The GENN issue 168

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Glasgow East and North News

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Next Edition 4th December 2015 PROUD TO BE SCOTTISH

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Christmas Countdown Get ready for Christmas

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Dr. Don’s View Political Commentary

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Local Sport Tom Scott with the latest news

Manhunt underway after cultural centre used by Muslims is targeted in fire attack

A

CULTURAL centre used by Muslims has been targeted in a firebomb attack.

A manhunt is underway for the thugs who targeted the

Bishopbriggs Cultural Centre also known as Al Sarouk - in the early hours of Tuesday 17th Nov Insiders fear the building may have been set alight in

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revenge for the Paris terror attacks.

Fire crews raced to the scene in Auchinairn Road, Bishopbriggs at around 2.20am tuesday and found a fire had been

started.

Police today confirmed the fire is being treated as “suspicious” and witnesses have been urged to come forward.

Sources said the incident

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may be linked to the Paris terrorist incidents and although, it was not currently being treated as a hate crime, it is “one line of inquiry being looked at”.

The insider said: “It was

definitely a deliberate act and an investigation is underway to find out exactly what happened.

“Obviously, the motive for the incident is key.”

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor In a recent article by Belinda Luscombe and Common Sense Media on a Spotlight on Kids and Technology it was reported that screen addiction is real and on average young people spend 4.5 hours per day using screens and teenagers spend 6.5 hours for nonschool purposes. The same group spend less than 10 minutes per day making creative stuff with their digital tools in respect to school work. This problem does not only apply to young people and schoolchildren and many adults are “slaves” to their phones, tablets and e-mails often taking work home and eating into family life and quality time.

I am a qualified and registered Clinical Hypnotherapist at Natural Solutions,168 Cumbernauld Road Chryston, Muirhead, North Lanarkshire G69 9NB Tel No: 0141 779 1420, where I have practiced for nine years, and during which I have dealt with a plethora of conditions including smoking, addictions, weight issues, studying , self-esteem, anxiety, stress and depression. I am a member of the NSPH (National Society of Professional Hypnotherapists) and registered with a number of professional registries including the SPRA (Scottish Police Recreation Association).

However I have recently noticed an increase in clients of all ages who are concerned about themselves, or their par-

ents, about their addictions to their technology i.e. phones , laptops, tablets, PCs , gaming consoles , phones etc and this is verging on OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and it is basically taking over their lives.

They have been coming to me for Clinical Hypnotherapy and counselling and achieving a measure of success by gaining control over the amount of time used up in these pursuits.

They appear to be much happier about being back in the driving seat of their lives and getting their use of technology back into an acceptable perspective and making much more productive use of their time.

If you want any further information do not hesitate to contact me.

Bernard Mills BSc (Hons) BA PG DIP www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk www.cnhcregister.org.uk w w w. n s p h - h y p n o t h e r a p y. co.uk www.sprapol.co.uk

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Glasgow East and North News

The GENN Newspaper was launched because the team recognised the importance of connecting communities with the news.

The aim of THE GENN, is to encourage communities and groups to get more involved in the local news agenda and to collaborate on stories and content ideas. It is about working in association with you, our readers.

“We have always tried to go out into the community, understand what is going on around us and make our own contacts. But, now, we are looking to change the dynamics by giving community groups and organisations access to a low cost events promotion service which we hope will help to encourage people to get more involved with the local news agenda.”

We have a need to identify different communities, and avoid the trap that other news organisations have fallen into of assuming an ‘audience’ of consumers can be described as a community.

Although a target market might be geographically close, have a combined desire or be striving for a similar objective, the key to defining them is whether or not they are communicating with one another.

The premise behind the GENN is to identify, engage, and then work with communities rather than treat them as mute consumers or sources.

We provide the tools, the platforms, and the inspiration to bring the community’s stories to light, but then not get in the way of that story being told. This is your newspaper delivering your news help support and promote The GENN your voice in the community, all enquires to info@thegenn.co.uk

Your voice in the community

LONDON ROAD ARREST A MOTORIST was nicked in connection with alleged drink driving after his car crashed outside a police station.

The 27-year-old man is believed to have been involved in an incident near London Road Police Office in Parkhead.

Officers received a call about a crashed car at around 2.15am Tue 17th Nov just yards from their station.

They breathalysed the man and his alcohol reading was over the strict new limits, which were introduced last year.

He is also understood to have received treatment for a minor head injury.

A police spokesman said: “A 27-year-old male was reported to the procurator fiscal in connection with alleged road traffic offences in London Road, Glasgow at around 2.15am on Tuesday November 17.”

The new drink-drive limits were introduced in December.

Research has found that a single pint of beer or glass of wine could now be enough to put someone over the drink-drive limit, which was reduced from 80mg of alcohol to 50mg in every 100ml of blood.

However, the way in which a person processes alcohol varies according to the individual - and a range of circumstances.

Scots caught drink-driving face maximum penalties of six months in prison, a driving ban of at least a year and a fine of up to £5000.

The same applies to anyone who refuses to give a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis.

PROGRESS BEING MADE IN PARKHEAD HERITAGE INITIATIVE A GLASGOW City Council committee has heard a report that significant progress with the Parkhead Cross Townscape Heritage Initative (THI) project has been made in the last year.

The council’s Regeneration and the Economy Committee considered a report giving a history of the project’s operation from 20052011, gaining grant funding of £3.5million within this time to heritage-led regeneration projects - including repairs to landmark buildings, the reinstatement of historic shopfronts, and a package of public realm works.

Investment priorities have been identified within the approved THI programme, and the objectives of the THI include: promoting a sense of place, restoring townscape, reinstating historic street pattern and increasing vibrancy.

In the past year, THI has funded the reinstatement of 25 historic shopfronts. Works to a further eight retail units throughout the area have been reinstated in the last year to maintain Glasgow’s historic street pattern and to improve the quality of local townscape.

A number of public realm works have also been delivered to the footpaths that form Parkhead Cross, including reinstatement of traditional Caithness paving and granite/

whin kerbs, installation of heritage style pedestrian barriers and removal of street clutter in order to attract place quality and investment.

Repairs to landmark buildings that form Parkhead Cross have also been carried out in the last year to sustain a sense of place throughout Glasgow.

St Michael’s Church received the installation of a new zinc roof, masonry repairs and the restoration of cast-iron rainwater goods through THI. The Eastern Necropolis Gate Lodge was also given funds for restoration of the building and an internal fit-out as a two-bedroom dwelling.

Within the past twelve months, THI has also delivered five construction skills training sessions that have been attended by 76 individuals. THI has also funded the creation of a Parkhead Heritage Trail, which

been distributed to 1,500 households and made available in local churches, community centres and libraries.

Future activity of the THI involves the restoration and conversion of Parkhead Public School for use as a local enterprise centre. In the past year a design team has been appointed, investigative surveys and design work has been on-going. Historic Scotland has also recently agreed to fund works to this building through its Building Repair Grant scheme.

Two other projects scheduled to begin in spring/summer 2016 include works to the category ‘B’ listed buildings at 1361 Duke Street and 1435 Gallowgate/1358 Duke Street, where architectural details including a corner tower being added to 1361 Duke Street, and fabric repairs to both buildings will be commenced.

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GENN Muslims Condemn Paris Attack Through Peace Conference

WAKING up on Saturday morning with the news of the dreadful incidents in Paris, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Glasgow held a Peace Conference in Bearsden near Glasgow on the same day to totally condemn the actions of the terrorist attacks in Paris and to sympathise with the dead, the victims and their families.

The event which was themed “Stop The CrISIS” was a platform to condemn all the activities of the few so called Muslims, which were terrorising the world peace and to expose their atrocities by revealing the true beautiful teachings of Islam as found in the Holy Koran and the peaceful practices of the founder of Islam the Prophet Muhammad.

The event which attracted about 200 people from all walks of life, faith and nonfaith alike saw all in solidarity against the terrorists attacks in Paris and totally condemned it.

Addressing the audience, the keynote speaker Mr Mansoor Shah, the vice president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK emotionally echoed the message of the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the true Khalifa of Islam leading tens of million Muslims in 206 countries around the world. His holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the true Khalifa of Islam issued the statement immediately after the attacks in Paris in the wording:

“On behalf of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community worldwide, I express my heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the French nation, its people and government following the heinous terrorist attacks that have taken place in Paris. This brutal and inhumane attack can only be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

I would also like to reiterate that all forms of terrorism and extremism are completely against the true teachings of Islam. The Holy Quran has said that to kill even one innocent person is akin to killing all of mankind. Thus under no circumstances can murder ever be justified and those who seek to justify their hateful acts in the name of Islam are serving only to defame it in the worst possible way.

Our sympathies and prayers are with the victims of these attacks and all those who have been left bereaved or affected in any way. May God Almighty grant patience to them all and I hope and pray that perpetrators of this evil act are swiftly brought to justice.”

Other speakers of the night included Margaret Ferrier MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, Linda Fabiani MSP for East Kilbride, Fiona McLeod MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Anne Jarvis Deputy Provost of East Dunbartonshire Council and Sgt Graeme Stirling of Police Scotland Safer Communities Department.

Margaret Ferrier MP said “It was a pleasure and a privilege to have been invited to attend and speak at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community ‘Peace Conference’ in Bearsden, I was made most welcome.

Not only do they fully contribute to life in Britain but they raise hundreds of thousands of pounds each year for British charities, we heard last night from just two of these grateful charities; Barnardo Children’s Charity & Yorkhill Children’s Charity.

Each and every one of last nights attendees came together to condemn the horrific events of the last few days in Paris, France and were united in their thoughts for the people killed, injured or caught up in this dreadful situation.

True Islam is a peace-loving religion and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community follow this principle in their daily lives, and believe in peaceful solutions to all matters. They have settled in the UK and understand that to integrate fully you have to live within the laws of the country.

It is very sad that in today’s world there is a minority of Muslims intent in presenting an alternative, false image of Islam. In stark contrast the Ahmadiyya Muslims wish to promote Loyalty, Freedom, Equality, Respect and Peace.

The motto they live by is “Love for All, Hatred for None”.

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Do you recognise this woman?

POLICE have released CCTV images of a woman they want to quiz after a “high-value” theft on a train.

Officers believe she may have information about the incident which took place on the Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street service.

She left the train when it arrived at Falkirk High station.

The theft took place on the 6.45pm Edinburgh to Glasgow train on Monday October 26.

The woman is described as having brown hair, which is tied

took part in raids at Mirza’s villa in Glasgow’s Pollokshields and three stores in the city.

They searched his Nisa outlets in Cambuslang , the Gorbals and Haghill.

The investigation could take months.

Paperwork is understood to have been removed from a Glasgow-based accountant.

Dad Mirza, 50, is described as an influential businessman in the Asian community.

Two years ago, he attended a ceremony in Lahore, Pakistan, to promote the contributions that expats make there Neighbours say a fleet of luxury cars, including an Aston Martin, Audi, BMW and Range Rover, are regularly parked outside Mirza’s gated family home.

He paid £735,000 for the detached property in one of Glasgow’s most prestigious postcodes in 2005.

asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or by texting 61016.

DENTIST CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY

Police find £900,000 in plastic bags SHOPKEEPER Mohammed Ameen Mirza was charged with fraudently evading VAT by failing to declare earnings.

Investigators discovered bundles of cash stuffed in carrier bags when they targeted grocer Mohammed Ameen Mirza shops.

The discoveries were made during a probe into an alleged £4million VAT fraud.

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and Police Scotland

back in a pony tail. She was wearing a black jacket.

British Transport Police (BTP) launched an investigation after the theft was reported.

Detective Constable Andrew Shields, who is leading the inquiry, has appealed for witnesses or anyone who recognises the description to contact police.

The BTP officer said: “I am appealing to anyone who recognises the woman shown in the photograph to contact me as a matter of urgency.”

Anyone with information is

A BARLANARK dentist is celebrating one year in practice and welcoming his 3000th patient through his surgery doors.

Steven Armitage, of Barlanark Dental Practice in Hallhill Road, opened his NHS practice last year after transforming the old community heath shop into a modern dental surgery.

He’s now calling on local people to book a free NHS examination in order to see how the practice can help them and their teeth.

As well as NHS work, Barlanark Dental Practice also provides teeth whitening, botox , facial line smoothing and lip fillers.

And a combination of these treatments, can give your smile a complete makeover and totally transform your appearance.

They can also make the perfect Christmas present for someone or simply a special treat for yourself!

Steven says: “I am delighted to be celebrating my first year in practice in such a warm and close knit community. We hope the next year will bring even

more people through our doors.

“NHS dental examinations are free in Scotland and some patients may be exempt from all NHS fees. So it’s worth popping in or giving us a call to see how we can help you and your teeth. “ We are also delighted to announce some new private services at the practice including the biggest breakthrough in teeth whitening in the last 15 years called Enlighten evolution. Which gives fantastic results on badly stained teeth. “ In addition to this line smoothing treatments including lip fillers and botox are proving really popular and can make the perfect Christmas gift for yourself or someone special!.”

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4 GOVERNMENT DISMISSES OFFPATENT DRUGS BILL MP’s who debated the Off-patent Drugs Bill, which was introduced to improve access to low-cost effective treatments for a range of conditions including breast cancer, are unlikely to complete the process through to the next stage - after they ran out of time for a vote.

As a result, it will not become law in the short-term.

The Government decided not to support the Bill despite widespread support from MPs, charities, and clinicians.

Public support helped Breast Cancer Now make a real impact in the campaign to put the issue firmly on the map, but it wasn’t enough to change the Government’s mind.

Chief Executive Delyth Morgan said: Thank you to the thousands that took the time to contact their MP about the Bill.

“We know that many MP’s attended and voted for the Bill specifically because they had been asked to by their constituents.

“The Minister noted in his speech that the Government has been pursuing a non-legislative solution to the issue of off-patent drugs.

“We will be in touch soon to let people know how they can help us make sure those words are turned into action on this serious issue.

“We are obviously disappointed, but while drugs that have been proven to benefit people are not getting to everyone that needs them, we will not give up.”

POLICE WARNING OF HOUSEBREAKING REPORTED increases in the number of housebreakings and thefts in our area since the clocks went back, have led Police urging people to take more care to secure any unattended premises and vehicles. The farming community in particular are being reminded to ensure that vehicles and trailers are secured and that keys are not left within any vehicles.

There have been a small number of incidents recently where North and East Glasgow premises have been targeted.

Police also ask that people be vigilant with regards to the security of their vehicles and property especially as it gets dark earlier in the evenings.

We are lucky to live in communities that has relatively low levels of this type of crime but we should continue to make it as difficult as possible for any opportunist thief to take advantage of any lapse in security.

Please remain alert and report any suspicious vehicles or persons as soon as possible to Police Scotland on either the 101 number or 999 if there is a crime in progress.”

GENN Local hero trailblazing wheelchair rugby awarded by PM

A WHEELCHAIR rugby player who set up the sports first Scottish club leading to the spread of the sport throughout the country has been named a Point of Light by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Lord Dunlop, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland, presented Adam with his award, where he was also joined by Glasgow Warriors players, James Eddie and Ali Price.

Glaswegian, Adam, set-up the Panthers Rugby club after he was diagnosed with limb girdle muscular dystrophy. In wheelchair rugby he found a sport that allowed him to participate equally, relieve his frustrations and rebuild his self-esteem. The first wheelchair rugby league team of its kind in Scotland, it has changed the lives of over 1000 people and led to the spread of the sport throughout Scotland with two more clubs being formed since then.

Adam, who worked as an HGV driver until he was given his diagnosis, is the latest recipient of a Point of Light award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in

their community and inspiring others. Each day, someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their remarkable achievements.

Adam coaches the wheelchair 7s and was also a player in the Scottish national league team until 2015. Adam started playing in 2012 after being inspired by the manager of the first ever Scotland team coach, Adrian Kennedy, after seeing the team play at the first ever four nations held in hull in 2012.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “With the Glasgow Panthers, Adam has made a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of people who use wheelchairs and wouldn’t otherwise have had the chance to experience the team spirit and confidence he found in rugby. By bringing disabled and able-bodied players together in one team he is challenging perceptions of wheelchair sport.

Adam has created an incredible legacy and I am delighted to recognise him as the UK’s 392nd Point of Light.”

On top of all this, Adam is an active fundraiser and volunteer for Muscular Dystrophy UK. He has helped raise thousands of pounds for the charity over the years.

Adam has just taken on a new role with the charity, as a peer support volunteer, giving up his free time to offer advice and support to others with living with a muscle-wasting condition.

He adds this award to being named Sport Scotland Young Person’s coach in 2013 and carried the Olympic torch in Edinburgh in 2012.

James Eddie, Glasgow Warriors player said: “Adam has achieved so much over the last 20 years, through both wheelchair rugby, and his work with Muscular Dystrophy UK, giving countless hours of his time to helping others. It was an honour to meet him, and see him receive this award in recognition of everything he has done.”

Adam said of winning the award: “It is an honour and a privilege to receive this award. It goes to show that, whether disabled or not, anyone can change lives - even if it’s just one.”

Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity for the 70,000 people living with these conditions, offering practical and emotional support, and funding ground-breaking research into treatments.

Nic Bungay, Director of Campaigns, Care and Information for Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: “We are delighted that Adam’s efforts have been recognised by the Prime Minister.

His achievements through wheelchair rugby have had a massive impact on the lives of young disabled people in Scotland, encouraging them to achieve their sporting goals.

On top of this, Adam dedicates hours of his time to supporting other people with muscle-wasting conditions, as well as fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy UK.”

NOVEMBER DEADLIEST MONTH FOR PEDESTRIANS

SHOCKING new analysis has discovered that pedestrian casualties on British roads peak in November each year.

The research* compared four years of records and found an increase of 42 per cent in serious pedestrian casualties in November compared to August.

Any death on the road is one too many. Here at Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, we are very disturbed at the dramatic rise.

The winter months bring challenges to road users, including darker evenings and

bad weather. We need to ensure we are working to keep people safe on our streets. Crossings, 20mph and pedestrian zones are all ways of increasing safety and need to be taken seriously to ensure that the number of pedestrian casualties does not continue to rise.

We must prioritise the safety of walkers to make sure everybody feels that they can get out and enjoy their streets and experience the health, social and environmental benefits that walking brings. The government must invest in walking to help save precious lives.

ADDITIONAL STUDENTS’ TUITION VOTED TOP OF THE CANDY CLASS ST ROCH Juniors continue to lead the way in their local community with innovative Tuesday evening tuition classes in Maths and Physics for students at James McGrory Park, writes Tom Scott.

The Central District First Division club, who won promotion last season, care passionately about the area - and a great deal of their focus is directed on the younger members of the North Glasgow community.

One of the most important aspects of a younger person’s life is education, and Candy Rock wanted to stress the importance of education, and provide assistance in a way which would allow them to succeed.

Committee Member Michael Docherty is behind their vision and he revealed the inside story behind the programme in yet another GENN exclusive.

He said: “Being from a Physics background myself (I study Physics MSci at the University of Glasgow), I decided that extra tuition for undergraduate students would be a great way to facilitate students who wanted to achieve a certain grade, or simply better themselves.

“When I brought it up at the

committee meeting everyone was really enthusiastic about the idea, and thought it was a great way to give something back to the community for all their support.

“We have received £10,000 from Awards for All to go towards the classes, and other initiatives like our Free Football Academy, Girls Football Section, and much-need upgrades to the building at James McGrory Park. “ It is very important to us that all projects carried out are free at the point of use to those who wish to use them.

“Since 5th and 6th year (s) are such vital years to obtain certain grades, we do concentrate our energy on helping higher students. That said, we have four or five National 5 students who come to the class each week.

“Due to capacity and the number of tutors, we can only host around 15-20 pupils. On average, there are around 17 pupils turning up every week! “ The project started two months ago and will run until May 2016 - supporting the kids until their exams. “ We hope to secure funding to repeat this programme next year aswell.”

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Capturing memories of National Service BETWEEN 1949 and 1960 2.3 million young men were called up for National Service. Most spent two years in the Army or the RAF, or in a minority of cases the Navy. Some saw active service in Korea or Malaya, some were posted to Europe, but many faced two years of boredom in Britain while subject to strict military discipline. A whole generation were effected by these experiences, but historians know little about how this shaped men’s lives.

Now, historians from the University of Essex, supported

by the Leverhulme Trust, are looking to conduct oral histories with ex-National Servicemen from Glasgow about their experiences of National Service.

Project leader Professor Gurney said: “Although historians have taught us a great deal about what went on during National Service we know almost nothing about how it affected men in later life.”

The National Service Life Stories project is the largest oral history project of its kind, and hopes to understand the longterm effects of National Service: how it affected men’s working

and family lives, their political values, attitudes to authority, community and discipline, and most importantly, how people remember National Service. The interviews conducted across Britain will form the most important source of information on the experience of National Service in the UK. If you might like to share your memories of National Service in an oral history then email nationalservice@essex.ac.uk or write to Professor Gurney, Department of History, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ.

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SEARCH IS ON FOR YOUTH CHAMPIONS IN GLASGOW

SCOTLAND’S National Agency for Youth Work is looking for the very best youth work being done with young people across Glasgow.

Youth workers and volunteers in Scotland are being encouraged to nominate entries for the National Youth Worker of the Year Awards 2016 organised by YouthLink Scotland.

The 9th National Youth Worker of the Year Awards will be yet another fantastic showcase for the 80,000 youth workers and volunteers, whose remarkable work supports over 380,000 young people to reach their potential each week.

There are 10 distinctive categories this year including: Climate Change Champion; Young Person’s Champion and a Creative Arts Champion; there are also awards for innovative youth work as well as Scotland’s Volunteer of the Year.

Investing in young people

CRAFT FAIR DENNISTOUN New Parish Church, on Armadale Street, just off Duke Street, is set to host the 2015 Dennistoun Diggers Community and Craft Fair on Saturday, December 5.

The event is expected to raise awareness and funds for Dennistoun Diggers Community Garden.

The Craft Fair will also highlight excellent local businesses and events taking place within Dennistoun.

Anyone interested in taking a stall on the day should email: dennistoun.diggers.events@ gmail.com.

LAMBHILL STABLES SURVEY LAMBHILL Stables and

greenspace scotland are pioneering a new approach to tackling the litter and flytipping problem identified in Lambhill They believe that transforming “problem” spaces into attractive and usable greenspaces will reduce the problems of litter and flytipping They had a public event on 30 October and there is an online survey to allow everyone living and working in Lambhill to have their say in which way spaces are transformed and how. They will also monitor changes in levels of litter.

The project will result in an action plan & improvements to local green and open spaces decided by local people.

The survey can be completed at: http://bit.ly/greenLambhill”

has never been more important as the hard economic times continue to put pressure on the younger generation and their opportunities for the future. Youth workers are often unsung and unseen by wider society but they give an immeasurable social benefit to us all. Recent research carried out on behalf of YouthLink Scotland estimates that youth work delivers £7 in value for every £1 it costs.

Commenting, Jim Sweeney, Chief Executive of YouthLink Scotland, said: “Over half of Scotland’s young people are involved in some form of youth work, which contributes immensely to society and national government outcomes. It gives youngsters the chance and support to shine and feel good about themselves. I would love to see these categories packed with nominations from the many incredible projects and individuals across the country, whose commit-

ment and vision really does change young people’s lives for the better.”

Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People, said: “Every year the National Youth Worker of the Year Awards rightly celebrate the often-unseen heroes who do valuable work in our communities. In the past, these awards have recognised a very broad range of individuals who have shown a true commitment to youth work.

I encourage everyone to consider people in their community who could be nominated and I look forward to hearing more about the nominees and winners.”

The deadline for nominations for each of the 10 award categories is Thursday 17 December 2015. An Awards Dinner to announce and celebrate the achievements of the finalists will be held on Thursday 10 March 2016 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow.

Bank raises £800 for Glasgow hospice

HUNDREDS of local business figures attended Business Week events staged by Clydesdale Bank in Glasgow, including a charity quiz that raised almost £800 for the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice.

Almost 100 local professionals took part in the event, which was compered by Des McKeown and held at Aarta on Wednesday 11 November. The event raised £780 for the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice which aims to raise £15 million through its Brick

by Brick appeal to build a new hospice in the city. The hospice was founded to help people with life-limiting illnesses to achieve the best quality of life.

Deyrick Smith, Head of Commercial and Small Business in the West of Scotland for Clydesdale Bank, said: “Our fifth Business Week has been a fantastic success, attracting hundreds of business figures to events in Glasgow alone.

“We’d like to thank everybody who took part in Business Week locally, especially those helped raise funds for the Prince and Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice.”

Dozens of events were held across Scotland as part of part of Business Week, including a number of high profile events in Glasgow which each attracted scores of business figures.

Speakers included Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, who showcased the innovation that is helping to grow the city’s economy and boost its reputation as an economic powerhouse on the world stage. Some of Scotland’s leading food and drink producers, including Highland Spring, Isle of Arran Distillers and Harviestoun Brewery, shared their recipe for success at a major event held at the Falkirk Wheel The theme for Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks’ Business Week was ‘Growth through innovation’, a positive and forward thinking approach to inspire businesses across the UK. Over 200 events took place across the country, from breakfast meetings to flagship events, with an impressive line-up of innovative speakers including Jo Fairley, co-founder of Green & Blacks, and Will Whitehorn, former president of Virgin Galactic.

YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE HEART – SCOTTISH SPORTS FUTURES CELEBRATE 15 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES THROUGH SPORT

THE IMPRESSIVE Scottish Parliament building which hosted the Scottish Sports Futures (SSF) Reception recently celebrated 15 years of sport for change and showcased some of the thousands of amazing young people that they have had the privilege of working with right across Scotland.

Over the last 15 years, SSF have developed well-respected and evidence-based initiatives that inspire and motivate.

Whether tackling social issues such as addiction and anti-social behaviour, or providing meaningful volunteering and training opportunities that lead

to employment, SSF makes a real, lasting impact that provides a brighter future for some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged youths.

The evening, attended by funding partners, MSP’s, Ministers, Community Partners and SSF participants was expertly hosted by Active Champion and aspiring young actor Andrew Marley, who ensured the event was up-beat and interactive. Guests had the opportunity to meet delivery staff and most importantly the participants who have benefited and supported a variety of sport and physical activity pro-

grammes in communities right across the country.

The event also launched the brand new SSF video filmed, edited and produced by a young volunteer, Geetika Jhakra. The footage captures the essence of the organisation, hearing from partners and young people, and highlighting the great variety of activities that are delivered, and the impacts that have been achieved.

SSF programmes have positively impacted on health, education, volunteering, employment, and community safety.

Footage can now be seen at www.ssf.org.uk.

WAITING LIST FOR CHARITY’S SERVICES IN GLASGOW AT RECORD HIGH A CHARITY which offers a lifeline of friendship to older people has issued an urgent call for volunteers as demands for its services in Glasgow hit a record high.

Contact the Elderly, which supports people aged 75 and over and who live alone, currently has 50 people in the Glasgow area hoping to join its monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties.

To enable these people to attend parties, the charity needs to set up 10 new groups in the city, which require around 70 volunteer hosts, 35 volunteer drivers and a pool of reserve drivers, as well as a volunteer from each group to be its coordinator.

Janice Kerr, Central Scotland Development Officer at Contact the Elderly, said: “It is fantastic that so many older people are keen to make that all-important step out of the house and meet new people through our tea parties. To make that happen we desperately need more volunteers in the Glasgow area who can give -a small amount of time to make

an immeasurable difference to older people in their local communities who are at risk of social isolation.”

Contact the Elderly currently has 92 groups in Scotland, 10 of which are in Glasgow, meaning the addition of the new guests would double the charity’s presence in the city.”

Catherine Tully, 47, of Tollcross, of area has volunteered for Contact the Elderly for four years. She said: “I thoroughly enjoy volunteering with Contact the Elderly and really look forward to our outings once a month. It’s a great feeling to know you’re making such a positive impact on the older people’s lives. It’s also good fun and I know our drivers and hosts get just as much out of our tea parties as the older people. It’s fantastic to see the impact we can make with such a small amount of time. I would recommend this to anyone looking to enjoy themselves while giving something back to our older people.”

The charity, which is celebrating its Golden Jubilee, provides thousands of hours of shared

enjoyment for guests and volunteers each year in Scotland.

Friendships are formed over tea, cake and chatter one Sunday afternoon a month.

Jean is a guest of Contact the Elderly in Glasgow. She added: “Day to day, I don’t have as much contact with people as I used to when I was younger.

The tea parties give me something to look forward to and I enjoy catching up on what the other older people and volunteers have been up to. It’s great to get out the house and have a good laugh on a Sunday afternoon.

“I hope Contact the Elderly can find more kind people in Glasgow so that others in my position no longer have to spend the afternoon in the house with nowhere to go and no-one to see.”

Contact the Elderly’s tea parties are free and rely upon the dedication of the more than 1000 volunteers in Scotland.

For more information on volunteering in Glasgow please contact Janice on Janice.kerr@ contact-the-elderly.org.uk or 01236 898613.

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Scots to spend over £1.8bn on Christmas presents ACCORDING to new research, Scottish people will spend £416.27 on average, buying 13.9 presents in total, with 7.9 people on average on their shopping list.

This compares to an average spend in Great Britain of £489.04, on 14.8 presents for 8.3 people.

Entertainment gifts (61%), clothes (53%) and food & drink (45%) will be the most popular presents purchased by people in Scotland.

Scots among Britain’s most traditional shoppers People in Scotland are among the most traditional Christmas shoppers in Britain. One in five (19%) of those who know how they’ll buy their Christmas gifts will do both their research and shopping in-store – only Wales is higher (30%). The average across Britain is 13%. A further 19% of Scots will do their research online

but then buy in-store.

However, Scots’ most popular method of shopping is to do both research and buying online (41%).

More than two in five (42%) are still to decide whether to do their gift research and shopping online or on the high street, with deals (62%), convenience (50%) and time (35%) the biggest deciding factors.

Two thirds (66%) will finance Christmas gift purchases from their monthly income, while nearly half (46%) will dip into savings.

Only 9% of people will use credit to foot the bill.

Multi-device Christmas shopping Over one in ten (11%) online Christmas shoppers will use at least two internet devices to buy gifts.

Desktop computers (69%) are the favourite device for online purchasing followed by tablets (16%) and mobile

phones (15%).

Scots least likely to send Christmas cards People in Scotland are the least likely (25%) to send Christmas cards, this compares to 16% across the whole of Britain.

Seven in 10 (71%) will send physical cards while just 9% will send e-cards.

Only people in the East Midlands (8%) are less likely than the Scots to send e-cards.

“Christmas is, by far, the biggest sharing event of the year and technology has added considerable fuel to the fire,” says Rupert Staines, RadiumOne’s European Managing Director.“The internet and connected devices have made it much easier for people to research and buy gifts. Thus, it’s a major factor in the large amount being spent on presents across such a wide set of people.”

Noel or No well?

The Christmas and New Year period can be a very busy time socially for us all, with more opportunities than usual to drink alcohol.

At this time of year it’s easy to be carried away with the Christmas spirit, but it is possible to relax and enjoy yourself without overdoing it.

Below are some simple tips to keep you going over the festive period.

Know your units: It is recommended by health experts that men should not regularly drink more than 3 to 4 units of alcohol a day and women not more than 2 to 3. It is also recommended that we all have 2 alcohol free days a week to give our bodies a rest from alcohol.

So what is a unit: A 330ml bottled beer around 5% ABV such as Becks, Budweiser, Miller is approx 1.6 units A bottle of Smirnoff ice or WKD is approx 1.2 units A large wine glasses holds 250ml, there could be 3 units or more in just one glass.

A smaller glass usually holds 175ml and can be around 1.8 unit.

For more information on units visit www.drinkaware.co.uk Alternate your drinks: Try having a spacer not a chaser. Alternate an alcoholic drink with a soft drink such as a fruit juice or a non alcoholic cocktail. This will stop you getting to drunk so you can enjoy the night for longer and it will also help keep you hydrated and help with any hangovers and headaches the next day.

Be aware of hidden units: We all like to try something a bit different such as a fancy cocktail in a bar or club, but a cocktail could have as many as five or six units in each drink. Something we have to take into account when trying to keep track of our drinking.

Be aware: Look after yourself and your friends when out and about over Christmas. Never leave your drink unattended and don’t accept drinks from strangers that you haven’t seen being served by the barman and never leave a drunk friend on their own.

Set a limit: Before going out decide how much you want to drink and only take enough money to cover this amount and keep your taxi home money safe in a different pocket.

Rounds : It’s always nice to buy some one a drink or have some one by you one, but don’t get caught up in buying rounds, apart from becoming expensive you can get caught up drinking far more than you had intended.

Housing crisis spiralling for disabled people in Scotland, campaigners warn​ LOCAL authorities in Scotland must act on a mounting housing crisis among disabled people, Muscular Dystrophy UK will warn MSPs at Holyrood this week.

Through its Breaking Point study, the charity has found that a lack of wheelchair-accessible housing is having a devastating impact on households, with some spending all their savings and being forced into financial hardship in order to adapt their homes. Others are being left to struggle in properties in which they can’t use essential facilities like bathrooms and kitchens.

Muscular Dystrophy UK is concerned that the needs of people with progressive muscle-wasting conditions, whose disabilities are increasing over time, are not being recognised, extending waits for homes.

The charity is calling for local authorities to act urgently to ensure at least 10% of all new houses within new developments are wheelchair accessible and that all new houses are built

using the Lifetime Home Standard**.

Nic Bungay, Director of Campaigns, Care and Information for Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: “People in Scotland are being forced to choose between struggling in a home they cannot use, or getting into debt in order to rent privately or adapt their property themselves. For too long local authorities have failed to ensure that new developments include enough wheelchair-accessible housing.

“We also must review the financial support that is available to people. We are hearing from families struggling to cover the costs of adaptations that could allow them to stay in their own homes.

“Action must be taken now to shorten waiting lists, improve support and ensure more accessible homes are available for those who desperately need them.”

Barbara Martin from Lanark has a son with Duchenne muscular dystrophy:

“We had everything in place to build but there was a shortfall.

We could only secure £18,000 on £44,000 worth of work. This was all during a difficult time when my husband had been made redundant. We were struggling to keep our home.”

Eilean Stewart (25) from Glasgow has limb girdle muscular dystrophy; “I tried for 19 months and eventually gave up and decided to go down the privately rented route due to the lack of accessible housing in my local authority area. My living conditions at the time were just too dire to stay on the housing list any longer. I just had to get out of there.”

“In the whole time that I was on the list for an accessible property, only one which was wheelchair accessible and suitably adapted became available. I applied straight away and phoned every day to see if I had been successful, as I was so desperate. When I was finally told it had been given to somebody else I was absolutely crushed.”

The next day: Our bodies break down alcohol at a rate of one unit per hour. You can’t speed this process up by drinking coffee or having a cold shower. If you have to drive the next day, think carefully you could still be over the limit the next morning. The Scottish Government reduced the drink drive limit in Scotland from 80 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood, to 50 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood. Don’t risk it the next morning plan alternative methods of transport like the bus or get a lift from some one who hasn’t been drinking.

Men & Women: Apart from the obvious differences, Women generally have proportionately more fat and less body water than men, meaning that trying to drink the same as a man can produce a higher blood alcohol level and higher rate of intoxication in a woman. The contraceptive pill can also lead to women being more adversely affected by alcohol. So it’s never a good idea for women to try and keep pace with a man when drinking alcohol.

By planning ahead and sticking to our limits we can all have fun this festive session.

But for anyone who feels they need a bit of support or simply wants to ask questions about alcohol the Greater Easterhouse Alcohol Awareness Project “GEAAP” offers a wide range of services including counselling for adults and young people, alcohol and tenancy support, group work & prevention and education services. GEAAP can be contacted on 0141 773 1222 or via email a geaap1@btconnect.com.

Specific information for young people about alcohol, tobacco & other drugs can be found at www.youngboozebusters.com.

8

GENN

The nights are fair drawing in …and time to think about fuel bills!

Award for Involving a THE way ng homes works with and involves a variety of people in hard to reach community groups has been recognised by a Good Practice Award at TPAS Scotland’s Annual Conference.

The Involving All award was presented to North Glasgow based ng homes who have involved a wide range of people and used their views to improve services and communities across the North of the city. In a tough category the runners up were Impact Arts and Viewpoint Housing Association.

Regeneration Manager for ng homes Margaret Layden said: “Working in partnership with others to look at ways of working ‘with and for’ our residents we are constantly looking for, and acting on, opportunities to get people and organisations together and this year we have continued to build on our commitment to further develop our relationships with minority groups.”

With a multi-cultural mix of residents the social landlord takes a proactive and sustained approach to ensure they meet the needs of the groups and also ensure that their voices are heard as part of influencing and delivering on services. ng homes has made positive connections with African and Chinese communities, recognising the diverse ethnic and cultural make-up of the area and they have carried out a range of Integration events.

Director of Regeneration John Devine, CE Manager Margaret Layden with Cultural O

With 88 African families living within ng homes properties the association works with groups like African Challenge Scotland (ACS), a community organisation supporting the capacity, development, health, wellbeing and welfare needs of Glasgow’s multi-generational and continually evolving African Community.

Housing and regeneration staff support ACS by carrying out focus groups, identifying needs and challenges and working to provide effective solutions.

One of the key areas for ACS is to develop opportunities to integrate with other cultures and provide education and employment opportunities for its members.

Home Energy Check advisor, Imtiaz Ahmed, has been working with tenants to assist them in saving money on their energy bills and providing tips in keeping their homes warm over the winter.

Over the past couple of months Imtiaz has been carrying out home energy checks for older tenants with great results.

He has been advising them on how to best use their central heating and hot water and providing tips on how to keep their bills down. In some cases, tenants have been supplied with energy saving lightbulbs. This has also helped the environment over the last three months showing a carbon saving of 5265kg Co2.

Imtiaz has also been helping sheltered housing tenants apply for home energy discounts, find a cheaper tariff for their electricity and

Springburn (East)

some have had rebates due to the fact that they have had large overpayments. Recently, one delighted tenant informed ng homes that he received a cheque from Scottish Power for just under £500. Another tenant received the £140 Warm Homes Discount and £200 winter fuel discount bringing him an annual discount of £340.

For the African community the range of activities have included weekly learning in Maths, Science, Physics, languages, a youth discussion group, art and design. Physical activities include football, table tennis, handball, gymnastics and African Dance. A “thank you” event saw 140 people at Saracen House which included families and individuals from African, Chinese and Scottish communities. ACS also held a week of events in the Summer supported by ng homes and attended by 1500 people.

Sheltered Housing Manager, Karen Johnson, said: “Home energy checks are a great way of ensuring our customers aren’t missing out on anything they are entitled to when it comes to their energy bills and these savings will come in handy, even more so at this time of the year.”

The Chinese community in North Glasgow also benefits from the work that ng homes does with 60 Chinese families currently living within their properties.

Events and activities have included the Mid-Autumn Festival which included 140 people from a range of cultural backgrounds.

The colourful event included Chinese music, dancers, Scottish music, Chinese food and fun activities for the children. The event was also recognised by a parliamentary motion in the Scottish Parliament.

Tenants of ng homes who are interested in a free Home Energy Check should contact their Housing Officer or alternatively contact Imtiaz directly on 0141 560 6000 or e-mail iahmed@ng2works.net

A further Chinese festival event was held at Saracen House for Chinese New Year and this was attended by other cultures where there was a display of dance, food, music and the children were given ‘red pockets’ as is their tradition by

Email: info@nghomes.net

Ned Donaldson House, 50 Reidhouse Street Springburn, Glasgow. G21 4LS Tel 0141 560 6000 Fax 0141 560 6005

Website: www.nghomes.net @ng_homes

ng homes is a trading name of North Glasgow Housing Association

Possilpark (West) Saracen House, 139 Saracen Street, Possilpark, Glasgow, G22 5AZ Tel 0141 336 1300 Fax 0141 560 6005

9

GENN

all in North Glasgow

EO Robert Tamburrini, Depute CEO Ann Marie Devlin, Chairperson John Fury and Regeneration Officers Michael Kam and Samuel Akintula.

Scottish members of the community. International community cook-ins were also held with African, Chinese, Scottish and Syrian families attending.

Another popular weekly event is the Oriental Gym Exercise which is attended

by Scottish and Chinese women who have connected very well and exchange skills and knowledge each week.

Focus groups were also set up with Chinese residents and ng homes staff worked with them to design and deliver integration activities and weekly workshops.

Particular issues with language barriers have been overcome with the introduction of Cultural Officers for both the African and Chinese communities and their work includes building relationships and connections within and across cultures working closely with the Scottish community and across generations.

Chairperson of ng homes John Fury said: “We have strong partnerships from community members, schools, voluntary organisations and public agencies and we use all of our resources to create a strong, inclusive, connected community. We are delighted to win this award for Involving All in our community.”

The prestigious national awards recognise good practice, involvement, commitment in improving services, building stronger communities and fantastic work from across Scotland.

The TPAS Scotland National Good Practice Awards 2015 celebrates and rewards organisations, groups and individuals wherever and however they benefit Scottish social housing.

For More Information contact: www.nghomes.net/ http://mediacentre.nghomes.net/ http://www.tpasscotland.org.uk/

ng2 400 Petershill Road, Springburn, Glasgow, G21 4AA Tel: 0141 630 4252

ng homes partners with Nourish Scotland to talk about Food!!

OVER the past year ng homes has partnered with Nourish Scotland to look at some of the wider issues around Food in the Community.

The first community event was held in March and was attended by residents, members of voluntary and public organisations where they discussed and identified some action areas ranging from accessibility, affordability, food growing, healthy food and issues surrounding food supply.

The follow-up event was held in Saracen House, Possilpark earlier this month and had a focus on the topical issue of ‘The Future of Scottish Farming’. Around 35 people attended the event including residents, education, Poverty Alliance, community organisations and farmers. There was a real energy around the room as people participated in groups to discuss issues such as ‘Who is Farming for’ and ‘Who benefits from Farming’ and people could see connections to their community.

Pete Ritchie, Nourish Scotland Director, said: “We welcome the opportunity from the Scottish Government to start a national conversation around farming in Scotland.

We hope that as a result of this process, measures will be put in place to work in balance with the land, communities, our health, climate, soils and sustainable local economies”.

Email: info@ng2works.com

Comments from those who attended included: “Shorten the supply chain so we are letting people eat local therefore lessening the damage to the environment with all the air fuel” “We should be teaching and encouraging more eco friendly farming” “We should be encouraging high rise urban farms where we can make best use of the hidden areas which would in turn make fresh produce accessible to more people.”

Attending the event was Mr Lu, Chairman of The Confederation of Fujian Association in Scotland who said: “Thank you for the invitation to the event. I found the information provided in relation to the food growing situation and its future vision very inspiring. We greatly enjoyed taking part in the many discussions.”

Mr Lu showed his gratitude by providing a range of Chinese cooked food enjoyed by the participants.

If you are interested in hearing more about the work within this area then please contact: Regeneration Manager for ng homes Margaret Layden on 0141 560 6000.

You can also find information on the Nourish Scotland website: www.nourishscotland.org

Website: www.ng2works.com

ng2 is a subsidiary of ng homes

ng in the community

Saracen House, 139 Saracen Street, Possilpark, Glasgow, G22 5AZ Tel 0141 336 1300 Fax 0141 560 6005

10

GENN

GLASGOW’S SOCIAL HOUSING TENANTS GET IMPROVED SAFETY

RESTAURANTS CLOSED BY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH A CITY centre restaurant was found to be infested with insects during a hygiene inspection.

The fruit fly invasion, at Mother’s World Buffet, on Sauchiehall Street, was one of a raft of hygiene breaches and the eaterie was given a checklist of 15 improvements.

The restaurant was one of five ordered to make improvements in the latest round of inspections by city council food hygiene teams during September and October as part of the Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS).

They include Pizza Express, at Glasgow Fort, Barca Tapas and Cava Bar, in Princes Square, Urban Brasserie and Grill, in St Vincent Street, and Elia, a Greek restaurant in George Square.

In the most serious breaches, at Mother’s World Buffet, inspectors visiting on September 16 found; • no hot water, • staff were not trained to wash their hands in the six stage process used in restaurants, • an unclean floor in the kitchen,

• raw foods stored with ready to eat ones, • open bags and tins of food.

They said the fruit flies “needed to be addressed” and recommended reputable pest control experts were brought in to treat the flies and ‘monitor pest activity at the premises.’

A spokesman for Mother’s World Buffet said the restaurant had closed two months ago, shortly after the inspection took place, due to problems with the licence.

He confirmed it would not be opening again at the Sauchiehall Street site.

AS almost two thirds of fires in Scottish homes are linked to electricity, campaigning charity Electrical Safety First is delighted Scotland’s largest provider of social housing will give its tenants the same protection from electrical risk already in place for private tenants.

Electrical Safety First successfully lobbied for regular electrical safety checks for the private rented sector (PRS) to be included in the Scottish Housing Bill. Now, Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) – Scotland’s largest social landlord with almost 40,000 homes in the city – has decided to instigate similar

checks in all its properties.

“GHA is going above and beyond the rather vague electrical safety measures currently included in the Social Housing Quality Standard”, explains Phil Buckle, Director General of Electrical Safety First.

“They are setting a clear example to other social housing organisations, who we would urge to follow suit. We want to ensure that everyone, regardless of whether they are homeowners, private tenants or live in social housing, are properly protected from the risks of electricity.”

Mirroring the safety require-

ments in the PRS, where electrical checks must be undertaken by a registered electrician, GHA has awarded its electrical safety contract to City Building, NICEIC’s biggest Scottish contractor. The contract will roll out from this December.

Lorraine Starrs, Asset Planning Manager for GHA, adds: “Keeping tenants safe in their homes is paramount for GHA. That’s why we are going the extra mile to meet the highest of safety standards. By carrying out regular electrical safety checks, we can prevent people from getting hurt and reduce the risk of fire in our homes.”

SCOTTISH SPORTS FUTURES SET TO HOST AWARDS NIGHT SCOTTISH Sports Futures are set to host their inaugural Awards Night celebrating the achievements of young people from across Scotland at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel on Thursday, December 3 (7pm-1am).

Building on the success of the Active East Programme Awards Night, the evening will be an opportunity to recognise the commitment and dedication made by young people, volunteers and partners right

across each of five delivery programmes.

Scottish Sports Futures (SSF) is a charity Changing Lives through sport, and over the last 15 years has been working tirelessly in communities that are vulnerable or at risk. Local and national programmes provide tailored pathways to positive destinations, supporting young people to fulfil their potential, and widening opportunities for all.

On the evening, there will

be five Active East specific awards, and the same number again for each of the programmes that have nominations.

It all promises to be an inspiring evening - all planned by young people.

Tickets cost £35 for an individual, and £350 per table.

Places have be allocated on a first come first served basis.

(Note Active Champions and a family member were offered a FREE ticket).

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Joint pain such as back pain, sciatica, frozen shoulder, etc is a very common complaint in Scotland .Mrs Yvonne Kunz from Glasgow has been receiving acupuncture and herbal treatment from Dr Liu . he said “the pain on my shoulder is so horrible , I only can lift my arm less than half way, It is very pain , on the night , I often wake up because the pain

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11

GENN STRESS. WHAT IS IT EXACTLY AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO MANAGE IT CORRECTLY

by Lilian Gunn THE systems in our body can’t distinguish between what is real and what is imaginary. For this reason it is important to try and think in a positive way, even when we are faced with everyday fears and stresses.

Stresses such as paying the bills, loneliness, noisy neighbours, illnesses, even simple things like losing keys, folk jumping in front of us in the queue at the shops, or anything else that annoys us or puts us in fear or alarm.

We can get ourselves into what is called either fight or flight mode. We stand our ground and lash out - often with not very good outcomes, or we run away and hope everything will just disappear.

These are two natural responses. The adrenal glands when we are stressed produce adrenalin and noradrenalin which contributes to the reactions we have, fed by cortisol to keep the energy going during our fight or flight. If we deal with the problems effectively then the body will become calm again.

There is another response not widely mentioned, it is termed freeze, stuck between the two responses. We can’t deal with what is happening to us by fighting, or running away, too many responsibilities, so

we do nothing. However the body continues to pump all of the above mentioned hormones into the body with devastating consequences on our health and wellbeing. These hormones, unless we act appropriately will cause us to have illness both mental and physical. We see much of this today, however there are very simple steps we can take to prevent any health issues arising.

Anxiety symptoms can mimic some serious illnesses - hot flushes, dry mouth, stomach churning, sweating, tingling fingers, breathing difficulties, bowel problems, tightness in the chest. I won’t go into any more detail on this I think you get the picture. We are living in a very stressful world at the moment and it is essential we find ways of coping with our own internal stresses. This in turn will have a ripple effect and will spread into the wider world as we experience peace internally and externally, it can’t be any other way because we are all connected.

Life is full of challenges and we need to be able to deal effectively with them. The thoughts we have in our head really do create our reality. If we can change how we think then it follows we will change

www.facebook.com/gennnews

FREE FRIDAY NIGHT BADMINTON SESSION AND SCOTTISH OPEN TICKETS A FUN, free Friday Night Badminton session (November 20) is up-for- grabs as part of the partnership between Scottish Badminton Open and Active East.

The event, which takes place between 7pm-9pm, is open to young people aged 8-plus at the Emirates Arena, and anyone who attends will

receive free tickets for the live finals on Sunday, November 22.

Anyone who requires support with transport is invited to contact Active East Youth Development Officer Rohanna Irvine : Rohanna@active-east.co.uk To book a group in, call Rohanna on 0141 558 1567.

what happens to us. This is difficult at first especially when the TV is on all the time and video games and mobiles are part of life today. However once the cycle is broken it becomes easier than you may imagine to find some space to think clearly and actually hear your thoughts. There is continual chatter going on in the brain. We don’t notice it because of the distractions I mention. These unconscious thoughts contribute to how our bodies respond to situations. Our inner self contains the mechanism to create heaven or hell. Thoughts can alter our inner processes a great deal so if we can change our thoughts then we will go a long way to begin to change how we feel. Very simple but extremely effective. No pills or potions.

Whenever you feel sad or angry, stop and take a breath slowly and think how that thought has made you feel and act. Then try just a little bit to change that thought to one of calmness and imagine yourself in control of the situation and yourself. No one makes you the way you are except yourself. Remember you are in control of your own mind. Lets create a positive epidemic - together we can change the world. Everything starts with the first step and it is always the biggest and hardest to do.

