tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222010822024-03-07T21:28:10.304+00:00Welcome to Toy Town™<a href="Welcome" title="Failte"></a><br><br><u><b>WELCOME TO TOY TOWN™ </b>- THE HOME OF NODDY & MR PLOD</u><br><br>Failte to our blah blah about Political Correctness, Policing, Scottishness and Chelsea FC.<br> <br><i>Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? ~ Galatians 4:16</i>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.comBlogger684125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-68103974275351625682023-09-23T12:53:00.007+01:002023-10-23T19:23:41.888+01:00ThreadsTook the plunge. <div><br /></div><div>Feel free to <a href="https://www.threads.net/@toytowner" target="_blank">visit my ramblings</a> on Zuck's latest moneyspinner...</div><div><br /></div><div><i>BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration.</i> </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white;">Feel free to spread the joy by <a href="https://www.snp.org/join/member/" target="_blank">joining the SNP</a> today. Saor Alba.</span> </div><div><br /></div><div>© McNoddy </div><div>Published by Toy Town™ Times</div>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-82349812349490117442023-02-23T08:55:00.001+00:002023-02-23T08:55:51.152+00:00Many a tune...<a href="https://youtu.be/wUDRIC5RSX4">An old song...</a>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-68807844692534198802022-05-27T04:57:00.004+01:002022-05-31T04:36:19.596+01:00Duine beag sleamhain...<div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: verdana;">Today's post is a <a href="https://twitter.com/Toytowner/status/1529454043185258496?t=DG0czSmN9Cb6INfVSW-5sQ&s=19">tweet</a>. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: verdana;">Hate is a horrible feeling, but every so often a person deserves it. In spades...</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; flex-direction: row; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" dir="ltr" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;">Gaelic</span></span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for a slippy wee fella is</span></span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #71767b; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><a href="https://twitter.com/Toytowner/status/1529454043185258496?t=DG0czSmN9Cb6INfVSW-5sQ&s=19">Duine beag sleamhainn...</a></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: helvetica;"><i><br /></i></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: helvetica;"><i><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHq5NHzd6Do3yr6ee7NK8o9g6O8XQs7t-KQn4W1s-hvV17fBaeDnrnqVIwj5yYqMJR25vKwV1Q6vPiWjZdFse3c8PsHUHM23rZaWBtuALuTHbFKNZuq3P375ZQZ_hjKZBSOjcYJnieAI1l2hsDAx83ZaTtzv-xQ3M-GC_ABQuPVbavS5MZ3c/s841/BORI.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Big Dog" border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHq5NHzd6Do3yr6ee7NK8o9g6O8XQs7t-KQn4W1s-hvV17fBaeDnrnqVIwj5yYqMJR25vKwV1Q6vPiWjZdFse3c8PsHUHM23rZaWBtuALuTHbFKNZuq3P375ZQZ_hjKZBSOjcYJnieAI1l2hsDAx83ZaTtzv-xQ3M-GC_ABQuPVbavS5MZ3c/w171-h200/BORI.jpg" width="171" /></a></div></span></div><div><i>BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration. </i></div></i></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: #fcff01; font-family: verdana;">Feel free to spread the joy by</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #fcff01; font-family: verdana;"> <a href="https://www.snp.org/join/">joining the SNP</a> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: #fcff01; font-family: verdana;">today.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: verdana;">Saor Alba. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: verdana;">© McNoddy</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: verdana;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span></div>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-73819658470538869802020-11-25T16:08:00.006+00:002021-03-05T01:54:38.800+00:00Killer Xmas<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhZUlLUedexxmHlFANvVUjcdF90MNhs5DbRq-TEoV2DlNIvteqY1SvLNB7i_NHddf1TZxiDQoM-H5CjykBX9WbhMC0WWJosk3kGauWre4U9E-2yfcjdiGCUhlvdE6fXlnC8xExA/s1014/FB_IMG_1605254530462.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1014" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhZUlLUedexxmHlFANvVUjcdF90MNhs5DbRq-TEoV2DlNIvteqY1SvLNB7i_NHddf1TZxiDQoM-H5CjykBX9WbhMC0WWJosk3kGauWre4U9E-2yfcjdiGCUhlvdE6fXlnC8xExA/s320/FB_IMG_1605254530462.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I'm disappointed with Nicola Sturgeon.</span><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">Actually, I'm apoplectic at another unusually rare example of her less than common sense based thinking.</span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">Why in the name of all that is holy at Xmas time have she, Mark Drakeford and the unholy alliance across in the northern tip of the island of Ireland agreed to go along with the edict of the populist buffoon that is Boris Johnson regarding mixed households for the Winterval period?</span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">After an extended period of variously enforced and structured restraint, why for goodness sakes are we to let loose the virus into our own homes and exponentially the greater community?</span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">One (1) fecked up Xmas versus a very long deadly January when the inevitable strikes home and cripples the SNHS. </span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">I hear the repeated argument, if you can call it that, that folk were not going to pay any attention to the rules anyway. Well that has been well and truly countenanced now. Conversely, I had absolutely no intention of relaxing my guard and would have hoped sensible compassionate citizens would have done likewise. There is hope on the horizon with the vaccine. That is the best present we could all have wished for. </span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">Patience seems to have been ditched for rapacious celebration. Of what exactly? </span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">Will many of you cast a second's thought about what Christmas is really about? </span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">I hear those saying criticising the sainted FM is unfair. In my view this is her third failure in judgement on an otherwise faultless trajectory of suppression of the virus and the psychology of the masses. There is time, on this occasion, to reverse this poor decision though. Keep to the current restrictions until vaccines take effect and the individual regional Levels subside through adherence to FACTS. For those wondering, her previous errors were the failure not to dismiss CMO Catherine Calderwood<span> immediately, but more significant, and more relevant to the current decision, was the decision to enter into a UK wide approach at the outset and most notably with issues surrounding care homes. Lessons clearly weren't learnt completely that there should not, quite rightly, be a one size fits all approach. