Sunday, December 24, 2017

24th of December 2017 - ¡No Pasarán!

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/ 
 
24th of December 2017

Dear Sir/Madam,

¡NO PASARÁN!

Not only will the new UK passports be the wrong shape and size but, instead of a proper dark blue, they are to be produced in a shade akin to that of Scotland's national flag (the Saltire) which I can only presume is a doomed attempt by Mrs May's government to appeal to Scottish National Party voters.

John Eoin Douglas

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

19th of December 2017 - Naval Gazing

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/ 
 
19th of December 2017

Dear Sir/Madam,

NAVAL GAZING

The recent leak on the new British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is utterly irrelevant to the vessel's future. Whilst the leakage has sensationally been quoted as 200 Litres per Hour, that's only 44 Gallons per Hour: I've bailed more out of a rowing boat.

More importantly, the vessel was designed 20 years ago and is clearly not fit for modern warfare, with its ancient computers even running an elderly version of Windows for Warships. The aircraft, which will not arrive for several years, will also be built to similarly antiquated designs.

Far better to repurpose the ship as a replacement Royal Yacht. With impending Brexit, this would excel for Royal Visits promoting British Trade and Diplomacy throughout the world as were undertaken so sucessfully by the previous HMY Britannia. It would certainly give the new generation of Royals something to do that would generally be perceived as useful even by the most ardent Republican.

The vessel is large enough to throw Garden Parties on deck or use as a base for overseas sales displays of UK manufactured military equipment (even if we can no longer afford to purchase such kit for our own armed forces).

John Eoin Douglas



Sunday, December 10, 2017

10th of December 2017 - A Sense Of Place

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/ 
 
10th of December 2017

Dear Sir/Madam,

SENSE OF PLACE

I fail to understand what all the fuss is about the proposals for the reconstruction of Picardy Place
 
What is clearly needed is a road configuration that will allow road traffic to move around the city as efficiently as possible and, whilst pedestrians need to be sensibly and safely accommodated, we certainly do not need to be spending the city's scarce funds on special cycle provision. If cyclists do not feel themselves adequate to the task of sharing the carriageway with motor vehicles, they are welcome at any time to dismount and share the facilities provided for pedestrians.
 
As to the metal monstrosities by a local "artist" which currently clog the pavement outside the Cathedral and act as a focus for unruly children and street drinkers, I look forward to these being unceremoniously removed well out of Spurtleshire to the wilds of Calton for the duration of the works. With any luck, they will soon be purloined from their temporary dumping ground by itinerant metal dealers under cover of darkness and we will not have to face the bill for the inconvenience of their return.
 
John Eoin Douglas

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

6th of December 2017 - Blow To Services

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

6th of December 2017

Dear Sir/Madam,

BLOW TO SERVICES

It's deeply disturbing that Scotrail has cancelled all services on the Far North and West Highland lines in advance of Storm Caroline.

The company has been making much recently of investment in new rolling stock and motive power but it seems that this has been misplaced. In the days of steam haulage, such precautionary cancellations in advance of forecast weather never took place.

Instead of flimsy modern engineering that dare not be allowed out of the shed in the wrong sort of weather, Scotrail should be placing bulk orders for tried and tested steam locomotives like Flying Scotsman for which blueprints are readily available.

John Eoin Douglas