This year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF} delivers many outstanding events, year on year for book readers and the public alike, And Diane Abbott’’s, book launch by Britain’s first Black female Member of Parliament was not an exception.!
Diane is a most powerful speaker and the audience enjoyed her honesty, humour, and openness about her reflections. it must have been one of the most fascinating and enjoyable one hour event that any audience could experience and spend with any author..
Diane is not only a long-serving MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, but is also:
a household name,
a campaigner, and
an outspoken advocate for justice and equality.
Her journey from a North London childhood, the daughter of Windrush-generation parents, through Cambridge University, to the front benches of Westminster is nothing short of remarkable.
The session was chaired by campaigner and consultant Talat Yaqoob, who described reading Abbott’s memoir ‘A Woman Like Me’ as
“an absolute privilege.”
From the moment Diane walked on stage, the packed audience erupted into cheers and applause — a spontaneous, heartfelt welcome that spoke volumes about the respect and admiration she inspires.
Yaqoob set the tone:
“Well, I think that cheer says it all. It’s wonderful to have you here with us today. As you can tell from my copy of your book, covered in post-it notes, I have so many questions. But first, let me introduce the Right Honourable Diane Abbott MP. In 1987, she made history as the first Black woman elected to Westminster. Since then, she has built a distinguished career as a parliamentarian, broadcaster and commentator, fighting for justice and equality for over three decades.”
Reflecting on a Trailblazing Career
Asked why she decided to write her memoir, Abbott explained:
“I came to a point in my career when I could reflect on the past, and I had never really done that before. For ten years, I was the only Black woman in Parliament – the only one out of 650 MPs. That had never really occurred to me at the time.”
She hopes her book will inspire others:
“I want other women, and particularly other Black women, to look at what I have done and see what I have strode through – and to see that they can strive too.”
Family life was a strong theme in the discussion. Abbot paid tribute to her mother, who arrived from Jamaica in the 1950s as a nurse and became, in Diane’s words, her greatest influence.
“My mother was extraordinary. If anybody influenced me above all, it was her. West Indian nurses in the 50s helped to build the NHS, and I was glad in my book to pay testimony to that.”
The London Borough MP shared stories of resilience, such as bouncing back after a teacher wrongly accused her of cheating, and challenging another who told her…
“She wasn’t Oxford or Cambridge material.”
““I thought, ‘But I do. And that’s what matters, isn’t it?’ That has been the slogan of my life – whether it’s my history teacher or Keir Starmer, I always think I’m up to it.”
Power, Politics and Perseverance
Abbott spoke candidly about her early career in the Home Office, her disillusionment with the civil service, and her enduring belief that power should rest with the people, not bureaucrats. When asked what first attracted her to the civil service, her one-word answer was:
“Power.”
She also addressed more recent controversies, including being blocked from speaking in Parliament following racist and sexist comments by Tory donor Frank Hester.
“All party leaders mentioned me, yet I wasn’t called. I later heard . Sunak didn’t want me called as it involved a Tory donor, and Starmer didn’t either, as he wanted political advantage. Even after 38 years as an MP, I couldn’t believe it.”
Looking Ahead
The audience pressed her on what comes next. Would she consider joining Jeremy Corbyn and Zara Sultana’s new party? Abbott was cautious:
“It’s tricky. Under first-past-the-post, it’s very hard to succeed. Still, I think his party will do better than people expect, as many are disappointed with Labour.”
And her message to young Black and brown women considering politics?
“Yes, it’s tough, but there’s so much to do in communities. I urge women to get involved, even if it’s just attending a meeting, because it’s about our children’s future. If you do nothing, you’re saying their future won’t be better than ours.”
Final Thoughts
The hour-long event gave only a glimpse into Abbott’s resilience, sharp political mind and deep commitment to justice.
Whether reflecting on:
her childhood,
her battles in Westminster,
or her vision for the future,
Diane Abbott came across as what she has always been: a politician of immense strength, patience and perseverance — especially in the face of adversity.
[Any text in square brackets in this article is an editorial comment]
I normally write my pieces on my smartphone, – very easy to do.I can type away, and no one knows what I am doing.I could be texting, I could, almost be doing anything. I must be a Martini writer.That is any time, any place, anywhere. Our multipurpose technology allows me to add stuff, as I wish. I am doing it, casually, throughout the day. Amazing! The secret about how I use my smartphone is out!
However, one day I was in a meeting…
I remember it well. A woman, I have no idea who she was, was typing on her iPhone.‘How rude’ I thought. She then stopped, and appeared, to be actively listening.
She started typing again.
The chair (not a 4 legged one), spouted.Mrs. Jones “Stop texting during this meeting, it is very rude, and bad manners.Your phone should be switched off”
For a moment, I thought, ‘He must have been reading my mind, but if he had? He may not have said that. ‘ I could go on, but let me tell you the rest of the story.
Indignantly she said.
“Chair, I must object.On my iPhone, I have the agenda, I also have the minutes of the previous meeting, and as the debate progresses I make notes on my iPhone, so that when I leave the meeting, I may be able to do something to help. What is being said is important, and I don’t want to wait for the minutes of the previous meeting to be produced”
The red-faced (literally!) Chair promptly apologised.
That lady is actively creating, taking someone else’s words, and converting them into ideas, tasks, thoughts, and inspiration.
Usually, my creation, new creation, or more accurately when I write a story, I use my iPhone or iPad. But not this time, I took my laptop off my piano.
No!
Not to write or make music, but to play with the sweet melody of words. Words that will sing a song about this story. That is how important this message is.Perhaps pen and paper might be better.But, my scrawls!No one, but no one, would be able to decipher it.
