Thursday, December 6, 2012

6th of December 2012 - All Change At Maybury

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

6th of December 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

ALL CHANGE AT MAYBURY

Now that the trams are finally being allowed out onto the tracks between the depot and Edinburgh Airport for driver training, isn't it time that the people of Edinburgh (not to mention the rest of Scotland who have helped us to pay for them) should get a chance to sample their benefits? It would do much to reduce diesel pollution if, in future, the 100 service airport bus terminated at Maybury thus allowing passengers to decamp and continue by clean electric traction to the airport.

John Eoin Douglas

Monday, November 12, 2012

12th of November 2012 - Contrast In Governors

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

12th of November 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

CONTRAST IN GOVERNORS

I was sorry to hear of the passing of Sir Rex Hunt who, as Governor, Commander-in-Chief and Vice Admiral of the Falkland Islands during the 1982 invasion, proudly wore his gubernatorial uniform on the dark day that he surrendered to the Argentinians.

Contrast this dignified regard for tradition with the disgraceful action of Lord Patten as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Hong Kong when it was handed over to the Chinese in 1997 in refusing to wear the proper uniform so that, when the sun set on this last part of Empire, he was dressed in a dowdy black suit and looked more like spiv or man of business rather than representative of Queen and Country.  A bus conductor or nurse would not have been permitted such impertinence! And this man was allowed to become Chair of the BBC Trust?

John Eoin Douglas

Thursday, November 8, 2012

8th of November 2012 - Tale Of Two Cities

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

8th of November 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

TALE OF TWO CITIES

From a Dutch tourist, I recently learned that Amsterdam is having similar problems to Edinburgh's trams with the extension to their Metro sytem suffering from delays due to unforseen construction problems and resultant cost over-runs.

Would it not be useful for the two Capital cities to "twin" in some way thus allowing senior local government officers and elected representatives to make exchange visits to compare notes on how these problems can best be solved?

John Eoin Douglas

Monday, October 8, 2012

8th of October 2012 - Abortion Logic

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

8th of October 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

ABORTION LOGIC

It is glaringly inconsistent for some government ministers to seek to reduce the abortion rate by dropping the 24 week limit whilst supporting penalisation of the children of unemployed parents through targetted cuts in the benefits system.

If the survival and welfare of children is crucial, economic support should be available as a practical alternative to abortion. If saving public money is paramount, then surely Tories should be seeking to raise the abortion limit to 5 years or older?

John Eoin Douglas

Thursday, October 4, 2012

4th of October 2012 - Grave Police Error

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

4th of October 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

GRAVE POLICE ERROR

I am perturbed to learn that the Metropolitan Police are looking into allegations of rape and other sexual misconduct leveled at the late Sir James Savile OBE.

As there can now be no question of any criminal charges being laid against him (unless the Met knows something about his presumed demise that has not been vouchsafed to the public), I resent valuable police time and resources being squandered when there are burglars, drug users and phone tapping journalists still to be brought to book.

John Eoin Douglas

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

4th of September 2012 - Dear Green Places

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

4th of September 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

DEAR GREEN PLACES

I hope that Edinburgh Council will ignore Leith Athletic FC's complaints that their pitches are a "write-off" following damage done by the Edinburgh Mela and other important cultural events on Leith Links (Evening News 3rd Sep 2012). After all, their claimed membership of under 1,000 is tiny compared to the masses of people who have enjoyed these events.

In any case, why can they only play on finely manicured lawns? Any real soccer enthusiast will tell you that all that is required is a ball, a muddy field and school caps for posts!

John Eoin Douglas

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

22nd of August 2012 - Garden View

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

22nd of August 2012


Dear Sir/Madam,

GARDEN VIEW

The majority of Aberdonians who voted in favour of the Aberdeen City Gardens Project in a public referendum must feel sympathy with supporters of capital punishment.

The councillors of Aberdeen have ignored their electors in just the same way that Westminster ignores the majority of UK citizens who would see the return of judicial hanging.

The fact that the council has saved such a beautiful city from despoilment in the interest of progress is irrelevant to the expressed will of its people who really do not deserve the benefit of their wisdom..

John Eoin Douglas

Monday, August 13, 2012

13th of August 2012 - Fast Lane

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

13th of August 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

FAST LANE

Now that the Olympics are over, it is time to consider their legacy for our capital city.

As a guest of the Olympic Family, I was impressed by the speed and efficiency of the Olympic Route Network's segregated lanes and would ask Boris Johnson to consider their permanent retention for use by official vehicles and those who are willing to pay a premium.

Their aspirational affect on those in the slow lanes could well drive new generations to hard work and consequent economic success.

