Nae Langer Tae Lie Hodden In a Pauper's Grave

Peter Milne - Fiddler
Originally uploaded by fitaloon.

Taken from the Press and Journal on the 17th March 2007

Riches denied, thy boon was purer joys What wealth could never give nor take

Inscription on Monument to Peter Milne

AS A LAD that lo'es the traditional fiddle music o wir ain country an specially fae oor North-East neuk, I hae dauchl't in reverence eence or twice at the monument tae Scott Skinner (1843-1927) in Allenvale Cemetery and the een tae Peter Milne (1824-1908) oot in Tarland bearin the inscription as abeen.

Dash't tho, I wis nivver sae touch't as at the unveilin at Nellfield Cemetery on Sunday efterneen, o a granite heidsteen tae Milne, dubbit in's day, the Tarland Minstrel.

That the Lord Lieutenant o Aiberdeenshire saw fit tae be there made it aa the mair impressive bit fin young Eilidh Anderson, aa spruc't up in her clan tartan kilt, gaed forrit tae lay a posy in front o the heidsteen, it got till's - maist o ye wid o seen the photo in Monday's P &J.

Eilidh is the niece o the lad that bears the accolade o the modern day "Tarland Minstrel", Paul Anderson, an it wis aa throwe him that at last Milne wis nae langer tae lie hodden in a pauper's grave.

PAUL, jist noo, a research Fellow at Elphinstone Institute cwidna lat things abee as his myn wis set tae find far Peter Milne wis beerit haein deet in the Aiberdeen Peerhoose an dumptit wi ithers somewye in the toon.

The ootcome wis that Paul's researchin pyntit tae es spot in Nellfield cemetery and raisin siller throwe concerts an donations wis able tae mark, in a fittin wye, the contribution Peter Milne made tae oor music.

Ere's links wi the self-styl't Strathspey King, James Scott Skinner, fa started oot as an aucht-eer-aal playin in Milne's band at dances roon aboot Don an Dee.

Skinner wis tae reca in articles for the People's Journal those days o yore far the barns the dances were held in hid earthen fleers, plunks laid on tap o secks o corn wis the seatin an myn transport wis shank's meer or the bike.

Aboot fower in the mornin, they aa made for hame an Skinner wis tae write 'I often wonder how I, a boy of eight or nine years, survived the physical strain and the loss of sleep . . . it was nothing for Peter and me to trudge eight or 10 weary miles on a slushy wet night in order to fulfil a barn engagement'.

Weel they were tae gyang their ain roadies an Scott Skinner's career his been weel documentit bit lang overdue his been the acknowledgement o the debt we owe tae Peter Milne for pittin his mark on oor unique fiddle music, describit as 'perhaps the very best interpreter of Highland Strathspey Deeside could ever boast till the after days of the vastly popular Scott Skinner'.

Foo than did sic a talent fa on hard times? Weel apparently Milne wis said tae tak tae opium as a cure for rheumatism fin workin doon in Manchester an syne a daft caper in a pub fin somebody ruggit a cheer fae oot aneth him cripl't him, spennin the hinmaist ten eer o's life in hospital.

HE DIDNA write aa that mony tunes bit the eens he did were toppers. Een that comes tae myn is 'John McNeil's Reel', composed for a celebratit heilan dancer an still play't ower an ower the day, a tune that fun its wye ower the Atlantic far the French Canadians claim't it as their ain, bit they jist ca'd it 'Big John'.

Ay, nae only dae we owe a debt tae Peter Milne bit tae Paul Anderson for the valuable darg an gran tae see the name Elphinstone Institute on the gravesteen at Nellfield.

Noo fae greats o the past, lat's get richt up tae date wi the news es wikk o twa freens o mine that hae made their mark in their ain lifetime an for that, richtly honourit in their ain circles.

First, congratulations tae that gentle giant o the hivvywechts o the Heilan Games scene, Bill Anderson, on bein inductit inta the Scottish Sports Hall o Fame anent sic like as Ally McCoist an Yvonne Murray.

WELL deserv't and acknowledgin the Heilan Games scene at last - toorist billies tak note.

Syne there wis Jim McColl bein recognis't at the Royal Television Society Awards as bein best Nations an Regions presenter, es efter the eident darg ower 30 eers in front o the cameras.

That they be MBE's afore jist rubber-stamps their achievments athoot ony cash-for-honours capers.

Lost in the Brave New World of NHS

Push for Personalised Services

Lost in the Brave New World of NHS

Have a look at the two posts above and contrast the difference between the Imaginary that Mr Blair thinks exists, because he would never have to do this himself, and the Reality that people are finding.

This is a minor example of what happens out there in the "real" world, not what the politicians think happens. In the Independent article Jemima Lewis says

Luddite though I may be, I am far more computer (and consumer)-literate than many of my parents' generation. It is the most fundamental principle of the NHS that it should be accessible to all, yet these well-meaning, sloppily executed reforms may create a two-tier system of access. The young, determined and scientifically minded will be able to find their way to the best care. The old-fashioned, impatient or technologically inept will give up in despair - myself included.

Whilst in the BBC article Mr Blair called for

"truly personalised" services with people given the information and power needed to choose a school or hospital.

This is typical of this government who thinks that everything is rosy out there as they regard us from their High Towers.

And as for the comment from Patricia (Best year so far) Hewitt that

Technology is really expanding what is possible.

She wouldn't know what "Technology" was if it slapped her round the chops. As the shadow Health Secretary put it

Rather than more warm words, what people want is for the government to trust the professionals.

Push for Personalised Services

Lost in the Brave New World of NHS

Jack Flash - Passer-by bowled over by nude OAP

Couldn't resist this story from Perth.

A pensioner is being sought by police after he was spotted driving naked around a bowling green in Perth on a motorised scooter.

The man, thought to be in his 70s, was seen in South Inch by a passer-by at about 1000 GMT on Thursday.

The witness was concerned he would be seen by children at a nearby park.

A Tayside Police spokesman said the man put his clothes back on and drove off. The man's scooter is believed to have a top speed of 3mph.

The sheer speed of his getaway obviously dissuaded any pursuers.

Apparently several officers were dispatched to the bowling club to investigate but the fugitive had gone - leaving tyre tracks as the only clue to his identity.

A spokeswoman for Tayside Police confirmed they were looking for the fugitive. She said:

"At 10.10am, a naked man was seen on a disability motorised scooter at the South Inch.

"The area was searched and there was no trace of the male involved. We are still actively looking for him."

Lucky he wasn't out today or he would have been frozen to his saddle!

BBC NEWS Scotland Tayside and Central Passer-by bowled over by nude OAP

Six Billion Pound Man

Many years ago before the Olympics were awarded to London, Mr Brown wanted nothing to do with them. Now he seems to see them as his Millenium Dome, and we know how that turned out.

Two articles in the first Post are quite interesting on the subject.

The first shows how Gordon has turned from a critic of the games to now supporting the games to the tune of 6 Billion pounds that he has magiced up from You and I, because make no bones about it , that is where the money will be coming from.

The second shows the deep incompetency of Tessa Jowell who even a few weeks ago was denying the 9 billion forecast.

I love the idea of the Olympics coming to Britain as I think they can be good for us in many ways, but the unfortunate problem is that we have an incompetent government interfering and meddling in their usual way. Now the Olympic's are more a roundabout way of regenerating some of the more needy (Labour Supporting?) parts of London without proper consultation or planning.

