Larry's Lunchette

Unpacking my shopping, I discover that the bags of ground coffee (two for £6) are whole coffee beans – so, the following week, I take them back. A smiling lady at the info desk tells me to just swap them – and tell the checkout not to charge – “that you’ve spoken to Angela.” Later, at the till, I do as instructed; the cashier smiles as though I’m kidding, says “I’m Angela who you spoke to.” I pretend I’m having a ‘senior’ moment – and we both laugh.

But this wasn’t actually senility, just another incidence of ‘face blindness’ which I’ve lived with all my life: doctors call it prosopagnosia – estimate that it affects 2% of people worldwide. The part of my brain that coordinates facial perception and memory is in some way impaired – mildly in my case – although Angela’s face was a total blank. This abnormality has brought me certain skills – like conversing with people who think I know who I’m talking to.

At a lunchtime ‘fundraiser’ last year, I listen for an hour to a concerned mother, whose 17-year-old, Rory, is exploring independence; as a former youth worker, I find this more interesting than small talk. Later that afternoon, I see the woman again, suggest something she could say to Rory – but the conversation gets confused. She says, “Can we start again? You’re Laurence, and I’m Marion; the woman next to you at lunch was my sister Helen – over there; the less I have to think about my nephew Rory, the better.” Prosopagnosia.

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I’m satisfied, that if/when a majority of Scots want to leave the UK – that’s what will happen; but in spite of the dreadful Brexit mess, there has been no major shift of opinion – which is puzzling. I thought Nicola Sturgeon’s long-awaited statement to Parliament on Wednesday was both dignified and substantive: the BBC’s excellent Brian Taylor summarises. One senses the emergence of the notion of a ‘softer’ separation – something like a ‘federal UK’? The proposed Citizen’s Assembly is long overdue – I presume in multiple locations? There’s also a new offer of cross-party talks. This is a tweet from John Swinney: “Brexit has shown the need to change – now we must shape that change”. One senses a new reaching out.

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“One of the distinguishing marks of a free society, is the vigour and abundance of voluntary action, undertaken by citizens, not under the direction of any authority wielding the power of the state”. (William Beveridge 1948). The independence of our third sector from domestic politics is fundamental – which is why I support the present calls for OSCR to be made accountable to Parliament, rather than the Scottish Govt. In response to the recent consultation, Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of SCVO, has intimated that Govt proposals are too timid – specifically that the charity regulator should be separated from Govt.

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Starting on 15^th April, Extinction Rebellion is the biggest civil disobedience event in recent British history – a campaign of mass, non-violent direct action – which has already seen the arrest of over 1000 climate change activists. Like William Beveridge (above), I count the vigour and abundance of voluntary action (including civil disobedience) as the mark of a healthy society – to be welcomed. What’s difficult to anticipate is where this movement goes now. If there’s any single event that would build the momentum of Extinction Rebellion – it would be Donald Trump arriving in London on a state visit – now announced!

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Alex Massie, in the Spectator, writes that ‘we will never see the likes of Billy McNeill again’ – because what Celtic actually achieved in 1967 is no longer possible. The globalised commodification of sport has made the highest level of European football available only to the gilded few. In the removal of any ‘randomness’, something precious is lost.

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Scottish football culture is mainly working-class; like Bill Shankly before him, Billy McNeill never forgot the politics of his background; this from his 2004 autobiography, “Hail Cesar”.

 

“Naturally, being brought up in a mining community, I inherited the politics of my parents and the community at large. Consequently, I have always been a socialist and continue to vote Labour. I may live in a beautiful home in an upmarket part of Glasgow, but I have never forgotten my working-class roots or lost sight of the fact that I was one of the lucky ones in life. I am deeply opposed to any form of exploitation, although I do believe in discipline, order, consideration of others and respect for people’s property.”

 

The first SE Action Plan Reference Sub-Group (2019/20) will take place in Glasgow on Thursday 6^th June – this will follow Scottish Govt’s own Reference Group meeting, also in Glasgow, on 14^th May –  see Highlight Report. The SE Action Plan Sub Group is hosted by Senscot, Social Firms Scotland and the Scottish Community Alliance and is an opportunity for frontline social enterprises and membership-led organisations to consider the progress and effectiveness of the Action Plan. Last year, three meetings were held – producing both a series of recommendations – as well as a SWOT Analysis on the Action Plan to date. Another three will be held this year – and will be particularly important in both evaluating the existing Action Plan, as well as looking to shape the next Action Plan – due to start in April 2020. More details soon.

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