St Mirren Parade at Cotton Street Live Video
The video was taken by Brian McGuire for www.paisley.org.uk of the champions bus arriving at Cotton Street Paisley where thousands of fans turned up in a full-on party atmosphere, what a season its been for the Paisley Buddies.
Winning the Championship last week against Livingstone then on Saturday 2-1 in the Renfrewshire Derby has certainly put a spring in the step of the buddies.
Thousands of people lined the streets of Paisley tonight to see St Mirren’s league-winning team parade the SPFL Championship trophy.
Renfrewshire Council honoured the Saints with an open-top bus parade through the town centre before the team took to the outdoor stage in Bridge St.
DJs from Pulse FM were on hand to keep the crowd entertained before the fans got the chance to hear from their heroes, including captain Stephen McGinn, manager Jack Ross, chairman Gordon Scott and chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick.
Renfrewshire’s Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “This was a wonderful occasion – they don’t come around every year but Paisley knows how to party when we do. The great thing about being a one-team town is that Buddies can take over the streets and celebrate together.
“I come from a family of St Mirren supporters and remember going to Love St as a kid, and seeing some of the trophy wins of years gone by – so it was just wonderful to see a new generation of Paisley families get the chance to make their own memories tonight.”
South America is a land of contrasts, with equatorial rainforests and snow-capped mountains, thriving modern cities and ruins of ancient civilization. Spend days or weeks in multiple countries to experience the culture, beauty and excitement across the continent.
Enjoy modern art and architecture and historic indigenous and European roots in one of the world’s great cities, Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina. Practice your Spanish and watch a tango, with a timeless expression of emotion via dance. For outdoor excitement, hike and ski in the jagged mountains of Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia, the region that includes parts of Argentina and Chile.
Brazil occupies nearly half the continent. Its Atlantic beaches include Rio de Janeiro’s famous Ipanema, as well as less celebrated gems, such as Baia, do Sancho and Lopes Mendes. Inland, the mighty Amazon River offers rainforest trekking, whitewater adventures and ecotourism. Surprisingly deep in the rainforest, the Renaissance opera house built in Manaus in the late 1800s now hosts a philharmonic orchestra. Watch soccer in the country where Pelé, Ronaldo and other great football players were born.
Explore history at the Jesuit ruins of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná in Paraguay, pre-Columbian ruins in El Fuerte de Samaipata in Bolivia, the walled early colonial city of Cartagena in Colombia and the high-altitude fortress of the Incas in Machu Picchu, Peru.
Exceptional natural experiences abound. Brazil’s Chapada Diamantina National Park features mountains and waterfalls. Lake Titicaca lies high in the Andes Mountains between Peru and Bolivia. Venezuela’s Angel Falls drops an incredible distance. Stand with your feet on either side of the equator in Ecuador and see if you feel dizzy.
Appreciate the mix of culture, tradition, music, costumes and food from Quechua, Guaraní and hundreds of other indigenous peoples throughout the region. South American food specialties include Argentine beef with a delicious dessert of flan with a sweet dulce de leche syrup. In Brazil, eat all you want at a churrascaria with a dozen varieties of meat. Accompany your meal with a caipirinha made from a spirit distilled from sugar cane. Have feijoada, the Brazilian black bean stew served every Sunday.
History, nature and culture come alive in South America. Enjoy interacting with the warm people of the continent throughout the year. Visit for the special celebration of Carnaval in the spring.
Before we go on about a holiday to the USA there are some things you need to know about the Visa waiver programme.
There are 2 ways for a foreign citizen to enter the United States for tourism or business:
About the Visa Waiver Program
The visa waiver program is a U.S. government program that enables citizens and nationals from 37 countries to enter the United States for business or visitor purposes for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. The advantage of entering the United States under the Visa Waiver program is that you can travel to the United States on short notice. However, not everybody can enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. Only citizens of the 37 Visa Waiver countries are eligible to apply, and if approved they can visit the United States for up to 90 day visa-free. Citizens of all other countries (except Canadian citizens) need to apply for a visa prior to entering the United States. Learn more about the Visa Waiver Program and review and apply for your ESTA-Application for UK.
