Travelling With a Horse
Well not really, as the pony wasn’t allowed on the train.
I do remember a news story many years ago, where someone took a billy goat to a Scottish Island, by train from London. It travelled as a dog.
Scottish Devolution
They are debating this old chestnut on Radio 5 Live at the moment.
Apparently there has been a poll in The Sun, which says that those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are more in favour of devolution than the Scots.
If they do leave the Union, then can they please take the Royal Bank of UK Taxpayers and its debts with them. And they can keep that banker, Fred the Shred too!
The question has to be asked as to whether the EU would admit Scotland. After all Spain has regions that would like independence and may vote against, as it doesn’t want Spain to split.
Scot Nats Sink Prudence’s Aircraft Carriers
It looks like Prudence’s jobs bribe to Scotland of the manufacture of two unnecessary aircraft carriers has been sunk by the performance of the SNP in the elections yesterday. Labour voters have deserted the party in droves.
I watched the most unusual double act this morning on the television when Alex Salmond of the SNP and Annabel Goldie of the Scottish Conservatives had a forthright discussion on their cooperation in the future.
Scotland has a lot of problems, like funding the NHS and universities, poor health, too much drinking and creating worthwhile jobs that will last.
I wish the new government of Scotland a lot of luck. They’ll need it.
I have said many times, that Gordon Brown will rank alongside Lord North as one of our worst Prime Ministers. It would seem now that his country and his supposedly loyal supporters there have deserted his policies.
Scottish Football Gets Uglier
And now there are parcel bombs to Neil Lennon and two fans. There is also this story on the BBC about a Facebook page threatening the Celtic manager.
I can understand why Scottish football is in so much trouble. We certainly don’t want Rangers and Celtic in the English leagues.
As I said before they should form their own Glasgow Premier League and perhaps play behind closed doors. But would that make the domestic violence linked to the games as reported here, better or worse. Certainly that report in the Glasgow Herald, paints a grim picture of the matches.
And then there’s the sectarian songs, that have got Rangers in trouble with UEFA after the match against PSV EIndhoven.
UEFA were soft on Rangers and they should have banned them from Europe.
It’s Grim Up North!
I am a soft Southerner and a proud Londoner to boot, with the tough genes of a true mongrel. But especially after today’s weather reports from Jockshire, no sane man or woman would want to live north of Cambridge. I might make an exception for Liverpool, as I like my culture to have an edge.
Scotland and Daylight Saving Time
Professor Mayer Hillman at the University of Westminster is the first person to do a study of the effects of going to Central European Time for Scotland.
His report is on his web site here.
His major conclusiuons of moving the clocks forward are that it would :-
- Save lives on the road
- Increase opportunities for outdoor leisure and social activities in the evenings
- Improve the health and quality of life of the great majority of the population
- Widen opportunities for people fearful of being out after dark, especially the elderly, to go out in the evenings
- Enable parents to extend the hours they allow their children to be out of doors
- Boost the leisure and tourism industries through increased revenue and job generation
But then as Dr. Hillman is from the University of Westminster, his report will be rubbished, by those totally opposed to the change. And especially by the Scottish Nationalists who will probably oppose it on principle, as the idea comes from Westminster.
But please don’t just rubbish the report. Read what Dr. Hillman has to say, because his report has convinced me, that for the majority of Scots it will be a good thing to change.
After all, Scotland has its own parliament, so they could make their own policy on this one. It is not unknown for countries and even states like Tennessee to use two time zones. But if Scotland should prevent England going to Central European Time, it would be a strong case of the tail wagging the dog.
Why Saving Marham is a Lost Cause
There is a big campaign in Norfolk to keep the Tornado base at Marham open.
Itb won’t work, as there is an election in Scotland and the Lib Dems will make sure Lossiemouth is saved.
The Ugly Face of Scottish Football
Scottish football seems to going to be hit by a referees strike this weekend according to many reports like this. There has been this comment from John Hughes, a former manager of Hibernian and Falkirk.
The game is in a little bit of chaos. It needs bringing together and I sympathise with the referees because they do get a hard time.
But managers are also open to criticism, that is part and parcel of the job.Referees need to be accountable and there has to be more transparency in what goes on behind the doors at Hampden.
But one thing I will say, if referees are getting phone calls to their home or work place, or their kids are getting a hard time at school, then that is not on, that is way below the belt.
After all, it is just a sport.
I heard a bit last night on Radio 5, where it would appear completely outrangeous claims have been made to employers as well, with even claims of religious bigotry.
Obviously, these critics don’t agree with the last part of John Hughes comment.
An Edinburgher Makes Peace with Glasgow
Gavin Mackay successfully makes sausages in South Korea. He had a bit of a problem with the seasoning and eventually found one in Glasgow. This he admitted is very unusual for a man from Edinburgh, as ne’er the twain shall agree!
Will Britain Dance In Time to the Scottish Nationalists?
Parliament is discussing going to Central European Time today, so the BBC has a piece about the possible change from Scotland. A professor from Edinburgh University has said that Scots are generally in favour of the change to lighter evenings, but that the SNP has called the change ludicrous.
Let’s hope that every other politician feels that way about their stand.
But I’ve always felt that this very sensible move, which has so many positive energy, business, job and leisure implications will never happen, as it is in effect a vote for something that makes us closer to Europe.
The Anonymous Widower 