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">And then we have Hogmanay...</span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">Seasons greetings nonetheless. </span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">Ca cannie.</span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;"><br />BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration. </span><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">Saor Alba.</span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">© McNoddy </span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span></div></div>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-63624225837119648032020-08-23T08:00:00.000+01:002020-08-23T13:40:12.467+01:00Today I will be mainly drinking...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyNuKIF9C-gLdITwuSRcFMAM8FRfdmDxOYset_ti7-v1EwFFsNHOZ0jrygp0oNJJ0cQkW3YLgksT8LoDhud4HrYM9uyXaiO-36AmKxAFegE9-YV2_V1RVyTzfbIXEFf9k_Wzj5A/s1600/k_archive_33a7f54ef3676ccb9a54d11398731c91cb42456a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="730" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyNuKIF9C-gLdITwuSRcFMAM8FRfdmDxOYset_ti7-v1EwFFsNHOZ0jrygp0oNJJ0cQkW3YLgksT8LoDhud4HrYM9uyXaiO-36AmKxAFegE9-YV2_V1RVyTzfbIXEFf9k_Wzj5A/s320/k_archive_33a7f54ef3676ccb9a54d11398731c91cb42456a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm hoping my reader follows me on Bookface. If they do, they will know I often post a wee selfie of my occasional tipple there with the heading as above. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm told folk are amazed by my <strike>alcoholism</strike> varied choice of refreshment on offer for consideration.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To be fair, I am particularly lucky to live in a country now blessed with numerous craft ale producers. Perhaps the biggest newbie of them all being the very local <a href="https://www.brewdog.com/uk/">BrewDog</a>. Since well after I started this blog this company has mushroomed to the point that Toy Town</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">™ </span></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">has no less than 3 outlets. I've managed to drop in to do a bit of quality control at their Edinburgh Airport outlet and their city outlets in Berlin and Barcelona. Never disappointed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">However, my favourite Scots craft brewery are <a href="https://www.williamsbrosbrew.com/">Williams Brothers</a>. From the early days in Tyndrum and <a href="https://www.williamsbrosbrew.com/beer/fraoch">heather ale</a>, they now produce a number of stunners. My personal favourite being the intriguingly named <a href="https://www.williamsbrosbrew.com/beer/seven-giraffes">7 giraffes</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm also blessed to be in walking distance of the world's only <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WesthillServiceStation/">adult sweetie shop</a> based in a filling station. If you haven't visited <a href="https://hopshopaberdeen.com/">this place</a> in person or virtually you are missing something special. Did I mention it's not just beer in there. There's a richt collieshangie of treats in store.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Something that struck me sampling ales has been the prominence, and in my own top five, of beers from across the pond. In days of yore I had palpitations at the mention of the poor imitation that was Budweiser and other similar tainted water from Coors, Schlitz etc. Two of my absolute favourites are <a href="https://www.oskarblues.com/beer/death-by-coconut/">Death by Coconut</a>, by the Oskar Blues Company (Think Bounty Bar and stout mix - hold that thought. It really is way better than even that!). Then there's the incomparable concoction that is the 2018 brew of <a href="https://www.dragonsmilk.com/dragons-milk-reserve">Dragon's Milk Banana Coconut</a>. It blows you away with so many notes you feel there is an orchestra playing in your gob. If I ever get allowed to fly over to the USofA then I am making a beeline straight for Holland in Michigan to sample some, or preferably all, of the flavours in the Dragon's Den. I'm also somewhat disheartened to hear that the makers of the above pictured tipple are out of business. Not that I really wanted to go to Reno.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Whilst I am on it, so to speak, can I give an honourable mention to these three non-beer tipples. Even Tesco sell them. Lots of ice and a BBQ helps. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 - <a href="https://www.crabbiesgingerbeer.com/en/product/crabbies-raspberry-alcoholic-ginger-beer/">Crabbies Raspberry Ginger </a></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.crabbiesgingerbeer.com/en/product/crabbies-raspberry-alcoholic-ginger-beer/">Beer</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2 - <a href="https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/305729841">Crabbies Rhubarb Ginger Beer</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3 - <a href="https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/299456279">Angioletti Italian Cider</a> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tomorrow I will mainly be hanging a haveover. Hic. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Saor Alba. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">© McNoddy</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0Holland, MI 49423, USA42.7875235 -86.108930142.694266999999996 -86.2702916 42.88078 -85.9475686tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-11590112832735463132020-08-20T07:32:00.000+01:002020-08-20T07:40:01.380+01:00I left...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasslhGLsFDponfXTPMxQw7f0X3zG4x9cL03iE3AENSu9Od10m5CVePh7OqG0v5kTQUqgfW9p2e1l2SJP0jv6jldo_Xy457ZmwsKpJltzOHKx8irnZE9v2n90CuCsFpB7NxDo5RA/s1600/more_adventures_of_noddy_heading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="433" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasslhGLsFDponfXTPMxQw7f0X3zG4x9cL03iE3AENSu9Od10m5CVePh7OqG0v5kTQUqgfW9p2e1l2SJP0jv6jldo_Xy457ZmwsKpJltzOHKx8irnZE9v2n90CuCsFpB7NxDo5RA/s320/more_adventures_of_noddy_heading.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">...but I'm back.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My reader may have noted my absence from this site lately. <a href="https://twitter.com/Toytowner">Twitter</a> seems to have captured folk's imagination, but there are times when its enforced brevity and the need to unroll lengthy threads just fails to reach the mark. Sometimes you have things you need to get off your chest and rambling on suits a blog. You will not be disappointed in that respect!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My post's header is a signpost to something I did earlier this torrid year. I used to exhort my reader to join the Scottish National Party. I'd still ask you to vote for them as the only viable carriage on the independence train. But endorsing each and every of their actions is beyond me now. I feel the need to explain.