READING: Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom

T.E. Lawrence
Seven Pillars of Wisdom
1926 (Vintage edition with introduction by Robert Fisk 2007)

The ur-text of Middle Eastern war reporting and top of the reading list for US Army officers during the last war in Iraq.

At the beginning of Lawrence of Arabia, the celebrated 1962 biopic very loosely based on Seven Pillars, a young reporter approaches Allenby [former commander in chief of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force and Lawrence’s paymaster] for a few words at Lawrence’s memorial service. “More words?” Allenby retorts, disdainfully.

After battling through nearly 700 pages of Lawrence’s dense and flowery recollection of his role in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Turks in World War I, I can quite understand the sentiment – but what words!

My 2007 Vintage edition of Seven Pillars displays a neat endorsement by Winston Churchill on the back cover, calling it one of “the greatest books ever written in the English language”. He added: “As a narrative of war and adventure it is unsurpassable.”

As a narrative of adventure, the landscapes, characters and language Lawrence brought home from the Middle East are even more fantastic and otherworldly than anything Tolkein would later dream up for Middle Earth, and as a narrative of war it is still largely unrivalled.

This edition comes complete with a brisk and rather unsatisfying introduction by Robert Fisk, and the my final few pages dovetailed nicely with the BBC’s two-part documentary The Legacy of Lawrence of Arabia, narrated by former Iraq provincial governor [and current Tory parliamentary candidate] Rory Stewart. Both draw parallels with the Arab Revolt and the insurgency in Iraq, and highlight the continuing importance of the lessons Lawrence brought home from his war in the desert almost a century ago.

NEWS: The Journey's Over...But Not Before One Last Tune!

By MARK McLAUGHLIN
Edinburgh Evening News
12 February 2010

Pair aim 'The Journey's Over' at those who have lost loved ones

IT IS certainly not the cheeriest album you're likely to buy this year.

But Lothian musicians Bruce Birrell and Juliet Nisbet believe they are on to a hit with what they believe to be the very first album of "funeral songs".

And while the pair say the songs from their album The Journey's Over will appeal largely to those who have lost a loved one, they say it could also make a fantastic gift for Valentine's Day.

Bruce, 61, who is from Dalkeith and works for the estates department of Queen Margaret University, said: "Many of the songs are about death but there are also a lot of sentiments in there that would appeal to those with a bit of romance in their heart, which could be very popular at this time of year.

"We didn't set out to write an album of funeral songs but we write from experience. Juliet is in the medical profession so she sees death from a different perspective than most people and some of her lyrics are just beautiful.

"The title song to the album usually brings tears to people's eyes, especially deeply emotional people, but the lyrics have the potential to give comfort to those who have lost, or are about to lose, a loved one."

The pair wrote all 14 songs together, and have released the album under the name Spirit of Love. Nurse Juliet plays guitar and violin and composed the tunes, while Bruce penned some of the lyrics.

The duo's target markets include undertakers, crematoria, solicitors, hospitals, and church and religious groups.

They have also received a request for copies from Premier Christian Radio, in London, and think their album has the potential to make it big in the American "Bible Belt".

Juliet, 47, from Port Seton, said: "Music can be a great comfort to the bereaved and we hope this will be a hit with many people who are mourning a loved one.

"It fills a gap in the market and we're amazed no one seems to have tackled this before."

Juliet has been staff nurse for 28 years, and currently works at Belhaven Hospital in Dunbar as well as part-time at the hospital which cares for elderly patients.

The pair have road tested some of their songs under their other name The Baseliners, which entertains residents at nursing homes, day care centres and hospitals throughout the Lothians. Bruce added: "No-one has ever said the subject matter is morbid. On the contrary, they find the song very uplifting and emotional.

"Although the album has a strong emphasis on coming to terms with grief and loss, our music is also spiritual and romantic. We believe it will be uplifting as well as reassuring. Some of the songs celebrate finding love as well as losing someone dear."

The Journey's Over is available from selected music shops, online at www.spiritoflove.biz or by telephoning 07948-343822 07948-343822 .

INSPIRATION?

* Going Underground - The Jam

* Cemetery Gates - The Smiths

* Living in a Box - Living in a Box

* Light My Fire - The Doors

* Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie

* Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult

* Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin

* Knocking on Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan

* The Great Gig in the Sky - Pink Floyd

* Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum

NEWS: A Fighter at Home and Abroad

HE WAS described as a "true warrior" for his bravery in conflict overseas - but at home he was also known for his fighting prowess in a cage.

