Monday, April 16, 2018

16th of April 2018 - Don't All Windrush

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
Twitter: @johneoindouglas
Facebook: johneoin.douglas
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

16th of April 2018

Dear Sir/Madam,

DON'T ALL WINDRUSH

Surely if all these Windrush immigrants were truly British they would support the Home Office's notion that it is better that a thousand entitled Brits are wrongly cast out from our shores than allow one unentitled foreigner to remain?

John Eoin Douglas

Saturday, March 17, 2018

17th of March 2018 - Tram Diversion

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/ 
 
17th of March 2018

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
TRAM DIVERSION
 
A few years ago, the Edinburgh Evening News ran an April Fool story to the effect that, instead of going down Leith Walk,  the Tram would go along London Road and down Easter Road.
 
Now that short sighted local traders and residents in Leith Walk are objecting to the extension of the Tram past their premises, perhaps it is time to consider this option seriously? Easter Road could do with the economic boost that the Tram would bring and, with only two bus routes, the construction phase need not not cause major public transport upheaval.
 
Whilst I'd be sorry to see the Tram avoiding my area, moaning locals probably don't deserve it and the benefits would be better appreciated in a more deprived area.
 
John Eoin Douglas

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

14th of March 2018 - Russian In

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/ 
 
14th of March 2018

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
RUSSIAN IN
 
Whilst Mrs May's actions against Russia will have the commendable result of reducing our expenditure on profligate diplomatic missions in the light of the expected tit-for-tat response to her expulsion of Russian diplomats, I fear that she really has underplayed her hand.
 
Whereas immediate nationalisation without compensation of all Russian owned property in the UK might lead to a temporary downwards blip in the London property market, selling these assets off by auction could largely finance the costs of Brexit and would allow UK citizens to pick them up at a substantial discount and prices would soon rise again even without further government subsidy of the rental market by increased Housing Benefit.

John Eoin Douglas

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

6th of February 2018 - Duty Calls

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/ 
 
6th of February 2018

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
DUTY CALLS

It would be no bad thing were exiting the customs union to lead to the re-introduction of the customs officer and his traditional stick of chalk which, in skilled hands, was a great discouragement to smuggling of illegal drugs and other contraband.

What concerns me is the distinct possibility that we could see the return of Duty Free sales of alcohol and tobacco to travellers. Use of these harmful drugs is something that should be deprecated and Brexit should not be used as an excuse to promote their consumption and enrich their producers.

John Eoin Douglas



Friday, January 19, 2018

19th of January 2018 - Parking Place

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

19th of January 2018

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
PARKING PLACE

Rather than the "cafe, informal seating, street trees, cycle parking and hire, wayfinding and public exhibitions" suggested for the middle of the busy new roundabout at Picardy Place (http://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/news/final-plans-picardy-place), would it not be more appropriate to use this area for parking spaces to replace those being lost beside Tesco?
 
John Eoin Douglas

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