Musings from the Merse
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
This week's 'Issue' in the Berwickshire News is as follows:
Is vandalism an increasing problem in your town or village?
Yes [69.2%]
No [27.7%]
Don't Know [3.1%]
It has been running for some time and unlike 'Should Berwick be part of Berwickshire' or 'Should Duns be used for the Jim Clarke Rally next year?' has not attracted much interest; one vote either way makes a one percentage change on the result.
I don't know much about the bigger settlements but apart from the odd car scratching Duns has a good record on Yobbish behaviour (Boy Racers always and dishonourably excepted)Hutton was even better-not even the mobile post office vandalised (npi)by the roving vigilantes of the Hall Committee. The only case I can remember in 10 years residence was youngsters going into the church and throwing the pew cushions around fairly harmlessly-it caused the church to be locked on occasion but is now back, like the old Windmill Theatre, to 'We never close' And quite right too.
When first in Hutton I heard that there had been a case of a bicycle stolen-recently-ie in living memory and I am grateful to the almost unknown Borders Poet Abdul Basset Mc Grahy for his valiant attempt to record the event
Neighbourhood Watch Borders Style
‘Community Alert’ they call it here.
Oxymoronic surely.
Our rural calm is soporific.
Unbroken by any suspicion
of criminal intent ever since
the village burglar was apprehended
escaping from the scene of his crime
on a stolen bicycle.
He might even have got away
had he not been walking the bike
uphill. (He had nicked the one
without gears.)
Now if you venture through the village
in its post neutron bomb like emptiness
all you get is
the occasional curtained twitch
of the neighbourhood watch
going about
your business.
Is vandalism an increasing problem in your town or village?
Yes [69.2%]
No [27.7%]
Don't Know [3.1%]
It has been running for some time and unlike 'Should Berwick be part of Berwickshire' or 'Should Duns be used for the Jim Clarke Rally next year?' has not attracted much interest; one vote either way makes a one percentage change on the result.
I don't know much about the bigger settlements but apart from the odd car scratching Duns has a good record on Yobbish behaviour (Boy Racers always and dishonourably excepted)Hutton was even better-not even the mobile post office vandalised (npi)by the roving vigilantes of the Hall Committee. The only case I can remember in 10 years residence was youngsters going into the church and throwing the pew cushions around fairly harmlessly-it caused the church to be locked on occasion but is now back, like the old Windmill Theatre, to 'We never close' And quite right too.
When first in Hutton I heard that there had been a case of a bicycle stolen-recently-ie in living memory and I am grateful to the almost unknown Borders Poet Abdul Basset Mc Grahy for his valiant attempt to record the event
Neighbourhood Watch Borders Style
‘Community Alert’ they call it here.
Oxymoronic surely.
Our rural calm is soporific.
Unbroken by any suspicion
of criminal intent ever since
the village burglar was apprehended
escaping from the scene of his crime
on a stolen bicycle.
He might even have got away
had he not been walking the bike
uphill. (He had nicked the one
without gears.)
Now if you venture through the village
in its post neutron bomb like emptiness
all you get is
the occasional curtained twitch
of the neighbourhood watch
going about
your business.
Labels: BBC. Broadcasting House. Duns, Berwickshire, Hutton, Vandalism
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Et CO2 Brute?
The two local papers : the Berwickshire News (rural) and the Berwick Advertiser (Urban)cover many the same news stories apart from the odd Berwick specific item of no interest to the country cousins and the Berwickshire reports of eg Community Councils are not carried in the Advertiser-as of no interest to anyone really, apart from the Secretary of the council concerned (Hutton and Paxton always excepted).
The letter columns are different. Berwickshire carries fewer loony contributions than the Advertiser with the notable exception of the effusions from the self styled, self appointed and self certified Acting Regent of Scotland who, it must be said, is keeping his head down recently or may have defected to England; hopefully. The Advertiser has a coterie of regulars who are now focused on man's contribution to global warming-debunkers, deniers and Dodos-most of whom not only dismiss the weight of scientific evidence as to the part played by CO2 emissions but also deny the existence of climate change at all. Their opponents are equally abrasive: for example from Thursday's column:
WHERE'S THE LOGIC?