Private Sean McDonald, 26, from Currie, who was killed by an explosive in Helmand's Sangin province on Sunday, was also a keen cage fighter who trained at Alba Dornadair mixed martial arts club in Duddingston.

"Alba Dornadair is Gaelic for Scottish Fighter," said Pte McDonald's fighting coach Willie Scott. "The title of our club has never seemed more appropriate following the death of one of our own in battle."

Canadian-born Pte McDonald had trained at the club for more than two years, and was due to fight his fifth competitive match in May. Mr Scott said the match would now be rearranged and staged in his honour.

Mr Scott, 45, added: "Sean had a lot of potential to become a great mixed martial arts fighter.

"When he came to us around two and a half years ago, he had a good competitive record in karate and said he was ready to take his martial arts to the next level.

"You could tell there was something about him from the minute he walked through the door.

"A lot of the guys we see only come here because they want to boast that they're a cage fighter on their Bebo page, but these guys usually don't last five minutes.

"Sean was different. He was very attentive, asked a lot of questions, and then he would go away and practise, practise, practise."

Former Currie High pupil Pte McDonald had already won one of his first four competitive matches, and Mr Scott said he was improving all the time. He added: "Before he went out to Afghanistan he was already talking about leaving the army. He said it was time for a change of career.

"He sent me a link to a YouTube video of a battle he was in, with bombs going off and bullets flying overhead, and it was frightening just watching it so I can't blame him for wanting out.

"He wanted to keep the cage fighting going, and even posted a message on the club forum from Afghanistan talking about how much he was looking forward to the next fight."

Mr Scott was told the news of the explosion by Pte McDonald's mother Jaqueline the day after his death. He said: "She was absolutely devastated, as was his wife Jenny. I've met them before and they are both lovely people, and I can't imagine how they are feeling.

"I was still on a high from a fight night we had at Dalkeith Miners Club on Sunday, when unbeknownst to us Sean was heading to his death in Afghanistan that very same evening.

"We train a lot of different people here from doctors to accountants to policemen as well as several squaddies from 3 Rifles [based at Redford Barracks], many of whom talked about the number of funerals they've been to already in the last few months.

"Out of around 100 students at the club you wouldn't find one who would say a bad word about Sean. He was a good fighter and an all round nice guy."

Several of Pte McDonald's comrades spoke of how frequently he mentioned his love of the extreme fighting sport, even setting up classes at The Royal Scots Borderers' base at Dreghorn Barracks. One friend posted an online video tribute to him at www.youtube.com/watch?vThe short film features clips of Pte McDonald cage fighting, put together as a surprise for him. The friend wrote: "Sadly he never got to see it."

Pte Carl Fisher said: "I will always remember Sean for his storytelling and his love for his wife Jenny and also not to forget his cage fighting. He will be missed dearly."

NEWS: A Death in Afghanistan

By MARK McLAUGHLIN
Edinburgh Evening News
10 February 2010

THE mother of the latest Edinburgh soldier to be killed in Afghanistan said the death of her "baby boy" has left a hole in her heart.

Private Sean McDonald, 26, from Currie, was leading a routine night patrol in the Sangin district of Helmand on Sunday when he was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED).

His commander Corporal John Moore, 22, from Hamilton, was also killed in the explosion.

Private McDonald's mother Jacqueline said: "My son was so proud to be a soldier. He will be desperately missed by all family and friends. This tragedy has left a hole in our lives and a hole in our hearts. Sleep well baby boy."

He also leaves behind his wife Jennifer, his brother Darryle and his sister Ceilidh Spratt.

Both men were serving in The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 Scots) based at Dreghorn Barracks.

They were nearing the end of their six-month tour with 1 Scots Bravo Company, dispatched six months ahead of the rest of their regiment with 3rd Battalion The Rifles (3 Rifles) in October.

Their comrades were due to relieve them early next month.

Bravo Company commander Major Graeme Wearmouth told how, after ten years as a soldier, Private McDonald was "wrestling with his career in the army" and hoped to leave one day to pursue a career in psychology.

The former Currie Community High pupil was also a sportsman, a keen rugby fan, a regular at West Register Street's Penny Black pub, and even trained as a cage fighter with Duddingston's Alba Dornadair mixed martial arts club.

