tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63297114941789678492024-03-04T21:54:58.634-08:00The Rt Hon Trouble's BlogThis blog is all about the life and times of a teenager (me) living in Scotland. It has a bit of politics, abit of school and a bit about friends. Hopefully you'll enjoy reading it as much as I do writing it.Alexandra Bobbie Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17047779975386978199noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329711494178967849.post-80754023357355648342011-05-02T14:17:00.000-07:002011-05-02T14:22:58.677-07:00The TeamIts a little poem I wrote on a train... hope its not too soppy<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Team</span></u></div>I got off the train at Longniddry station<br />
The sun getting ready to set over the scottish nation<br />
I sat on the steps in the pouring rain<br />
Brimming with joy at seeing the team again<br />
The car wizzed into sight<br />
I saw all of you grinning bright<br />
5 minutes earlier I was alone<br />
Now I know I had came home<br />
<br />
The next three days<br />
In summer haze<br />
I laughed, I cried<br />
And leafleted until I died<br />
The nights crammed with revision<br />
Although Julia distracted me from learning my division<br />
It was hard work you know it<br />
But I know I loved it<br />
I searched for so long<br />
But now you guys made me realise where I belong<br />
<br />
Soon it was at an end<br />
How time flies makes the mind bend<br />
I must of hugged you all until you died<br />
And at the station I know you cried<br />
As the sun burnt bright<br />
I saw you drive out of sight<br />
Parting from you is never fun<br />
And my tears glistened in the afternoon sun<br />
So that was goodbye<br />
It was heartbreaking I wont lie<br />
And the memories will stay for all time<br />
Untilthe eternal clock sounds its last chime<br />
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<br />
To those of you who this is dedicated to, you know who you are. Thank you guys so much it was a fantastic timeAlexandra Bobbie Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17047779975386978199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329711494178967849.post-28789645475928709092011-04-13T14:27:00.000-07:002011-04-13T14:27:22.291-07:00Oh Yes... Even Lib Demmerry made it into an essay<div style="border-bottom: #4f81bd 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 4pt; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;"><div align="center" class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #17365d;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Coalition- Make or Break for the Lib Dems</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How can the Liberal Democrats support the Conservatives in government? How can a left wing party join forces with the party that spawned Margaret Thatcher? I get asked these questions an awful lot and to tell you the truth, I find them hard to answer. I find it hard it hard to comprehend how this coalition works. The two parties, the Lib Dems and the conservatives, are in two totally different corners of the ideological boxing ring. The answer to this conundrum of how this government works is simple, compromise. Just bow the compromises are compromising the Lib Dems. So the question on everybody’s lips is will this be make or break for the Lib Dems?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Personally I think this is the time for the Lib Dems to break out of their small party shell. It’s a chance for the party to go “Look we can govern responsibly and solve crises like the biggest peace time deficit the U.K have ever had.” Just this once in a lifetime chance comes with its danger. The biggest one is looming over the Lib Dem’s heads like a rather large storm cloud. The threat of the Tories consuming the smaller Liberal Democrat party should not be underestimated. To the general public the dividing lines between the blue team and the yellow team are becoming more blurred as time goes along, especially after key Lib Dem flagship policies like the abolition of tuition fees hit the policy chopping block and the party’s opposition to the 20% VAT rate seemed to have dissolved. Yes to the general public we must seem like the Conservatives with a different coloured rosette. That image will go over time. The reason I am certain of this is that the coalition partners are at their core fundamentally different; the roots are different, the basic ideology is very different and the Lib Dems take great pride in their party and won’t let it be consumed by anyone. So keep this in mind, while the Lib Dem ministers have to compromise on the big stage, the ordinary MPS and members will continue to fight the Tories with all their might. Even though Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, may be palling around with the Tories, he still must do one thing. Answer to the feisty grassroots who are not afraid to speak their minds.