united kingdom

Not in the Highlands It Isn’t

Business

More on the business opportunities presented by the Internet to Scottish Highlands businesses in this report, which is encouraging. But its hard to believe. From everything I see most UK business has got its head stuck up the public sector’s Outlook. If I get one more Outlook Calendar invitation I’ll think seriously about retiring. Google [...]

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The Real English Countryside

Places

The villages of Ardington and Lockinge are an example of the very best of English rural life. Only one mile apart they’re the heart of the Lockinge Estate, famous as one example of values now mostly forgotten. The estate was assembled by Lord Wantage, a distinguished soldier awarded the Victoria Cross and Bar (meaning he [...]

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NHS Managers Face Uncertain Future

Comment

The NHS in Scotland will be downsized by the reduction in management staff announced by the government, as reported in this article by Public Finance. Having recently attended a meeting populated almost exclusively by NHS Managers, it’s easy to see why. Not only does the top heavy bureaucracy cost far more than it delivers, like [...]

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Scotland Harder Hit By Unemployment

Comment

Unemployment in Scotland is rising while England‘s improves. No surprise there! For far too many years the politicians have bought votes by spending money on make believe public sector jobs – money they’ve blagged out of the UK government as a bribe to halt the interest in independence. Both Scotland and England have suffered as [...]

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A Glimmer of Opportunity

Comment

Image via Wikipedia Liberal Democrats plan to reduce the overhead on the economy by closing the quangos and replacing their role with regional banks managed by business leaders- as described by the Press and Journal. This is just about the most sense I’ve ever heard talked by a Scottish politician. But they’ll have a problem [...]

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Scottish unemployment rises despite UK fall – Telegraph

Comment

Image via Wikipedia As other countries, including much of England, emerge from the recession Scottish unemployment continues its downward spiral. Meanwhile the politicians and public sector are bleating about how cuts in public spending (through a reduction in English generosity) will cause severe hardship. And they’re right. It will cause severe hardship to THEM and [...]

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British Isles ‘worst place to live in Europe’ – Telegraph

Comment

Image via Wikipedia More shocking news about the quality of life in the British Isles. Our hours are too long, prices and taxes too high and wages too low. This is more of the New Labour legacy. Of course Blair doesn’t give a toss, and nor does that plonker Brown. They both got what they [...]

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Tonights Dram is Glen Moray

Whisky
Thumbnail image for Tonights Dram is Glen Moray

Scottish Malt Whisky is my choice of cocktail, naturally enough. Up here it’s impolite to drink anything else. Glen Moray wouldn’t rank on my favourite malt whisky list, until it comes to price that is but tonight it’s my choice. To be fair this is a very quaffable malt whisky, with a softer, more rounded [...]

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Telco Customer Service is Worst

Comment

Customer Service from the telephone companies is even worse that it is from the banks, in my experience at least. In both cases the business processes leave no room for the flexibility typically required under the label Customer Service. A quest for support or modification of a transaction merely takes the complainer down a dark [...]

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