FRANK CROSS BUTCHER

TODDLERS FOOTBALL BUDHILL Football Academy are set to expand their excellent work within the East End community.

Chairman Billy McNaught this week confirmed Junior Buddy’s Toddlers Football - aimed at 2 and 3 year old children - will commence at Fuse Cafe and Youth Centre, 1567 Shettleston Road, from Thursday, November 26 (between 1pm-2pm).

Said Billy: “The programme is set to go every Thursday thereafter over a period of 24 weeks. All sessions are free, and in association with Fuse Cafe and Youth Centre.

“We have been successful with other far-reaching projects locally, and I am confident our involvement within Shettleston will help us increase the good name and innovative thinking of Budhill Football Academy.”

Budhill currently work with young kids at Barlanark Community Centre on a Monday morning, and also Tollcross YMCA, Tollcross Road, every Thursday.

Qualified Academy staff are involved between 9.30am and 10.30am.

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STYLE MILE CARNIVAL

MORE than 400 performers will take to the streets of Glasgow on Sunday 22nd Nov for the annual Style Mile Christmas Carnival.

Up to 20,000 people are expected to watch on as a glittering parade makes its way through the city centre from St Enoch Square to Nelson Mandela Place.

The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Sadie Docherty, lead the carnival on a horse-drawn cart.

She will be joined by her grand-daughter Grace who celebrates her third birthday on Sunday, Santa and four-yearold Tilly Fraser who is a patient at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

Tilly will celebrate her fifth

birthday just two weeks after leading the carnival.

The Style Mile Christmas Carnival will start with performances at the pedestrian precinct at St Enoch Centre from 12.30pm with the carnival itself leaving at 2.30pm.

It will weave its way through the city centre before arriving at a stage next to Nelson Mandela Place for 4pm where there will be further performances.

Amongst the talent taking part will be dancers, African drum groups, street artists, samba bands, pipe bands, angels and fairies and an appearance by the Glasgow Santa himself.

Ms Doherty said: “The Style

Mile Carnival has grown to become a key part of Glasgow Loves Christmas that is enjoyed by thousands of people every year.

“It looks set to be another fantastic occasion and I am particularly looking forward to enjoying the local talent who will be performing and to joining Tilly and her family as the carnival makes its way through the city streets.

“The Style Mile Carnival is another reason to enjoy Christmas shopping in Glasgow and all that the city has to offer in the run up to Christmas.”

For more information about the Style Mile Christmas Carnival, visit www.glasgowloveschristmas.com.

REMEMBER MOVEMBER

RIGHT, it’s November. Aren’t we usually swarming with moustaches by now?Usually, but Movember is in decline., or is it?

The facts speak for themselves. Last year’s UK Movember raised almost £3m less than it did the previous

year, and the lack of proto-taches on social media suggests it will be even less than that this time around.

This is a tragedy, just look outside then. This is the UK in 2015. Every second man in the entire country is either walking around with a

ENJOY THE FESTIVITIES AT ST. ENOCH CENTRE THIS CHRISTMAS

beard or a moustache slathered across his face.

Some charity or other must be absolutely coining it in. Nope. These are voluntarily grown beards and moustaches.

That’s a shame. I’ve got all this charity money, and it’s burning a hole in my pocket. Don’t worry. The market is saturated with good causes asking us to endorse the vanity of our friends. Next month, why not sponsor someone to grow a beard for Decembeard?

Sorry, that isn’t a laboured enough pun for me. Well, how about Stoptober? Or Veganuary? Or Dressember?

Dressember? What’s that?

You know all those dresses you own? If you wear them a lot in December, people can sponsor you for it.

Oh God. I know, I know, it’s awful. They’re all awful, but they raise a lot of money for good causes. Even this year, Movember UK has already raised more than £1m.

“It’s not too late to take part in Movember 2015.”

THERE is a huge range of festive activities and events for the whole family to enjoy this festive season at St. Enoch Centre, 1st for Christmas.

The arrival of Rudolph and friends in the centre can only mean one thing; Santa has arrived to take up residence in his magical Grotto.

Located outside Debenhams, Mr. Claus will be welcoming visitors daily right up until the 24th of December. With an entry price of £5.00, each little guest will meet Father Christmas and receive a special gift to commemorate the occasion. Santa is extremely busy preparing all the toys this Christmas so parents are asked to book in advance at www.st-enoch.com Elsewhere in the centre, the festivities continue with Hamleys ‘I met Father Christmas’ experience. An interactive event, where children can enjoy a magical fun-filled breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner with Santa. With scrumptious food, entertainment, arts and crafts, singing and dancing and much, much more, it is sure to be an occasion to cherish with your little ones.

Children can enjoy this magical experience surrounded by

the world’s finest toys from the 28th of November right up until Christmas Eve. The event lasts an hour and costs £25 per child.

If your little ones are too young for a trip to Hamleys, then why not commemorate this special time of year at Baby’s Frist Christmas. Each baby registered will receive a special keepsake from Hamleys as well as a certificate.

The first 250 babies will also be invited to a special event to meet Glasgow’s Lord Provost, Sadie Docherty on the 5th of December where they will each have their picture taken to celebrate the special moment.

Families will also have the opportunity to meet The Snowman™ who will be visiting the centre on Sunday 22nd November. Wee ones can relive the magic of Raymond Briggs’ festive classic at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm.

Shoppers are also encouraged to take a snap with the beautiful Christmas decorations to be in with a chance of winning £250 vouchers to spend in centre. Simply take a photo and share it on Twitter @stenochcentre, Facebook. com/stenochcentre or on In-

stagram@stenochcentre with #1stforChristmas to be in with a chance of winning.

Elsewhere, the Style Mile Carnival will be livening up the city on the 22nd November when 400 performers take to the streets of Glasgow from 12.30pm. The carnival kicksoff outside the centre in St. Enoch Square and makes it way to Nelson Mandela Place.

Why not head to St. Enoch for a hot drink and cake from Kimble’s before finding your spot to watch the performances.

This year, Glasgow will once again be overrun with a sea of Santas for the city’s annual Santa Dash. The Santa Dash pop-up shop, on the first floor opposite H&M, will be returning to its home in the centre from Thursday 19th November where keen runners can collect their suits.

This year around 8,000 Santas are expected to take part in the 5k which takes place on Sunday 6th December.

For further information on all festive activities taking place this Christmas visit www.st-enoch.com –or Instagram: @stenochcentre Twitter: @stenochcentre or Facebook.com/stenochcentre

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GENN Possilpark’s Jade to showcase talent to 70,000 people in Birmingham A SOCIAL Care student from Possilpark is set to travel to Birmingham to show off her talent to more than 70,000 spectators at the nation’s largest skills and careers event.

Former Cleveden Secondary School pupil Jade Donald has been selected to represent City of Glasgow College in the Health and Social Care category at The Skills Show 2015 and is hoping to sufficiently impress to be selected as part of Team UK at the finals of WorldSkills 2017, set to be held in Abu Dhabi.

Nineteen-year-old Jade, who is currently in her second year of studying HNC Social Care at the college, has spent months undertaking intensive training with City of Glasgow College’s Skills Academy in preparation for the competition, which is managed by Find a Future.

She said: “The training I have received from the college ahead of The Skills Show has been really challenging but very beneficial.

I’ve learnt how to balance my college work with training, which has taught me about the importance of having good time-management skills.”

Jade, who hopes to study for a degree in Mental Health Nursing after graduating from the college, continued: “I decided to pursue a career in the health and social care industry as I want to make a differ-

ence to people’s lives.

“I think taking part in The Skills Show will help improve my confidence and I’m also hoping it might open up some job opportunities for me. My family have already commented on how much of a difference they’ve noticed in my self-esteem since I’ve become involved in the project, which has been great.”

City of Glasgow College Principal and Chief Executive Paul Little said: “I am immensely proud of our students and staff; they are a credit to both the College and to Scotland. Being selected to compete in this great event is not only a reflection of Jade’s talent but also of the dedication and support she’s received from our expert teaching staff at City of Glasgow College. I’d like to wish Jade and her fellow students the very best

When: Friday 27th November 10am – 1pm Where: 68 Dale Street, Bridgeton, G40 4TL For more information please contact: Sarah Barnes, Glasgow Kelvin College: 07799 340 518 or Shaun Pearce, Glasgow Life: 07717 701 250

of luck.”

Earlier this year, City of Glasgow College graduate Mikaela Wright returned home from the finals of WorldSkills 2015 in Sao Paolo with a Medallion of Excellence. Mikaela, who competed in the Patisserie category as part of Team UK, has since used her experience to mentor Jade and her fellow students.

Maggie Darroch, Curriculum Head of Skills Academy and Development at City of Glasgow College, added: “The Skills Show provides young people from across the UK the chance to unlock their potential and get inspired about the world of work. At City of Glasgow College we also want to encourage our students to shine and be the very best they can. This is a challenging event but I’m sure Jade will do brilliantly!”

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GENN

The First-ever Vegfest Scotland!

EXPERIENCE the Wonders of Healthy Living and Veganism on December 5th 6th at the SECC in Glasgow As the hunger and demand for healthy and ethical lifestyles continue to grow across the planet, Scotland is set to embrace a whole new world of healthy living and cruelty-free vegan lifestyles at its first-ever Vegfest on December 5th 6th in Hall 3 of the prestigious SECC in Glasgow.

Vegfest has organised huge vegan shows in Brighton, Bristol and London with a 12 year track record of attracting big crowds in the region of 10,000 - 20,000 visitors per show, making Vegfest some of the biggest vegan festivals in Europe.

Its success stems from seamlessly combining food and education with features as light-hearted as comedy, kids area and live music, which makes health and ethics accessible to not only health enthusiasts and animal lovers, but also festival goers and those just looking for a top day out with their families.

Vegfest Scotland organiser Tim Barford says; “It’s such a privilege to bring Vegfest to Scotland. To be able to bring the vegan message to the people of Scotland in such a fun lively colourful passionate and inspiring way is a true honour.”

“We have a lot of support from many people in Glasgow who have made it easy for us and helped massively - especially Craig from Mono, one of 5

vegan bars and eateries that he owns. The council, the authorities, the venue (SEC centre) and many local business organisations and individuals have made us very welcome so far.”

“I love Scotland.....my Fathers stepfather Hamish was originally from Perth, and in the 80’s, when I had become vegan, I used to go tree planting in Caithness. One of my vegan ‘mentors’ in the 80’s was a musician called Johnny Sutherland who used to play out in the Thurso and Wick areas.

He inspired me to stay vegan.... and to play music too.”

About 10,000 visitors are expected at the inaugural Vegfest Scotland which includes a sumptuous cocktail of activities, including: - 130 stalls with merchandise, information, special offers and free samples aplenty, - 12 caterers with a colourful menu of globally inspired vegan food, - Talks on vegan Nutrition/ Health - Talks on vegan Lifestyle/ Campaigns, - Cookery Demos, - Living Raw Food Demos, - Vegan Health Summit (Saturday only), - Vegan Activists Summit (Sunday only), - Hemp Expo, - Performances, - Kids Activities with cookery classes and magic shows, - TeenVGN Zone for teenage veggies/vegans, - Display Area,

- Mature Zone for the elderly, with more TBC. 130 exhibitors and 12 caterers are confirmed at the event with a sizeable proportion of them from Scotland.

They include: Bute Island Foods, Green City Wholefoods, Mono, Stereo, The 78, The Flying Duck, Koko Dairy Free, All Natural Me, ConsiderIt Chocolate, Humane Wildlife Solutions, Juice Warrior, Missy’s Vegan Cupcakes, Raw Vegan Life, TheVeganKind, White Rabbit Skincare plus many others.

Vegfest Scotland also features a number of distinguished special guest speakers and performers, including...

• vegan punk musician John Robb from Goldblade, • vegan comedians Andrew O’Neill and Jake Yapp, • TV presenter Anneka Svenska, • model Victoria Eisermann, • author and keynote speaker Dr. Melanie Joy, • nutritionist Gareth Zeal, • vegan strongman Patrik Baboumian •vegan cyclist Christine Vardaros.

•Prof. Gary L. Francione (professor of law at Rutgers University who is the first one to teach animal rights in a US law school, appearing via Skype), •Dr. Doug Graham (author of ‘The 80-10-10 diet’), •recreational athlete Matt Ruscigno RD, •Canadian family physician Dr. Tushar Mehta and more!

HOME MAKEOVER STUDY 43 PER cent of tenants would be happy to pay more rent if their landlord allowed them to put a more personal stamp on their property.

Brits would be happy to fork out an additional 149.52 pounds sterling a year, on average, according to a new survey of 1,000 tenants.

With two million private landlords, letting out five million homes in the UK that means there’s potentially an extra 530 million pounds sterling in revenue out there for landlords who explicitly say they are happy for tenants to decorate.

Only 29 per cent of tenants surveyed have the freedom to decorate their property as they wish; but with a quarter (25 per cent) living in a rental property for more than three years, and one in five saying they would be ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to avoid inviting relatives round their home if they were embarrassed about the décor, it’s un-

derstandable that tenants want to decorate their homes.

The top five things tenants want to do to their rental property, but aren’t permitted to do are: 1.

Paint the walls with colours (19 per cent) 2. Hang pictures or mirrors with screws (17 per cent) 3.

Hang wallpaper (10 per cent) 4.

Blue-tack pictures to the wall (9 per cent) 5.

Hang a TV on the wall (9 per cent) Just 28 per cent of tenants ask their landlord for permission to decorate but of those that do, 76 per cent of those tenants’ landlords agree to the request, despite it being against the tenancy agreement.

Landlords and Lettings at Endsleigh commented: “With it being so difficult to get on to the property ladder, people are now renting for longer, so naturally they are going to want to

decorate the property they are living in long-term.

“Landlords who allow tenants to personalise their property could be favoured over those who don’t and may be able to command a higher rental price. If tenants feel at home in their property they may also have longer tenancies.”

For tenants unable to decorate their rental property or on a tight budget, Endsleigh has created the ‘Home Fakeovers’ hub. With help from expert design bloggers, it brings together some of the best home inspiration with a temporary touch.

Visitors can select a rental restriction such as ‘I can’t put nails in the wall’ or ‘I can’t paint or wallpaper the walls’ and creative work-arounds, hacks and fake-over decorating suggestions are offered. The Home Fakeovers hub can be found here on the Endsleigh website: https://www.endsleigh.co.uk/home-fakeovers/.

TRAVEL COLOURING BOOKS

LUXURY villa holiday specialist Oliver’s Travels has become the world’s first company to appoint a ‘colouring-in book artist in residence’ - who has turned some of their most breathtaking villas and holiday destinations into an intricate colouring-in book travel guide for adults.

With interest in colouring-in books for adults continuing to grow rapidly, and research* suggesting their therapeutic nature can help to reduce stress and promote mental wellbeing, Oliver’s Travels made the decision to join the popular trend - in doing so transforming the age-old holiday brochure and guidebook into a canvas for vibrant creativity The Oliver’s Travels colouring-in book artist in residence selected some of the most beautiful destinations in the company’s portfolio

across the UK and Europe to include in the first colouring-in book. This includes a grand Tudor manor house in the Midlands, a remote villa in tranquil Tuscany and an exotic beach house in Mykonos to name a few.

Each destination was photographed and then transformed from a panoramic image into an intricate template for adults to carefully colour-in, using whatever shades of felt tip or crayon they see fit.

The free colouring-in book for grownups is intended to provide inspiration for people’s holidays, help holidaymakers calmly while away the weeks until they jet off, and provide a perfect way for them to relax when they make it to their vacation destination. In addition to the colouring-in designs, the book also contains helpful information about the villas and destinations.

Oliver Bell, Co-Founder of Oliver’s Travels said: “Our mantra here at Oliver’s Travels is ‘Why Do Ordinary?’ and that’s exactly what has inspired this unique travel-themed colouring-in book for grownups. The book promises to inspire winter-weary customers looking to plan their next holidays and also provide something fun and relaxing for them to do while on their trip. We hope people enjoy the designs and we’re already looking forward to our next book.”

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GENN

Vulnerable Young tenants get woman attacked home checks to beat the on city footbridge winter chill A BRUTAL thug who attacked a young woman in Glasgow is being hunted by police.

The 23-year-old was found with horrific injuries on a footbridge in Springburn last night and an attempted murder probe has been launched.

Police said she is recovering in hospital after the attack near Springburn Road at around 9.15pm.

She was rushed to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and is currently in a “stable” condition.

The Evening Times understands detectives are following a definite line of inquiry.A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Officers received a report of a 23-year-old woman being injured on a footbridge near to Springburn Road at around 9.15pm on Sunday November 8.”The woman was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and her condition is described as stable.

“Inquiries are ongoing.”

Detectives remained the scene the morning after the incident and a cordon was put in place as investigations were carried out.

THOUSANDS of older and vulnerable tenants in and around Glasgow are getting help to beat the cold weather.

Tenants of GHA, Cube and Loretto all part of Wheatley Group - are getting a free winter check to make sure their homes are ready for the winter and help reduce their fuel bills.

The checks, which are part of Wheatley’s WinterReady campaign, are available to tenants who are over 60 or disabled.

A plumber visits the tenant at home to check the heating system is working properly, pipes are protected against the cold and the home has draught-proofing.

A radiator reflector will be fitted to reduce heat loss and tenants are also shown how to turn their water off in case of emergency.

Tenants will also get helpful tips on keeping their home warm, advice on cutting their fuel bills and how to book a free flu jab.

It’s the fourth year of the WinterReady campaign, which was launched in Glasgow by Frank McAveety, leader of Glasgow City Council.

Last year, more than 4,500 tenants got their homes checked - with even more checks expected to be carried out this year.

Tenant Peter Sutherland, 75, and wife Jemima, from Provanmill, have already signed up for a home check.

Peter, 75, said: “I signed up for a check because it’s important to make sure everything’s working - especially

with the stock cock.

“I’ve never had any problems with the boiler, but I want to make sure it stays that way.

“We signed up for a check last year too. It’s a great thing. It gives you peace of mind.”

Councillor Frank McAveety said: “Paying winter fuel bills is a real issue

for a lot of people, and I applaud this initiative from GHA, Cube and Loretto to help tenants.

“Glasgow City Council will work with our partners whenever we can to tackle fuel poverty in the city, and this is a great example of what can be done.”

Tenants in Glasgow who are over 80 can also qualify for Glasgow City

Council’s Affordable Warmth Dividend, worth £100.

GHA tenants who haven’t yet signed up for a WinterReady home check should phone 0800 479 7979 and quote ‘wintercheck’ Cube tenants should phone 0800 027 3456, while Loretto tenants should call 0141 420 7950.

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GENN

Impulse buys fuelling pet welfare crisis in Scotland MILLIONS of pets are being taken on with little or no research into what they need to live healthy and happy lives. And this lack of knowledge can result in stressed, lonely, obese and aggressive pets, according to the UK’s leading vet charity.

1 in 5 (21%) of pet owners in Scotland are getting pets impulsively, failing to carry out any research beforehand.

Almost 1 in 10 (8%) of Scottish pet owners think the cost of their pet will be under £500 for its entire lifetime – a huge underestimate. A cat, for example, can cost £17,000.

29% dog owners in Scotland think it’s acceptable to leave a dog alone for six to ten hours.

And 18% would consider getting a dog from a puppy farm.

1 in 12 dogs in Scotland (8%) are never walked (on the lead for ten minutes or more), despite this being fundamental for their physical and mental wellbeing.

This is the joint worst finding in Britain, matched only in East Midlands.

Findings from the fifth annual PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report*, the largest, most comprehensive insight into the state of our pet nation, shows millions of pets are still suffering in silence. Produced by PDSA in con-

junction with YouGov, the PAW Report is the biggest-ever annual survey of pet owners and veterinary professionals, uncovering the truth about pet wellbeing in the UK. A ‘want it now’ consumer culture is evident in pet purchasing with over 4.5 million owners doing no research at all before getting a pet, says PDSA. Familiarity with the Animal Welfare Act has decreased significantly over the last five years, with less than one third (31%) of pet owners stating they are familiar with their responsibility as a pet owner as detailed in this legislation which outlines the basic welfare needs of our pets.

Commenting on the worrying findings, PDSA Head of Pet Health and Welfare, and vet, Nicola Martin, said: “PDSA’s research shows that as a nation, we’re still in love

with the idea of pet ownership with over half of UK households owning a pet and 88% of pet owners believing that owning a pet improves their lives. But impulse acquisitions and busy lifestyles mean some people are totally unprepared for the realities, and the effort, that owning a happy, healthy pet entails.

“Sadly, too many people are continuing to underestimate the financial cost and the importance of choosing the right pet for their lifestyle before taking on a new pet. Ultimately, this is contributing to the suffering of millions of pets.”

Five years on from the inaugural PAW Report, millions of dogs are still being left alone for long periods of time, with owners vastly underestimating the lifetime costs of their pets. In dogs, this can be up to fifty times more than owners expect**.

Alongside this nearly a quarter (22%) of pet owners would still consider getting a dog from a puppy farm; an intensive establishment where dogs are bred in high volumes for profit, with little or no consideration for the health or welfare of puppies or breeding bitches.

“This needs to change and we

all need to stop and think whether we are providing everything that our pets need to live healthy and happy lives,” added Nicola Martin. #PawsFirst campaign launched to tackle the welfare issues To tackle these serious welfare issues, PDSA is launching

#PawsFirst - a campaign which highlights the problem of rushing into getting a pet without understanding their needs***.

“Our #PawsFirst initiative encourages prospective pet owners to ask themselves if they are prepared for every aspect of pet ownership, challenging a developing culture of ‘click and collect’ for buying pets,” said Nicola.

“PDSA wants to help turn public affection for pets into positive action by helping them find all the relevant information before making a decision.”

PDSA’s new Get PetWise quiz provides practical information to help people understand if pets are suitable for them and their lifestyle. We would also encourage people to speak to their local vet practice for more advice, or to visit a reputable online resource, such as PDSA’s website, which contains extensive expert information about popular pets and what’s involved in their care.”

Released today, findings from this year’s PAW Report, which surveyed over 33,000 pet owners and veterinary professionals, exposes the alarming reality of how millions of UK pets are living: Dogs • 2.3 million dogs (25% of the UK dog population) are routinely left alone for five hours or more, while advice suggests that four hours should be the maximum

time.

• 28% of dog owners believe it’s acceptable to regularly leave a dog home alone on a typical day for SIX to TEN hours.

• 465,000 dogs (5%) are never taken for a walk (on the lead for ten minutes or more)**** despite daily walks and socialisation with other dogs being essential for a dog’s physical and mental health.

• 465,000 dogs (5%) show aggression towards other pets every week.

Cats • 2.6 million cats (24% of the UK cat population) live indoors all the time, which could be causing stress and contributing to feline obesity.

• 4.8 million cats (44%) live in multi-cat households and of these 58% have to share their food and water bowls and 50% their litter tray, which can be source of significant stress for cats.

• 2.8 million cats (26%) have never been vaccinated, leaving them susceptible to fatal diseas-

ed amount of hay, which is an amount equivalent to their body size or more every day.

The charity says that by working together with pet owners, the veterinary profession, other animal welfare organisations and the Government, positive change can be achieved and these serious issues can be tackled.

Sean Wensley, President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), the UK’s leading representative body for vets, said: “We’re a nation of pet lovers yet the PDSA Animal Wellbeing report shines a spotlight on the reality of many pets’ lives in the UK. We agree with PDSA that this isn’t about pointing the finger of blame; vets and vet nurses are here to give information and guidance to the one in three people who are currently unaware of their legal responsibilities to ensure their pets’ health and welfare.

“Animal welfare problems – such as malnourished rabbits, dogs routinely left home alone for over twice as long as is ac-

es.

Rabbits • Nearly 700,000 rabbits (57% of the UK rabbit population) live alone, potentially causing mental suffering for the highly-social animals.

• 29% of rabbit owners feed rabbit muesli, despite this leading to painful dental disease and poor nutrition.

• 29% of rabbits are provided with less than the recommend-

ceptable and millions of unvaccinated cats – must be understood and addressed if we are to claim that we are treating our companion animals fairly. Improving animal welfare is a priority for BVA and we offer support to our members across the UK to help address and treat the very concerning issues revealed here.”

Thinking about getting a pet? #Pawsfirst and Get PetWise at www.pdsa.org.uk/pawsfirst

17

GENN

This Christmas, Keep Safe

WITH Christmas little more than five weeks away, Police Scotland is asking people around the country to take steps to keep themselves safe throughout the festive period, and also to make sure criminals aren’t having a Merry Christmas at their expense.

The force launched its annual Festive Safety Campaign today (Wednesday 18 November 2015) at Silverburn Shopping Centre in Glasgow, offering advice to shoppers on the four key areas to ensure people across Scotland have a happy and safe festive season, which are: • Online Safety • Shop Safety • Party Safety • Home Safety Each week of the campaign will highlight the issues faced around Christmas and New Year by people in Scotland, as well as offering top tips to prevent you falling foul of criminals’ Christmas schemes, and ensuring you have a merry and bright yuletide season. The campaign is supported by a range of partner organisations.

The Festive Safety campaign’s key crime prevention tips including: • Ensure your bag is closed and your purse or wallet is not easily accessible when you’re out shopping or partying.