The downside of a smartphone is thatI can’t type as quickly as I can write. But for me, the mobile phone is my nerve centre.I can use it for all sorts of things.I could switch the central heating on, and open the garage door.It is almost the nerve centre of all of our lives.
Therefore, when we do business, most of it is done on a smartphone. That is Over 60% of people use this technology to:
Scroll Social Media,
Read websites
Look for stuff to buy
Check out organsiations and businesses
Therefore, almost any activity in our day-to-day lives must be smartphone-friendly first, not just Smartphone-responsive. Currently, we use mobile phones for 95% of our computing activities.
While smartphones are currently the fad for everyone, in 10 years, it may be something else. We always need to embrace new technology.
‘The Regenerative Futures Fund’
You may wonder what the subject is about. As a starting point, it is titled…
“Regenerative, Futures Fund”.
And I did wonder too.
Expectations are a classic debate, one about closing High Street stores and redeveloping town centres into housing or hotel development or something else along those lines.
My planned story would have included other ways.Other techniques as an alternative to converting shops into houses, that would regenerate an area. And I could have easily produced counter-examples, to make the story enjoyable.
But that was not the subject. That is the exclusion part of the project.The bit Project Managers will say ‘It is the bit that is out of scope’
The in-scope bit…
So what is it all about?So let me start from the beginning
One of the great people of all time is Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
His ‘I Have a Dream speech‘ crystalises most of the story. However, it is still only a part of it.The key here is:
If you have not read the speech, then please do. Simply, he was in the right place at the right time.
Background to the dream
But, many people are in the wrong place, at the wrong time. It is difficult for them to grow, and the numbers in this group are escalating.In a similar way to COVID-19, it is a disease.In this case, it is not a medical issue, but one of our own, that is society’s making.That in my view, is caused by the systems we have created and use.
It traverses skin colour, sex,ethnicity, politics, residential status, and religion.The disease is spreading and no one is excluded.And as a response, our politicians and others, appear to put together short-term solutions that don’t work or provide a partial solution to a specific issue.
Gifts of Humanity
Now back to the positives. In my view every human being on this planet is great. We all have wonderful gifts.Gifts to contribute to our world.But given, how we are now organised, those gifts are not harvested or are only partially utilised. The world would be much better and richer if all our gifts were maximised.
The Disease
To resolve the issue, we need to eradicate the disease. One that is a side effect of the Industrial Revolution and further automation.
The disease is such that:
– We can’t vaccinate against,
– we can’t socially distance it, – and sadly, we accidentally, segregate people that have it.
Government Policy Impacts on Our Lives
Current UK government policy in my view will increase it.One example is the withdrawal of winter fuel allowance.Many Grandmas and Grandpas in Scotland this year and early next year may die in Scotland because of it.Anyone with any common sense knows temperatures drop very low here. It follows, that more winter fuel is used, and in today’s economic climate in the UK, that switch-on costs serious money, unlike other countries.
The disease of the very young and the old…
Additionally, everyone is different, for instance after waiting for a bus for over an hour, on a snow-filled day, I start to shiver excessively, and some parts of my body start their slow shutdown down.Meanwhile, other people, including my lovely wife, are all quite happy, and not feeling any issues.Luckily, a nearby hotel in Inverkeithing provided a free hot coffee, and after a few glasses of wine, we returned home in a taxi, safely.
That disease is called Hypothermia.
However,that is not what I am talking about. I and the event organisers are talking about something much more serious. It is the real killer, and it is called…
“- o – – –t -”
To find out more, you can read the event report below. That report outlines what the event organisers had to say, and provides some ideas and a long-term strategy, one based on the organiser’s dream.
Nearly £6 million raised forRegenerative Futures Fund:
The Event
Mary Robson (Chairperson) raised the issues, or questions to the two poets/authors and a Chief Executive.That is…
What does one need to be put in place to allow for transformational, long-term change in our communities?
And who gets to imagine and act out this change?
Then she talked about something that helps people take back control. It is a method that I suggest takes away from:
your last two pieces of bread burnt to a cinder in the toaster.
your daughter’s just lost her precious doll that cannot be found.
you are running out of money to feed the meter
you are trying to work out how tonight you will feed your children
the car stops for lack of fuel, as you have just spent your last fiver on eggs, bread, and fish fingers for tonight’s tea.No butter, nor spread. That crumpled fiver or worn dull, an overworked plastic note, could not do the trick.
For people at work, their job has gone mad, always rushing, and pushing, there is never any time. It is all a stressor.
And the list goes on.
A method used for Future Fridays (A side project). It is very similar to the one that was used while I was in primary school…
That is to calm everyone excited or suffering from:
The stress and strain the rushes of life the headaches and pain the complaints from one’s partner, hubby, or wife the hell of robbing Peter to him, how do I pay? the feeding of the meter Is that what I say?
Why is each day, about a handful of dimes? We do not make hay When the sun shines small storms make life, deeply grey It has been this way for years, years! and years!! I must with sadness say, Our world is full of pain and woeful tears
Every day with vigour I pray That this dreadful disease will simply go away, And only then there is An end to our people’s weeps, tears, pain, and fear. There must be a way to bring hope, freedom, and joy to the poor everywhere.
You may have noticed, but I have written a poem here.That is part of their secret sauce, using aids to tell their story, a short story. In this case a poem. BUT, I digress. So back to the plot, the calming technique.
This technique may be known as silent time. An opportunity for dreams, or more correctly…
‘Still time’ to explore your dreams and your future.That is ‘Still’ as in…
‘Still the night’
Some churches sing Still the Night, as an alternative to the well-known carol, ‘Silent Night’, during Advent and at nativities.
