Waiting for NoahIt was our boast in Hutton that we lived in the driest area of the UK-stretching from Dunbar to the Merse. And within that area, Hutton itself often stayed dry whilst Paxton got a soaking and Chirnside drowned. But Duns? Since moving on 21 July we have had our wettest August ever (and I am including six years on Zambia and Tanzania in our calculations) and since Friday afternoon we have had 105 mms-4 inches in real money-more than the whole of September 2007 and 2006 combined in sun scorched Hutton. And our near neighbours in Newtown Street with a slightly less sheltered garden than ours recorded 6" in the same period.No wonder they are returning to Zimbabwe next week.Yesterday afternoon we went on a flood watch. The Blackadder has a flood warning-images above taken from...
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 Berwickshire52% Yes. it's a great idea45% No, Berwick is part of England and should remain so3% 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...
Creeping into Scotland Would you be happy to welcome Berwick into Berwickshire50% Yes. it's a great idea47% No, Berwick is part of England and should remain so3% I have no opinion either wayis the result of this week's update in the Berwickshire News of the great Welcome to Berwickshire running poll. Keeping Ber Wick English is now a minority choice. My weekly No vote seems to be making little difference so I wonder who is voting Yes twice? Its not the eccentric Mr Ritchie, the self-styled Regent of the Kingdom of Scotland. He believes that Berwick never left Scotland as a result of the Treaty of Something (Morrisons?) in 13 something. The 'I have no opinion either way' is holding his ground and may well be voting every day to reinforce his lack of opinion. Possibly a member of the a new...
Berwick Not at War With Russia shockWhat a shame-I have firmly believed, ever since we moved here, the traditional version of the story that Berwick and Russia are technically still at war only to be corrected by Wikapaedia Thus: The story tells that since Berwick had changed hands several times, it was traditionally regarded as a special, separate entity, and some proclamations referred to "England, Scotland and the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed". One such was the declaration of the Crimean War against Russia in 1853, which Queen Victoria supposedly signed as "Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, Ireland, Berwick-upon-Tweed and all British Dominions"Hence the curious apocryphal story that Berwick is (or recently was) technically at war with Russia. However, when the Treaty of Paris (1856)...
BORING ON TWEEDComing back from Embra on the 1835 Nat Ex, all stations to Newcastle, Huttonian was privileged to be within screeching distance of 4 northern lasses. They were having a high decibel discussion on where to hold Annies Hen Party. Limit, absolute, £40 per head. (And pay for your own drinks)Not Embra. Too far, too expensive and could run into stuffy disapproval. Dunbar? Where's that? Oh we have just stopped! Looks a dump. Berwick? You must be joking. Nowhere to have it. BORINGHas to be Newcastle then?Spose.( I admit that Dubar is not too attractive as viewed from the train. Nice golf course if a bit...
Hope Berwickers will be given chance to settle own future writes a self styled Aussie/Scot-but not Mel Gibson-he goes on in his letter to the Berwick Advertiser:SIR, — In response to the erudite letter from ‘Southron’ regarding the status of Berwick, I think his idea of a semi-independent town is appealing, but totally impracticable. We do have small states in Europe such as San Marino, Monaco and the Vatican, but these are all sovereign and independent. A semi-independent town is another matter, and basically would be an extension of the status quo where English law, and nationality would prevail in the event of England and Scotland once more becoming two separate kingdoms (which I doubt will happen in the near future,) based on independence polls conducted in Scotland showing...
INSIDE A CONUNDRUMI see fellow blogger Havering On (see link) has hit the pages of the Berwickshire with some well merited criticism of VisitScotland and its totally inadequate efforts to get visitors to the Borders. I am not altogether with him when he suggests more imaginative exploitation of the Reiver Connection-best, in my view, to confine those rogues to the Dustbin of History, with the lid firmly on. Northumberland Tourist Highheidyins also have a case to answer. I noticed that the rather garish sign indicating the otherwise hidden charms of Conundrum Farm has been taken down. According to the shop manager there, this is on the instructions of the tourist board and the local council. The latter have insisted on planning permission for the board despite it being in place for over 7...
Another silly gem from that Soapbox of the North: the letter column in the Berwickshire:Like many of your readers we received a card from John Lamont with useful contact details etc which was fine by me.However, what I strongly object to is this card being printed in Brighton, England.Surely this work should have been carried out by a local printer, with our money being spent to support local firms.Perhaps John Lamont had his eye on a ‘Brighton jolly’ in order to ensure correct wording etc for the art work (lovely St Abbs Harbour view).‘Freedom of Information Act’ - so how much did this cost John and did you pay with Scottish bank notes?Next time make sure a local firm is asked. We have an excellent exchange rate you know and we all need to support local labour. Let’s see if...
CAPITAL IDEA # ONEA letter to the Berwickshire puts a new angle on the 'Berwick should go back to Scotland issue:- Regarding the recent news story about Berwick-upon-Tweed transferring to Scotland.Another and possible more attractive proposition for a vote would be for Berwick, the city and the region to become an independent city state like for example San Marino, or even the Isle of Man.Benefits would be control of tax and spend with innovative tax revenues from Casinos and other sources, the opportunity to hold Berwick Motor racing Grand Prix, both car and motorbike and the opportunity to have its own sporting teams in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, European and World football - and become a tax haven.What do others thinkAs it happens the Hutton Think Tank has been long pondering...
BERWICK NEVER LEFT SCOTLAND REVELATION SHOCKIt is certainly the silly season when the whole Bizarre business of returning Berwick to Scotland dominates the pages of our local organ-The Berwickshire on three successive Thursdays and when the latest utterances of one of Berwickshire's less celebrated mavericks (Huttonian does not subscribe to the epithet Loonie, however much deserved it can be at times) are moved from the letters page to the front page. To save you having to fritter away sixty pence here is Janice Gillie's article in full.Self-appointed Regent says matter is clearThe status of Berwick was mentioned in the declaration of Duns in 1992" THE Kingdom of Scotland already includes Berwick-upon-Tweed within its boundaries according to self appointed Regent of the kingdom, Michael...
TV poll backs Berwick border moveIs a headline in today's BBC on line Berwick to go to ScotlandFishwick opts to Cross Tweedcould be the sub headings.Full story: Berwick has changed hands between the two nations at least 13 times Residents in the Northumberland town of Berwick-upon-Tweed have "voted" in favour of becoming part of Scotland. According to a poll by a TV company, 60% of those who responded wanted the town to be administered by Scotland. Better financed public services, including free personal health care for the elderly, were the main reasons. The referendum, for Monday's ITV1 Tonight programme, saw 1,182 voters in favour of becoming part of Scotland and 775 in favour of staying in England. Earlier this month politicians in the town vowed to block any move to take Berwick...
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...