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That brings me quiet neatly onto the sturdy, steadfast, proud grassroots that are the Lib Dem’s conscience, soul and heart, that I am proudly a member. Some are fans of the coalition, some are not but they are united behind the Liberal Democrats. Leaders come and leaders go, but the grassroots are always there and are a foundation stone for any party. They are a foundation stone that unfortunately the media ignore. For the journalists and political pundits it’s all Nick Clegg and Vince Cable. Well news flash Nick Clegg isn’t the be all and end all to the party. In fact the party leader would not have a party to lead if it weren’t for the 1000s of ordinary men and women, who give up time and effort for the party. These grassroots are not to be trifled with; they are principled, stubborn and proud of it. They are also in a different universe from the Tories, actually the closest thing to the Lib Dem grassroots is Labour and even they seem to be on a different planet.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So why didn’t the Lib Dems form a coalition with Labour? It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. No one won this election, but Labour certainly lost it. Even with the Lib Dens, Labour would of still needed the SNP or maybe the greens on top of that to form a majority. There were other choices but no real workable alternative. One path we could of took was for the Conservatives to form a minority government, but a minority government would of been weak, unable to make the choices to get us out of the financial mess Labour left us in. You can almost guarantee there would have ended in another election in around October of 2010 which would have either produced another hung parliament or a tiny Tory majority. Another option would have been to have an election straight away. Just imagine another 6 weeks of election mania, the cost of having another election as they don’t come cheap, the stock markets would have nose dived and no guarantee of different result, it doesn’t sound like a good equation to me. If it wasn’t the same result and the Conservatives had managed to limp to safety, I can bet you they would set about picking up where Thatcher left off, destroying public services, deregulating the financial sector that caused this mess and deeper, sharper cuts than could ever of been imagined from this coalition government. So yes I much rather have the Conservatives, especially at this time when they have excuses for the ideological cuts they want, I sleep safer at night knowing that George Osborne is being supervised by the ever watchful Danny Alexander. So taking all those choices into account, really the only viable option was a Tory-Lib Dem coalition (no matter what the daily mail says).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another plus of the Lib Dems being in government is the injection of long overdue Liberal ideas into the ticking heart of government. The biggest is the referendum on AV. The referendum will finally allow the British people to chose how they want their MPs to be elected. People can chose between the outdated, unfair old system called first past the post that allows safe seats to be like seats for life for MPs who don’t think they really need to do anything as the will be elected anyway, or want AV which will make every voted count, make you MP work harder for you. This choice gives power back into the hands of Britain and you can pretty much bet that you wouldn’t have got it without the Liberal Democrats being in government. There are also other Lib Dem policies which will help make this a fairer Britain. The pupil premium will help disadvantaged student have a fair start in education by giving more money and resources to their education, this will help reverse the shameful figure of that by the small age of 7 a child from a poor background has already fallen behind a child of the same age from a richer background. The Freedom bill will restore freedoms to British citizens and cut back on costly and infuriating red tape and the review of anti terror legislation has stopped the inhumane practice of hold a person for 28 days without charge. These are all first rate examples of a smaller party walloping one at the old system. That is main advantage of being in coalition, the Lib Dems get creditable policies that would of been ignored and what we have been fighting for years finally make it onto the statute book. Without the Lib Dems being in government those policies that help people lives would never have materialised.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No one said at the start of this coalition that it would be easy. It is difficult for the Liberals but it is worth it even though sometimes it’s hard to see why. All you have to do is listen to Tim Farron (MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale) “Just because I sleep with my wife doesn’t make me a women.” It perfectly described the Lib Dems, we may be in coalition with the Conservatives but we are certainly not Tories. You can see that too in the number of Liberal Democrat MPs who voted against the rise in tuition fees. We may be a small party but we are strong and have principle which we stick to. Granted the Lib Dems haven’t been able to enact all those principles and promises in government but they still hold them dear. So yes I am proud when I see Nick Clegg at the despatch box and yes I do carry my membership card everywhere I go. So next time you bash the Lib Dems just think of everything we have managed to do and just consider the consequences if the Lib Dems hadn’t gone into coalition, just consider if we had made the wrong choice.