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Nigel Scott: A big, big day
WHAT a day today is likely to be.
I say "likely" because you'll no doubt be reading this on Thursday when events have been defined and I am writing it on Tuesday night when the fickle finger of fate has yet to point in any precise direction.
Some things, however, are certain of today (Thursday).
My firstborn will become an adult.
Eighteen years ago Mrs S delivered Emily Elizabeth Scott into an uncertain world (the Soviet Union was collapsing and the Communist hardliners were attempting an August coup against that nice Mr Gorbachev) and life for both – indeed all three – of us would never be the same again.
Now, in 2009, the conjunction of planets has decreed that not only will Emily celebrate her 18th birthday on Thursday, August 20, she will also find out her A-level results.
Important
The latter is perhaps more important than the former – although it was good of the Mayor of Wakefield to send a congratulatory letter to Emily wishing her all the best for her birthday and reminding her of the importance of having a vote.
I say it was from the Mayor. It was, in fact, a pre-printed card with the name of the current First Citizen of Wakefield stuck on over, presumably, last year's model.
But I'm being churlish. Sending such a card is a well meaning idea and I know the sentiment behind it will not be lost on my daughter, who has been brought up to understand that the right to vote is indeed important and something that her predecessors fought – and died – for.
As for the A-level results, all rests on an A grade in history.
Success – providing the other expected grades fall into place - will bring a place at Leeds University to read the aforementioned subject. Anything less is likely to bring an unwanted change of plan and three years in Liverpool .
Needless to say everyone connected to Normanton Towers is crossing their fingers like, no doubt, so many other parents and grandparents at this time.
With the economy in its current mire, a three-year escape into the world of higher education, to return when the going will be hopefully much better, seems like a decent game plan to me.
Worry
The one thing that does worry me, though, is the amount of debt our youngsters are expected to take on for the "privilege" of broadening their minds.
A survey of more than 2,000 students revealed this week that students starting university courses this autumn can expect to graduate owing 23,000 – with some degrees, according to the National Union of Students carrying higher "hidden costs" such as for books and equipment.
Is it really fair to ask our youngsters to shoulder this burden at the very start of their working life? I don't think so.
Like many parents, Mrs S and I will try to do our bit but there's only so much in the pot.
So happy birthday, Emily, good luck with the results – and try not to think about the finances…
Warning: This man is dangerous
I sincerely hope the bosses at Leeds Bradford Airport are on the ball in their dealings with Ryanair.
As a casual observer it seems to me that dealing with its mercurial chief executive Michael O'Leary carries an element of holding a tiger by the tail. You never quite know when it might turn round and bite you.
Manchester Airport has recently become the latest to find out the hard way what can happen if the Irish airline gets too firm a foothold in a particular location and starts to throw its weight around.
In a pattern seen previously elsewhere, Ryanair is basically pulling out of Manchester after a row over landing fees.
It may well build its presence in Leeds on the back of this, and this is certainly a good thing in the short term.
But what if Ryanair's expansion were to cause problems for the well-established Jet2?
Success
Jet2 has been a very real success story for the Leeds and Yorkshire economy, bringing routes and services for both businesses and holidaymakers that the region had previously only dreamed of.
What we don't need is for that success to be put in any kind of jeopardy because of the latest whim of a "here today, gone tomorrow" airline whose frequent first choice in negotiations is to walk rather than compromise.
If Jet2 raises its game the great Yorkshire public could well be the winners but woe betides if it starts to struggle against its low-fares rival.
I can't for a minute imagine that Ryanair wouldn't seek to maximise its position in such circumstances and any word against it could well see another O'Leary "walk away".
How well off would Leeds Bradford Airport and the travellers of the region be then?
Queen Eleanor gets into hot water
OUR younger daughter Eleanor – dubbed the "Drama Queen" some years ago –has an unfortunate knack of finding trouble.
My heart went out to the little poppet, though, on hearing of her woes of last week when a trip to the seaside turned into a near medical emergency.
Mrs S and assorted members of her clan had taken to the East Coast for a week, leaving me basically to fend for myself back at Normy Towers .
It was from sunny Bridlington that reports came back of "terror by the sea" after poor Ellie had the misfortune to plant her foot on a weaver fish.
You may or may not be aware of these little blighters which are only about 15 cm long but carry quite a punch in their venomous dorsal fins, which they stick up after burying themselves in the sand at low tide.
Anyway, Ellie copped for it and her screaming and hopping alerted Mrs S who realised that something was clearly wrong and this was not some kind of impromptu dance exercise.
The way to deal with a weaver fish sting, should you ever need to employ it, is to put the affected area into hot water – as hot, in fact, as the victim can tolerate – and this will draw away the pain. Simple painkillers such as paracetamol can also help, as can antihistamines.
Mrs S went immediately for the hot water option but not before she had endured the less than helpful attitude of a caf owner who, clearly, had never signed up to the idea of friendly customer service and handed over the steaming liquid with some degree of reluctance.
I just hope that somewhere out there there's a weaver fish with his name on it…
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Weather for Leeds
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 0 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