I predict the final bill will be way above the projected 9 billion and we will all be paying for these Games for some time.

The First Post : Gordon Brown's Olympics embarrassment

Burning our Money - BBC Jam

Over at Burning our Money The very nice Mr Wat Tyler has given me some credit for a story on the BBC Jam fiasco.

As he said Alastair:

highlights the abandonment of the BBC's online education service, BBC Jam. This "free" service has only been up since last year, but it has been severely criticised by private sector education providers as unfairly damaging their businesses. They have taken their complaint to the European Commission, and the BBC Trust has now abruptly terminated the whole thing. It's a complete mess that has flushed £75m of our money down the toilet.

In fairness to the BBC, Alastair points out that the Jam project was landed on them by the government- in particular, our old friends the Commissar and Charles Clarke.

The original article I wrote is here - BBC Jamming Suspended.

Lions led by Donkeys

According to the Telegraph article Andrew Lansley, the Conservative health spokesman, said today that a consultant wrote to him this week and said that doctors today were

"lions led by donkeys"

- a phrase used originally about First World War soldiers.

"He’s right. The appalling shambles made of Modernising Medical Careers risks undermining the morale and the future of the medical profession. What is the point of expanding medical school places and then destroying the career progression of junior doctors

I am assuming that the Consultant means that the Government are the Donkeys as some of the more senior members of the Medical establishment seem very similar to the Generals in WW1.

Any way it is good to see that David Cameron will be supporting the Doctors and I wish them all the best in getting this travesty overturned.

For earlier posts on MMC/MTAS look here.

UCAS goes PC

I see UCAS will be asking for details of parents jobs and educations levels on their next applications forms.

I can't really see what relevance this information could possibly have to a University when it was considering an applicant, apart from to fulfil some sort of "quota" to allow them to display how PC they are in taking students from differing backgrounds.

Apparently Bill Rammell, the Higher Education minister, said the Government supported the plans.

"We believe that admissions officers should have as much information as possible to help them to assess who has the potential to succeed," he said.The new information on candidates' backgrounds would ensure all applications were "genuinely dealt with on their merits", he told the House of Commons.

How this information could help with the above I have no idea. I would tend to more agree with the following from Martin Stephen, the High Master of St Paul's, the independent boys' day school in London, whowsaid:

"This is taking university entry out of academic achievement and straight into social engineering."

Applicants must say if parents are graduates

Hackers Heaven - Opening near you Soon

The words "Government", "NHS", "Security" fill me with dread. The idea that our NHS could run a secure computer system, available to all and sundry, fills me with dread from some of the errors and foul-ups they have made in the past. I wouldn't trust them to keep my name and address secure far less more personal details.

Some idea of the task in front of the NHS is shown in this article.

Whilst reading the BBC article you wonder if it is the BBC dumbing down the level of security required on such a system or it is just the fact that the NHS is incompetent. The trouble is, that it is most likely, a bit of both.

After working for the past 28 years in the IT world I can tell you that no system available to all and sundry on the Internet can truly be secure, even if it has the best brains behind it. Even within a "closed" system available to only GP's and Hospital staff it will be insecure and the main reason will not be technology it will be people.

People who lend out their access as its "easier" , people who leave a PC logged on, people who just have a look for a bit of curiosity, People who design bad systems and processes etc etc. People will always be the weak link.

My advice, when the time comes don't let the buggers put any of your information onto the Spine. Say no!

BBC NEWS | Health | Home access to NHS records plan

McConnell hints at Cynical Electioneering.

The Election is obviously on our First Minister's mind as he announces the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road is likely to be the next big upgrade in Scotland.

This is despite the fact that only three years ago Scottish Executive officials insisted not enough vehicles used the road to justify dualling it. They said it could even handle 50 per cent more traffic.

Not that I'm cynical mind you.

Richard Lochhead, the Scottish National Party MSP for Moray, also welcomed the First Minister's comments.

He said:

"The people of Moray will welcome the growing cross-party support and momentum for upgrading the A96 and dragging this vital transport link into the 21st century.

"I do hope Mr McConnell's belated recognition of the need to improve the A96 is not just him getting carried away in the run-up to May's elections."

Nanette Milne, Tory MSP for the North-east, said:

"This is very encouraging and exceptionally long-overdue news. It is one of the most dangerous roads in Scotland."

The Scotsman - Scotland - Aberdeen - McConnell hint lifts hopes in road battle

Cherie says "Say Sorry now"

Great idea get the typical scroat who's just been convicted of kicking someone's head in to say sorry to his victim. Most scroats have a limited ability to recognise they have done wrong and the ideas of saying "Sorry" is risible.

Cherie needs to get out into the real world with her husband and see what happens, rather than say sorry, the scroat will spit in your face and do it again.

Her advice would be better placed aimed at her husband who should be saying sorry for the mess he making of "running" this country. Unfortunately Tony behaves a bit like a scoat and rather than apologising, laughs in your face before he steals off to "earn" money on the lecture circuit.


Independent Online Edition > UK Politics

BBC Jamming suspended

The BBC has had to suspend its £150m online education Service BBC JAM as it has fallen foul of EEC regulations. It follows complaints from commercial online companies to the European Commission about the £150m project.

The project was set up despite warnings and strict conditions placed on it in 2003 about likely impacts on other companies.

Under the BBC's charter, the corporation is charged with promoting learning for school-aged children.

One of the conditions BBC Jam was set up with was that half of its content budget had to be spent on commissioning material from outside the BBC.

Conservative broadcasting spokesman Ed Vaizey said:

"This is a mess of the government's own making.

"They told the BBC to set up Jam even though a number of education companies were already providing those services.

"We have constantly raised concerns about BBC Jam and its impact on the private sector. It does not surprise us that the service has been suspended. The blame rests fairly with the government."

Oh well that's another few million of our money the Government has wasted.

The complainants say the service, designed as a learning resource for children aged five to 16 in support of the national curriculums, damages their businesses.

BBC Jam is an online learning resource for children, designed to be used at home to support key areas of the school curriculums across the UK. It will be suspended from 20 March 2007.

Acting BBC Trust Chairman Chitra Bharucha said in a statement:

"The Trust has requested BBC management to prepare fresh proposals for how the BBC should deliver the Charter obligation to promote formal education and learning, meeting the online needs to school age children.

"Despite a rigorous approval process involving the BBC Governors, the Department for Culture Media and Sport, and the European Commission resulting in extensive conditions on the service, BBC Jam has continued to attract complaints from the commercial sector about the parameters of its activities."

An official statement is available here.


BBC NEWS | Education | BBC suspends net learning project

Pensioner denies smoke ban breach

Apparently this is the first court case where a person has appeared in court charged with smoking in a prohibited place. Such an irony for a man with the name of Wraith to be done for smoking.

I'm frankly amazed by that, though from what I have seen the law does seem to be being obeyed wherever I have been.

When the law came in nearly a year ago now, I would have said that it would have been a regular occurrence.

Mind you from the story it appears that the guy may have been a little under the weather.

The final irony of appearing in court on National No-Smoking day is just exquisite!

Now to persuade my wife to kick the habit, or maybe I can just get the Kids to do it for me.


BBC NEWS Scotland North East/N Isles Pensioner denies smoke ban breach

Catholics turning away from Labour?

Labour and many Catholic priests are having some problems seeing eye-to-eye at the moment over a number of issues. Many of these are related to the family unit which most Catholics would see as Mum, Dad and Kids, whereas Labour tend to be a bit more free than this.