</span></span></div>Alexandra Bobbie Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17047779975386978199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329711494178967849.post-89784685386640163302011-03-16T11:15:00.001-07:002011-03-16T11:15:27.640-07:00Silver LiningA little poem that I did in English :)<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was young I was bullied</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For being not the same</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For being different </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For being me</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That time made me this way</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And the memories live on to his very day</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I still am quite different</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though it doesn’t bother me now</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I get called squinty weird or a cow</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No now I am proud to be different</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now I am in a different world</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now I am a different girl</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I used to watch my heroes on stage</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rally the troops around them</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And wished one day I would be there too</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the podium, bright lights and praise</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I joined the ranks of the party</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And the people there make me smile</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes I am happy</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would i be there now if it weren’t for then</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s the question </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How, where, when</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No I don’t think I would be </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But I doubt it is that solely</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now my life is about to change</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am on that stage with the bright lighting</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh yes every cloud has a silver lining</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dedicated to all those people who have made me so welcome and helped change my life </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>Alexandra Bobbie Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17047779975386978199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329711494178967849.post-79170245875153118792011-03-14T16:34:00.000-07:002011-03-14T16:34:40.725-07:00ITS SPRING!!!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh yes ladies and gentlemen I am back!!! My apologies for a prolonged absence but I have had FAR too much to do. Conferences and work experience are all coming up, but if I may I would like to start with the all epic Liberal Democrat Spring Conference.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is LOTS to report so I am not going to try and give you all to try. First order of business; the protesters. I don’t know how they can justify shouting and swearing at kids and attacking a disabled delegate. It is pathetic at best, if you want to protest fine but for heaven’s sake, at least have a molecule of decency! I found it awful when it got the point we were advised to remove our lanyards for our own safety!!! Needless to say I ignored the advice and walked out of Sheffield City Hall with my lanyard on and my head held high. I took the choice to be a Lib Dem and in my life I do not get to make many, so I will not be ashamed of that choice! Nor shall I have some ignorant protesters make me feel bad about it. Like I said in my speech, I rather be hung as a Lib Dem than live as a coward.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2<sup>nd</sup> item on this posts agenda (lol); Voting muck up. Oh yeah my one grudge (bar the diversity motion). I had been voted by my local party to be a voting rep. Unfortunately the confirmation of this was sent to Clifton Terrace and not Cowley Street. I was only verified a day before conference so I could not be voting rep for this conference. That’s all well and good but what got me was what happened with Sanjay. Sanjay had not even be verified yet he knew the right people so he was able to become a voting rep. That ladies and gents is major hypocrisy and taught me a lot how contacts can usually get you places.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-AcaVeGzkkLBzNYciscxg0OraWKxJTq1L7uE_1cAqzMLBNl9Xkt66ZITbXHNZmbe1XYc1dhAZE3pwS8npo-_fyrg_Lqmet9lJ7OXu3Nf9ZwipClkp2G89ThNfu02ve7bWBYXIBvdzO4/s1600/IMG_0509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-AcaVeGzkkLBzNYciscxg0OraWKxJTq1L7uE_1cAqzMLBNl9Xkt66ZITbXHNZmbe1XYc1dhAZE3pwS8npo-_fyrg_Lqmet9lJ7OXu3Nf9ZwipClkp2G89ThNfu02ve7bWBYXIBvdzO4/s320/IMG_0509.