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Firstly, and somewhat cackhandedly, the final straw for me was the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/a/uk-scotland-52186576">Calderwood scandal</a>. I have very deep personal reasons to have found her actions baffling and inexcusable. I also found our First Minister's initial support for her mindboggling and worrying in respect of decision making. Let me say at this juncture that other than the understandable, but regrettable decision to participate in a four-nation approach to dealing with Covid-19 at the outset, her stewardship of the response to the crisis has been exemplary and rightly acknowledged. It should be noted that I took an equally robust approach to the Cummings debacle and still do. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23notmovingon&src=typed_query&f=live">Not moving on</a> and all that. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Secondly, it became apparent that there is a seemingly growing and uncontrolled woke element in the party, who despite THEIR best intentions are doing immeasurable damage to the party and thus to the greater independence movement. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I rarely, actually never, comment on gender issues. Largely because it is structurally unsolvable. I am at a loss to understand the desire to create fissures in the party and wider independence movement over what is essentially people being what they are, diverse. I find the system of classification pointless. You are either male or female and all that entails. Those who have made/making the undoubtedly difficult but desired medically approved trajectory to changing their sex should be accepted as the sex they feel they should be. At the end of the day it makes them happy and in all other respects it has no direct effect on me. They are the exception. I have less understanding of those who feel they can call themselves something they clearly aren't, and even less for those that abuse that situation. Just because you're spaced out it does not make you a Martian!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then there was the much maligned sectarian laws. A bùrach</span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> from start to finish. I failed, whilst a Copper, to understand why this only applied at football matches, where its prevalence amongst those from the Central Belt was undoubted but in practical terms virtually impossible to Police. I'm not saying it shouldn't have existed, but it should have been part of a wider society policy and formulated in realistic terms. Conversely, those calling for its end rarely spoke in favour of it being widened to cover other archaic demonstrations of this tribal nonsense. The SNP's dogged resistance to criticism in this area was poorly focussed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u>Secrecy</u>. I sadly have to say that the SNP seem to be seriously hashing up things in this respect even if they have the best of intentions. I'll say nowt further in great detail, but the inability to defend clearly and robustly what appear to the usual critics to be systems designed to obfuscate, delay and hinder reasonable interrogation of policy making is derisory and damaging.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've more I'd like to say, but my reader is already reaching for their cocoa. But I will have the last word. Joanna Cherry? What is she playing at? Undoubtedly exceptionally capable. But what possesses her to destabilise the current positive groundswell for Independence? Nicola ain't perfect, as I've already suggested, but she's head and shoulders above all other politicians in this country and the wider UK State. I say to her and her supporters, "Eye on the prize folks." Once again the hierarchy of the Party seem unable to get a consensual approach to doing what matters to win Independence rather than petty personal power politics. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finally, I said <a href="https://twitter.com/Toytowner/status/1291761090817339397?s=20">this on Twitter</a>. I still hold to it, however marvellous our FM has been regarding the single most important issue of the day. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Saor Alba.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">© McNoddy</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-9073437510896939882020-05-21T19:37:00.003+01:002020-05-21T19:41:47.707+01:00Lie in the Sky<br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2erCz9lwFDH5MH7valr7L9gJcBUvT5I7wB7oTg0YPP2sIbdK8qqBoqE01E-WhZupu4xQz3GLbQ_PMqVqYfrqb2d1vZ5todIRUs84qgNCGZtJ_nxdi6djOSbXmYXC1jVGuAzuLQ/s1600/mark-twain-scottish-journalism.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1280" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2erCz9lwFDH5MH7valr7L9gJcBUvT5I7wB7oTg0YPP2sIbdK8qqBoqE01E-WhZupu4xQz3GLbQ_PMqVqYfrqb2d1vZ5todIRUs84qgNCGZtJ_nxdi6djOSbXmYXC1jVGuAzuLQ/s320/mark-twain-scottish-journalism.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes the British media need called out for their collective lies. Scotland needs to tell these shysters that we are no longer on our knees and that their allegations are well known to be false and manufactured. </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not one word of truth uttered. <a href="https://twitter.com/newscotlandtv/status/1262322190168530946?s=19">Just bile</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">© McNoddy </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-40371110376713051572020-05-13T05:27:00.001+01:002020-05-13T05:30:42.679+01:00Bide at Hame<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Two messages...</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SDVuB_0pqevcICFr8cqZphaiXeCjEn817JxdKdgtZOb7YurCb4FNOWClZaztxarcQr9g0IPVVe6BYGojU5YjOgoeByRCC-bJSB81Vx09b2WlxZdF5qI__T8s66jbcx75rt-_UQ/s1600/stay+home+blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SDVuB_0pqevcICFr8cqZphaiXeCjEn817JxdKdgtZOb7YurCb4FNOWClZaztxarcQr9g0IPVVe6BYGojU5YjOgoeByRCC-bJSB81Vx09b2WlxZdF5qI__T8s66jbcx75rt-_UQ/s320/stay+home+blue.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-mh2J8LxmrkkL775TpvwtrkOyW6JRptPD8qrVD2hrsKQtueBfsG-320WwJc_4QJYFLmS_G-N_PDQcLA5kc4GjMNc5GHvnvjTQMZNZvICEECDyOYqWDD5EwmAXB2QxkduZi38Gw/s1600/stay+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="1440" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-mh2J8LxmrkkL775TpvwtrkOyW6JRptPD8qrVD2hrsKQtueBfsG-320WwJc_4QJYFLmS_G-N_PDQcLA5kc4GjMNc5GHvnvjTQMZNZvICEECDyOYqWDD5EwmAXB2QxkduZi38Gw/s320/stay+home.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">© McNoddy</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span></span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-22118678283205783702019-01-16T15:18:00.001+00:002020-05-13T05:28:40.334+01:00Canteen Mythology v.2<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Keeping this simple. Polis piece times and locations have reared their heads again over on Twitter.