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Today there is a procession of Scots Olympians and Paralympians in Scotland's biggest city to celebrate their achievements in London 2012.

I understand Andy Murray will be unable to attend.  His advisors say he is 'emotionally and physically exhausted' - understandable - and will be visiting Scotland this Sunday to thank his fans for his support.

During a recent interview Andy mention Braveheart was one of his favourite films and from that comment a skillful Photoshopper created the above image.

Unfortunately I don't know who deserves the credit for the idea or image but I would be happy to acknowledge them if they contact me.

It certainly made me smile and that's not something I'm prone to do much before noon.

Note:  This post is not making any political statement but sharing a little humour.


Update: Why is the parade being held on a weekday?  Surely a weekend would be far more suitable for children and adults who would like to see him.

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A Gold Post Box For Dunblane

It was over 100 years ago a member of Team GB won a singles gold in tennis at the London 2012 Olympics.

Just 45 minutes after winning the singles gold, out-playing Federer most of the match, Andy Murray returned to Centre Court for the mixed doubles final with Laura Robson.  They were narrowly beaten by the top seeds from Belarus.

It was a silver medal gained rather than a gold medal lost for the scratch pairing with such limited experience of playing together.

What a day it was for him.

Before 8am this morning Owen Smith from the Royal Mail's engineering department was seen painting a post box in Dunblane's High Street.  Perfect!

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Where Was Robbie Burns?

Friday night was Opening Night. Yes, I did watch it, or as much of it as my senses could handle. It was a bewildering spectacle which must have been incomprehensible to viewers from abroad. One in which Scotland was acknowledged in a two minute image of children singing in the surroundings of Edinburgh Castle and Emeli Sande's distinctive rendering of 'Abide With Me'.

The event was described as showing 'the things we love about Britain' - the Industrial Revolution, the digital revolution, the NHS, pop music, children's literature and genius engineers.

The  show - because it wasn't a ceremony - should have been billed as 'the things we love about England' because none of Scotland's contributions to the world featured. The Industrial Revolution wouldn't have been possible without the likes of Joseph Black, (born in France to an Irish father and Scottish mother) and the Hamilton-born William Cullen.  Alexander Fleming's discovery, which has saved billions of lives since the 1940s, would have brought a little gravitas to the disco-styled (collapsing) English NHS section.

Midway through the four hour London 2012 opening ceremony, up popped Tim Berners Lee who tweeted 'This is for everyone' from the centre of the stadium and the words appeared in huge letters across the seating screens. No mention was made of Alexander Graham Bell's invention, without which Mr Berners Lee's technology wouldn't exist.

Most people now know who Berners Lee is and what he did that was so exceptional because nowadays we accept his invention as the 'norm'.  What many don't realise is that Berners Lee refused to close and control the World Wide Web he created, in marked contrast to the political economy of the Olympics.

However, Thomas Heatherwick's beautiful Olympic cauldron was a visual delight and would have fascinated the Scot Thomas Telford.

Danny Boyle could also have mentioned the French-born Scot William Laurie Dickson who, without his invention and that of John Logie Baird's, few of us would have witnessed the occasion.

In all fairness Mr Boyle is an Englishman and he managed to pull off an acceptable image of England past and present.

In 2014 Scotland has a chance to showcase itself at the Commonwealth Games. We shouldn't miss the opportunity to include reference to the many who have given their skills - and lives - to make our country the place it is today. That includes Robbie Burns.

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A National Disaster

Soldiers rest under camouflage covers and tarpaulin

 as they guard the tow path of the Rover Lea near 

the Olympic stadium and Olympic site in Stratford.

'Winning' the Olympic Games will be recorded as a great national disaster in history.

Why?  We have reduced the country to a state of paranoia and the terrorists have already won.

The media continue to do their best to show enthusiasm for the event but they're paid to do so.  Here, in the far north, there is less excitement and even less interest.

David Starkey, for all his faults, expressed the feelings of many:

I am fed up of this national act of everybody get together, jump up and down and pretend they’re at a school camp for the Olympics. I hate forced celebration, I hate turning my capital city into a theme park. I hate Zil limousine lanes. I hate the Olympic emblem which has become a kind of plague curse on the entire city, distorting it, perverting it ...




Yesterday we heard that the military, who have been drafted in at exceptionally short notice, will not be paid any bonus.  Other public service workers will be paid extra for working at the games, but not the Army.  The Home Office has stated that any military personnel who have had to cancel paid for holidays will have any cancellation costs refunded.  Ask anyone belonging to the military about claiming the cost of a rail or air fare and you will be told "It's not worth the hassle". The Home Office will know from MoD sources that few will attempt to recoup loses.

