Sometimes I think I'm on the wrong planet. I'm angry, disappointed, despaired and simply cannot understand what goes on in the mind of politicians. In fact, the latter isn't true, because that is very obvious, but being an idealist, I did hope that politicians decide according to good judgement and in the interest of those who voted for them. Last week's developments have proven yet again that it is all about corporate business interest.

So what is this rant about? It's about the decision by the Scottish Executive to spend over 500 million pounds - an unimaginable amount of money - on a few miles of motorway, thus linking the two of the three Glasgow motorways. This link is to run through the south of the city, as close as to just half a mile from the city centre, and through a densely populated area south and south east of Glasgow city centre. A public enquiry, only brought about by tireless campaigning by energetic members of the public (otherwise the decision would have simply been made without any consultation) was presented last week and its recommendations are not to go ahead with the extension of the M74. The Scottish Executive decided to call this independant public enquiry biassed and decided not to pay any heed, approving this major expenditure.

I work in the voluntary sector, with people living in deprived areas. This amount of money could make such a great difference to thousands of people in Glasgow, getting them out of the trap of poverty, poor health, poor diet, inadequate housing, lack of educational opportunities and aspirations. Instead, it is set to be spent on a motorway that will benefit a handful of businesses, increase congestion in Glasgow (as if it wasn't already bad enough) and also mean that any other, more sustainable, transport will lose out because the budget has been spent. I feel so disgusted at this decision, at its disregard of good council and common sense that I am contemplating ways of dodging taxes. I don't want to pay taxes to a government that makes such decision (as if splashing out on a parliament building more than10 times over budget hadn't been enough of wasting money), but I guess the little tax I pay won't even matter to anyone out there.

So, here's the campaign link: www.jam74.org - they need money and human time to appeal against the decision, and they need a lot of money. I believe there is a moral duty to appeal and not to let this go past. The report of the independant enquiry is for download at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/transport/m74r-00.asp.
It concludes that  "on the basis of the consideration of the material put forward by objectors, the TRA, and those who support the project, [...]this proposal should not be authorised, and that the compulsory purchase order should not be confirmed." [11.99]

Support the campaign if you can, write about it, lobby whoever you can think of, above all, don't give up and in (this goes out as much to me as to anyone else).

I daytripped to London last week, one of those impossible fly down at 5 am, come back at 11pm trips which usually get me in a state of subsequent jetlag and pouncing headache. Not when you're greeted at 8pm by a wonderful poem on the underground between Liverpool Station and Baker Street though. I was enthralled by it, and when I finally chased it up I was muffledegooked that it was written by a Scottish women who laments that contemporary poetry has lost the Yeatsian stance and vision. Little wonder then that I liked the poem so much.... here it is and I hope I'm not breeching any copyright by sharing it here:

The Creel

The world began with a woman,
shawl-happed, stooped under a creel,
whose slow step you recognise
from troubled dreams. You feel

obliged to help bear her burden
from hill or kelp-strewn shore,
but she passes by unseeing
thirled to her private chore.

It’s not sea-birds or peat she’s carrying
not fleece, nor the herring bright
but her fear that if ever she put it down
the world would go out like a light.

Kathleen Jamie © 2004

How quickly you can change your mind. First, the idea was to go to Egypt but then the perfect trip didn't quite come off the ground and I didn't want too much of a struggle during a holiday where I also need to relax, and plenty of this, after a very hard year. So chatting about alternative destinations with a few friends, with the variables: warm climate, interesting culture, language I speak, not too late to book - up came Cuba. Three days later, and it's booked and I'm as excited as I was about Egypt.

It's weird though to plan a trip without a plan. Where do you start? Flights. Yes, but then there's already the question, where to? and next comes, Visa, accommodation, how well can you travel independently in Cuba, how about the public transport system, money matters and vaccinations. It helps a great deal to know people who've travelled to Cuba before and they were quick to assure me that independant travel is easy, and even cheap if you use casas particulares for accommodation, privately rented rooms.

For a change I relied on my instinct when booking the flight and didn't even compare prices because the one quoted by a human in a shop (a real change for me) sounded very good indeed and I was happy paying it. So, next step. Visa. Touristcard they want, so they say on the forum, but you can only get it if you have 3 nights of hotel accommodation booked. Which we don't. At least the necessary form was available for download at the Cuban Embassy London's website, handy, and clearly explained too. Thanks to another forum, I was assured that the fact that I'm a German citizen in Britain doesn't really matter and I should get a tourist card too.

More difficult was getting to grips with booking a casa particular for 3 nights. I read that those are fine for the tourist card, but I'm not 100% sure, so it'll be interesting to know if there will be difficulties as we arrive. It was difficult though to actually book. I would have been happy enough to phone a casa particular up, but no phone number on all the sites I checked, and attempts at booking didn't come up with a confirmation even after three days, as I was told later due to internet problems in Cuba until I finally found a site where you book by paying a deposit for a very specific place, and the site already tells you if there is availability on your preferred dates. Very nice, much better and lots of peace of mind. So three nights in Havana are booked and while looking for the best location for a casa particular, I found out that Havana vieja is the really nice bit, Havana central is a bit dodgy, and Miramar is a bit far out. That's about my knowledge of the city, apart from having come across names of some sights which don't yet mean anything to me.

I also found out that you take a taxi from the airport to the accommodation and the price you should negotiate. And that there is a tourist currency equivalent to the US American Dollar, but not quite the Dollar, but the peso convertible. I've also been told that you can easily pay with Euros, but I have pounds, so I still need to figure that out. Also how to get money in Cuba, I really don't want to carry all my cash around with me. US Dollars are not welcome, so I still don't know what to do with my expensively bought US Dollar travellers cheques which have since halfed in value against the pound, but well, one thing at a time.

I also have no idea at all about the rest of Cuba. It looks like a very big country and I heard that Santiago is very different, more African influenced, while the tobacco plantations are in the west. I like the sound of some regional names, and I'm tempted to travel there just for the sound of them. Cienfuego, wow, if that doesn't sound exciting!

The first tips from friends have arrived as well, all seem to be along the same lines, a fabulous country, welcoming and helpful people, patience for all things bureaucratic a must, but also the description of tourist as walking dollar bags. My gut instinct for nice locations to travel to was proven to be reliable as well. Some questions remain though and it's good that there's more to be found out before our very soon departure. I only hope that internet access won't be too much of an issue once there, but I'm prepared for anything and won't take it for granted.