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have written about this <a href="https://uisgebeathaagusleann.blogspot.com/2015/07/canteen-mythology.html?m=1">before</a>, but I welcome this <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlEveCrime/status/1085440487266402304?s=19">corroboration</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">© McNoddy</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-60428759154989409222018-09-27T02:15:00.001+01:002018-10-03T13:12:38.764+01:00Park Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtJ_1vR8meVInwUWKT0Vwm6k0IRBCjIcLvKdCelMZEMYMH1u_MOQMc1f5xSzrL3TdGwmz_5Hpu8OvJO_RIzwUmnALLqKp68J_uEtCj0WFQZFTWzY-RRx3S1jIU29miwUbrIHkSA/s1600/SA_KingsClansmen__050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="600" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtJ_1vR8meVInwUWKT0Vwm6k0IRBCjIcLvKdCelMZEMYMH1u_MOQMc1f5xSzrL3TdGwmz_5Hpu8OvJO_RIzwUmnALLqKp68J_uEtCj0WFQZFTWzY-RRx3S1jIU29miwUbrIHkSA/s320/SA_KingsClansmen__050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://twitter.com/HistEnvScot/status/1044912037162373120">Over on the Twitters</a> a debate has opened about the upcoming <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23AUOBEdinburgh&src=tyah">#AUOB</a> march in Edinburgh and the 'use' of Holyrood Park.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">I'd quite like to add my two penny worth. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Firstly, it's clear by my political party membership that I endorse the general theme of promoting self-determination and independence for Scotland.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Secondly, marches, demonstrations, and meetings are the life blood of political movements and a part of open democracy, even if the participants are in your view a collection of.... (add your own epithets). </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">But, some observations. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Whilst the anticipated attendance may be considerable, it is unlikely that the marchers will constitute in themselves any challenge to the authorities other than traffic management and the monitoring of those undemocratic few who vehemently oppose these marches. If previous city marches are anything to go by, it will be the content of the banners at the front of the parade that will upset some and I get it. Calling Tories 'scum' is almost as bad as <a href="https://twitter.com/TommyDoc36/status/1044330186290933762">Ian Lavery calling for all 'Nationalists' to be killed off</a>. It does nothing to further your cause because believe it or not we still have to live amongst those who disagree with us and those who don't give a flying fig.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Historic Environment Scotland, a public body, have decreed the march as 'political' and as such have imposed conditions on the 'assembly' of walkers on 'their' territory.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">I will start by throwing in a curve ball to the shadowy organisers of the march and ask 1) Is/was an alternative assembly/'debrief' locus considered? 2) <a href="https://twitter.com/markybooth97/status/1044988900823977985">How much notice was given</a> to HES?</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Now onto HES.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">'Political'? An interesting distinction made here given all the other events held in the park, some which others might call 'political' in nature. Also somewhat bizarre given the proximity to two pillars of political establishment in Scotland/UK in the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace. I could argue, <a href="https://uisgebeathaagusleann.blogspot.com/2014/07/freedom-shackled.html">and indeed have</a>, that such expressions of nationhood or constitutional aspiration is natural and that preventing or restricting same is tantamount to supporting the status quo, which in itself is a political position. I'll leave that there.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">HES have 'allowed' the march to use its road and path network. I should hope so as they have no right to prevent such access unless damage is caused. Just because folk arrive in thousands, waving banners and making a noise does not trump the right of access guaranteed under Scots Law. Imagine a collection of ramblers being told to foxtrot oscar. Would not happen. Rightly so.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">HES have denied the installation of stalls, portaloos etc. Fair do as this is technically encampment and covered under some very old Trespass and some not so old Land Reform legislation. However, some rethink about loos might be welcome. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">If the stalls etc. remain banned under the 'political' reasoning, be sure the future use of the park will come under <a href="https://twitter.com/stfilansdream/status/1047385594073141249?s=21">intense scrutiny</a> and let's remember who actually 'owns' the park.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As a footnote many will remember the caravan and tent 'Yes' encampment at Holyrood. Again a shadowy group, with a lot less endorsement, and I wonder if their protest was a vote winner in all honesty. It looked shabby to me. The Holyrood Park 'furore' looks similarly manufactured to me. If HES want to win support, approval for loos might be the way forward, because otherwise civil disobedience may be the only way to resolve the matter and that will not be a good look for anyone.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yours Aye,</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">McNoddy </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Feel free to spread the joy by <a href="https://www.snp.org/joinus">joining the SNP</a> today.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Saor Alba.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">© McNoddy </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span></span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-16759669567607282602018-01-12T04:04:00.000+00:002018-01-12T04:07:15.534+00:00Nuts, whole hazelnuts....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wk-fa24zCBbAwihi5nZ6Tw0y_JNJ3mf8S-Lcp-u0QkqDuNo3y38Ci3knsykHmNSb7ytG0SAEr7qmeSOqg8PBJFBv5UlRyFo6fJj51_nKl0JsE6JR9_MGzBTZFWagI2ajAhz6lQ/s1600/historywoman+classic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wk-fa24zCBbAwihi5nZ6Tw0y_JNJ3mf8S-Lcp-u0QkqDuNo3y38Ci3knsykHmNSb7ytG0SAEr7qmeSOqg8PBJFBv5UlRyFo6fJj51_nKl0JsE6JR9_MGzBTZFWagI2ajAhz6lQ/s400/historywoman+classic.png" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">During a debate about the Polis hierarchy on <a href="https://twitter.com/paulhutcheon/status/951475407265689600">Twitter</a>, the High Priestess of the controversial <a href="http://www.scotlandinunion.co.uk/">SIU</a> came out with a blinder, which I took a screen-shot of.