What is certain, from my quick poll of Catholics I know (my wife is a Catholic), is that Labour votes will be few and far between, and whilst they might not be representative of the whole of Scotland they are from vastly different areas and backgrounds.

None of them seem likely to vote for the CPA, but they all have one thing in common and that is they would like Labour and for, the most part, the Lib Dems out. Votes will be going to the SNP and the Tories and tactical voting will be going on.


The Scotsman - Labour and the turbulent priests

New Adam Smith £20 note launched

Nice to see the head of a Scotsman on the Bank of England £20 note.

As Mr Smith said:

What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience?

Too which he might have added the pleasure of being on a Bank of England £20!

BBC NEWS Business New Adam Smith £20 note launched

Life Thru a Lens.

Apparently after its failed attempt to have one over Dave using the Chameleon, Labour are looking at another attempt to smear him using the Robbie Williams song 'Life Thru a Lens'

The song, which contains lyrics such as: "You sound so funny with your voice all plummy/Now your cheques bounced better run to your mummy ... You're scared of the poor and needy/Is that why you're all inbreedy," will be used to further send up Cameron's toffee-nosed credentials.

"Although it's now a few years old, it contains lyrics which we thought were perfect for a piss-take film on Cameron," I'm told.

"At the moment it's just a question of editing the best bits and using it with the best clips.

"It may well be something that gets used in a few months' time."

I have the feeling, that as usual, the Labour PR machine has read it all wrong. They just don't get what makes something funny rather than just plain boring, especially as Mr Williams is now a bit past it all.

Now if the Tories were to make a few adverts featuring our Gordy as the Rev I.M. Jolly that might be funny as in

"I am the Reverend I.M. Jolly. That's Jolly, spelt M-O-R-B-I-D."

More Jollies here


Independent Online Edition > Pandora

MMC/MTAS on 18 Doughty Street tonight

18 Doughty Street will be discussing the MMC/MTAS farce tonight.

for previous stories see here

18 Doughty Street : Politics for Adults | TALK TV

Twit?

I've been waiting for my favourite policeman, well he is my big bro, to blog on this before I said anything as I'm in no place to say what is good policing and what is a drunken slapper trying to kick, gouge, hit, scratch, maim and otherwise injure a policeman.

One really good point he raises is about the aspect of racism being brought in, As he says

What most will agree with though is the utterly despicable way in which Race has become an issue in this matter. It has been said before that many of the so-called ad-hoc anti-racist forums/spokespersons are actually, on many an occasion, creating a more divided not diverse society. This time, I believe 'they' have shot themselves in the foot.

As one commentator on another blog put it.

The arrest of a drunken and violent female is always a bit of a mare for a male officer. It never looks pretty and whilst you are dealing with her you are worrying not just about your safety, but also what spurious allegation the drunken thing is going to make.
Add to that the fact that current UDTs (Unarmed Defence Tactic) dont look too pretty either. Knee strikes, baton strikes and distraction blows look very aggressive to the untrained observer.
The officer was doing what his force trained him to do, the outcry is over how ugly it looks. It would appear at the moment his force are standing up for him, even a statement from his chief.
This is all a media circus, some yorkie wannabee Al Sharpton is trying to build a reputation out of it. He is a silly man who makes silly comments and should be ignored. He does however mention a few of the magic words the press love to hear.
Storm in a teacup, good luck to the PC involved, ignore it all and enjoy the 8-4 for a while.
Alternatively wait until one of the redtops does a few background checks on her, exposes her as a cross between Jade Goody and Punchy McPunchy and you can sell them your tale of suffering for a few grand.

As sergeant Stan Jablonski used to say

Let's do it to them before they do it to us.

Welcome to Toy Town
The Home of Noddy (& Mr Plod): Twit?

Blair called to account over abandoned troops

The Independent on Sunday reports today that

British soldiers returning from war are suffering unprecedented levels of mental health problems amid claims that the long-standing "military covenant" guaranteeing them proper care is in tatters.

They have investigated details of problems reported by returning service personnel from Iraq and Afghanistan and reveal that

More than 21,000 full-time servicemen and women who have served in Iraq, as well as army reservists, have developed anxiety and depression.

Apart from terrible toll on service personnel the paper also reports on the fact that the government is doing little to help those who return to our shores injured or maimed, it reports

The extent of the hidden costs of war is exposed in the same week that five British soldiers were killed in action in Afghanistan and Iraq, the highest death toll since 2003. A total of 6,600 British troops have been injured in Iraq and Afghanistan and more than 600 flown back to Britain for treatment. But Combat Stress and the British Legion say that even these figures grossly underestimate the real scale of the psychological injuries among troops. The charities warn that the true cost in terms of family breakdown and broken lives will not be felt by society for at least a decade.

They accuse the Ministry of Defence of abandoning vulnerable soldiers, some of whom experience crippling nightmares and flashbacks, by closing dedicated military hospitals and putting troops in civilian wards.

One senior Serviceman, Air Marshal Sir John Walker said

He believed that the military covenant is at "breaking point". The former head of Defence Intelligence Service and deputy chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee said: "Has the covenant been broken? Well in my opinion it has certainly been stretched to breaking point. This relationship should be based on trust, and I am afraid sending our forces into an illegal war is a severe breach of trust."

At the end of this month, Britain will become the only country in Europe without a dedicated military hospital when it closes the doors of Haslar Hospital at Gosport, Hampshire.

Meanwhile an MoD spokesman said that the defence budget had increased and that junior soldiers had received a substantial pay rise.

That should really help!

Independent Online Edition > UK Politics

Cromar - Scotland

Cromar
Originally uploaded by fitaloon.

I will be busy this weekend with too many things to mention so I'll leave you with a view down into the Valley where I live.

Also A little poem about it too.

The Slack of Tillylodge

By George Stephen


Lo, what a prospect meets the eyes
When, gazing raptured o'er Cromar,
Beyond the Grampian peaks arise
The crowning heights of Lochnagar.

Though many a fateful year has passed
Since first I raptured to this view,
Each time's more sacred than the last
As I my eager tryst renew.

I love the Valley of the Dee
As scanned from viewpoints near and far;
But no spot is more dear to me
Than Slack of Tillylodge in Mar.

And sometimes by the Aegean Sea,
By beaches red with blood-soaked arms,
The Slack of Tillylodge for me
Seemed Paradise 'mid war's arms.*

As Moses viewed the Promised Land,
Beyond dear Jordan's stream afar;
So on this vantage ground I stand,
And long for lovely Lochnagar.

Mr sacred tryst I oft renew,
I long to be three even now;
And heaven seems nearer as I view
The hills beyond Cromar's dear howe.


*While on service in Gallipoli with the 89th Field Ambulance in 1915, I became very friendly with Major George Davidson of Torphins, son of the Rev. Dr. Davidson of Logie Coldstone. Many an evening Dr. Davidson would come to my dug-out and say: "Aye, Stephen, how would you like to be going round by Willie Robbie's tonight, and be having a look at the hills across the Howe of Mar?"

(From The Deeside Field, 2nd Series, No.6 1970)

Cameron sacks Tory front-bencher over 'black bastards' gibe

The title of this entry shows just how inaccurate papers can be when they want to sensationalise their news headlines. If the headline had said the truth that Patrick Mercer had said the following

"But that's the way it is in the Army. If someone is slow on the assault course, you'd get people shouting: 'Come on you fat bastard, come on you ginger bastard, come on you black bastard.'"

