The Curse of Tom Hunter

With news today that JJB has finally collapsed, it’s worth taking a look back at other companies that Tom Hunter has been involved with or sold businesses to that have also subsequently collapsed. I’m not saying he is bad at business (he was Scotland’s first billionaire after all) but once he has sold a company they seem to have a knack of going bust.

• Sports Division sold to JJB – Bust
• Qube – bust
• Office – sold, went bust and rebuilt without debts
• USC – sold, went bust and rebuilt without debts
• D2 – bust
• Rangers FC – tried twice to buy them and they went bust
• Travelodge – owns a portfolio of their properties and they have just agreed rent cuts due to them being in difficulties

So what does this record say about Tom? Is he cursed?

List of Scottish MPs in Westminster and their email addresses

I created this list as I could not find them all together anywhere on the internet. I believe that they should all work, although some MPs use surname+initial@parliament.uk, e.g. alexanderd@parliament.uk, please add a comment if you find an address that doesn’t work and I will update the list.

Douglas.Alexander.mp@parliament.uk	Douglas Alexander
Willie.Bain.mp@parliament.uk	Willie Bain
Gordon.Banks.mp@parliament.uk	Gordon Banks
Anne.Begg.mp@parliament.uk	Anne Begg
Gordon.Brown.mp@parliament.uk	Gordon Brown
Russell.Brown.mp@parliament.uk	Russell Brown
Malcolm.Bruce.mp@parliament.uk	Malcolm Bruce
Iain.McKenzie.mp@parliament.uk	Iain McKenzie
Menzies.Campbell.mp@parliament.uk	Menzies Campbell
Alistair.Carmichael.mp@parliament.uk	Alistair Carmichael
Katy.Clark.mp@parliament.uk	Katy Clark
Tom.Clarke.mp@parliament.uk	Tom Clarke
Michael.Connarty.mp@parliament.uk	Michael Connarty
Mike.Crockart.mp@parliament.uk	Mike Crockart
Margaret.Curran.mp@parliament.uk	Margaret Curran
Alistair.Darling.mp@parliament.uk	Alistair Darling
Ian.Davidson.mp@parliament.uk	Ian Davidson
Thomas.Docherty.mp@parliament.uk	Thomas Docherty
Brian.Donohoe.mp@parliament.uk	Brian Donohoe
Frank.Doran.mp@parliament.uk	Frank Doran
Gemma.Doyle.mp@parliament.uk	Gemma Doyle
Sheila.Gilmore.mp@parliament.uk	Sheila Gilmore
Tom.Greatrex.mp@parliament.uk	Tom Greatrex
David.Hamilton.mp@parliament.uk	David Hamilton
Tom.Harris.mp@parliament.uk	Tom Harris
Jimmy.Hood.mp@parliament.uk	Jimmy Hood
Stewart.Hosie.mp@parliament.uk	Stewart Hosie
Cathy.Jamieson.mp@parliament.uk	Cathy Jamieson
Eric.Joyce.mp@parliament.uk	Eric Joyce
Charles.Kennedy.mp@parliament.uk	Charles Kennedy
Mark.Lazarowicz.mp@parliament.uk	Mark Lazarowicz
Angus.MacNeil.mp@parliament.uk	Angus MacNeil
Michael.McCann.mp@parliament.uk	Michael McCann
Gregg.McClymont.mp@parliament.uk	Gregg McClymont
James.McGovern.mp@parliament.uk	James McGovern
Anne.McGuire.mp@parliament.uk	Anne McGuire
Ann.McKechin.mp@parliament.uk	Ann McKechin
Michael.Moore.mp@parliament.uk	Michael Moore
Graeme.Morrice.mp@parliament.uk	Graeme Morrice
David.Mundell.mp@parliament.uk	David Mundell
Jim.Murphy.mp@parliament.uk	Jim Murphy
Ian.Murray.mp@parliament.uk	Ian Murray
Pamela.Nash.mp@parliament.uk	Pamela Nash
Fiona.O’Donnell.mp@parliament.uk	Fiona O’Donnell
Sandra.Osborne.mp@parliament.uk	Sandra Osborne
Alan.Reid.mp@parliament.uk	Alan Reid
Angus.Robertson.mp@parliament.uk	Angus Robertson
John.Robertson.mp@parliament.uk	John Robertson
Frank.Roy.mp@parliament.uk	Frank Roy
Lindsay.Roy.mp@parliament.uk	Lindsay Roy
Anas.Sarwar.mp@parliament.uk	Anas Sarwar
James.Sheridan.mp@parliament.uk	James Sheridan
Robert.Smith.mp@parliament.uk	Robert Smith
Jo.Swinson.mp@parliament.uk	Jo Swinson
John.Thurso.mp@parliament.uk	John Thurso
Michael.Weir.mp@parliament.uk	Michael Weir
Eilidh.Whiteford.mp@parliament.uk	Eilidh Whiteford
Peter.Wishart.mp@parliament.uk	Peter Wishart

