Showing posts with label Scottish Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scottish Football. Show all posts

Tuesday 17 October 2023

Getting Shirty


I noticed a man crossing the park this morning with his dearly beloved, he was wearing a Manchester United football shirt, this just before 9 am.  Here we are, 350 miles from Manchester, and a typical Man U fan is seen!  I'll bet this creature has never lowered himself to enter the local teams stadium to watch them in action.  A connection to the local side appears less welcome than following a side whose ground you have never visited!  
This irks me.
Some years ago, delivering post up the Ridgeway, I noticed a 10 year old wearing a similar shirt.  His dad told me he supported Ipswich, which makes sense as it is quite local and once was a top side, and he may well have originated from that area.  But the kid was influenced by tv as so many are.
My football influence came from my dad, reading about the Hearts and wanting to play football constantly, even if rubbish at it.  A dozen years of wandering about Scotland in all weathers, mostly wet, following a side with less hope of success than an ice cube in the Sahara.  But this is what the fan does, and they still do.  Those days have gone and the chances of ever seeing Edinburgh again diminish daily, but the club is still in my life.  Not so important as it once was, real life now dominates, but if they win or lose I feel it.  The long distance fan who has rarely seen his team in action cannot comprehend the life of a true fan, it is not possible.  Anyway, next year his shirt will change colour and he will follow another.
Which brings me to thankfulness for Scotland qualifying in marvellous fashion for the Euros in Germany next year.  Win, lose or draw matters not.  We are again amongst the elite, this is where we ought to be as only by playing amongst the best can we improve.  Steve Clark, much unsung by the Glasgow mafia, has led his side to success and looks good for more.  Congratulations and applause for him.
Hopefully he will take on the Heart of Midlothian job afterwards...

Tuesday 26 September 2023

Tech Troubles and Mental People.

 


Another day, another day of tech troubles.
'Viaplay,' a Norwegian company, took over some Scottish football.  Yet more cash to be laid out.   A few months ago they decided they and their owners, were going bust, therefore changes must be made.  Now, the present season of games has been paid for up front, therefore these will continue, however, what happens next season?  Will this company exist?  Will Scottish games be covered?  We do not know.
However, an email arrived informing me that my account will run out on 5th October.  So, I looked at the account, following all the instructions, decided to change things and amend the out of date debit card, and nothing happened!
I pressed the buttons, nothing changed.
Several times I went through this, following instructions, and nothing changed, no response.
In the end I left it as it is.
When the time comes to pay for the next year I will be unable to as the card is out of date and they will not let me change it.  Nor indeed would the system accept a change to 'Paypal' either.  This means I will let it die, and if I can get it to work, I will amend the details and resign in on a monthly pay, via 'Paypal,'  so that if the football stops I can dump it.  If, that is, they let me sign in anew.
No wonder this company has money worries...


This is as exciting as life gets at the moment.  The Covid experience has not quite left, and it is beginning to drag.  However, others suffer worse.  The lass at the checkout got Covid in 2020, was on breathing equipment, almost died, and now suffers 'Long Covid.'  There are many like her, yet this government refuses to accept this is true, refuses free tests for Covid, and there is no way of reporting such a disease anywhere.  No wonder they could not make HS2 work!


Is Suella Braverman mentally unbalanced?
Discuss.


Friday 4 August 2023

Edinburgh

 

The rain hammering past the window, reminded me that this is the start of the 'Edinburgh Fringe Festival,' something I never attended.  Edinburgh's changeable weather will not stop a billion people descend on the city, obstructing the streets, hindering people going about their business, and scaring the locals into taking a holiday in far away places, like Berwick on Tweed or Peebles.  Indeed, the locals always make for the hills rather than endure the crush of southern softies blethering about their pitiful 'art.'  
In my say, when colour had not yet been introduced to the city, the Festival proper got under way and we all ignored it.  This was because it was too highbrow for many, or just too expensive.  Today, I might be tempted by some of what is pon offer there.  The 'Fringe' grew up later, London actors, theatre companies, comedians, perverts and hangers on, all came to Edinburgh and tried to become an overmnight success.  Some did.  Others failed, some failed yet became a success.  Paul Merton is one, he is renown for his TV and radio appearances and happy to admit that in Edinburgh he was fired twice in one night, his act being so poor. 
I wonder if I would bother about the 'Fringe' now?  I almost went back in the day, but somehow it just did not happen.  Did I miss anything?  I had other things on my mind then, but maybe I ought to have looked in anyway.  Today, I just could not be bothered.
Anyway, I am glad I do not need to fight the crowds there, tourists are bad enough.
 

Proper football begins tomorrow, well one begins tonight actually.  The league business begins, anger, bad referees, bad tackles, managers sacked, venom, shooting, crossing, rain, wind and fire, all in every game, big or small.  I canny wait!
By the time last season eventually ended I was sick of football.  Far too many games, and the play-offs just went on too long.  This season ends and a competition of some sort begins, world cup or Euro's, I know not which.  There are so many competitions these days I don't know what half of them are now.
But tnight, an exciting Arbroath v Dundee United will grip the nation!  Especially as the wind and rain are gtting up and the North Sea is a mere ten yards form the pitch!  It will be grand.