It wouldn't have had quite the same effect.

I thought long and hard on what to say on this entry because it's a very delicately balanced matter, where does racism start as against PC speak, and also because we are now so scared about discussing racism that even someone trying to talk about racism gets tainted with it.

Most people in this country (the UK) are to some extent xenophobes, in that we don't like change and mistrust the stranger in our midst. This might apply to the townie who moves to a rural area, the English person who moves to Scotland (or Vice-Versa) or the, dare I use this word, immigrant who arrives from somewhere else in the world.

We will regard them with suspicion until they become part of the scenery. I know some people in villages in Scotland, who even after 30 years are still regarded as "white settlers". My Father-in-Law is one of the "White Settlers", before that he had been 20 odd years in the Marines where he had the dual problems of being Scottish and a stand out Carrot Top.

What I am trying to say is that we as a nation take a long time to get over our fears, and to counter these fears we tend to react against them in a less than tolerant manner, but gradually over time things become better as we realise that these fears were groundless. What was said or done 30 years ago was not acceptable 20 years ago and what was said or done 20 years ago was not acceptable 10 years ago, and so it goes on, as we all, hopefully adapt and learn.

To go back to Patrick Mercer there appears to be no doubt that he was a good soldier and leader of men (and women!). When he left the army back in 1999, nearly ten years ago, he then moved into the vastly different Political world and appeared to take to it very well, this is not surprising in some ways, as the organisational and people skills he learned whilst in service would have helped him to get things done.

However being a politician is a vastly different "game" you need to think more on the actions and reactions of your words rather than your deeds. So when he said

"I came across a lot of ethnic minority soldiers who were idle and useless, but who used racism as cover for their misdemeanours,"

It was taken literally to mean that a lot of ethnic soldiers were idle and useless and hiding behind racism. Not the words of a great politician. What exactly did he mean? Was he mis-quoted? Was it just clumsy phrasing? Patrick Mercer says, he meant that he had met a couple of men like this in his 20 years of service.

Unfortunately the whole tone of the Times article appears to have Patrick Mercer take on a slightly Old World and Colonel Blimp type image. It appears to say that racism was tolerated under his command and that he himself allowed it to happen.

From all accounts this appears to have been untrue. He was backed by one of the members of his battalion, Leroy Hutchison, who said

"In my 12 years with the battalion no form of racism went unpunished."

Patrick Mercer has accused the Times of putting an "extremely mendacious angle" on his comments. I would suggest that he helped then do this to some extent by his misunderstanding of what Politics is about.

He is guilty not of being a racist, but, of not being a Politician and this is why David Cameron has rightly sacked him from the Front Bench. I am sure he will continue being an effective MP.

One final thought from Muhammed Ali in 1996 which is very relevant to these times and especially to all the men and women in the services.

"When people are forced to interact to survive, their prejudices diminish."

It just takes too long elsewhere.

The Scotsman - Bill for CalMac tender is £15m

The price of putting the CalMac ferry contract out to tender has been put at £15M according to an official Government response. As only one company, CalMac, is left in the tender this is perhaps rather a lot. However it may be the tip of the iceberg as the P&J reports the cost may be more properly put at £40m

Many other countries with similar sort of situations have managed to work out a way round the EEC legislation but we appear to be unable or unwilling to do this.

As one comment put it

The world belongs to the Lord,
And all that it contains
Except the Western Isles
For they belong to McBraynes

The Scotsman - Bill for CalMac tender is £15m

NHS blames Kylie for cancer target failures

Apparently Kylie is behind (nice one) problems with some regions in Scotland failing to make their targets. This would of course be the "Kylie" defence when Patricia Hewitt comes to explaining why the NHS is in such a mess.

Highland NHS in particular struggled.

An NHS Highland board meeting heard that, while in Scotland as a whole there had been a 20 per cent increase in breast-cancer referrals in the past year, referrals there had soared by 40 per cent in 12 months.

Elaine Mead, NHS Highland's chief operating officer, admitted the board's cancer waiting-time statistics were "very poor" but she said work was going on to improve the situation.

Christine McIntosh, the board's cancer network manager, said: "The Kylie effect is thought to be at least partly behind the increase in referrals seen across the country.

One can only think the highlands are more Kylie daft than the rest of the country.

The Scotsman - NHS blames Kylie for cancer target failures

AC Milan 1-0 Celtic (agg 1-0)

Hard luck to Celtic who battled hard but in the end lost out in extra time to AC Milan.

I have two sad wee boys here , but one who is happier as, thanks to ex-Celt Henrik Larsson, Man Utd managed to get past Lille.


BBC SPORT | Football | Europe | AC Milan 1-0 Celtic (agg 1-0)

Shock as 8000 Car Workers made Redundant.

If the details of this headline were true then every paper and TV station would be blaring it out 24 hours per day. But as its rich doctors who cares. It is the last story on the Health page on the BBC web site. It barely mentions on others. Channel 4 is about the only notable exception.

Review of flawed recruitment process welcome but does not go far enough, says BMA

The Department of Health has today (Tuesday 6 March, 2007) announced a review of the Medical Training Application Service for junior doctors.

In response, Dr Jo Hilborne, chairman of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee, says:

“The government has finally been forced to address the appalling problems with this system. We have been warning since last summer that these reforms were being rushed through too quickly. From the point of view of the thousands of doctors who’ve been messed around, given incorrect information, or denied job opportunities that they deserved, it’s a shame the government didn’t listen then.

“Not only is this response, too late, it also does not go far enough. While we welcome a review, the only fair solution now is for the interview process to be suspended until it can be clearly shown that no doctor has been disadvantaged as a result of the government’s mistakes.

We are disappointed that the government has not invited a BMA representative to sit on the review panel, given that despite all the problems we have always tried to work constructively with them to make this process work.”

Dr Jonathan Fielden, chairman of the BMA Consultants Committee, adds:

“We have repeatedly highlighted countless problems with this system. The flawed implementation process has caused the medical profession to lose faith that we are appointing the best doctors to care for patients. Consultants have been placed in an impossible position by having to shortlist forms in too short a time. A review is welcome, but action is necessary and overdue.”

Patricia's response is awaited, though it looks like she' doing a Gordo and has disappeared, and is certainly not available to her constituents.

BBC report here.

Much better Channel 4 report of chaos here which includes decent video report.

Newswire Article: Review of flawed recruitment process welcome but does not go far enough, says BMA 06/03/2007

How Blair has stood by Niger Claim

Do you know what the "Niger Claim" is. According to this article it is notorius and first surfaced in Britain.

You might not know it by that name but is has led to one of the biggest on-going disasters the world has seen. The "Niger Claim" refers to how Iraq was attempting to get its Uranium from Niger for Saddam's supposed nuclear programme.

Unfortunately the "claim" as reported by the Indepedent

which was picked up by President George Bush in his January 2003 State of the
Union speech three months before the invasion, was used as a key piece of
evidence to justify the war. But the alleged incriminating documents forwarded
to the UN nuclear agency were found to be a crude fake.

turned out to be a fake.