About the B-2 Tourist Visa
Citizens of most countries need a visitor visa (B-1 Business Visa or a B-2 Tourist Visa) in order to enter the United States. The visa application process has become more complex over the recent years due to increased scrutiny of most applicants. The process of applying for a U.S. visa is completely different than ESTA. The visa application process includes multiple application forms and and in-person interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy. Amongst a number of requirements, you will be required to provide documentation proofing strong ties to your home country. Entering the United States on a Tourist Visa has several advantages over entering on a Visa Waiver Program, including the option to change status and extend your stay.
Yes, there’s a whole world out there to explore, but think of all the amazing places in our own country you’ve never visited. These are the iconic images ingrained in every American’s mind, the places, signs, and monuments that represent the best of what America is all about. They’re the beacons of democracy in D.C. and Philadelphia, the emblems of excess in New York City and Vegas, the wonders of nature in our many stunning national parks. They make up the cultural fabric of the country, and these classic destinations all deserve a spot on your list of places to see in your lifetime.
If anything encompasses the ethos of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, it’s the “It’s a Small World” ride. That same tune represents a certain kind of American dream: one of a land comprising many cultures, welcoming to all. The Magic Kingdom certainly welcomes everyone into its dreamworld, where Mickey Mouse and Cinderella roam and whirling rides thrill. The whole scope of the American imagination is represented, from the futuristic Tomorrowland to the classic Fantasyland. It’s a pixie-dusted retreat from reality that can’t be missed, no matter your age.
Insider Tip: Avoid standing in long lines by purchasing a FastPass+, which allows you to secure arrival times for rides and attractions in advance.
Like the confluence of cultures that created it, New Orleans’ French Quarter‘s aesthetic is a vibrant collage of textures: cobblestone corridors, lush courtyard gardens, storied wrought-iron balcony railings. The city’s rich history and musical heritage are inextricably linked; jazz, blues, classic rock ‘n roll, and electronic dance music all reverberate from the quarter’s doors. A spirit of resilient jubilance pervades the French Quarter, making it an American icon you must experience.
Insider Tip: Get a great view of the French Quarter for free by riding the Canal Street Ferry to historic Algiers. It leaves the terminal across from Harrah’s Casino every 30 minutes.
If you want to be thrust headlong into the frantic heart of excess, consumerism, spectacle, and everything unabashedly American, look no further than Times Square. Throngs of wide-eyed, over-stimulated tourists from every corner of the world walk through the blaring ads and kaleidoscopic signs in awe, cameras in hand. This roaring neon hub of humanity truly never sleeps, and it simply must be seen to be believed.
Insider Tip: Despite the crowds, there are places to sit and relax. Between 42nd and 47th Streets, former traffic lanes on Broadway are now pedestrian-only areas. You can also plop down on the red bleachers behind TKTS for some restful people-watching.
The Boston Red Sox have played at Fenway Park, the oldest Major League Baseball ballpark, since 1912. Baseball legends Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Carl Yastrzemski all stepped up to bat here. It’s both a vestige of an American golden age, preserved in all its old-fashioned glory, and a mecca for fans of a quintessentially American sport—and its rabidly supported team.
Insider Tip: Didn’t manage to nab tickets in advance? Try your luck at Gate E two hours before the game, when a handful of tickets are sold. Or meander the street-fair-esque Yawkey Way near the stadium for a taste of the Red Sox Nation spirit.
Not only is Mount Rushmore stunning in terms of its sheer scale as a monumental mountainside edifice, it’s also perhaps the boldest embodiment of American ideals there is. A shrine to democracy chiseled in the same wild western lands that came to represent to pioneering American spirit, the sculpture features the faces of four iconoclastic U.S. presidents in what is now the largest work of art on Earth.
Insider Tip: Follow the Presidential Trail through the forest for excellent views of Rushmore, or walk the Avenue of Flags, which represents each U.S. state, commonwealth, district, and territory, for a different perspective.
Pupils at a Renfrewshire school who invented a family fitness app praised by NHS Scotland and Andy Murray could see their idea become a reality.
A team of five sixth-year students from Erskine’s Park Mains High School created the ‘Health Buzz’ app, which tracks the health and wellbeing of the whole family.
The prototype won a prestigious competition, the #DigiInventorsChallenge, run by the Digital Health and Care Institute in conjunction with Andy Murray.
Now pupils will work with Scottish-based technology experts SwarmOnline this summer to see how the app may be developed.
NHS Scotland Chief Executive Paul Gray also visited the school this week to congratulate the team and find out more about the app through a presentation by pupils.
