Is He Yours?

This wee cairn terrier, thought to be around 8 years old, jumped on a First bus when it stopped on Dumbarton Road, Glasgow on Wednesday.

He was so cold he had icicles hanging from his fur and once on the bus he found a warm spot in a corner, curled up and refused to move.

The wee dug hasn't been microchipped so the SSPCA can't trace his owner.

Is he yours or do you know anyone in Glasgow who has a light haired cairn terrier?

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347. How Many More?

While many of us were involved in last minute preparations for Christmas, another soldier was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday.  He belonged to the Colchester based 216 Parachute Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals and was blown up when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.

There have been 347 British personnel killed in the Afghanistan war since 2001and thousands more injured.

While we complain about poor public transport, untreated roads and pavements and temperatures below -10 degrees during daytime, please spare a thought for the families of those who have died and been wounded this year.  There will be many tables with an empty space on Christmas Day.

Update:  A touching tribute can be read here to Cpl Steven Dunn.

Scotland's Champions

Elephant: Daisy May  Trainer: L Muck

photo courtesy of L. Muck and 1st Lady

You may well be wondering what elephants have to do with Scotland.  They're not a common sight in the hills these days as I believe heather gives them indigestion. The haggi nipped their toenails with such ferocity - they walk on tiptoe because of the way their feet are formed - they could no longer bear the pain and according to L. Muck took refuge in Edinburgh Zoo, where a group called Team Scotland was formed. A local gamekeeper remarked: "I was glad to get rid of them because it was a thankless task hauling them up and down the hill.  You've no idea how many 4 x 4s were written off in recent years".

But Team Scotland have been worthy winners of the World Elephant Polo Championships in the past, winning the cup in the WEPA 25th anniversary year in 2006.

Yes I did say polo.  Back in 1982 James Manclark, from Haddington near Edinburgh, founded WEPA with Jim Edwards, proprietor of Tiger Tops Jungle lodge located in the Chitwan National Park in Nepal, where the world championships have been held ever since.

Chivas Regal Scotland appear to have a strong team too and were winners last year. Goes to prove a dram does no harm doesn't it.

If you fancy an exciting elephant ride it could be worth getting in touch with Mr Manclark to see if you could join a training session.  They take place late evenings in Princes Street.  Dodging the tramworks, I'm told, is an excellent (and inexpensive) exercise for keeping our unforgetting friends on their toes.  Edinburgh council aren't too keen on these nocturnal activities.  Can't think why.

Thanks to Edward for discovering the Scottish Diary.

Every Little Helps

There was an amusing editorial in the SoS this week in which it's reported research from a study of 12 billion landline telephone calls in Scotland over a month show that only 23.3% of incoming and outgoing calls were to other parts of the UK, compared with Wales, where the figure was 50%.

The research was carried out by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell University and University London.  That wouldn't have been a cheap project.

However, the interesting part of the report stated: 'The researchers suggest their findings show that secession from the UK could be much less disruptive for Scots than for the Welsh'.


Another small step on the road to independence. Every little helps.

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Winter Solstice

Taken from the YouTube entry:

Winter Solstice 2010 begins on 21 December 2010 at 23:38 GMT

The winter solstice occurs exactly when the Earth's axial tilt is farthest away from the sun at its maximum of 23° 26'. Though the winter solstice lasts only an instant in time, the term is also colloquially used as midwinter or contrastingly the first day of winter to refer to the day on which it occurs. More evident to those in high latitudes, this occurs on the shortest day, and longest night, and the sun's daily maximum position in the sky is the lowest. The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22 each year in the Northern Hemisphere, and June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere.

Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied from culture to culture, but most cultures have held a recognition of rebirth, involving holidays, festivals, gatherings, rituals or other celebrations around that time.

Music: Instrumental Version of the Song " I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe

I certainly won't be running around outside half naked as was the ritual of my Pictic ancestors.  Not when it's been -10 all day and dropping fast.

Who Says AGW Isn't a Religion?

"What shall we do with the climate sceptics if they won't shut up?" ask the Sea Green Singers.  One of their solutions is: "Put them in the desert and ration their water", while another is: "Lock them in a room with nothing but money, see what good it does them".  Richard has another of their solutions - a quite horrifying one.

Who said AWG isn't a religion?  Whoever decided to upload this video maybe thought it was amusing. It's not.  I respect - although not necessarily agree with - anyone's opinion and their right to state it, but to advocate, and promote, violence to silence your opponents is several steps too far.

If I had more time I'd be tempted to write a seasonal carol in response.  Naturally it would include the meaning of Christmas.  Peace, goodwill and love to your fellowman.  Values the Sea Green Singers appear to have forgotten.

The government, as ever, is keen to ensure voices discussing AWG are silenced if they don't like what's said.  Fortunately one newspaper has published information from Britain's most experienced Arctic researcher.  "Forget about global warming - what most forecasters have failed to acknowledge is that Britain is on the cusp of a mini ice age," he says.  He admits global warming is fact globally but it's not fact in northern Europe. "Last year was the 14th coldest winter in Britain in 350 years yet globally it was the fifth warmest taken as an average across the planet."

Evidence is beginning to emerge slowly but the winter boots you may get from Santa could well turn out to be a good investment.

LibDem Pledges

Thanks to ASE

There is a better way.  Two of Britain's biggest banks and one of its main building societies collapsed in October 2008 - over two years ago.  We, the taxpayers had no choice because our PM at the time decided he should use our hard-earned money to keep them afloat.  In fact, it was suggested in various quarters that there were deals done behind closed doors with Lloyds TSB.

More than two years on we have students protesting because they may have to pay higher fees.  Many reports say only around 25% of them will pay the full fees yet they decided to take to the streets.  They have every right of course, yet perhaps they should have been protesting against the bankers who brought the country to its knees.

Banks insist they're doing they're best for their customers.  We all know they're not.  The only people they're interested in is themselves and that will continue until we have firm command of their greedy and irresponsible behaviour, including their bonuses.

Politicians refuse to do much but pay lip service to the banks.  A wee bit extra taxation and a plea not to issue 'large' bonuses is as far as they're prepared to go.  Self interest is far more important than the interest of voters.

Isn't it wonderful, seven months after the UK elects a new UK government, we're no further forward, 26 months later, in dealing with the crux of our financial downfall.  The saying 'You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' springs to mind.  Vince Cable, if he wants the LibDems to keep any credibility, needs to officially nationalise the banks who survive on taxpayers' money.  It's time we called their bluff.  Let's see how many decide to move elsewhere.