The Independent goes on to say

The fallout from the flawed intelligence has claimed a slew of victims in
Washington, including the scalp of the Central Intelligence Agency chief George
Tenet.
Yesterday, almost four years after the Iraq invasion, the nuclear
dossier led to the toppling of a central White House figure, when Lewis
"Scooter" Libby, a former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted of
perjury.
However, despite the CIA's reservations over the central claim that
Saddam was allegedly attempting to buy yellowcake from Africa for his nuclear
weapons programme, and the White House having formally backed away from the
report, the British Government still clings to its original position.

So now you know what the "Niger Claim" is. Perhaps Mr Blair will use the Elf Defence to justify his claims.

Oh, by the way pop along to Iraq Dossier for more details on the work of fiction that took us to war.

Independent Online Edition > Americas

Aberdeen Councillor Quits - Update 3

A further update on this story of an Aberdeen Lib Dem Councillor, Raymond Hutcheon, quitting after 20 Years.

According to the local rag, the P&J, a 17 year old girl, Kylie Hufton, appeared on petition at Aberdeen Sheriff Court charged with allegedly conspiring to abduct and assault Councillor Hutcheon.

I'll leave you to ponder on that one.

Both Raymond Hutcheon and Kate Dean, Lib Dem and local Council leader, declined to comment yesterday.

The P&J had some more information on Raymond:

Yesterday, the councillor's home in Corsehill Croft, which has around an acre of land and stands on one corner of a busy crossroads, remained deserted.

The garden was uncared for, littered with broken glass and bits of cable and plastic.

A rusty blue van, a caravan, a trailer and a Ford Escort with no numberplate sat in the back garden and an adjoining yard was a mess of car parts and junk. There was another old van in the yard, emblazoned with Raymond Hutcheon Ltd, which had a dirty mattress inside.

The house was in a dishevelled state. Paint was peeling from the front entrance and glass panes in the back porch were smashed. Dead plants, keys and medicine bottles were scattered on windowsills.

Neighbours were reluctant to criticise Mr Hutcheon but described him variously as "foolish", "naive" and "misled".

One neighbour said there were regular "comings and goings" at the councillor's house during the night and women would get out of cars and taxis would arrive.

The Elf defence

The BBC reports the defence used in the following case:

A man accused of a stealing underwear from a shop in a knifepoint raid believed he was a female elf at the time, Belfast Crown Court has heard.

It went on to say:

Robert Boyd, 45, from Broadlands in Carrickfergus, is accused of holding up staff at the Orchid shop in Belfast disguised in a wig, hat and glasses.

He told the court he had been involved in a role-playing game at the time, and his character was an elf named Beho.

He denies robbery but says he may have blurred reality and fantasy.

He also said it "could be right" that Beho had intended to rob the shop - although he told the jury he could not remember what was going through his mind at the time.

I can think of a few other people in our government who might need to use a similar type of defence shortly.

Hat Tip to Yokel on PB for this gem.

UPDATE. Elf Defence fails

BBC NEWS Northern Ireland Elf defence for 'lingerie thief'

Aberdeen Councillor quits - Part 2

I knew this was going to break into something bigger when I blogged on this earlier, it just had that feel to it. It now appears that Councillor Hutcheon was the subject of a possible abduction/assault plot with links to the earlier murder of Robert Mair.

At the moment the now ex-councillor is keeping quiet as to his reasons for resigning.

This is not the first time that Raymond Hutcheon, a councillor for the past twenty years, has been in trouble, five years ago he was warned by the police for Kerb Crawling and then a few months later he had to quit the Governorship of a Local school for children with behaviour problems after a relationship with a former prostititute and drug addict.

Quite how a man with this sort of background can have been a councillor and then on so many committees is quite beyond me. I imagine the Police were most interested in his being on the Police Board, and as for being on the Standards and Scrutiny committee... Words fail me.

The Herald has many details here

Video report here:

The Daily Record reported in 2005:

A KERB-CRAWLING councillor appointed to probe Scotland's sex industry claimed last night: 'I'm the ideal man for the job.'

Raymond Hutcheon, 48, escaped with a warning after being caught by police with a young woman in his van in 2002.

Months later, he was forced to resign from a school board after moving another girl - former vice girl and drug addict Nicola Stewart - into his Aberdeen home.

That relationship has now collapsed.

The Record can now reveal that Hutcheon has been appointed to a Holyrood team to form policy on how to control lap-dancing bars, sex shops and massage parlours.

Last night, the Liberal Democrat Aberdeen city councillor admitted he didn't tell Parliament bosses about his troubled past.

But he insisted it made him the ideal candidate to work alongside police chiefs, legal experts and leading academics.

Hutcheon confessed: 'I was a bit naive in thinking that this wouldn't drag everything back out again. If I had been spineless I would have said 'no' to going on this body and what happened in my private life would not have been revisited.

'Whether it changes the perspective of the others on this working group as to my suitability is down to them.

'All my skeletons are out of the cupboard, in living Technicolor.

'At certain times in the last couple of days I've really thought, 'I'm an idiot - I should have said no and just walked away from it'.'

In 2002, Hutcheon was spotted with a vice girl in his van a few hundred yards from Aberdeen University medical centre, where he works as an illustrator.

He was approached by two police officers but let off with a caution.

Hutcheon was then called to a meeting with the city council's legal director Crawford Langley, where he admitted the incident.

Yesterday, he claimed it was all a 'misunderstanding'.

And he added: 'The person I was speaking to was a drug addict who had to fund her addiction.'

Privately, Hutcheon has insisted he was trying to help the woman as she was the daughter of a constituent.

He claimed: 'If I had said more at the time I am quite sure it would never have been classed as kerb-crawling.'

Just months later, divorced Hutcheon moved a former drug-addicted prostitute into the home he shared with his 91-year-old mother and his two children.

The bizarre set-up shocked many of his colleagues. He was forced to resign from the board of governors at Aberdeen's Oakbank School for disturbed and difficult youngsters.

The revelations also didn't sit well with his position on the council's standards and scrutiny committee, which sets the code of conduct for council members.

Hutcheon yesterday admitted: 'It really was a very difficult time. We were an item. She was staying in my house at that time.

'Our friends were aware of what her problems had been. We were not trying to hide anything.

'My marriage broke up four or five years before that time.

'I was a single bloke in a relationship with a single female who had a dodgy background.

'She was someone who was living in my house with me. She wasn't someone I was keeping hidden away.'

Hutcheon said his priority had been to protect Nicola, who was trying to wean herself off drugs.

Last night, he confirmed the relationship was now over, claiming the publicity surrounding the affair 'certainly didn't help'.

Hutcheon said he hoped he would be still made welcome on the new working group, launched last week by the minister for finance and public service reform,Tom McCabe.

The group, including council and police chiefs, is chaired by Linda Costelloe Baker, the Scottish legal services ombudsman.

They will be given a whole year to come up with a report on massage parlours, sex shops, lap-dancing and pole-dancing bars.

One source said Councillor Hutcheon's experiences made him 'an inspired choice' for the 12--member working party.

And Hutcheon himself admitted: 'What I have is experience of the drugs problem. I have that insight. It's certainly knowledge and information that I think may be helpful.

'Whether I'm still on the committee come the first meeting on April 20, we'll have to wait and see.

Announcing the group, McCabe, said: 'The Executive is committed to ensuring that people working in the adult entertainment industry are protected and that controls on the industry are as robust and effective as possible.

'The working group will review the scope and impact of adult entertainment in Scotland and make recommendations to Ministers on the way forward.'

But leading Tory MSP Bill Aitken said: 'This must be very embarrassing for the Scottish Executive. Clearly they did not research Councillor Hutcheon's background.