John Eoin Douglas

Friday, August 3, 2012

3rd of August 2012 - Cold Cellar Turkey

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

3rd of August 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

COLD CELLAR TURKEY

I write in support of Scottish  Borders Tory MSP John Lamont in his opposition to the NHS's distribution of Naloxone kits designed to ameliorate the effects of heroin.

The NHS spends far too much money on nampy pamby liberal "solutions" to the willful recreational use of narcotic drugs.

The most effective solution is cheap, as I know from personal experience.

My wife was an addict before I met her but has now been "clean" for over thirty years. Being locked by her parents in a dank cellar with rats and the like for six months is not an experience that she would care to repeat. Which is why she will never touch drugs again as she is well aware that, were she so to do, she could expect the same "tough love" from me although, unfortunately, our abode does not have a cellar.

John Eoin Douglas

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

24th of July 2012 - Real Cost Of Olympics

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

24th of July 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

REAL COST OF OLYMPICS

What concerns me about the Olympics is not financial cost, road congestion, much over-rated threats to civil liberties or the virtual monopolising of the airwaves with a monoculture of sportive "news". Rather, it is the knowledge that if an event giving rise to National Mourning occurred (like the death of Diana or the Queen Mother),  the games could not be abandoned as a mark of respect due to contractual obligations.

Were the next few weeks to see the sad loss of any of our Royal Family or Lady Thatcher, the British People could never continue with the games in a spirit of enforced jollity. Yet, that is precisely what the promoters and sponsors of this tawdry sporting circus would attempt to ensure.

John Eoin Douglas

Thursday, July 19, 2012

19th of July 2012 - Naked Truth

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

19th of July 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

NAKED TRUTH

The cost to the public purse of gaoling Naked Rambler Stephen Gough has become intolerable.

Were he only to agree to have his external sexual organs surgically removed, his nudity could cause offence to nobody.

On the other hand, anybody going out unclothed in the current weather is clearly deranged and, on this basis, the use of Mental Health legislation may be justified.

John Eoin Douglas

Monday, July 16, 2012

16th of July 2012 - Call With Consequences

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

16th of July 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

CALL WITH CONSEQUENCES

Regrettably, the involvement of the Roman Catholic Church has totally wrecked any winnable campaign against same-sex marriage. The hypocrisy of their hierarchy's lengthy inaction against the predations of paedophile priests means that any Catholic pronouncement on sexual ethics is now fatally tainted, whatever its content.

Instead of calling for a referendum, Cardinal O'Brien must reluctantly accept (as have I) that the forces of decency in Scotland have lost and that the majority of Scots now support same-sex marriage.

When the homosexualist hordes retaliate by calling for a referendum on segregated schooling for his adherents, he may soon come to regret his inept meddling.

John Eoin Douglas

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

11th of July 2012 - Pluvial Measures

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

11th of July 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

PLUVIAL MEASURES

It seems that we are currently in receipt of record amounts of rain.

Whilst it has certainly been somewhat moist of recent weeks, I have been unable to compare precipitation levels with previous years due to the media's fetish for using only metric units.

Perhaps you would care to more fully inform your readers by converting to inches in future reports?

It is claimed that many younger people may not be able to understand these - but they can easily learn.

John Eoin Douglas

Sunday, June 10, 2012

10th of June 2012 - No March Of Progress

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

10th of June 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

NO  MARCH OF PROGRESS

As the moral decline of our nation is clearly reflected in our legislators, it comes as no surprise to me that over half of the Members of the Scottish Parliament have pledged to support same-sex marriage . It is also no co-incidence that several of the party leaders in the Parliament are self-professed and fully paid up members of the homosexual conspiracy.

Soon their marching season will be upon us with parades of perversion planned for both Edinburgh and Glasgow that will disrupt civic life for a whole afternoon. But, unlike the much maligned Orange Parades, they will not have the saving grace of providing an inconvenienced public with some pleasant music as homosexualists seem only to respond to hordes of lesbian drummers or jarring disco beats.

John Eoin Douglas

Monday, May 14, 2012

14th of May 2012 - Scottish Government Bottles Out On Ban

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

14th of May 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT BOTTLES OUT ON BAN

The Scottish Government's proposal of a mere 50p minimum cost per unit of alcohol clearly indicates that they are not taking the dangers of alcohol seriously.  It is a tokenistic gesture which, whilst providing a major financial boost to alcohol retailers and manufacturers, will do nothing to improve the health and wellbeing of all our citizens.

