Musings from the Merse
Friday, April 03, 2009
Hard to Bear
It seems that when ever the Berwickshire News is short of, er, news it will produce yet another item about the world's most boring and overblown animal-the smoking, swearing, fighting,etc Polish Bear : Voytek.Aka Wojtek. The latest effusion is here
One wonders who paid for this knees up in the Scottish Parliament and who can really think that charity funds are appropriately spent in financing a statue in Edinburgh to this beast-hardly an inspiration for the modern generation of human kind never mind a new litter of cubs.
The hard copy Berwickshire has a picture of some worthies at the parliamentary reception including the indefatigable Mrs O who has been the brains and the brawn behind this campaign although I think she would have preferred to have the memorial in Hutton where Voytek was once stationed with his Polish comrades. One can only hope that she will be satisfied with an erection in Embra thus leaving Hutton (relatively) unpolluted.
Disapointingly for one who is adept at self publicity she has been bumped from the electronic Berwickshire by the equally camera friendly Mr Lamont, our Tory MSP. Wherever there is a sniff of a good (?) news story he is there taking as much credit as he can-any band wagon will do; what the vote nabbing value of this one is I have severe doubts but it seems to be his philosophy that when two or three people are gathered together, shake all their hands
And bring a cameraman
It seems that when ever the Berwickshire News is short of, er, news it will produce yet another item about the world's most boring and overblown animal-the smoking, swearing, fighting,etc Polish Bear : Voytek.Aka Wojtek. The latest effusion is here
One wonders who paid for this knees up in the Scottish Parliament and who can really think that charity funds are appropriately spent in financing a statue in Edinburgh to this beast-hardly an inspiration for the modern generation of human kind never mind a new litter of cubs.
The hard copy Berwickshire has a picture of some worthies at the parliamentary reception including the indefatigable Mrs O who has been the brains and the brawn behind this campaign although I think she would have preferred to have the memorial in Hutton where Voytek was once stationed with his Polish comrades. One can only hope that she will be satisfied with an erection in Embra thus leaving Hutton (relatively) unpolluted.
Disapointingly for one who is adept at self publicity she has been bumped from the electronic Berwickshire by the equally camera friendly Mr Lamont, our Tory MSP. Wherever there is a sniff of a good (?) news story he is there taking as much credit as he can-any band wagon will do; what the vote nabbing value of this one is I have severe doubts but it seems to be his philosophy that when two or three people are gathered together, shake all their hands
And bring a cameraman
Labels: Drunken Bears, Lamont, Mr Lamont, Mrs O, Scottish Parliament, Voytek
Friday, January 23, 2009
Iconically Yours
Such is the demand for space from the usual suspects in the Berwickshire News letter columns that it is a novelty to have two letters published on the same topic-and with the writers in agreement
SIR, - With reference to Richard Walthew’s letter last week in which he describes the new Scottish Parliament as “an iconic building in which the spirit soars and any true Scot can be proud of.”
Methinks Mr Walthew is confused with some other building!!
Duns.
SIR, - Mr, Walthew’s definition of a true Scot, is that he, or she, be spiritually uplifted by, and feel pride in the Scottish Parliament building.
Presumably he, or she, should also find magnificence in the Emperor’s New Clothes.
Personally I think the building is an architectural and functional disaster. Perhaps Mr Walthew would widen his definition.
Some other place
What is it about the Scottish Parliament which arouses such a fierce reaction. And what is wrong with 'Iconic' to describe it? I am sure you can be
Iconically bad?
Just like some of those McMansions which sprung up in the property boom in Fishwick New Town.
And, I may be in a minority but I rather like the Parliament and especially the debating chamber. I wish I had had a space like that to enjoy during my three years at the UN.
There's iconic for you
Labels: Iconic buildings, Scottish Parliament
