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.

An Eventful Day

Posted on March 13, 2013 by davidsberry

It is a delight that East Lothian now has its own university and a shame that I take so little advantage of that fact. But on Tuesday, I took an opportunity to sit in on Prof. Joe Goldblatt’s class on … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Education | Tagged | Leave a comment

Mining the Chalk Face

Posted on March 8, 2013 by davidsberry

Monday saw the publication of a report much anticipated in parts of the education fraternity but which largely went unnoticed by anyone else. This is a pity. The independent think tanks CSPP and Reform Scotland had joined forces to create a … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged | 2 Comments

Mea Culpa

Posted on March 2, 2013 by davidsberry

Thursday was a busy day. I was up early and on the train to Aberdeen en route to Banff to pick up a vehicle. As ScotRail has yet to enter the 21st century and provide power sockets or WiFi on … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 5 Comments

theSPACE: to Infinity & Beyond

Posted on February 27, 2013 by davidsberry

As an elected representative of the community dealing with the inevitable large bureaucracy of large organisations like councils, the Serenity Prayer is a good thing to keep by you for those times you get baffled by procedural requirements and want … Continue reading →

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Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Wrang Yin

Posted on February 24, 2013 by davidsberry

Most media are carrying fulsome obituaries of the former Scottish Secretary of State for Scotland Bruce Millan, who has just died at a ripe age of 85. Tribute to him was paid by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, who said: “Bruce was … Continue reading →

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Sometimes You Just Need Balls

Posted on February 23, 2013 by davidsberry

I’m sure that it has never bothered Ed that the two of us disagree on so much. I didn’t like the cut of his jib when he was in the Westminster shadow of Irn Broon. That dislike went steeply downhill … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Politics | Leave a comment

That’s More Like It

Posted on February 21, 2013 by davidsberry

I was struck by a post elsewhere this week. Though I disagreed with its conclusions, I was impressed a young and principled unionist could make their case without implying that everyone in Scotland would go bald and slobber uncontrollably post-independence. In … Continue reading →

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Fit Like, Eh?

Posted on February 20, 2013 by davidsberry

Just back from a couple of days in various parts of Aberdeenshire and am happy to report that, not only is the Doric alive and well but that the area is surviving as robustly as you would expect. It’s not … Continue reading →

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Not Just the People Must Be Free

Posted on February 19, 2013 by davidsberry

Both Anas Sarwar and Johann Lamont stepped off into this week with major speeches about what Scotland can afford. So far, so practical—and so new; it’s not often you catch Scottish Labour arguing for something more subtle than simply throwing … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Leave a comment

A Right Wunch of Bankers

Posted on February 16, 2013 by davidsberry

After enduring relative poverty of a teenager, funding any outlay from paper routes and summer jobs and the absolute poverty of being a student, some forty years ago I finally had a salary fit to open a current account with … Continue reading →

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