24th of November 2019 - Reality of Farming

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-546 4479
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @johneoindouglas

 

24th of November 2019

Dear Sir/Madam,

REALITY OF FARMING

I was somewhat surprised to see that Edinburgh Council is to commit more than £27,000 towards the fundraising campaign to save Edinburgh City Farm.

If the intention is to help educate Edinburgh's youngsters about farming, surely the money could be better spent on encouraging visits by school pupils to local abbatoirs, meat processing plants and butchers rather than promoting a totally unrealistic and sentimentalised view of modern animal husbandry practices.

John Eoin Douglas

 

28th of October 2019 - Gardening Leave

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-546 4479
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @johneoindouglas

 

28th of October 2019

Dear Sir/Madam,

GARDENING LEAVE

I am increasingly exasperated at the moans of self styled "conservationists" about essential economic development in Central Edinburgh whose latest complaints arise from some temporary scaffolding in Princes Street gardens, the effects of which will have long since gone when it comes time to re-erect it for next year's Xmas Market.

When will these dinosaurs realise that as so few locals now live in the City Centre due to Airbnb (and even fewer bother shopping in Princes Street on account of the Council's exorbitant parking charges), visual amenity is irrelevant. Instead, if Edinburgh is to flourish financially in the current Brexit uncertainty, we must encourage tourists (and day visitors from elsewhere in Central Scotland) to come and spend their money on whatever tawdry items may appeal no matter what it does for the city's appearance.

Vegetation can easily be replanted, but unemploment and poverty can blight entire lives.

John Eoin Douglas

 

21st of May 2019 - Brexit Dilemma

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-546 4479
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @johneoindouglas

 

21st of May 2019

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

BREXIT DILEMMA

Without a published manifesto, how can voters tell if Mr Farage's Brexit Party is willing to get rid of unwanted metrication and return to inches, pounds and Fahrenheit degrees?

At least with the Liberal Democrats you think you know what you're voting for even if it's probably not what you want, could you but understand the units they use!

John Eoin Douglas

 

15th of May 2019 - Thou Shalt Not Kyle?

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-546 4479
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @johneoindouglas

 

15th of May 2019

Dear Sir/Madam,

THOU SHALT NOT KYLE?

Whilst the suicide of one of the many thousands of participants who have voluntarily taken part in the Jeremy Kyle Show over the 14 years it has entertained millions is regrettable, ITV's kneejerk decision to cancel it is somewhat strange when they continue to air sport like boxing and motor racing where deaths and injury are no strangers. Clearly the lives of sportspeople are considered less valuable than the feckless and often disfunctional souls who inhabited the now cancelled programme.

John Eoin Douglas

 

9th of May 2019 - Can Do

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-546 4479
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @johneoindouglas

 

9th of May 2019

Dear Sir/Madam,

CAN DO

The Scottish Government is to be congratulated on its plan to introduce a compulsory deposit scheme for drinks containers.

Whilst there are undoubtedly savings to be made in street cleaning and bin emptying as children scour the place for returnable empties, in these days of high technology, it should also be possible to track scheme useage and dock social security payments to and tax those who make a genuine income from scavenging.

John Eoin Douglas

 

18th of April 2019 - Notre Dame For Everyone!

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-546 4479
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @johneoindouglas

 

18th of April 2019

Dear Sir/Madam,

NOTRE DAME FOR EVERYONE!

I was interested to learn that, despite its monopolisation by Roman Catholics, Notre Dame is owned not by the Vatican but by the French Government.

With French President Emmanuel Macron having already signalled that he is open to new ideas for rebuilding the Cathedral, perhaps it is time to consider reconstructing it as a multi-faith centre for use by all. For example. the incorporation of a minaret in place of the destroyed spire would be of use to Muslims, whilst the provision of a cafe or restaurant would be in the spirit of Laïcité, the secularism on which the French state is founded, and would appeal to persons of all faiths and none especially if dietary regimes like Kosher, Halal and Veganism were to be catered for.

John Eoin Douglas

17th of January 2019 - Out To Lunch

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-546 4479
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @johneoindouglas

 

17th of January 2019

Dear Sir/Madam,

OUT TO LUNCH

Jeremy Corbyn's refusal to discuss Brexit with the Prime Minister unless No Deal is taken off the table reminds me of the Vegan who refuses to partake from a buffet table groaning with vegetable delights where the sole meat item is a plate of inferior sausages only included to nominally cater for another dietary minority and which no sensible diner will actually touch!

John Eoin Douglas

9th of January 2019 - Moped Fatality

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-546 4479
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @johneoindouglas

9th of January 2019

Dear Sir/Madam,

MOPED FATALITY

Whilst the fatal stabbing of Jayden Moodey in Waltham Forest is most regretable, one really has to ask why his parents permitted the 14-year-old to flout the law of the land by reportedly driving a moped on a public road when the minimum age for so doing is 16?

John Eoin Douglas