'I doubt if his fellow working group members will be overly delighted at some of his comments.

'I daresay this guy's being upfront about his past but it leaves the adult entertainment working party looking a bit risible.'

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said: 'Membership of the working group reflects a diverse range of interests.

'The differing backgrounds of members will help the group in its work to review the industry.'

BBC NEWS | Scotland | North East/N Isles | Kidnap probe as councillor quits

Aberdeen Councillor resigns after search

BBC reports a Lib Dem councillor in Aberdeen has resigned after Police searched his house on Monday.

Apparently he tendered his resignation this morning.

The search was in connection with the death of Robert Mair.
Police were apparently looking for his car and dog after his body was discovered. These were found over the weekend.

Councillor Hutcheon served on a number of sub-committees including Drugs and Alcohol Task Group, Grampian Joint Police Board and Standards and Scrutiny.


BBC NEWS | Scotland | North East/N Isles | Councillor resigns after search

Record Tory poll lead, and it’s likely to grow

The poll in todays Times shows the Tories on 38%, Labour on 30% and Liberal Democrats on 18%.

This is from the pollster normally most kind to Labour.

Any less than 30% for Labour will take then into a critical point where their polling might drop off rapidly.

Roll on the next election.

Record Tory poll lead, and it’s likely to grow-News-Politics-TimesOnline

MMC & MTAS : The West Midlands Deanery Panel passes vote of no confidence

The MMC and MTAS system is beginning to fall apart at the seams. Previous posts had shown what effect this piece of Nu Labour is having on our young doctors.

Hopefully this will herald the demise of the person who is currently responsible for this pile of typically idealogically based garbage.

That will then definitely be the best year so far for the NHS.

NHS Blog Doctor: MMC & MTAS - part 6 : The West Midlands Deanery Panel passes vote of no confidence

Too few midwives, Too many risks

The numbers:

• £1bn+ paid out by the NHS in compensation for maternity-related claims since 2001
• 23% of pregnant women have Caesareans each year
• 15% limit on Caesareans recommended by the World Health Organisation
• 24% of birth units without proper medical support
• 722,500 births in 2005
• 17,000+ women harmed in maternity safety incidents since November 2003
• 391 women died during, or shortly after, childbirth between 2000 and 2002
• 48% of women have a normal birth
• 63% of babies are delivered by midwives each year
• 7,000+ maternity-related compensation claims since 1995
• 10,000 too few registered midwives
• 18,949 full-time equivalent midwives
• 13 women die for every 100,000 births
• 200% rise in elective Caesareans since 1980
• 50% increase in emergency Caesareans in the past decade
• £1.8bn spent on maternity services in 2006
• £37.7m savings if Caesarean rate fell below 20 per cent
• 1 in 4 chance that a pregnancy will end in miscarriage
• 1 in 200 chance that a baby will be stillborn
• 3,500 babies stillborn in the UK each year
• 70% of stillbirths that remain a mystery
• 159,642 Caesareans carried out in the UK each year

The UK now has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in Europe, with 13 deaths per 100,000.

As the Blessed Hewitt said

"It was the best year from the patients' point of view. More people were treated, faster than ever before and more lives were saved than ever before.
Of course it has been a difficult year for staff, as we have had to sort out the large over-spend. But it is now clear we are absolutely back on track to get the NHS into financial balance by the end of the year."

I have one word for you Ms Hewitt - Bollocks.

Independent Online Edition > Health Medical

RecessMonkey (Alex Hilton) - RIP

Recess Monkey that infamous Labour Blogger has flamed and died after what appears to have been a "mistake" when he announced Margaret Thatchers death on his blog last night at 12:02. Despite repeated requests for sources or denials there was no reply all night.

Apparently this was just a joke as one of his "mates" had texted him with the information which was of course false. As he commented on his blog:

If you’re coming here for well-researched news from a well-resourced news team, I can only suggest you start maybe at bbc.co.uk.

Mr Hilton then proceeded to put the information on his blog after presumably making no checks. One can only suspect his state of mind at the time, possibly overcome by his drunken stupor he forgot all in his haste to put out what he thought were glad tidings. Basking in the warmth of his feelings he went to bed warmed at the thought of his hated Maggie being dead.

His vapid apology this morning will only ensure his demise as a respected? blogger. Long may he Rest in Peace.

By the way Mr Hilton is currently doing the PR for Hilary Benn. That should go down a storm with Mr Benn Senior and Junior.

He is also the man behind the not very successful LabourHome website.

One suspects that Mr Hilton will have a hangover of more than one type this morning.

A final word from the lady herself

I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.

RecessMonkey » Blog Archive » ***CORRECTION*** MAGGIE JUST OLD ***

Nicol Stephen Faces Storm Over Party Donations (from Sunday Herald)

Tartan hero reveals that Nicol Stephen that well liked MSP has accepted some interesting donations from a local business man in Aberdeen.

Now Nicol is not a stranger from getting his nose into a trough and has been in trouble before for getting his finances sorted out.

Ian Suttie the business man concerned has also been the subject of some interesting deals with the collapse of the Richards Textile company one of the most recent.

Now planning permission for a £50 million "Urban" Village centered at the now defunct Richards premises is to be decided on shortly in Aberdeen.

There is of course no suggestion the donations and permission are linked.

Nicol Stephen Faces Storm Over Party Donations (from Sunday Herald)

Campbell sets five tests for LibDem Euthanasia Policy

Menzies Campbell the pension drawing leader of the Lib Dumbs has set himself five targets before he is allowed to put himself forward for Euthanasia.

His five points, that would allow him to try and become part of NuLab and all its lies and deceits as a government, are fairly straight forward and most decent governments could probably agree with them.

But for the Lib Dumbs to come forward with this at a stage when NuLab is likely to be the minority party is nothing short of political euthanasia for him and his party.

To line up with a detested and sinking party as a ruse to gain a tiny toehold in power will be doomed. Look to Scotland and what their link up with Scottish Labour has done to their popularity and standing.

And one final point where is that great point that Lib Dumbs always go on about Proportional Representation, has that disappeared into the abyss of Political expediency?

This is the politics of desperation and will no doubt rebound on them badly.

Maybe they do need to go back to a leader they can rely on.

Liberal Democrats : Campbell sets five tests for Gordon Brown

McConnell starts dirty war

I see even the Labour Heartlands in Scotland are turning against them.

Labour are going to stop campaigning on their achievements, tricky one that with so little achieved and concentrate on a negative campaign. With their ability to lie, lie and then lie agian this could be interesting as they will almost certainly be caught out a they try and spin themselves back to their troughs.

Apparently the campaign will be as follows:

• Scottish Labour have 'given up' on positive electioneering
• Plans to discredit SNP are revealed by party sources
• Independence bashing will be at centre of campaign

A key source in Labour said:

"There is nothing that Labour can say that will change peoples' minds about Labour. There is no point in having a positive campaign because it doesn't wash. There isn't a bit of evidence to suggest that going positive will make any difference. They don't know Jack and they don't like Labour."

Just about says it all for the contempt Labour now has for the public.

My advice vote anyone but Labour and their lackeys the LibDems. They have failed Scotland too many times already.


Scotsman.com News - McConnell starts dirty war

Webcameron: Labour to make 8000 junior doctors unemployed (approx. a quarter of the junior doctor workforce)

Doctors are now trying to get the Leader of the Conservatives involved in the scandal of the new system for Junior Doctors Training.