Major Wearmouth added: "He was physically tough and had a real passion for mixed martial arts, especially cage fighting, helping to introduce it at the Battalion when we were in Edinburgh."

Lieutenant Dave Clark, 4 Platoon Commander, said that his physical side was accompanied by a "sharp mind and a quick tongue".

1 Scots commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Herbert said he hoped his wife Jenny could take comfort in the fact that her husband "died a hero, protecting the people of southern Afghanistan, and in doing so helping to protect this country".

He added: "He will be missed, but never forgotten, and I am privileged to have served with him."

Private McDonald was born in Toronto on 5 October, 1983.

He enlisted into the Army aged 16 and, following his training, joined The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) in 2001.

He served on three tours of Iraq, and has also served in Bosnia and Northern Ireland.

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kitson, Commanding Officer 3 Rifles Battle Group, called him "a true warrior and a consummate professional".

He said: "Fearlessly and without hesitation Private McDonald threw himself at the most dangerous and daunting of tasks.

"Time and time again he risked his life for his mates, the mission and better prospects for an oppressed local population."

NEWS: Curry Castastrophe

By MARK McLAUGHLIN
Edinburgh Evening News
9 February 2010

THE future of one of the Capital's best-known curry houses is in doubt after it closed down in the wake of its alcohol licence being suspended.

The award-winning Roti, on Morrison Street, was banned from selling alcohol following two inspections which found fire exits persistently blocked or bolted shut, there were too few exit signs and inadequate toilet facilities.

Roti was once one of the Capital's most prestigious Indian restaurants. However, its founder, top city chef Tony Singh, relinquished control of the business in 2008 in favour of a more modest set-up under cousin Ryan Singh.

The building was inspected shortly after Ryan Singh, dubbed the "Curry King of Glasgow" for his popular west coast restaurant Mr Singh's India, took control in October 2008 and he was ordered to rectify the problems or face losing his licence.

A second inspection in November last year found the problems still outstanding and Roti's owners were called before the licensing board last month to defend their licence.

Convener Marjorie Thomas said: "Nobody turned up and no representations were received so their licence remains suspended."

A member of staff at nearby Accha Oriental Foods, which has supplied Roti in the past, confirmed that the restaurant has been closed for at least two weeks.

It is unclear who currently operates the restaurant.

Although Ryan Singh was publicly named as successor when Tony resigned as chef-director in 2008, the business side of the restaurant actually passed to a pair of Glasgow businessmen who are no longer involved.

Roti also faces being struck off the Companies House register of business after it failed to file its accounts on time.

A Companies House analyst said: "The day after the proposal to strike off was reported in the Edinburgh Gazette someone lodged an objection and the proposal has been suspended for the time being. This basically means someone has an interest in keeping the company going."

Roti was named best Indian restaurant in Scotland at the Scottish Restaurant Awards 2008 during a bumper year for Tony Singh, who also won chef of the year in the Catering in Scotland Excellence Awards and the Scottish Curry Awards.

He still runs the popular Oloroso and Tony's Table restaurants elsewhere in the city.

However, Ryan Singh failed to emulate his cousin's success and Roti failed to secure a nomination in any of the major catering competitions last year.

The trouble at Roti comes on the back of a tough start to the year for Edinburgh restaurants.

Abstract, on Castle Terrace, closed last month after just three years in business,

while award-winning burger chain Wannaburger also closed its High Street branch last month after being sold to Gold Brothers.

Neither Tony nor Ryan Singh could be contacted for comment.

NEWS: The Illumination of History

By MARK McLAUGHLIN
Edinburgh Evening News
8 February 2010

THE Capital could soon be glowing with Georgian splendour once again, with plans to reinstate historical street lighting in the New Town.

Edinburgh World Heritage (EWH) and the council are currently examining old photographs and planning documents to discover what the city's streetlights were like in days of old, with a view to replacing modern concrete posts with replicas of Georgian designs.

Once the research is completed the council will have a bank of classical designs at its disposal whenever a modern streetlight comes to the end of its operational life, and be able to quickly order a Georgian-style replacement.

EWH was inspired by projects in Lynedoch Place and Claremont Street where local residents banded together to restore their streets to their former glory.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell was among the 40 homeowners on Lynedoch Place who helped fund the GBP 30,000 restoration of the street in 2007.

