Monthly Archives: January 2017

The Tartan Elephant

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Grouse Beater

A colloquial cliché There’s an idiom become fashionable in daily conversation. Considering the mammal is destined to be wiped out it by ivory poachers, there were literally and figuratively herds of them everywhere. The phrase is … ‘the elephant in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Scottish Independence Referendum, Scottish Politics | 18 Comments

Hacksaw Ridge – a review

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Grouse Beater

When Mel Gibson directs a film he somehow contrives to make it a game of two halves, to quote the accident prone sports commentator, David Coleman. Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge is exactly that. The first half is an old fashioned, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film review | 5 Comments

Car News: Trump v Mexican Cars

Posted on January 21, 2017 by Grouse Beater

Your weekly  guide to all that sucks in the auto industry and some good bits Among a contradiction of foes Donald Trump has attacked, the mightiest isn’t China, or even his own all-powerful Republican party, but the American automotive industry. … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Transportation | 2 Comments

The Degredation of Englishness

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Grouse Beater

English have forgotten what it is to be English? Calling themselves British for decades doesn’t help. Those who strive for a romantic Englishness by ditching anything European, demanding bowler hats back in fashion, are unable to find an agreeable definition that fits … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Scottish Independence Referendum, Scottish Politics | 13 Comments

Scotland’s Emigrants

Posted on January 14, 2017 by Grouse Beater

The tale is in the leaving Why do so many Scots leave their homeland? It cannot be because some winters are harsh. Sweden and Switzerland are just two countries that expect hard winters but we see few of their inhabitants desperate … Continue reading →

Posted in Scottish Politics | 35 Comments

La La Land – a review

Posted on January 14, 2017 by Grouse Beater

Critics are gushing over this pedestrian, post-modern musical, almost as if they’d not seen a musical in their lives. The Guardian critic describes it as “gorgeous”. All I can say is, his idea of gorgeous is different from any dictionary meaning of … Continue reading →

Posted in Film review | 4 Comments

Silence – a review

Posted on January 7, 2017 by Grouse Beater

Priest and believer. The Japanese believer has a weird idea of Christianity To begin with a winner: there’s a wonderful debut role in Silence of the Japanese Inquisitor played by Issey Ogata that arrives on our screens with the same powerful impact … Continue reading →

Posted in Film review | 4 Comments

Melody Man

Posted on January 7, 2017 by Grouse Beater

An occasional series on Scots of outstanding merit, deserving of our attention and praise. There is a pleasing symmetry to this interview. Patrick Doyle is scoring the remake of the Agatha Christie classic Murder on the Orient Express. I interviewed the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Film review | Leave a comment