But there is another word from our ancestors,circa 1590-1600, andI must add three words from a fantastic pop sung by the Tremolos… ‘Silence is golden’. However,the words, ‘Silence, silent or still’ do not quite say it all. It may surprise you but there is one word. One from 1590 that will do and that comes later in this text.
…And then without further ado Mary introduced three extraordinary women…
Leah Black [Originally seconded from WHALE Arts, a cultural Anchor Organisation in Wester Hailes,to the Edinburgh Voluntary Organisation Council in August 2022] – to initiate Edinburgh’s Regenerative Futures fund. Funded from July 2024 and is hosted by Foundation Scotland.
Two Creators sit alongside Leah, Shasta Ali (writer, poet, and antiracism campaigner), and Vicky Nyanga-Ndiaye (writer, poet, and founder of Project Esperanza, the migrant support charity).
All there to discuss the importance of collective imagination and why we need to shift away from short-term thinking.
Then Mary handed it over to Leah Black.
She explained that she is the founder and Head of Regeneration Futures Fund (Hosted by Foundation Scotland) a ten-year community fund for Edinburgh that puts decision-making power in the hands of the most often excluded. She is an experienced leader and Chief Executive.One that weaves between communities, Charities, Funding, Public Sector, Philanthropy, creativity, imagination and complexity
The fund supports approaches to improving the lives of people living in poverty and experiencing racism. It contributes towards a just green transition, by enabling equity, power-sharing, and long-term change.
The aim is to launch the 10-year fund in 2025, with the first phase of capacity building launching in 2024. It will provide funding and support 10-15 community organisations in Edinburgh for 10 years. At the end of this article, you will find the locations in Edinburgh that may benefit from the scheme.
The fund for each organisation will be up to £100,000 a year.
And the great news is that nearly £6m has already been raised for the project.
You can find out more about regenerative futures on their website.
[As we all know Wester Hailes has been designated an area of deprivation since 1974, and that is the case some 50 years on. Similarly, other deprived areas of Edinburgh need attention too!]
Leah mentioned her work with the Community.The many challenges, the frustration. The anger when things don’t quite work out.
You will have noticed a bit of poetry, earlier in this piece.It just popped out, as I wrote. It is the creation, in this case poetry that calms the storm.Soothes, and quells the anger. It could have been a musical composition, a new song, a bit of carpentry, some knitting, writing a book, or washing the dishes, but now I am stretching the definition of creation!
I sometimes play ‘Finlandia’or compose a tune, to relieve the tension.But I really must remember to put my headphones on! My neighbours may not appreciate the tunes or the volume of the music!
The side story is Future Fridays, an event that Shasta Ali and Jennifer Williams led. That is a time for a moment of stillness, a time to dream a dream. A dream of one’s own and that of the Community.A dream where locals influence change. A change from the grassroots, one that is not imposed from above, but one that the community drives. A dream of a new future.
Some participants are encouraged to write poems and short stories. These are published for those who have not had their works published before.
But for all of this funding is needed.
And,as we are all aware for funding one needs measurable outcomes.The bean counters need solid evidence that money is well spent.That is:
a record of outcomes,
an audit trail, to provide comfort to the stakeholders, and it is also short-term.
Often the long-term story is forgotten.The bottom line is that for humans to progress we are driven by our ability to create, and our dream to fuel any change.Change that will improve all our futures.
[Editorial Comment]
[Biblically, Moses’s dream was to exit Egypt with his people, but he never saw it. However,the following generations did. Moses ‘missed the boat’.However, NASA had the dream of flying to the moon.Yes! NASA had the good fortune to fire their very crude ship (spaceship or in this case rocket), one that successfully landed a man on the moon, and returned to planet Earth]
[All because of many people sharing the same dream.]
[Human endeavour needs dreams, if we don’t have one, there is no boat to miss, nor a ship/rocket to sail/fly/launch, and we never reach the destination of success.The biggest thing about this is that the dream leads the way.A way thatallows humans to progress.]
[End of Editorial comment]
The team chatted about outcomes, fluffiness, and short-term funding. The obvious lack of long-term planning.The pros and cons of funding – including the agony of surprise funding opportunities.A task that is a challenge, one that can be completed if one has no sleep for a week!
[Editorial note]
[Schemes have been introduced to improve the Wester Hailes, but 50 years on, there is no community council, however,there is a Community Trust.
The Edinburgh Neighbourhood Project is closed, Edinburgh Community Grants are gone (a 404 is generated on the Edinburgh Council website), and the local trust has registered a land plan in 2023.]
[End of note]
Leah talked about the need to involve the community.After all, the community is the biggest stakeholder.
[Editorial note and opinion] That community involvement is important for other reasons too.Wester Hailes will become an Edinburgh Council twenty-minute zone in 2030, as will other areas of Edinburgh.To achieve this Edinburgh Council will certainly have a lot of work to do, and organise many consultations. On the other hand, they may survey people without telling the audience the full purpose and the whole story about the reasons for their questions. From what I have observed and have read in local Edinburgh news sources, it is my view Edinburgh Council staff when performing surveys typically withhold critical information when talking or writing to residents.
[End of Editorial Note]
Poem by Linda Craik, read by Shasta Ali
Following Leah’s talk she handed over to the chair who brought on Shasta Ali a writer, poet, and antiracism campaigner. She started and announced that she would read a poem. One that was published at, 6 pm Monday 26th August 2024 in an anthology “There will always be questions”. The poem bears the same name and is written by Linda Craik.I have tried to recover the poem from my scrawled notes…
“There always will be questions More than answers
But that is no excuse Not to imagine the dream Working together is the key
To achieving a positive outcome
‘Respect other views
But don’t let go of your own Because maybe, just maybe
Your view will be the most positive one
Every plan starts off as someone’s dream
It then evolves with a bit of imagination
To become a real thing
To regenerate a community
it starts with a dream
The audience claps enthusiastically, followed by a short lull.