Hopefully he will take this on and use it to blast away at the Government and at least try and help get the "Harridan Hewitt" to resign. The petition starts off

I would like to highlight an opportunity for you to gain several thousand extra votes if you can call the Government to task on the following issue. (If you can get the general public to take an interest through the TV News, then this is a General Election winner. At least you may be able to get Patricia Hewitt to resign. Presently the Public don't really know about this because, with the exception perhaps of Channel 4 News, the labour controlled BBC and media are not interested and there is very little publicity.

I have already voted for it and hope that anyone who sees this or a similar story does the same.

webcameron: Labour to make 8000 junior doctors unemployed (approx. a quarter of the junior doctor workforce)

Hercules crash - An update

Update on previous blog entry.

The Telegraph reports that 2 years prior to the accident the RAF was requested by one of its serving officers to update the Hercules with ESF.

Sqn Ldr Chris Seal said he requested in 2002 that explosive suppressant foam (ESF) be added to the fleet – something the American air force had in place for almost 40 years.

It goes on.

In late 2002 he sent an “urgent” request for ESF, which prevents fuel tanks exploding if hit by ground fire, after a presentation by a US officer.

“He showed us the video that showed the effects of a bullet hitting the fuel tanks with foam and without foam.

“You could almost hear the jaws drop and hit the floor as we saw that.

“I was in the process of identifying the lessons to be learnt from our operations so far for our main squadron - and as a result I included fire suppressant foam as a requirement.”

If this request was ignored then it can only have been on cost grounds.

This is a disaster waiting to happen again.

Cluedo Game

The BBC were last night stopped from broadcasting an item about the "Cash for Honours" scandal that has Tony Blair's fingerprints all over it (The Scandal that is).

The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, a well known lackey of Tony Blair, obtained the injunction on Friday night at a hearing which lasted about two hours at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Lord Goldsmith's office said he had acted

"Completely independently of government" on the matter.

Back in the land of reality various people have speculated on who the injuction might cause embarrassment to. Benedict White implicates Lord Levy, hints from Iain Dale point at him also.
Guido meanwhile points to Ruth Turner or Sleazy Levy. Interestingly the BBC early on had a photo of Ruth Turner on their article.

My take is it's probably both of them with more than a hint of Tony Blair in there as well.

Charges relating to this now look imminent.

Positive Proof that Tony Blair is a ..........

Tony is 3rd right at the back.

Thanks to the BBC.

Ryntaing - Upper Glenbuchat:

The photograph above is a wonderful view of The Fermtoun where my 2nd Great Grandfather, William Mcrobbie was born in 1821. Ryntaing is now about a mile down a track off the end of the road that runs through Glenbuchat. It was last occupied in the early 1920's by William's grandson Harry. Many of his family died of Tuberculosis. It is about as remote as you can get these days. I shudder to think what it was like back in those days. However since William's Dad Harry died in 1881 at the age of 92 maybe it wasn't all bad.

Details from the above website are as follows.

Ryntaing - Upper Glenbuchat

Allt Sown Hill,Creag na Gamhna, Claisdhu Hill, Creagandubh and Crespit Hill can all be seen surrounding the fermtoun of Ryntaing in the uppermost reaches of Glenbuchat. The skyline and watershed is the Aberdeenshire/Banffshire boundary.
The Slackmore, Mid and Clashwalloch Burns along with Allt Sowan all converge at Ryntaing forming the Leadensider Burn that runs past Newseat and Ballochduie in turn being fed by the Burn of Sluggie to join the Water of Buchat at Badenyon

The 1841 Census of Scotland for County of Aberdeen, District of Alford, Parish of Glenbucket states that Harry McRobie 50y, a Farmer and his wife Isobel 45y, two sons John 20 and Charles 13, and three daughters Isobel 15, Mary 9 and Ann 6 all lived at Ryntaing

Harry was born in 1788 in Glenbuchat and christened on 13th October 1788. His parents were William McRobbie and Magdalen McRobbie ( nee Strath ) He married Isobel Glennie before 1815 and died on the 16th August 1881 aged 92 of old age. He was buried in Strathdon Cemetery in Aug 1891.

He was recorded as farming 12 Acres and having two labourers in 1851 and then as farming 43 acres arable and living in a house with 4 rooms and windows in 1871 when he was 81 years and still described as head of the household.

In the 1881 census he is aged 92 and a retired farmer.

His wife Isobel was the daughter of Alexander and Isabella Glennie (nee Henderson) and she was born about 1795 in Towie, Aberdeenshire. She died on 14th November at Rhintaing, Glenbucket, Aberdeenshire and was buried in the same month in Strathdon Cemetery.

They had nine children. William, John, James,William, Peter, Alexander, Isabella, Mary and Ann.

Ann was born on 21st May 1835 and married John Reid at Rhintaing on 12 April 1872 aged 36. She had two children, James Harry Reid and Isabella Reid. She died on 20 Feb 1922 at Newton ( just down the glen a bit) aged 86 of Chronic Rheumatism and Old Age. She out lived her son James who died in 1897 at age 22. Her daughter, Isabella, is noted as being a scholar aged 8 in the 1881 census.
The trail goes cold here !

But picks up again here...

Harry's son Willaim was born 21 Nov 1820, Glenbucket, Aberdeen, Scotland and married Mary FARQUHARSON on 26 Jan 1851 in Tullynessle. He died 27 May 1863 15:30pm, 2 Clarks Court, Upper Kirkgate, Aberdeen at age 42 .

This William was a farmer at Wester Carnie and had the following children :

1. Isobel McRobie was baptized on 20 Apr 1851 in Strathdon [IGI].

2. Alexander McRobbie born 28 Jan 1854, Skene, Aberdeenshire. Christened: 9 Feb 1854, Skene, Aberdeenshire. Married Agnes SIEVEWRIGHT on 23 Dec 1874 in 4 Darlington Place, West North Street, Aberdeen and he died 2 Jan 1936, 23 Bright Street, Aberdeen at age 81 of arterio-sclerosis. This is the point where the farming occupation end. He was a Railway Guard in 1883, 1890, 1901 and a Railway Brakesman (retd) in 1920

He and Agnes had 14 Children. (Agnes, Alexander, Mary, George, William, Charles, John, Bella Milne, James, Allan, Stuart, Frank Downie, one un-named child and Annie)

It is Bella Milne McRobbie that takes the line forward. She was born 28 Feb 1890, 30 Allan Street, Aberdeen.

Bella married Thomas DIACK, son of Adam DIACK and Annie Stephenson WATSON, on 28 Jan 1920 in Aberdeen 2 Union Place. (Thomas DIACK was born on 8 Jun 1889 in Portknockie Railway Station, Banffshire and died on 28 Sep 1953 in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.) The cause of his death was Exfoliative Psoriasis,Broncho-Pneumonia, Chronic Uraemia.

A picture of Tom is here : Link


She was living at 68 Duthie Terrace, Aberdeen aged 11 in 1901 and at 10 Margaret Place at the time of her marriage. The cause of her death was Sudden death coronary thrombosis.

