Independence Blethers and female inspiration

I have wonderful friends. Some are interested in politics. Others aren't, so whenever the independence referendum comes up in convo over dinner or a glass of wine there are several responses; from sighs of objection to enthusiastic agreement.

However I have one dear friend, who is as passionate about an independent Scotland as I am. She also happens to be a wonderful artist who selflessly mentors me, not only in how to be an *proper* artist but just in life in general.

Her name is Debs Sanderson. She lives in Milngavie with her lovely family. She is involved in the community in many ways but most noticeably for campaigning for a Yes vote in September.

She has initiated a movement, shall we call it, that is slowly taking off. A while ago we embarked on a community arts project with the non-partisan Aye-Aye lemur club. We tried out the concept and it was a success but we didn't really follow anything up with it. Then an opportunity arose for Debs to use that experience to start a women's evening of events. We gabbed about it and Debs done all the legwork, lots of other fabulous women also started to get involved and Independence Blethers was born.

We had our first event last month and had Natalie McGarry from Women for Independence, Michelle Thomson from Business for Scotland, Maggie Chapman from the Scottish Green Party and other experts to speak.

However this wasn't like anything I had ever attended before. There was no "top table". There was no formality. There was a buffet and a bar, I only had orange juice since I was designated driver. My 74 year old mother was there, there were teenagers and young mums, well to do businesswomen. We were all gabbing, chatting asking questions, writing ideas on lollipop sticks, then the music began. 4 Gals and a Piano started singing Mama Scotia in a wonderful homage to Abba.

This wasn't a political meeting was it? It felt like a family event, a wedding or christening vibe. Cyan is a brilliant venue and staff so helpful. Then I realised I was at a table with Maggie Chapman, questions were flying, answered every time, not only by the experts doing the rounds but by all of us women ourselves.

There are a few questions I still have. Mainly about fracking in an independent Scotland and access to adaptive sports, but that is why I will be attending the next in the series of Independence Blethers. This one is Risk... Dinnae be Feart! It will feature speakers Sandra Webster and Anne Mullen. As well as a host of other knowledgeable women. The event will be held in Cyan Bar/Bistro in Milngavie, just off Stewart Street, on Thursday 26th June at 7pm. Why not come along, bring a friend and be part of this momentous, historic referendum?

Poster by another indy woman, Karen McDonald

Other women who are attending will be hosting their own Independence Blethers. If you think you could host one but don't know where to begin, please get in touch with me and I'll pass your details to the star of a woman, who will stay up late into the wee hours to bake "Aye" shortbread, who will hobble round the village precinct with an injured hip and still have her wicked smile and dulcet southern tones to woo the undecided voters.

That's what it's all about, talking to folk and inspiring others to talk about it. Encourage everyone to engage in discussion, understand the arguments and share the knowledge. Politics do not have to be stuffy, nor should they be too complicated for us "mere mortals" to comprehend. It doesn't have to be full of impenetrable language that only politicos speak. Nor does it have to be boring, have a think about what you would do for an evenings entertainment, (e.g. cabaret; karaoke; interpretive dance) and do it! Host an Independence Blethers.

Yes this is a bit lovey dovey, fan-boyish and arty farty, but it's my blog and I'll blog how I want to! Anyway, you've yet to meet "Dorethea, my dears" (said in an über Bearsdonian accent) although, I do believe another alter-ego of my talented friend will be reading the "News from where you are" at Thursday's event. Mark it in your diaries and hope to see you there!

;)

My dear friend Debs with the lovely Nicola Sturgeon

(Glittery Yes t-shirts available NOW!)

Gabbing to folk - English and Drama teacher (linguistic tones)

Gabbing with folk: English & Drama teacher....

So today I was gonna touch on linguistic tones throughout the #indyref debate and how words are but sounds and connotation or interpretation, is dependent on cultural and emotional associations. My lovely friend explained it as eloquently as this:

"All language is just sounds that are given a value depending on the culture they exist within. E.g the sound 'light' has a higher value in our culture than say 'bin' because light has religious/Christian connotations etc."

Alas the European elections took hold and I feel it's never been more relevant.

We will hear of the 'earthquake' and of the 'rise' and the general fanboy attitudes of some for those purple badged buffoons. But more than that, why has far right political groups surged over Europe? I asked several times throughout the evening of incoming results. Austerity I am told, it pushes blame on 'others'. However I don't think Scotland would've even been that aware of UKIP if they hadn't been swannying all over television like a big itchy rash for the past year.

Again it comes back to the tone of language used by media outlets and the sensationalism about 'foreigners'.