’Thank you Shasta and Linda”
A discussion about the importance of creativity followed.
The speaker then says…
“Let us have an experience of:..”
Then she mentions the magic word, created circa 1590.
It starts with a “Q’ and ends in e.
That is ‘Quietude’ and here are the dictionary definitions…
Quietude is a noun. the state of being quiet; tranquility; calmness; stillness: ‘After the storm passed, there was a lovely quietude.’ The phrase and the word spell out the state of perfect peace. Far better than the words Silent, or still. Just with one word the phrase ‘Silence is Golden’ is replaced. Quietude!
Quietude led by Shasta
She said…
’Normally, this takes about ten to fifteen, to twenty minutes
‘But don’t worry, this will take two or three minutes.
[I have reduced summarized this short experience. Much more was said.]
‘Close your eyes and relax’
“We will spend a few minutes in Quietude”
“Imagine the year is now 2044”
My mind wanders…
‘Now that is a challenge’
‘Will I be on the planet in 2044?
‘My age would be 88 or more’
‘Will I be here?’
‘I could be called home’
‘What’s that?’
“Have a nap if you like”
“Take a deep breath”
“is it nature you are enjoying?”
“A building?”
“Is it the vastness of the space?”
“What does grow”
“Keep walking”
“Keep feelin”
“What can you hear?”
animals – traffic – birds – children
“What is the World like?”
“What colours, scents, and smells?”
“Take a look around you”
“What is the future?”
”Feel the wind”
”What do you experience’
“Look around again, and remember”
“Take a deep breath”
“Open your eyes again”
“Some wake from their [power] nap’”
Some wake from [their Tardis], their [future] time machine.
A new speaker takes the stage, Vicky Nyanga-Ndiaye writer, poet, and founder of Project Esperanza, the migrant support charity) to read a poem‘Unpolished and Black’“. The text below is an extract and not the full poem
I am Unpolished and Black? No place to call home Looking. Back on it now I realise that life was awful
Sleeping on night buses
With no place to call home
The living conditions were more than normal
But being in that situation seemed very normal The bad days were unbearable Almost beating my child to death For not using Yesterday’s cooking oil
Because a gallon is more than I can afford
‘God Help my Children!
’I have been living in a system that has turned me into a criminal
Lots of claps
A question and answer session followed. Thoughts are discussed
What is collective Creativity?
Co-creation
Equal partnership with all involved – humility – Most conversations are the core of the process – People need to engage with the decision-makers
[For the above there needs to be a major step change by everyone, as currently people are consulted after the decision.That is if they are fortunate, or after the money has been spent, but that is amazingly too late. Time is the most important factor]
and no one is looking at the longer term and consulting with the people
There [urgently] needs to be a conversation about system change – co-creation is about how we showcase our,stories
And finally, the talk was concluded with a poem, read by Shasta
It partially sums up the rift we have in our world, and was a last-minute change by her…
This poem was written over 10 months ago, but the death toll numbers have increased. [If one looks at an article in ‘Truth Out! the death toll is now estimated to be 186,000]
People of Gaza Ceasefire You’re tired of hearing about Gaza,
but It is 40,000 people dead
and still
No Ceasefire
The World blinks through hashtags
Lineages removed
Burning a blaze
Ceasefire
Sometimes Gaza climbs inside the word guzzle
Sit in an inhospitable hole
But each hell… repeatedly
Repeatedly, refrain to say…
Ceasefie
A compass will still point home,
Even if home is occupied by uninvited guests
Even if all that is left
Is a rubble of concrete dust
And a heart filled of
A man awaiting a…
Ceasefire
My Father always said
There is a reason that God made night
To rest, to heal, to dream
He taught me to lay my trust in darkness
Believe in the very next day
Fudger, Pray,
Ceasefire
He taught me, pray,ceasefire Words being the only weapon of choice, Ceasefire
A rapturous applause ended the session.
For balance, a poem from the Guardian readers’letter page.
Guy Naamati, a former resident of Kibbutz Re’im in Israel, shares a poem he wrote in response to the Hamas attack, while another reader describes the pain of seeing atrocities brushed off or even justified
Fri 13 Oct 2023 18.16
Spared, October 2023 “That Love is all there is, Is all we know of Love” – Emily Dickinson
It wasn’t us. We weren’t there
When terrorists attacked at dawn
Death and bloodshed everywhere
But we still live. And they are gone
Imagining how it would feel
Taken hostage by a gun
Or shot while dancing in a field
Not to see another sun
Opinion
[Editorial opinion – In the Gaza Ceasefire poem the word pray is used…]
[What is worrying for everyone… Soon, we will not be able to pray aloud or quietly, as that may not be allowed too! The intervention of the thought police is a very frightening prospect. Our freedoms in the name of safety and sensitivity to others are being eroded]
My conclusion
For the future the journey is long.
Some will say what is being done is impossible, but as others have said in the past…
It was impossible to fly
it was impossible to land a man safely on the moon and return
It was impossible to sail past the horizon as we may fall off the edge
It was impossible to have a flat-screen TV
Anyone, advocating any of these impossibilities has been ridiculed. BUT they had a dream, and not only that but other people had the same dream too!