It is a sad truth that the sixty deaths per annum that they claim will be avoided are likely to be of the poor and feckless underclass who, whilst doubtless being mourned by a few friends and family, would probably otherwise go unmissed in the greater scheme of things. Meanwhile, those with even marginally greater income and better money management skills will, to the detriment of us all, continue to imbibe this noxious and toxic drug in as large a quantity as they desire.

The optimum option for our public health is to ban alcohol completely and socially engineer a Zero Tolerance attitude to its consumption, sale and manufacture. In the short term, a minimum price of say £100 per unit would genuinely deter all but the idle rich who, like the underclasses, are not of major benefit to society and can be considered similarly expendable.

John Eoin Douglas

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

18th of April 2012 - Blow Winter Wind

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

18th of April 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

BLOW WINTER WIND

I despair of the NIMBY attitudes exhibited by your anti wind farm correspondents (Scotsman Letters, 18 April).

Jack Ponton complains of noise in rural environments. But these are hardly silent as any visiting townie who has been rudely awakened by cockerels or church bells will attest. It is the nature of the noise which is novel - and country bumpkins will soon become as accustomed to it as are urbanites to the sound of road and rail.

Anent John Milne's complaints about despoiling the countryside, I am put in mind of the excellent television advertisement broadcast when IKEA first opened their store at Straiton. This showed the rural landscape being greatly improved by Progress in the shape of the iconic blue and yellow Swedish home furnishings emporium. In years to come, when every community has a local sustainable wind farm, we will laugh at the antediluvian views of those who sought to place a few marginally attractive picture postcard views over the economic well being of a nation.

Furthermore, it is precisely because Scottish Government civil servants care about Scotland as a whole that they are prepared to anger people like Greg Brown by ignoring the blind self interest of a few unimaginative locals who seem incapable of taking a long term view.

John Eoin Douglas

Saturday, April 7, 2012

7th of April 2012 - Cross Purposes?

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

7th of April 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

CROSS PURPOSES?

I sincerely hope that Christians heed the words of Cardinal Keith O'Brien to "wear proudly a symbol of the cross of Christ" each day of their lives.

It will allow atheists like myself to readily identify such persons of faith and enable us to show them the respect that they are due.

John Eoin Douglas

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

4th of April 2012 - Nothing To Hide From Mrs May

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

4th of April 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

NOTHING TO HIDE FROM MRS MAY

I am astounded at the clamour from the liberal chattering classes over the Home Secretary's eminently sensible proposals to force Internet Service Providers to afford police and security services untrammelled access to customers' e-mail and web browsing records. Don't these unprincipled scoundrels and enemies of the state realise that access of this sort is invaluable in combating crimes and moral turpitude such as tax avoidance, immorality and conspiracy to frighten the horses?

Ever eager to assist, I have resolved to forestall any legislation by forwarding copies of all my e-mail direct to Mrs May at mayt@parliament.uk and would urge your readers who have nothing to hide to do the same. After all, if it saves one child...

John Eoin Douglas

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

7th of March 2012 - Football Socks

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

7th of March 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

FOOTBALL SOCKS

Now that the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 has come into effect, I wonder if its provisions would cover a group of Celtic supporters standing outside Ibrox doing nothing more than laughing their socks off?

John Eoin Douglas

Monday, March 5, 2012

5th of March 2012 - Contra Nando Incrementum - Swimming Against The Tide

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

5th of March 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

CONTRA NANDO INCREMENTUM - SWIMMING AGAINST THE TIDE

Cardinal O’Brien is acting like King Canute in resisting the tide of gay marriage as I fear that the political classes in the UK have swallowed the homosexual agenda and it will be permitted whatever the public has to say.

Perhaps he would have more success in persuading the government to allow the use of police and courts to enforce Canon Law on members of his Church thus discouraging them from such abominable sexual practices let alone their public proclamation in a civilly sanctioned ceremony. Whilst not protecting the morals of those who are not Catholics, it would do much to elevate the status of his members amongst other morally focussed groups who do not share their religious dogma.

And our devout Muslim citizens would surely encourage the similar enforcement of Sharia Law, although I would hope that no UK court would ever go so far as to enforce a capital penalty.

John Eoin Douglas

Thursday, March 1, 2012

1st of March 2012 - Matter Of Belief

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

1st of March 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

MATTER OF BELIEF

Kenny MacAskill says that he didn't urge the only man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing to drop his appeal to smooth the way for his compassionate release whilst Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi says that he did. They can't both be telling the truth.

Bearing in mind that one of them is a dying man wrongly convicted of mass murder and the other is a respected Scottish politician and upstanding member of the legal profession which secured his conviction, I know who I believe!