SIR,-The logic of Mr Ross’s letter of April 23 eludes me. On man-made climate change, he appears to agree with Prof Carter (also April 23) that it isn’t happening.
He writes: “Our own eyes tell us sea levels have not risen. What is more, if they haven’t risen at the mouth of the Tweed, they haven’t risen in any of the island nations who are out with their begging bowls at every opportunity.”
The flat earthers also believe in the evidence of their eyes, as did the medieval church in their denial that the earth revolved around the sun.
But did this make them right?
A KNIGHT
Berwick I don't know if A Knight is the urban opposite number to our own bloggee A Peasant but I am sure he will not have the last word. No doubt Mr Gudgeon of Norham will have another go on these lines
Pure superstition
Sir,-The idea of man-made global warming is a good example of modern-day superstition.
The dictionary says superstition is an irrational fear or hope in magic.
Physicists generally don’t waste their time with delusions or irrational thinking which is why they don’t get involved in the global warming debate.
“Do the Maths” is all they would say on the matter.
For the benefit of Mr Ross, Professor Bob Carter and Robert Leetham, here is the short formula which a physicist would use to dismisses the idea of anthropomorphic global warming:
Plants are the only source of oxygen the world needs for combustion, respiration and decomposition.
Without the level of oxygen dropping, then levels of CO2 can’t be rising. It’s basic chemistry.
Plants provide virtually all the world’s free oxygen. There is no other major source of oxygen. Since we know the level of oxygen in the atmosphere isn’t falling, plants (using photosynthesis) must be generating enough oxygen to supply everything that breaths, as well as every car, every engine, every power-station, every blast furnace and heating system on the planet.
Plants produce so much oxygen that even colossal forest fires don’t affect oxygen levels.
Since virtually all the oxygen in the atmosphere is sequestered from H2O+CO2 and the CO2 only comes from the oxidation of organic carbon, the two gasses have to rise or fall in strict proportion.
To believe humans are responsible for an increase in CO2 is therefore pure superstition.
JUSTIN GUDGEON
Norham West Mains
I don't want to add (fossil) fuel to this debate but having to put a third pullover on on a sunny day in May makes me wonder about global warming-except of course climate change can work both ways:
Like getting colder?
The two local papers : the Berwickshire News (rural) and the Berwick Advertiser (Urban)cover many the same news stories apart from the odd Berwick specific item of no interest to the country cousins and the Berwickshire reports of eg Community Councils are not carried in the Advertiser-as of no interest to anyone really, apart from the Secretary of the council concerned (Hutton and Paxton always excepted).
The letter columns are different. Berwickshire carries fewer loony contributions than the Advertiser with the notable exception of the effusions from the self styled, self appointed and self certified Acting Regent of Scotland who, it must be said, is keeping his head down recently or may have defected to England; hopefully. The Advertiser has a coterie of regulars who are now focused on man's contribution to global warming-debunkers, deniers and Dodos-most of whom not only dismiss the weight of scientific evidence as to the part played by CO2 emissions but also deny the existence of climate change at all. Their opponents are equally abrasive: for example from Thursday's column:
WHERE'S THE LOGIC?
SIR,-The logic of Mr Ross’s letter of April 23 eludes me. On man-made climate change, he appears to agree with Prof Carter (also April 23) that it isn’t happening.
He writes: “Our own eyes tell us sea levels have not risen. What is more, if they haven’t risen at the mouth of the Tweed, they haven’t risen in any of the island nations who are out with their begging bowls at every opportunity.”
The flat earthers also believe in the evidence of their eyes, as did the medieval church in their denial that the earth revolved around the sun.
But did this make them right?
A KNIGHT
Berwick I don't know if A Knight is the urban opposite number to our own bloggee A Peasant but I am sure he will not have the last word. No doubt Mr Gudgeon of Norham will have another go on these lines
Pure superstition
Sir,-The idea of man-made global warming is a good example of modern-day superstition.
The dictionary says superstition is an irrational fear or hope in magic.
