Category Archives: Community

Enough with Racket Science

Posted on November 24, 2013 by davidsberry

Yesterday, my normally chatty barista went all quiet when one of my coffee buddies brought the chat around to independence by speculating on the White Paper due out this coming week. When prodded, she looked awkward, but blurted out “What … Continue reading →

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It’s Official: I’ve Become My Dad

Posted on November 18, 2013 by davidsberry

It may have been a long time coming but what brought me epiphany was 4-5 days of solitude. While I really enjoyed this last summer, it is over and, despite pleasant weather, autumn is clearly hurtling winterwards. Although it doesn’t … Continue reading →

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Big Brother in George Street

Posted on November 7, 2013 by davidsberry

The Accounts Commission does a fine job. Given that local councils are run by (no offence intended as I’m one myself) a bunch of amateur councillors, as a result of the way they are selected, it is self-evident that some … Continue reading →

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Urban Sproil

Posted on November 4, 2013 by davidsberry

The meeting of East Lothian Council ten days ago was so taken up with arguing over Fenton Barns plan-breaking housing and roasting the divisional Chief Super over the sheer incompetence of Police Scotland when it came to behaving like a … Continue reading →

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Man, You’re Welcome; Now Go Home

Posted on October 31, 2013 by davidsberry

One of Scotland’s many blessings is its international reputation, built on many varied and dazzling things but not least on the warmth and welcome of its people. As Billy Wolfe, one-time SNP Leader and inveterate champion of Scotland and its … Continue reading →

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Stop the World: England Wants to Get Off

Posted on October 6, 2013 by davidsberry

Around fifty years ago, the Scottish Nationalist (as it was then) Party was a joke to Labour. Ensconced as their MPs and councillors were in political fortress built out of Clyde shipyards, Motherwell steel mills, Fife coal mines and newly … Continue reading →

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‘Murdoch’ She Wrote

Posted on September 16, 2013 by davidsberry

I am not Cllr. Lesley Hinds’ greatest fan. Much of her work—up to and including the ill-fated Trams—has come in for some stick in this blog. But she is to be commended for highlighting a key issue in our communities … Continue reading →

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Coffee-Coloured Punters

Posted on September 13, 2013 by davidsberry

Being old enough to remember main cultural moves in Western society for the latter half of the 20th century, one element that keeps returning to me as various unionists meld the peoples of Britain into one prosperous happy family is … Continue reading →

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Two Genders, Separated by a Common Humanity

Posted on August 23, 2013 by davidsberry

I paraphrase Mark Twain’s pithy observation about the Americans and the British because Bill Walker’s conviction this week for unsavoury behaviour towards a number of women in his life has brought the whole spousal abuse issue back into front-page debate. The … Continue reading →

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Kailyaird Kulchur

Posted on August 22, 2013 by davidsberry

Margaret Curran MP has come in for some stick in these columns for being venally closed-minded when it comes to her nationalist political opponents. Nonetheless her piece in today’s Hootsmon has much to commend it in its broad and staunch … Continue reading →

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