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Tim Farron and Me<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh well moving swiftly on to item number 3; NHS debate. As Sanjay pointed out, there is so many way that the NHS could be part privatised. So I am so glad that the NHS motion was only passed with some heavy amendments. As I couldn’t vote (*silently rages*) I was relying on the voting reps and they didn’t let me or this party down, they should be really proud of themselves. It was great and grown up debate and I am over the moon that we can have them. It wasn’t the great showdown between the grassroots and the party leadership that was expected and I’m glad it wasn’t. However we did send a great flipping transparent and clear message to the government and specifically the Tories and David Camerons’ band of merry Tories, think about this again.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Item Number 4; Youth Justice. The prolific speaker as struck again and failed! Yes I am quite confident I epically failed on my speech but skipping over that. Finally I wasn’t the youngest speaker *rejoices*, yes young Maelo Manning put me to shame by speaking clearly and fantastically in this debate. Her contribution was fantastic and I was gobsmacked. Go Maelo!!!!! It was with the amendment that I disagreed with. 12 – 13 is far too young in my book for full criminal conviction and I took no pleasure in disagreeing with Susan Gaszczak but really 12 – 13 is too young. Thankfully the motion was passed and the amendment was defeated.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGtQP6KzHdATh8ksvqM_RJQj7PQa6H0LQ7-BkyNfnUkdHa4GE1ggeaSRJSEENb7t2EYRNWIpZa5Ipvd_gaWOWS2uTql9XiLhZjiLEokw5BO44Sd28nQH-9fXYJi1ntCZHLbGyXM6pcT8/s1600/IMG_0531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGtQP6KzHdATh8ksvqM_RJQj7PQa6H0LQ7-BkyNfnUkdHa4GE1ggeaSRJSEENb7t2EYRNWIpZa5Ipvd_gaWOWS2uTql9XiLhZjiLEokw5BO44Sd28nQH-9fXYJi1ntCZHLbGyXM6pcT8/s320/IMG_0531.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stephen McFarland, Stephen Glenn and me :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Epic item number 5; the people. I have met so many awesome people at this conference! That’s what made it so good in my eyes. I have found so many friends in this party that it is fast approaching becoming my second family. I am absolutely over the moon to meet Maelo, such a nice girl and so mature. Also the times I have had with people like Stephen Glenn, Stephen Mcfarland, Sophie Bridger, Sanjay Samani and Robbie Simpson has made my life brilliant for 3 short days, though if Caron Lindsay was there it would of been even better as I am missing my hugs. Virtual twitter hugs are not the same This conference has made me see myself in a different light. It is not about being the best, it’s about having fun, making friends and feeling content with yourself and I am so glad that I am in a party that gives me all of that and I thanks the people in it as well.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharmWfX9xt7pJ71AzfKYfFytVwAMDPR4zJ5550acuwguWrXsQ1a3Nvf-5018g2AtlOkYRhwKvWJgjTh1qu80D3fTMuKImfM6OOEe_BTL76RN7ivUWEbIZm8V6OpUj_BFM0YsUHihjcfEw/s1600/IMG_0502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharmWfX9xt7pJ71AzfKYfFytVwAMDPR4zJ5550acuwguWrXsQ1a3Nvf-5018g2AtlOkYRhwKvWJgjTh1qu80D3fTMuKImfM6OOEe_BTL76RN7ivUWEbIZm8V6OpUj_BFM0YsUHihjcfEw/s320/IMG_0502.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Maelo Manning Showin Us All How It's Done </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Number 6; the big wig speeches. Oh I could rave about the speeches for days but I don’t have that long. Brief summary; Tim was fabulous and Nick was epic. Can’t say fairer than that.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Final point and the most epic of all; GLEE CLUB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My first Glee club was fantastic. Tim did his awesome Ting Tings cover, the land was belted out three times and everything was loud, rowdy and epic. The twelve days of coalition was our main vent of anger as we sung “BUGGER ALL” with more venom that we should possibly have used. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes a good time was had by all although my vocal chords shall never recover.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtwfE7LZsu8k6GAfGzznMWaTTYhvuLqecnN417ERbs8EN5DV5rRZJN9caDlKwX8Ihh6wkfDOYfI7D2-CS1kjAB4Fdtunru_CdP6QGetabW54f3eMW_en-DxpXAUkE9JLXjv9vDrMPBJU/s1600/IMG_0511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtwfE7LZsu8k6GAfGzznMWaTTYhvuLqecnN417ERbs8EN5DV5rRZJN9caDlKwX8Ihh6wkfDOYfI7D2-CS1kjAB4Fdtunru_CdP6QGetabW54f3eMW_en-DxpXAUkE9JLXjv9vDrMPBJU/s320/IMG_0511.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Me and Robbie Simpson</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I was to summarise this conference in one word it would have been epic. I am looking forward with great enthusiasm to Birmingham</span></span></div>Alexandra Bobbie Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17047779975386978199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329711494178967849.post-7336839640797242862010-12-20T13:16:00.000-08:002010-12-20T13:16:04.909-08:00My Winning Speech in the Speaker Competition<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How would you react if one of your friends had a mental health problem?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because it happens, one in three people are either born with or will develop a problem with their mental health. So to think about it, that one in three people sat in your row, in the classroom, in the cinema, at a concert or on the bus. Consider this, every single one of you here today who has sat next to me, well I have news for you. You have sat beside someone with a mental health problem.