Monthly Archives: December 2023

A Free New Year

Posted on December 31, 2023 by Grouse Beater

Wishing readers a ‘happy’ new year, is obviously inappropriate when the big powers are at war and determined to draw the rest of us into their carnage and death. The genocide in Gaza uppermost in our minds, the suffering caused … Continue reading →

Posted in Scottish Independence Referendum | 8 Comments

Thoughts From Death Row

Posted on December 24, 2023 by Grouse Beater

The reflection of dusk on Arctic ice gives an impression of a sea of blood What a desperate year it has been for humanity; nothing but rampant colonialism and illegal wars, we are dragged back to 1928. Our elected leaders … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 15 Comments

The Land Cruiser

Posted on December 17, 2023 by Grouse Beater

Michael Russell former president of the SNP and MSP, now Land Commission chair From time to time this site’s sister platform Grouse Beater News has reposted tweets from the redoubtable land reform activist Andy Wightman. (We don’t agree with every view … Continue reading →

Posted in Scottish Land, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Dragging Your Keel

Posted on December 15, 2023 by Grouse Beater

Cockenzie and Port Seton What does a nation do with a vast 200-acre former industrial site located next to the open sea and deep water that was initially designed with rail, road and sea access in mind to handle millions of tonnes of freight each year? Such is the challenge and the immense opportunity presented by the former coal fired power station at Cockenzie.  The answer … Continue reading →

Posted in Scotland's Economy, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Anatomy of a Fall – a review

Posted on December 14, 2023 by Grouse Beater

Sandra Hüller in ‘Anatomy of a Fall‘ – the burden of proof falls on the woman Anatomy of a Fall (“Anatomie d’une Chute”) was this year’s Palme d’Or winner. There was recorded contention; a few delegates wanted Scorsese’s over-long gangster … Continue reading →

Posted in Film review | 10 Comments

Stripping Tony Blair

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Grouse Beater

Israel’s government plans to install Tony Blair as Gaza ‘envoy‘. Photo: S. Scheiner Speaking in a Westminster Hall Debate [Wednesday 13 December 2023] Neale Hanvey ALBA party, said “UK military action in Iraq and declassified documents from 1998” the ALBA … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 7 Comments

The Mone Money

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Grouse Beater

Michelle Mone and her husband, Douglas Barrowman. Photo: Max Mumby From Michelle Mone’s first appearance to the wider public, made as one of the ‘new business successes’ featured on a television series fronted by entrepreneur Peter Jones, it was clear to … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 3 Comments

Scotland *Is* Independent

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Grouse Beater

Margaret Thatcher’s famous comment (in her biography) that a majority of nationalist politicians elected to Holyrood determined Scotland can declare its independence again, has been denied, vilified, reinterpreted, blurred by every nervous wee colonial wetting their pants who thinks they … Continue reading →

Posted in Scottish Politics | 13 Comments

Return the Book of Deer

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Grouse Beater

 The Book of Deer, Scotland’s oldest surviving manuscript. Photo: Glen Reid I suspect the ‘Book of Deer’ is not an historical document most readers know exists. Like much of Scotland’s historical treasures, that’s likely because the book is locked away … Continue reading →

Posted in Art | 17 Comments

Tory VIP Corruption

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Grouse Beater

The information published here comes from the offices of the Good Law Project admirably fronted these days by a robust and articulate Carol Vorders. The project made a thorough study of the Tories conveniently rushed Covid ‘VIP’ lane set up … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 1 Comment