Physicists generally don’t waste their time with delusions or irrational thinking which is why they don’t get involved in the global warming debate.
“Do the Maths” is all they would say on the matter.
For the benefit of Mr Ross, Professor Bob Carter and Robert Leetham, here is the short formula which a physicist would use to dismisses the idea of anthropomorphic global warming:
Plants are the only source of oxygen the world needs for combustion, respiration and decomposition.
Without the level of oxygen dropping, then levels of CO2 can’t be rising. It’s basic chemistry.
Plants provide virtually all the world’s free oxygen. There is no other major source of oxygen. Since we know the level of oxygen in the atmosphere isn’t falling, plants (using photosynthesis) must be generating enough oxygen to supply everything that breaths, as well as every car, every engine, every power-station, every blast furnace and heating system on the planet.
Plants produce so much oxygen that even colossal forest fires don’t affect oxygen levels.
Since virtually all the oxygen in the atmosphere is sequestered from H2O+CO2 and the CO2 only comes from the oxidation of organic carbon, the two gasses have to rise or fall in strict proportion.
To believe humans are responsible for an increase in CO2 is therefore pure superstition.
JUSTIN GUDGEON
Norham West Mains
I don't want to add (fossil) fuel to this debate but having to put a third pullover on on a sunny day in May makes me wonder about global warming-except of course climate change can work both ways:
Like getting colder?
Labels: Berwick Advertiser, Berwickshire, Climate change, CO2, Global Warming
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Gay Abandon
'Why are there so few men doing Pilates' I enquired at large in my class this morning. 'Not few actually. None apart from you' said the teacher.'I have tried to get males along but to no avail' 'Its a Border's thing said a fellow torturee. All this stretching stuff is a bit, er, effeminate as far as Berwickshire males are concerned. Weight lifting fine, Aerobics, ok but Pilates. No.
'Like owning a Whippet. Perhaps?' I thought. Don't see many of those around these parts. Rescue Greyhounds coming out of your ears. But Whippets, nary a one.
'Perhaps' someone suggested to our instructor, 'If you advertised your classes as thought not suitable for Gay men, you might get some male applicants?'
There's a thought
The image is of a Whippet. According to its caption on flickr "It literally pranced its way around the park." "merrily" apparently
Labels: Berwickshire, Gay men, Pilates, Whippets
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Winning The Pooh?
This letter to the Berwickshire:
SIR - I read with interest the regular correspondence regarding dog fouling across the Borders.
My team and I have been working hard to get the message through to everyone that dog fouling will not be tolerated.
Part of the publicity/awareness campaign has involved the team putting up around 200 posters reminding dog owners of their obligations and providing contact information for people to ask questions or report offenders.
In the past few weeks, a large percentage of the posters have been ripped down in the Chirnside and Swinton area.
This means that tax payers’ money and council staff time has been wasted.
We would ask the parties involved to please stop destroying these posters.
I would also ask anyone with an issue about dog fouling to contact us on 0800 376 1030 to discuss it.
PHIL PARRANS,
Senior Dog Warden
is indicative of how dog fouling remains one of the main issues in rural villages, not just in the Merse but throughout the UK. Much noise and heat is generated at Community Council meetings with most people supportive of attempts to reduce the Berwickshire crap mountain. So one wonders what the problem in Chirnside and Swinton with posters being torn down? Are thes anal rtentive dog owners (the orifice pertaining to the canine, not the owner) fed up with constant unnecesary admonitions?
Or local anarchists. And if you don't approve of this anti poo campaign what arguments can you deploy on 0800 876 1030 to convince the Crap Czar to lay off?
Perhaps A Peasant can shed some light?
At risk of overkill I repeat a post of some years ago:
Dogged does it
At the (fairly) recent Scottish Border council elections most candidates pledged to do more about dealing with the mountains of dog poo which besmirch our villages and sure enough a plan of action was pledged in the aims of the new administration. A 'vision' rather than a plan of action in councilspeak. This pome(?) by a local bard is seemingly based on a vision-poppy/puppy induced? Who knows. I am advised that although considered by some as possible line of action it was never actually implemented. A pity.