One difficulty is converting a bit of fluffiness into an outcome.Usually described as successes. However, some achievements cannot be easily measured.One might need a verified subjective perception score
The big risk is failure and it can be hard to find success.But there is a fine line between success and failure.Therefore, any project management needs the ability to push a project from failure to success, and the wisdom to identify that there may be the odd occasion that:
-no matter how much one does try, -no matter how much money one throws at it,
-whatever one is trying to do… One may fail
Then close it, and learn from any mistakes, and move on.
In communities, organisations and people that represent the community, already exist. Examples are Community Councils, Trusts, politicians, rent and ratepayers associations, churches, schools and educational establishments, hospitals, GPS, MPs, MSPs, Councils, and key stakeholders. All community projects should take them all on board.Sow the seeds, and let the organisations work out how they can help.
One should never forget the dream. Remember – Nothing Is Impossible.
For any project, there are two fantastic books.The first is PRINCE 2, a project management tool. The second is the Bible – not everyone’s cup of tea. However, one will find a lot of stuff, used by management teams.
The big focus, stuff like this takes time. As in Moses’s dream, he missed the boat and someone else took them out of Egypt, and to quote Luke Chapter 1 verse 37 “For with God nothing is impossible”.
However, fifty years have passed, but in Wester Hailes, there have been some small successes.However, as a creator, along with other creatives, the Regenerative Futures team, with the community teams will succeed. That is a transformation greater than one could ever expect. The dream realised, through creativity, energy, cooperation, and enthusiasm.
I nearly forgot, to say what that disease is?
The answer…
Simply, it is ‘Poverty’. It is becoming highly infectious, and growing with the increasing number of closures and redundancies. Any closure, no matter where will multiply misery.
The promise from politicians was leveling up.Not too sure what the promise is now. But the reality is, we are leveling down.To quote a cliche, the rich are becoming richer, and the poor are becoming poorer. Only the people of communities can break the downward spiral.
The way forward is “Creativity, Imagination, Healing, Hope, and Joy”
Some of the critical downward economic factors for the future:
-net zero,
the rumoured 2030 great reset (See explanation below)
-the 2030 twenty-minute zones,
finally how our politicians manage any economic and climate changes.
We are in a time of excessive change, and any reader of economic history will tell you at these times there are always winners and losers.
And any change poorly managed may be painful for many. The trick is to manage the change.
The largest pain is for the poor.In my view, there is no need to charge extra for fuel in the winter, when the UK is blessed with abundant energy sources.Ironically, we in Scotland create energy, mainly from renewables (solar, ocean, and wind power) Scotland exports it elsewhere. The charge is a classic private enterprise strategy of low prices in the summer, when demand is low, and high prices when the fuel is in huge demand. That adds another £150 to the bill when pensioners lose their winter fuel allowance, which adds insult to injury. A double blow to the majority of pensioners, and an additional unnecessary one to those struggling with poverty, anywhere in the UK. The bit I don’t get is why most other countries have lower fuel prices, the Isle of Man being a prime example.
The Great Reset
It is rumoured, that in 2030, in a bid to achieve net zero quickly, our incomes will reduce or prices of goods and services will increase. That is to allow the net zero project to succeed. Politicians on GB News have discussed this topic. It is part of the great green plan for that year, which includes the implementation of 20-minute zones.
One final thought… A quote from me…
‘The truth is… The citizens of the UK are the salt of the earth, they have hidden riches and talents (not taxable ones), that could help make things fly. It all depends on how things are done. People are the root of progress.They need help to make things happen and not be overly controlled and constrained.’
Note 1. Potential areas that may receive funding could be:-
Niddrie
Muirhouse
Sighthill
Wester Hailes
Gilmerton.
Note 2. Recent additional proposed challenges for those in poverty
The removal of the single household occupancy relief. This is a regressive tax measure. One not recommended by anyone with any economic knowledge. It hits women more than men, some women being single pensioners, others being widowed, and single ladies not of pension age.
It would be better to include people in the household above two occupants who are active in the economy. This would make the Council Tax progressive again. No! it is not a Community Charge, the bill would be for the responsible property owners’ or rent payers’. Of course, as an alternative, local authorities could be given the power to have a local sales or purchase tax (Not VAT). There are many other options.
The increased pension age to 68. This is not good for anyone close to retirement, and a slap in the face for young people looking to retire at 60/65 or earlier to enjoy the balance of their life. By retiring early, another job is available now. It also reduces the costs of unemployment, sickness, and other benefits.
Edinburgh International Book Festival Weekend Goodies!
We’ve got some electrifying book buzz for you! Last week, thejudgesover at the Booker Prizes unveiled their dazzling longlist for this year’s much-awaited Booker Prize.A rollercoaster of literary genius, featuring the most mind-bending, heartstring-tugging, and audacious books of the year.
Out of the sensational 13 authors who made the list, we’re thrilled to unveil the Super Seven—yes, you read that right! The Super Seven will be gracing the events the Book Festival.
They are ready to unravel the tales behind their latest creations.
One name that’s got us all aflutter is none other than the ingenious Sebastian Barry.
Sebastian Barry & Steven Isserlis: Unforgettable Stories Beneath the Stars
Sun 13 Aug 20:30 – 21:30 Baillie Gifford Sculpture Court
Barry, the maestro of storytelling, has bestowed upon us his latest gem, “What is Old God’s Time?” . it’s a trip through ancient history—a journey that will tug at your heartstrings like a master musician’s melody. Nestled by Dublin’s seaside, old Tom Kettle takes us on a memory-filled odyssey, leaving us with a tale that’ll stick with us forever. Join us in the electric ambiance as Barry, joined by the renowned cellist Steven Isserlis, as Barry weaves his literary magic with a dash of musical enchantment.