The team of Emily Bannon, Craig Kennedy, Adam Hazle, Luisa Steele and Connor Wilson, all 17-years-old, received a £2,000 cash prize for their school, new personal tech, as well as the opportunity to have their idea made into a reality.
Paul Gray said: “This is a fantastic idea from the students at Park Mains High School. We all know how popular fitness trackers are, so this is a great way to build on that and get active as a family.
“The number of Scots being physically active has risen in the last five years, and we really want to keep that going. For example, by walking just one mile a day, people can make huge changes to their lives.”
“This app is also an excellent example of how innovation can help improve our mental and physical health – 2018 is the year to get Scots more active.”
The app won first place in the challenge which aims to find new ways to help young people keep active and stay healthy.
Along with other shortlisted teams, the pupils were invited to an inventor’s boot camp to develop their proposals through a series of master classes by industry experts.
They then presented to a panel of expert judges, including Andy himself and got to meet the star at the SSE Hydro event in November, where he played Roger Federer in an exhibition match.
Former Wimbledon champion Andy revealed how impressed he is with the pupil’s design and said: “I liked this idea straight away, it’s a really big achievement for the team behind it. Anything that gets people moving more is a good thing and will hopefully help to improve the health of the nation.”
Judges also praised the team’s high quality professional pitch and recognised the potential of the app to transform lives by focussing on the family as a whole, and not just individuals.
Renfrewshire Council’s Children’s Services and Education Convener, Councillor Jim Paterson said: “In the Year of Young People it’s wonderful to see how Renfrewshire school pupils can come up with such creative and award-winning ideas that could benefit us all. I look forward to hearing the progress of the app.”
Emily Bannon from the team said: “We are happy to get as far as we have with the app and want to make fitness more a hobby than a chore across the generations and maybe help make a difference to people.
“We have become so passionate about it and are excited to see what comes next.”
Park Mains Head teacher Michael Dewar, said: “This was an outstanding achievement from a group of very talented S6 pupils. Our hope is that the app will be developed to help make a positive impact on the health and well-being of families across the country.”
Renfrewshire Leisure’s Active Schools Co-ordinator at Park Mains and the pupil’s mentor, Olivia Bell, said: “We are overwhelmed with how far we have come and hope the app will eventually be accessible in our local and wider primary schools and allow pupils to utilise technology that is already at their fingertips.”
The shortlist for this year’s challenge will be announced on May 30th.
George Crooks Chief Executive of the Digital Health and Care Institute said: “We are delighted to be working with the team at Park Mains High School and SwarmOnline to help develop their idea from the #DigiInventorsChallenge.”
Renfrewshire’s award-winning youth diversionary programme Street Stuff, has been presented with the prestigious Clean Up Scotland ‘Hero of the Month’ award in recognition of its efforts to support the Team Up to Clean Up campaign.
Street Stuff volunteers and coaching staff from St Mirren FC have assisted Renfrewshire Council with community clean up activities, including litter picking, removing graffiti from public spaces and spraying dog fouling with paint to make it more visible – therefore highlighting the problem.
The award forms part of the Clean Up Scotland campaign, organised by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, and acknowledges Street Stuff’s work to help reduce youth disorder and to instil responsibility in young people.
Councillor Cathy McEwan, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “We are delighted that Street Stuff have been named as the 50th recipient of the Hero of the Month Award.
“The work volunteers and staff do to engage local children and provide them with activities they may not normally have the opportunity to undertake is fantastic, and has been extremely successful since its inception in 2009.
“They are making a real difference to the local community through participating in litter picks, removing graffiti from shop fronts and supporting the Team Up to Clean Up dog fouling initiative.
“With £2.5million being invested across the next five years, we hope that many local community groups will be able to follow in Street Stuff’s footsteps as we continue to advance the Team Up to Clean Up campaign and make a tangible improvement to the quality of Renfrewshire’s environment.”
Street Stuff works as a partnership between St Mirren FC and Renfrewshire Council delivering a youth activity programme including dance and football, as well as volunteering and employment opportunities for young people.
Gordon Scott, St Mirren FC Chairman, said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen as Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Hero of the Month and it’s testament to the work of the Street Stuff volunteers and staff.
“We’re proud to support the Team Up to Clean Up campaign and will continue to work hard to improve Renfrewshire’s environment for the benefit of the entire community.”
