Wednesday, September 3rd EVERY local newspaper worth its salt recognises the importance of turning the spotlight on the schools in its circulation area and I for one take every opportunity to get that message through to the teachers, pupils and staff at our nurseries, primaries and secondary schools. That’s why I was delighted to pay a visit to Linwood High School for a chat and a cuppa with David Williams, an intern with the school’s employability development department, who was just as keen to build links with the Gazette. David has been charged with the task of building contacts with local businesses. There are so many activities and achievements going on in our schools every day and I assured David we would welcome a regular flow of pictures and stories for inclusion in a regular school news page. That invitation of course extends to all schools in the Gazette and Barrhead News areas. As well as celebrating success, there is a chance for pupils to contribute to the paper which is an immediate plus point on any CV when the time comes to approach prospective employers or secure a place at college or university. If you’re interested in finding out more don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Thursday, September 4th I’VE been enjoying regular surgeries in Barrhead on a Thursday and last week’s was no different. I had a fascinating chat with a local chap who seemed quite pleased to get a few things off his chest, some of which have been gnawing away at him for the best part of three decades. It was all in good humour though and it was great to hear his honest feedback on the contents of the newspaper. We live in a communications age and newspapers, especially local titles, should be at the heart of the conversation. The internet, of course, has changed the way we share our views and opinions. For better or worse, it’s here to stay but no matter how far technology takes us let’s hope it doesn’t bring about the demise of the good old-fashioned chinwag. I look forward to speaking to more of our readers in the weeks and months ahead.

Friday, September 5th A valued reporter in our office who has been working on one of our sister papers for a few years now has moved on to pastures new after securing a post at a well known daily title based in the north east of Scotland. Although we were sad to see him go, he left with our best wishes ringing in his ears. Local newspapers are not serving their purpose if they do not provide a platform for aspiring journalists to gain experience, build confidence and develop their journalistic skills. It can be several years before you fully appreciate the value of your formative years in journalism but I’m sure as time goes by when our now former colleague transforms into a high-flying hack he will look back on his time as a junior reporter with a great deal of fondness. In the meantime the search is on to find a replacement who, as well as having a nose for a good story, must also be a dab hand at making the perfect cup of tea.

Saturday, September 6th THE tragic case of Declan Hainey was covered extensively in the media following the conclusion of a fatal accident inquiry into the toddler’s death. More than three years have passed since the little boy’s body was discovered at his mother Kimberley’s home. Sheriff Ruth Anderson’s comments on the FAI which was heard at Paisley Sheriff Court do not make for comfortable reading for the various agencies who were responsible for helping and monitoring the circumstances of both mother and child prior to his passing. We’re assured that steps are now being taken to learn from a tragedy that remains as harrowing today as it was when the story first emerged.

Sunday, September 7th SUNDAY came to a close with that familiar sense of glorious failure that seems to be part and parcel of being a fan of Scotland’s football team. The manager Gordon Strachan once scored a goal against West Germany in the 1986 World Cup when I was a football daft teenager. I can remember being so elated that I ran all round the house roaring with delight only to return to the couch to watch the depressingly proficient opposition put the plucky Scots to the sword. It was a similar scenario on Sunday night when Ikechi Anya finished off a slick counter attacking move to level the score line before the Germans regained the lead a mere four minutes later. The big difference was this time rather than running all over the house, I just sort of sat there.

Monday, September 8th JUST when you were feeling like the world of politics couldn’t get any more draining, the touchy subject of MPs’ salaries rears its ugly head once again. I just about careered off the motorway when I heard the news that the independent body charged with the task of assessing how much MPs should be getting in their pay packets was recommending a whopping nine per cent increase. Marcial Boo, chief executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), said MPs did an important job and should not be paid a “miserly amount”. What made matters all the more laughable was that our wealthy leaders Cameron, Miliband and Clegg all felt the need to express their disgust at the proposed pay hike. While many are having to live with pay freezes and the public sector is being slashed left, right and centre someone thinks now is the time to give our elected representatives a top up. One commentator even tried to justify it by saying our MPs did a jolly marvellous job while at the same time saying they needed to make the job more attractive to the right calibre of people!

Tuesday, September 9th IT’S now just over a week until we finally go to the polls to decide Scotland’s future and as the big day looms it seems nobody has any idea which way the result will go. A friend of mine has been keeping a close eye on the bookies because he’s convinced they always know something the rest of us don’t. With that in mind he’s decided to play them at their own game so that no matter what happens he’s quids in. “Keep it to yourself,” he told me, “but the trick is to place £5 each way on both runners.” Aye, nae bother.