Wednesday, 21 Nov-07. St Columban, Bp, 615AD.

It was pleasing to note that the Bishop of Edinburgh and the Moderator of the General Assembly of The Kirk, the Rt Revd Sheila Kestings both signed a Covenant with the Toiseach, Alex Salmond at Parliament recently in Edinburgh, to categorically state that we in Scotland declare we are a peaceful nation and will not wage war. This is 'one-in-the-eye' so to speak, for "The Broons" - Gordon Brown, Prime Minister in England, who confirms his support for Mr 'Boosh' as we call him, in his war against Iraq and Afghanistan. No wonder this angers even moderate Muslims to attack us, for they see it as an Imperialist war against their very existence. The split with the English majority in favour of continuing the war, is in sharp contrast with the Scots who had the Peace March in Glasgow and Edinburgh when Blair went to war against the wishes of the people of Scotland. No wonder Labour lost out in Scotland for the first time for many decades. Labour can't plead that they were not warned. I had challenged our MP whom I know, and met and challenged our MSP who lives just down our road, but both are young men born after the war and obviously are incensed with Labour rhetoric about the 'just war' and like Blair, have ignored the lessons of history. Yes, the new Chief Constable of Strathclyde has said that there will be more terrorist attacks in Scotland.
What a sad state we are all in, through pig ignorance by some MSPs and MPs.

The marathon task of photocopying packs of papers for St Aidan's congregational AGM is over and the AGM went smoothly last evening, ably chaired by the Diocesan Dean, the Very Revd Dr Gregor Duncan, who has a sense of humour for such occasions, was very able as a Chair and he dealt with awkward questions neatly and politely. I think it pays to do one's homework and paperwork as Secretary to the Vestry, before the meeting so that all Elections had typed nominated names installed first on one sheet so that proposers and seconders could just be entered in each column, saving the past and antiquated method of having lots of bits of paper with nominations written on them.

Our new Vestry includes innovative folk. One is the recently retired Librarian to Glasgow Caledonian University. She and her husband were formerly the Librarians to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. Jane Wilkins, the new Vestry member, has agreed to my request to Index the past Minutes and correspondence on the computer, which will saves hours of paper searching. She has also agreed to update the Inventory of the church and its artefact's. The last one I have on paper was done in 2001. Once it is done the Treasurer to the Vestry will engage Ecclesiastical Insurance to re-value the items. I have also requested the Diocesan Architect, Rebecca Cadie, to undertake a Quinquennial Survey of the now empty Rectory. Rebecca is in private practice too down south in Ayr. The Survey will enable us to highlight what needs to be upgraded before the appointment of a new Rector by say July-08.

Both Val and I are quite tired for Val is also on the Vestry, is Hall Lettings Convener - no mean task in itself, runs the Prayer House Group and is on the Finance Committee at church. Think we shall go out for lunch tomorrow to a nice, family run Indian restaurant in the West End. They are all lovely folk and all come and want a chat with you, including the brother who is the chef. The food is delicately done with fresh vegetables and served with style. We have the Kirking of the Vestry on Sunday during the 10am Family Eucharist; otherwise we would have gone away for the weekend. Perhaps the following Advent weekend.