Norn Iron

[Dot]

Bridie,

I hope you had a good Christmas and weren't snowed in.

I do feel sorry for all those who have had burst pipes and also those who have had no water for some time.
There are people living not too far from me who are having to queue up for water and may have to use one
of the local leisure centres in Belfast if they need a shower.

I see on news tonight that Scottish Water has sent a supply of bottled water across to try and ease the situation.

[Dot]

I wonder what people make of this story.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12088871

[BrigitDoon]

Seems unduly harsh. I suppose he was only trying to get a roof over his head instead of freezing to death.

[Josef]

That's outrageous. Completely fecking outrageous.

Two six month sentences? For that?

[Bridie]

Is there any homeless shelters in Belfast Dot?
There's none down here mainly due to the fact that there doesn't seem to be any homeless people - I think.

On another less but nevertheless outrageous note I read a quote in the local paper about people queuing up for water in Fermanagh and someone complaining - rightfully - that they weren't getting enough supplies - they had small children hadn't washed for days etc
Well some numpty or spokesperson from NIW came up with this gem for an official reply.
"Most people are happy with what we're doing (wrong)... we're doing our best..... you always get one contrary person spoiling it for others "

and that was it

I'm living in Father Ted land

[Doorstop]

That's outrageous. Completely fecking outrageous.

Two six month sentences? For that?

Agreed .. complete overkill .. borderline Victorian punishment for what amounted to a completely victimless crime of necessity.

[Dot]

Bridie,

Unfortunately I don't know much at all about the homeless situation in N.I.
I know there are organisations like the Simon Community and some churches who are involved in helping
people. I think there are a few hostels in Belfast near the city centre and also in other locations further out.

I did find this recent article which may or may not be of interest.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/commu ... 25574.html

[Dot]

Looks like Laurence MacKenzie's (ex-water chief exec in N.I.) past is catching up on him.
I see in today's paper it says he was convicted of embezzling £2,000 from a church in Thurso while he
worked as a junior bank teller in the 1980's.
After the incident the RBS sacked MacKenzie and made an ex-gratia payment of around £3,000 to the church.

Wonder if he had to show a C.V. when he went to work at Northern Ireland Water.
Believe he worked for Northern Ireland Electricity for a while before that.

[Dot]

You can forget the banks and unemployment.
I think this has to be one of the worst stories shown on the news yesterday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12264415

[Dot]

This has to be one of the luckiest escapes ever.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12471762

[Bridie]

We are a refuge

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12998760

[Bridie]

Dot or anyone?
Did you see the debate last night with the political candidates?
I know zilch all about present day Norn Irish politics and like all politician in any country, I take them with a pinch of salt but it was funny to see the verbal scrapping between two of them that sounded like two kids in a playground.

[Dot]

Bridie,

I have only just looked at this thread and didn't see the programme though I can well imagine the carry on.
I was out the country for a few days in April and only got back late on Tuesday 26th.
Short break to visit my son in Manchester.

[Dot]

Three sets of ballot papers combined with a cold miserable day when it rained off and on.
I reckon there will be a few spoiled votes and a poor turnout at the polling stations.

[Dot]

I hear that the N.I. elections were a bit of a shambles.
Wet voting slips (it seems they had to send out for hairdryers), staff locked out of their computers in some
areas and a table which collapsed.

Where else in the UK would this be allowed to happen?
No wonder we are something of a laughing stock with all this carry on.