Dia de los Muertos

Awake to find that Kissinger, once the King of the World, had died at the age of 100. And then Shane McGowan of the Pogues, his passing much less of a surprise, at only 65. But then a genuine sadness at the death of Alistair Darling. A really decent guy. The fact the he was ever present in the Cabinets of Blair and Brown from 97 to 2010 says all you need to know. It’s called competence. Seriousness. I knew him briefly - many people did - after all, he was originally the councillor for Tollcross, and so I dug out a little contemporaneous diary entry  from Wednesday 11th June 1997.  
Last Saturday we were down at Alistair Darling's for a little soiree at his house - his way of a thank you to all his helpers - he is now Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Saw his red box! Had good blethers with Steve Adams and Alistair himself was being well chatty, as he was on the night before the election (he was actually giving Nigel Griffiths a good slagging in amusing terms).
That doesn’t record what he actually said about his fellow Labour MP who was already well on his way to becoming a sleekit toad. And I don't remember Steve Adams at all. 
Ach, he was a really good guy and his wife Maggie was a terrific character. Sad news.
Later, out to the Traverse with R&E to see 4PLAY - new writing from 4 Edinburgh Playwrights by Katy Nixon, Mikey Burnett, Andrea McKenzie & Ruaraidh Murray. Given this was a fiver a head to get in, expectations were low. I thought it might be the drama class from Edinburgh College or summat (no offence). Jees! It was terrific (though the last play was Christmas panto territory). Well done those young people. And good of Ruaraidh Murray to cast his pair of neds as Hibs fans. Very perceptive.