Tickets might be snatched up already, but fear not! You can still catch the spectacle online, thanks to the Edinburgh International Book Festival online video portal. Please do ensure you’ve got your own EIDF online accountto access this literary soiree!
Mark your calendars for this heartwarming rendezvous, a tale spun through the eyes of a spirited 13-year-old boy on a mission. Elaine Feeney, a wordsmith of heartfelt storytelling, brings us “How To Build A Boat,” a novel bursting with dreams, imagination, and the power of family bonds.
THE award-winning Irish novelist and performer, Elaine Feeney, will take you on a journey into the heart of her latest creation. Prepare for a story that Douglas Stuart himself calls “a gorgeous gift of a novel, hopeful and full of humanity.” Trust us, it’s THE uplifting read of the year, and Feeney is here to spill the beans on why. Join the Festival event for a chat that’s sure to leave your spirit uplifted.
In-Person Only (Sorry, no virtual seats for this one!)
Sat 12 Aug 10:15 – 11:15 Spark Theatre, Edinburgh (In the past).
Ladies and gentlemen, let’s take a cosmic journey with the visionary Martin MacInnes! Based in the enchanting city of Edinburgh, MacInnes presents “In Ascension,” a story that blends the everyday struggles of families with the cosmic riddles that dance through the universe.
MacInnes’s masterpiece takes us on a wild ride through imagination’s outer fringes, daring us to question the lines between humanity and the cosmos. With a pen as mighty as a meteor shower, MacInnes crafts a tale that’ll leave you starstruck. But, alas, this event has soared by, and the stardust has settled. No video clip can capture this cosmic magic, but fret not, for MacInnes’s celestial stories await your discovery!
Prepare to be dazzled, delighted, and transported into literary realms that will make your heart beat and your mind race. The Edinburgh International Book Festival is your gateway to these enchanting worlds!
It is ready, steady and go for a literary extravaganza as the curtains rise on the Edinburgh International Book Festival this weekend!
The stage is set for an electrifying journey from August 12th to 28th, where writers, authors , visionary thinkers, and captivating performers from all over the world will converge at the enchanting Edinburgh College of Art.
In the lead-up to this grand event, the festival organizers have been enticingus with snippets of the upcoming spectacle.
For our part above there is a video clip flashback of some of the previous activities we have covered.
With a staggering lineup of more than 400 events tailored for adults and a whopping 180 events designed for ouryoung ones, it’s been a whirlwind of anticipation.
But hold onto your literary hats, because the excitement doesn’t end there.
This year, is a milestone celebration as the festival marks its 40th anniversary with a bang. Brace yourselves to be transported back in time as they pay tribute to their inaugural program from the year 1983. The jubilation is infectious as they extend a warm invitation to partake in the festivities.
Prepare for a dynamic whirlwind of captivating events, a vivacious Festival Village, and with any luck, a generous dose of that elusive Scottish sunshine.
The feature image above is used by the courtesy of David Shankbone under Creative Commons Licence CC BY-SA 3.0. We have changed the exposure, removed shadows, changed the contrast, and adjusted the colour. Charles Litster editing trademark, white shade at the bottom right of the image. This version is available to use under the same Creative Commons license – CC BY-SA 3.0 and if you use it you must display attribution to David Shankbone and Charles Litster
Remember, the amazement of the TV presenters when the Northern Red wall was broken? 100s of thousands of Labour supporters switched their voting allegiance from Labour to Tory in the 2019 General Election.
Now, there is an amazing book written by A M Home, titled ‘The Unfolding’. A fictional story was written diary style. Highlighting the political conflict in the nation and one’s own family, polarizing to the two extremes. . That is a conflict between the views of those on the right and left. Plus the general unhappiness and divergence from voters’ intentions. The issue of what happens, when the disillusioned voters switch and eventually find out that the governing party does not deliver too! How will those voters react?
My personal view of the two far extremes of the left and the right is that on many issues they agree, mainly for a set of totally different reasons. This fictional alternate life may give us a glimpse of the future of UK politics. But do remember it is a work of pure fiction based geographically in the USA
Some quotes from the critics:
ABOUT THE UNFOLDING
“A dazzling portrait of a family—and a country—in flux… The Unfolding is hilarious and shocking and heartbreaking and just a little bit deranged—in other words, it’s a book that feels like what it feels like to be alive right now.” –Nathan Hill, author of The Nix
“Gripping, sad, funny, by turns aching and antic and, as always, exceedingly well-observed and -written.”–Michael Chabon, bestselling and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Moonglow and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
In her first novel since the Women’s Prize award-winning – May We Be Forgiven, A.M. Homes delivers us back to ourselves in this stunning alternative history that is both terrifyingly prescient, deeply tender, and devastatingly funny.
Story Review by the publishers
The Big Guy loves his family, money, and country. Undone by the results of the 2008 presidential election, he taps a group of like-minded men to reclaim their version of the American Dream. As they build a scheme to disturb and disrupt, the Big Guy also faces turbulence within his family. His wife, Charlotte, grieves a life not lived, while his 18-year-old daughter, Meghan, begins to realize that her favourite subject—history—is not exactly what her father taught her.
In a story that is as much about the dynamics within a family as it is about the desire for those in power to remain in power, Homes presciently unpacks a dangerous rift in American identity, prompting a reconsideration of the definition of truth, freedom, and democracy—and exploring the explosive consequences of what happens when the same words mean such different things to people living together under one roof.
From the writer who is always “razor sharp and furiously good” (Zadie Smith), a darkly comic political parable braided with a Bildungsroman that takes us inside the heart of a divided country.