• Don’t leave any purchases on display in your car and park your vehicle in a secure, well-lit area.

• Think before you post photos or check-ins on social media; you may be advertising your home as being empty. If in doubt don’t post it online – it could also cause someone serious embarrassment.

• Only use trusted sites when shopping online - look for the ‘padlock’ in the address line before entering details.

• Plan your journey home from a Christmas night out, don’t leave drinks unattended, stay with your friends and look out for each other.

• Don’t use drugs or New Psychoactive Substances – why risk your life?

• Keep your home secure, lock all windows and doors, and switch on the alarm if you have one.

• Protect any gifts you’ve bought for your friends and family. Get them to register mobiles, tablets, laptops and cameras at www.immobilise.com. Don’t give them a good quality bike without giving them a good quality lock, and register bikes at www.BikeRegister.com.

Superintendent Ross Aitken, Police Scotland Safer Communities, said: “Communities across Scotland become busier day and night over

the festive period with shoppers and people out celebrating. Police Scotland wants to ensure people have a great time this Christmas by providing some basic prevention advice – whether shopping, socialising, within the home or online.

“Unfortunately there are those who exploit the festive period for the wrong reasons. Prevention is essential in removing opportunities for criminals.

“On the run up to Christmas everyone is busy making preparations, whether out shopping, buying gifts online or out celebrating with friends and family. We are asking you to take a moment to think about the simple preventative measures you can take to discourage criminals and to stay safe. Our message is simple ‘This Christmas, Keep Safe’.”

Trading Standards Scotland Chief Officer, Fiona Richardson, said: “We would urge consumers to be careful when shopping online in the run up to Christmas.

Take simple steps to protect yourself - use secure sites and payment methods, look for physical contact details on the site so you know where to go if you do have an issue and be wary of buying designer goods from social media sites and online markets. Most importantly remember that if it looks too good to be true it prob-

ably is.”

Dr Richard Stevenson, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, said: “This is the time of year when many people are out in the city centre celebrating with family and friends.

“It should be a happy and enjoyable time but it can also be a time when you can put yourself at risk of serious harm by drinking too much and not paying attention to you and your friends’ safety.

“Alcohol and the cold are a dangerous combination, because contrary to popular belief going out into the fresh air does not sober you up. Neither does alcohol “heat you up” when you are cold.

When you drink alcohol your face may get flushed and your skin gets warm but your body is actually losing heat more quickly because the blood is rushing to the skin. The body’s normal protective response to cold is inhibited by alcohol, allowing your body temperature to decrease more quickly, bringing an increased danger of hypothermia. Your body temperature may decrease without you actually realising it.”

Deputy Director of the SBRC, Chief Inspector Ronnie Megaughin states: “Christmas should be an enjoyable time for all and part of the tradition for many people is

going out and buying presents.

Unfortunately busy City and Town Centres and Retail Parks are often targeted by criminals seeking to exploit every opportunity. I would urge everyone who is out and about to follow the simple advice provided by Police Scotland and take the necessary steps to safeguard their purse or wallet, ensure they are safe when withdrawing money and that they give careful consideration to where they park their car. Taking a little time to prepare will hopefully ensure that everyone has a wonderful Christmas.”

Mark McGeever, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, said: “The festive season brings a significant increase in the number of house

fires and we all need to act to prevent tragedies. Cooking and alcohol are a potentially lethal mix and unattended cookers, candles and overloaded sockets all pose a serious risk of fire.

“Simple precautions significantly reduce the chance of a fire starting but if one does happen then early warning is vital. Working smoke alarms are absolutely crucial devices for every home and people should also consider having a heat alarm fitted in their kitchen.

“Anyone who thinks they, or someone they know, could use some help to stay safe should call us on 0800 0731 999, or text ‘FIRE’ to 80800, to arrange for a free home fire safety visit.”

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Christmas Countdown

GENN

When a loved one lives in another country at Christmas YOU’D think that when we get to a certain age, we wouldn’t care as much about what our parent’s opinion on what we should or could be doing. But as expats we often feel torn between our desire to go and explore and the people we have to leave behind in doing so.

Most parents just want their children to grow up to be happy and independent people who function well in the world.

And sometimes it can be painful to realise that you’ve raised a child so independent that they go and explore for a long time far away from where you happen to live.

Some useful tips on how you can manage being either the child or the parent far away from what once was your home.

Tips for parents: • Ask questions about their travels and experience. There are so many forms of communication available these days and most require little to no technical skill. When your child (regardless their age) can tell that you are genuinely interested, they will open up more and share other things as well, not just about their journey.

• Go visit! Having someone that you love living in another country is a great opportunity to explore and see new places yourself. Even if you’re not a great traveller, your child will

love the opportunity to show you their new home and take you to new places.

• Be conscious of the questions you ask. Instead of asking ‘So when are you coming home?’ get really curious about what they’re experiencing.

If they are planning to come home they will tell you, and they won’t come home any faster because you keep asking.

Ask high quality open ended questions instead, like ‘What’s the thing you love the most about being over there?’ or ‘Is there anything from here that you miss that I can send across to you?’ By asking ‘When are you coming home?’ you’re most likely trying to show love and affection in that you miss them, but what you might be communicating is actually ‘you

Simple home made wrapping paper

Material 2-3 christmas stamps 1 roll brown paper or sheets of white paper Selection of coloured paint

Method Prepare your work area. I rolled out brown paper and taped it down with masking tape.

Prepare paints. I squirted red and green paints into separate plastic containers with a sponge on top.

Start the painting/stamping!

are not capable of finding your own way, you better come back here’.

• They still love you. Even though they’ve moved away.

And they’ll love you even more if you fully accept that their journey is theirs and allow them to enjoy it. Even if it pains you to have them far away.

Tips for children: • Be honest. Share your

travel plans with your parents.

Communicate clearly and share that this is something you’ve dreamed about for a long time and can’t wait to explore.

Many people worry what their parents will say and so far my experience has been that the worry in your mind about how they will react is so much worse than their actual reaction.

• Set up channels of how

to stay in touch. Some parents find the technical part of staying in touch a bit hard, so knowing your parents, what means of communication is easiest for them? Email, Skype, FaceTime, Facebook or maybe just you calling their home phone every Sunday? Create a channel that works for all of you.

•Show interest in them. Yes it’s a bit strange to ask them about the garden or Aunty Doris birthday when you’ve just climbed Everest and snorkelled in the Caribbean, but respect their world. They deserve to share their days as much as you deserve to share yours. When we show interest in others, they will automatically start asking questions about us as well.

•They are speaking from their own experience. They may have travelled in their life of they may not have. All the advice and care they give you is based on their own experience (or non-experience). Receive what’s relevant and park the rest for later.

•When you have physical distance between the people you love, you become more respectful of each other’s lives, dreams and wants. You also feel more in tune with showing love and appreciation through phone calls, gifts, messages and other things.

Easy Christmas name baubles

Material 4 Christmas tree balls, colour of your choice and number depending on how many in your family.

2 Packets of glitter letters 1 Ball of thin silver ribbon

Method Place the glitter letters on the balls. Don’t forget your pets name.

If the balls don’t have string or ribbon just thread through the loop so you can

hang on your Christmas tree.

Place on your Christmas tree.

Perfect gift for the Grandparents for Christmas or School Teachers.

GENN

DON’T GET THE WRONG GIFT

WITH Christmas just around the corner, the frantic list writing of what to buy for loved ones begins. But even those who put thought and effort into choosing presents, sometimes get it wrong, with new research from luxury gift voucher experience website, www.whatireallywanted.com finding that 93% have received a gift they didn’t want and 1 in 5 (22%) of those that received Christmas presents last year would have preferred a different gift.

It’s official money doesn’t buy happiness Far from money buying happiness, the research also found that gifting an experience brought the longest lasting pleasure to their recipients rather than an expensive possession. 74% of those surveyed said they had received a gift experience and of these 98% said the experience made them feel happy. 71% would prefer a gift experience or a gift voucher to a material gift and 66% said they would buy a gift experience for someone. For those who chose gift experiences and vouchers, they stated they wanted to give their loved ones an opportunity to do something new (73%), create special memories (65%) and it is nice to give something you can share with someone (74%).

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Christmas Countdown

Nation of carers and sharers Backing up the Eastelin Paradox that states that higher incomes aren’t correlated to increased happiness in the long term, the research suggests that we are becoming a nation interested in the well-being of others that only an experience rather than a material possessions can bring. 98% of those researched also stated that buying an experience was often a better option for those loved ones who had everything they needed in life.

The ultimate solution for those hard to buy for, What I Really Wanted research confirmed this with 73% of vouchers bought were for a named experience (compared to 27% monetary vouchers) with the most popular choices including afternoon tea, spa days and romantic weekend breaks.

Managing Director of What I Really Wanted, Linda Laurens, comments on the findings, “We were not surprised to see that people would prefer experiences such as a spa day or a weekend away rather than an actual possession in their stocking this Christmas, but the amount of unwanted gifts is remarkable. Maybe the move towards more people sharing quality time together reflects that as a nation what we really want is feel good experiences with someone we love.”

GET YOUR HOME READY FOR CHRISTMAS

1. Light it up!

It’s the darkest time of the year so make your home sparkle with some clever lighting.

Everyone loves fairylights on the tree but adding them to your mantelpiece or wrapping them around your stair banisters creates a festive glow that can flow from room to room.

Drape them across the tops of shelves or even above cornicing for a gorgeous glow; 2. Tree to the max If you’re bored of just a large Christmas tree stuck in one corner every year, why not think about getting a few smaller trees to dot around the house?

Artificial, smaller trees are great for adding festive cheer to other areas of your home such as the hallway, upstairs landing and even your bedroom!

3. Use your little helpers Get the kids involved in making home-made decorations such as wreaths and fireside ornaments.

Wreaths - simply twist a wire coat-hanger into a round base for the wreath, then wrap branches of greenery around them such as pine and fir, securing with wire.

You can then glue in fir cones or plastic red berries.

Kids will love decorating their own fir cones.

Simply bring a few back from a muddy walk, clean up and spray with gold or silver glitter spray and dot around your fireplace or under the tree; 4. Fake it Nothing says Christmas like candles.

But, with kids and tipsy relations milling about they can be dangerous.

Invest in some flameless battery-operated flicker candles.

Many have scents like the real thing.

Pop them in your window to give a festive glow – without the worry of any accidents; 5. Santa stop here!

Make sure Santa doesn’t miss your house by using fun signs and placards.

A ‘Santa stop here’ sign looks great outside the house or by the chimney – and it’s a good way to bribe the kids into behaving well by reminding them Father Christmas is on his way; 6. Change the colour Everyone associates Christmas with colours such as red and gold.

But why do the same?

A tree covered with different shades of blue baubles and decorations, for example, gives a modern edge – you can complement this with blue accents in your garlands and even hang up different coloured blue stockings by the fire; 7. Pick a theme Perhaps you’re tired of your usual decorations so why not pick a theme this year?

Victorian Christmas decorations look stunning in any home – think Mistletoe balls hanging from ribbon, and small toys, dried fruits and nuts hanging from the tree for a truly historical Christmas; 8. Dine in style It’s the most important meal of the year.

So don’t let your table decorations let the turkey down.

A selection of different coloured and sized baubles in a clear vase make a great quirky cen-

trepiece.

Handmade placecards cut into shapes like Christmas trees or sprigs of holly will make your guests feel extra special; 9. Show your cards Bored of simply stuffing your cards in the windowsill, only to knock them down every time you pull the curtains?

Why not choose a more inventive way to display them.

Cards hanging from strips of ribbon at different heights makes a pretty display, or why not peg cards around a wreath on the wall?

Another way is to hang an empty picture frame with string in lines inside it – hang your cards from the strings to create a ‘painting’ of cards on your wall; 10. Don’t forget outdoors If you want more than just a few lights hanging from the exterior of your house, why not invest in some freestanding rope lights in festive shapes such as reindeers and Santa to give a festive edge to your front lawn?

Or, instead of the usual wreath on your front door, get one with LED lights that will glow in the darkness, welcoming your guests to the perfect Christmas...

ARE WE HEADING FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS?

Will it snow in the UK on Christmas Day? It’s a million dollar question and according to weather forecasters, a white Christmas in 2015 is looking unlikely for most of people in Britain.

With temperatures expected to be mild throughout December, there is very little chance of snow for Christmas Day and a windy spell could be on the cards. While it is still early for an accurate forecast, meteorologists are looking at the jet stream and believe that Britain won’t experience traditional wintry weather this year.expecting a strong jet stream from the Atlantic for the rest of November to December resulting in often windy and wet Weather with above normal precipitation over the North and West, and temperatures above normal over the South and nearer normal in the Northwest.

“In this type of westerly pattern from the Atlantic, any cold snaps tend to be short and any snow tends to be over the higher mountains in the North of the UK for brief periods when winds veer to the northwest.”So, for Christmas 2015 the odds suggest a windy and mild spell of weather, unless we are between weather systems on the 25th. If there is any snow around it will most likely be over the highest parts of Scotland with a very low chance of any snow in the South or even at lower levels in the UK.”Whilst it is still too early to go into the detail for Christmas itself there are now signs that the jet stream will take a more southerly path during December. This set up could allow high pressure to build to the north of the UK, with wet and windy weather sweeping across the southern areas, as weather systems barrel in from the Atlantic.

“In this situation temperatures would be on the mild side and the likelihood of any wintry weather would be very restricted.”The last official white Christmas was in 2010, when snow fell across Northern Ireland, Scotland, parts of Wales, the Midlands, the Northeast and far Southwest England.

For the Met Office, it is too early for a Christmas forecast, but it says an accurate forecast is likely up to five days before Christmas Day. “In terms of the statistical likelihood of snow based on climatology, we know that a snowflake has fallen on Christmas Day 38 times in the last 52 years, therefore we can probably expect more than half of all Christmases to be a ‘white Christmas’ in this sense,”

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GENN

CHECK THE ELECTRICS AT YOUR HOME THIS CHRISTMAS

NEW research, commissioned has revealed some disturbing facts about the safety of UK homes at Christmas. As 90 percent of Brits admit to decorating their home and garden in the next few weeks, less than a quarter (23 percent) would consider the impact this might have on the electrics in their home.

The study, which surveyed 2,000 UK tenants and homeowners, found that 42 percent of Brits paid more attention to aesthetics than safety, with 1 in 5 admitting to feeling they needed to compete with their friends and neighbours.

Inevitably, the increase in decorative lights require the use of multiple sockets and extension leads, yet less than 3 percent were concerned about the amount of lights they were using and whether they could be of danger to

their family.

“Electrical safety in the home is important at any time of the year, but at Christmas we tend to forget that all the decorative lights we use around the home massively increase the dangers to our family. Just grabbing old lights from the loft and plugging them in isn’t acceptable.

Everyone needs to be aware of the dangers and take into account the risks when getting competitive with the neighbours Further causes for concern include the repeated use of lights year on year that are not properly checked (57 percent), lights used for 5 years or more (30 percent) and Brits not understanding the British Safety Kitemark (47 percent).

The most common problem that occurs at Christmas, is over-loading due to

people plugging in too many lights from their garden. In my opinion, homeowners are not aware of the strain they are putting on their home systems.

Brits are advised to think safety first when decorating their home this Christmas.

NICEIC and ELECSA have identified the top five tips to ensure your home is electrically safe this Christmas; 1. Do not overload sockets – Try to avoid extensive use of extension sockets and adapters. Do not plug multiple extensions into each other.

2. Do not re-wire your lights – Many homeowners will be tempted, or have already rewired lights to include 2, 3 or sometimes 4 sets of lights into a single plug. This is dangerous and causes a potential fire risk.

3. Make sure lights you use outside are certified safe for external use -Only use outdoor lights that have been specifically designed to be used outdoors. If you are unsure check the manufacturers’ instructions.

4. Do not leave lights on for long periods – Many homeowners will be tempted to keep lights on for 24 hours, overnight or even more concerning, leave them on when they go out. All Christmas lights increase the risk of fire and overloading and should only be switched on whilst you are at home.

5. Always use Christmas lights that have been certified for use – This can be identified by the European Standards Symbol (represented by a CE) and the British Standards Kitemark. If in doubt, don’t use them. Always buy lights from reputable stores.

Faulty electrics in the home account for 20,000 house fires each year, causing upwards of 70 fatalities. Most electrical issues in the home are easily preventable by ensuring your home is regularly checked by a suitable, registered electrician.

The top 12 toys for Christmas 2015 1. Star Wars Bladebuilder Jedi Master Lightsaber - £80 2. Star Wars Kylo Ren’s Command Shuttle - £180 3. Star Wars Millenium Falcon - £120 4. Thunderbirds Interactive Tracy Island Playset - £80

5. Disney Frozen Sing-along Elsa - £39 6. Lego City Deep Sea Exploration Vessel - £80 7. Little Live Pets - £60 8. Paw Patrol - £60 9. Shopkins Ice Cream Truck - £20 10.

Toot-Toot Friends Busy Sounds Discovery Home - £45 11. IDO3D Deluxe 3D Design Studio - £40 12. Pie Face - £20

BRITISH MEN’S FAVOURITE FASHIONS HIGH street retailer New Look Men has released survey data profiling men’s fashion choices from seven major cities around the UK. Straight jeans reign supreme, one third of men aged 18-34 favoured straight cut denim when asked what they wear as part of their favourite outfit. Smart trousers come in a close second with over a fifth of men electing the smarter option; however skinny jeans edge out chinos at 15% and 12% of the vote, respectively. Londoners and Leeds locals buck the trend, however, with men in the capital favouring a skinny fit jean (42%) and nearly two thirds of lads from Leeds opting for a tailored trouser.

When it comes to tees and shirts, plain clothing tops the lot among those men surveyed, with just over a quarter of respondents opting for simple styling.

Some favour an Oxford shirt as part of their preferred ensemble with the buttoned-down-collared-shirt earning 41% of the vote in the capital. Perhaps unsurprisingly, less than 1% of men go sleeveless with a vest. Denim or plain shirts don’t receive much love either, earning less than 2% of the public vote, each.

White, blue and black are guys’ favourite shades for wearing up top, taking 58% of votes between them, most men wouldn’t go green though (the least popular favourite 0.7%), nor yellow or orange.

As for which shoes to choose, trainers run away with the vote; you’ll find 26% of UK men sporting sneakers. Brogues/derbies are the most popular in the South, with 32% of respondents picking the style, while in the North – canvas trainers are the footwear of choice.

In the coat vote, sporty style is the way to go with 23% of men across Britain opting for athletic outerwear, Some older, however, vote the denim jacket favourite.

From outerwear to underwear, boxers and basic-black socks are adorned most frequently across the nation, earning 48% and 39% of the votes respectively.

For fashion advice, male mates are the most turned-to (40%) in times of fashion crises, with men’s magazines and female peers being second and third most trusted sources of style tips. 14% of blokes ask their mum if they need styling, while dad is the least looked-to style guru at 10% of respondents.

38% of men admit their biggest problem is knowing what suits them while more than a quarter of men cite staying on trend as their biggest concern.

Cure The Flu Through Your Feet

AS Winter fast approaches, so does the flu season and nothing can make us more miserable than endless bouts of coughing, red, runny noses and high temperatures.

For most of us, the seasonal flu is an inconvenience we can do without. Thankfully, we can get anti-flu shots these days but, even vaccines don’t always prevent a dose of the sniffles.

While there are some very good flu remedies available to purchase over the counter, there are still some traditional ones that are worth giving a go before you go running to your local drug store.

It may initially sound like an unlikely combination, but feet and onions are synonymous in forming an alternative cure for flu-like symptoms. Considering the feet are intrinsically connected to the brain through minute touch receptors, it’s worth remembering that they send integral messages to our brains.

The brain filters the message and then goes on to make necessary adjustments to the body.

To conclude, the feet that we stand and walk on, can act like emergency doctors, but just how does that work in conjunction with peeled onions?

The under-the-foot wrap is an old remedy and very effective when used to treat flu, fever, sinusitis and upper res-

piratory disorders in general.

It works on the same basic principles that we find used in reflexology; the intimate link that exists between the sole of the foot and the rest of the body.

This type of wrap is suitable for children aged six months and older and of course their adult counterparts. It’s effective, cheap and easy to put together

21

GENN Majority of UK public would encourage young people to become engineers

A POLL of a cross-section of UK residents found more people would encourage a young person to become an engineer than a doctor, accountant or banker A new Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ poll of a representative cross-section of 1,000 members of the public found that 86% would encourage a young person to become an engineer.

Of the four options offered, engineering was the most popular at 86%, with 80% saying they would encourage a young person to become a doctor, 56% an accountant, and just 36% who said they would encourage a young person to become a banker.

Peter Finegold, Head of Education and Skills at the Institu-

tion of Mechanical Engineers, said: “The results of this poll are both encouraging and surprising. We face a shortfall of 30,000 qualified engineers every year coming through our education system. This result suggests however that basic demand is there and that the public already has some understanding of the extraordinarily diverse and valuable careers available in engineering.

“Getting more young people into engineering isn’t just about helping people to pursue exciting careers, but about ensuring the UK has the right skills to enable the country to prosper.

“Much more needs to be done to ensure we get the growth in UK engineers this

country needs, through better careers advice, establishing better links between schools and local employers, and a fundamental rethink in the education system to boost Science Engineering Technology and Maths (STEM) education in schools.”

The poll is released ahead of the Institution’s new research set for release later this year called Big Ideas in Engineering Education which looks at radical new thinking to boost the number of people pursuing STEM careers. The report is based on findings of an international seminar run together with the Royal Academy of Engineering, with leading educationalists working in schools, academia and industry.

The survey of 1,007 people carried out by ICM Unlimited on behalf of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, was completed in September 2015.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers was established in 1847 and has some of the world’s greatest engineers in its history books. It is one of the fastest growing professional engineering institutions. Headquartered in London, we have operations around the world and over 112,000 members in more than 140 countries working at the heart of the most important and dynamic industries such as the automotive, rail, aerospace, medical, power and construction industries.

HOW AFFORDABLE IS THE THEATRE? THE latest research from price comparison experts, idealo. co.uk, reveals the varying costs of taking children to the local pantomime this Christmas. idealo looked at 25 cities across the UK to find out where the cheapest adult and child tickets can be obtained.

Norwich - the cheapest panto Tickets for both adults and children are available for just GBP 7.00.

Birmingham - the pantomime villain?

Ticket prices in the country-wide analysis averaged a minimum of GBP 27.30 in Birmingham for both adults and children.

London - not as expensive as you might think With adult tickets available for just under GBP 13.00 in the capital, prices are more competitive than consumers might imagine.

Consumer Affairs Editor for idealo, Katy Phillips, commented on the ticket price disparity: “Pantomimes are part and parcel of the festive season in the UK, and are for many children their first experience of live theatre.

Whilst many factors determine the prices charged by individual theatres. The fact that families in some parts of the

country will be priced out of a trip to see Cinderella or Dick Whittington this Christmas is a real shame.”

Phil Cunningham’s Christmas Songbook Returns

FOLLOWING the huge success and popularity of Phil Cunningham’s Christmas Songbook over the last 9 years, he is delighted to announce they will be returning once again and this time taking to the road for 5 shows in Aberdeen, Perth, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Teemed with jovial anecdotes, modern and traditional Christmas music and exquisite musicianship that will tug at ones heartstrings, it is indeed “the perfect way to fill up your festive fuel tank” The Scotsman. Phil will be joined by some of the finest musicians on the Scottish folk scene including: Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, John McCusker, Kris Drever, Ian Carr and Kevin McGuire along with a special guest Brass Band.

What can you say about Phil Cunningham, a superb innovative instrumentalist, with not simply the fastest fingers in the West but some of the most sensitive ones, too! He is fondly remembered from his days with Silly Wizard and Relativity and as witty musical partner of the great Shetland fiddler, Aly Bain.

Also widely recognised from his television and radio presenting, he has been involved in some of the seminal programmes that have enabled Scottish music to walk tall, a true ambassador for traditional music. Also a humourist, his breezy banter can have a 2000-seat hall falling about in the aisles.

Phil often keeps high company and no less is true for this year’s special Christmas gathering. A powerful mix of lead vocalists include the inimitable Eddi Reader, who has celebrated a career spanning over 3 decades and has effortlessly developed into one of popular music’s most thrilling and affecting performers. With an MBE for outstanding contributions to the arts, 3 BRIT awards, a #1 single and 8 critically acclaimed solo albums, Eddi is considered to be “one of Scotland’s greatest national treasures” The Scotsman. Karen Matheson OBE, is recognized the world over as the haunting lead vocalist of Celtic supergroup, Capercaillie and one of “the finest Gaelic singers alive today” Billboard

Magazine. Kris Drever, the young Orcadian singer and guitarist is part of the backbone of today’s contemporary roots scene and is widely admired as a solo artist, collaborator, and member of folk superstars, Lau. Also joining Phil are multi-instrumentalist, John McCusker, one of Scotland’s most accomplished and versatile musicians in any genre who has worked with artists as diverse as Mark Knopfler, Paul Weller and Patti Smith, Teenage Fanclub and Billy Connolly; Ian Carr, who is known for his original and eclectic approach to traditional music guitar and has established an instantly recognisable sound that has influenced countless musicians and Kevin McGuire who is a highly sought after double bassist who has performed with the likes of Karine Polwart and Kate Rusby. Make sure to oil your vocal chords and bring the family!

