Banking Bins

Hello friends! It's another rant I'm afraid!

While doing my daily ablutions and sorting the mail into 'bin' or 'oh, goody, a proper letter from a real person' piles, I came across the seemingly weekly letter from my bank. I don't need to say which pile that went into but before it did, I made sure of pulling out the little plasticky window from the envelope (for recycling purposes).

And so I went about my business. It wasn't until my husband came home a few days later with a horrible rumour about what might have been inside the bank letter that I thought I should maybe check it.

Friends, we have a 'holding' bin. That is where all the waste from the office space waits until the night before the recycling. So I reached in and shook off the cornflakes from a slightly dampened official letter. And read.

My bank has very kindly done the following to make my life easier.

Instead of those pesky monthly calculations of paying me interest on any money in my account or charging me interest on my overdraft, they have decided to ditch all that in favour of a more simple solution.

They will charge £1 a day for each day I am in overdraft up to £1200, £2 a day from £1200-£2500 and so on. And if I slip up and go over my overdraft, I will be charged £5 per day. Ooops, did I say 'charge'? I meant these are the new 'fees'.

So there you have it. I thought I'd better put this out there just in case any of my readers are of the 'holding bin' persuasion.

Happy banking!

I'm away to eat some cakes. x x x

Non-Formal Learning, is it of value?

Last night, I was lucky enough to be invited along to a round table discussion on Community Learning & Development with reps from within the sector and MSPS, John Park and Margaret Curran.

Mary Blair from Midlothian's CLD asked me along as someone who has used the scheme to give my view.

Of course the main reason for the discussion was the worry about budget cuts and how this would impact the non-formal adult learning. By non-formal we are talking about non-qualification or non-skills based education. So I felt I really must share my experience and how important I believe this scheme to be.

When I moved to the wee town I now live in, I felt quite isolated. I had a baby - too small for nursery, and post natal depression. A combination which perhaps niether endeared me to the community nor it to me! However, through my health visitor pushing me, I made it along to a PND group. It was a lifeline to me. For two hours a week I got to chat to women with similar stories while my precious baby was safely looked after in a creche. As a follow on, I was introduced to an alternative therapy course at the community centre. Again, for no fee, and a creche, I could spend time in a group learning about massage and relaxation. At the time, this was a free resource and the benefits to me were far more than learning to identify the difference between lavender and bergamot (though, I must say, that was lovely!). I met and made friends with local people which in turn made me feel more confident and that I had, and deserved, a place within my community.

I then went on to a confidence building class facilitated by Mary Blair and Ali Burrel. Again, the bonding with fellow learners and the childcare provided all helped me to keep believing in myself and find the positivity and confidence that had eroded from me through the mental health and isolation issues.

I cannot praise Community Based Non-Formal Adult Education enough! I am now a published author, hosting and facilitating groups of my own in creative writing. www.ScottishAuthor.co.uk

It is likely, that with budget cuts, programmes like these will be the first to go - they can not be measured in economic success or job creation. However, I believe the long-term positive outcomes are far reaching and benefit the community at the most basic level - the individual. After all, surely that's where community building begins.

Thanks for reading! Please pass on if you think this is important! x x

Lovely Tart

Look at My Lovely tart!

I made it for Nat who will be 25 today!!!

Happy Birthday Nat!

It's cherry and apple.

x x x x

Why do I always fall for it?

Hello again me! (I am trying to get my blog 'out there' - but all I've managed to do so far is to click on something that makes me follow it myself!!!) Oh well, at least I've increased my fan base by 100%! It must be more than that, surely zero increasing to a whole one is more than 100% - I would venture that is a clear infinity percent increase, so take take that Blogger Kingdom!

Anyway, where was I? What pearls of wisdom was I going to impart before I so rudely interrupted myself? Ahhhh, yes... the 'falling for it' thing.

So, first of all, I've been trying to promote my book - yep, you know the one The Device, The Devil... (I'd be a fool to forget the link...) Anyhoo, I've been eagerly sending out recommendations to book groups and excitedly awaiting any responses - surely they'd be interested in hearing from a new author? So I got one! Hooray! I opened up the email and there it was, 'We'd be delighted to list your book as recommended reading for all 750 reading groups!' How wonderful, I thought. It went on... 'Just deposit $50 in our secure account' then listed all the ways I could pay. Never mind.

THEN, I saw an advert on Gumtree showing a picture of the most gorgeous and cute little chihuahua puppy who desperately needed a good home. Again, I was excited. I duly typed my email with shaking fingers explaining what a wonderful adopted mother I'd make to this little puppy and how I would send photos and even arrange visits because I know how hard it must be to give up a precious little puppy dog. And so it went on. I got a reply, 'will you promise to take care of my wee Lulu?' etc, etc. I said yes and couldn't believe my luck! I had been selected as the successful candidate out of 35 others (I'd seen the viewer count)! I waited for one more reply. It came. 'Just deposit £100 into my secure account (and listed ways to pay) then the dog will be shipped to you as soon as the funds clear.'

So the darling puppy in desperate need of a loving family became the 'dog' and I became a fool.

So there you have it.

But my darlings, this blog is free! And you can have my book for free! All you have to do is deposit a one time goodwill fee of £10 into my secure account (£11 if you want it sent in real life) and the book is yours! Of course further copies would need similar 'donations' but I am delighted to offer you this 'no catch' offer!

If you do want something genuinely for free - visit my website, www.ScottishAuthor.co.uk and read my wee ebook, Coco and Tino Go Outside - just for you - with no catch! x x x x