I’M writing this week’s column as we settle into the first days of a real blip in the hoped-for road out of the Covid19 pandemic.

Within Greater Glasgow, and West Dunbartonshire, household restrictions have been re-introduced after the track and trace systems found that the sharp rise in cases, two to three times above the Scottish average, were pointing back to people meeting in each other’s homes.

As unfortunate and inconvenient as this is, I’d urge you all to continue the great job you have been doing and assist by abiding by the rules.

Remember FACTS: face mask; avoid crowded places; clean hands and surfaces regularly; two metres apart; and self isolate and book a test if you show symptoms.

Locally we have been extremely busy with our usual workloads, but three types of issue in particular can be mentioned. The Great Western Road temporary cycle lanes are still high up in the inbox, and I still await adequate answers to my constituents’ questions.

Read more: OPINION Bill Kidd MSP: Keep safe – and stick to the FACTS

Then there was the realisation that the city’s Citizens’ Advice Bureaux and money advice centres were under threat, having not fared well in the scoring process for the new Glasgow Communities Fund.

Thankfully when this was understood wheels started to turn very quickly to look for assistance and funding to keep these vital services open.

I’m hopeful that the meetings that are now taking place, to quantify the assistance needed against the monies available, will result in much more welcome outcomes, and I congratulate my colleagues in the SNP administration in Glasgow, and everyone else who rallied round to make sure these issues were addressed.

I’m hopeful that the same willingness to find a solution will assist with other groups, such as the fabulous Buddies Club.

Meanwhile, Jordanhill School had an offer put before its parents by the board of governors from Cala Homes to fund a new gymnasium in return for their new development nearby being allowed to be included in the “number one” list for addresses from which children can hope to be enrolled in both the primary and secondary schools.

The offer was turned down by a 2-1 margin. Now everyone involved will need to look at what the possibilities are and how they can best represent them to a wider audience.

I’d like to sign off this month by welcoming the decision by Malta to sign the UN treaty to abolish nuclear weapons only a few days after the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I’m looking forward to when an independent Scotland can do likewise.