Category: Northern Ireland life

news, Northern Ireland life, poverty, Royal FamilyLeave a comment

return the Crown Estate money to the Queen

Michael McFarland Campbell

The furore about the Royal Finances in recent days should be really quite easy to fix. Stop the Civil List system, and return the surplus from the Crown Estates to Her Majesty The Queen. After all, if it is Crown property then Her Majesty should be allowed to benefit from it. There is no prohibition on HRH The Prince of Wales in respect of his rights as Duke of Cornwall, so why does Her Majesty? Do we actually know what HM Treasury has done with this money in recent years? I don’t think so. No transparency there. For reference: The … Continue reading return the Crown Estate money to the Queen

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Lib Dems, Northern Ireland life1 Comment

a black hole: who’s who in the liberal democrats…

Michael McFarland Campbell

Just been entering my details on Who’s Who in the Liberal Democrats and come across a couple of minor problems. Minor problem number 1 I am a member of the Northern Ireland local party – indeed I am currently chair. However, although I can put my constituency in (Belfast North), there is no region for me I have decided to put in “Devon & Cornwall” to show my Cornish heritage. This is, however, not very satisfactory. I believe that my fellow blogger, Stephen Glenn, may have put “Scotland”. Minor problem number 2 Although this category does not apply to me, … Continue reading a black hole: who’s who in the liberal democrats…

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Dumfries&Galloway, Northern Ireland life, Police, Terrorism Act, TransportLeave a comment

Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary fails to answer #operationevacuate questions

Michael McFarland Campbell

Well the response from my letter to the Chief Constable of Dumfries & Galloway has finally arrived. It is reproduced below for reference. My comments will be in red, and quotations from legislation will be in purple, following each relevant bit. Dear Mr Carchrie Campbell COMPLAINT AGAINST THE POLICE I didn’t write a letter of complaint. I wrote a letter of enquiry. I refer to your letter dated 22 August 2010 and your complaint relating to an incident where you were stopped earlier that day, at Stranraer Port. I note from your letter that you would like me to confirm … Continue reading Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary fails to answer #operationevacuate questions

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Bank of Ireland, Banking, Belfast, Nationwide, news, Northern Ireland life, SantanderLeave a comment

the curse of the bank cards is still upon me

Michael McFarland Campbell

Whilst out in Belfast city centre with Stephen, after an appointment at my GP’s surgery, I was on my way to sort out some personal finances when disaster struck. I put the one card that survived the original bank card problem, into an ATM near CastleCourt this afternoon, and after putting in my PIN asking for balance, it was retained. So now I have to contact the provider of the account to see what went wrong. Back to resolving bank card saga number 1: went into a Santander branch and asked why I hadn’t received a new bank card – … Continue reading the curse of the bank cards is still upon me

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Belfast, Disability, Health, HIV, Metro, news, Northern Ireland life, Translink, Transport, UlsterbusLeave a comment

Translink needs to work on access for disabled on buses

hivblogger

Having been falling asleep on the number 4a bus on the way home from the appointments of the day, I was very much awake when the bus driver let one person off at our stop, but then proceeded to drive on without letting myself, and my two escorts off as well – indeed we were still on the stairs at the time. I shouted No. STOP Everyone looked a bit surprised on the bus. Stephen says that those on the top deck (where he still was) were asking Did the driver just drive off there? And with the answer in … Continue reading Translink needs to work on access for disabled on buses

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Belfast, Drugs, Health, HIV, Northern Ireland lifeLeave a comment

rvh clinic needs to rethink working practices

Michael McFarland Campbell

I was up at the Royal Victoria Hospital yesterday for my regular checkup. The visit is now pretty routine, with a regular way of working: arrive, check in with the lovely receptionist, sit in waiting room (for ages) see consultant have blood taken for testing head down to pharmacy for prescription Now, my appointment was at 2.30pm but I was finally seen by my consultant at 3.45pm. Then had a long wait for the bloods to be taken. When I was finally called for the bloods by the nursing staff, I pointed out that I would not be able to … Continue reading rvh clinic needs to rethink working practices

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iLink, London, Metro, news, NIRailways, Northern Ireland life, Regional Development, ticketing, Translink, Transport, Transport for London, UlsterbusLeave a comment

not just the posts but the trains and buses too…

Michael McFarland Campbell

This afternoon while I was visiting the capital, I had a cheque that needed to be trusted to the servants of Her Majesty’s Posts. I visited the Post Office next to St James’s Park Underground Station and came across another ‘customer experience improvement scheme’. Gone are the days of the good old British queue. Now we come in, press a button on a screen, be given a ticket with a number on it, and be asked to sit down on the ‘comfortable’ chairs to await service by one of the post office clerks. Upon being called by the machine to … Continue reading not just the posts but the trains and buses too…

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Belfast, catholic, charitable, christian, gay, news, Northern Ireland life, politics, suffering1 Comment

love between two persons… is to be treasured and respected

Michael McFarland Campbell
The word ‘love’ must never be thought of as synonymous with the word ‘sex’. Love can take many forms…love between two persons, whether of the same sex or of a different sex, is to be treasured and respected. - Dom Basil, Cardinal Hume 1923 - 1999

It’s funny what you find on the internet about yourself…

This morning when I was surfing, I found two disturbing threads on two particularly disturbing forums. One was really a repost of the other.

To quote someone hiding behind the name of “Credo”, on one of the sites

and

the full text of the posts can be found here…

and also on this site posted by someone called Seosamh here… (warning only click if you really want to – it does not make for pleasant reading) Continue reading “love between two persons… is to be treasured and respected”

NIRailways, Northern Ireland life, Regional Development, Translink, Transport3 Comments

is cromore halt open once more?

Michael McFarland Campbell
Platform sign at Coleraine Railway Station (taken 28/08/10)

On my way back from Foyle Pride on Saturday by train I noticed that there was an interesting sign on the opposite platform when we had stopped at Coleraine station.

This has the destinations of

Portrush Direct

and

P/Rush via P/Stewart

What could this mean?

Now, this led to much discussion at our table Continue reading “is cromore halt open once more?”

Dumfries&Galloway, Northern Ireland life, Police, Terrorism Act, Transport1 Comment

#operationevacuate results in letter to chief constable

Michael McFarland Campbell
After the events of Sunday 22 August 2010, "there were a number of issues with this that we are raising as a result." (Stephen Glenn)

Well, the tale has been told by fellow #operationevacuate operative, Stephen Glenn, of what happened on our return from Bathgate to Belfast at the weekend.

My letter to the chief constable of Dumfries & Galloway, Patrick Shearer QPM has now been posted. Continue reading “#operationevacuate results in letter to chief constable”