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Not long afterwards, the originator of this debate tweeted this equally befuddling <a href="https://twitter.com/paulhutcheon/status/951477168483328000">'update'</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But then his job description is just print/tweet anything <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23snpbad&src=typd">#snpbad</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Better Together my posterior. That 'precious Union' seems to be an inconvenient state of affairs to this pair. They wish only subjugation. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><i>BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Saor Alba. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">© McNoddy </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span></span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-76240103172073701152018-01-12T02:43:00.000+00:002018-01-12T03:33:54.657+00:00Alternative viewing<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5jWbOsV7C9vLxR4tZf45i8t9hL7IRG3akQZhh7Fdo-HLy6ZPEYBc3LHOCWB9UJeJGNwwXzTRZ3piM8YZ9qN7OmJ4eutT9PBkSs_CjOXSpjXs_8bp9m8ukcFRRtt-E8Rnb3qVFw/s1600/tstv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="http://www.trulyscottishtv.com" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5jWbOsV7C9vLxR4tZf45i8t9hL7IRG3akQZhh7Fdo-HLy6ZPEYBc3LHOCWB9UJeJGNwwXzTRZ3piM8YZ9qN7OmJ4eutT9PBkSs_CjOXSpjXs_8bp9m8ukcFRRtt-E8Rnb3qVFw/s320/tstv.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.trulyscottishtv.com/">http://www.trulyscottishtv.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can think of 100,000 reasons not to watch the <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwimyY_VrdHYAhVLaVAKHfjECNYQFggnMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwingsoverscotland.com%2Ftalking-scotland-up-and-down%2F&usg=AOvVaw1t0b_oDlPF8e9G8BjkHN4U">Beeb's distorted Britnat news</a>. </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The problem is there's no real alternative in Scotland's media churniverse.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Or is there?</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You could give this start up a try - <a href="http://www.trulyscottishtv.com/">TSTV</a>.</span><br />
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i> <i><span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration.</span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Saor Alba.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">© McNoddy</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-9486527754758331872017-11-06T00:26:00.000+00:002017-11-12T20:11:54.676+00:00Paradise & Paupers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfr_zm7mMNgj54B8t_rDJpxzF6pFrAczIBg-VylCd7VISMDu1QVhc3FKiXxSzsQc_EJnTFTWu3R9WzHzDNV6r39Yp83Mc4h8ZOE6nkqZlo6i5vjhsnpCLfGgq8wu2UaENuj6xL0g/s1600/IMG_1319%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfr_zm7mMNgj54B8t_rDJpxzF6pFrAczIBg-VylCd7VISMDu1QVhc3FKiXxSzsQc_EJnTFTWu3R9WzHzDNV6r39Yp83Mc4h8ZOE6nkqZlo6i5vjhsnpCLfGgq8wu2UaENuj6xL0g/s320/IMG_1319%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I should have written this blog in April on my return from a glorious week in Barcelona. </span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Much has happened since, not least in Catalonia's Capital.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">However, my observation then is even more pertinent in the wake* of the issue of the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&vertical=news&q=%23paradisepapers&src=tyah">#paradisepapers</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So just what did I observe?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On a pleasantly warm day, Mrs McNoddy and I promenaded down by the marina in Barcelona. The 'yachts' were resplendent in the sunshine each, and everyone, flying their port of registration flag denoting a puzzling 'home port' in the British West Indies. Well, it's not really puzzling if you <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41876942">follow the money</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Just yards (sorry metres) away numerous presumably migrant individuals were dodging the local Guardia Urbana and Mossos patrols as they laid out their pitiful wares onto their flattened swag bags on the sidewalk leading to the beach area.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">The contrast was jarring and sobering.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">(* apologies for the 'unintentional' nautical pun) </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">Saor Alba.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">© McNoddy </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-28716636088582259072017-04-18T16:03:00.002+01:002017-04-18T16:26:43.020+01:00Now is not the time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SIEa5sQxKFI-VTnKMnmmN9vXx2Pz3QbU5hrCU_0DKQiyGSmuoRqOQKgfaVPElV5qxFuB2Xc7_z_RsNG9rIi-qqC-jLMp1u3Orx3H5prOzZZEemi2Sk98FxovGeyYM0DIfvddAw/s1600/IMG_1077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SIEa5sQxKFI-VTnKMnmmN9vXx2Pz3QbU5hrCU_0DKQiyGSmuoRqOQKgfaVPElV5qxFuB2Xc7_z_RsNG9rIi-qqC-jLMp1u3Orx3H5prOzZZEemi2Sk98FxovGeyYM0DIfvddAw/s200/IMG_1077.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #45818e;">A couple of thoughts.....</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: #45818e;">It would appear that material changes have occurred. I mean why else would we have another General Election after just two years?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: #45818e;">I take it Ruth Davidson's bunch will be asking themselves, "How's that day job going?" I also take it the 'walk out' is cancelled.</span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: inherit;">If I was cynical, I might suggest the dawning true consequences of an inevitable 'hard' Brexit might have destroyed any potential for a Conservative & Unionist Party General Election win in 2020.</span><span style="color: #45818e;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39631693" style="font-family: inherit;">"Now is not the time."</a><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Feel free to spread the joy by <a href="https://members.snp.org/#/join">joining the SNP today</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: purple; color: yellow;">Saor Alba</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">© McNoddy </span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-79112697888991372352017-03-31T12:17:00.002+01:002017-03-31T12:22:09.285+01:00The 3rd option<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuri3VDzograCCdsWF3P0ACocHvYp3K-ilkCnFh6ARBZgqPh6f0suWUpU5RNSN3fBUlnjhk7Gt13xzlQL4afQL3_yKSyjM5AnrBG2ZEZZwRNMKHBjzBdjrjHPhjzfgGr4EAoqHpg/s1600/IMG_1041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuri3VDzograCCdsWF3P0ACocHvYp3K-ilkCnFh6ARBZgqPh6f0suWUpU5RNSN3fBUlnjhk7Gt13xzlQL4afQL3_yKSyjM5AnrBG2ZEZZwRNMKHBjzBdjrjHPhjzfgGr4EAoqHpg/s320/IMG_1041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Not everything is a binary choice.