The Hutton Solution
‘ The Notice reads:
'Dogs who offend will be shot’
and in smaller letters:
‘Owners of offending dogs.
You have been warned!’
‘That should do the trick’
said the large man
with a baseball hat’.
putting another shell
into his shotgun.
stepping carefully over
the spent cartridges
and
the corpses
There were some dead dogs
as well.
‘I sometimes think
that the chairman
of the Community Council
takes his duties too seriously’
said
the lady with the pooper scooter
and the bullet proof
vest.
NB very carefully. The chairman of the community council thus depicted must have been well before Huttonian's time
The image is obviously to encourage the responsible disposal of poo while it is still fresh and steaming. Worth trying in Whitsome? But perhaps put it into Gallic rather than Welsh?
Labels: Berwickshire, Dog Poo, Hutton, Whitsome
Monday, December 08, 2008
That's no Eyesore. That's my house
A bloggee has suggested a new competition: the ugliest/most inappropriate/ nastiest building in the Borders-lets specialise in Ber Wick Shire to narrow the field a bit.
The bloggee writes :
My nominations for eyesores of the Merse could be any of the new buildings around Whitsome, but at least, despite their tastelessness, single storey, apart from that vile thing behind the old village hall. The mother of all architectural excrescences has got to be the 2-storey executive hoosie by the side of the B6437 south of Whitsome which is not only ugly and inappropriate but has the compounded disadvantage of totally pointless location being totally without views. My runner-up is the grotty little new settlement at Ravelaw or maybe that vile housing estate at Berrywell.
Hutton Think Tank are on the job, again and suggest (based on the extract above) three categories :
(a) Vile (b) Eyesore on Stilts (c) Tasteless (d) Absurd
Of course a really outstanding entry could win all categories and the prize outright
My candidate would have been the Berwickshire Housing Associations much vaunted 'Green' house in Ayton which had every planet saving gadget known to woman imaginable-even the solar panels were operated by other solar panels. Cutting edge of something; sure, but so (unnecessarily) ugly that the BHA had great trouble in finding a tenant. This is five years ago and it may now be occupied. And it may indeed have been given a makeover with the solar panels replaced with an integrated wind turbine with pink sails-so I'll not formally enter it in the (b) category until I have sen it again.
In the meanwhile a short contest on the most tasteless small town Christmas decorations.
Mail early and correct postage please
(The image is Duns Christmas Tree -2007 version. The 08 one was lit up last night and report to follow)
Labels: Berwickshire, Christmas in the Borders, Vile houses
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Ye will no come back again. Please
Huttonian understands that as part of ensuring the Borders remain 'Scotland's favourite short break destination' the county boundaries are going to be marked by appropriate greeting boards and towns will have more informative town signs, than at present referring to their claims to individual distinction. Duns for example could be:' DUNS. Scotland's Favourite Pit Stop' a reference to the Jim Clarke connection. So visitors could stop a passer by and enquire, anxiously, 'Is Duns the Pits?'
AS for County boundaries, Hutton Think Tank is holding a competition for the best county border slogan. A number of entries have been received-the front runner so far being;
THIS IS BERWICKSHIRE> YOU ARE WELCOME TO IT
The image shows an existing Scotland sign. This could be modified for Berwickshire and the Madame Tussauds waxwork indicating that the rain may be stopping, retained.
Labels: Berwickshire, County Boundaries. Duns
Saturday, September 06, 2008
A great leap backwards?
It may be the weather or the problems facing the nice Mr Brown, or even the successful self publicity antics of the slippery Mr Salmond (npi) influencing the running poll in the Berwickshire which is moving steadily towards incorporating Berwick-upon-Tweed into Berwickshire:
Would you be happy to welcome Berwick into Berwickshire
52% Yes. it's a great idea
45% No, Berwick is part of England and should remain so
3% I have no opinion either way.
I am not sure how many people actually vote-I did so twice this morning but the figures did not change so there may be more people taking part than I used to think. The3% 'don't cares' remains constant although I can never understand why people with no opinion care to express it?
