maryhill area, winner of Miss Wrangler competition at Frampton's Nightclub, Maryhill, in September 1978, seeks nostalgic man who's not afraid to cry, for long nights spent comfort-drinking and listening to old Abba records. Please, Please! Box 30/41

Govan man, 27, medium build, brown hair, blue eyes, seeks alibi for the night of February 27 between 8pm and 11.30pm....Box 35/55

Not All Bad News

It's been another tough week for The Ranter in more ways than one. However, at work today there was a wee pleasant surprise.

Working in Human Resources can be stressful, demanding and a quite thankless task. It's an old adage that people only deal with HR if they're in trouble, be it redundancies, disciplinaries or sickness absence. We're never going to be the most popular section of the company and that's something that goes with the territory.

However, today, I was invited to an event where kudos were given to those who have done something that is recognised as being for the good for the company. I was given a wee certificate under the category 'We Couldn't Have Done it Without You' and, embarrassed as I was at having to step on to a stage and accept my 'award', I was grateful that someone had taken the trouble to nominate me in the first place.

Usually at work it's nothing but grief and a culture of why did this or why didn't this happen? Today, for an hour and a half at least, it was pleasantly different and for that I was thankful. My wee certificate now sits behind me in the office.

Tonight, I'm at home and there's a bottle of brandy shouting for attention. I may just go and give it some...

Carole King

I love this woman!

For Once...

Good times for a change
See, the luck I've had
Can make a good man
Turn bad

So please please please
Let me, let me, let me
Let me get what I want
This time

Haven't had a dream in a long time
See, the life I've had
Can make a good man bad

So for once in my life
Let me get what I want
Lord knows, it would be the first time
Lord knows, it would be the first time

A great song from Morrissey - and lyrics that strike a chord with me right now.

2014 - It's Time

Two years to go says Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond - or perhaps he's sending a message to David Cameron...


Homecoming Year

Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn

Golf's Ryder Cup comes to Gleneagles


...I can't think of a better year for a referendum on independence for Scotland.

Damaging Scotland's Economy

David Cameron has indicated that he intends to seize the initiative over a referendum on Scottish independence. He told Andrew Marr, in a BBC interview, that "in the coming days" the UK government will set out the legal position concerning a vote on Scotland's constitutional position.

The prime minister said uncertainty was damaging Scotland's economy.

From the BBC News Website

So Dave has decided to 'seize the initiative', eh? Well, he wouldn't be the first Tory Prime Minister to treat Scotland as an irritant that needs to be dealt with. Back in the 1980s/90s, the despised Margaret Thatcher 'seized the initiative' when she shut down traditional Scots industries such as coal mining, steel and shipbuilding and, in doing so, tried to destroy so many communities. She may have destroyed the working traditions of thousands but she could not do the same to the spirit of the Scottish people.

Thatcher also used Scotland as a guinea pig for the poll tax. Thousands of Scots refused to pay this most unfair method of local government taxation but this didn't stop her then trying it throughout the rest of the United Kingdom - the ensuing riots meant this was one of her idiotic schemes that was doomed to failure.

Nowadays, Scotland is a very different place. It has a devolved parliament run by the Scottish National Party which has achieved so much in a short space of time to make Scotland a better place to live for hundreds of thousands of people. The Tories - and the Labour Party to a certain extent - are running scared. David Cameron knows the people of Scotland are seriously considering independence rather than see him and his clueless class-obsessed party damage Scotland the way Thatcher did decades ago.

'Uncertainty damaging Scotland's economy?' Any damage to Scotland's economy will come from London and a Prime Minister and coalition government who care not a jot about the Scots or their country. We certainly don't need a lecture from an old Etonian who doesn't speak for our nation - and a man who said last week that dealing with the shadow chancellor Ed Balls was like dealing with someone who has autism.

Stick to what you know best, Dave. Which, going by the last few months, certainly isn't running the country.