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.

Recycled Rubbish

Sad case that I am, while on-line yesterday entering canvass results, the TV that shares my desk was tuned—like a junkie who can’t get enough—to Scottish Questions on BBC Parliament. This one was from April 18th, but I had to … Continue reading

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I’m All Right, Jock

Peter Sellers fans—and readers already carrying a bus pass—may recall his merciless portrayal of “bruvvah” Fred Kite and his heroic antics at preventing upper-class twit Ian Carmichael from inadvertently causing efficiency among the work force of a munitions factory in … Continue reading

Posted in Education | Leave a comment

The Innumerati

This week, it appears that Ed Milliband has finally succeeded in doing what he has clearly been desperate to do for months—seize the political agenda. He did this by proposing something daring and radical and which must therefore run against … Continue reading

Posted in Commerce, Politics | 2 Comments

Operation SOS Puffin

Even in as delightful a place to live as East Lothian, people get into the usual habits of life. As we zip from home to work to shop and then off to evening class or golf course or pub, we … Continue reading

Posted in Environment | 2 Comments

Economic with the Argument

Some of my more volatile colleagues have come close to seizure with this weekend’s issue of The Economist, whose cover carries a waspish map of ‘Skintland’ and whose densely packed articles include a record three that discuss Scotland. Having been … Continue reading

Posted in Commerce, Politics | 2 Comments

The First Shall Be Last

Last week, the Edinburgh Evening News broke the story that FirstBus (Scotland East) was going to withdraw roughly half the service it currently runs in East and Mid-lothian. Having worked with First through EL Council and seen the thick end … Continue reading

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NATO no Tenet on OTAN

I’m a follower of Burdzeyeview because said Burd has a deft habit of spearing keys issues of the day with insightful comment—thereby roping in a fair number of informed people to comment on them and generally advance the issue, even … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | 3 Comments

It Was 20 Years Ago Today

No, not the Beatles track (that one was actually 45 years ago now) but, in displaying my anorak tendencies in spades, I fess up  to having just spent a housework day half-watching BBC Parliament’s 12-hour-long  marathon rebroadcast of the 1992 … Continue reading

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“I Can See How One Might Be Stirred Up”

How unfortunate that such empathetic insight as displayed by the Rev Beeb in Forster’s “A Room with a View” is not echoed by the mighty Auntie Beeb when it comes to allowing democratic voice to its Scottish license-payers. As outlined … Continue reading

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Why Far Away is Close to Home

Oakland, California is 8 time zones or 5,000 miles from Scotland and, as it seldom registers on our screens unless the Raiders make it to the Superbowl, is seen to have little relevance. Oakland does not have the profile of … Continue reading

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