The Hutton Think Tank now back from its holiday in Spitall have produced a novel idea for solving the whole Berwick/England/ Scotland/ TD1TD16/ Climate change problem in their just released 'Brown Paper' entitled 'Kicking His out of History' This is nothing to do with post modern feminism as the title might suggest* but a suggestion that Berwick be incorporated into Berwickshire in accordance with the popular mood and Berwickshire made part of England as dictated by natural justice and common sense.
* Asked why this title the HTx2 spokesperson said.
'We liked it'
It may be the weather or the problems facing the nice Mr Brown, or even the successful self publicity antics of the slippery Mr Salmond (npi) influencing the running poll in the Berwickshire which is moving steadily towards incorporating Berwick-upon-Tweed into Berwickshire:
Would you be happy to welcome Berwick into Berwickshire
52% Yes. it's a great idea
45% No, Berwick is part of England and should remain so
3% I have no opinion either way.
I am not sure how many people actually vote-I did so twice this morning but the figures did not change so there may be more people taking part than I used to think. The3% 'don't cares' remains constant although I can never understand why people with no opinion care to express it?
The Hutton Think Tank now back from its holiday in Spitall have produced a novel idea for solving the whole Berwick/England/ Scotland/ TD1TD16/ Climate change problem in their just released 'Brown Paper' entitled 'Kicking His out of History' This is nothing to do with post modern feminism as the title might suggest* but a suggestion that Berwick be incorporated into Berwickshire in accordance with the popular mood and Berwickshire made part of England as dictated by natural justice and common sense.
* Asked why this title the HTx2 spokesperson said.
'We liked it'
Labels: Berwick upon Tweed, Berwickshire, Hutton Think Tank
Monday, August 11, 2008
SIR, - For the umpteenth time our mean-minded killjoy government has rejected Sir Alan Beith’s (and everyone else’s) call for dualling the A1 throughout Northumberland; Minister Tom Harris (who?) lists four spurious criteria for doing nothing about it.
The fifth criterion, of course, is that the territory through which the A1 runs in its semi-rural state includes Berwickshire and nowhere in this area is represented by New Labour.
It is unfair that despite almost 35 years service Sir Alan is not rewarded in the same way as 28 years service by another MP/MSP with almost all the A1 in East Lothian being dualled - something to do with red being preferred to yellow maybe
is this weeks star letter in the Berwickshire News
Joy apparently equates with the ability to speed through Northumberland!With great respect to the writer (name available for the curious) I an not sure how Sir A Beith, a MP for a (still) English constituency has any standing in rural Berwickshire matters? Its good to see the reference to the Labour MP later MSP for East Lothian who was 'rewarded,says the writer, for years of devoted committment to the party by being awarded the 'duelling' of those parts of the A1 which went through his constituency. Alert bloggees will recognise this paragon to be the Laird, only recently retired from East Lothian after what amounted to Peerless service (Bad Pun Intended) It should be remembered that before going to EL the Laird was MP slightly closer home-including 'rural Berwickshire' but when the constituency was split in two he skedaddled up North to avoid having to take on the Lib Dems. Wisely as it proved. But while there as the incumbent MP, the A1 remained resolutely unduelled-Red being as useless as Yellow.
It seems
(The image is of a Scottish Road. Probably not the A! but could well be in 'rural Berwickshire')
Labels: A1, Berwickshire, Roads, the Laird
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Out of the Fox Holes
Occasionally the Episcopalian Church of Scotland (as opposed to the Presbyterian Church of Scotland) is referred to as the 'English' Church-'the Lairds at Prayer. Not quite fair, Christchurch in Duns is certainly a noticeably Scottish establishment but there are occasions when an over abundance of Lairds justifies the epithet. Such as a 'county' baptism. Then tout Berwickshire is there. As to day-the church heaving and 'I vow to thee my country' being heard as far away as distant Roxboroughshire.
Looking around the tweedy, dark suited and blue-blazered front pews I could not help dwelling on the first verse of the opening hymn-Borders version:
All things Bright and Beautiful
All Creatures great and small
Now they have banned Fox hunting
We will have to shoot them all.