The residents commissioned ten cast iron street lamps, funded by EWH, Edinburgh City Council and local residents - who chipped in around GBP 250 each.

David Hicks, communications manager at EWH, said: "We're not at the stage of discussing costs or which streets are going to be restored yet.

"We're still at the research stage to find out what kind of streetlighting was used in the New Town in the past.

"We want to discover what patterns were used, how they were positioned, whether they were wall-mounted or freestanding, and once this body of research has been done we can use it to refer back to whenever the opportunity to replace a streetlight comes up.

"It would be difficult to say how much each streetlight will cost because they will be made to order.

"It's quite exciting, actually, as the company that manufactured some of the original designs in the late 19th century is still around, still has all of the old moulds and even has some of the original order books so it will be quite easy to call them up and resurrect some of these old patterns."

A council spokesman said: "The council plans to develop a citywide strategy for streetlighting and, in order to inform the process, have asked Edinburgh World Heritage to lead on this historic study."

SHINING A LIGHT ON THE PAST

WROUGHT iron oil lanterns can still be found on Charlotte Square and York Place.

Some cast iron standards that were put up privately still exist on Heriot Row, Queen Street, Ann Street, Howard Place and Northumberland Street.

The committee of Commissioners of Police of the Lighting Department commissioned rail-mounted streetlights with public funding in 1819. There are surviving examples on George Street, Stafford Street, in the Advocates Library and York Place.

Most oil lamps were taken down in the 1820s to give way for new gas lights that were mounted on the pavements. These, however, were inspired by the oil lamps' design.

Edinburgh's street lanterns were powered by whale or train oils in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, giving a rather sparse light, only provided in the winter.

Sir John Carr reported that one July night he had to feel his way from George Square over North Bridge to St Andrew Square.

The oil was also very valuable and versatile, causing Russian sailors to climb the posts and make off with the oil for cooking.

NEWS: Booze Ruck

By MARK McLAUGHLIN
Edinburgh Evening News
5 February 2010

A PUB landlord has branded the police and council killjoys for refusing to let him open early for Scotland's Six Nations rugby opener on Sunday.

The Mercat Bar on West Maitland Street is popular with fans en-route to Murrayfield, many of whom start their festivities early when the rugby comes to town.

However, Sunday's game has caused a headache for Mercat landlord Graham Blaikie, whose licence only permits him to sell alcohol after 12:30pm.

Mr Blaikie applied for a temporary extension on the grounds that the game was an "event of national importance".

Unfortunately, police and the council disagreed and the application was refused.

The city council maintains each case is considered on its merits but trade representatives fear there appears to be a blanket ban on all temporary licences.

Mr Blaikie's patrons will now have less than an hour's drinking time before they have to set off for Sunday's 3pm kick-off.

Mr Blaikie said: "I had hoped the Six Nations would help me recoup some of the money I've lost with having the tram works on my doorstep for the last year.

Police seem to be rejecting every request that's put to them on resource grounds, to the effect that there seems to be a blanket ban on all temporary applications as well now. I don't see how a Sunday game is any different from a Saturday game, where we normally serve beer from 9am."

Before the launch of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 last September, only a handful of premises - such as pool halls, hotel bars and some working men's clubs - were permitted to sell alcohol before 12:30pm on a Sunday.

The council has since faced a deluge of applications for permanent early hours on a Sunday, and has decided to suspend the application process pending a consultation, due to begin on 17 February and take around 12 weeks.

The council maintains that it is still assessing applications for temporary extensions for "events of national importance".

Steve Mudie, president of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said: "We held a meeting of the SLTA last week where the matter was discussed, and I heard similar stories from landlords who have been refused temporary extensions for other events.

"The Six Nations is an important event in Scotland, and particularly in Edinburgh. If a pub in Dunblane was allowed to open at 8am last Sunday because Andy Murray was playing tennis in Australia, why can't a pub in Edinburgh open early when the national team is playing down the road?"

A council spokesman said the licensing board looks at each application on its own merit, and said the reason The Mercat was refused the licence was because "police will be ensuring that the streets and other areas on the ground are being controlled" and that an extra demand would "put a strain on resources".

A police spokesman confirmed objections were raised to the application on the grounds of resource implications and noise and disturbance to neighbouring residents.