Seil Chat

Deary me, PP, you really just don't get it, do you? - it's a MINORITY government. It's restricted only to doing things that the other parties want to do. Eh? Has the penny dropped yet? In these circumstances, they've done a good job just to survive never mind making a few worthwhile changes for the better.

And, by the way, PP/Shanker, you bullishly demanded that I should "Describe just one concrete way that the lives of Scots has improved since SNP took power?" . I replied "Freezing Council tax". Does your subsequent silence on this matter mean that bursting your bubble is as easy as this?

Spidey, me callow chum, your answer to the question:

"Describe just one concrete way that the lives of Scots has improved since SNP took power?"

was, a somewhat trite:

"Freezing Council tax"

Not wishing to pour too much cold water on this startling policy I will, however point out the following;
1. Such a freeze does not necessarily improve the lives of anyone, it merely saves them a few score quid.
2. For many thousands of Scots the freeze has no positive effect whatsoever simply because they pay no Council Tax anyway due to the fact that they live on benefits. (apperently 24% of householders in Glasgow are in this situation.)
3. The freezing of revenue to Councils can only mean one thing; cuts in services. Ask the good citizens of Aberdeen.

Put simply - ask others if they feel that the freezing of Council Tax has improved their lives.

I think fellow Scots would say their lives had been improved by the thousand extra police on patrol if Alex had kept that perticular promise.

How many Scots will say their lives are about to be improved because of, soon to be enforced, flagship policies such as putting cigarettes under counters in shops or a massive increase in the price of whisky to counter
heavy drinking.?

Anyway. Who am I (a yellow-carded nutter!) to say. Am I just bitter that I was misled by yet another politician who promised so much good but, instead, has spent his time creating arguments with Westminster on the slightest excuse or hobnobbing with golf-nutter billionaires.

Well, you can please some of the people some of the time but......

Apparently, saving most folk some money doesn't cut ice with you but it does for them. Remember that Aberdeen's problems were created in the past and that government funding to councils has increased under the SNP administration despite a reduced settlement from London. Anyway, you will only be able to judge King Alex fairly once he can act without having to pander to the likes of pathetic Wendy & co. You voted SNP, God bless you. I just hope you'll give them one more try!!

Spiderman, the silence means we were completely underwhelmed by your list of even one improvement in life for the Scots. Much like all the rest who were expecting great things from Alex Salmond. All you have is an impotent government, unable to govern effectively. How can that benefit the people? How long are you stuck with this situation? Years of nothingness. It is not good for Scotland. It's a great indicator that an independent Scotland will never have the make-up, or inherent strength to allow it to flourish.

"Describe just one concrete way that the lives of Scots has improved since SNP took power?"

Well stopping Wendy Alexander and Jackie "jiggly" Baillie from being in a Scottish Government. This is actually a trickier question than it first apears........ perhaps it should equally be "Describe just one concrete way that the lives of Scots has improved in the 8 years since Labour took power?" or "Describe just one concrete way that the lives of Scots has improved since labour took power of the majority of local goverment 50 years ago?"

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Anyone fancy helping to organise the Seil Games?

Anachronistic or not it was a good day our for all the family and AFAIAC any traditions are better than none . . .

Or would someone like to organise an alternative?

Bizarrely enough the impulse behind the creation of this forum was the furtherance of a sense of community, but sometimes I wonder if it is having the opposite effect.

Highly entertaining though.

- NickB
(chust back from five days in the Utter Hebrides on a polluting yachty blot on the landscape))

NickSwarm asks:

"Anyone fancy helping to organise the Seil Games?"

Good on ya me old mucka. 'Bout time someone reversed the whinging trend and actually decided to do something positive. I sincerely hope you get loadsa volunteers to help you to organise the Seil Island Highland Games. Put me down to help with the tossing events (people often call me an old tosser but age should be no barrier; don't you agree?)

Lets hope the Anglophobes (has anyone noticed that they all wear beards?) on the island don't get up to their grumpy muttering when they hear you're organising this year's games. I can imagine them now mumbling on about "English incomers" etc, etc. Bunch of saddos I say; ignore 'em.

You must be surprised by this supportive post from Longshanks (just for a change), but I also appreciated your statement:

"any traditions are better than none "

Must pop off for a bit of sheep stealing then.

Love (except to yachties) and Peace to all.

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As the games have traditionally been held on the last Saturday in June I fear it is a little late for this year.

If we are going to start organising for next year then I guess the first place to start is with the venue - we need to find out if the Gullys are prepared to host it. We also, I presume, need to find out exactly why it is not being held for the second year in succession - perhaps there are insurmountable Elfin Safety issues due to new legislation, insurance requirements etc, or is the problem a lack of funding? Will there be support from the Community Council?

Once all these questions are answered then it might be worth rounding up as many people as possible who have been involved with the games in the past, as they may actually know something about it, which I don't.

I don't think I am the best person to lead this endeavour, as all I have ever done is taken names and recorded results in the triple jump and hill race and been in the tug of war team that got third prize two years ago . . . but I will ask some of those that do know and see if there are any insurmountable issues. If there aren't then I woujld suggest that a meeting of all interested and/or willing parties some time in the Autumn would be a good idea, with a view to ensuring that there is a Seil Island Highland Games in 2009.

As for the hordes of bearded anglophobes (if indeed they exist) - perhaps we could organise a special event for them - sassenach-coursing, tossing the yachtie or something similar

- NickB

Another suggestion is to open the games out bring in outside caterers you know something more than just burgers and a bottle stall. Where did all that money go anyway, wasn't it for that now defunct sports club which ran the games it seemed to be the limiting factor in the whole thing not allowing it to develop like kilmore which shows no sign of slowing down.

wasn't it for that now defunct sports club which ran the games

This is just one of the many things which I don't know. In any event, as the body that previously organised it has apparently dropped the baton / lost interest / expired I would think that a new body should be set up to run the Games. Modern marketing ideas, outside caterers etc - well maybe, perhaps the Games could even turn a profit - but first of all it would seem that a body of some sort needs to be assembled to take this forward.

I don't like committees personally, and part of the reason I set up this site was so that I could feel I was making a contribution without having to attend meetings and risk bearded anglophobic hassles . . . but I would be prepared to contribute in any way I could to the setting up of a body to do this.

How many people are actually interested in getting involved then?

- NickB

i am definitely interested in rallying up interest for some sort of event for the community...

maybe not the exact traditional seil games, but some kind of fun day?

i spoke to a couple of dedicated members for years a couple weeks back, and i was actually surprised to discover the reasons behind why the games were not going ahead. i was also shocked to hear they were pretty certain, it would never go ahead agian in the future. as a younger member of the community myself, i was quite saddened by this because having grown up here, i always looked forward to the yearly seil games, and the after dance.

so the main problems that were highlighted were, as NIckB outlined, H&S legislation, Insurance, and the extreme high costs of requrements such as portaloos (something in the region of £800 for the day if i remember correctly). they also had to pay for certificates for silly things like the burger stall! drinks licenses...the list is endless!!!

after the conversation i began to realise just how expensive an event like this would cost to organise and run! the added aspect of lack of support from the community was also a major contributing factor to the sad decision to the non-existence of last years games, and again this year.


so what can be done??

we have a new hall on the island with a football pitch beside it?

would it be possible to host an event not dissimilar to the games but with a few differences? im sure there would be adequate space for track and field events on the pitch, yes, perhaps a bit squashed up but time and numbers could be organised to prevent any problems.

the use of the hall would provide toilets that would be required, and a kitchen, for H&S already present in the hall???

the hall could be used as a base point aswell, for registration etc.

there is a car park, and the public car park in the village could be use as an overspill.

there are many other aspects of this that i have considered, and i would really like to know what you all think about it??

there is a great need for an event on the island and feel that this should not go on year by year with nothing being done as usual!

lets get some decent discussion going on this matter? please?

we have a new hall.

Great suggestion, Chavy - despite my previous negative comment, I think that your idea to link a modified modernised event to the new hall is really excellent. It would bypass many of the practical problems and provide a major focal event for the new hall diary, maximising its use by and value to the community. Well done! There's also a new hall committee which, if asked nicely, might well help with core expert person power. Take a bow, son!!

The Easdale Island stone skimming event seems to run annually using the similar facilities to those you mention. The organisers don't seem to have a problem with H&S, insurance, loos etc. Looks like an excellent suggestion to me, including the post fun day dance.

Usually at events like this a Pig Roast can add a few bob to the kitty
as the butcher or roaster covers the h&s and probably the canopy
whole event could be chavtastic

Teddy

Its now three weeks since NickMcB posted:

"Anyone fancy helping to organise the Seil Games?"

and

"I would be prepared to contribute in any way I could to the setting up of a body to do this. "

and its now three weeks till the next Community Council meeting.

NickMcB will not be able to read this post (ignore button syndrome) so could someone pass on the message to him that, in view of his lead in this matter, it would be great if he spoke at the meeting regarding his willingness to lead a team to revive the games. He could also mention to the committee that he has a dedicated team behind him who have all expressed their willingness to help (Minimum, Spiderman, Chavtastic, and Longshanks)....I'm sure none of us would mind being mentioned by name if that helps NickMcB.

I look forward to attending the meeting (good therapy)

Tong Shanks (South Sea Islander by choice)

Listening to Nick read out a list of the "team" should be the most entertaining part of the evening. I may make the effort to attend, it is a free evening out after all. Problem is I'm not sure all those you mention actually agreed to help organise any games.

:D :D :D :D :D
well theres always dead duck shooting

TEDDY

Drove past the Kilmore games, it looked pretty busy - did anybody go???

Didn't go myself but know somebody there raising money for charity. They said it was on the quiet side.