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was diagnosed when I was 13, I was then told I have had this problem since I was born and I’ll live with it until I die. I was also told by my doctors not to tell a soul of my problem because the guaranteed me that people would react badly. That terrified me and it took me 2 weeks to tell even my closest of friends, but to be honest I shouldn’t of been so frightened. When I told them they were like ‘It’s Alex, so what if she has this problem, she is still our friend’ and to this day they still support me and look out for me. So I think in that way I have the greatest friends in the world. So I would like to thank Laura Todd, Keeley Middleton, Karla Leyden, Sammi Nicholson and my long standing best friend Sarah Baillie.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So why can’t everyone react as well as my friends, why do some people react really badly. Because having a mental disorder is just like having a disability, only you can’t see it, it’s locked up inside your head. Imagine one of your mates saw a guy in a wheel chair, and started saying ‘he’s weird’ or trying to exclude him, well you’d turn to your mate and go that a wee bit sick a little disgusting. Well it is. So why is it somehow ‘acceptable’ to be like that with someone who has a mental illness? I know from my own experiences, that even though I have this problem upstairs, I am still proud of who I am. I have nothing to hide anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I am going to ask you again and this time I want you to really consider this, otherwise I’m just wasting my breath.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How would you react if you found out someone had a problem with their mental health?</span></span></div>Alexandra Bobbie Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17047779975386978199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329711494178967849.post-68687833043568244992010-11-29T07:43:00.000-08:002010-11-29T07:43:18.049-08:00Reminiscing About Scottish Conference<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I got up at 5am on the 10<sup>th</sup> of October did I know what was going to happen that day? Heck no! If I did I would have made sure I would have gotten more sleep. Going to conference on 4 hours sleep is not a good idea! It didn’t help when my alarm clock failed to go off and I got up 10 minutes late. Still I met Joan in Newton Stewart in time and 3 or 4 hours later we were at the conference venue (after about ten minutes searching for it). </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joan and I parted as I had the first timer’s induction session. They gave us these yellow bags (which for the rest of the day marked us out as newbies). Soon it was the opening session and I remember being overwhelmed at the amount of people Joan knew and the amount of people I didn’t. Still that feeling of being apart from everyone else didn’t last long. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What possessed me to fill out that speaker card I don’t know to this day, all I know is that I had to borrow Joan’s pen because I forgot mine which was ever so slightly embarrassing. I quickly handed it back to her and handed my speakers card to the steward. I watched with a mix of anticipation and dread as my card got passed up. Half of my brain was crossing its fingers that I would get called and the other half was screaming what did you do that for?! Then I was told to stand by. I think that was one of the scariest moments of my life. I didn’t have a clue what I was going to say, I hadn’t even read the pre-manifesto and to top it off Danny Alexander entered the room. So no pressure then.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thought my pulse could be seen in my neck from a mile away. The blood was thundering up and down my blood vessels as I got called up to speak. My head was so frenzied that I didn’t see the steps leading up to the stage, so I just stepped up on to the stage in my high heels. I was petrified of falling. When I got to the lectern I began to talk.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I said I really don’t know. I know people laughed at a joke and at the end there was brilliant applause. I stepped carefully down from the podium still not quite aware that I had spoken in front of Tavish Scott, Michael Moore and Danny Alexander. When I sat down Joan enthusiastically congratulated me and the rest of the day felt like a really brilliant dream.</span></span></div>Alexandra Bobbie Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17047779975386978199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329711494178967849.post-71580629496293465482010-11-07T11:34:00.001-08:002010-11-07T11:34:42.216-08:00Mr Clegg isn't the whole of the Lib Dems.<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I won’t pretend I like what the coalition is doing, I won’t pretend to agree with most of the coalition agreement and just because we’re in government doesn’t mean I agree with what Mr Cameron says. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Liberal Democrats are not like the Tories, let’s make that quite clear, but in Westminster and in the cabinet the lines that separate the two parties are becoming hard to see. This is not true in the grassroots. In fact the grassroots of the Lib Dems are so different from the Tories that you could measure the gap in miles. So to say, as Harriet Harman did, that we have become genetically modified into Tories, is a complete and utter farce.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I couldn’t be further from a Tory yet I have people say to me I must be at least a Tory sympathiser because our leadership is working with them. That’s true but the leadership isn’t the be all and end all to the party. The parties grassroots is so defined and its own identity that to call an ordinary member a Conservative would gain you some harsh words.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know some of the coalition plans are totally against Lib Dem principles and I’m not going to defend them, yet to call all Liberals Tories is a massive over reaction. Our party has a distinct identity and the press seem to be ignoring that. May I remind the likes of the Daily Fail and the Torygraph that the Lib Dems grassroots aren’t in coalition and we are still our own party. I think they’d do well to remember that.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok rant over. Back to school tomorrow yippee... not.</span></span></div>Alexandra Bobbie Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17047779975386978199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329711494178967849.post-68376210229369899832010-10-28T09:16:00.001-07:002010-10-28T09:16:50.142-07:00Aha an idea!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In June/July or somewhere around there, all of 3<sup>rd</sup> year do work experience. Some go off to the army, the police, the local primary schools or the solicitors. That’s all well and good but what if you want to do something a bit different? What if you want to do, I don’t know let’s say politics?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well I would like to do politics and until recently it looked pretty certain that I would not be able to get the chance. Yet thanks to the excellent brains of Ms McVicar (all credits for this brilliant and obvious idea goes to her) we came up with a ground breaking solution. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How about I ask say Jim Hume (Lib Dem list MSP for the south of Scotland) to see if there was a work placement scheme? What a revolutionary Idea! I actually use the tongue nature gave me for good use instead of licking lollipops! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No but seriously, work placement is a great opportunity for teenagers to get a taste of working life and I really do hope I get in. All I need now is to find out who to contact. Wish me luck.</span></span></div>Alexandra Bobbie Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17047779975386978199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329711494178967849.post-91744904367419668272010-10-28T08:53:00.000-07:002010-10-28T08:53:42.011-07:00Mr Sisi.... I am sick of theory already!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Graphic Communication (A.K.A Tech Drawing) is a class centred on drawing. So why on earth did I just spend nearly my entire lesson copying from a text book? Sure my class won’t shut their mouths but c’mon, some people like me do get their work done when they get the chance.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s not even like this is a onetime occurrence, it keeps happening over and over again. I am beginning to suffer from crippling loss of morale and a high intensity of boredom. I could go on for hours, moaning about how my hand hurts with the writing and what we are copying out is something I learnt in Computing studies, but I won’t because I have a mother for that.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So keeping this short and sweet, Mr Sisi give me and my hand a break and let me finish my drawing please. </span></span></div>Alexandra Bobbie Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17047779975386978199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329711494178967849.post-6154623039098214692010-10-22T08:14:00.000-07:002010-10-22T08:14:14.167-07:00Why I'm Going with Tim<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's high tension, high apprehension, high drama, hustings and conference appearences. Yes it must be an election.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Liberal Democrat Presidential election is gripping the party! Yup you may not have realised but it is. It's between Susan Kramer and Tim Farron and it looks to be a close one indeed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now I saw Susan on Question Time and I met her at conference so I have a lot of time for Susan. Yet I'm afraid Twitter swung it for me. Tim was far more accessable and he seemed far more passionate. He is confident, charismatic and a great communicator. That's what we need in this party especialy now we are in coalition with the Tories (now I say that through gritted teeth).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So as soon as I got the ballot paper I placed my X next to Tim's name and sent it off. I wish Tim all the best of luck and will be crossing my fingers that he wins.