</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Fàilte to <a href="http://www.gcat.org.uk/blog/?p=1496">another convert</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23yes">Yes</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: yellow;">Feel free to spread the joy by <a href="https://my.snp.org/join">joining the SNP</a> today.</i></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Saor Alba.</span></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></i><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">© McNoddy</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-17238958848851141582016-08-05T02:09:00.000+01:002016-08-05T02:14:44.228+01:00Styx<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Back in April our companion of nigh on 16 years bowed out.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our regular reader will have known her only as Bumpy, but she preferred her true name of Ellie.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZjzN4h77pvDt-Ahn9TThvxJyS6X0VwCk-O6Mn2klkwcy1MJn0kQauqLsZAoPJ2c5EkCWuJ8PcGtfOc5jXOEQrJ5XCleLVBox8Frek6wbTfDjn2xu-3Zx0sgsHqSWcgEJo47bIg/s640/blogger-image--1032455285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZjzN4h77pvDt-Ahn9TThvxJyS6X0VwCk-O6Mn2klkwcy1MJn0kQauqLsZAoPJ2c5EkCWuJ8PcGtfOc5jXOEQrJ5XCleLVBox8Frek6wbTfDjn2xu-3Zx0sgsHqSWcgEJo47bIg/s640/blogger-image--1032455285.jpg" /></a></div>
McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0Culkein, Lairg IV27, UK58.242880000000007 -5.344998000000032332.72084550000001 -46.653592000000032 83.7649145 35.963595999999967tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-32185298687036595222015-08-08T04:55:00.002+01:002021-09-30T15:39:45.720+01:00Can Seo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogcdn.com/travel.aol.co.uk/media/2011/08/lost-sign-rex-590mt070711-1313499472.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/travel.aol.co.uk/media/2011/08/lost-sign-rex-590mt070711-1313499472.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://twitter.com/ArtyBagger/status/629225710499045377"><b>Over on Twitter</b></a> the low oxygen level up yon munros has clearly got to Muriel Gray.</span><br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">I like Muriel Gray. I bought her books.</span><br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">Can I refer all involved in the resultant furore to this <a href="http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2011/08/04160631/1"><b>evidential work</b></a>.</span><br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">Back in the very early eighties, following Varsity, I worked as a Field Researcher and Analyst for a very similar and indeed the <a href="https://www.abdn.ac.uk/pfrlsu/documents/MacKinnon,%20Public%20Attitudes%20to%20Gaelic.pdf"><b>first National Opinion Survey on Scots Gaelic</b></a> under the auspices of An Comunn Gaidhealach. I can only say read the research and findings there. </span><br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">I also found <a href="http://www.poileasaidh.celtscot.ed.ac.uk/MCLEODCATALAN2.pdf"><b>this article</b></a> to sum up what needs saying. </span><br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">Am I a native Gaelic speaker? <i>Chan eil. </i></span><br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">Do I speak Gaelic? <i>Tha, beagan.</i></span><br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">But back to the hyperventilation over at Twitter.</span><br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">Some observations:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">Many countries have bilingual road signs where there is a significant linguistic rationale for doing so. Off the top of my head I recall Magyar script on Eastern Austrian road/village signs. This pleases me because my family name is Hungarian, although admittedly our lot emigrated back circa very early 18th century and well before UKIP!</span></li>
<li><span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">Gaelic was, and indeed is, spoken well past (i.e. south) Inbhir Nis agus An Gearasdan for the information of a few <a href="https://twitter.com/CJuliaSM/status/629696110739746817"><b>so called intelligenti</b></a> of the SNPout coven. </span></li>
<li><span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">My recollection and the stats confirmed that the attitude to Gaelic was surprisingly favourable even in the most unlikely spots such as Kirkcaldy and East Kilbride!</span></li>
<li><span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">The comments on Muriel's tweet, and the significant follow up <a href="https://t.co/cvIdWG7YSF"><b>blog by Paul Kavanagh</b></a>, have now become a political football with <b><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23snpbad&src=typd">#SNPbad</a> and</b> <a href="https://twitter.com/JournoStephen/status/629658638030925824"><b>rabid nationalism attributes</b></a> being flung about in relation to the well intentioned actions to reverse the decline in the language due to the linguistic colonialism of English. This is all the more disappointing as it was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaelic_broadcasting_in_Scotland"><b>George Younger</b></a>, aye him, Thatcher's Secretary of State for Scotland, that was at the head of the queue pushing Gaelic to the forefront as he had a deep affinity to, and what I like described as, the Gaelic Community. (<a href="https://twitter.com/toppage/status/629695759840079872"><b>Jen Topping</b></a> was deceptively close with her assertion that it was The Iron Lady herself that was the promoter of Gaelic back in the early eighties). Language has no direct political hue.</span></li>
<li><span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">My forebears on three sides were undoubtedly Gaelic speakers (from Rothes, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3720848.stm"><b>Strathdon</b></a> and Scalpay, Harris), the late MiL was a <b><a href="https://twitter.com/MrJohnNicolson/status/629227359397396480">downtrodden native speaker</a> </b>and I have a significant past supporting what I liked to jokingly call the <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=gaelic%20mafia"><b>Gaelic mafia</b></a>. My view was simply that the language, and the cultural strings attached, were being trampled on by the Beurla stampede and some significant positive discrimination was needed. </span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">Finally, the author of our 1981 survey had <a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140122145147/http:/www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Witness-Statement-of-Professor-Kenneth-MacKinnon.pdf"><b>this to say</b></a> to the Leveson Enquiry about Gaelic. If you've ever heard Ken speak in depth about Gaelic, his <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Rayleigh,+Essex/@51.5528197,0.6291133,13z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x47d8c4ad6b15810b:0xe4b0f3f2fa97cb0a"><b>Rayleigh</b></a> accent knocks you right off your stot! More fun even than that was myself and his loon (nepotism alert!), whilst surveying in Castlebay, entering a <b><a href="http://www.castlebay-hotel.co.uk/">local hostelry</a> </b>and abidy hearing our accents (mine is a Heinz 57 mix of mainly Buckinghamshire and a few other RAF airbase twangs coupled with couthy Doric and his; piercing Essex) and the patrons yapping to each other in Gaelic clearly believing we hadn't a scooby what they were saying. Like I say, I speak a little Gaelic, but wasn't letting on. My cohort, however, despite the foregoing is fluent. He timed the reveal to perfection. Oh and we both have a particularly appropriate first name for that particular island. Mine is the standard English spelling. Unsurprisingly, Ken's loon is the Gaelic version. The jungle drums went <a href="http://reference.yourdictionary.com/translation/list-of-doric-words-and-english-translations.html"><b>feel</b></a> thereafter........</span></div>
