Watch this space. There’s a foul smell emerging from this hole in the absence of its cover and it’s going to attract lots of press rats over the next few weeks, as the matter of whether or not the Stone of Destiny gets returned to London, for the coronation of Barmy Prince Charlie takes off. Many of you will be aware of the many stories about the stone. Please inform us below. The most fun is that, on hearing that Edward 1st of England was on his way to Scone, in 1296, to claim it, the local monks hid it … Continue reading Let Charles III sit on a cesspit cover if he likes?

According to the Herald in February 2023: Ferguson Marine: Ferry fiasco firm costs taxpayer nearly £500m..so far Try searching for ‘BBC Scotland ferries‘ and you’ll get far more to read than anyone’s sanity would permit. The total cost of the planned ferry-building is currently estimated by the Scottish Government at £1.4 billion for six major vessels and harbour repairs. Yesterday, thanks AR for the tip, BBC Business reports: Delays to HS2 [already 5 years behind] are being considered among other options to curb rising costs, the project’s boss has admitted. The planned high speed railway which will link London, the … Continue reading FIVE years late England-only HS2 may cost as much as 42 major ferries for Calmac!

Today, in only just over 600 words, BBC Scotland’s report on the EIS recommending acceptance of the Scottish Government offer, space is found for this: But it would be wrong to presume the result in advance. The offer is still below inflation. The question is whether the new pay offer is the best which can realistically be achieved. The outcome of the EIS consultation should be known next Friday. But few in the union will be celebrating. Instead some senior figures are saddened that it took industrial action on this scale to achieve this pay offer. and this: Scottish Labour’s … Continue reading Only BBC Scotland politicises a teacher strike settlement on behalf of the opposition

The media are frothing like hyenas as the SNP leadership procedures offer them titillating tales of sex only within marriage. Tory MPs will be rushing home try out this latest kinky thing, sex with ‘the wife!’ There isn’t a recent full poll but two sub-polls in early March tell us that the troops are relaxed. Techne on 2nd March have the same percentage, 3%, for the SNP as they had on February 23rd. People Polling on 1st March have the same percentage, 5%, for the SNP as they had on February 22nd. Small samples of around 100-150, I know but … Continue reading Polls – SNP support unaffected by ‘civil war’

In the Scotsman today by Cumbrian, Joseph Anderson (above): Leaked Matt Hancock messages: Scottish Government forced to defend schools face mask policy The Scottish Government has defended its decision to force school children to wear masks in classrooms, after leaked messages revealed the UK Government was advised there was “no strong argument” in favour. A trove of whatsapp messages from former UK health secretary Matt Hancock, leaked to the Telegraph by journalist and anti-lockdown campaigner Isabel Oakeshott, show that Westminster politicians decided to advise that children wear masks in schools after agreeing it was “not worth an argument” with First Minister Nicola … Continue reading Thousands saved by SNP face masks in English schools

Thanks to AR for the tip. From BBC Scotland yesterday: One of Scotland’s most recognisable drinks brands is among hundreds which have not signed up to a controversial new bottle recycling scheme. Dougal Sharp, the founder of Innis and Gunn, questioned the legality of the scheme and raised concerns about its costs to businesses and consumers. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64823432 From Wikipedia: Innis & Gunn has contract brewed in Glasgow at Tennent’s Wellpark Brewery since 2014 and has been exported to over 35 countries.It is the No.1 “craft” lager in Scotland, the No.1 imported “craft” beer in Canada and the No.3 in Sweden. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innis_%26_Gunn Sweden has a deposit … Continue reading Innis & Gunn owner happy with deposit schemes as long as they’re not in Scotland

My Scotland accused of deliberately producing far more electricity than UK can cope with! post, earlier today, triggered comments on renewable energy and ducks, well worthy of reposting for maximum attention. Here they are: Anonymous Around 1964/65 when I was at school, preparing for my Higher Grade Physics and Chemistry, we used to get lectures once a fortnight from academics about current issues. One of the lectures was based on the recently devised, “Salter’s Ducks”, which were a way of extracting energy from waves and converting it to electricity. The thesis was that a long array of these anchored between … Continue reading What happened to Salter’s Ducks?

Today, the much-respected Open Democracy site has: Excluding the impact of structural racism from the Covid-19 inquiry would be a “glaring omission”, a preliminary hearing has been told. Campaigners have called the inquiry’s decision “shocking” as it reaches its final preliminary stage. Allison Munroe KC, who is representing bereaved families, told a preliminary hearing of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on Tuesday that “the issue of structural discrimination and racism should be investigated as a key issue in each and every module”. “If this inquiry is to properly investigate the issue of systemic failings,” she said, “not to consider structural discrimination … Continue reading Why were Covid deaths among non-White ethnic minority groups in Scotland far lower pro rata than among white majority?