THE CASE OF THE FARCE AT THE BARRIER One day in the 70’s I was faced with yet another typically Irish question, equally stupid, but highly charged, It was at the height of the bombing campaign by the IRA. I was telephoned from Head Office to be told that bombs were ‘on all the bridges’.… Continue reading The Northern Ireland Troubles, 2
The Northern Ireland Troubles, 1
ANOTHER IRISH QUESTION In the 40’s, you would have thought Ireland was nearer Australia than Britain for all the majority of the residents of Britain knew about the place and, I’m afraid, I fell squarely into that category too, when I was dispatched there by the Navy in ’42. In fact I knew more about… Continue reading The Northern Ireland Troubles, 1
The Russian Syndrome, a proposition
When one has been trapped in the home, either through weather conditions, injury, or both, one starts to wonder if there is not a solution to our weather problems. The media have been full of criticism of the various authorities responsible for transport and roads, and quoting their views on the Russian example. I was… Continue reading The Russian Syndrome, a proposition
1950 – , Local government, 4
SMOKE TEST No 1 There had been a complaint of rats in the lower part of the Ormeau Road area in Belfast and it was laid squarely at the door of the Sewerage Section. Sam, a plumber, was sent to investigate and decided that he needed a smoke test. I have always found it strange… Continue reading 1950 – , Local government, 4
1950 – , Local Government,Part3
A real event – dramatised I ‘m a bricklayer who has been instructed to examine the main drainage culvert beneath the quiet dark streets of our sleeping city. All afternoon a joiner and two men have been erecting a temporary sluice gate they call a stank to hold back the waters of the whole city… Continue reading 1950 – , Local Government,Part3
1950 – , Local Government Part 2
WHAT GOES ON BENEATH OUR FEETGoing up pipes, down manholes, through tunnels and into dark dank corners, beneath the sea, beneath the earth, deep or shallow, in compressed air or in sludge, was ever the lot of the inspection engineer. Fear of being faced by a mother rat the size of a cat, protecting her… Continue reading 1950 – , Local Government Part 2
1950 – ,Local Government, Part 1
WORKING FOR THE COUNCIL I am firmly of the opinion, in spite of all that is said and apparently proven to the contrary, that a well run Council beats Central Government hands down for efficiency, economy and compassion. You may laugh, especially when I am using my experience in the much-maligned Belfast City Council as… Continue reading 1950 – ,Local Government, Part 1
1950 – Excentrics and excentricities
I later joined the Housing Trust, which is now called the Housing Executive, I joined what could only be described as a happy band. Like all offices there were minor frictions, departments were often at loggerheads and there were the usual petty office jealousies, but by and large I looked forward to going to work.… Continue reading 1950 – Excentrics and excentricities
1950 – ,The helmet diving coures
In the Admiralty, people were trained as an Inspection Divers, capable of examining structures either old or under construction under water. I am believe the course at the Diving school at Chatham was intended to put the fear of God into us which it nearly did. We had to learn to dive in those old… Continue reading 1950 – ,The helmet diving coures
1950- , Civil Engineering, The Runway Job 4
MORE LESSONS I LEARNED I learned never to say right when it could be misconstrued. It was early morning and I needed to examine the surface water system of the old runway. The chainman and his sidekick had been struggling to get an old manhole cover off and once again I forgot what had been… Continue reading 1950- , Civil Engineering, The Runway Job 4