LEAP Graduation and Muirhouse Hustings

I was guest speaker at the graduation ceremony of the Lothians and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme (LEAP) on Thursday. Three people with addictions managed to turn their lives around to the extent that they were moving on from residing at the project and were now going to the next stage of their lives.

It was a very emotional occasion with about 40 or so family, friends and others gathered in a very warm room hearing the stories of the three graduates and their experiences. All three graduates had difficult times and all spoke very eloquently about the challenges they faced and were now overcoming. They were very honest about their past. Many of the guests had been through the Programme themselves and were so supportive of each of them. 

LEAP has a very high success rate and we know from a lot of evidence collected that people who have managed to throw off addictions usually have better health than those of us who have never had addictions in the first place. I can only wish them all the very best in their continuing fight for rehabilitation.

On from there to do a Hustings meeting in Muirhouse. At 24 hours notice I was drafted in the represent the Party.It's a long story!

The Hustings was sparsely attended with about 12 people there and from what I could see only about 6 not party campaigners. The event was very admirably chaired by Roy Douglas of the Muirhouse and Salvesen Community Council who was fairness and impartiality personified.  

In spite of the lack of numbers we still had to field some quite challenging and pointed questions which ranged from MP's expenses, through trams, to cuts from Westminster. I felt I acquitted myself well enough.

Only a few more days before polling. My poor feet can't wait!