... and all I got was this lousy power-sharing executive.Well, I wasn't, but a lot of people I'm aware of, have met, have socialised with, were part of the militant Republican movement.The war was declared over some years back. Now the British overlords have confirmed that the transition to mainstream political activity is complete.I suppose there wasn't much time left for Martin McGuinness (see pic, far right) to be holding IRA council meetings since his day job as Deputy First Minister to Ian Paisley and Mr Iris Robinson (who himself was a terrorist in his day, as the people of Clontibret can testify, see pic below) takes up so many hours.But today's final nail in the Provo coffin must be hard to bear for some of the ground level volunteers - the people who took a guerilla war to what...
Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein, his fellow Chuckle Brother, said:"Obviously there's a lot of interest in the work I have been doing with Ian Paisley in the course of the last ten months," he said at Stormont. I think I have to say it's been a remarkable and unique experience.""I think many of you will know I had a very dim view of Ian Paisley prior to the 26th March last year (when Sinn Fein and the DUP agreed to share power) and I suppose he even had a dimmer view of me if we are to be truthful about all of this.""But we managed to work together on a deal brokered by Ian Paisley and leader of my party Gerry Adams and we developed a positive and constructive working relationship within the Office of First and Deputy First Minister."Bertie Ahern, of Fianna Fail, and Taoiseach of the Irish...
Yes, it's been a while.Sorry about that.I was busy though, if that helps.During my blogging mini-hiatus, I became aware of the following facts, which I will offer to you without further comment:1. Ryanair claim to be the world's 'on-time' airline, but they only achieve their on time targets by adding forty minutes to the scheduled journey, to account for the fact that they are invariably a half hour late leaving.2. If people try to kill you by blowing themselves up near to you, chances are that they are determined enough for another of them to try a second time. Change jobs, up your security and leave the country. Don't hang around for an election you won't live to see.3. We's all in big economic doo-doo now. I expect housing to fall calamitously in price in 2008, especially in...
In
parenthood,
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Christmas,
ryanair,
novel,
oil,
texting,
Babies,
hogmanay,
ian paisley,
martin mcguinness
The world, with its constant ability to astound and amaze with wonderful ironies, has managed an absolute beauty of the genre this week.The sectarian leaders overseeing the internecine bloodbath in Iraq have sought the help of Sinn Fein and the DUP in learning to overcome their differences.Yes, when you find yourself embroiled in a bloody conflict between two communities who look the same, speak the same and worship the same God in marginally different ways, the people you need to help find a way out of the horror are obviously those who managed to sustain an identical conflict for three decades past its sell-by date!Getting advice on creating peace from Martin McGuinness is like getting lessons in bedside manners from Dr Harold Shipman. And being tought about mutual respect and...