The Rant
- A central part of the Scottish character is enjoying a good 'Rant' and this is our visitors' opportunity to do just that and air your own views. You can also send your own Rant to the surfers via the e-mail address provided below.

Current Topics on the Rant are...
Our current annoyances include Call Centres, the state of Edinburgh’s roads and pavements and our extreme annoyance at our dear Chancellor’s ‘prudence’ regarding what is a suitable pension for so many people in our country.

Overseas Call Centres
Call Centres first. At the risk of being called ‘racist’, we all take strong exception to so many call centres being ‘out-sourced’ to countries where English is the second language. We have personal experience of the language difficulties causing complete confusion and delay, to the extent that cheques were cashed before they could be cancelled. Another gripe was trying to ‘phone a local bank (5 minutes’ walk away from home) and being routed THROUGH INDIA, a very pleasant person but again the accent and language difficulties caused undue delay and bad temper. Please can we revert to the ‘old-fashioned’ face-to-face system which made life so much easier and worked so much better – let’s do it!!!

"What About my Bowling Green?"
A special request –‘what about my bowling green?’. For years we played quite happily on our dear familiar green at Harrison. That was closed down and now they have planted trees on what was the green. And the members have never been so happy or settled since. Currently we are playing at a green on the west side of the City where there are so many bare patches ‘there ain’t no satisfaction’ in the play. So could the Recreation Department of the City Council please take this on board.

State of Edinburgh's Roads
And while we are in the mood what about the state of our roads and pavements. The Council Tax rates are surely high enough to have a rolling programme of repairs instead of the last minute patch-up work. Why when road works are under way, do they seem to draw a line at a certain point and no matter what the state of the road beyond that line, no further repairs take place. Throwing a bucket-full of tar into a hole and then tamping it down, just doesn’t work. The tar hardens and shrinks and hey presto there is another hole. And this complaint is not particular to any one area of the City, it is city-wide and there are disruptions and delays practically everywhere. We the Residents of this fair City feel enough is enough – so please please get this sorted out for once and for all and save our sanity.

Youth Crime & Vandalism
Is this down to sheer badness or is it in part down to boredom. We do not for a moment think all kids are ‘bad’ but it is bad news that sells papers and the well-behaved young people do not make headlines. Apart from spray-painting and ‘keying’ parked cars, there is the ongoing and persistent violence. Broken bus-shelters, broken windows, and the awful mugging of vulnerable people often for just small change. We hear so often ‘that there is nothing to do’ – what happened to the Youth Clubs, seasonal games, the many things that used to keep young people interested, occupied and out of malicious mischief.

Community Charges
They just keep going up and up and the poor peasants end up with more for less. Will these charges ever come down or will everyone keep on paying higher and higher charges for reducing vital services. An explanation as to how this money is allocated might be helpful. And if our councillors are awarded the proposed £25,000 salary just where will all that money come from.? We personally take umbrage – a very great deal of umbrage – at this situation just like we believe almost every citizen in the country will do when the new rates are confirmed.

Ready to Rant...?
You can share your views with us on the topics listed or start your own rant by sending us an e-mail to info@edinburghsilversurfers.co.uk