Yearly Archives: 2012

Clutching At (Jack) Straws

Posted on April 19, 2012 by fitzjameshorse

About a year ago one of the British Satellite Channels (More 4) showed a comedy entitled “The Trial of Tony Blair” with Robert Lindsay in the title role. It was of course a comedy…a satire…but Tony B Liar is now … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ian Parsley & Zero Rates For Town Centres

Posted on April 19, 2012 by fitzjameshorse

Ian Parsley makes an eloquent case for zero rates on town centre retail businesses. He does not mention the Alliance Party. Coincidently the new Alliance Chair is Glyn Roberts, CEO of the Norn Iron Independent Retailers Consortium. Perhaps they can … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Square Pegs….Round Holes….Local Politics

Posted on April 18, 2012 by fitzjameshorse

I am going thru a lot of Nostalgia over the past few weeks. Lots of reasons. In three weeks, I will be sixty years old. And it should not actually be any more different than any previous birthday. It concentrates … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Rev Ray Davey RIP

Posted on April 17, 2012 by fitzjameshorse

I am saddened by the death of Ray Davey, the Presbyterian Minister who was one of the founders of the Corrymeela Community. My wife was also there in the early days. Ray was a Minister of the Broadway Church on … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Ian Parsley …Ooops He Did It Again

Posted on April 17, 2012 by fitzjameshorse

Ian Parsley (described on Wikipedia as a “politician, business man and linguist”) fought the 2009 European Election for Alliance Party. In 2010 he was fighting for UUP_UCFNPU (or whatever) at Westminster, before being a Conservative Party member. Having canvassed in … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Interesting Thread On Slugger O’Toole-Stratagem

Posted on April 17, 2012 by fitzjameshorse

An interesting thread…..or more accurately a potentially interesting thread has been developing over at Slugger’s place where the peerless Mick Fealty initiated a conversation “For Nationalists Only” ……”Whats Great About Living in the United Kingdom”. A reasonable enough question and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Culloden 16th April 1746

Posted on April 16, 2012 by fitzjameshorse

On 16th April 1746, the Jacobite Rebellion ended in the Battle of Culloden and the subsequent massacre of Highland men women and children by Hanoverian forces under the command of Duke of Cumberland. No British regiment has Culloden on its … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Not So Grand National

Posted on April 16, 2012 by fitzjameshorse

On Saturday……..being a loyal SDLP member I picked OrganisedConfusion for the Grand National. I choose political parties better than I choose horses. The Grant National is something more than a horse race. It is an institution in Britain and Ireland. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“Nearer My God To Thee”?

Posted on April 16, 2012 by fitzjameshorse

According to legend, the hymn “Nearer My God To Thee” was played by musicians on the Titanic as it sank. It is probably true. And impossible (even thru a TV screen) not to get a little bit emotional to hear … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Dr Joe Hendron….SDLP Youth Conference

Posted on April 15, 2012 by fitzjameshorse

My wife first met Dr Joe Hendron in the 1960s. Her family were patients and she remembers him with great affection. I first met Dr Joe Hendron in May 1973 when I joined the SDLP. He was Chair of Falls … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment