Last night, I attended my first political meeting of the year. Unfortunately it won’t be my last.

Yet another campaign in the incredibly murky, and often extremely boring, world of politics beckons. The Scottish Parliament Election takes place on May 5. 

For the majority of the Scottish population thoughts about another election will, quite understandably, be buried until nearer the time. However the next four months will be dominated by TV shows featuring the various party movers and shakers, newspaper coverage and tittle-tattle, and then eventually election leaflets popping through doors like menus from the local food takeaway shops. You may even be treated to politicians on your doorstep, and certainly the various shopping centres and high streets will be awash with hopefuls all vying for your vote. I wish I could ignore the circus until the last few days but this election in particular I can’t.  

I used to enjoy the campaign trail. Over the years that enthusiasm has waned. But I am hoping to recapture that old buzz! Anyway, being married to Tommy Sheridan means I really can’t escape politics even if I wanted to.

Tommy is standing for election for the Glasgow regional List seat which takes in the whole of Glasgow.

For more than two decades I have supported him in every election he has stood in from Council elections, Westminster elections, European elections and Scottish Parliament elections. For those involved in an election campaign it is often a long, energy sapping, time consuming and hard slog.

All the political parties involved in the upcoming election will be fine tuning their plans for the next four months aimed at securing the maximum number of votes on the big day itself.

So…given that I know how engrossed my husband will be in this campaign, and how much his politics means to him, I reluctantly decided to join him. More than that I’ve decided to run his campaign and become his campaign manager!

Along with many others, he’s probably acutely aware of this appointment being the kiss of death to his chances of being elected but on the bright side he won’t have to listen to me bemoaning his absence from the house throughout the coming months because I’ll be with him. In fact it will be me who will arrange his timetable. A thought that no doubt fills him with dread as probably no other campaign manager will pencil in ‘putting the bin out and hoovering’ as part of their busy schedule but guess what - I will!

So with hope in my heart and big black diary by my side I will be organising Tommy’s busy schedule of meetings all across the city he was proud to serve before for eight years and wants to serve again. I will play the role of his campaign manager not just because I am his wife but because I believe in him and I know just how good a job he can do.

Glasgow Times:

The death of a musical genius

I text my old school pal Davie Gibson yesterday morning when I heard about the death of David Bowie. My buddy of some 38 years was the first person I ever knew who was ‘right into Bowie’. Davie was a huge fan almost four decades ago. I knew he would be devastated by Bowie’s death.

I was never a fan of David Bowie when I was young and even in later years I can honestly say that I only appreciated a few of his songs. However like many people yesterday morning I was dismayed at the news he had lost his battle with liver cancer at the relatively young age of 69.

Watching the extensive coverage on TV and listening to all the tributes it was clear that he was a great innovator in the history of popular music. His knack of re-inventing himself was so clever and daring.

His adoring fans have poured out tributes on social media over the last 24 hours and many have been very touching. He was undoubtedly a unique and very talented individual.