Have a wee vote, folks! Be assured it's not me, Liz Lochhead and Jackie Kay in competition with each other - god forbid! It's you choosing a line by each of us to be carved on the Parliament Wall. www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/2025/02/publ...
Please get in touch with me through the committee's email address - justice.committee@parliament.scot
Huge part of my new job as a senior clerk is to speak to the right stakeholders and collect the right evidence to scrutinise the Scottish Government.
A photograph of Lucy's parliamentary pass with confidential details covered by emojis.
View from new office. The picture shows a long window which looks out over Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat.
Wee update that I've moved on from @hrcscotland.bsky.social to the Criminal Justice Committee.
Still working on very important human rights issues, with specific interest in violence against women and girls, policing, mental health, prisons and their reform, and misuse of drugs/drug policy.
As I wrap up my time at HRCS, it’s a bittersweet moment, made even more meaningful as it's my 27th birthday. Reflecting on these years, I’m so grateful for the lessons in resilience, collective action, and the power of human rights.
Here's 27 truths I’ve learned.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/27-thi...
Really proud of this report - read below to see what HRCS, with the endorsement of 70+ orgs in Scotland is bringing forward to the UN's Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
A huge thanks to all who participated, it is more appreciated than you'll ever know!
Photo of the ocean in Antigua.
Photo of hikers along the Guana Trail in St Maarten.
Photo of a Carib lager in a bottle with a view from the top of the British Virgin Islands.
Photo of four people on a beach in Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands.
A week in the Caribbean to start the year 🏝️
After a whole month off, I'm ready to go in to that office and gloat about missing the grimmest week of Scottish weather.
📢 Join us next Tuesday for our Equality and Human Rights Mainstreaming Strategy Consultation Workshop!
The Scot Govt. are consulting on their equality and human rights mainstreaming strategy. Join us to explore the key issues in relation to the consultation document and co-create our response.
A few days left to sign on to our report to the UN's ESCR committee 👇🏼 ⏰
I really loved Before The Coffee Gets Cold - and it's conveniently at the top of your pile too 😉
Little box with truffle, mince pie and Malteser cake inside.
Snap! My wee boxes for folk 🍰
Happy Christmas Eve, everyone ❤️ and thank you to anyone who has donated to Sepsis Trust below.
Often asked what I would do if not policy, and the answer is floristry. So, here's a Christmas Eve tradition of wreaths for those no longer here.
For Ree. ❤️
www.justgiving.com/page/reesalz...
Our last pod ep of 2024! 😢*
On our final episode of the Unofficial Report, myself and Sarah have a very candid chat about the past year in #ScotPol - the good, the bad, and the outright daft.
Grab a mulled wine and tune in below 👇
Are you able to give a little bit extra this month? 🎁
Social Bite running a brilliant initiative below if you have £5 (which is cheaper than a Central Belt drink you'd be having at your Christmas do!) 👇🏼
www.itison.com/Glasgow/deal...
"Sign on to our collaborative report on economic, social, and cultural rights for the UN Committee"
🚨 Sign our Collaborative Draft Report on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights🚨
We’re excited to share our draft report on the UK’s implementation of economic, social, and cultural rights, which will be submitted to the UN Committee on CESCR in early 2025. 📝
Human rights are not just abstract ideals; they are standards for our governments, intended to ensure that every person can live a life of dignity and respect. But - as our Lydia Murphy shows in her blog - they're out of reach for too many people.
It’s important that more third sector and campaigning organisations are calling this out. Access does not always equal influence: www.heraldscotland.com/politics/wes...
