From Austerity to Ambition

1. After such an ace day, this first point seems like an intrusion but it is also so rare that it should really be included. I get really lucky with the traffic. In my head getting from here to there by car takes 15 minutes. In rush hour it could take double that, but every light is at green, everyone is going my way and in 15 minutes I am where I need to be. This day starts well.

2. Over an hour later we are at the Dovecot and the day begins. We?ve not been planning this for too long but there's been a wee team of us working on it for a bit and today we start to see it coming to life.

3. Everyone who arrives today will get a badge with their name written on a ribbon. Alongside it there are 5 other ribbons, all different lengths and colours and the effect of 60 folk wearing these is startling. They are like plumes or firework tails on a grey day (on a grey suit sometimes).

4. Some of the most powerful people in Scotland are in this room. They come from every sector, every walk of life. They have jobs, skills, achievements and goals that affect us all, could change things, make a difference and actually, really make things better. For one day they get together - with our help - and do something unusual. They listen, they talk, they read, they chatter and laugh, they sing (communally in 9 part harmony), they discuss, they plan, they write, they pin. Then they commit.

5. They are all women.