<div>
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16.0016px; line-height: 21.7622px;"><a href="https://twitter.com/CliGaidhlig/status/638644075802066944">Chan eil aon chànan gu leòr</a>.</b></div>
<br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: magenta;"><i><b>UPDATE</b>: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-34244616"><b>Auntie</b></a> and the <a href="https://goo.gl/mPVaeW"><b>PnJ</b></a> have now had their say too.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: red;">BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration. </span><br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">Feel free to spread the joy by <a href="https://my.snp.org/join">joining the SNP</a> today. </span><br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">Saor Alba. </span><br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">© McNoddy</span><br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="color: #45818e;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-17454782661123183152015-07-29T04:04:00.003+01:002015-07-29T04:53:19.093+01:00Canteen mythology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwnMlQeM21HMTViA-xelFVMU4r7nRI9HyFfjU3MBoGyT6-73jVd-_21O8BB-bBPcN5QM9UJUNLaszMu9wKIDTYhJeIy9CdifboUwwji8hIUUqqLIUoWEIxfRhCwPuMjTdGLQIGA/s1600/sandwich-police.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwnMlQeM21HMTViA-xelFVMU4r7nRI9HyFfjU3MBoGyT6-73jVd-_21O8BB-bBPcN5QM9UJUNLaszMu9wKIDTYhJeIy9CdifboUwwji8hIUUqqLIUoWEIxfRhCwPuMjTdGLQIGA/s640/sandwich-police.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There has been a wee bit of a kerfuffle recently over at <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=police%20canteen&src=typd">Twitter</a> in regards to Polis <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/police-canteens-fuelling-britains-blobby-6137928">eating habits</a> and <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/humberside-police-force-hits-back-at-critics-who-say-canteen-menu-with-five-different-types-of-pie-is-unhealthy-10421660.html">canteens</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ever prescient, I offer you <a href="http://uisgebeathaagusleann.blogspot.co.uk/2008/09/give-me-some-piece.html">this piece</a> (sic) from 2008. </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration. </span><br />
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Feel free to spread the joy by <a href="https://my.snp.org/join">joining the SNP</a> today. </span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Saor Alba. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">© McNoddy </span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-18124781101395238042015-05-07T00:50:00.000+01:002015-05-07T00:50:04.454+01:00Jockalypse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5Pxm6HgVCZrZwBrau23z5GsHpREUslfZ-e8Qgp2uM9hRPb33IMBHKSMXIIv6EV6-nisgKuGO3hGknkx1Lud0mUpsy-nMF28TpZU7IAFXjyA39kDDx0FkXNB29XwDhCAjBdsTLw/s1600/sturgeon-murphy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5Pxm6HgVCZrZwBrau23z5GsHpREUslfZ-e8Qgp2uM9hRPb33IMBHKSMXIIv6EV6-nisgKuGO3hGknkx1Lud0mUpsy-nMF28TpZU7IAFXjyA39kDDx0FkXNB29XwDhCAjBdsTLw/s1600/sturgeon-murphy.png" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jim Murphy wisnae best pleased fan he had a wee keek at 'his' <a href="http://goo.gl/O9oWIo">Daily Ranger</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Feel free to spread the joy by <a href="https://my.snp.org/join">joining the SNP</a> today. </span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Saor Alba. </span><br />
<span goo.gl="" http:="" owio="" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-ser<a href=;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">© McNoddy</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-22874386936630660542015-05-06T23:55:00.000+01:002015-05-07T00:51:17.679+01:00Election Eve Message from Toy Town™<blockquote class="twitter-video" lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/voteSNP?src=hash">#voteSNP</a> projection <a href="https://twitter.com/HyperlapseApp">@HyperlapseApp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GE15?src=hash">#GE15</a> <a href="http://t.co/wEuPywKoFq">pic.twitter.com/wEuPywKoFq</a></div>
— Ross Colquhoun (@rosscolquhoun) <a href="https://twitter.com/rosscolquhoun/status/596081894191722496">May 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><i>
BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration.</i></span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Feel free to spread the joy by <a href="https://my.snp.org/join">joining the SNP</a> today. </span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Saor Alba. </span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JrSZoXVb_ic" width="420"></iframe>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">© McNoddy </span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-20293346167514628232015-04-26T00:58:00.000+01:002018-12-02T02:58:23.892+00:00Complete Mayhem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTKiu52S9Xmewpj_EbQ7tXDBmgE-6vhYTw3oPFSHj1Z_dVAkvqIeXR_Uzy76h40jo1F-aBedLKVI05kuI6d7zbrQXZuNHH2WOOyhRmB49b3PstGjOci5Gy8evVH46NtXvzEwZjw/s1600/total+mayhem.jpg" width="480" /></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Combining two of my least favourite things gives you this </span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3055575/Theresa-SNP-Labour-pact-spark-biggest-constitutional-crisis-abdication-Edward-VIII.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ludicrous apocalyptic vision</a><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> of the future.</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There's democracy for you.</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Funnily enough we Scots ain't feeling the love anymore......</span><br />