Below is an advert for the book, which is available from the 6th of September 2022. If you buy it we will receive a small commission
If you live in the UK, please choose the .co.uk cover below:-
If you live in the USA or any other country except the UK, please click the .com image below
Saturday saw the opening of the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Some lucky children were fortunate enough to meet up with a certain grrrrruff friend! That is Gruffalo a character invented for children to enjoy by Julia Donaldson.
Julia conjured up the idea of the Monster’s name to end in O so that it would rhyme with “doesn’t he know”. The “Gr” being a fierce start to the monster’s name, with a middle of “uffal” to make up that super name Gruffalo. A fierce name that displays a pleasing image of a monster, and it also projects an image of a buffalo. A buffalo more that is scary, fierce, friendly, and a fiend.
You can see Julia Donaldson in action here. You will need to register, and the event can be seen after registration.
Image above is a fond memory of the 2017 Edinburgh Book Festival in Charlotte Square,. A different world to the one of 2021. A freer COVID19 free event, packed with live audiences and visitors to the gardens in the Square. All enjoying the sun and the atmosphere of the great literary celebs.
This year they are staging a hybrid Festival. We hear there is a fabulous online programme of over 250 events for adults and children, Their events are streamed live on the festival’s website.
Alongside this your are welcome in-person for a wide range of the events in the programme, which you can book using this link to their website , This year’s Book Festival takes place from Saturday 14 to Monday 30 August at their new Festival home: the University of Edinburgh’s Edinburgh College of Art.
Activist and author of memoir-cum-manifesto The Properties of Perpetual LightJulian Aguon and prize-winning author of poetic essay collection Small Bodies of Water Nina Mingya Powles come together to discuss their books and environmental perspectives in a live event with an author Q&A. BOOK YOUR SPOT
Poet of the people and the first Young People’s Laureate for London Caleb Femi shares his debut collection which has been called ‘a landmark debut for British poetry’. BOOK YOUR SPOTFollowing the event, Caleb Femi will be doing an in-person book signing in the Festival Village.
Tara June Winch, winner of Australia’s most prestigious literary prize, brings her third novel to the Festival. Told in three masterfully woven narratives, The Yield is a celebration of language and an exploration of what makes a place ‘home’. BOOK YOUR SPOT
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.”
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
But today I am looking at a book. One written by Jose Eduardo Agualusa.“The Society of Reluctant Dreamers”.
Jose today (Friday 23rd August 2019) is the Angolan star for The Society of Reluctant Dreamers, spoke about his surreal new novel which asks what understanding dreams could do for our waking lives.
Part of the text is written in the first tense and strange as it may seem that is what I tend to do.
Dan the Chair of the meeting asked Jose to open the talk. He started by reading part of his book in Portuguese. A short extract and the words that I could discern were few. Just the names of the key character and his job. Surprisingly just the words, Daniel and Journalist.
Then, thankfully Daniel Hahn (his interpreter) read the same text in English. I must admit I do prefer Scottish but the E word is close enough.The first bit is about Daniel. As you can see amusingly there are two Dans on stage supporting Jose.
This next bit is a teaser from the cover of the book.
“While swimming in the waters of the Rainbow Hotel Daniel Benchimel finds a Waterproof camera, floating seemingly lost in the sea.
He goes on to discover that the camera belongs to Moira, a Mozambican artist famous for a series of photos depicting her own dreams.
On seeing the images Daniel realises that Moira is also the mysterious woman whom he has been dreaming about repeatedly.
The two meet, and Daniel becomes involved in an unusual dream experiment with a Brazilian neuroscientist, who’s working with Moira to film and photograph people’s dreams’
Thinking aloud here but that could conjure up some bizarre images, film and photography.
I now move on to the second reading which will have my observations with interruptions based on two couples. The interruptions will be bold italics and therefore will not refer to the content of the book
That is in the packed Baillie Gifford theatre, there are two couples. One couple sitting in the back row and the other in the middle row.I am at the back and I can hardly miss the couple in front. They sit in the middle row as I look onto the platform. However, the couple on the back row were affectionate to each other. Their fingers gently caressing each other’s face and neck.
It is good to see such a gentle display of affection of another human being one to another.Now onto the story in Jose’s book.
Part of chapter 16
The text, a letter dated Sunday 17th July 2016
I wake up and say my name out aloud:
‘My name is Apolonio Kalley. I am the son of Pedro Kaley and Mario Joao Epalanga.’
Then I recall the names of my poor children and wife. I try to remember all my cousins’ names. There are twenty-two of them and I can’t always do it. Only then do I get up. I live in terror of one day waking up and not knowing who I am. Imagine, any old guy, he imagined he’s had his eyes ripped out’
The red-headed lady in the middle row looked concerned her eyes stirred protectively to her lover. She gently massaged the back of his neck.
We’re going to give him a name and an occupation, to make things easier. For example: Sebastido Eusebio, farmer, though he’s now blind. Some people have ripped his eyes out, could be a knife, could be a tea spoon, the guy’s still Sebastiao Eusebio, farmer though he’s now blind
The lady had a concerned countenance. Eyes concentrated, you could feel the burning concern. She fingered and massaged the back of his neck. Her fingers gliding over his skin moving to both sides of his face. A measure to intercept any arrows of the past. A measure to relax and put her lover at ease.
The text in the book continues, various parts of the body are mutilated but he still is Sebastio Eusebio, a farmer though he’s minus another or many other parts of his body.
During each bit of the reading, the lover gently intervenes, applying a massage of intervention to the man in the middle row.
I am skipping a lot of the text here and moving on…
‘… Let’s try ripping out not parts of his body, which is easy enough’
The young man on the back row was just lovingly applying his fingers gently to the lady he loved.
