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.

Twelve Score and Seven Years Ago

Posted on July 4, 2023 by davidsberry

After the best part of a century dominating world events and its economy and on top of its victory over “The Evil Empire” that ended the Cold War, America is having what can only be described as an “existential crisis”. … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, USA | 1 Comment

Away with the Ferries

Posted on June 28, 2023 by davidsberry

Of all the various alligators snapping at Humza Yousaf’s bum, the most persistent and damaging has been one with a long, sad history, inherited from his predecessor and showing no sign of going away. Although the contract for two ships … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Politics, Transport | Leave a comment

Wanted: Unconventional Convention

Posted on June 25, 2023 by davidsberry

This weekend saw the SNP faithful gather in Dundee’s Caird Hall for an “Independence Convention”. Humza Yousaf’s idea was to agree among themselves in private on a road map to independence that would break the logjam imposed by the Tory … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Leave a comment

Hoist by Their Own Canard—Boris Johnson

Posted on June 15, 2023 by davidsberry

“My policy on cake is pro- having it and pro- eating it.” —Boris Johnson “By the time he graduated from Oxford at the age of 23, Johnson’s three key personality traits had been formed. After that age, he did not … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 2 Comments

A Long Way to Tipperary

Posted on June 10, 2023 by davidsberry

Don’t tell the jingoists, but the “great” in Great Britain is not some accolade of national superiority but a geographic term. As the island stretches over 80,000 square miles and the French peninsula of Britany only covers a bare 13,000, … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Politics, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

High Street Robbery

Posted on May 12, 2023 by davidsberry

In the past, this scribe has criticised East Lothian Council (ELC) for its economic innumeracy. As examples, it couldn’t make its pie-beans-and-chips staff canteen wash its face, so they leased it to two ladies who turned it into the money-spinner … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Community, Politics, Transport | Leave a comment

The Right to Arm Bears

Posted on May 10, 2023 by davidsberry

This week saw another mass shooting in the USA when eight people were killed and seven injured in Texas by a right-wing supremacist wielding an assault rifle, bringing the number of mass shootings there to over 200 this year alone. … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Politics, USA | Leave a comment

Rishi, Don’t Lose That Number

Posted on May 7, 2023 by davidsberry

A week ago, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak traveled north to address the faithful with a sermon in the SEC.  He played the usual refrain of how the SNP are failing Scotland and how the Tories are “delivering for all parts of … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Politics | Leave a comment

The House that Jock Built

Posted on April 23, 2023 by davidsberry

On Wednesday, April 19th, our new First Minister launched his flagship “New Leadership; a Fresh Start for Scotland” into rather choppy seas. With the SNP’s former leader, CEO and Treasurer all under a cloud, whatever message he hoped to get across … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Politics | 1 Comment

Wars Begin at Calais

Posted on April 9, 2023 by davidsberry

“Fog in the Channel; Continent cut off!” — The Times, 22 October, 1957 Despite a rehearsal of delays and confusion over last weekend when holidaymakers had to queue for up to 24 hours at Dover to get away to the Continent, more … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Politics | 1 Comment