18th of April 2020 - Clap For The Queen

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 2020

Dear Sir/Madam,

CLAP FOR THE QUEEN

Whilst the Queen has cancelled her birthday gun salutes on Tuesday in view of the current COVID crisis, we should not let this get in the way of celebrating the day in her honour.

May I propose that we all go outside at 8pm on Tuesday and clap 94 times.

John Eoin Douglas

 

15th of March 2020 - COVID-19 And The Metric Menace

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

Twitter: @johneoindouglas

 

15th of March 2020

Dear Sir/Madam,

COVID-19 AND THE METRIC MENACE

It is becoming increasingly obvious that the UK Government cares little for the health and welfare of its older citizens and visitors from the USA.

Its advice on safe distances from others during the current COVID-19 epidemic is quoted only in metric units which do not sit naturally with many of us. At first reading, 2m to me is 2 miles which is impractical for all than the most rural dweller and, even when I get past that initial misunderstanding, I find it difficult to conceptualise what 2 metres actually means.

This follows on from this winter's irresponsible total abandonment of Imperial measures by BBC meteorologists even in forecasts of the most serious weather conditions!

I wonder how many deaths could be avoided if both systems of measurement were shown due respect?

John Eoin Douglas

 

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