Photograph of dessert: Ganache au chocolat servie avec une crème Chantilly épaisse et des copeaux de chocolat noir. Boisson: Pas de boisson associée Dessert: Decadent chocolate ganache with rich clotted Chantilly cream and dark chocolate shavings. Drink: No pairing
Photograph of fourth course: a cheeseboard. Mini plateau de fromages avec brie, camembert, baguette artisanale et raisins frais. Boisson: Bordeaux Supérieur, Appellation d'Origine Protégée (2022) Cheese Board: A delightful mini cheese board featuring brie. camembert, artisan baguette, and fresh grapes. Drink: Bordeaux Supérieur. Appellation d'Origine Protégée (2022)
Dessert and cheese board for good measure! 🧀
Photograph of the menu for Lucy's Come Dine With Me: "Un diner presque parfait Edition de Lucy (France) MENU FRANÇAIS AVEC ACCORD METS ET VINS À L'ARRIVÉE Un cocktail French 75 au cognac pour accueillir vos invités. A classic French 75 cocktail. ENTRÉE Gougère ouverte au gruyère, ciboulette et oignon rouge caramélisé, sur un lit de jus de tomate fait maison. Boisson: Champagne Taittinger "Prélude" Brut Starter: An open gougère with nutty gruyère cheese, fresh chives, and caramelised red onion, served on a bed of homemade tomato jus. Drink: Taittinger "Prélude" Champagne PLAT PRINCIPAL Entrecôte sur un lit de gratin dauphinois accompagné de haricots verts croquants. Boisson: Chevalier de Fauvert, Merlot Pays d'Oc (2022) Main Course: Tender ribeye steak atop creamy dauphinoise potatoes and crisp green beans. Drink: Chevalier de Fauvert Merlot. Pays d'Oc (2022) DESSERT Ganache au chocolat servie avec une crème Chantilly épaisse et des copeaux de chocolat noir. Boisson: Pas de boisson associée Dessert: Decadent chocolate ganache with rich clotted Chantilly cream and dark chocolate shavings. Drink: No pairing PLATEAU DE FROMAGES Mini plateau de fromages avec brie, camembert, baguette artisanale et raisins frais. Boisson: Bordeaux Supérieur, Appellation d'Origine Protégée (2022) Cheese Board: A delightful mini cheese board featuring brie. camembert, artisan baguette, and fresh grapes. Drink: Bordeaux Supérieur. Appellation d'Origine Protégée (2022) 08/12/2024"
Photograph of the starter: Gougère ouverte au gruyère, ciboulette et oignon rouge caramélisé, sur un lit de jus de tomate fait maison. Boisson: Champagne Taittinger "Prélude" Brut Starter: An open gougère with nutty gruyère cheese, fresh chives, and caramelised red onion, served on a bed of homemade tomato jus. Drink: Taittinger "Prélude" Champagne
Photograph of the main course: Entrecôte sur un lit de gratin dauphinois accompagné de haricots verts croquants. Boisson: Chevalier de Fauvert, Merlot Pays d'Oc (2022) Main Course: Tender ribeye steak atop creamy dauphinoise potatoes and crisp green beans. Drink: Chevalier de Fauvert Merlot. Pays d'Oc (2022)
Photograph of the cocktail: a French 75.
Was set the task of France for a Come Dine With Me this week, and in true fashion to myself, tried very very hard x
Screenshot of report cover: "SHRC: Scottish Human Rights Commission. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands. November 2024."
The Scottish Human Rights Commission's new report on the Highlands and Islands is hard to read - and impossible to ignore.
Too many are facing hunger, homelessness, and barriers to healthcare. Remote communities, but rights that should never be out of reach.
🧵
Five members of the Together team celebrating with their arms around each other with a QR code a text saying "By donating to Together, you can help us to promote children's rights in Scotland and improve the lives of all babies, children and young people".
Today is #GivingTuesday – one of my first posts on Bluesky, and I’m asking for money for @together-sacr.bsky.social
Your support helps create a Scotland where every baby, child & young person grows up with happiness, love & understanding
👉 Donate: bit.ly/Together_SACR
Thank you! 💙 #UNCRCScotland
Not Christy Moore
Spotify wrapped screenshot: "you listened for 54,693 minutes this year. That puts you in the top 4% of listeners worldwide."
Hugely inconvenient for the Scottish Government to announce their budget as Spotify Wrapped drops and exposes the sheer amount I tune the world out for.
Photo of Seamus the dog with a fire decorated with warm lights and Christmas decorations.
Photo of Christmas decorations going up, with boxes of things on the floor, lights round the fire place and an unfinished Christmas tree.
Photo of Seamus and Alex on the couch together.
Photo of a fish supper in front of the tree from Stranraer's finest chippy.
✨ getting into the festive spirit a bit earlier this year (can't hurt)
Seamus the dog sticking his unusually long tongue out in excitement whilst being held by Lucy's mum.
I think I must have travelled a good 5000 miles in total this month, so I'm rounding it off by reuniting with my pup Seamus (who has nothing but love, sparkle and adoration in his eyes). ❤️
Georgie and I are blown away by the amount of money raised in a short time, with a fair few anonymous donations, so a huge thanks if you were one of them!
Thanks Katie ❤️ she was the best of us.
In May 2025, Ree’s daughter Georgina, along with loved ones (including myself), will climb Ben Nevis in her honour to raise money for The UK Sepsis Trust.
If you'd like to donate, we'd hugely appreciate it. www.justgiving.com/page/reesalz...
Sepsis is fast, silent, and deadly - but treatable if recognised early. Timely diagnosis can save lives.
The UK Sepsis Trust works to ensure that more people, from doctors to families, know how to spot the signs and ask the critical question: Could it be sepsis?
She ran the award-winning Fig & Olive Café in Stranraer, and anyone who met her could tell you about her infectious laugh, her warm hugs, and her unwavering kindness.
Ree’s death highlights serious systemic issues in healthcare for rural communities.
She died and left behind devastation for her family and community. Her death was preventable, but stretched rural NHS services played a critical role in the outcome (in my opinion).
Ree lived in Galloway for nearly 20 years, building a life full of laughter, love, and generosity.
