Author Archives: davidsberry

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About davidsberry

Local ex-councillor, tour guide and database designer. Keen on wildlife, history, boats and music. Retired in 2017.

A Tale of Two Cities

Posted on April 24, 2016 by davidsberry

I make no pretence at being an urbane city dweller but I know my way around much of the Western world and have seen many samples of the rest. Having grown up when there was still something of a British … Continue reading →

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Trans-Arctic Convoys

Posted on April 2, 2016 by davidsberry

Once upon a time, the British took the Phoenecian and Viking idea of building a maritime empire to its logical global conclusion. We spent the last two centuries congratulating ourselves on how clever we were to do so. Leave aside … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Environment | Tagged | 1 Comment

Nae Twae Kitchens

Posted on March 26, 2016 by davidsberry

My grandad was a crusty old fart, given to rolling in from the pub the worse for wear and frightening the bejasus out of me when he took off his wooden leg to relax. His real one is still somewhere … Continue reading →

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A Terrible Beauty

Posted on March 20, 2016 by davidsberry

For some years, I have made a point of wearing green on March 17th. That’s not because I have any Irish blood but because of a swathe of positive influences that Ireland and the Irish have made on my life. … Continue reading →

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Building Something Worth Keeping

Posted on March 13, 2016 by davidsberry

Edinburgh has a lot going for it as a city, not least its World Heritage architecture, its strong cultural reputation, its status as a capital city and its stunning setting beside the Firth and peppered with hills. Property professionals prize … Continue reading →

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Carlekemp: Architectural Gem

Posted on March 10, 2016 by davidsberry

You can drive down Abbotsford Road in North Berwick and not even know it’s there. Carlekemp, a long, elegant pile of mellow Rattlebags stone, hides in its expansive four acres of grass and trees behind a high wall that retains … Continue reading →

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Chocolate Steam Train

Posted on March 6, 2016 by davidsberry

Ever since 2007 when the affable, ineffectual John Home Robertson (as unlikely a Labour MSP as you’ll ever meet) drifted into retirement, East Lothian has been represented at the Scottish Parliament by Iain Gray. Now Iain—like John—is not a bad … Continue reading →

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Why Did It Take So Long?

Posted on March 2, 2016 by davidsberry

Today’s Herald reports that Nicola is to use a visit to a school in Midlothian to announce major changes to how Council Tax is levied. The paper reports that the SNP had originally wanted to replace it with a progressive … Continue reading →

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Council Crunch

Posted on January 31, 2016 by davidsberry

Any regular reader will be know I have been a inveterate supporter of Scottish independence since I first became aware of politics as a teenager. For most of that time (38 years to be exact), I was a member of … Continue reading →

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The Budget as Window Dressing

Posted on December 17, 2015 by davidsberry

John Swinney may be Scotland’s best politician. He displays neither the presence nor the delivery of charismatic leadership but he is, for many, the embodiment of “a safe pair of hands”. He comes across as an old style bank manager, … Continue reading →

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