Wednesday 21 June 2023

Long Night, Long Day


Another tiring day.  
Struggled to wake this morning, forced myself up, and breakfasted on a stale roll.  Some folks have less than this of course.  I cogitated on the day and decided I wished it to be a restful one, except of course I had the parcel to post.  Another birthday, another waddle down to the Post Office at the corner shop, I go there because the young lady always smiles at me, unlike the miserable dragons at what laughingly, is the main Post Office in town.  So, sun cream applied, desert hat on head, off I hobbled.  
There is a wind at the moment but the sun was about 70% as I headed east.  I could feel it on my face, in spite of the hat, and my absurd appearance meant several vans and cars slowed down to let me cross the road when required.  They needed the laugh I suppose.
After this my day was over.  Groomed and fed I just dozed away for a while.
This is the Longest Day, and the sky has been bright since very early, which I did not see.


The reason for the sloth this morning was easy to find.  Last night I began to watch Scotland playing Georgia, a 7:45 kick off time.  However, before the game began there had been an almighty cloudburst and 6 days worth of heavy rain fell in a couple of hours.  Now, major football grounds have systems to remove rainwater falling during a game, this was too much for Hampden however, and some decisions had to be made before the game went ahead.  
In spite of Michael Stewart constantly referring to having played in worse, which was a lie, the water was forming huge puddles, the ball did not run, bounce or flow, there was indeed now ay to play in such circumstances.
UEFA however insisted the game went ahead.
Players splashed about in dire conditions, Scotland even scored a goal, but the ref then left the field and we began well over two hours of debate as to whether the game ought to continue, or be abandoned and play again the next night in Paisley.  Any sensible person would play the next night.
UEFA insisted the game continued.
So we saw the ground staff, ball boys, volunteers aplenty attempt to brush the excess water from the field.  Eventually, well after 9:15 pm the game restarted.  Georgia were far from pleased, and quite rightly, and they were even more unhappy when Scotland scored a second goal and eventually ran out winners by 2-0.
The game finished at 11:20 pm, at lest what I made it, the crowd had remained throughout, they had paid their tickets and no information was forthcoming thanks to UEFA, and many a child was late for school this morning, many a man was asleep at work, and all considered it worth while.
During the waiting time the announcer played music over the Tannoy.  Above we see the list of songs played, many enthusiastically supported by the crowd joining in.  'Don't let it rain on me,' by a Glasgow group, the favourite of the night.


Tuesday 20 June 2023

Allsorts Today

 


After a very tiring day, I actually had to work again, I sat down to scribble something of great note.  However, just as I did this I realised there was football on the TV, or at least on this 'Viaplay' nonsense, an organisation that demands money so you can see your country playing football!  England, you will note, can see their team on terrestrial TV, why not Scotland?  Anyway, we were not playing, that is tonight, but my tired mind was happy to watch whoever was kicking lumps out of one another.  This meant I scribbled nothing.
The walk to Kirk on Sunday, then the shopping early Monday, a desire to lose weight pushed aside by a desire to make oatmeal biscuits, which turned out no bad, wrapping a parcel for the niece, followed by a rather stupid determination to weed the front wore me out.  This was harder than I imagined.  I ache all over now.  Still, the front is cleared, the biscuits are acceptable, the diet is still on as everything else appears to be vegetable today.    
Today however, my mind is still tired, I am doing nothing of any importance, and time for connecting to the real world has returned.  However, I then look at the real world and wish the football would start.
Last night the house of Commons voted by 354 'Ayes' to 7 'Noes' to accept the recommendation of the House committee to declare that Boris Johnson had lies to the House.  128 Tory MPs voted for the motion, 7 against.  The rest ran away and hid from their responsibilities.  This included our pretend PM Rishi Sunak.  His style of leadership meant he did not appear in the House all day.  Surely this is unacceptable.  The result means Boris is out on his ear officially now, and the joy remains amongst all decent people everywhere.  
Today the right wing press, do we have anything else? ignored the result and splashed a tale of a sunken mini submarine hunting the Titanic.  This is a glory trip for those willing to pay £195,000 to be taken 13,000 feet down to view the wreck.  However, they have not resurfaced, contact is lost, and we will all be aware that rescue is impossible in such circumstances.  
The truth is of course that the right wing press may fear the loss of a Billionaire aboard the craft, but they mostly wish to detract from Boris's defeat last night, anything will do.  
Apart from the thunderstorms that have come up from the south, watering the front and encouraging more weeds to sprout, little else appears to be happening.  It remains warm and sultry, rather like in the tropics, but without the parrots, snakes and beasties.  A few flies and moths at night attracted to the light.  
Nothing much else is happening, although some fuss is being made about cricket.  But we don't care about that, do we...?   
So, it has been 'Allsorts Today,' with little of any use to man nor beast.  
At least I did not ruin your teeth...
 