I cannae fully buy into this ideology; because of austerity the far right policies are a chance to entice disenfranchised voters out to 'protest vote'. I mean Greece was victim of particular austere but a left wing party won? Evidently austerity doesn't equate to right wing support.  If however austerity does equal disenfranchment amongst the electorate, then why are they disenfranchised? How on earth is it a protest vote if that party can actually be elected? Could it be down to the corrupt political systems all over the EU? That's pretty disenfranchising. Or could it be the bended knee homage given to these policies by other more 'left wing' parties? Does the pandering make it 'awrite'? Literally. All right?

I was called a desperate nationalist and a UKIP apologist for suggesting that as some consolation at least Scotland didn't vote on droves for UKIP. 10.4% of Scottish voters (the turn out was rather poor) decided that a party who's policies are rather obscure, perhaps with politicians who are a tad homophobic, xenophobic and even in a bit of a ...you know, holocaust denial (see recently ejected Kipper face in Scotland)... were better than a Labour or SNP or Green representative. What does that say about political parties in Scotland? Or in the UK? Or even across EU as a whole?

What is happening? I can't say it enough. What is happening? Yes austerity causes frustration but since when is racism cool? Or trendy? I mean how many Parisian hipsters voted for NF? Is it really just cos media loves a character? Someone to rave about as the peoples representative? I'm not calling folk who voted for UKIP stupid or racist or homophobic or misogynist, but the party that you have voted for seem to boast those attributes. So I come back to the effect of language.

The word 'foreigner' gets swung aboot like an empty tracksuit. Especially in #indyref debate as does the words 'seperatist' and 'nationalist'. Many other bloggers have addressed this much better than I, but I had to vent this frustration. I had to ask about a language that I fluently speak and write. I had to understand why when these words are spoken I instantly understand the direction of conversation. I think I kinda get it now.

I get that folk wanna talk about immigration, what I don't get is how in my local area, where the only immigrants I see are 'hardworking' (another flung aboot word for another blog), high-tax paying individuals who are fully integrated with Scottish society, yet BNP, BF and UKIP got nearly 3500 votes? Why? In my leafy suburban (mothers house) hometown, austerity denial is rife. Even though we have a Foodbank in the town. The folk here dismiss poverty as a thing in Scotland. My family live in the east end, friends in Parkhead and Shettleston, I see impact of austerity every day but not so much here. Yet, folk still voted for far right parties in my area? Why?

I want to make it clear now however that SNP won the EU parliamentary elections in Scotland, UKIP came fourth. It will however be described as a UK wide earthquake for UKIP. The rise of UKIP. Eurosceptism, the people's politicians, popular vote, all these words. How does that language make you feel? Emotionally? How do the words republican, socialist, communist make you feel? Or even the word independence?

Someone pointed out to me that all political parties could be described as certain things in some way. Perhaps except the Greens who's 'Welcoming Scotland' slogan was the overall winner for me!

Another great description of events I happened to gander upon last night was it was like the big brother house. The most popular candidate won, and like reality tv shows usually the most obtuse option succeeded.

If you actually want some radical change, some statement vote, then why not #voteYes come September. Why not dissociate with the way language is swung about? I know I will. I didn't even watch one single main stream broadcast of the European election results. I am a much happier person today for doing so.

Gabbing to folk - Dinner Lady

Recently I spoke to a lovely lady who works in the dinner school in a rural location. We were gabbing about independence and she vehemently supports it. We ended up on the topic of free school meals. I asked her how it would affect her work. She replied with concern in her voice.
Currently she overseas the menu and distribution of meals to other schools in the outlying area. Her school has three sittings just now and she worries about how her dinner ladies will cope with more numbers. She thinks this new policy is a great idea but she only heard about it from news reports. No one from head office got in touch to ask front line staff their opinions. Her concerns are about equipment, canteen size, staff numbers, time. There have already been cooks made redundant due to low pupil numbers. This is why her meals to other schools now go out in a private vehicle. (Which she has concerns about anyway and led us off on a tangent in the conversation.)
The frustration with those higher up, in charge of making decisions, was clear when she spoke about the local product sourcing policy. Arguing that she could get good deals in her town for her school and the others she oversees but head office rejected the plans as they couldn't supply the whole region. (There was some confusion on who governs this policy which led us on another tangent.) So a larger producer, further away got the contract. Which defeated the purpose in her mind. These are all issues she wants to address and hopefully she will get a positive result after further queries. It will mean she has to utilise her tenaciousness and passion for good quality, healthy food and challenge head office.
We chatted a bit more and she made a great comparison.... the bureaucratic problems she faced in work are down to needing more localised control, just like Scotland and the need for independence.

This is all purposely quite vague not because the woman in question wishes to remain anonymous but rather because I feel it keeps everything casual. As serious an issue as independence is, not everyone wants to talk about it all the time. Folk do however love to gab about what what they are up to in their lives. It's the second sentence after "Hello".... "how you doing?....What you up to?".....  I'm hoping to have a few more gabs like this with teachers, business folk and financial sector workers all from different backgrounds and all various stances on independence. For one thing I know I can do well is chat to folk.