The show is in Glasgow on Tues 22nd December: at Glasgow City Hall.

For more information please visit www.glasgowconcerthalls. com.

PREPARE FOR CONDENSATION SEASON HOUSEHOLDERS troubled by steamy windows during the ‘condensation season’ are being urged to check-out a free guide from national trade body the Property Care Association.

Condensation is a common problem during the autumn and winter months when homes are affected by fogged glass and droplets of water on cold wall surfaces.

The Property Care Association’s eight-page guide, entitled ‘Condensation in your Property,’ provides several key pointers to help control it.

The timely advice is available for free download and can be viewed at www.property-care. org/Homeowners.Damp_Control.Condensation.asp

Tips include using pan lids when cooking and avoiding drying laundry on radiators.

Householders are also urged to run cold water in their bath before adding hot water as this can reduce the steam that leads to condensation by up to 90 per cent.

Other subjects include guidance on the introduction of extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms and the importance of good ventilation overall as well as the use of dehumidifiers to control airborne moisture levels.

The most common form of unwanted dampness in buildings is water from the air that forms as condensation. It’s chiefly a winter problem as the external air

temperature is low and external walls and windows are cold.

“It forms when the air in buildings has a high level of relative humidity, caused by activities such as cooking, bathing or showering and drying clothes.

“When this water-laden air comes into contact with cold surfaces such as windows and cold walls it can condense, causing water to be deposited.

“Areas where atmospheric moisture levels are usually highest, such as walls in kitchens and bathrooms, as well as solid external walls, uninsulated solid floors and cold bridges, such as concrete lintels set in cavity walls, are commonly the areas in which condensation takes place.”

22

GENN COOKING

LAZY BOLOGNESE

FORGET slaving over Nonna’s traditional recipe for spaghetti bolognese – try this 30 minute lazy-way bolognese Ingredients (serves 6) 500g mince 600ml passata 1 tbsp onion powder 2 tsp garlic salt 2 bay leaves 500g pasta (spaghetti and

penne work really well) olive oil Method Saute the mince with olive oil on high for a few minutes, until browned. (you can chop the mince up from the freezer, if you won’t keep fresh mince in the fridge).

Add onion powder, garlic salt, passata and bay leaves.

Set pressure cooker for 15 minutes (or the meat/poultry setting on the Philips All-in-One Cooker).

When the pressure cooker is finished, let the pressure out and set to saute on low for another 5 minutes to thicken the sauce.

Make your pasta during this time.

Garnish with some shredded cheese or parmesan

STEAK PIE

Ingredients 900g/2lb stewing steak, cut into cubes plain flour, seasoned with salt and freshly ground black pepper, for dusting 1 tbsp olive oil 2 onions, sliced 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme salt and freshly ground black pepper 570ml/1 pint hot beef stock 225g/8oz ready-rolled shortcrust pastry 1 free-range egg, beaten

Preparation method Dust the cubed steak with the seasoned flour Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed pan and fry the meat, stirring frequently, until browned on all sides.

Add the sliced onions, herbs, salt and freshly ground black pepper and the stock and bring to the boil.

Reduce the heat and simmer gently for an hour and a half.

Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.

Transfer the filling mixture

to an ovenproof dish. Line the rim of the dish with a thin strip of pastry. Dampen the pastry rim by brushing with beaten egg. Cut a piece of pastry to fit across the top of the dish and place on top of the dish, pressing the edges together to seal. Decorate with pastry trimmings, make a steam hole in the centre of the pie by slashing with a sharp knife, then brush with more beaten egg.

Transfer to the oven and cook for 1-1½ hours.

GENN

BAKED EGGS

THIS recipe is ideal for using up leftovers. Take the roasted vegetables you have left and warm them up in this baked egg dish with classic tomato chutney for a flavour-packed punch.

Ingredients (serves 3) 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups roasted carrots, pars-

nips and onions 1 bunch leafy greens, cabbage or silver beet, roughly chopped 1/2 jar Tomato Chutney 1/4 cup water 3 eggs Feta cheese, for serving Fresh cracked pepper Method Preheat oven to 200°C. In a frying pan, heat oil.

Add roasted vegetables and greens and sautée until warmed through. Add chutney and water; stir to combine. Simmer until sauce thickens, 7-10 minutes.

Crack three eggs over vegetable mixture. Transfer to oven; bake until whites are just set, about 10 minutes. Top with crumbled feta and fresh cracked pepper. Serve immediately.

ZESTY PRAWN TACO SALAD

A STRONG immune system is the key to staying healthy, particularly during winter.

Germs seem to lurk everywhere during the cold season, and if your defenses are weak, you can easily catch a variety of illnesses.

Fortunately, you can boost your immunity simply by eating certain foods.

The following recipe is a good place to start because it’s loaded with foods that build the immune system naturally.

Ingredients: 3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 1 ½ cups corn kernels 4 medium tomatoes

1 can black beans 1 ½ cups cooked brown rice ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup coriander, chopped 1/3 cup salsa 2/3 cup shredded Tasty cheese 1 cup fresh spinach 2 cups shredded cos lettuce 230 grams fresh prawns 2 ½ cups crumbled wholewheat tortilla chips 1 lime, cut into wedges Method: Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the onion and corn, and stir occasionally. While the corn and onion cook, chop a tomato and rinse

the beans thoroughly. Once the onions begin to caramelise, add the tomato, beans and rice to the mix. Sprinkle with the salt.

Let these ingredients cook for approximately 5 minutes.

You should stir the mixture frequently to prevent the onions from burning. Remove the pan from the heat, pour mixture into a large bowl and let it cool.

Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high heat. Peel and de-vein the prawns if necessary. Season generously with salt and pepper, and cook the prawns until the colour changes from gray to pink. This should take approximately 5 minutes.

While the prawns cook, chop the remaining tomatoes, and combine them with the salsa and coriander. Add half this mixture to the cooled rice mixture. Stir in the cheese, and gently add the spinach and lettuce. Once the prawns are fully cooked, add that to the mix.

Serve in large, shallow bowls. Squeeze some lime juice over the prawn mixture and top with the crumbled tortilla chips. You can serve the remaining salsa on the side.

GENN

GENN TRAVEL

Incredible Campsites In The World

For safari seekers: Loisaba Conservancy, Kenya If you’re on a mission to seek out Nelly, bag yourself a safari tent which sprawls out across the vast wilderness of a Kenyan elephant sanctuary. Elewana’s new luxury tented camp in the Loisaba Conservancy is the perfect base from which to explore the park and its wildlife. Opening in March 2016, Loisaba Tented Camp is big on luxe, boasting spacious deluxe tented suites with shared verandas, bars and restaurants, plus there’s an infinity pool that looks out across the Laikipia Plains to Mount Kenya.

Dreamy…

For tree house dwellers: Tree hotel, Sweden Think you’re too old to hang out in a tree house? You’re only as old as the treetop you’re feeling: kids both big and small will take one look at the stylish dens at Sweden’s Treehotel and they’ll be scrambling up the ladders to race each other to the top. Scandi chic doesn’t get much chicer, and the tree houses’ mirror-cube and bird’s nest shapes and minimalist interiors are a design lovers’ mecca. Once you’re done hanging out in the trees and checking out the views of the Lule River valley there’s plenty to discover on the ground, too: treks through lush

forest, husky-drawn sled rides and peeks at the Northern Lights are all on the activity list.

For roving glampers: St Jerome’s The Hotel, Melbourne We’re a sucker for breakfast in bed, so we’re sold at the thought of breakfast in bed, in a tent, on the roof of a swanky Melbourne skyscraper. This luxe campsite hotel comes complete with a rooftop bar, iPads in the ‘rooms’, wicker breakfast baskets delivered straight to your double bed and free tai chi and meditation sessions in the morning. Our top tip? Don’t look down For retro lovers: Retro Vacations, Suffolk

CARAVANNING WITH KIDS IF you’ve got teens or tweens and you’re trying to get them excited about going on a caravanning holiday with you, depending on your kids you may be in for a lot of work.

Below our 4 tips to help everyone have a more enjoyable time on the trip: 1. Involve them in the itinerary When it comes to planning out your itinerary you and your partner are probably used to doing it alone, even if you’ve planned a heap before with kids in tow.

However, now that you’ve got a tween or teen, things get a little trickier.

Try to involve them in planning your holiday; ask them what sites they’d like to see, where they want to explore and what kind of activities they’d like to do.

If you can incorporate some cool activities like surfing, going to older kid type theme parks, some more extreme sports, etc you may have an easier time convincing them that hitting the road with the parents is something they might actually enjoy.

2. Don’t switch off This goes against the most

basic of all caravanning rules.

While you and the rest of the family might be excited for a chance to switch off, explore the wilds without work interruptions and real world distractions, older kids are probably going to feel very different.

It can be extremely daunting as a kid to lose contact over a long holiday with all their friends.

While you, your partner and your younger kids may have a rule to switch off to help relax into your new surrounds, it’s

a good idea to have a separate rule for your teens. If you really want them to switch off then maybe consider letting them have a few minutes of phone or Internet time per day so they don’t feel too cut off from their friends.

3. Ensure full bathroom facilities When caravanning with older kids, it’s always safest to find good campgrounds with full bathroom facilities, including toilets, shower and power to plug in hair dryers, straight-

If you’re a camping fan that likes to keep things old school, you’ll be in vintage heaven when you set up in an American Airstream. Located on a pretty campsite just seven miles from the Suffolk coast, the 1950s fleet of Retro Vacations caravans are the ultimate chrome from home (sorry), and come with cute kitsch gingham-draped interiors.

There’s an on-site vintage play truck and giant trampoline for the kids, and you’re close to the New Forest and the beaches of Bournemouth and Poole if you fancy exploring the nearby area.

For design fans: Urban Campsite, Amsterdam There’ll be no soggy sleeping bags and damp tents in this campsite, thank you very much.

Urban Campsite is a hipster haven for art lovers and glamping enthusiasts that’s set in the dry, desert-like landscape of Centrumeiland, one of several artificial islands built in the new city district of IJburg in eastern Amsterdam. The 14 uber chic space age-like installations that make up the site have each created by a different artist, and include a seed-shaped shelter made from recyclable materials, a flat tepee with a trampoline roof (our personal favourite), and a domed construction that offers lake views and can apparently be rotated to meet the position of the sun. If Doctor Who ever decided to go camping…

For fashionistas: Eden Pod, Loveland Farm

eners etc. The better the facilities the better the teens will behave.

Don’t expect them to go without shaving and washing their hair just because you feel like it. They won’t. Believe me.

4. Places to visit nearby When staying at a caravan park or campsite always ensure there’s plenty to see and do around the grounds.

Don’t let your kids or teens get too bored and always schedule in some fun activities when on a long round trip.

Older kids will have pretty short attention spans and while you’re happy relaxing and kicking back, reading a book on the beach, you can bet the kids will get bored long before you do.

On the border of Devon and Cornwall, Loveland Farm is an eco-friendly, carbon neutral bolthole that’s home to more than 2,000 trees. The Farm is home to chickens, pigs and ducks and you’ll even get to meet a pair of resident Asian Water buffaloes, Bella and Shaggy, who provide milk to make the farm’s own creamy mozzarella. The duo who run Loveland Pod once owned a fashion label, and flashes of style come in the form of shiny copper rain showers, ghost chairs and cosy cashmere blankets. Each pod can fit up to six people and has a tipi nestled within it, as well as a dining table that looks out across a glass paned wall that’s perfect for wildlife watching by day and star gazing at night.

Glampers, fret not: there are hot showers and eco loos here so you’ll be far from slumming it.

For total escapism: Sal Salis, Australia Turns out Belinda Carlisle was on to something when she dubbed heaven a place on earth. It’s Sal Salis, to be more precise – a safari camp that’s nestled between the dunes of Australia’s Cape Range National Park. The collection of nine tents look out across the wonders of the Ningaloo Coral Reef, and you can rest smug in the knowledge that you’re doing your bit for the environment by staying here, too, as the site uses renewable energy. If you’re looking to really get away from it all, leave your phone at home: there’s no internet or phone signal here,

23 making this the perfect refuge from the stresses of everyday life.

No Instagram?! A scary thought, we know, but in a serene spot like this, you may just about cope…

For winter wonderland living: Camping Flims, Switzerland This cute, snow-capped eco POD ‘hotel’ in Flims, Switzerland makes us want to guzzle mulled wine and pull out our cosiest winter jumpers RIGHT NOW. Hidden away in the powdery bliss of the Swiss Alps, the fully heated, insulated pods are ideal for those that want to be close to the slopes: you’re surrounded by them here in the Flims Laax Falera region. Or you could save yourself the thigh burn and flare up your outdoor fire to make some hot toddies instead… Just sayin’.

For natural beauty: Jumbo Rocks Campground, California Located near the western border of California’s famed Joshua Tree National Park, Jumbo Rocks Campground is just a short hike from some of the area’s most stunning natural rock formations. There are only 124 firstcome, first-served sites here so you’ll have to arrive early, and there’s no provided potable water so be sure to arrive with bucketloads. If it’s star gazing you’re after, you won’t get much better than this, and nature-lovers can get to grips with local residents including rabbits, lizards, beetles and coyotes. David Attenborough, we’ll be channeling you on this trip…

Have you been searching for the perfect family holiday? Forever?

CHOOSING the perfect family holiday destination can be a challenge. From kids clubs and swimming, to cocktails by the pool, spa treatments*, golf or yoga, every family member has their own unique idea of the ultimate holiday.

All-Inclusive packages really do offer something for everyone and are available Now that certainly takes the stress out of planning a vacation!

The all-inclusive holiday really does include everything you could possibly need to make the most of your holiday: accommodation, sports and activities, gourmet cuisine and an open bar (including everything except champagne and XO spirits), Children’s Clubs and evening entertainment, parties and shows. Relax while you do as much or as little as you like.

Children & Teenagers Parents can count on professional child-minding services and Children’s Clubs.

Club Med has been a pioneer in looking after children for over 40 years. Each age group has its specific Club space run by specialist GOs, so that parents can enjoy peace of mind while their children have fun.

Singles, Couples & Parents The holiday also gives adults the space and time to find themselves, reconnect with partners and relax without the children.

Whether you want to get active and learn to play golf, sail a catamaran, take out a kayak, allow yourself a little pampering in the Day Spa or simply lie by the pool and doze off, all inclusive clubs boasts ‘quiet pools’ and ‘zen zones’ that are adults only.

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GENN

PLANKING AND ITS BENEFITS

Bodyweight exercises are gaining ground in the fitness world due to the practicality and simplicity of getting in shape using your own body weight.

Planks are one form of bodyweight exercises that will never go out of fashion. Planks are one of the most effective exercises you can do. Why? Because they require a small time investment on your part, and offer the chance to achieve substantial results in a relatively short span of time.

Abdominal muscles are the only muscle group in our body that is not attached to bone. What this means is that they must provide support for our entire back and spinal column. In doing so, they also play a vital role in preventing injuries. However, for them to perform this function successfully, our core muscles have to be strong and trained on a regular basis. What all this means is that doing plank exercises every day is a great way to strengthen your core, and in doing so, support your spine.

2. You’ll decrease your risk of injury in the back and spinal column Doing planks is a type

of exercise that allow you to build muscle while also making sure that you are not putting too much pressure on your spine or hips.

According to the American Council on Exercise, doing planks regularly not only significantly reduces back pain but it also strengthens your muscles and ensures a strong support for your entire back, especially in the areas around your upper back.

Check out this article if you would like to find out about how doing planks on different surfaces can impact the effectiveness of this exercise in strengthening your core.

3. You’ll experience an increased boost to your overall metabolism Planking is an excellent way of challenging your entire body because doing them every day will burn more calories than other traditional abdominal exercises, such as crunches or sit-ups. The muscles you strengthen by doing this exercise on a dayto-day basis will ensure that you burn more energy even when sedentary. This is especially important if you are spending the majority of your day sitting in front of a computer. Also,

making it a daily 10- to 1 minute home exercise before or after work will not only provide an enhanced metabolic rate but it will also ensure that that metabolic rate remains high all day long, (yes, even while you are asleep).

4. You’ll significantly improve your posture Doing planks greatly improves your ability to stand with straight and stable posture. Through strengthening your core you will be able to maintain proper posture at all times because muscles in the abdomen have a profound effect on the overall condition of your neck, shoulders, chest and back.

5. You’ll improve overall balance Have you ever felt that when you tried standing on one leg, you couldn’t stand up straight for more than a couple of seconds?

It’s not because you were drunk- unless you happened to be at the time!but rather, it’s because your abdominal muscles weren’t strong enough to give you the balance you needed. Through improving your balance by doing side planks and planks with extensions you will

boost your performance in every kind of sporting activity.

6. You’ll become more flexible than ever before Flexibility is a key benefit of doing planks regularly, for this form of exercise expands and stretches all your posterior muscle groups – shoulders, shoulder blades, and collarbone – while also stretching your hamstrings, arches of your feet, and toes. With a side plank added in to the mix, you can also work on your oblique muscles.

This will provide you with further benefits when it comes to hyper-extending your toes, a movement that is crucial for supporting your body’s weight.

7. You’ll witness mental benefits Plank exercises have a particular effect on our nerves, making them an excellent means of improving overall mood.

How? Well, they stretch out muscle groups that contribute to stress and tension in the body. Just think about it: you are sitting in your chair, at home or at work, all day long; your thigh muscles get tight, your legs get heavy due to being bent for several hours; and tension

develops in your shoulders due to being forced to slump forward all day.

These are all circumstances that put too stress on the muscles and nerves.

The good news is that planks not only calm your brain, but they can also treat anxiety and symptoms of depression– but only if you make it part of

your daily routine.

Now, the last thing left to do is to give you a sample plank exercise you can do to achieve great results in only 5-10 minutes a day.

Here is a great infographic that shows some of the best plank exercises to evenly target all abdominal muscle groups:

ESTER BRIDAL ARE COMING TO ELEGANZA SPOSA

ELEGANZA Sposa, Scotland’s leading luxury bridal boutique, are incredibly excited and honoured to host an exclusive trunk show for Ester Bridal on December 12th

2015.

Ester Bridal are a Haute Couture brand that stock a stunning collection of flawlessly fitted bridal gowns in elegant styles informed by Es-

ter’s superb taste and fashion sense. Within her collection are a range of gorgeous gowns in many different styles, all of which are hand detailed to create the most intricate of de-

signs. By using only the finest quality fabrics and materials for her gowns, Ester ensures the integrity of her designs and allows her originality and flair to shine through.

Ester is a well-established Israeli designer who has been creating Haute Couture bridal gowns for over 6 years. Her wealth of experience truly resonates through her very personal approach to styling her brides.

Like the bridal stylists at Eleganza Sposa, Ester herself pays close attention to their personality and tastes enabling her to find a unique dress that is right for them and in which they feel most comfortable. She shares Eleganza’s belief in creating a professional yet warm relationship with clients and maintaining this right through to the bride’s special day.

With her own boutique in Northern Israel, Ester Bridal are currently not stocked anywhere else in the UK and have only very recently decided to dive into the global market.

The exclusivity of the brand makes this trunk show unmissable and with Ester’s unique designs, every bride is sure to fall in love with her incredible

gowns.

Appointments for this exclusive one off trunk show are extremely limited. To ensure you do not miss out on this special day, please book an appoint-

ment by calling Eleganza Sposa on 0141 248 3200 or emailing at glasgow@eleganza.co.uk. *Please note, prices for Ester Haute Couture begin from £4500.

CROSSWORD ANSWERS Across 1. Teller 4. Libra 9. Collapsed 10. Younger 11. Acres 12. Averse 14. Steals 17. Omega 19. Endures 21. Relocated 23. Wyatt 24. Appeal

Down 1. Tally 2. Lecture 3. Eel 5. Instant 6. Radar 7. Macro 8. Pauses 12. Aboard 13. Scarlet 15. Abridge 16. Peace 18. Early 20. Spear 22. Top

25

GENN

Music

With Mark Johnson

SOUNDS OF SCOTLAND SAMAS CHRISTMAS PARTY

NORDOFF Robbins are a charity that provide Music Therapy to help children & adults isolated by disability, trauma or illness.

Almost 400 adults and children who find themselves isolated from

the world attend Music Therapy sessions with Nordoff Robbins Scotland every week.

With group and individual therapy sessions at their Glasgow base in Maryhill as well as in schools,

hospitals and other healthcare/ community settings throughout the country.

Offering workshops and short courses for people who are interested in finding out how music can have an impact on well being they also offer a bespoke service for training for organisations and collaborate with Queen Margaret University on the delivery of the MSc in Music Therapy (Nordoff-Robbins), providing lectures and placements for students.

On Friday 27th November they are holding a Sounds of Scotland fundraising night at Glasgow’s 02 ABC showcasing some of the hottest talent in Scotland, including The LaFontaines, fresh from their headline show at the Barrowland, Hector Bizerk whose headline show at Oran Mor last month was described as “a career defining show”, Dundee’s Model Aeroplanes, up and coming pop singer Kloe and Monogram, including former Frightened Rabbit guitarist Gordon Skene.

With the charity’s operations costing half a million pounds a year, the fundraiser will go some way towards this figure with tickets costing £10.

For more information and tickets please visit http://www. nordoffrobbinsscotland.org.uk or visit www.ticketweb.co.uk for tickets.

THE RETURN OF THE FALL SET for release on Cherry Red Records this January, Wise Ol’ Man is a new EP, featuring new songs, remixed and instrumental cuts from 2015’s Sub-Lingual Tablet... all with the trademark Fall sound.

Brand new track Wise Ol’ Man heads up the release, followed by remixes, instrumentals and extended versions.

Wise Ol’ Man comprises 7 tracks and is being released on CD and limited edition 12” vinyl.

The current Fall line-up is as follows: Peter Greenway (lead guitar), Keiron Melling (drums), Elena Poulou (keyboards,vocals), Mark E. Smith (vocals) and David Spurr (bass).

The Fall is noted for its prolific output: in addition to the studio albums they have released more than triple that, counting live albums and other compilations Founded by its only constant member, Mark E. Smith, The Fall formed in Manchester in 1976 and has existed ever since. Musically, there may have been several stylistic

THE Scottish Alternative Music Awards will return this December 11th for a festive music feast at citizenM Glasgow as a follow-up to the awards ceremony held in The Garage earlier this year.

Dundee five-piece Sinderins – formerly Anderson, McGinty, Webster, Ward, and Fisher top the bill for the night at the boutique Glasgow hotel which is also set to feature acoustic up-and-comer Greg Pearson and the Best Newcomer nominated White Baer. With all of the acts playing acoustically, the SAMAs showcases give a platform for the best emerging musicians in the country to hone their live skills in an intimate environment.

SAMAs founder and organiser Richy Muirhead is in good spirits ahead of the show, reflecting on a great year for the awards.Muirhead said: “The SAMAs are all about throwing events and celebrating Scottish talent, so hosting a Christmas party was a no brainer for us. We’ve had a great year working with acts such as Gerry Cinnamon, Vukovi, Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5, and many more. The lineup for the 11th is a combination of new talent and previous nominees from across

the country - we can’t wait!”

Tickets are available for the show from £10 (£5 for students with a valid matriculation card) from Eventbrite and come with a complimentary drink on arrival.

F*CK YES AT TUT’S

Acrylic onstage at F*CK YES Live

changes over the years, but it is often characterised by an abrasive guitar-driven sound and frequent use of repetition, always underpinned by Smith’s distinctive vocals and often cryptic bone dry wit.

Championed by John Peel and having had a lineup that has nearly as many members as some football clubs have

had players, The Fall are a band known for being uncompromisingly uncommercial and truly punk.

With thirty studio albums they are a band who are not only enduring, but are hugely prolific.

Wise Ol’ Man is released on Friday 26th January, available from all good record shops.

You can stay up to date online: http://officialsama. co.uk Twitter: @officialsama #SAMA2015 Facebook: www.facebook. com/OfficialSAMA

F*CK YES is a new monthly clubnight held on the second Wednesday of the month curated by the bloggers of Cass & Treacle (Lucy Cassidy and Phoebe Ann Treacle Holley) bringing the best new music and “world wine” domination to Tut’s every month.

The third installment of this night started with Edinburgh acoustic roots three piece The Rising Souls, with an acoustic guitar, bass and cajon and percussion setup they stormed through a set of soulful rootsy Smericana, with gravel voiced gravitas supplemented by well placed harmonies which was well received by the crowd.

Next up was Acrylic, a Glasgow based five piece. With a set ranging from radio friendly indie pop tunes through more atmospheric moments with swirling guitar textures, electronic

Live Review F*CK YES LIVE King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut 11th November 2015 drum sounds and the swagger of a band on the up, clearly buoyed up by the reaction of a crowd who certainly had their dancing shoes on.

The final band of the evening, electro postpunks Young Aviators, stormed through an upbeat set, with relentless energy. Fusing indie guitar riffs with dance beats and synth textures they are a band who without compromise who offer some moments of subtlety amongst their all out aural assault.

With top local bands and up for it crowds with a genuine appreciation of music F*CK YES Live is on its way to becoming a must attend fixture of Glasgow music.