John Eoin Douglas

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

22nd of February 2012 - On Your Bike

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

22nd of February 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

ON YOUR BIKE

As a society, we have rightly adopted a harm reduction culture in which we seek to persuade people by law and reason to safeguard their health. Changes in the law have brought about restrictions on smoking and the forthcoming crackdown on alcohol will similarly save many lives. Healthy eating promotion is also playing its part (although the legal route may yet be needed in this respect). And police will stop and prosecute any motorist not wearing a seatbelt or motorcyclist without helmet.

Yet, when it comes to pedal cyclists, little is done to enforce existing safety legislation. Whereas cycle helmets are not a legal requirement, adequate nocturnal front and rear lighting is - as well as obeying traffic signals whilst mounted. Yet, how often does one see cyclists sailing through red traffic lights - if one actually sees them at night without lights?

Is the only reason that police never seem to enforce cycling law a Clarksonesque view that cyclists form the natural prey of the four wheeled avatar and are a species not worth saving? Or is there some other agenda?


John Eoin Douglas

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

15th of February 2012 - Rangers Realism

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

15th of February 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

RANGERS REALISM

Whilst it is always sad to see any business in financial difficulty, I really am surprised at the column inches (not to mention the wailing and gnashing of teeth) devoted to the present problems of Rangers Football Club.

As the club is neither a major employer nor essential to the Scottish or UK economies, one trusts that no public funds will be forthcoming to bail it out.

If Administration is unsuccessful, it may well be that the public interest is best served by liquidating the assets of the company in order to pay HMRC what they are due. Selling Ibrox off for housing development could maximise the exigible proceeds as the absence of football crowds on match days would certainly increase local property values to the benefit of residents and investors alike.

And, once grounds and players are disposed of, there will also be a residual value in the Rangers brand which, if major clubs like Manchester United are not interested, could be sold to another local club like Celtic.

John Eoin Douglas

Monday, February 13, 2012

13th of February 2012 - Lost Marbles

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

13th of February 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

LOST MARBLES

Watching the sad scenes of Athens burning at the hands of its own people, I can only say how glad I am that the Elgin Marbles remain safe in London and have not been returned to such a savage not to mention fiscally irresponsible nation.

I wonder if the price of yet another Euro bailout of Greece could be the transfer of the remaining portion of the Parthenon to London where it could be reunited with that removed by Lord Elgin to the British Museum for safekeeping and the whole rebuilt in the East End after the Olympics have moved on?

John Eoin Douglas

Friday, February 10, 2012

10th of February 2012 - Salmond Must Trump Objection

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

10th of February 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

SALMOND MUST TRUMP OBJECTION

I was astounded to see that Donald Trump is objecting to the possible erection of a "monstrous" windfarm near to his new Aberdeenshire golf course. His claim that our First Minister is “hell-bent on destroying Scotland’s coastline and therefore Scotland itself” reminds me of the remarks made by the many NIMBY locals who unreasonably objected to his golf course in the first place.

Mr Salmond's government was quite right to reject this kind of argument then and should do so in this case where the possible economic benefits far outweigh a few small changes to rather indifferent scenery. Mr Trump's golfing customers are, in any case, likely to keep their eyes on the ball and will be unlikely even to register the distant sight of essential green generating infrastructure designed to benefit all the people of Scotland.

John Eoin Douglas

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

11th of January 2012 - Camp Benefits

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

11th of January 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

CAMP BENEFITS

I really cannot see what the problem is with the "Occupy" camps which have been set up in cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Bristol and Sheffield.

In addition to providing an ever present jolt to the consciences of those behind our economic ills, these encampments have enabled impoverished young people from all over the world to sample the pleasures of city centre living when heretofore they would have been banished to expensive camping sites on the periphery of the city.

Any sensible city woud seek to encourage the social cohesion inherent in these informal tented communities instead of pursuing eviction policies which can only lead to unneccessary violence not to mention the expense of having to house more homeless people in expensive temporary bed and breakfast accommodation.

John Eoin Douglas

Monday, January 2, 2012

2nd of January 2012 - Police Holiday

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

2nd of January 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

POLICE HOLIDAY

I am concerned to see that Greater Manchester Police are financing a free trip to India for a chief superintendent and a family liaison officer in order to meet with the father and family of Anuj Bidve, who was shot in the head in Salford on Boxing Day.

I cannot see that this can in any way assist in carrying out the police duty of bringing the unfortunate Mr Bidve's killer to justice.

If public money is to be spend on foreign travel in connection with the case, it would be much better spent on bringing Mr Bidve's family to the UK. But this move would probably not be popular with those who seek to restrict travel to the UK from the Indian sub-continent.

John Eoin Douglas