Category Archives: Uncategorized

Royally Screwed

Posted on January 13, 2022 by fitzjameshorse

I do not like rich people. The main reason is that I am not rich. I do not like Monarchy or the Royals. It is more a philosophical dislike. But there are trappings that I like. For example, I quite … Continue reading →

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Life Skills Required To Be A (Despised) Minority

Posted on January 11, 2022 by fitzjameshorse

I have spent some of the Pandemic researching my own family History. The despicable comments by (Lady) Kate Hoey have angered a lot of people in the nationalist community. At this point, I do not want to go into much … Continue reading →

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Three Decades of Half-Centenaries

Posted on January 3, 2022 by fitzjameshorse

When I became an active blogger over ten years ago, the”big theme” was the Decade of Centenaries. As regular readers will know, I prefer private remembering to public remembrance. We are entitled to remember our history as we wish. I … Continue reading →

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Working Man Blues …The Troubles 1969-1972

Posted on January 1, 2022 by fitzjameshorse

This is a re-written/edited version of an article I wrote for a USA-based academic website a few years ago. I started work aged 17 on 29th September 1969. My parents were deeply disappointed that I had decided to leave school … Continue reading →

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Mass Rocks (Dungeon, Fire & Sword?)

Posted on December 29, 2021 by fitzjameshorse

American academics who are interested in Civil Rights rarely understand that integrated education (Catholics and Protestants) was not a basic demand in Norn Iron. Educating black and white children together was a prime demand by Civil Rights activists in Alabama … Continue reading →

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New Years Honours List (Norn Iron)

Posted on December 29, 2021 by fitzjameshorse

About two months ago, up to 150 people in Norn Iron will have got letters from a department within the Cabinet Office in Downing Street. They will have been told that “Her Majesty the Queen” (sic) has decided to award … Continue reading →

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New Years Honours List (General)

Posted on December 28, 2021 by fitzjameshorse

The Belfast Gazette (like its London and Edinburgh sister publications) is a weekly “government” publication. Usually it just lists things like bankruptcies and “royal” business. Twice a year, it lists the New Year and Birthday “Honours”. About 45 years ago, … Continue reading →

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The Queen’s Speech

Posted on December 28, 2021 by fitzjameshorse

The annual Christmas speech by Mrs Elizabeth Windsor is one of those things that is impossible to explain, mainly because I don’t actually watch it. It is a curious throw-back to the 1950s. Listen to any left wing “woke” British … Continue reading →

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Councillor Carole Howard……..ex-Alliance

Posted on December 24, 2021 by fitzjameshorse

It is now ten days since Alliance Councillor Carole Howard (East Belfast) defected to Ulster Unionist Party. I had hoped to read an in depth analysis of this on Slugger O’Toole. Alas I am disappointed. Surely the defection of a … Continue reading →

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“Belfast” : The Movie

Posted on December 23, 2021 by fitzjameshorse

So I have just heard that a movie “Belfast”, directed by our very own (is he?) “Sir” Kenneth Branagh has been short-listed for an Oscar. Some things are beyond Satire. About 99.9% of us who have lived thru The Troubles … Continue reading →

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