List of Scottish MSPs and their email addresses

I thought this might be handy for a few people. All the data is from the Scottish Parliament website.

Adam.Ingram.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Adam Ingram
Aileen.Campbell.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Aileen Campbell
Aileen.McLeod.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Aileen McLeod
Alasdair.Allan.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Alasdair Allan
Alex.Fergusson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Alex Fergusson
Alex.Johnstone.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Alex Johnstone
Alex.Neil.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Alex Neil
Alex.Salmond.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Alex Salmond
Alison.Johnstone.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Alison Johnstone
Alison.McInnes.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Alison McInnes
Angela.Constance.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Angela Constance
Angus.MacDonald.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Angus MacDonald
Annabel.Goldie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Annabel Goldie
Annabelle.Ewing.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Annabelle Ewing
Anne.McTaggart.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Anne McTaggart
Bill.Kidd.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Bill Kidd
Bill.Walker.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Bill Walker
Bob.Doris.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Bob Doris
Brian.Adam.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Brian Adam
Bruce.Crawford.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Bruce Crawford
Chic.Brodie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Chic Brodie
Christina.McKelvie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Christina McKelvie
Christine.Grahame.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Christine Grahame
Claire.Baker.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Claire Baker
Clare.Adamson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Clare Adamson
Claudia.Beamish.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Claudia Beamish
Colin.Beattie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Colin Beattie
Colin.Keir.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Colin Keir
Dave.Thompson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Dave Thompson
David.McLetchie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	David McLetchie
David.Stewart.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	David Stewart
David.Torrance.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	David Torrance
Dennis.Robertson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Dennis Robertson
Derek.Mackay.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Derek Mackay
Drew.Smith.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Drew Smith
Duncan.McNeil.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Duncan McNeil
Elaine.Murray.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Elaine Murray
Elaine.Smith.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Elaine Smith
Elizabeth.Smith.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Elizabeth Smith
Fergus.Ewing.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Fergus Ewing
Fiona.Hyslop.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Fiona Hyslop
Fiona.McLeod.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Fiona McLeod
Gavin.Brown.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Gavin Brown
George.Adam.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	George Adam
Gil.Paterson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Gil Paterson
Gordon.MacDonald.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Gordon MacDonald
Graeme.Dey.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Graeme Dey
Graeme.Pearson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Graeme Pearson
Hanzala.Malik.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Hanzala Malik
Helen.Eadie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Helen Eadie
Hugh.Henry.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Hugh Henry
Humza.Yousaf.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Humza Yousaf
Iain.Gray.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Iain Gray
Jackie.Baillie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Jackie Baillie
Jackson.Carlaw.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Jackson Carlaw
James.Dornan.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	James Dornan
James.Kelly.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	James Kelly
Jamie.Hepburn.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Jamie Hepburn
Jamie.McGrigor.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Jamie McGrigor
Jean.Urquhart.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Jean Urquhart
Jenny.Marra.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Jenny Marra
Jim.Eadie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Jim Eadie
Jim.Hume.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Jim Hume
Joan.McAlpine.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Joan McAlpine
Johann.Lamont.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Johann Lamont
John.Finnie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	John Finnie
John.Lamont.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	John Lamont
John.Mason.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	John Mason
John.Park.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	John Park
John.Pentland.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	John Pentland
John.Scott.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	John Scott
John.Swinney.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	John Swinney
John.Wilson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	John Wilson
Keith.Brown.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Keith Brown
Ken.Macintosh.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Ken Macintosh
Kenneth.Gibson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Kenneth Gibson
Kenny.MacAskill.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Kenny MacAskill
Kevin.Stewart.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Kevin Stewart
Kezia.Dugdale.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Kezia Dugdale
Lewis.Macdonald.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Lewis Macdonald
Liam.McArthur.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Liam McArthur
Linda.Fabiani.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Linda Fabiani
Malcolm.Chisholm.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Malcolm Chisholm
Marco.Biagi.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Marco Biagi
Margaret.Burgess.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Margaret Burgess
Margaret.McCulloch.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Margaret McCulloch
Margaret.McDougall.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Margaret McDougall
Margaret.Mitchell.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Margaret Mitchell
Margo.MacDonald.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Margo MacDonald
Mark.Griffin.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Mark Griffin
Mark.McDonald.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Mark McDonald
Mary.Fee.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Mary Fee
Mary.Scanlon.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Mary Scanlon
Maureen.Watt.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Maureen Watt
mhairi.hunter@scottish.parliament.uk	Mhairi Hunter
Michael.Matheson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Michael Matheson
Michael.McMahon.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Michael McMahon
Michael.Russell.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Michael Russell
Mike.MacKenzie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Mike MacKenzie
msp@stewartstevenson.net	Stewart Stevenson
Murdo.Fraser.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Murdo Fraser
Nanette.Milne.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Nanette Milne
Neil.Bibby.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Neil Bibby
Neil.Findlay.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Neil Findlay
Nigel.Don.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Nigel Don
parliament@joefitzpatrick.net	Joe Fitzpatrick
Patricia.Ferguson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Patricia Ferguson
Patrick.Harvie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Patrick Harvie
Paul.Martin.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Paul Martin
Paul.Wheelhouse.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Paul Wheelhouse
Rhoda.Grant.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Rhoda Grant
Richard.Baker.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Richard Baker
Richard.Lochhead.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Richard Lochhead
Richard.Lyle.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Richard Lyle
Richard.Simpson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Richard Simpson
Rob.Gibson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Rob Gibson
Roderick.Campbell.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Roderick Campbell
Roseanna.Cunningham.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Roseanna Cunningham
Ruth.Davidson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Ruth Davidson
Sandra.White.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Sandra White
Sarah.Boyack.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Sarah Boyack
Shona.Robison.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Shona Robison
Siobhan.McMahon.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Siobhan McMahon
Stewart.Maxwell.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Stewart Maxwell
Stuart.McMillan.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Stuart McMillan
Tavish.Scott.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Tavish Scott
Tricia.Marwick.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Tricia Marwick
Willie.Coffey.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Willie Coffey
Willie.Rennie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk	Willie Rennie

260 Clyde Street, Glasgow Barfly

While walking down by the Clyde at lunch time I spent some time looking at 260 Clyde Street (Riverside House) which was formally home to Barfly. It’s a magnificent building and must be privy to some awesome views of the Clyde and surrounding areas. Sadly, like a lot of Glasgow’s most magnificent buildings, it seems to be almost empty now with very little sign of life. While I was looking at it there were some workers in high vis tops looking out from the top floor windows so maybe some lucky person/company is going to move in?

 

So uses for this building that I can find are:

Barfly

The Riverside Club

Rathbone – a youth charity

What else has been in here over the years? Do you have any pictures of the interior or views from the top floors? Please get in touch if you do so I can add them to this post.

I’ll try and get down to Clyde street with a proper camera and some time so I can get some decent pictures of the building.

 

New Blog, New Road, Missing Road

I thought it was about time I started a new blog about life in Glasgow and my travels around the country/world. I’m no critically acclaimed writer but I sometimes end up at some interesting events and I do tend to spend time looking at parts of the city that other people just ignore. With this in mind, hopefully you’ll find some interesting topics to read about and some great photos to look at.

The first thing I thought I would talk about is how the M74 motorway extension is still missing from Google (and Bing) maps.

As you can see from the picture above it has still not been added to the map of Glasgow even though it opened on the 28th of June. This might not be a huge problem except that so many people now rely on Google maps for navigation that it could easily cause people to get lost or even cause accidents.

Since I’ve not see a recent update from TomTom then I am assuming that they too haven’t updated their maps? If anyone reads this and has tried their TomTom on the new road then please comment.

On the plus side, the new road is an amazing addition to the city and it seems to be saving people a lot of time in commuting. I’ve not been across the whole thing yet, as I’ve been coming off at Polmadie, and I’ve not been a passenger yet, but I’m looking forward to seeing the rest and enjoying the views across the city.

 

EDIT:

Google have said that the M74 extension will be added once their provider, Tele Atlas, update their data. In regards to time scales, they have said that this could take a LONG time. More info here http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/maps/thread?tid=2d79d67c016e9d16&hl=en