I am constantly doing this . Maybe you do it yourself. I relate my forefathers’ lives to events in the world’s history and wonder what they were doing as these events unfolded. When I think about my parents and my grandparents and remember them, or more likely try to remember parts of their lives that […]
September, 2014
Five things the Scottish referendum campaign has taught us
1. The banks are still in charge. Their greed helped plunge Britain, Ireland, Europe and the US into the worst economic crisis since the 1930s. Now, without the slightest sign of shame, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds, TSB and the Clydesdale Bank have all warned they’ll head down south should Scotland vote for independence. 2. […]
SO IS THIS PART OF THE BIG GRADUATED RESPONSE? by Harry McAvinchey
Jeffrey Donaldson was on the Nolan Show yesterday, telling us all that they want more talks.This is the day after his Great Leader , Peter has already told us all that the local government is not “fit for purpose”. So how will more talks improve it in any way? The reason we are really in […]
Up the poll
I’d be very interested in hearing people’s views on this: http://barker.co.uk/scotlandpoll#.VBGD1P2y60J.twitter
‘Scotland will say YES’ by John Patton
Derryman John Patton has lived in Scotland since 1971 where he was head teacher in two non-denominational schools. He was elected President of the Educational Institute of Scotland, one of a very small number of non-Scots and the only Irish person to do so. A committed credit union enthusiast from his Derry origins, he was […]
PETER HAS COME OUT by Harry McAvinchey
Peter Robinson has come out. He seems to do this every time he has a summer holiday .A bit of rest and relaxation gives him time to think away from the hurly-burly of the working week and that wee lightbulb goes off in his head . Last year’s Special Performance came in the form of […]
David Cameron: truly, madly, deeply
As David Cameron travels north to Scotland today, to tell the people there how desperately he wants them to stay in the union with Britain, I wonder will his thoughts stray to the north-east corner of Ireland known as Northern Ireland. If they do, he will surely collapse back on his plush seat and groan quietly. […]
On not being fit and awkward questions
Noel Thompson asked a significant question on BBC Raidio Uladh/Radio Ulster this morning. He was talking to Arlene Foster, who was sitting in for Peter Robinson (thinks: wonder why that was?). Robinson has an article in today’s Belfast Telegraph saying the Stormont Executive is “not fit for purpose” (I really admire people who can use […]
Sure I knew your father. And grandfather.
You’re probably familiar with the notion of a hierarchy of victims. But did you know there’s hierarchy of assailants? It’s not organic – that’s to say, it isn’t a natural part of the assailant world. It gets pasted on. This struck me between the eyes as I read a recent report in a paper south […]
THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF WALKING AND TALKING AT THE SAME TIME by Harry McAvinchey
What is it with our politicians ? This is such a small place that there is really nowhere to hide when it comes to concealing arrant foolishness.If the place was as big as America and the activity was happening in some little hick town out in the sticks, you might almost expect it.Some drunken, redneck, […]