Labels: Berwickshire, Hunting, Piscies
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Thankyou very much Hels
A mother and her family of three had a near miss encounter with a lorry at Whitemire stud.
An eye-witness gives the following account:
"I was walking back home with my two greyhounds, Poncho and Jen, when I heard the lorry approaching behind me. I turned to see where it was and pulled the dogs onto the verge. As I turned back I saw four stoats run into the middle of the road and stop. I held my breath as the lorry thundered on towards them. At the last moment they made a dash for it, and I saw them all reach safety and disappear through the hedge on the other side of the road."
The above is for Huttonian in case he is having animal-story withdrawal symptoms - although he hasn't yet featured our neighbours' (Sheila and Margaret) success with Australian terrier Melba at the Kelso show :)
I am looking forward to featuring many more animal stories, especially those not on the Berwickshire front page. I hope Melba can be persauded to have a go at the Duns Show, surely a cut above the Kelso affair?.
The stoat above is from flickr. My advice is for it to avoid our Borders' roads-and especially that black spot the Fishwick bypass
Labels: Berwickshire, Country Strife, Fishwick Bypass, Stoats
Friday, May 30, 2008
Massive Swing Shock
As seen from the perspective of the Isle de France it does not seem to matter very much but it is quite intriguing to see the steady growth of support for moving Berwick upon Tweed 'back into Berwickshire in the running poll conducted by the newspaper. Up to last week the majority was for the status quo but by never more than 2 %. Here are this weeks findings:
Today's Vote
Would you be happy to welcome Berwick into Berwickshire 49% Yes. it's a great idea 48% No, Berwick is part of England and should remain so. 3% I have no opinion either way. >>
Hutton Think Tank Research and Analysis Section believe that a maximum of three people vote each week-Mr Ritchie, the self styled Regent of the Kingdom of Scotland is a constant yes, Huttonian a steady no and the other concerned citizen has changed his mind
Labels: Berwickshire, Return to Scotland
Monday, April 28, 2008
Dogged does it
Apparently at a very recent meeting of a Berwickshire Community Council the question
was posed:" What happens to Dog Poo?" Presumably referring to those canine deposits lovingly wrapped in plastic bags and placed in the red containers? Some one suggested land fill sites and was then asked that if this is the case why couldn't the crap in question go into the bog standard (no pun intended) black bins and not require a special container. After all soiled nappies are acceptable in the wheelie bins
No one really knew. Hutton Think Tank's controversial Report ' Binnie the Pooh' is still at the printers and may eventually provide some answers.
Which is more than Google does although there is a link to an interesting discussion on how to stop your dog eating his own excrement.
Apparently at a very recent meeting of a Berwickshire Community Council the question
was posed:" What happens to Dog Poo?" Presumably referring to those canine deposits lovingly wrapped in plastic bags and placed in the red containers? Some one suggested land fill sites and was then asked that if this is the case why couldn't the crap in question go into the bog standard (no pun intended) black bins and not require a special container. After all soiled nappies are acceptable in the wheelie bins
No one really knew. Hutton Think Tank's controversial Report ' Binnie the Pooh' is still at the printers and may eventually provide some answers.
Which is more than Google does although there is a link to an interesting discussion on how to stop your dog eating his own excrement.
Labels: Berwickshire, Community Councils, Dog Poo
Monday, February 25, 2008
At last the Berwickshire News will have some real Borders news to fill its front page next Thursday-a change from loony self styled Regents and the commemoration of Rabbi Burns one visit to Coldstream; local lass makes real good: Oscar for Tilda Swinton. How local? Certainly much more so than Jim Clarke and Duns Scotus although I am not sure how long she has actually spent in Berwickshire at her family home. Her fathers family have been Borderers since slightly before the year Dot. Tilda S lives in Nairn, a bit north of here-indeed north of most places but I am sure that she will be claimed as 100% one of their own in these parts. 100% may be a bit steep given that her mother is Australian so perhaps it will be appropriate that the Merse will be alive with the sound of music as people hum that catchy Aussie/Scottish tune:
'Waltzing McTilda'
Labels: Berwickshire, Low Flying Merse, Oscars, Tilda Swinton
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Bye Bye Berwick?