Bella and Thomas Diack had one son, Alan George who was born 1 Dec 1932 in Aberdeen

Alan Diack won a scholarship to Robert Gordons College, Aberdeen and attended from 1943 to 1950

Alan married Irene Mcleod SHIACH, daughter of William Lorimer SHIACH and Jessie McLEOD, on 27 Dec 1957 in Aberdeen Kings College. (Irene Mcleod SHIACH was born on 5 Oct 1932 and died 11 Mar 1990 10:30am in Dr Grays Hospital, Elgin Usual Address 29 Milnefiled Avemue, Elgin.) The cause of her death was 1) Cardiac Failure 2) Atrial Fibrillation 3) Rheumatic Heart Disease.

Alan and Irene had two sons, Alastair and Neil Mcleod Diack

Alastair Diack has a website at Link

Alastair Diack married Christina Margaret CURRAN and they have 3 sons, Cameron James, Malcolm Alan George and Ruaridh Alastair Diack.


Alastair has pictures on a website that takes this story full circle

Link

Thanks to Ken Taylor for the picture and the info.

Google Earth file here:

Ryntaing - Upper Glenbuchat:: OS grid NJ3320 :: Geograph British Isles - photograph every grid square!

Not Nicker's Knickers

My big bro's take on the story of prisoners having to wear dirty underwear.

This is a the latest in a line of sob stories from this nations criminals. Time to have a big sob (or not).

Welcome to Toy Town
The Home of Noddy (& Mr Plod): Not Nicker's Knickers

Original story here

Iraq Dossier

The above linked site details the investigations of Chris Ames as detailed below:

Iraqdossier.com is intended to provide a definitive and authoritative account of the UK government's September 2002 dossier "Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction". It does not contain conspiracy theories. Its purpose is to put on one site all of the evidence that shows how the dossier was "sexed-up" by the government's spin doctors and how the government carried out a co-ordinated strategy to cover this up. It includes material from the various official inquiries into the dossier, documents placed in the public domain by other sources and information obtained by Chris Ames through requests under UK Freedom of Information legislation.

The existence of this site reflects the inability or reluctance of the mainstream media to uncover and tell the truth about the dossier.

Lies and Libel This site lists specific instances where named individuals have lied in connection with the dossier. Readers should not think these allegations have been made lightly or in ignorance of the libel laws. All the examples given cite the evidence that shows them to be justified.

Worth looking at as summaries are the following

• Highlights


• Blairs Lies


• Campbells Lies

That should keep you going for a while.

When you have read this, think about what the dossier acheived. It has led us into a disastorous war with too many victims to number and an ongoing siutuation that is killing hundreds more each day.

Most people would agree that Saddam and Iraq were a disaster. Regime change was needed in some form, but our direct intervention with little or no plan for the future has created a bigger disaster.

Too have confirmed to us that we have been systematically lied to by this government on this and many other things should be beyond belief, but we have, as a nation, now become so used to it, that we accept it as a 'norm'.

We must get rid of this government before it totally destroys us as a nation.

Welcome to IraqDossier.com — Iraq Dossier - the facts

Vitamin PIlls can kill You

According to a study from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark:

Vitamin A, vitamin E and beta carotene taken singly or with other supplements "significantly increase mortality" .

So there you are don't munch those pills and save yourself some money.

Independent Online Edition > Health Medical

BMA calls for delay to shambolic recruitment system

Following on from a previous post I see the BMA has called for a delay to the "Shambolic Recruitment System".

I would also recommend you have a look at Dr Crippen or any of the multitude of medical sites that are covering this.

Newswire Article: BMA calls for delay to shambolic recruitment system 02/27/2007

Hercules safety 'still lacking'

I see the cheapskates at the MOD are at it again, playing with the lives of the personnel they send into war.

After Mr Blair sent us into war we have heard continued promises from his government that the Military will get all the equipment that they require to carry out their tasks. This has patently not happened yet again.

The solution to this problem has been available for years and is fitted to many other countries similar crafts so what is the problem. The Armed Forces Minister
Mr Ingram told the House of Commons in December that

"The majority" of the RAF's C-130 Hercules fleet would have ESF by the end of 2007. But he said he could not reveal the precise number, for security reasons.

What utter crap, he is hiding the number because it would be embarrassing to his government!

Our Forces require better than this for a Government.

BBC NEWS | UK | Hercules safety 'still lacking'

Scunnered

This story was on big bro's blog (A good read even if I say so).

The initial judge in this story Judge John Tanzer described the pair as

"devoid of the most basic concept of morality".

It demonstrates many of the things that are wrong in this country today and should be highlighted by as many people as possible.

Go on read it

Welcome to Toy Town
The Home of Noddy (& Mr Plod): Scunnered

NHS Destruction Continues.

The destruction of the NHS by NuLabour continues with the introduction of MMC/MTAS. This is a new system for the training of Doctors in Hospitals. According to Dr Crippen

MMC, MTAS, call it what you will, pick your own acronym, is destroying the morale of young doctors in this country. They will leave the country. They will leave medicine. What other group of experienced young professionals are writing like this:


Trick-cycling For Beginners: It's over


HospitalPhoenix: I've got the fear


NHS Blog Doctor: MMC & MTAS - the combine harvester


All I can say is that during my younger days I spent a lot of time with Medical professionals, including many doctors who were either at Medical School or in Post Graduate Posts. Many of them were overworked and stressed during their training but none were anywhere near the stage above. They all knew that there was light at the end of the tunnel and they would go on to a successful career.

Speed Kills "Invincible" Driver

Read the attached article and think about what has happened here.

Yesterday I saw the picture of the mangled wreckage of this accident in our local paper "The Press and Journal" and the name of the victim caught me as it was the same as someone who used to work with me.

I read the story with what details there were and knew it was not my friend as the victim was too young (as always).

I was, as usual, appalled by the loss of yet another young life in Aberdeenshire to a road crash and wondered what the cause might be this time, it's normally speed.

Then today I read this article on the crash and realise that my thoughts yesterday had been wasted on the "Victim". Here was a life wasted and so nearly another families life as well.

This "victim" who had, just the week before, written off another car, no doubt whilst driving too fast, had done it again. But this time he had nearly killed a family. As the paper reported

A family of four, also believed to be local and including two young children, were travelling in the Citroen, and were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where their injuries were not thought to be serious.

Lucky for them in this case, but they were nearly murdered by this youth.

I hate to speak ill of the dead but this youth nearly caused an even larger tragedy, He would be the type of guy who after a crash like this has a laugh about it and boasts to his mates how fast he was going. I can feel sorry for his family who are now missing a son, but I can't feel too sorry for him, because it may mean that I'm safer on the roads now that he is gone.

Am I wrong, am I callous, I don't know, what I do know is that four people in a family like mine were lucky. I could have been next.

For any young drivers out there, remember, that car your driving can turn into a lethal weapon at the touch of a foot.

The Scotsman - Scotland - Aberdeen - Friends' warnings, a lucky escape - then days later 'invincible' driver, 17, was killed

RAF accused of 'betrayal' over funeral for hero

I was saddened to read this story in the Scotsman, but it typifies the thinking in place nowadays on Iraq. Whilst I might understand the MOD not paying during times of Peace for Flowers and Refreshments, when there is such large scale loss of life in a War area then exceptions should be made.

To ask a widow or parents to pay for such items is beyond belief, but it appears this is just the tip of the iceberg in relation to war deaths at the moment.

The inquest backlog that was supposed to be cleared shortly after June still existed in October and appears to be getting no better.

This is just a couple of examples of the shoddy treatment our Armed Forces are getting from the government that falsely led them into this conflict.

Scotsman.com News - Scotland - RAF accused of 'betrayal' over funeral for hero