My Conference Speech

How long will David Cameron speak for this morning as the conquering hero at the Conservative party conference in Manchester? 

Buy The Bank

Gordon robbed us shareholders in Lloyds Bank when he persuaded Lloyds TSB (as it then was called) to buy HBOS in 2008. That led to some £20 billion of government (taxpayers) money being injected into the   enlarged bank to keep it solvent. Now George is giving us a chance to get some of our… Continue reading Buy The Bank

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Categorised as Business

Cheap Lane

Some of the best things in life are free, others cost much less than the pleasure they provide. The reverse is also true. Does an expensive car, house or holiday really give value for money?

Downhill

Downhill is a British film released last year, directed by James Rouse. It was his first movie (he usually directs film and TV advertisements) and describes four school friends walking the coast to coast path across England from St. Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay – 192 miles. It’s good but not… Continue reading Downhill

In Or Out?

“In or out, sir?” is what a barman says mixing a Pink Gin. It refers to the Angostura Bitters. But it already has a more important meaning in the UK as the promised In/Out referendum looms. What’s the best way for Conservative europhiles to scupper the Out campaign? You’re spot on; appoint an 83 year… Continue reading In Or Out?

66 Mark Lane

My life in the City began on the first Monday in August 1976 and looks as if it ended at 5.00 pm on the first Monday in August this year, 39 years later.

“Swing, swing together” – Slovenian Boating Song

A few days ago I mused on the shape of Europe I’d like to see in the years ahead; smaller government, more flexible institutions, accountable local government, and I pointed to Singapore as a conspicuous success. I didn’t need to look so far; Slovenia has achieved a lot for a similarly small country half the… Continue reading “Swing, swing together” – Slovenian Boating Song

Train Thinking

Yesterday’s post was about travelling by train in rural Ireland some fifty years ago. Yesterday I was actually travelling by train across Austria and into Slovenia.

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Categorised as Travel

Don’t Expect The Orient Express

It is hard to convey how much pleasure I take in train travel. I think it may be because I didn’t get much exposure to it as a child, although the Dublin – Belfast line passed close to Grangebellew (by Mrs Kelly’s excellent snipe bog, shooting by permission and always granted).

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Categorised as Family, Travel

Something Serious

A rudimentary grasp of the history of Ireland gives at least some idea of the schism convulsing the Muslim world.