March 7th, 2010 by Ann Garner
Comment?
Emails, phone calls (I’ve not done my college marking yet) and cooking various meals for next week fill Sunday evening – tonight, as I sipped at a rather nice red wine and emailed and then looked at the bottle, I am struck. How many people from where these grapes were grown and cared for down to the bottling plant, labelling people, exporters, workers on the docks and sailors – all involved in getting this lovely wine to my glass – have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami? You hear the news, it unfolds infront of you on TV and then you take a sip, as you talk to somebody about something you are both concerned with and look down –
Chile, I so very hope you get the care and help that you need.
PS The wine is being enjoyed a week early and has been sent for Mother’s Day!
March 3rd, 2010 by Ann Garner
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After work, I headed over to Bury’s Town Hall for our Youth Cabinet – where Youth Parliament members and representatives from schools and clubs across our 6-towns get together. It’s a meeting jointly chaired by a young person and Councillor – of all the meetings I attend, this is usually the most vibrant. However, how our young people have the patience for the slow wheels of organisations to respond to change is beyond me – personally I am constantly frustrated!
The meeting starts at 5pm – so our young people can arrive from school, meet each other and eat (a finger buffet is provided). Tonight I had to head off to our Councillor Surgery back in Sedgley, just before their meeting ended …. but at least I was able to stay until AOB!
An item of interest is Bury’s first Broadband TV Channel – where residents can up-load film clips of places of interest and things to do or advertise their school or organisation. Unlike U-tube, this site is vetted to ensure that the content is okay. People who also join the site can rate up-loads and comment on them. It looks great – and will be much better then the text-heavy Council Web-site, in delivering information!
February 28th, 2010 by Ann Garner
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Leafleting in the rain yesterday, an elderly resident beckoned me inside her home ‘I’ve not seen you for ages ….’ She was bothered about a health questionnaire and wondered if her replies were suitable. We talked about it and she shared stories about her life. She’s a retired music teacher and I was very fortunate to be asked if I’d like to listen to her play her baby-grand. I wonder who I’ll meet, next time?
February 27th, 2010 by Ann Garner
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The massive earthquake hitting this morning is yet another disaster for the world to help deal with. The concerns for a possible tsunami to follow, fills me and millions of others, with dread for further potential horrors. With Haiti struggling to recover from its disaster and now this, leading charities and the UN will be overstretched to cope.
February 18th, 2010 by Ann Garner
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I had a really super day exploring this re-vamped and extended museum. It’s a shame that the old building needed a refurbishment, I loved it as it was. The new exhibition space and improved story of the history of working people is well thought out and engaging. The building isn’t quite finished and the loos are far too high - they don’t tell you that Beveridge was a Liberal but all in all – I look forward to taking my students!
February 14th, 2010 by Ann Garner
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Dundee Univeristy’s Botanical Gardens and cafe was our haunt this afternoon - superb - although plants are largely getting ready to launch themselves for spring (bit like us getting ready for elections at this time of year), we had a superb visit. The green houses took us on a journey through plants, bushes and trees labelled - which is brill - as you have much more of an idea what everything is - so I now know what a Palm Oil tree looks like and what the superb plants, bushes and trees look like that it replaces (ie rainforest), without visiting a real one and having to negotiate flies and other creatures in reality! It’s a huge pity we don’t have gardens like this near to where I live - its amazing!
