Monthly Archives: January 2013

The Auld Antagonist

Posted on January 28, 2013 by davidsberry

Scotland is a funny sort of place. As an independent state throughout the Middle Ages it might have been poor—but then so was most of the planet. And that relative poverty helped to shape the national character of pluck, doggedness, … Continue reading →

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Big Ben

Posted on January 27, 2013 by davidsberry

Having spent a third of my adult life in the States and travelled through most of them, it seems I have a higher opinion of Americans and their civic qualities than most Brits, Yet, while they do exhibit qualities that … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Education | Tagged | 1 Comment

Osbo’s Gilt Complex

Posted on January 26, 2013 by davidsberry

STATUTORY WARNING: This blog is calibrated for fiscal anoraks and may cause nausea and/or disorientation among those faint-hearted about figures. This year has not started well for George Osborne. While some might relish the evil schadenfreude in that, the problem … Continue reading →

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Straight from the Top

Posted on January 25, 2013 by davidsberry

Unionists may not agree but I’m not the only one who thinks that the Scottish media—including BBC Scotland, the Hootsmon and, on occasion, The Herald reflect the bias of their unionist ‘owners’. While I have no trouble with those who … Continue reading →

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Matthew Ch.10, Verse 26

Posted on January 24, 2013 by davidsberry

I’m not given to religious quotes and—lest any reader fall under the delusion that your humble scribe has gone all pious in his dotage, the only reason I know the verse in the title is from as eloquent an anti-war … Continue reading →

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Cottages: Cosier and Healthier

Posted on January 23, 2013 by davidsberry

All across Scotland a debate about the NHS and how its services can be preserved amidst these new financial strictures is bubbling beneath the media surface. Above the surface, what debate there is about health focusses on waiting times and … Continue reading →

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The Shape of the Future

Posted on January 18, 2013 by davidsberry

To quote Holyrood magazine which has proved itself pretty adept at putting its finger on the pulse of the moment: “Scotland’s population has reached its highest ever level. Official census figures published at the end of last year revealed that … Continue reading →

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Neart na Gaoithe

Posted on January 16, 2013 by davidsberry

Tuesday’s meeting of the East Lothian Cabinet was pretty light on council business but it carried one paper that will have long and deep repercussions for the whole Firth of Forth. Nine miles off Fife Ness and nineteen from North … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Environment | Tagged | 1 Comment

Saving Us from Ourselves

Posted on January 13, 2013 by davidsberry

It is meant as no insult to the Welsh, Cumbria, Peak District or anywhere else to say that Scotland has the most extensive rugged landscape in the British Isles—or, for that matter, Western Europe. There are more mountains to scale, … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Environment | Tagged | 1 Comment

Scrooge’s Abacus

Posted on January 9, 2013 by davidsberry

It was no surprise that the ConDems won tonight’s vote in Westminster on a Bill to limit annual increases in benefits to 1%, nor was it any surprise that Labour politicians lined up to condemn this development. So far, so … Continue reading →

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