Alison McRae

On leaving COP28 in Dubai I saw some words on a wall which really struck home: ‘Action Builds Hope’.

When Glasgow was named the UK’s best city second only to London in the annual World’s Best Cities Report by Resonance Consultancy last month, I imagine it raised a few eyebrows.

Just last week, we saw Glasgow City Council approve plans for the reimagined ‘Golden Z’ masterplan.

The "Mur de Montrose" was already a hot topic before the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships commenced earlier this month.

Glasgow has had a reputation for being opportunistic and creative – some would even say gallus at times - for many decades. How fitting then that the city, through Glasgow Life, has attracted exhibitions from two of the world’s major disruptors as part of its tourism and cultural offer this summer. Both promise to give an incredible boost to Glasgow in terms of profile and footfall, bringing a much-needed injection to our city’s visitor economy.

Over the last few years I have found great joy in the process of making a really good coffee with freshly ground beans from one of my local coffee houses. I am clearly not alone. As a nation previously known for its tea drinking, the UK has become one of the largest consumers of coffee in Europe over recent years with Britain drinking approximately 98 million cups of coffee per day in 2021 according to the British Coffee Association.

Last week I was delighted to host an event for our Step Up to Net Zero (SU2NZ) participants at the SWG3 Studio Warehouse in Finnieston.

Yet another Earth Day has hurtled by, reminding us that we need a shift to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet.

I VIVIDLY remember watching Davina McCall’s first documentary Sex, Myths and the Menopause on Channel 4. Others had already previously been vocal on this issue including Kirsty Wark, who shared her experiences through the BBC’s Menopause and Me. It is such a complex subject and affects everyone so differently. However, it was when I saw the second episode of Sex, Mind and the Menopause focusing on issues including the workplace that I was stopped in my tracks.

NICOLA Sturgeon’s announcement that she intends to step down was certainly a notable moment last week and it has brought with it a number of unanswered questions about the future direction of the Government.