Today's Independent has a double spread feature on Berwick upon Tweed picking up the poll on whether the town should transfer its allegiance from England to Scotland : THE ENGLISH TOWN THAT WANT TO BE SCOTTISH is the headline on Page 16.
Nothing much new except I did not know that a severed arm of William Wallace (not Mel Gibson) was once displayed here after his terminal hanging drawing and quartering as recently as 1305. It has since been removed on Public Health grounds.
It also again nails the myth that Berwick is still at war with Russia following the end of the Crimean war But I had not heard before that so prevalent was that belief that a formal (albeit Tongue in Cheek) treaty 1966 of peace was signed by the mayor of Berwick with a Soviet official in 1966. 'Now the Russian People can sleep peacefully in their beds' said the mayor thereafter.
Apparently the SNP (a bit of nationalist mischief says the Indy) bid to take Berwick back into Berwickshire has the support of the leader of the Scottish Borders Council. Think of all that extra council tax and think also of the agony of Duns if it is dumped as the county capital in favour of Ber Wick. Bad news for Dingers if good for Berwikers.
Of course its all a bit of harmless posturing and hardly does much for the SNP's pretensions to be the natural government of Scotland. Perhaps it should put its own house in order before trying to grab bits of others.
Edward 1 burnt down Berwick for daring to contemplate an alliance with France This latest bit of union bashing might lead to a similar over reaction from our friends in the South. And bits of Mr Salmond might end up on display-in Scotsgate, appropriately enough.
Or more likely the English highheidyins would not give the proverbial.
Labels: Berwick upon Tweed, Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, SNP
Thursday, February 07, 2008
More Mud
SIR, - On behalf of all of those who live on or have to walk or drive along the narrow roads of Berwickshire may I please make a request to all drivers.
Please do not drive on to the soft verges to pass oncoming vehicles. The result whilst everywhere is so wet is that the verges are churned up and roads are covered in mud. Please use the passing places, even if you have to reverse a few yards.
says a writer to the editor if the Berwickshire.
Amen
The image is not necessarily Berwickshire. But it could well be. And it is the big 4wd vehicles and the sod-you-other-drivers-tractors which are the worse offenders
Labels: Berwickshire, Mud
Friday, February 01, 2008
BROONS VERSUS BUZZARDS
Poor farmers get a lot of stick around Ber-wickshire: mud on roads, irritating tractors impeding Mr Toad's impetous progress, noisesome slurry, concreting over good farming land, that sort of thing. But poisoning Buzzards?
The top story in the Berwickshire is headed :
POISONED BAITS USED TO KILL BIRDS AT GREENLAW
and describes how 25 poisoned baits to kill birds of prey have been discovered on private estates around Greenlaw, within a one square mile radius-the highest number ever recorded in one location- thus showing how, in one activity at least, Berwickshire leads the civilised world.
The poison Carbofuran was discovered in carcasses of hares and rabbits leading to the death of six buzzards, two crows and a magpie over a six month period last year. A member of the public apparently blew the whistle but 'no one was held to account' as 'it is understood that issues over land ownership may have complicated the question' Whatever that may mean: 'No Officer thats Farmer Broon's field, not mine, honest' Or something.
And its not just Buzzards, Magpies and crows. Last August one half of a breeding pair of Golden Eagles was killed by poisoning in the Borders. The RSPB says that this kind of crime is on the increse and that 'poisoning is still sadly considered par for the course by some people in Scotland' But no collar has been felt (or as my father would have put it : 'no one has been put up against the wall and shot.' Lothian and Borders Finest claim that 'these cases were notoriously difficult to prosecute due to the lack of witnesses in rural areas such as the estates around Greenlaw' One should perhaps ask whom on the 'Private Estates' has the motive and the oppurtunity and then go around breaking down a few front doors in the wee small hours.
And one might also ask why, given that the last poisoning incident was September, no publicity has been given until now. The Police Spokeswoman was asked this same question and 'could give no information'
Rural ranks closing with a resounding clang might explain it.