For more information on F*CK YES visit http://fckyespromotions.tumblr.com/ or find them on Twitter @fckyespromo or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fckyespromotions

26

Your Horoscope Predictions

By Eris

Aries

(21 March - 20 April)

This week, your constellation is singled out, by a powerful and potentially stressful planetary configuration. It won’t fill you with a great deal of joy, but you’ll appreciate how many difficulties you encounter seem to help with developing hidden strengths.

This process needn’t be too arduous, but it takes understanding in the first instance and a willingness to grasp the nettle. Your task is to balance your responsibilities and commitments, so they contribute to your individuality rather than diminishing it.

Taurus

(21 April - 21 May)

Mercury continues its flying visit to your opposite sign, with a sojourn of only eighteen days, set to conclude shortly.

This week, however, its influence is bolstered and augmented not only by the Sun in the same region, but by the new moon on Wednesday too. Your relationships have been and continue to be a subject of much deliberation, especially how best to improve your interpersonal dealings, to render them more rewarding and satisfying. past.

Gemini

(22 May - 21 June)

Two factors mitigate against the pursuit of certain personal objectives, you have promised yourself that one day, you fully intend to tackle. First, you are simply too busy; so you don’t feel in a position to add more items to your schedule. Secondly, you are rather comfortable where you are and with your ongoing activities, while your domestic and family situation in particular feels nurturing, supportive and strong. Your existing timetable and the urge to enjoy your surroundings, moderate and ameliorate your desire to go out on a limb and risk upsetting this equilibrium.

Cancer

(22 June - 23 July)

The arrival of Mars at the base of your horoscope is both good news and a challenge, simultaneously. The red planet follows Venus into this region of the sky, so where you’ve begun to feel dissatisfied with certain aspects of your immediate surroundings and have seen discord, disharmony or decay, you are inspired and compelled to do something about this now. Fortunately, Mars confers the drive and energy to address these concerns and to improve on your situation, while Venus ensures you’re keen to maintain the highest aesthetic standards.

Leo

(24 July - 23 Aug)

With the majority of planets this week highlighting other people’s interests rather than your own, it is an opportune juncture for facing a few realities. Foremost among these is the thorny issue of where, in the interests of ensuring your security and prosperity, you have compromised certain principles that in the past you would have considered sacrosanct. Even today, you remain painfully aware, these considerations have a worth beyond their cash value. Many would put this shift in your priorities down to getting older; yet there are some who refuse to accept the inevitability of that and continue to uphold these standards…

Virgo

(24 Aug - 23 Sep)

Money matters, count this week. That is not to suggest this isn’t usually true, since as you’re traditionally connected to the element of earth, you keep a close eye on your finances whatever happens.

But with Mars in your money zone until early next year, you are now entering a period of increased expenditure and it pays to be prepared. Venus and Mars remain close together over the next few days and help ensure that while you have a number of additional outgoings, your income is sufficiently buoyant.

Once December arrives this might not be always be the case.

Libra

(24 Sep - 23 Oct)

The arrival of Mars in your constellation, brings a welcome boost to your energy levels, as you have been quite lethargic lately. Venus in your sign made this a relaxing rather than an unpleasant period, but there is work to be done and factors needing your attention, so a little planetary encouragement won’t go amiss. Venus is linked with love and Mars with passion, so for those who are dating or in an association that fits this bill already, an amorous atmosphere predominates.

Scorpio

(24 Oct - 22 Nov)

Mercury hurtles through your sign, a journey it completes in an exceptional eighteen days. Its visit marks the ideal point to consider how you are coming over, the impression others are likely to get of you and how well that sits with your true persona, along with where there is scope for improvement in the interests of a more favourable outcome.

You might consider a makeover, a minor update to your appearance, a new outfit or another hairstyle, in order to see the most from this trend.

Sagittarius

(23 Nov - 21 Dec)

Most probably, this week doesn’t find you at your most outgoing. Saturn is beginning to have an impact on your natural spontaneity; leaving you tired, feeling lacklustre and like you have made several mistakes. There have been times, you were so confident and the world looked like your oyster, when you knew just what to say, to charm and beguile folk with your quirkiness and charm. Currently though, everything seems more of an effort. While this may not be great news as you channel your inner entertainer, a more serious approach is a winning formula when it comes to those in authority and to your professional affairs.

Capricorn

(22 Dec - 20 Jan)

Pluto gets some love from Jupiter, the Sun and Mercury. This is welcome, as it enlivens the more sombre mood music with which this distant body is associated. While Pluto is often linked with issues of control and dominance, power struggles, jealousy and envy, much of its downside is only evident when its energy is misdirected externally, towards those around you in particular.

Telling folk how to behave, or interfering where you have no business, brings out all of its worst features. Internalising these effects, to promote transformations in your psyche and creative updates in your immediate environment, is a different matter.

Aquarius

(21 Jan - 19 Feb)

The discovery of Uranus on March 13, 1781 upset a system of planetary rulerships codified in the second century, but almost certainly common knowledge before that. The events of that Tuesday set the tone for this planet’s revolutionary nature, its focus as an agent for change and as the new ruler of your sign. For much of this week, this planet stands at the apex of a significant and uncommon configuration, affecting where you are going with your life and who you’d like to join you in this grand tour.

Pisces

(20 Feb - 20 Mar)

Jupiter in your relationship zone for a number of months to come, puts the focus on your partnership affairs. Your personal life is accentuated, but also your work as well, possibly both together at the same time. Connections that have seen better days aren’t resurrected by this influence, but minor issues can be addressed more readily than usual. Giving up your independence still seems daunting, when especially from a financial point of view, you have struggled so hard and sacrificed so much, along the way.

GENN

Just a Thought

DON’T SELF DOUBT

SELF-DOUBT is a killer. Pure and simple, but when faced with one of the most deadliest of dream killers, once you learn of its intent, understand its nature and where it thrives, you can stop self-doubt dead in its tracks before it can kill again. everyone has serious moments of self-doubt at some point in his or her career.

Self-doubt can hurt you both personally and professionally, making you may feel inadequate, overwhelmed, and insecure when it creeps in. But the bottom line is that it is your own personal battle.

Research confirms that selfdoubt cans seriously impair your performance at work.

When you experience bad selfdoubt, you simply don’t do the things you need to do, are scared to try new activities, and lose the motivation to perform.

It prompts defensive actions to avoid failure that can limit your growth and change.I know a newly promoted leader who kept asking her peers for specific directions rather than making decisions herself. She was afraid of mistakes. That created a lot more work for others and a perception that perhaps she wasn’t ready for her new leadership role, and it prevented her from developing her skills.

Self-doubt can make you sabotage your chances at success.

A job seeker recently admitted to me that his insecurity about his skills kept him from aggressively pursuing opportunities that were likely a good fit. His inner critic got the best of him.

You need to learn to use your doubt and get beyond it. Research indicates that self-doubt

handled correctly can actually offer opportunities for personal growth, change, and improved confidence How do you get past selfdoubt in the workplace?

1. Recognize that it is not unique to you.

Many workplace situations trigger self-doubt. Remember that you’re not alone in having such feelings. A study of managers by the European Institute for Leadership and Management revealed that 50% of female managers and 31% of male managers admitted to experiencing self-doubt.

2. Question your doubt.

Faulty patterns of thinking about yourself can be very harmful.

As the psychologist Martin Seligman suggests, you should test your doubts. Ask, are they realistic, or are you overreacting? Keep a diary of your feelings, and evaluate all beliefs that may be unhelpful.

When you experience selfdoubt, spend time reflecting on its causes. Argue against it, and challenge your beliefs. Ac-

cording to Seligman, that may change your negative reactions and lead to a positive reframing of the situation.

3. Seek out advice, support, and mentorship from others.

Nothing can help alleviate self-doubt better than seeking advice and coaching from others. Research has found that warmth, coaching, and positive support from others can directly reduce self-doubt. When your personal uncertainty becomes extreme, seek out professional help.

4. Relax and distract yourself.

Sometimes simply relaxing or finding other activities can draw you away from negativism and refocus your attention on the positive aspects of a situation. Also, suppress negative thoughts by telling yourself to stop and immediately beginning to focus on more positive thoughts and images.

5. Engage in self-talk and imagery. Talk to yourself. Many athletes do so to improve their performance. You are your own best champion. Put positive

Clearing the wood to see the trees

The Genn Crossword

scripts in your head: “I can do this.” James Loehr, a sports psychologist, suggests creating an image of what success would look like in a particular situation. Job seekers and those seeking promotion sometimes find success by envisioning themselves in their desired new roles. When picturing a new role, you may begin to think about and enact the behaviors and skills you’ll need to succeed in it.

6. Set specific goals. Goals provide direction.

You can set goals for desired outcomes as well as for overcoming obstacles. In her book Succeed, Heidi Grant Halvorson notes that it is important to embrace positive thinking about how you will specifically achieve a goal. Put in the time, planning, and effort you need to move ahead. And, just as important, be persistent, even in the face of obstacles and selfdoubt.

7. Face your fears. Fear can create a sense that a challenge is insurmountable.

It often presents itself as a fight-or-flight response, which can be paralyzing. In such a situation, ask yourself what is the worst thing that can happen.

Turn your energy to fighting, instead of flying, and say yes to things you may be avoiding.

Sometimes you simply need to give a thing a try to overcome the fear that holds you back.

Self-doubt can be your biggest enemy in the workplace, so learning how to manage it is crucial for career success.

As Norman Vincent Peale once said, “Change your thoughts and you change your world.”

CHECK FOR ANSWERS ON PAGE 24

Across

1. Bank employee, who can say (6) 4. Balance found in muesli bran (5) 9. Crumbling old places fell down (9) 10. Not as old as that confused Reno guy (7) 11. Plenty of land in tarmac resort (5) 12. Opposed to poetry (6) 14. Purloins duck between beginning and end of shifts (6) 17. Last letter in some game (5) 19. Tolerates some token duress (7) 21. Alter code when moved (9) 23. One of the Earps, sounds interrogative at first (5) 24. Shuffle a paper then come into view (6)

Down

1. Sum up tall youth, essentially (5) 2. Let cure become a lesson (7) 3. Find a fish in a wee lake (3) 5. Begins tantrum in a moment (7) 6. Palindrome instrument (5) 7. Found in large scale drama crowd (5) 8. Hesitates to use spa turbulence (6) 12. Committee on a ship (6) 13. Evidence of injury, allow for redness (7) 15. Shorten a river crossing (7) 16. Serenity, sounds like part of something greater (5) 18. Nobleman with ponytail is before his time (5) 20. Grasp earnest weapon, essentially (5) 22. High point found in octopus (3)

GENN

Your News

27

editor@thegenn.co.uk

WEDDING CELEBRATION Kirsten Murphy and Michael Vieira Da Luz The Lighthouse 14th November 2015 THE family of Kirsten and Michael would like to send their best wishes to the couple and wish them all the best for the future.

Everyone who attended on the day had a fantastic time and are grateful that everything turned out alright on the night.

FRIENDS OF ALEXANDRA PARK MEETING THE newly formed Friends of Alexandra Park held its launch meeting in the Sports Hub in the park on the 7th November 2015 .

It was well attended and thanks go to MP for Glasgow North East, Anne McLaughlin, Cllr Elaine McDougall and MSP Paul Martin for their attendance.

There were many new faces, who joined existing members to share their new ideas for the park, continuing on from meetings held in the spring and summer.

The committee’s chair,

Maxine Anderson, made a brief speech which outlined the groups vision for the park and Karen gave an informative talk about the Urban Orchard Project .

After this in discussion several interesting pieces of information were discussed including a rare Lilly which grows in the park.

The committee is especially grateful to the GENN for publishing our story and that lead to a gentleman who wished to be anonymous attending the launch and making a generous donation to the group .

Send in your news story and pics to share to editor@thegenn.co.uk

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Dr Don’s View

The column which cuts though the garnish IN A week where we found George Osborne flapping around trying to come to terms with his tax credit proposals being shot down in flames by the Lords, and David Cameron floundering in his attempts to convince the other heads of European countries that they should back his reforms to the EU treaty, it is difficult to feel positive about the political scene at all.

David has been forced by the heads of the EU countries to stop waffling on about the proposed changes he wants, and to publish them. One minute he states he wants the UK to stay in, the next he is threatening to take the UK out if his reforms were not implemented. He seems to forget there will need to be a referendum on that decision. I have just read his four so-called demands; they are so feeble they are described on the BBC as ‘trivia’. The EU leaders are likely to acquiesce to the first three just to shut him up. The only demand which is likely to benefit the UK is ironically the four year gap before EU migrants can claim benefit.

All he will get on that one is a veiled promise that it will be considered. As I said previously, he will then dress this up and claim his reforms have been accepted.

Mr Osborne on the other hand is asking all government departments to shed 30% off their budgets but he and the Conservatives are still hanging on to their misguided belief that lashing out millions in foreign aid somehow has a benefit for the UK. You may recall I published a damning report on the Scottish Government’s largesse with public funds by handing over £3 mil-

lion per year to Malawi. Show me the benefit to Scotland in that misguided generosity.

Show me one single benefit to the UK for a foreign aid expenditure of £250m per year.

The amounts are bad enough; the real problem is where these funds end up. Here are a couple of quotes from a UK auditors’ attempts to reconcile where £29m of foreign aid to Lesotho went: “large scale embezzlement of public funds was perpetrated through a variety of fraudulent practices” and again, “a treasury official converted to his personal use £3m in which he had purportedly drawn to pay teachers“ and again, “in the 3 financial years under review, it has proved impossible to establish the true position of the treasury account owing to a dismal failure to balance the accounts.” I have a copy of this report which summarizes with stating “These defaults and delays in the public accounts have provided an ideal climate and an excellent cover for criminal intent.” That report was submitted to the British Government where it was not only suppressed in the interests of political correctness, we are still supporting Lesotho. When I was there, we were supplying new Range Rovers to the police. When I investigated this, I found them hidden in the garages of the police chiefs used only by their wives for shopping. Yet, even though that situation in Lesotho is currently replicated throughout Africa, we continue to donate foreign aid. Why? Now David Cameron has just pledged £200 million to the very countries that are causing the poverty and fear which is contributing to the migrant tsunami. Now we have dozens

of foreign leaders, who sit in their gilded palaces, presiding over poverty, hunger, degradation and corruption, flying into Malta in their private jets to hold out even more begging bowls to the EU on a vague promise to improve living conditions in their countries, and to dissuade migrants from setting out for the EU. It could not be more ambiguous if it tried! How is this going to be measured or accounted for?

The only place this will end up will be in a number of Swiss bank accounts. Can the UK afford this, or does Cameron just want to be seen as one of the good guys?

The Labour Party at Westminster seems hell bent in tearing themselves apart, but I sense that those who are appearing to usurp the mandate of Jeremy Corbyn may find themselves being deselected at grass roots level. Clearly the renaissance of the Labour Party is not going to happen as long as the erstwhile moderates keep finding platforms to arrest the transformation.

The public will not want a half breed party; it will have to be severely left or not at all if it is to half a chance of challenging the Conservatives. One can see the apprehension in the establishment compliant media who see only gloom and doom for the country if Labour gets its act together.

For all the media insults, innuendo and downright scaremongering, there is real fear in the establishment ranks that an ultra left socialist movement might rally to the support of Jeremy. Already he is losing patience with those who are issuing statements to the media. From now on press statements will have to come through his office, too right

they should!

The Scottish Bill has now passed its first reading at Westminster, and not one amendment submitted by the SNP MPs has been adopted. Instead, they were left to bluster as Mr Mundell, the only Scottish elected Labour MP and Scottish Secretary, tabled and had adopted what he believed gave Scotland what it needed to be properly devolved. Once again the impotent 56 are left with little or no influence on Government policy. It now remains to be seen how Nicola intends to implement these new devolved powers in her party manifesto prior to the May elections.

Meanwhile, we now have 2000 Syrian refugees coming to Scotland. I ask the question again, where are they going to go? Where is the funding coming from to provide housing, rent, electricity, etc?

There is nothing in the current Scottish budget for this.

Are they going to be housed in an ex army barracks? What schools can take children with no English language? If there is any planning for this, the Scottish Government is keeping it very close to their chests. It’s all very brownie-point humanitarian, but it lacks practical application.

Meanwhile, President Assad is still sitting comfortably in his gilded palace supported by the poison dwarf from the Kremlin whilst the rest of the world tries to shelter his refugees and fleeing migrants.

Much as we might want to, we just can’t afford to be so big hearted. We have our own to look after. Like it or not, we have families in Glasgow right now who don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

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31

GENN

CHARITY WARNING ON HOMELESS CHILDREN your Member of the Scottish Parliament

Bob Doris MSP For Glasgow Region [SNP]

Contact Bob Doris MSP

Constituency office: 3rd Floor, Empire House 131 West Nile Street Glasgow G1 2RX

0141 353 0784 bob.doris.msp@scottish.parliament.uk www.bobdoris.org twitter.com/GlasgowMSP facebook.com/bob.doris.msp

The cost of this advert has been met from parliamentary resources

Parliamentary patter: Bob Doris MSP THE 1980’s Back To The Future (BTTF) film franchise told us of the adventures of Marty McFly and Dr Emit Smith. The plot had Emit and Marty heading to the future of 2015October 21st to be precise.

The film, made in 1989, led to many people reflecting in what has changed in our society in that time, and what has stayed the same.

The 1980’s witnessed Margaret Thatcher and the Conservatives attack workers’ rights. Today we have another Conservative Government doing exactly the same thing. The UK Government’s Trade Union Bill was described by the Tories themselves as a ‘declaration of war’ on the Trade Union movement. The measures, if passed, will restrict the time workplace representatives can spend on Union matters to support their members.

Additionally should workers wish to take industrial action; a Yes vote threshold on a strike ballot could be as high as 80%. No-one wants to see strikes, but the ability to withdraw your labour from an employer must always be an option. The UK Bill makes representing workers and going on strike (if required) hugely challenging.

The UK Government proposals have been opposed by the STUC and our Scottish Government. I was pleased to support an STUC rally at the Scottish Parliament recently, as well as speak-

ing in support of a Scottish Government motion opposing UK Government proposals. The attacks on workers’ rights today, and in the 1980’s, is very much then back to the future.

However we didn’t have our Scottish Parliament in the 1980’s. Our SNP Government has already used our Parliament to protect us from some of the worst aspects of Westminster rule.

Three obvious examples are the Scottish Government has mitigated the ‘bedroom tax’, protected our NHS from the privatisation agenda in England and re-established the principle of free education. Without the Scottish Parliament none of that would have been possible.

The Scottish Government has clearly demonstrated how the UK Trade Union reforms could undermine devolved public services such as our NHS and education systems. Scotland opposes these reforms. So surely Scotland’s democratically elected Scottish Parliament should be able to block them and protect our workers.

Alas no. That power remains in London with a Conservative Government with just ONE MP in Scotland.

The Scotland Bill has been going through the UK Parliament and we have 55 SNP MPs there to push for more powers for the Scottish Parliament. Our SNP MPs did push for this, supported indeed by the STUC.

However that vote was lost.

On this occasion not just because Conservative MP’s denied Scotland the power to defend workers’ rights in Scotland. This time it was also denied by the Labour Party- a Labour Party with only ONE MP in Scotland.

The Labour Party supported a Conservative Government in London controlling workers’ rights in Scotland, rather than Scotland having the power ourselves.

For fans of BTTF sorry there are no references to hover boards and DeLoreans. However the Conservatives have turned the clock back to the 1980’s with a renewed assault on our workers. Similarly as in the 1980’s Labour have shown themselves either unwilling or unable to stand up for Scotland’s interests.

The main difference, the one that gives up hope, is that Scotland now has our own Parliament and our own Government to fight our corner in what increasingly looks like tough times ahead.

GENN Glasgow East and North News

visit our website

www.thegenn.co.uk

HUNDREDS more children are facing Christmas without a home as the number of young people in temporary accommodation has risen by nearly a sixth, a charity has warned.

Shelter Scotland has issued an urgent appeal for donations, warning that nearly 5,000 children are now homeless and pinning the blame on a major shortage of affordable housing.

It has urged Scotland’s political parties to include ambitious targets for new affordable housing in their manifestos for next year’s Holyrood election campaigns.

There were 4,896 children in temporary accommodation at the end of June - 626 more than the previous summer, according to official statistics released in September.

Alison Watson, deputy director of Shelter Scotland, said: “It’s completely unacceptable that in the 21st Century 100,000 children across Britain will spend Christmas homeless, with nearly 5,000 of them in Scotland.

“It’s even more damning that in Scotland this represents a 15 per cent increase on the same statistics last year - so the problem seems to be getting worse, not better.

“Families with children can spend many weeks, months or even years stuck in temporary accommodation waiting for a house they can call home.”

Glasgow accounts for around one-fifth of the total, with more than 1,000 children in the city expected to wake up homeless on Christmas Day. A total of 1,230 children are living in temporary accommodation in Scotland, up 13 per cent on last year.

Glasgow has a high proportion of people in rented accommodation, with 17 per cent of households in the private sector and 35 per cent in council or social housing.

Last year there were 6652 homelessness applications to the city council - 1831 households were put in temporary accommodation and within these were around 1100 homeless children.

The latest figures, taken

from the Scottish Government homelessness statistics, are part of the charity’s winter campaign to raise awareness of the number of children who will spend Christmas living in temporary accommodation.

Ms Watson said: “Being homeless is particularly detrimental to children’s health, life chances and education, with recent research from the Commission on Housing and Wellbeing showing homeless children miss on average 55 school days each year.

“We simply have to do more to make sure no child is homeless at Christmas or at any other time.

“Each December Shelter Scotland’s helpline advisors have to help hundreds of families at risk of losing their home.

“We need everyone’s support in the coming months so our teams can help prevent more people from becoming homeless or, if the worst happens, support them to get a decent roof over their heads.”

It came amid warnings that at least 12,000 affordable new homes are needed each year to tackle Scotland’s housing crisis.

Ken Macintosh, Labour’s housing spokesman, said that figure - which would result in 60,000 affordable properties being built over the five years of the next Holyrood term should not be the target but the “baseline”.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already pledged to up the Scottish Government’s affordable housing target to 50,000 new homes if the SNP is re-elected to power at Holyrood next May. Former auditor general for Scotland, Robert Black, who was tasked by Shelter to lead a commission looking at the problems in the housing sector, said provision of 12,000 affordable homes a year “would certainly be a major step change in affordable housing supply”.

He added: “For many people living in our country we should indeed be talking about a housing crisis, there is a housing crisis for very large numbers in the Scottish community.

“There are over 150,000 households on waiting lists, 940,000 households in fuel poverty, some 76,000 are overcrowded, and over 28,000 households are assessed as homeless and nearly half of all our social housing still falls short of the minimum housing standard.

“What’s more, the average house price now costs five times the average income paid, and that is putting owner-occupation beyond the reach of many people in Scotland, especially young families.

“Much more needs to be done to ensure everyone in Scotland has a decent place they can call their home.”

SFHA: new powers could consign ‘bedroom tax’ to history COMMENTING on the DWP’s Housing Benefit caseload statistics which show that the City of Glasgow Area has the highest number of ‘bedroom tax’ cases in the UK at 12,443, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) said that it hoped the new powers offered in the Scotland Bill to vary the level of the ‘bedroom tax’ to zero will, once enacted, be used by the Scottish Parliament to consign it to history.

Mary Taylor, Chief Executive of the SFHA, said: “The figures do show East Ayrshire, Falkirk and West Dunbartonshire as having some of the highest percentages of Housing Benefit claimants hit by the ‘bedroom tax’. There are, in fact, only two Scottish authorities with a percentage

of ‘bedroom tax’ cases below the UK average.

But it should be borne in mind that, in terms of absolute numbers, the City of Glasgow is the highest in the UK at 12,443, outstripping the next biggest authority, Birmingham, by over 2,000 cases.

“Throughout the UK, the ‘bedroom tax’ had an exceptional impact on some of the poorest and most vulnerable families, and the cross party support in the Scottish Parliament for full mitigation of the policy in Scotland is fully appreciated by Scottish housing associations. We hope that the new powers offered in the Scotland Bill to vary the level of the ‘bedroom tax’ to zero will, once enacted, be used by the Scottish Parliament to consign it to history.”

32

GENN

CITY FINISH LEAGUE CAMPAIGN CLARE SHINES WITH FIRST-EVER SCOTTISH CUP HAT-TRICK

DENISE O’SULLIVAN... aways dangerous against Rangers at New Tinto Park...

Photographs taken and supplied by Andy Buist

CHAMPIONS Glasgow City rounded off their unbeaten SWFL campaign with a convincing 10-0 victory against Rangers Ladies at New Tinto Park, Govan.

Having clinched championship No 9 the previous week, City showed little mercy to their opponents - despite there

being nothing at stake bar claiming another three points.

In the first half, their Irish duo of Denise O’Sullivan and Clare Shine dominated the score line - scoring five goals between them.

The second half started with three substitutes coming on for the away side. Susan Fairlie,

LEANNE ROSS, wearing number 16, and CLARE SHINE celebrate another goal against Rangers.

Photographs taken and supplied by Andy Buist

Megan Cunningham and Carla Boyce replaced Lee Alexander, Haley Lauder and Abbi Grant.

Development team player Boyce made an instant impact with her first-ever goal for the senior side within 5 minutes of the re-start, when she slid home a Leanne Ross cross.

