I had a good friend who, while I was "in school", did time in the Maze (not for being a terrorist I might add). When he came out we did a comparison of our lives. The main difference was that, I got 3 weekends a term at home, he did not. Other than that, not a lot of difference between the general restrictions and discipline at CAI and the Maze .

Mind you, as I say, he was in there for "non political" reasons so he did not have it as hard as some.

They made it hard for themselves, those so-called "Hard Men"!

And yet ... I wonder if you've noticed (the recent news) that us tax-payers have just blown £ 30 million on an enquiry into how one of the evil [censored] was killed whilst inside. Was it an inside job? Well, I hope so (at least a couple of quid of my tax-money was well spent in that case).

Ah yes, Coleraine. I seem to recall the place. Hopefully a bit more pleasant these days than it was when I was last there. But, there again, recent news from there is not so nice either. Some things don't really change much it seems (or people, any way).

Billy "mad dog" Wright, I have rarely considered assassination to be a valid political tool...... but there are exceptions.

30M seems a bit steep for any enquiry mind you.

I too am perplexed by the seeming increase in the level of agro back in NI. I read the BBC news (on the web) most days and it seems to me that things are not going so well. I live in hope however that these last "hold outs" will be brought to book.

I'm sorry, Mate ... but as far as I'm concerned the "troubles are over" mush is (was) just another self-serving bit of spin by that bloke who has just been doing the rounds trying to flog his book. What's his name again? No, please don't bother to remind me.

Although "they" can try to keep a lid on things (as they do, at great cost, no doubt), as long as the tinder wood is still in place (and, of course, it does remain), it only takes a spark to ignite it.

Traitors are still traitors (and murderers are still murderers), however much "they" fiddle about with the laws.

Not sure I take quite such a black view as you here Geoff, I actually think that by far the majority want an end to all of this and to move forward in peace to whatever political end may come.

There are however those who will never give up the gun (for from the barrel comes power) and those who will pretend to play the political game while making other moves in the background.

Are the "troubles" over, well, not really but, thanks in large part to the person whose name you cannot bring yourself to speak, progress HAS been made and NI is in a better place than it has been for a long long time. Perfect? no, free of violence and thuggery? no, better than it was 20 years back? certainly.

"Working parts are last to leave the SLR for cleaning, as that way the weapon can still be fired. Gas plug, spring and rod are last back in."

Oh, those were the days! And I've still good the bruised cheek to prove it (only joking, folks).

PS: as everyone who was there knows, we could have sorted it all out in pretty short order. But (as always), the "political will" just wasn't there. There are other (too many, unfortunately) examples of that kind of thing. But I'll cite one other:- Zimbabwe.

Not sure I understand that reference but........

Oh, bugger that edit function Geoff, makes replies difficult. Anyway..

.. um, I think that is called murder no matter which "side" you are on. There is this thing called "due process" and it is VERY important if inconvenient some times.


Rain on the roof (a rare thing at this time of year 'round these parts) so I'm of to bed. Monday looms.

More tomorrow if you wish. Dave

The SLR was a battlefield weapon, and not really suited to the "urban warfare" scenario you've (unwittingly, perhaps) reminded me of.

Enjoy the rain. That must remind you of Home, surely?

Yes ... I couldn't agree more about "due process" (and the subsequent humbling of those who believed they were above all that). In fact, I'm looking forward to seeing "that bloke" in cuffs. That's one of the few reasons I have left for "hanging on", in fact. But, I wonder what "deals" we'll be seeing there, if that does happen? Either way, please make it soon!