I’m sure like me you’re grateful the lighter nights are arriving and hopefully we are turning the corner with the weather.

In the season of new things I was delighted to see the new Blairdardie Primary has opened.

I attended the old school as a pupil from the first day it opened as we lived in High Knightswood and my colleague, education convenor Chris Cunningham assures me the new school is no less impressive.

In Holyrood I spoke to P6 and P7 pupils from Yoker’s Clyde Campus Primary on their visit and answered their questions on Brexit and what I liked most about my job, among others.

At the other end of the education scale there was a visit this month from Mrs Stewart and the HNC social sciences students at Glasgow Clyde College in Anniesland who had some in-depth questions on the Brexit omnishambles and what did I think was the best way to boost election turnouts?

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We can all see that the prime minister and her government are a one-trick pony, playing for time to get her discredited deal through despite previous rejections.

I think there will be a queue forming in the Tory ranks to replace her but we all have to wonder with whom would it be any better.

I think we have the answer here in Scotland and, as the MEP Alyn Smith said in the European Parliament: “Please leave a light on so we can find our way home”.

In the constituency I was delighted to meet up with Sophie, Kerry and Robert, three young modern apprentices at the Ritehome Property Group during Apprenticeship Week and to get a picture of the meeting in the Post was a nice wee bonus.

The company and the young people are great examples of how Skills Development Scotland have made these 29,000 real apprenticeships a magnificent success.

I’m glad to be able to end this column with positive news regarding the expansion of free personal care to anyone assessed as needing it and now coming into effect.

This change will help thousands of people and was brought about by the work of Amanda Kopel, widow of the late, great Dundee United player Frank Kopel, and will be backed with £30 million to enable local authorities to deliver it in full.