Labels: Berwickshire, Buzzards, Poisoning Birds
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Huttonian moves to Duns with a feeling of increased relaxation after reading the result of a recent 'knife amnesty' in the Borders with no less than 16 weapons handed over in the town: Story in the Berwickshire as follows:
Public hand knives over to police
16 weapons handed over in Duns
Mike WynneBy Simon Duke
POLICE have announced that a total of 25 knifes were handed in to Berwickshire stations during a three week campaign in the Borders.
The Safer Scotland initiative saw police use metal detectors in pubs and sheriff courts throughout the area, while red bins were situated at six police stations for members of the public to hand in any weapons.
A total of 64 knifes were handed in, as well an axe, a scythe, a cleaver and three screwdrivers.
Duns saw 16 knifes handed over, the second highest in the Borders behind Galashiels, while Eyemouth Police Station had nine weapons given up.
Out of a total of 1275 searches made on people in the Borders, none were found with dangerous weapons in their possession.
Mike Wynne, Operations Officer at Hawick Police Station, said: "This three week long campaign under the Safer Scotland banner is part of a number of initiatives we have been involved in.
"The campaign saw hand held metal detectors used outside license premises and courts in various locations. No one was found with a weapon on them, which is very pleasing and shows that the Borders does not experience the problems associated with other areas of the country.
"Red bins were also situated at police stations across the Borders and 64 knifes were disposed of, the majority of which were kitchen knifes."
Galashiels saw the highest number of weapons handed in with 21 knifes, an axe and one cleaver.
Selkirk and Hawick both had eight knifes given up, along with three screwdrivers in Selkirk and one scythe in Hawick.
Lauder Police Station saw two knifes handed in over the three weeks.
Despite no one being caught in possession of a knife during the campaign, those who are found in possession of a weapon are dealt with severely in the courts.
Last week, an Eyemouth man currently in custody was sent to jail for a further five months at Duns Sheriff Court after he was caught last December in the town with an eight inch kitchen knife.
No word of this came to Hutton-certainly never mentioned by the pollis when attending the local community council meetings. I have an axe, a hatchet, a couple of scythes, a panga, at least 12 screwdrivers (Philliphs mostly so not too lethal) and a very large bicycle pump. Must avoid going to the Cross when tooled up, I suppose.
I can't help feeling sorry for a recent immigrant from Cork who mistook the purpose of the amnesty.
She handed in all her kitchen knives.
And can't get them back.
The image is apparently of a weapon not covered by the campaign and is now stuck firmly into pre-Autumnal foliage in the Whiteadder valley. It was nicked from the Fishwick Special Branch armoury some weeks ago together with a pair of Flintlock Muskets from the strategic weapon reserve. Usual rewards apply.
Labels: Amnesty, Berwickshire, Duns, Low Flying Merse
Sunday, September 09, 2007
SIR, - Regarding F.A. Read-Powell’s letter about fedding the seals, I resent the insinuations that the flotsam, jetsom and oil comes from the leisure boats below.
As the owner of such a boat I take care not to pollute the water in the harbour..
If they look at rubbish in the harbour, it is plain to see where it comes from.
reads a letter in this week's Berwickshire. Methinks the man doth protest too much. Of course his wretched 'leisure' boat pollutes. It can't help it- every time it's engine is switched on. And as for looking at the rubbish in the harbour too closely...It may be all too plain where some of it comes from-perhaps in some cases from enjoying the conveniences offered by leisure boating, as it were.
Fedding the seals? Arcane pastime of some kind? Much better to give them food I would have thought.
As the owner of such a boat I take care not to pollute the water in the harbour..
If they look at rubbish in the harbour, it is plain to see where it comes from.
reads a letter in this week's Berwickshire. Methinks the man doth protest too much. Of course his wretched 'leisure' boat pollutes. It can't help it- every time it's engine is switched on. And as for looking at the rubbish in the harbour too closely...It may be all too plain where some of it comes from-perhaps in some cases from enjoying the conveniences offered by leisure boating, as it were.
Fedding the seals? Arcane pastime of some kind? Much better to give them food I would have thought.
Labels: Berwickshire, Eyemouth, letters
