Bobby Charlton wants a return of the Scotland England matches so the fans can see a proper match. I among many agree with him and think it would go a long way in the improvement of both teams when they are trying to qualify for the European and world cups. There has been a noticeable failure in both teams to qualify for these competitions since the games between the auld enemy were banned so we should all rally round Sir Bobby Charlton and help him in his cause to bring this fixture back. It was because of a few stupid yobs that the home internationals were banned preventing the majority of fans the pleasure and fun that the fixtures originally generated so if they are ever allowed to restart these idiots should think again on the damage it has caused both teams and either behave or keep away as there is no place in football for trouble makers. Other factors did come into it but the benefits outweight the negitives so let the associations get together and work something out.
On question time last night I listened to the ramblings of a disillusioned M.P. as he tried to justify the need for claiming expenses on his second home in London. The poor soul has to travel 37 miles to the houses of parliament meaning he has to get up early to arrive on time even after a long session in Parliament that might leave him with only four or five hours sleep. Does he think that all the other workers in their various professions who work long hours and have to commute to London (some a lot more than 37 miles) warrant an expense account from their employers? Thousands of workers all over Britain have to commute to work with long tedious journeys hampered with road congestion at their own expense, so why do M.Ps. think that they are entitled to claim expenses or buy lavish houses at the tax payers expense when their need is no greater that anyone else. Another question that needs to be asked is, if they only need the second houses for two or three hours sleep why do they have to have luxurious accommodation with so many rooms to furnish (at our expense again)with every mod con available when a simple bedsit would suffice? Also as I have said before, when the houses paid by us are no longer needed and are sold the money should go back into the coffers and not to the rip off M.Ps.
The E.U. is still trying to decimate the Scottish fishing industry by altering the rules and regulations so rapidly that the skippers and crews just can't keep up. They spent £10,000 to £30,000 on new regulation mesh size and dimensions only to be told weeks later that they don't comply anymore and will have to go to the same expense to renew the nets bought only recently. Their days at sea have been cut so severely that it is imposable to meet the expenses incurred when at sea plus the expenses of lying tied to the quay that include insurance,berth fees,hire of wheelhouse equipment etc.not forgetting the loans that have to be paid back for the building of their crafts never mind changing expensive nets every few weeks. Once again the British representatives in the European Parliament have stood back and watched as other countries, envious of our efficient but conservation wise fleet chip away at the regulations until soon there will be no Scottish fishing fleet. Thousands of jobs will be lost on land as well as the sea by allowing a once proud and flourishing industry be decimated in this way and all to benefit countries that have already emptied their once rich fishing grounds by catching and landing fish of all sizes to the point of no return. They now want to turn their attention to our waters and by destroying our fleet they will gain licenses and flaunt the laws to decimate the rest of the seas. It is time our politicians woke up to this fact and carried out the job they are getting paid for by fighting against this vendetta that will benefit no one and really put paid to any chance of replenishing the seas.
Tony McNulty has poured £60,000 into his parents house over four years in the pretence of it being his second home. I wonder how he could justify spending that amount on a first home never mind a home his parents live in. Does his parents not contribute anything to the upkeep of their house and just freeload off the taxpayer? It is not the kind of situation I would put my parents in even if I was in the position to rip off the British public and I certainly would not like my son to leave me in that situation if he was a politician. Think of the shame when you had to go out and face a public that knew you were a freeloading off your sons expenses. It is not just Tony McNulty or Jackie Smith that are guilty of ripping us off there are plenty more doing the same thing and although it is supposed to be legal it proves that when this system was thought out by politicians it was to line their pockets more than anything else. These people have proved that they come first and their electorates come second, also leaving us in no doubt why they do not want their expenses made public.
With so many cooking programs on T.V. now (of which I enjoy) it has come to my attention on the way meat dishes are being served to the public now. We were told years ago to make sure our meat was cooked through to prevent food poisoning but now the new trend all chefs seem to be copying is to serve it raw in the middle. They sear it on the outside in a pan to seal in the flavours then cook it in the oven for a short time before serving it with the blood running from it as they slice into it. I wonder if this trend has started with the limited time some T.V. programs allow to cook their ingredients (like ready steady cook in Britain i.e.) and during tasting decided that the rawer the meat the better the flavour. Surly this is setting a bad example to the public and could lead to food poisoning cases springing up because of this. I for one will never follow their example because when I cook my meat through it is still tasty and tender without being raw in the middle. Chefs do tend to copy each others new fads and ideas but once a few cases of food poisoning starts cropping up they will go back to their old ways and cook the safe way we were taught. Just look at Heston Blumenthal's restaurant that had to close down because of customers feeling ill after eating in his place (The Fat Duck) and nothing was found in the food but did they ever think it might have been under cooked meat that was the cause. WATCH THIS SPACE!
This being the 21st of march makes it human rights day so let us all think of the victimized people it was meant to help and how they must feel watching criminals of every kind abusing a system that they have no right to. It is time to alter the ridiculous E.U. law of human rights that so far has not only benefited vermin but has allowed them to make a complete fool of our judicial system. The government is rushing through a law to prevent slopping out claims going too far back but now they have the opportunity to amend it, they should amend it altogether and bar all criminals from abusing a system that was meant to be used by their victims not them. Or perhaps the government and judicial system in this country want to look the fools they have been deservedly taken for allowing the lawless, legal rewards for crime.
B.A.A. Are being forced to make a choice of which airport to sell between Glasgow or Edinburgh because they are monopolizing the market. Most customers questioned feel no need for this as B.A.A. are running these airports without fleecing their customers and any new buyer coming on the scene could be inexperienced and let the efficiently run business go to the dogs causing concern for regular users. In other words "if it aint broke don't bother to fix it." Its a case of interference where it is not needed. On the other hand we have the power companies ripping us off at every cut and turn ignoring the competitive market that their existence was supposed to create. The regulator and government should be looking at them instead of interfering in a firm that has only the public's interest in mind and unless they begin to take advantage of their position should be left alone to generate the much needed business and jobs they generate for the country during these difficult times. These government officials, if doing the job they are highly paid for would see the benefits B.A.A. are providing and let them be, then attend to the more urgent task of regulating the power companies. In saying that, the government reaps the benefits thanks to V.A.T. of every penny we are over charged in our power bills which makes it less likely that they will do anything about it. The sale of the airports is just to make it look as if they are earning their salt but "you can fool some of the people some of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time" and all their con tricks and errors will come home to roost at the next election.
Author based in Scotland.
After years spent at sea as a commercial fisherman I witnessed spectacular sights in the night sky while waiting for daylight to break.
After I retired I decided to write on the subject.