Clare Shine added two more goals to her tally, heading past Rangers keeper Halbert following crosses from Ross and Kerry Montgomery. Jo Love and Erin Cuthbert also got on the score sheet with two fine goals. Love netted after a Ross free-kick rebounded back off the crossbar, and Cuthbert made the most of a lay-off from Shine to score against her old side.

Head Coach Scott Booth was happy with what he saw, and said: “I thought we were excellent from start to finish.

We played with a tempo, the passing and movement was good, and made it very difficult for Rangers to have any impact on the game.

“We got an early lead, just kept going and never looked back.” *** Many thanks to Glasgow City photographers Andy Buist for his contribution not only in this issue, but throughout the entire Scottish Women’s Football season.

ARCHIE SHARKIE MBE (1935-2015) THE Scottish Youth Football Association have confirmed the sad passing of Mr Archie Sharkie MBE, who for many years was a “well kent” face at Under-21 football matches.

I first met Archie when he was Secretary of the now-defunct Anniesland Waverley team,

which formed the old Glasgow Secondary Juvenile set-up, and subsequently became stronger to its present-day format of the LSK Supplies West of Scotland Under-21 League.

Archie helped develop many talented players at Anniesland Waverley - including former St

Mirren, Aberdeen and Celtic midfielder Billy Stark. He was a member of the SYFA from its inception, an SFA Council member, and will be solely missed by all who knew him.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.

AUSTRALIA DAY AT TORYGLEN

TWO Scottish Football Youth Association squads will participate in Australia Day at the Toryglen Region-

al Football Centre on November 29.

In the opening noon game, the Under-17s play Mel-

bourne Football Stars.

South Queensland State take on the SYFA Under-15 team at 4pm.

CLARE SHINE relived her first-ever hat-trick in a Scottish Women’s Cup Final and admitted - “It was a dream come true.”

The 20-year-old Irish striker gave Glasgow City a 1-0 halftime lead against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup Final at Ainslie Park, Edinburgh.

And as conditions worsened after the interval amid more wind and heavy rain, Shine twice ran clear of the Hibs defence to slot home left-foot finishes, which clinched the Player of the Match award.

Said Clare: “I am absolutely delighted to get a hat-trick considering the conditions and the opposition.”

With three previous Cup wins in her homeland, the Republic of Ireland striker clearly knows the road to goal!

Head Coach Scott Booth, who replaced Eddie Wolecki Black in July, admitted: “She is a goalscorer and she’s getter better and better.”

Disappointed Hibs coach Chris Roberts revealed: “The girls are all really gutted because they know they can do better. “ We didn’t get on the ball enough, dominate possession or test the City back four.

“They have given so much this year (second place in the

CLARE SHINE... the Glasgow City striker celebrates her first-ever Scottish Cup Final victory, and the Player of the Match award.

Picture credit: Tommy Hughes.

Premier behind champions City), and we were all desperate to win silverware.

“Our target is to win things next year, and we hopefully come back and do better.”

FOCUS: SATURDAY MORNING AMATEUR FOOTBALL BLOCHAIRN Star and MARYHILL Black Star have been paired together in what should be an outstanding Third Round (last 16) clash in the sponsored Harley’s Sky Bar Strathclyde Cup. Home ground advantage could prove crucial in two other cup pairings.

WESTERCOMMON Star line-up against Victoria Croftfoot, while champions TYNECASTLE A.F.C. entertain Southside.

Remaining games are as follows: Renfrew v UB United; Cambusnethan Talbot v Shawbridge; Tantallon Victoria v

AFC Manhattan; East Kilbride Thistle v Southside Whitecart; Bengal Lancers v DTI. STAX Trade Centres, who are first-time sponsors throughout the domestic divisions this season, have also agreed to promote the Tommy Marshall Cup. There is a cracking First Round clash in the making when Denniston Vale welcome East Kilbride Accies.

Full First Round draw: Quayside Thistle v AS Airdrie; Windlaw v Glenwood Thistle; Hardgate v Petershall Villa; Westwood Rovers v Plains; East Dunbartonshire v Semsa; Dennistoun Vale v East Kilbride Accies.

Second Round: Firhill United v Chaplains; Westwood or or Plains v Dennistoun Vale or EK Accies; Quayside or AS Airdrie v Bargeddie A.F.C.; Motherwell C.T. v Barshaw; Kevinbridge v Kirkintilloch Thistle; East Dunbartonshire or Semsa v Windlaw or Glenwood Thistle; AFC Ravenscraig v Hardgate or Petershall Villa; Calderglen v Carluke.

My thanks to Stax Trade Centres Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Secretary/Treasurer Andy Bryant for all his help with recent news items, correspondence, cup draws and results.

SUNDAY CENTRAL ROUND-UP

CRANHILL UNITED led the way for goals in the First Round of the sponsored Arrow Cars Cup. United recorded an 11-2 victory over Red Staars at Glasgow Green.

CROWNPOINT United had to work hard for their 4-2 home win against PHOENIX United.

Ten goals (5-5) could not split Eastfield Star and Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. Penalties were

introdcuced, and Star won 4-2.

Other Cup results: Bishopbriggs 1, Fernhill 5; Cleddans 2, Albion 5; Glasgow West 3, The Hub 8; Govan United 2, Springhall Spartans 8; Sauchie Amateurs 4, Rutherglen Rovers 2.

Six matches were postponed at the first time of asking due to ground conditions - including the AFC Polonia v Glasgow Rangers clash (Glasgow Club

Crownpoint).

LEAGUE RESULTS: Premier Division - Northend 5, Windlaw 0; The Treble Two 3, Hillview 2.

Division 1 - Overlee Partizans 10, Gartferry 0.

Division 2 C - Provanmill Thistle 5, Eastend Rovers 6; Rosehill Thistle 3, Cambuslang Football Academy 7; Strathclyde Amateurs 4, St Mirrenoff 1.

GENN SPORT - YOUR FEEDBACK

Hello Tom, Thank you for the link to the GENN Sports story on my football team, F.C. Messi Town, in the last paper. I really appreci-

atedthis help.

The players are very happy that their passion and effort in soccer is not going un-noticed.

I will continue to update you

on the activities of the team.

Regards,Mr Mohamed Nyuma, Owner/ Manager, F.C. Messi Town, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

33

GENN

TIGERS’ SPEEDWAY AWARD WINNERS AARON Summers was the big winner at the Glasgow Tigers Speedway 2015 awards night.

The annual dinner and dance attracted a bumper turnout of 180 people. Together with club officials, supporters celebrated a season in which outstanding progress was made on and off the track.

Tigers reached two national finals.

Captain Summers (27) took the Home and Away Rider of the Year gongs for his spectacular displays throughout the campaign.

No 1 Richard Lawson was recognised for his most-scoring maximums.

Two Tigers’ youngsters also collected prizes during a glittering evening.

James Sarjeant was named Young Rider of the Year, and Victor Palovaara took the plaudits for Most Bonus Points.

Alison Chalmers, Chair of event organiser Glasgow Tigers

AWARD WINNERS...James Sarjeant, Victor Palovaara, Aaron Summers and Richard Lawson. *Picture credit and thanks to Dougal Crawford,Glasgow Tigers Speedway Marketing Assistant.

Suppoters’ Group, said: “The end-of-season dinner was very well attended with a packed room enjoying live music during dinner, before the presentation of rider awards and speeches, followed by a disco.

Club Mascot, Roary, took to the floor and stole the show with his dancing!

“The supporters’ group took the opportunity to present all

the riders who attended, Team Manager Stewart Dickson, plus owners Michael and Gerry Facenna with gifts to mark a very enjoyable and positive season.”

Glasgow Tigers Speedway will now turn their focus on the new 2016 season.

GENN Sport would like to thank Bryan Copland for his superb speedway contribution throughout 2015.

WINTER’S COMING - BUT SUMMERS STAYS

GLASGOW TIGERS Speedway have kicked-off their 2016 team-building plans by securing captain and Rider of the Year, Aaron Summers.

The popular Australian, who was named as the club’s Home and Away Rider of the Year for 2015, is the first name on the team sheet at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium.

Summers (27), was signed as an asset of the club last winter on a full transfer from Redcar, and went on to become a major success – adding half-a-point to his average, and was one of the Premier League’s top riders.

The former Australian Under-16 Champion is no

stranger to success on these shores, having won the League and Premier Trophy with Edinburgh in 2008, and the Elite League title at Coventry two years later.

He helped Tigers qualify for two finals last season against Edinburgh (League Cup and the Premier League Championship).

The latter ended his campaign, when he crashed and broke his hand.

Glasgow were runners-up in both competitions, but Summers is determined to be the one on top of the podium next season.

He said: “I had such a good season. I have really enjoyed my time at Glasgow, and it’s been a good move for me.

“I snapped up the opportunity to ride here again next season.

“I had told Glasgow I was interested straight away and that I wanted to get things sorted out as soon as possible.

“We didn’t come back with any trophies last season, so that is definitely our main aim - to do the business next year.

We got to the finals this year, but didn’t have enough bite in the final push, so next year we will make that difference and get the trophies.”

Summers finished the 2015

campaign in sensational form, scoring a couple of home maximums ahead of the playoff final, and the Glasgow track record holder feels he can get even faster.

He said: “We’ve got a little bit of testing to do and a couple of things to try out - as soon as my hand is out of its cast -and then start up a training programme aimed at being fitter than I have ever been before a season.

Team manager Stewart Dickson says he believes Summers can keep progressing at Glasgow.

He said: “I’m very happy to have him back, and I actually think there’s more to come. I still think he can kick on and he’s a rider I’m looking to put half-a-point or so onto his average.

“Aaron is always very professional, does what he’s asked and I’m looking forward to working with him again next season.”

He added: “The plan is to have a bit more entertainment next year. Results are obviously important, but I also aim to put together a team of racers.

“Hopefully that will show on the track.”

Summers will start 2016 on an average of 8.37.

CELTS FLOOR ‘HOUSE HOPES

THE Celtic Boys’ Club Under-15 team put paid to Stonehouse B.C. in the Inspiresport Scottish Youth Cup. Celts dominated their Sunday cup clash from start to finish, and racked up a superb 12-0 victory.

WOLVES F.C. maintained their cup progress in two differ-

ent age groups.

ARSENAL Boys’ Club are also going strong.

RESULTS: 1997: Arsenal 5, Arthurlie Juniors 1; Glenvale 2, Wolves BC 2 (4-3 after extra-time).

1999: The Celtic B.C. 0, Blairgowrie 1.

2000: Glasgow East B.C. 0,

Tynecastle F.C. 1.

2001: Stonehouse B.C. 0, The Celtic B.C. 12; Bargeddie Colts 1, Glenrothes Athletic 4; Broughty United 3, Rangers SABC 4.

2002: East Stirlingshire Galaxy 5, The Celtic B.C. 0.

2003: Dunbeth 2, Wolves 7.

2004: Broxburn Athletic Colts 1, Wolves 4.

I WOULD DRIVE 700 MILES

RISING speedway star Danny Ayres is so keen to progress in the sport that he is committed to driving 700 miles a week to race with Glasgow Tigers as their new reserve.

The Englishman spent last season in Britain’s third tier with Kent Kings.All Premier League clubs are required to include a three-point National League rider in their teams for 2016 and Glasgow have won the race to land the much sought-after 29-year-old.

Ayres - based in Cambridge - is a relative newcomer to the sport, having previously ridden motocross but has already established himself as a quality performer at National League level.

Team boss Stewart Dickson has backed his new man to make his mark when hetakes the step up.

He said: “I think he’s going to surprise a few people and I believe we’ve got ourselves

a very good t h re e - p o i n t British rider.

“Obviously the Premier League is a step up in class for him but it’s no coincidence that he was getting guest booking after guest booking at the tail end of the season in the National League.”

Ayres will make the 700mile round-trip every week to race for the Tigers - a commitment he’s made despite receiving interest from clubs closer to home.

Dickson added “He had several other clubs in for him, and that’s not an exaggeration. But he’s been true to his word, because I was the first one to approach him.

“He can’t wait to get start-

ed. He’s going to come up and practice whenever the track’s available and get some much needed lap time in.

“To drive up from his Cambridge base every Sunday just shows his ambition to ride in the Premier League.

Ayres said: “I’m overwhelmed. Obviously it’s only my first full year and that the system has gifted me the opportunity. “ I have earned the right to be here, because I’ve worked hard to now be offered the opportunity.

MIXED FORTUNES FOR AMATEUR CLUBS IN NATIONAL CUP TYNECASTLE A.F.C. crashed out of the Scottish Amateur Cup on a weekend of mixed fortunes for East and North Glasgow clubs.

Last season’s Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Premier Division champions went down 1-0 at the hands of hosts and East of Scotland champions Steins Thistle.

The winning goal ten minutes from time, scored by Andrew Mochan, was shrouded in controversy, and had more than a hint of offside about it On a positive note, defender Chris Muir played his first match upon his return ( after two years ) from Australia, and looked as though he had never been away.

In his first spell at the East End club, Chris won two Strathclyde Saturday Morning League titles and the Strathclyde Cup. James McKay, a second half substitute for Charlie Miller,

has also returned to the East End club in yet another positive move.

The losing Tynecastle squad was: Robertson, A Cahill, S Cahill, Faulds, Muir, Dearie, M Campbell (Anderson) Hughes, Perriss (Quitongo), Miller (McKay) and McGlinchey.

BLOCHAIRN STAR lost 3-1 at Bowhill Rovers, and the same scoreline resulted in BARGEDDIE Amateurs making their Third Round exit against hosts Kingdom Athletic.

BAILLIESTON Juniors, in their first season of amateur football within the Caledonian League, were humbled 6-1 by Danderhall Miners Welfare.

MARYHILL Black Star and visitors Mossblown Boswell shared six goals, and the former won the Ayr replay 3-2.

BAILLIESTON Thistle enjoyed their visit to Craigroyston, who lost 4-1.

POSSIL YM displayed some great attacking football in their 8-0 thrashing of Auchengeich Miners.

Meanwhile, in the Scottish Amateur Sunday Trophy, LEA RIG A.F.C., better known as league champions and cup winning Haghill A.F.C. last season, ensured their long trek to Aberdeen was more than worthwhile.

The East End lads hammed Gilcomston United 8-1.

On target in their convincing victory were William Stewart (2), Jim Campbell (2), James Simpson, Calvin Scolin, Marc Murphy and James Smith.

They will now play holders Cranhill United.

Squad line-up: R Davis, Cairns, Fox, Eaglesham, D Graham, Stewart, Simpson, Campbell, Smith, A Davis and McArthur. Substitutes – Hannah, McDougall, Mallon, Murphy and Scolin.

UNDER-21 CUP DRAWS

LSK Supplies West of Scotland Cup, Second Round. Five games and 11 byes.

St Andrews or Kirkie Rob Roy v Albion Rovers; Vale of Leven v Rossvale; Tower Hearts v East Kilbride Rolls Royce Youth; Wishaw W Wanderers v Bishopton Juniors; Steins Thistle v St Mungo’s.

Birdston Kennels League Cup, Round Two. Steins Thistle v Rutherglen Glencairn; West Park United v Johnstone Burgh B.C.; Harmony Row v Antonine; Barrhead Arthurlie v Bishopton Juniors; Giffnock Soccer Centre v

Holytown Colts; Albion Rovers v Bonnyton Thistle; St Peters Giffnock North v Claremont; Tower Hearts v East Kilbride Rolls Royce Youth.

Only Sport Golden Goals Cup, Round One. Ten games and 6 byes.

Pollok Juveniles v Barrhead Arthurlie; Goldenhill 0, Wishaw W Wanderers 1; Port Glasgow v Milngavie; West Park United v Harmony Row; Vale of Leven v Johnstone Burgh; Rutherglen Glencairn 5, Kirkie Rob Roy 4; Rossvale v East Kilbride Rolls Royce Youth; Steins Thistle v Bonny-

FREE TRAINING PUNISHER Gym, who have linked-up with Finnart B.C.

1999 and 2000 teams in terms of helping them build on fit-

ton Thistle; Bishopton Juniors v Albion Rovers; Maryhill Juniors v Broomhill.

Glasgow Cup, Round One. Six games and 2 byes.

Erskine v Castlemilk; Grahamston 4, Hamilton Accies 1; Johnstone Burgh Youth v Renfrewshire Thistle; Glentyan Thistle 6, St Andrews 2; Campsie F.C. v Dunbeth; Baljaffray v Drumchapel Amateurs.

Only Sport League Cup, Round Two. Ashfield F.C. v Erskine; Hamilton Accies v Baljaffray; Dunbeth v Johnstone Burgh Youth; Castlemilk v St Mungo. ness work, are giving a free month of training in their classes or martial arts to any family member of a registered player.

CLUB NEWS...FEATURES...MATCH ACTION REPORTS SPECIAL...CALL 0141 552 2127 or email: sport@thegenn.co.uk

34

GENN LEAGUE SELECT BOSS READY TO TARGET INTER-LEAGUE VICTORY

CENTRAL Scottish Amateur Football League Select manager John Hughes is asking for more of the same in terms of a victory against forthcoming Inter-League opponents Strathclyde Saturday Morning A.F.L. The former Postal United boss believes players have “bought into the spirit” of what he and his backroom staff are trying to build into the Select squad - and that was never more apparent than the celebrations which came after ex-Wellhouse Amateurs and Petershill Juniors full-back Robbie Peebles - now at Colville Park - scored their winner against Ayrshire in the first-leg of the John Smith’s Trophy at Irvine Sport Ground.

It is fair to say Hughes believes in forward-planning and attention to detail as he revealed: “Last month, we had a bounce game at Colville Park’s ground with 26 players involved.

“That ended in a 3-2 win for the red select team.

“It was two x 35 minute half’s. The players played the game at a high-tempo considering most were involved for 90

minutes the day before.

“This proved to be a good exercise as it allowed players recommended to be seen first hand, and gave me plenty of food for thought.

“Irvine Meadow and Cumbernauld Juniors pulled out of friendly games arranged for at Glasgow Green.

It proved difficult to get junior opposition, so I called up 40 players to participate in a bounce game ahead of the Ayrshire Select match near the end last month at Clark Drive. This was a great exercise with 37 of the 40 players making it. The blue select team on this occasion came out on top 2-1 in a very entertaining game given the poor overhead conditions.

“Following these two bounce games, I quickly picked a squad of 20 with 6 on standby for the Ayrshire Select game. Out of the 20 called up, only three pulled out due to injury. I called up one additional player and 18 travelled to Ayrshire.

“We won 1-0 which gives us a slender lead ahead of the home leg due late February/beginning of March. The players were excellent on the day, and but for

CENTRAL Scottish Amateur Football League beat Ayrshire A.F.A. 1-0 in the first-leg of the John Smith’s Trophy at Irvine Sports Ground. Thanks to Select Team Manager John Hughes for the photograph.

some excellent goalkeeping from the Ayrshire goalie, and not being clinical in the final third of the park, we could have won a lot more convincingly.”

Robbie Peebles and his team mates celebrating the second half winner.

AYRSHIRE AFA 0,CENTRAL SCOTTISH AFL. 1.

Central Scottish Team : Hollis (Postal United), Peebles (Colville Park), Gallacher (Pollok), Dickson (Haldane United), McGown (Bannockburn) Capt., Matthews (Drumchapel Amateurs), McLean (East Kilbride), Currie (St Patricks FP), Preston (Stedfast), MacPherson (Haldane United), and McAulay (Colville Park).

Subs : Shaw (Eastfield), Mullaney (Ashvale Victoria), Hadden (East Kilbride), McIntosh (East Kilbride), Craig (Mill United), McFadyen (Pollok), Webb (Stedfast). *THREE Inter-League games all kick-off at 1.15pm on Sunday at Dalziel Park, Motherwell.

GIBBY BRACE SINKS BOSWELL

MAN of the Match Scott Gibson was the toast of Maryhill Black Star in their 3-2 replay victory against Scottish Amateur Cup (Third Round) hosts Mossblown Boswell.

The Ayr club were 2-0 ahead before Gibson (2) and Johan Cornell secured victory.

Star now travel to play Holytown Colts Youths, who knocked

out Burntisland United 4-0 in their Third Round meeting.

MARYHILL Thistle earned a Fourth Round meeting against Cambusnethan Talbot A.F.C. following their 5-2 win over St Mungo’s, while DENNISTOUN Vale can look forward to entertaining Fifers Kinross A.F.C., who defeated Overtown Thistle 5-3.

Other pairings: Irvine Town v Possil YM; Riverside v Baillieston Thistle; Broomhouse F.C. v Larkhall Thistle; Postal United v Oban Saints. * Scottish Amateur Sunday Trophy holders CRANHILL United have been drawn against LEA RIG/HAGHILL A.F.C. in the Third Round on December 6.

TWO sponsorship deals have been confirmed in junior football.

McBookie.Com., who were already promoting East and North Regions, have extended the backing to cover the West set-up.

The Super Premier and Super First, plus three District League - one in Ayrshire - will now carry the McBookie’s name.

In another welcome boost, community heating firm ETHX Energy will sponsor the Scottish Junior Cup for the rest of this season, with the option of an additional three years.

SJFA Secretary Tom Johnston admitted: “We are delighted to team up with ETHX Energy.”

Company Director James Montgomery, who helped make the Third Round draw in Glasgow, said: “We are pleased to link-up with the SJFA, and feel

it’s a natural fit for the two of us to work together.”

PETERSHILL will require to overcome an East Region Super League club for the second successive round. Last time out, they were held at home (1-1) by Newtongrange Star, managed a 2-2 draw in the replay, but scraped through 9-8 on penalties.

Next up are Musselburgh Athletic, who lost 2-1 against Auchinleck Talbot in last season’s final at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock.

Peasy have ground advantage, which is pity since ST ROCH will also taste North Glasgow cup action when East Region Premier League newboys, Kennoway Star Hearts, visit James McGrory Park.

Star finished third in the North Division last term - some

13 points behind table- toppers Dundee North End, and three adrift of second-placed Thornton Hibs. However, North End who I watched beat Ashfield Juniors in a pre-season friendly, were deducted 15 points over a player infringement. Despite subsequent appeals, the decision stood - sending Hibs up as champions, Star Hearts into second- top place, and pushed North End down to third.

Kennoway reached the Third Round of the Junior Cup a year ago, where they were defeated 1-0 at Cumnock Juniors.

On the same afternoon, St Roch made their exit in a 6-2 defeat against hosts St Andrews United.

Third Round cup games will be played on Saturday, November 21. Note kick-offs are 1.45pm.

JUNIORS DOUBLE BOOST

FOCUS: GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL

WELCOME to another look at the grassroots game in East and North Glasgow. Every fortnight we will focus on the players, teams, and coaches making the headlines. Where possible, we would like to feature a photograph in our round-up.

BUDHILL Football Academy 2004 had a good 4-1 victory over Bellshill Boys’Club in wet conditions at Stepford Road.

The coaches would like to thank all parents for their continued support. Star Man has to be Mr Billy McNaught for overseeing two teams.

BUDHILL 1, YOUNG PUMAS 3 (half-time 1-1). Budhill scored with a contender for “ Goal of the Season”. Daryl McFarlane swung over a corner, and Man of the Match Declan McFarlane ran in to bullet home a superb diving header.

BUDHILL 2005 Orange showed their class against North Motherwell at Cathedral Primary School. In torrential rain, Budhill returned to winning ways with a solid performance, and great teamwork. North Motherwell opened well and played nice football. Budhill took a strong hold of the game thereafter and continued the momentum throughout the second half to post a clear victory.

FINNART B.C. Match Reports Correspondent Jamie McGowan has been busy on our behalf once again, and has a detailed round-up from the Bridgeton-based set-up. Many thanks, Jamie.

2004 Team A. Finnart 1, Springburn 2. Thomas Reid.

Finnart 2, Hillwood Whites 0. Thomas Reid (2).

In the first game, Finnart

never really got out of the starting blocks. The goal was created from a great Tyler Weir cross.

Much better second match.

Great team effort and more pleasing for the coaches.

Team B. Finnart 3, Eastfield Star 2. Nathan Steele, Liam McLaughlin and Dario Petrucci.

Finnart 6. Moorlands 0.

Nathan Steele, Tai O’Neil, Liam McLaughlin, Kieran Kelly, Ryan Calder and Andres Sanchez.

2006. Finnart 4, Clyde 4.

A slow start allowed Clyde to build in a 2-0 lead. Robbie McArthur bagged a double, but Clyde scored again. Leon Power hit a sublime corner, which went straight in off the far post.

Still the goals kept coming and Finnart went went 4-3 down. However, Man of the Match Cole Jackson netted with a neat finish.

Finnart hit the bar (twice), and post. Robbie McArthur was denied by a magnificent save.

Finnart 1, Broomhill 5. A disaster from start to finish according to the Finnart coaches, who watched their young players go 4-0 down.

Jak Gourlay netted with a great finish, before Broomhill added their fifth of the match.

No Man of the Match nomination from the Finnart coaches, but they did give special mentions to goalkeepers Kris Watson and Harrison Baird, who despite losing goals pulled off several saves in both matches.

2007. Played five. One win, three defeats and one draw.

Honest feedback from the coaches indicated the boys

were still in Halloween mode ouch!!

Team A. Game 1. A 13-3 victory. Star Player Zach Fenwick (3), Jack Marr (4), Kaden McKechnie (3), Calum Blair, Aiden Coll, and Shaun Fredrickson.