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Still the expectation on him if he wins will be great and I hope he knows that. He will have to stand up for the party members and make sure Nick Clegg and others don't forget the grass roots. He will need to criss cross the country campaigning and look after his own constituency. Yet I think he will manage all that and I think he will succeed at it with flying colours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So all that is left to say is good luck Tim!</span>Alexandra Bobbie Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17047779975386978199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329711494178967849.post-20417945251951459172010-10-22T07:58:00.000-07:002010-10-22T07:59:51.597-07:00Epic BBC Fail<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love Question Time. I love the tweets that come from it, I love seeing government ministers squirm, I love hearing all the different accents from around the country and I adored when Nick Griffin was totally owned on the show. However I have a bone to pick with the producers at the BBC. Where was the Lib Dem representative?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">In a week that the Lib Dem's have faced critism Question Time would of been a perfect way to show our veiws and to make people see that really we aren't Tories. Well BBC you failed again. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I would like to remind the folks at the BBC that the Lib Dem's are still a seperate party with seperate views and they need to be represented. I would hope that if there was a Lib Dem then that he or she would do better than Philip Hammond.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Oh how can I explain the awfullness of Hammond's preformance. He got utterly annihilated. It was painful to watch. I think the people of Middlesbrough are far to clever or cynical to be charmed by his smile. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The only redeeming feature of this week's edition was that it came from my home town and I was pleased to see they weren't going to let their town be talked down. One man tried in the audience but the panel quickly shot him down.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So yes this week's Question Time was an absolute BBC fail if you were to ask me and I hope next time it is better and there is a lib dem there.</span>Alexandra Bobbie Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17047779975386978199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329711494178967849.post-2350555158869528992010-10-22T07:34:00.000-07:002010-10-22T07:34:38.433-07:00The This Week Review<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ah what can I say. The sight of Micheal Portillo accompanied on the couch by Alistair Darling and his hypnotic eyebrows is enough to scare even the most seasoned of this week viewers. Perhaps it was made even more of a shock to the system that Micheal was wearing a rather bright pink shirt. Yes, very scary indeed and it was not lessened by the fact that his trousers were far too tight. Alistair however was very laid back and wasn't even wearing his tie. This was quite a shock as I am used to the former chancellor looking quite formal. He even remaind quite cool as Micheal was squashing him up against the other side of the sofa. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We had contributions from Robert Peston who looked rather shockingly at home in a bar going on about hangovers? Do you think he has much experience. I always find it very hard listening to Mr Peston, his voice is very flat and drawn out.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Christine Hamilton also graced our T.V screens with a segment on Wayne Rooney. I did find myself questioning if she was the sort to be doing the work of football punditery.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Also on the sofas was Lembit Opik and Jonathan Powell. Jonathan had just done a peice on how it was important for the chancellor and the prime minister to get along. Well he should know he did have to put up with Brown and Blair bickering like two year olds.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So all in all a quite good program once you got over the shock of that hideous pink shirt (believe me it was quite awful). Next week I will have to record the show as well as Question Time because I'm back to school yippee (not).</span>Alexandra Bobbie Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17047779975386978199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329711494178967849.post-20693043802349743072010-10-22T07:17:00.000-07:002010-10-22T07:17:42.084-07:00Welcome!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well hello folks. This is just a short welcome blog. One will follow it up soon and then we shall start it proper. If you want to follow me on twitter and facebook you can. The urls are below:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Twitter:</span><br />
<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/LibDemsfor2010">http://twitter.com/#!/LibDemsfor2010</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/">http://www.facebook.com/</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thats all for now hope to update soon.</span>Alexandra Bobbie Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17047779975386978199noreply@blogger.com0