Heather McLaughlin, Community Project Officer with Keep Scotland Beautiful added: “High levels of graffiti, litter and flytipping are closely linked to community safety. By helping to tackle litter in their local area, Street Stuff, its participants and volunteers have all helped to make their local area both cleaner and safer for all of its residents.
“Keep Scotland Beautiful recognises that there are armies of volunteers all across Scotland working very hard to clean up and green up their local area. Clean Up Scotland can help to support their efforts as well as recognising the contribution made by individuals with our Hero of the Month award.”
Lindsay Richmond-Kearns, Communities Manager at Helping Hand Environmental, which provides a clean up kit to each monthly hero, commented: “We are delighted to present Street Stuff with this award. I would like to commend them for successfully improving and delivering significant local environmental improvements in Renfrewshire.
“Helping Hand has been privileged to sponsor the Hero of the Month award in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful since 2014, and have rewarded 50 Scottish Heroes to date. If you know a Scottish volunteer who is making a difference to their local environment – you can nominate them for this prestigious award.”
For more information on Renfrewshire’s Team Up to Clean Up campaign visit: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/
Keep Scotland Beautiful is encouraging everyone to organise or take part in a clean up this spring www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/
On the 14th of march we had over 20 students from Cyprus engineering college visit us to see the engineering processes first hand at our 70,000sq2 factory in Glasgow where we recondition engines for cars, bikes, trucks and even boats.
Showing the students from our professional cleaning process to stripping down engines ready for machine shop to the mechanics bays where they build the engine backup with parts from the Parts room through to quality check and then ready for dispatch to customer all around the world but we mainly service UK and Europe.
Showing one of the several vehicles bay we have to deal with large demand of removal and fitting of reconditioned engines.
Here we are in the part room as we show some of the parts that we use on a daily basis to recondition engines.
Staff and students had a great afternoon showing students our engineering processes and answering questions from students and teachers, Above the students group photo.
Engine Engineering
Cars, Trucks, Boats reconditioned engines
Call our dedicated team on 0141 432 4353
Info@engineengineering.co.uk
www.engineengineering.co.uk
You might be under the impression that hiring a professional cleaning service is the kind of luxury that only the super rich can afford. In actual fact, many ordinary people make use of cleaning services in order to keep their homes and businesses in order. There are a number of advantages to using a professional cleaning service rather than doing it yourself. You will be assured of a high quality of work, and of course you get to sit back and watch someone else do the work for you.
If you are considering giving either your home or your place of business a comprehensive and thorough spring cleaning, you should look to hire a professional outfit to take it on for you. If you aren’t convinced of the merits of outsourcing your cleaning work to such a professional agency, here are the main reasons you should change your mind.
When many people decide to have a thorough cleanout of their homes, they end up buying a whole bunch of cleaning products that they don’t actually need. These products get used a little bit while the home is being cleaned, but then they end up in the back of a cupboard, never to be seen again. This ends up being a waste of money.
Instead, why not hire a professional cleaning crew who will bring their own supplies with them? Not only will they bring supplies with them, they will have access to the more specialised cleaning products that you might want to use.
There is something uniquely satisfying about looking back on your home and seeing it completely clean and looking like new. However, getting from the state that most of our homes are in before we get around to cleaning them is a challenge. Many of the tasks, particularly things like dusting, can quickly become tedious and sap your will to get things done.
By turning the work over to a professional cleaning crew, you won’t have to worry about undertaking every single little thing, instead a small group of people will ensure that everything is handled appropriately.
The biggest advantage to hiring a professional cleaning service is the quality of the job that they will do. No matter how dedicated you are, or how much you care about the appearance of your home or business, you simply can’t do work of the same quality as them. If you want to keep your home as tidy as possible, it is best to start with a big and comprehensive clean of your property, you can then focus on maintaining that level of cleanliness.
Have a look online to find cleaning services in your local area. For example, searching for carpet cleaning Enfield will bring back a number of different businesses, such as ATH Cleaning Services, for you to choose from.
If you want to make sure that your home or place of business is looking its best and will impress all who pass through its doors, hiring a professional cleaning service is the most reliable way. Professional cleaners will be able to perform the highest quality work and leave you most satisfied as a customer.
Renfrewshire Council has scrapped burial charges for families who lose a child under the age of 16.
The local authority abolished burial and registration costs in its 2018/19 budget and is working to establish an affordable Respectful Funeral Service to support families.
