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.

Triple Eh?

Posted on January 5, 2012 by davidsberry

Just about inhaled my muesli this morning when I glanced at today’s Hootsmon front page to see that prophet-of-doom-who-should-know-better Bill Jamieson was querying whether Scotland could retain the present AAA credit rating the UK (and very few other countries) enjoy. … Continue reading →

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Lab Phlostigen Research

Posted on January 5, 2012 by davidsberry

Of all the trends apparent in politics over the last couple of decades, the one that appears pivotal is not any revolution in political thought on policy or the invention of a whole new category like socialism but the rout … Continue reading →

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Rip-off Railways

Posted on January 3, 2012 by davidsberry

Something of a rammy has broken out over the scale of increases in rail fares. In fact, this year’s (average ~5.9%) are no worse than previous. But now that many are feeling the fiscal pinch, sensitivity on such inflation-busting rates … Continue reading →

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The Road Less Travelled

Posted on January 1, 2012 by davidsberry

More than a little surprised at the intensity of debate on loyalty that erupted on Twitter as we approached the bells last night. It seems that I was being controversial when I argued that Unionists were more confused in their … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

We Don’t Need No Altercation

Posted on December 30, 2011 by davidsberry

Since 2007, the total proportion of 18- to 24-year-olds claiming jobseekers’ allowance has almost doubled in Scotland – from 4.3 per cent to 8.3 per cent. While everyone has felt the chill wind of the ongoing fiscal crisis, at the … Continue reading →

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Education is no Football

Posted on December 28, 2011 by davidsberry

Today’s Hootsmon features Alan Massie gaunin’ his dinger that the “SNP’s failure on schools is a dereliction of duty”. The seems a pretty ringing condemnation, yet reading the article, it is hedged around with caveats and conditions—“the SNP inherited Curriculum … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Leave a comment

Of Born-Again Countries & Unionist Bathwater

Posted on December 27, 2011 by davidsberry

On many occasions, I have found myself enlightened and stimulated by Burdzeyeview and would recommend the blog to all on both sides of the debate regarding where Scotland is going and why. I had intended giving the soapbox a rest … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 2 Comments

Jim Sillars: Little Scotlander

Posted on December 22, 2011 by davidsberry

In its time, Scotland has produced its share of groundbreaking politicians and, given the imprecision of and the human flaws intrinsic in politics (unlike with physicists or surgeons) there is less unanimity about who belongs at the top. Jim Sillars … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 1 Comment

A Corner of a Foreign Country

Posted on December 21, 2011 by davidsberry

I am grateful to Alan Summerfield (see comment above) for correcting my erroneous understanding of the geography of local government along the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Passing from Lowestoft to Norwich along the A146 via Beccles had given me the impression that … Continue reading →

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My Favourite Foreign Country

Posted on December 20, 2011 by davidsberry

It would make for sensational reading should it occur anywhere in Scotland but the results of the Worlingham by-election merited just a corner of a page deep inside Norwich’s Eastern Daily Press: “NORMAN Brooks is the new ward councillor for Worlingham, … Continue reading →

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