Foiled Again?

 

Tonight marks the 10th and final week of my fencing beginner's course, and that's a landmark in a couple of senses. Starting the course at all was a bit of an achievement. Fencing comes into the category of one of those things I've wanted to do for years, but never got around to. I'm starting to realise, gradually, that if I don't make an effort then there are lots of things I want get around to - ever. So it's nice that I did, and I hope that's the start of a good habit.

Secondly, when I signed up I decided to make a big effort to go along every week, no matter what other demands I had on my time. In the past I've been very good at prioritising other things, especially work, over leisure time. Something kind of clicked before I started this, though, and that was just how much importance do I put on keeping promises to myself. I get very upset if I have to cancel something I've arranged with friends, or at work. I hate being late, even by a few minutes. the phrase that springs to mind most easily is "letting someone down". I feel guilty, and will go to incredible lengths to stop it happening. I hate other people being late, but, hey, that's the younger generation for you. On the other hand, I've a tendency to push my own "stuff" to the back of the pile - if someone's having a night out, or a party, or if something needs done at work, I don't think too long before cancelling my own arrangements. This time I decided that I wasn't going to let myself down, and I haven't (well, touch wood - I haven't made it to tonight's session yet).

The other good thing is that I've enjoyed the course immensely, and, if I don't get sliced to ribbons tonight, I may well be in the market for some fencing gear.

Being Scottish

... is something I don't generally think about. I just am, right? Some things kick up my awareness, though, and they're not always what you'd expect. There was some very strange coverage of Andy Murray's progression at Wimbledon this week. Progression is the right word - he's a young player trying to establish himself in the top 10, and he making it to his first grand slam quarter final this week was a big step. That's a good sign, and worth some congratulation. He was then roundly beaten by one of the top two in the world, which you'd expect - I'm hoping for a Nadal - Federer final, and really can't call it, which I wouldn't have been saying last year.
The media, and the crowds, didn't really seem to know how to react to Murray. His Scottish-ness seemed very important, in a way that Henman's Englishness wasn't, or even Rudeski's Canadian roots. Very strange.
So that was one thing that made me feel Scottish. The other was listening to Radio Scotland on my way out to work this morning. You may not have noticed, but the leader of the Lib-Dems in Scotland has resigned (leaving two out of the main four parties leaderless at the moment). The BBC's politics correspondent was asked what plank one of the contenders to replace him was running on (can you run on a plank? Sounds dodgy).

"He appeals to those who feel the party has become a bit Utilitarian in its response to Libertarian issues," was the answer. I can't remember when or if I've heard JS Mill invoked on a main bulletien before, and it's a good example that dumbing down hasn't won up here.

Labour have set a date for the Glasgow East by-election, the end of this month. Strange timing, really, since that's in Glasgow's main holdiay fortnight, but if they don't have it then, it will have to wait until Parliament reconvenes. Looks like I'll be digging out my bus pass and doing some canvassing in Carantyne. I can't think of a worse time in the last 20 years to be a Labour candidate in Glasgow. Ah well, that just leaves me with fewer excuses for not helping out...