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.

In Deep Guano

Posted on June 14, 2012 by davidsberry

After years of biting my tongue, I have put myself on our major local charity’s ‘shit list’. This week, East Lothian Council’s new Cabinet approved a paper several years in the making, setting up an arm’s-length North Berwick Harbour Trust … Continue reading →

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CoSLA Gets Grumpy

Posted on June 13, 2012 by davidsberry

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities is, even by its own admission, something of an anorak organisation. Tucked away in the monolithic glass-and-concrete office blocks trapped between the endless tram works on Haymarket Terrace and the endless trains streaming through … Continue reading →

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A Gorgon for Me; A Gorgon for Me

Posted on June 10, 2012 by davidsberry

Ed Milliband’s speech on “Defending the Union” given at the South Bank’s Royal Festival Hall on June 7th was, in many ways, long overdue. Despite Tory protestations at being the prime defenders of the United Kingdom (although the ‘Unionist’ part … Continue reading →

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EIS empty vessels making a lot of noise

Posted on June 9, 2012 by davidsberry

EIS empty vessels making a lot of noise.

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Emancipating the Ladies from Hell

Posted on June 8, 2012 by davidsberry

At last the forces of unionism are drawing together something approaching a campaign to save their union. The latest co-ordinated assault in the pages of the Hootsmon involved offsetting Swinney’s announcement of a new tax regime in Scotland by a … Continue reading →

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But Don’t Mention the War

Posted on June 7, 2012 by davidsberry

It seems that last weekend’s jubilee was a big hit across Germany. Several channels carried coverage and there appears to be a certain fascination with things ‘Englische’. Some touchy Scots find the endemic continental verbal sloppiness between ‘British’ and ‘English’ … Continue reading →

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Do You Know Who I Used to Be?

Posted on June 5, 2012 by davidsberry

Zero Mostel’s classic line from The Producers had special resonance this weekend. Despite the weather and Philip’s hospitalisation, the jubilee seems to have gone off well and those many enthusiasts well pleased with events. I tried to watch the concert … Continue reading →

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Veni; Vidi; Vicar

Posted on June 4, 2012 by davidsberry

Andrew Marr is usually good value, especially in the wilderness that is Sunday morning television. This week, despite the crush of Jubilee pressure, he did not disappoint, with a feisty performance against the Prime Minister over Hunt and leading Toynbee … Continue reading →

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Dahn Sahff Inna Smoke, Innai?

Posted on May 28, 2012 by davidsberry

And so, for my first time this year, I made a pilgrimage to the Imperial Capital—and resplendent the old girl looks too in her much-delayed Spring sunshine finery. Having lived there for a number of years on-and-off, it’s a place … Continue reading →

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Irrtumliche Weltanschauung

Posted on May 25, 2012 by davidsberry

A fascinating conversation flashed amongst the Twitterati yesterday on the unevenness of foreign  language teaching ability in Scottish primary schools, despite a recent move to introduce a second foreign language there. Let’s leave aside for a minute whether the Doric … Continue reading →

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