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<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You may wish to check out the Twitter hashtag #</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; text-decoration: underline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorstCrisisSinceAbdication?src=hash" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">WorstCrisisSinceAbdication</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: red;">BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Feel free to spread the joy by <a href="https://my.snp.org/join">joining the SNP</a> today.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Saor Alba.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">© <a href="https://twitter.com/Toytowner">McNoddy</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ </span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-63660130870094021392015-04-09T16:07:00.000+01:002015-04-09T16:10:47.602+01:00Sea change<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs16vRmMszWDnLRTQr3tgDT3c4vJs_fVz5VkhmwCEDzTHC78ybKf8PNfbGDc9AlyYp07bgxrkkLRNc2bRell4hjzmyDZjeHPi4x4gJKA6Gam-f5W-VzpSvM0cuwCeFDzm8FwrlDA/s1600/Foinaven+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs16vRmMszWDnLRTQr3tgDT3c4vJs_fVz5VkhmwCEDzTHC78ybKf8PNfbGDc9AlyYp07bgxrkkLRNc2bRell4hjzmyDZjeHPi4x4gJKA6Gam-f5W-VzpSvM0cuwCeFDzm8FwrlDA/s400/Foinaven+1.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I apologise, well no I don't actually, to my usual reader as I am about to get all Political.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can imagine reader that you have just planted your forehead firmly on your desk </span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">schoolgirl stylee as I suggest this, but.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have had an enforced 30 years away from open and public politicking and even more so from an open allegiance and membership of the SNP. I have lot of catching up to do and sooooooooooo much to say.</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stay with me!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There will be plenty musings to follow in the run up to the General Election and next year's Holyrood elections, but a wee tale to start us off.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I live in <a href="http://democraticdashboard.com/constituency/aberdeenshire-west-and-kincardine/">WAK</a> (or Toyland if you prefer) and this has been a FibDem / Conservative and Unionist marginal for all the time I have known. Liebour and the SNP have never really had a shout, such that many (including myself) voted tactically to keep the least worst option out. </span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Recently in the Euros and Local elections the SNP have made patient and gradual progress into a challenging position, but I am now told it's a two horse race here in <a href="https://twitter.com/Toytowner">#GE2015</a>. Literature delivered by the FibDems and Tories confirm this as so and that it is the FibDems that are the inferred and 'preferred' challenger for those voting tactically. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Two observations follow on from this:</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I voted partly to keep a party out of this constituency/government last time and then the turncoats entered into an unholy alliance - you can call it a coalition if you wish. I also voted partly for the individual as he was an old classmate at Varsity and thus a decent enough chap you'd have thunk. My cautionary tale for tactical voters is - you don't always get what you vote for with second choices. Stay true, whatever your leanings are. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Secondly, and much more importantly, I was sat aside a gent some maybe 10 years older than me in the local barbers this morn, when I overheard his conversation with the not overly stretched stylist regarding the forthcoming vote. He was regaling the lassie with what he appeared to suggest was an awakening to him (and may I suggest the nation) that "that Nicola Sturgeon came over really well and she seems to have some good policies." This was clearly a surprise to him and not the statement of a paid up member of the SNP, but the one next to him was fair chuffed, especially when the lassie agreed. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There is a sea change happening......</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>BTW - Trident renewal is an anachronistic and abhorrent aberration.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Feel free to spread the joy by <a href="https://my.snp.org/join">joining the SNP</a> today. </span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Saor Alba.</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">© <a href="https://twitter.com/Toytowner">McNoddy</a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-65997816923763262682015-03-12T04:24:00.000+00:002015-03-12T04:31:44.210+00:00Endex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyx4bak8Z5z1ckLQR3roK_bj6p6SK7JJTcZKFn8VrwGRaJLO1QzcJbIdzGQkBxxn2jJFf7In7BJ6P6HXp65kt8xIbD5cmIdIJ_kkQ2UPwNACvz2or6_hUzg2ASs5Tck3U6AmVUw/s1600/BSV454a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyx4bak8Z5z1ckLQR3roK_bj6p6SK7JJTcZKFn8VrwGRaJLO1QzcJbIdzGQkBxxn2jJFf7In7BJ6P6HXp65kt8xIbD5cmIdIJ_kkQ2UPwNACvz2or6_hUzg2ASs5Tck3U6AmVUw/s1600/BSV454a.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dinna fash yersel. No finished on here, jist being a bobbie.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Busy daen naithin a noo, bit fan I'm <a href="http://twitter.com/@Toytowner">ready tae yap</a>, look oot. Nae holds barred ye ken.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">© Noddy </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-70170384333431840992014-12-14T07:21:00.003+00:002015-03-31T01:32:21.205+01:00Catastrophe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimage/1.3623365.1417628406!/image/429739382.jpg_gen/derivatives/articleImgDeriv_628px/429739382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimage/1.3623365.1417628406!/image/429739382.jpg_gen/derivatives/articleImgDeriv_628px/429739382.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-s-first-cat-cafe-to-open-in-january-1-3623366">This</a> must not happen. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">© Bumpy the Dug</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">n.b. <i>Ed</i>. <a href="https://www.twitter.com/JonathanNichol4/status/582583111348785152">It gets worse</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22201082.post-90637889886591016822014-08-07T02:23:00.000+01:002014-08-07T02:23:14.680+01:00Essence of Ecosse<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/77096740" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/77096740">Essence of Ecosse</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mothomson">Mo Thomson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">© Noddy </span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Published by Toy Town™ Times</span>McNoddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433976270647799322noreply@blogger.com0