‘…. You just need a firm hand, some practice and a certain alienation of the spirit. We’re going to be tearing out his memories.
I could see the sharpness of the ladies eyes in the middle row and her fingers started the massage again.
‘First we’re going to rip out the image of his mother pounding corn with other women, while they sing; Then the happy memory of playing with his siblings and sugar cane in the field…”
‘This man who has never been a boy, is this man still Sebastido?’
The red-headed lady is busy, one could nearly see the tears in her heart, she massages her lover’s neck, his face and gently massages his neck again.
On the back row. The young man is giving the young lady a gentle massage and she smiles with every gentle touch.
In the middle row, the man, his neck vibrates for what appears to be a while. To the rescue, a healing massage, fingers on the neck. They glide across his face as if a healing fairy. A woman, to the rescue. To protect her lover from his pain. The neck vibrations and her healing fingers stop. The storm has passed.
if you wish to read more of the book you can buy the book “The Society of Reluctant Dreamers” by Jose Eduardo Agualusa online you can do so here. We receive no commission nor affiliate income in using this link to Amazon.
Selection of Highlights for Tomorrow:Saturday 24 August
Photo of the Late Toni Morrison courtesy of Angela Radulescu [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]
NEW EVENT: Beloved: A Tribute to Toni Morrison8.30pm
Scots Makar Jackie Kay leads this special memorial event marking the life and work of a true modern literary legend, alongside writers Nafissa Thompson-Spires and Nesrine Malik, editor Margaret Busby, as well as publishers Clara Farmer and Lennie Goodings, each of whom have been moved, inspired and influenced by Morrison’s oeuvre in different ways. Join us in a warm, celebratory event paying tribute to Morrison with readings from her across her astonishing career, audio from her Book Festival appearance in 2004, and more.
John Lanchester 10.15am
How close is our society to dystopia? One of Britain’s most eloquent authors comes to the Book Festival to offer some imaginative clues. John Lanchester slides effortlessly between novels and non-fiction, but his latest bookThe Wall (longlisted for the 2019 Booker Prize) is a science-fiction fable offering a chilling picture of a possible future. It depicts a country where everyone must take their turn as a Defender patrolling the Wall, which protects Britain from the Others, throwing up questions of duty, morality and what kind of a society we want for ourselves.
Pete Etchells12.15pm
According to some people, video games are a threat to both our physical and mental health. Psychology lecturer and video games researcher Pete Etchells does not hold that view. Instead, he believes they can be of great benefit to individuals and, in his own case, had a positive effect in helping him grieve after the death of his father.
Women Talking by Miriam Toews6.00pm
‘Brave’, ‘scorching’, are words used about Miriam Toews’s unforgettable story of oppression and resistance in a Bolivian Mennonite community,Women Talking. We’ve partnered with Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre and playwright Linda McLean to produce a theatrical response to this classic of feminist fiction. After the 45-minute performance, the creative team is joined on stage by Toews herself for a discussion about the ideas in the book.
In partnership with the Toronto International Festival of Authors and supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and the British Council.
Goenawan Mohamed6.30pm
Goenawan Mohamad is a legend in Indonesia. A poet, essayist, playwright and editor, his decades of work amount to an incredible body of fiction and non-fiction. A champion of creative independence and journalistic freedom, he was among the writers and intellectuals who signed the 1963 Cultural Manifesto and is now a dissenting voice on social media. It is an honour to welcome him to the Book Festival to discuss his life and work.
Mathias Énard with Ece Temelkuran7.00pm
Already recognised as one of France’s foremost authors, Mathias Énard came to worldwide attention when his masterpieceCompasswas shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize. Described as ‘one of the finest European novels in recent memory’, it is a sumptuous meditation on the West’s idea of the East. Today, Énard discussesCompassand his time spent living in the Middle East with Turkish journalist Ece Temelkuran.
Lemn Sissay8.45pm
One of Britain’s best loved poets, Lemn Sissay is a performer of rare passion. But growing up with foster families and in care homes, Sissay struggled with his identity. The discovery of his birth name and Ethiopian background is the catalyst for reflection inMy Name is Why. Today, he meditates on home and identity as he presents his insightful memoir, exuding the creative energy that’s made him a literary phenomenon.
Changes to the Printed Programme:
2.00pm China: The Land That Failed to Fail –Steven Erlanger will now participate in this event.
7.30pmRadical Economics: The Fifth Industrial Revolution. Mariana Mazzucato has cancelled. Christine Borley & Diane Coyle will now participate in this event.
8.30pm Zawe Ashton– Zawe Ashton has cancelled
8.30pm NEW EVENT – Beloved: A Tribute to Toni Morrison
Crowds Galore attend the Book Festival despite a bit of rain. It was if the sun was justing shining on Charlotte Square all day.
Here you can see a young lady rushing to see join the queue
Children’s event Caterpillar Man
Red umbrellas in the garden area provide shelter from the sun and rain. Lots of book stores, two cafes and many rooms to hear the entertaining authors.
This year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF} delivers many outstanding events, year on year for book readers and the public alike, And Diane Abbott’’s, book launch by Britain’s first Black female Member of Parliament was not an exception.!
Now, there is an amazing book written by A M Home, titled ‘The Unfolding’. A fictional story was written diary style. Highlighting the political conflict in the nation and one’s own family, polarizing to the two extremes. . That is a conflict between the views of those on the right and left. Plus the general unhappiness and divergence from voters’ intentions. The issue of what happens, when the disillusioned voters switch and eventually find out that the governing party does not deliver too! How will those voters react?
Then, thankfully Daniel Hahn (his interpreter) read the same text in English. 
Saturday photo feature
