it’s not just Ballymena that brings Christmas early…

My apologies to my readers that there has not been much from my desk in recent days, I’ve been on holiday in between a committee meeting of FLAGS and a ringing tour with FODS. But it seems that Bedford is getting ready for the holiday season of Christmas quite early in the year. As Peter and I returned from the Barley Mow last evening [or was it this morning?–Ed.] we saw that Bedford Borough Council had started to put the Christmas lighting up. This reminds me of my home town where Ballymena Borough Council causes embarrassment to its residents by … Continue reading it’s not just Ballymena that brings Christmas early…

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fire at 21st US President’s ancestral home

Last night there was a fire at Arthur Cottage, Cullybackey. Arthur Cottage was the ancestral home of Chester Alan Arthur, 21st President of the United States of America. At the time of writing, the cause of the fire is not known, nor do we know if it was malicious. However, what I do know is that Arthur Cottage was a favourite place for me to visit on my bicycle when I was younger. It was about 3 miles away from my home in Ballymena, which is where I am as I type this article, and was a rather easy trip. … Continue reading fire at 21st US President’s ancestral home

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Paisley; a Borough; no respect for Crown authority; and a city…

Diamond Jubilee of HM The Queen We’re coming up on a milestone in the reign of our Sovereign Lady, Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and of her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, &c.*. The last milestone was Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee – the forthcoming is the Diamond Jubilee in 2010. Jubilee Cities With these milestones often comes a race among various towns in the United Kingdom to be the three in 2000 (or four five† in 2002) that become cities in what … Continue reading Paisley; a Borough; no respect for Crown authority; and a city…

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councils delay has gone to Poots

By now we should be well down the road for reorganisation of the local district councils in Northern Ireland from the 26 current district councils to the 11 council model. Sadly for some, though better for actual local democracy and relation of councillor to constituent, this has not happened. According to the BBC, Northern Ireland’s Minister for the Environment, Edwin Poots, of the DUP, said that he remained committed to reforming local government Committed to reforming local government he may be, but not committed to bringing forward the legislation necessary to enable this to be done. For Mr Poots has … Continue reading councils delay has gone to Poots

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