Cllr Jim Paterson
The charges can run into hundreds of pounds and Renfrewshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Convener, Councillor Jim Paterson said: “Grieving parents shouldn’t also have to carry the burden of worrying if they can afford to pay for a dignified funeral for a child.
“By scrapping the burial and registration fees for a child under 16, the intention is to remove some of the financial pressures and support families at the most difficult of times as they try to come to terms with their heart breaking loss.”
The move has also been welcomed by bereavement charities, who say that worrying how to pay funeral costs can add to the pressure on grief stricken relatives.
Hugh McAninch, the Scottish co-ordinator of The Compassionate Friends, a charity run by bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents which offers support to family members after the death of a child, said: “I welcome the initiative by Renfrewshire Council to scrap fees for children under 16 and hope it is expanded to all councils across Scotland.
“It’s a traumatic enough time and parents often have to take time off work at the very point where they have to face these extra expenses. “
Brenda Murray from the Scottish charity Bumblebee Babies, which supports parents who have lost babies, also welcomed the move.
She said: “Worrying about how to pay for a funeral can be another massive pressure for grieving parents. They just want to be able to put things in order to start the healing process and feel they’re letting their child down if they aren’t able to.
“A lack of money can be frightening to them because they want to give their child the best send off they can.”
Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, is backing a local charity as they seek to win a public vote and help secure funds from the National Lottery’s Big Lottery fund.
Bravehound are based at Erskine Hospital and provide a range of support to former servicemen, women and their families, this includes providing companion dogs to veterans as a means of helping to support their transition into civilian life.
The charity is now competing for The People’s Project public vote and if successful, will receive £50,000 of National Lottery money to create a permanent exhibition on the role of military dogs from their base at Erskine House.
Five local community groups across STV West are set to compete for up to £50,000 of National Lottery funding each. The People’s Project is giving these groups a chance to go head to head to compete in a public vote to help them make an extraordinary difference to their community. People can vote once per region and will need an email address to vote. To vote please visitwww.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk
Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said:
“People in Renfrewshire are extremely proud of its veterans and of the area’s heritage in supporting serving and ex-Service personnel. Bravehound is a fantastic local charity doing great work to support ex-servicemen and women.
“Bravehound support’s former servicemen, women and their families by providing companion dogs to help them make the transition into civilian life, some of these will be suffering from post-traumatic stress, mental health issues and physical injury.
“It’s great to see their fantastic work being recognised and that they’re now in with a chance of securing funds to allow them to set-up an exhibition, in Erskine House, on the role of military dogs from their base at Erskine House. This is a fantastic and I would encourage everyone in Renfrewshire to vote for Bravehound.”
Fiona MacDonald from Bravehound said:
“We’re so grateful to Gavin Newlands for making the time to visit us. The People’s Project Award will help us to provide more support for veterans with their amazing BRAVEHOUND companions, and to organise events for the whole community to join, as well as to create an exhibition of the role of military dogs from the Western Front through to Helmand Province, and we would be incredibly grateful for your vote.”
More than 250 people have attended a series of events and drop in sessions as part of a review of community level governance in Renfrewshire, with a further 162 putting their views forward through online and postal consultations.
The feedback from these consultations will now be reviewed to ensure the proposed changes reflect a model that is fully representative of the community’s views and requirements.
Proposals had been put forward to redesign the current structure of Renfrewshire’s five Local Area Committees to ensure a clearer partnership approach between the Council, other public services and the community.
The consultation outlined nine proposals across five areas, Function, Membership, Boundaries, Meetings and Grants, and community groups were invited to put forward their thoughts and opinions on whether the proposals would make a positive difference.
The proposals were formed following an initial round of engagement with local communities and a review of community governance arrangements in other council areas.
Renfrewshire Council Leader, Iain Nicolson, said: “This review is a real chance for the community to become further involved in local decision making and I’m delighted to see the high number of people come forward to have their say.
“It is extremely important that any changes make a positive difference to the current structure and this consultation has allowed people the opportunity to make local area committees work better for them.
“All the feedback will help refine the proposals and inform the decisions moving forward and we will ensure that the public continue to be involved in the process every step of the way.”
Further details of the proposed changes included a drive to make meetings more accessible and participative as well as having local grants scheme specifically for smaller local projects.
There would also be a change to the current boundaries which would see them come into line with community councils as well as a change to voting rights to ensure all areas of the community are involved in final decision making.
For further information on local area committees, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/lacs.