Many soldiers, just back from spending 6 or more months in Afghanistan have arranged a holiday with their families.

The police are now saying they're in charge and more have been brought into London.  All will be paid overtime and will not be living in this type of accommodation. However, the Army will get on with the job without complaint.  It's the only public service we can completely rely on when our safety could be at risk.

So spend a minute or two in gratitude and also remember, many of those latest military Olympic security recruits were issued with their P45 recently, yet they won't find work once they leave the services - although most have been highly trained in skills needed in the country.  Is it any wonder our country is rapidly falling into social and economic decline?

Photo courtesy of the Daily Mail.

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When Is A National Flag Too Big?

(A health warning to my reader JRB - this post may be bad for you.)

Alyn Smith, an SNP member of the European Parliament, has complained to Seb Coe, the wunderkind chairman of the London 2012 organising committee, about the ban on the Saltire being flown over Scotland's national stadium during the Olympic games.

Under Olympic rules, Scottish athletes represent Great Britain, meaning only the Union flag should be officially flown at venues.

The rule hit the headlines during the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics Games in 2002 when skier, Alain Baxter from Aviemore, was ordered to cover up a blue and white Saltire he had dyed into his hair before competing.

Terms and conditions on tickets for the 2012 Games state there should be no flags of countries that are not participating.

The rule means that the Saltire can't fly over Hampden a spokesman for the organising committee confirmed. "Common sense would be applied for fans, as long as there was no 'political statement' linked to the flag or emblem" they said.

Another response from the committee is 'that people have always been allowed to bring in flags and wave them provided they are not too big or on poles'.

I see two problems with the organising committee's responses.  Firstly, what is its definition of 'common sense'?  It's certainly very different to mine.

Secondly, I've searched in vain to find the definition of 'too big'.  I have a couple of Saltires which I use for a variety of purposes. Both are 5ft by 3ft - a handy size for anything from a table covering to flying from a flagpole.  But would one be too big for the Olympic flag-checking mafia?  Who knows.

If anyone attending a Game's event wants to take along their emblem to show national pride, forget a flag and consider a windsock. If money is no object how about a Saltire mohair throw to keep your shoulders warm?

I would suggest that anyone taking either of these items also remembers to carry the invoice with them just in case the flag-checking mafia don't know the difference between a saltire, a windsock and a throw. It's all down to common sense isn't it?

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Coming To A Road Near You

Since it was announced the Olympics Games were to be held in London I've done my very best to ignore its continual promotion. It's not that I'm disinterested in sport, I'm a fan of Andy Murray - well someone has to support him - and have a lifelong interest in rugby, but I find the manner in which the 'elite' are being feted very distasteful.

However it's not only the 'elite' who are being pampered. According to the organisers, the Olympic flame will come within 10 miles of 95% of people in the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey. It's supposedly coming within 10 miles of my home but I won't be clapping from the roadside and have yet to hear of anyone who even knows the torchbearer.

Judging by today's Mail article I doubt if many spectators will see the torchbearer far less the torch. Yesterday the 36 police officers chosen to defend the torch had a dress rehearsal (pictured above). They will be guarding the object on its 70 day journey around the country before the London Games. Often Mail articles can be taken with a large pinch of salt, but the statement 'Yet in case they find the job too traumatic, they are to be given psychological training on how to prepare themselves for being away from home' is so ridiculous it's quite possibly true.

Not only are they being given lessons on how to survive outside their respective home territories but once their two month trip is over they will be offered counselling to help settle back into their day jobs.  They will be part of a wider 70 strong team selected from the Met.

A spokesman for the Met said:

‘We recognise that this is a unique role never performed within British policing.

‘Occupational health specialists within the Met are already developing plans to ensure that the welfare of this team is considered at every stage and the best possible support provided.’ 

The spokesman said that preparations included ‘talking to them about their career aspirations and encouraging them to plan ahead for when they are away from home’. 

Our troops can be away from home for many months a year yet they struggle to find any support for problems they may have when returning home.

It's reported the police could have to deal with saboteurs, protesters and terrorism.  Shouldn't their preparations include training to deal with such incidents instead of ensuring they can cope with blisters and strange bedrooms?  The Met's record for dealing with unusual incidents leaves a lot to be desired.

(I've placed a wee poll in the right hand column).

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