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.

Macho White Heffalumps

Posted on March 26, 2012 by davidsberry

Ever since The Defence Minister Philip Hammond started backpedalling last week, there has been more than a whiff of panic in the air over the two monster aircraft carriers so beloved by the Lords at the Admirality (as CPO Pertwee … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

In Darkest Englandshire

Posted on March 25, 2012 by davidsberry

We Scots poke fun at our neighbours quite a bit. And, truth be known, they do deserve it sometimes. One such occasion was the polTroon fest underway this weekend, during which various ‘heavyweight’ spokespersons (applies in particular to Lord Strathclyde … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 1 Comment

A-Bashing We Will Go

Posted on March 21, 2012 by davidsberry

Down at North Berwick Harbour this morning, I was delighted to find yet another full crew of volunteers preparing to board one the the Seabird Centre RIBs and head out to Craigleith, one kilometer off shore and blighted until recently … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment | 1 Comment

The Man Who Would Be King

Posted on March 20, 2012 by davidsberry

Tony Blair has a lot to answer for. Taking nothing away from the vision with which he shook the Labour Party out of its post-Foot slumber and made it electable, there are unsavourary aspects of his legacy with which many … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 1 Comment

We Want to Get BACK On

Posted on March 19, 2012 by davidsberry

Today’s issue of the Hootsmon has an interesting article from a Devo-Plus advocate Malcolm Fraser who argues Scotland does not need independence to take on more responsibility for its own future. Plausible though many of his arguments are, it is … Continue reading →

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England’s Green & Pleasant Land

Posted on March 18, 2012 by davidsberry

A recent book by Prof Higgs of Essex University is entitled Identifying the English but it will be of little help in the independence debate as it is all about identity theft since 1500. But one of the major components … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Scotland by Hugh MacDiarmid

Posted on March 17, 2012 by davidsberry

As an enjoyable weekend break, I’m at the StAnza festival’s 15th outing and was enjoying St Andrews’ lively atmosphere in term time, delving into various entertainments and thinking I was well clear of politics and motivations to blog. Then I came … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | 1 Comment

You Choose—

Posted on March 15, 2012 by davidsberry

Two very different quotes regarding Scottish independence from viewpoints furth of Scotland came to light this week. One, from a Tory grandee—whose party prides itself as emblematic of tea with crumpets, cricket on village greens and jolly good shows; that has … Continue reading →

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You Can’t Get There from Here

Posted on March 14, 2012 by davidsberry

A recent tweet complained that a passenger boarding a Lothian bus did not have his (valid) Ridacard accepted, was thrown off and had to taxi in to work. I’m sure this was a rare exception but it highlights a certain … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | 5 Comments

Not the Best of Health

Posted on March 13, 2012 by davidsberry

Today’s Hootsmon prints an op ed piece by local MSP Iain Gray entitled “Smiling and Nodding Will not Create Change”. In it, Iain, a former  Minister for Social Justice, fulminates about the lack of progress in harmonising (if not actually … Continue reading →

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