Game 2. A 2-2 draw. Star Player Calum Blair (2). Incidentally, Finnart hit the post no fewer than four times!

Team B. Game 1. Lost 5-3.

Riley Milliken, an own goal and Star Player Dylan Haining.

Game 2. A freak incident with their opponents coach resulted in this match being called off. Get well soon, coach!

Team C. Game 1. Defeated 3-1. Morton McCaig, Jack Marr and Star Player Mikey Allan.

Game 2. Lost 4-3. Kyle Ahern, Morton McCaig, and Zach Fenwick. Star Player Mikey Allan.

Finnart fought hard in both games without playing to their normal level of performance.

2008. As they are stepping up to 5-a-sides soon, Finnart seek two young goalkeepers at this playing level. Any interest parent(s) of young boys wishing more information, should contact the club.

Game 1. Finnart 8, Shettleston “A” 1. Star Player Millan Kerr (7), and Leon Paton.

Game 2. Finnart 1, Thistle Weir Academy 1. Star Player and scorer Millan Kerr.

Game 3. Finnart 1, Charlie Miller Football Academy 0. Star Player and scorer Leon Paton.

Game 4. Finnart 3, Busby 3. Star Player Millan Kerr (3).

Coaches said “there was some great football from all the players. A joy to watch.”

email: sport@thegenn.co.uk

ACTION-PACKED PRESIDENT’S CUP

FIRST Round action in the President’s Cup - for clubs playing Sunday Central League football - produced some stunning results and a feast of goals.

CROWNPOINT United were on the wrong end of a

surprise 6-1 scoreline against Castlemilk United.

STRATHCLYDE West conceded ten goals against visiting Sauchie.

PHOENIX United secured a fine 4-0 victory over Lanrkshire Forest.

EASTEND Athletic crushed Stirling Athletic11-1.

VALE United edged out Glasgow Rangers in an eightgoal cracker, and Strathclyde Amateurs defeated Provanmill 5-4.

SATURDAY MORNING AMATEURS

STRATHCLYDE SATURDAY MORNING AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE - SPONSORED BY STAX TRADE CENTRES. Stax Trade Centres Premier Division - Motherwell CT 1, Kirkintilloch Thistle 0; Renfrew 0, Shawbridge 3; Dennistoun Vale 4, AS Airdrie 2; Kirkintilloch Thistle 0, Blochairn Stra 4; Motherwell C.T. 0, Windlaw 1; Tynecastle AFC 7, Shawbridge 5.

Stax Trade Centres First Division - Firhill United 2, Semsa 2; Quayside 1, Bengal Lancers 2; Tantallon 3, Cambusnethan Talbot 3; Victoria Croftfoot 0, Glenwood 1.

Midweek: Semsa 1, Southside 5.

Midweek: H Jarvis President’s Cup - Cambusnethan Talbot wo, Glenwood scratched.

Stax Trade Centres Second Division - Westercommon Star 5, Plains 3; Barshaw 0, EK Thistle 3; DTI 5,EK Accies 3; UB United 4, Hardgate 3; Westercommon Star 4, Chaplains 1; Barshaw 0, AFC Manhattan 2; EK Thistle 10, Chaplains 2; DTI 1, Bargeddie AFC 3; EK Accies 6, Hardgate 2; Plains 3, UB United 0; Westercommon Star 4, Southside Whitecart 1.

Scottish Amateur Cup, Third Round- AFC Manhattan 4, Bathgate Thistle 2; AFC Ravenscraig 1, Fernieside 3; AS Airdrie 0, Glenmuir 3; Bowhill Rovers 3, Blochairn Star 1; Callender

Thistle 0, Semsa 2; Clermiston 1, East Dunbartonshire 1; Crosslands 5, Tantallon 3; Dunblane 5, Glenwood 1; Edinburgh Alba United 0, Dennistoun Vale 3; Hillington 4, Windlaw 2; Kingdom Athletic 3, Bargeddie AFC 1; Maryhill Black Star 3, Mossblown 3; Middlefield Wasps 7, Carluke 5 aet; Steins Thistle 1, Tynecastle AFC 0; Stonehaven 1, Southside Whitecart 7.

Carluke wo, Middlefield Wasps scratched.

Replays - Crookston 3, Kelvinbridge 0; East Dunbartonshire 5, Clermiston Gate 5 (5-3 on pens); Mossblown Boswell 2, Maryhill Black Star 3.

H Jarvis President’s Cup - Petershall Villa 2, Southside 6.

35

GENN

CLUB NEWS...FEATURES...MATCH ACTION REPORTS SPECIAL...CALL 0141 552 2127 or email: sport@thegenn.co.uk

WINTER CARPET BOWLS MATCH ACTION REPORTS

GARROWHILL moved to the top ofthe Eastern Carpet Bowls League following a shock defeat for champions SHETTLESTON in Week Four of the winter campaign, writes JACK HIGH. Their 6-0 thrashing of Foxley moved the former champions one point ahead of North British, who demolished Shettleston with the same scoreline.

RESULTS: WEEK ONE: Garrowhill 4 points, North British 2 points (37-17 shots).

Sandyhills 2 points, Shettleston 4 points (13-22 shots).

Foxley 2 points, Springboig 4 points (15-21 shots).

Free - Mount Vernon.

WEEK TWO: North British 2 points, Mount Vernon 4 points (24-19 shots).

Shettleston 5 points, Garrowhill 1 point(36-10 shots).

Springboig 4 points, Sandyhills 2 points (22-12 shots).

Free - Foxley.

WEEK THREE:Mount Vernon 2 points, Shettleston 4 points (1928 shots).

Garrowhill 6 points, Springboig 0 points (30-11 shots); North British 6 points, Foxley 0 points (32-7 shots).

Free - Sandyhills.

WEEK FOUR: Shettleston 0 points, North British 6 points (14-25 shots); Mount Vernon 6 points, Sandyhills 0 points (30-9 shots); Garrowhill 6 points, Fox-

Singles - Shettleston v Garrowhill. Pairs - Garrowhill v Foxley.

Triples - Springboig v Shettleston.

Pairs - Foxley v Garrowhill.

VENUE 3 at Springboig.

Singles - North British v Mount Vernon. Pairs - North British v Sandyhills. Triples - Foxley v Garrowhill. Rinks - North British v Mount Vernon.

VENUE 4. Byes. Singles – Sandyhills. Pairs -Shettleston.

Triples - North British. Rinks -Springboig.

DRAW for the First Round of the Top 10 Competition is: North British v Garrowhill; Mount Vernon v Sandyhills; Shettleston v Springboig. Bye – Foxley.

SHETTLESTON are hosting their Annual Presentation Evening on Friday, November 20.

WHITEVALE have an end-ofseason Awards Function on the same evening.

ley 0 points (45-10 shots).

Free - Springboig.

FIXTURES: WEEK FIVE: Foxley v Mount Vernon; North British v Springboig; Sandyhills v Garrowhill.

Free - Shettleston.

WEEK SIX: Mount Vernon v Garrowhill; Foxley v Sandyhills; Springboig v Shettleston.

Free - North British.

WEEK SEVEN: Sandyhills v North British; Foxley v Shettleston; Springboig v Mount Vernon.

Free - Garrowhill.

DRAW for the First Round of Individual Competitions is: VENUE 1 at Garrowhill.

Singles - Foxley v Springboig.

Pairs -Mount Vernon v Springboig. Triples -Mount Vernon v Sandyhills. Rinks - Sandyhills v Shettleston.

VENUE 2 at North British.

PLACINGS P

W

D

L

Shots For

Shots Against

Pts

Garrowhill

12

8

1

3

122

74

17

North British

12

8

0

4

98

77

16

Shettleston

12

6

1

5

100

67

13

Mount Vernon

9

6

0

3

68

61

12

Springboig

9

4

0

5

54

57

8

Sandyhills

9

2

0

7

34

74

4

Foxley

9

1

0

8

32

98

2

LSK SUPPLIES WEST YOUTHS

Premier Division - Claremont 1, St Peters Giffnock North 5; Tower Hearts 5, Harmony Row 3; Bonnyton Thistle 0, Pollok Juveniles 1; Wishaw W Wanderers 1, Antonine 2; Claremont 2, Antonine 0; Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 2, Harmony Row 2; Rossvale 3, Wishaw W Wanderers 2.

First Division - Giffnock 2, Victoria F.C. 2; Glasgow University 1, Broomhill 3; West Park United 10, Milngavie 0; Holytown 2, Broomhill 3; Vale of Leven 0, Barrhead Arthurlie 1; Milngavie 4, Giffnock 5; Victoria F.C. 1, Albion Rovers 2.

Second Division - Johnstone Burgh Youth 3, Dunbeth 4; Grahamston 3, Erskine 1; St Andrews 0, Hamilton Accies 2; Castlemilk 3, St Mungo 6; Ashfield F.C. 5, Renfrewshire Thistle 5; Erskine 2, Drumchapel Amateurs 2.

National Lady Darling Cup, First Round - Vale of Leven 6, Giffnock Soccer Centre 2; Dunbeth 3, Murieston 1.

Inspiresport Scottish Under-21 Cup, Second

Round-Replays - Glentyan Thistle 0, Tower Hearts 3; Leith Athletic 5, Maryhill Juniors 0.

Third Round - East Kilbride Rolls Royce 3, Steins Thistle 2; Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 1, West Park United 3; Dundonald Bluebell 0, Tower Hearts 3; Musselburgh Windsor 1, Johnstone Burgh B.C. 2; Bishopton Juniors 0, Rutherglen Glencairn 9; Pollok Juveniles 1, St Peters Giffnock North 2; Bonnyrigg Rose F.C. 1, Bonnyton Thistle 4.

Only Sport Golden Goals Cup, First Round - Rutherglen Glencairn 5, Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 4.

Birdston Kennels League Cup, First Round- Pollok Juveniles 1, Barrhead Arthurlie 2; Bonnyton Thistle 9, Milngavie 0; Holytown Colts 6, Maryhill Juniors 4.

Birdston Kennels Glasgow Cup, First Round- Grahamston 4, Hamilton Accies 1; Glentyan Thistle 6, St Andrews 2.

LSK Supplies West of Scotland Cup, First Round - Ren-

frewshire Thistle 4, Erskine 2; Victoria F.C. 0, Tower Hearts 2; Drumchapel Amateurs 0, Bishopton 5; Rutherglen Glencairn 2, Glentyan Thistle 0; Antonine 2, Johnstone Burgh 0; Ashfield F.C. 1, Harmony Row 0; Broomhill 4, Giffnock Soccer Centre 2; Wishaw W Wands 3, Dunbeth 1; St Peters Giffnock North 8, Grahamston 2; Glasgow University 1, Steins Thistle 6; Johnstone Burgh Youth 0, Maryhill Juniors 6.

Only Sport Golden Goals Cup, First Round- Goldenhill 0, Wishaw W Wands 2; Baljaffray 1, Rossvale 8,Hamilton Accies Inverclyde 7, Castlemilk 1; Barrhead Arthurlie 2, St Mungo’s 2 (2-4 on pens).

Only Sport League Cup, First Round - St Andrews 2, Johnstone Burgh Youth 6; Hamilton Accies Inverclyde 5, Grahamston 1; St Mungo 5, Renfrewshire Thistle 3; Drumchapel Ams 3, Erskine 3 (2-4 on pens); Baljaffray 2, Campsie F.C. 1; Glentyan Thistle 2, Ashfield F.C. 2 (4-5 on pens).

MARYHILL BLACK STAR 3, MOSSBLOWN BOSWELL (AYR) 3.

SCOTTISH Amateur Cup Third Round and ten-man Star led 2-0 at half-time. Alex Docherty (2) and Sean Magee.

MOSSBLOWN BOSWELL 2, MARYHILL BLACK STAR 3.

GREAT fightback from the visitors, who trailed 2-0. Two goals from Man of the Match Scott Gibson and Johan Cornell in the replay.

STEINS THISTLE 1, TYNECASTLE A.F.C 0.

SAME competition and the winner from Andrew Mochan.

TYNECASTLE A.F.C. 7, SHAWBRIDGE 5.

THESE two are the oldest SSMFL Premier sides - and they served up a cracker for the neutral! Tynecastle led 3-2 at half-time, but conceded three goals in a bizarre spell to trail 5-4 with ten minutes remaining. A debut goal from Garry O’Hanlon and James McKay’s strike inside three minutes set-up a thrilling finish, which was completed by Jamie Cochrane converting a spot-kick for the champions!

NEWTONGRANGE STAR 2, PETERSHILL 2 (8-9 on pens) SCOTTISH Junior Cup Second Round replay. Peasy missed penalties in both the shoot-out and sudden death before emerging from a marathon! Lewis Coult (17 mins) and Matty King (73) for the East of Scotland club. Scott Davidson had had earlier netted the Petershill equaliser after 33 minutes, and Michael Daly put them ahead on 62 minutes.

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 2, SHETTLESTON JUNIORS 0.

ATTACKING Ladeside midfielder Darren Miller netted goals either side of half-time to knock Town out of the Scottish Junior Cup. Shettleston introduced new Spanish striker Miguel Blanco of CD Becerril.

MARYHILL JUNIORS 1, ST ANTHONY 0.

END of a run of Maryhill defeats. Good, solid first display from Jim Delaney’s. Justin Begg netted what proved to be the winner.

VALE OF CLYDE 0, RENFREW JUNIORS 2.

POOR first half football from both teams. Chris Zok, back for a second spell in Renfrew colours, scored with the visitors’ first shot on goal after a great ball from Alain Kinney. Interval substitute Chris Gilmour doubled Renfrew’s lead.

THORNIEWOOD UNITED 2, ST ROCH 1.

CANDY Rock lost their second-place slot in the Central District First Division after striker Jordan Logan put the visitors’ ahead.

GLASGOW PERTHSHIRE 2, VALE OF LEVEN 1.

‘SHIRE bounced back from a run of disappointing results – including their Scottish Junior Cup

exit against Lanark United - as strikers Davie Kirkwood and John Paul Craig netted prior to a reply from Vale’s Craig Cowan.

GILCOMSTON UNITED 1, LEA RIG/HAGHILL A.F.C. 8.

ABERDEEN proved to be a winning venue for the East End club in the Scottish Amateur Sunday Trophy. Goals from William Stewart (2), Jim Campbell (2), James Simpson, Calvin Scolin, Marc Murphy and James Smith.

GLENTYAN THISTLE O, TOWER HEARTS 3.

INSPIRESPORT Scottish Under-21 Cup replay. A Marc Houston free-kick and Stevie Kerr gave Tower their 2-0 half-time lead. Sean McCall rounded off a deserved victory.

TOWER HEARTS 5, HARMONY ROW 3.

FOUR first-half goals highlighted why Tower are rated among the list of Under-21 clubs chasing a national trophy and Premier Division title this season.

DRUMCHAPEL 1, FINNART B.C. 2.

GREAT result against a Drum outfitwho always make life difficult for their opponents. No goals in the first half, but interval changes and a few Finnart tactical tweaks soon paid off. Substitutes Ross McCallum and Danny Gordon took control of the play.

Left wing-back Connor McKenzie burst forward and crossed.

Striker Jack McIlveen did the rest.

A second soon followed when Ross McCallum rocketed home from distance.

Drumchapel reduced the leeway with eight minutes remaining, but Finnart’s fitness was top-class - a clear sign that weekly sessions with Stuart Low and his staff at the Punisher Gym are paying off Man of the Match Dexter Morrison.

FINNART B.C. 3, MILL UNITED 2.

SOLID squad performance in this 1999 friendly. A great many positives to be taken in by the coaches, who used a total of 21 players - including several trialists.

Man of the Match Kieran Bouberkri scored in the first half (1-1).

Shaun McCourt reacted quickest to a Mark Taylor corner-kick, but United hit back. Mark Taylor scored what proved to be the winner with a brilliant free-kick.

DRUMSAGARD 2, FINNART B.C. 0.

2003 clash, which was competitive and entertaining. Finnart started well in a first half where chances were carved out at both ends of the park.

The first goal was always going to be important, and Drumsagard broke the deadlock, and soon after grabbed their second.

Finnart kept their heads up, battled away and went close with a Liam Hagan effort which flashed

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inches wide.

Man of the Match Jay Patterson.

CENTRAL B.C. 0, FINNART B.C. 20 (TWENTY).

REGIONAL Cup First Round.

Top class all over the park from the Under-16s, who produced a frightening performance fittingly in Halloween week! Every one of the16 players used showed fantastic desire in horrible weather conditions at Grangemouth.

Five of the goals came from set-pieces.

Scorers: Adam Hamilton (3), Ross McCallum (3), Connor McKenzie (3), Jakub Dmowski (3), Kalvin Rooney (2), Danny Gordon (2), Jamie McGowan Jnr, Jack McIlveen, Martin Scanlan, and Ryan Madden. Man of the Match Danny Gordon, who ran the show from central midfield.

BARGEDDIE A.F.C 3, E.K. ACCIES 2.

MAN of the Match Christopher Dunne and two-goal Billy McKee clinched victory.

DTI 1, BARGEDDIE A.F.C 3.

SUPERB result for Bar-G, whose marksmen were Christopher Dunne (2) and Stefan McKechnie.

Billy McKee was named Man of the Match.

PETERSHILL 1, KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 1.

SHARED Super Premier League points at Springburn.

Stevie Meechan fired the Blasties ahead after 53 minutes. Chris Craig, formerly of Ladeside, equalised 17 minutes from time.

TROON JUNIORS 1, SHETTLESTON JUNIORS 0.

SECOND half winner from Adam Forsyth at Portland Park.

ST ANTHONY 1, ROSSVALE JUNIORS 2.

PROMOTION-chasing ‘Vale kept up the pressure on chasing clubs with a late winner from Man of the Match Craig McGregor.

Dean McKay had given Ants a 68th minute lead. Eight minutes later, Jason MacKay levelled.

ST ROCH JUNIORS 2, JOHNSTONE BURGH 2.

CANDY Rock dropped tofourth place in the District First Division after taking a 2-0 lead and missing chances to kill off the match. Jordan Logan with both St Roch goals.

VALE OF LEVEN 1, ASHFIELD JUNIORS 0.

UNDER-21 debutant Ben Craig with the decisive goal on 85 minutes at Millburn Park, Alexandria.

CAMBUSLANG RANGERS 6, GLASGOW PERTHSHIRE 1. STUNNER for the Keppoch Park club at Somervell. ‘Shire trailed 5-1 at halftime. Scorer: Bryson.

LEA RIG/HAGHILL A.F.C. 2, CASTLEMILK DYNAMO 2.

FRIENDLY match against the top team (Dynamo) in the Sunday Central Amateur League. Goals from James Campbell and Gareth May.

GENN The

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Glasgow East and North News

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STORMING CITY SECURE FOURTH TREBLE

GLASGOW CITY overcame appalling weather conditions - and Hibernian Ladies 3-0 in the Scottish Cup Final - to secure their fourth successive domestic treble.

Former Raheny United striker Clare Shine stole the show with a hat-trick, but in truth the Republic of Ireland star was part of a hugely professional team performance.

Hibs have pushed City all the way in their domestic campaign and a League Cup Final earlier this season - only losing out to an extra-time goal - but at Spartans’ Ainslie Park they were well beaten before Shine raced away to complete her hat-trick with almost the last kick of the ball.

With the elements in their favour, Glasgow City were quickly heading towards Hibs goalkeeper Jenna Fife.

Hayley Lauder almost broke the deadlock after 25 minutes, when her left-foot shot beat the ‘keeper, but rebounded off the post and was cleared for a fruitless corner.

Nicola Docherty, who picked up an injury earlier, was replaced by Susan Fairlie three minutes later, but a couple of tactical switches soon had the Scottish champions back on the attack.

Glasgow City celebrate beating Hibernian 3-0 in the Women’s Scottish Cup Final at Ainslie Park, Edinburgh.

Photograph taken by Tommy Hughes.

The opening goal arrived after 41 minutes, when Hibs gave the ball away in defence. Clare Shine reacted like all good strikers do, took a touch and finished with a shot which went over Fife and into the net via the un-

PLAYERS WANTED

GOALKEEPERS at Boys Club level/ Pro-Youth.A brand-new Monday Night Winter Programme is now well underway at Glasgow Club Petershill. Also Saturday morning sessions at the same venue. Contact the Head Coach at 07403452960.

PETERSHILL F.C. 2004 are seeking a goalkeeper for their Saturday Morning Central League team. Call Kenny Robertson on 07808712469.

ST ROCH Juniors Football Club have started girls and ladies football, and want to hear from the local community. Contact Head Coach Paul McManus on 07775592031 or email: strochsfcladies@gmail.com.

BUDHILL Football Academy have a number of talented grassroots teams playing a variety of small-sided, non-competitive games, leading up to full 11-a-side football. Saturday morning and Sunday involvement.

Now their 2005 Whites squad are seeking new talent. Training two nights each week, and games Saturday morning. Call 07765538006.

ARSENAL Juniors B.C., based in Maryhill, are looking for players born 2005. The team trains twice a week

at Firhill Sports Complex. Phone 07889550238.

BARGEDDIE COLTS want players born on or before 2010. Call Chris Wright at 07450847292.

LENZIE Y.C. 2001 are looking for players. Games played on a Saturday morning. Training takes place two nights a week. Contact Billy on 07818096752.

LENZIE Youth Club Mini Kickers, ages 3, 4 and 5 years, have started in the area. To register your son/ daughter, text all details to Billy on 07818096752 or email: lyc1980@ hotmail.co.uk.

BARGEDDIE Amateurs, in their first season of Saturday Morning football (SSMAFL), are looking for players for all position. Kickoffs are 10am, and they play home games at Lochend, Easterhouse. Call 07854032058.

GLASGOW THISTLE A.F.C., Division One of the Sunday Central A.F.L., are currently looking for players. Their present training base/ night might change. Contact them at 07767143603 or email: glasgowthistle@live.co.uk.

derside of the crossbar.

Hibernian’s Chloe Arthur carved out their first real attempt on goal amid the wind and driving rain from the right-hand side, but Abi Harrison’s deflected shot was easily dealt

with by Lee Alexander on 53 minutes.

When Erin Cuthbert, who was outstanding for Glasgow City, went close with a long-range left-foot shot five minutes later, the game had really opened up.

SPEAKERS NIGHT

BROOMHOUSE F.C. will host a Speakers Night at the Shettleston Juniors Social Club on January 30, 2016.

Tickets are £30. Guest speakers will be Frank McA-

vennie and Andy Goram.

This year’s Speakers Night was well attended, and club officials are hoping for another good turn-out in January.

FINNART B.C. are hoping to run a 2009 age-group team in the Glasgow and District Youth Fun Fours next February.

The club is seeking a coach

who has both the time and commitment to work and nurture young footballers.

Contact any Finnart team coach.

FINNART Under-16s (2000) have taken delivery of new run-out tops, which will be sponsored by Mr Alex McDowall, who runs a wellknown business (Harley’s) in

Main Street, Rutherglen.

Team coaches intend promoting a special health group – advertising the name on the tops - and their identity will be revealed shortly.

FINNART Amateurs goalkeeper Brian Paton is putting his considerable experience

between the posts to good use by helping coach the Bridgeton club’s 2008 team.

FUN FOURS CALL RUN-OUT TOPS

COACHING HELP

Cuthbert moved across the Hibs defence and hit another superb effort after 74 minutes. This time, Jenna Fife stretched out her right hand and clawed the ball away for a corner.

With the Edinburgh club pushing players forward in a bid to force the game into extra-time, they were always likely to be caught out at the back.

Enter Clare Shine, who took a touch to a ball over the top, ran on towards goal and lashed a left-footer beyond Fife.

Five minutes of injury time was added on, and Shine polished off her striking display. The centre of the Hibernian defence was unlocked once again and she ran through to drill home another left-foot finish.

Delighted Head Coach Scott Booth said: “Defensively, we were really strong.

“That has been key to being successful against Hibs this season.”

Glasgow City: Alexander, Ross, McMurchie (McCulloch), Corsie, Docherty (Fairlie), Love, Lauder, Grant (Crilly), Shine, Cuthbert and O’Sullivan.

Substitutes not used: Cunningham, Rafferty, Fleeting and Montgomery.

GAMBIA TOUR

GLASGOW Girls F.C. will play the Gambia (West Africa) national women’s team during a week-long tour.

The trip is led by Aventure Kids (Football Development) and tourism organisation, and hosted in partnership with the Gambian Football Federation.

GGFC will also be in action

against local teams, and engage in community coaching programmes.

Games list is as follows: November 19 - Red Scorpions F.C. November 20 – Jeshwang.

November 22 - Interior F.C. November 24 - Gambian National Team. All kick-offs are 4pm.

BROWN MOVES ON

FORMER Shettleston Juniors striker Kyle Brown has left Greenfield Park, and signed for Central District First Division club St Anthony.

Meanwhile, Ants’ 33 yearold midfielder Gareth Timoney has joined Vale of Clyde.

Timoney signed for the Govan club in the summer of 2012.

CITY CUP SECTIONS

ORGANISERS of the popular Glasgow City Cup will attempt to introduce new girl’s sections at Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 level next year.

Games will take place at

Renfrew’s King George Playing Fields, and St James’ Parks, Paisley.

More information is available at www.glasgowcitycup. org.uk

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