Sunday 7 May 2023

Willie Collum Does it Again for His Team

 


Another Heart of Midlothian v Celtic game, another example of Willie Collum's deliberate bending of the rules to benefit his team.  Yet again he takes his teams side. This is not new, I make it six penalties he gave in seven games against us, none of which were penalties, and add to this several non red cards which he decided were red and has shown against this club, and he has gone one better today.  Sitting far from home in Glasgow he has made use of VAR to force the referee in today's game to send off a Heart of Midlothian player for no reason.  A foul, if it was a foul was committed, a yellow card shown, if that was required, and the  Willie demands a red, because that is what he does!
Had I been the boss at Tynecastle I would have taken the players from the field and sued both Willie and the SFA for the cheating we have endured.  This is not new, I have seen this as far back as the early 60s when Gordon Marshall was also treated badly by a Glasgow referee.  The 'Old Firm' have always had the refs in their pocket.  Today, ought to have been time for action.  The cowards at the Heart of Midlothian board will fail to react, once again. 

Wednesday 29 March 2023

Scotland Returns, Forbes Withdraws, and Prices Rocket


Last night Scotland deservedly beat Spain by 2 - 0 in their second game of the European Championship Qualifying stage.  This was not a shock result, this was the result of an ongoing process carried out by manager Steve Clark, a process that has had it's ups and down's over the period he has been in charge.  Scotland, the nation that not only invented the game of 'Football,' but developed the Laws of the game as they now stand, alongside the 'Scientific Football,' that saw them dominate the game before the Great War, has been through a tough time recently.  Until Steve Clark took charge Scotland were on the way down in football levels, last night they revealed the results of hard work and team discipline which combined with decent tactics and the always required luck, saw them return to the world stage, a stage they have not appeared on since at least 1998.
There has been moments when things looked like they may improve, only for them to fall down all around us.  Individual players of quality have appeared occasionally, but sadly too many lacked the quality, the managers the tactics, and hope that rose soon dissipated.  Questions can always be asked regarding how some players or managers obtained their place, eyes always glaring in the Glasgow direction at such times, but today is not the time for recriminations today is the time for hope and encouragement.  Hope that a renovation of the Scottish League to suit all sides rather than two will occur.  Hope that clubs can develop young players, especially those who are capable of making it overseas in places such as Italy.  Encouragement for those already involved, in spite of their obvious limitations, to continue to give all and develop on the field individually and together.  This is a time of hope, at last Scotland can look forward into the football future with hope, much development still is required, but as a man once said, "This is not the end, but it is the end of the beginning," or something...


Humza is swearing in himself and his new cabinet as we speak.  Each will have been carefully chosen to support the cabal that has undone the independence debate over the last few years.  To begin with offering Kate Forbes a lowly job at 'Rural Affairs' can only be seen as an insult.  Her supporters are also beginning to turn down the low jobs offered them.  This cannot be the way to unite the SNP.  What this man has done is to force half the SNP people who voted for Kate to one side as if unimportant.  This politically is dangerous as they will then gather around her and Ash Regan, we have no idea if she has been offered a post as yet, and form a powerful opposition to Humza within the party.  This sort of behaviour make the SNP look like the Conservatives and can only lead to disaster.  Maybe we can ask again regarding Special Branch operations with the SNP?

 

I came across this on Twitter this morning, 'Which' offering an idea of the rise in prices at the major supermarkets.  As they say, Aldi and Lidl remain cheapest, but still it gives a good indication of rising costs. 
I noticed this as I scrutinised my bread in Tesco after reading this.  The fancy type of bread I like, instead of the 'Plain Loaf' variety, now costs either £2:25 or £2:40, according to taste.   It was not that long ago it cost £1:60 or £1:80.  Now Brexit is too blame indeed, other factors such as rising energy prices, transport costs, slight wage increases must all be taken into account, but for me the real reason prices increase is greedy supermarkets!  They have us all on the end of a lead.  There is little opposition to a large supermarket, other than a large supermarket.  In my reach lie Sainsburys and Tesco, up till now Tesco were cheaper, but lately they have been catching up with the crooks at Sainsburys.  There is a Lidl up the road, too far to walk these days, but I never found them cheaper anyway.    
Now I can survive this, I simply do not spend on what I can no longer afford, I buy the cheapest stuff if required to.  Some however, suffer.  Gas prices like electric are doubling for me, or at least so they say, what may happen will no doubt be different, and many will struggle to cope.  Many of these will be working people at that.
Remove the government where the PM pays less tax than the workers, where MPs line their pockets on second jobs, and bring in a government of the people, for the people.  Hold on, I see a problem here.  The opposition do not know what a woman is, they have no policies bar getting the 'red wall' votes, and Keir Hardie is turning in his grave at what they have done to the workers.  Maybe an election is not the way forward after all...?

Saturday 4 March 2023

Urgent Football

 

I had planned a very good post for today.
However, I watched Dundee United v Aberdeen instead...


Thursday 13 October 2022

Nothing to Say with all this Football

 

Nothing to say.
Too much European football to watch.
Too much housework to do.
Too much food to stuff down and regret.
 


Thursday 1 September 2022

A Torpor Day

 


I have been in the Island of Torpor for the past few weeks.  A virus has limited my energy, given me one uncomfortable night, and left me brain dead.  Some of course would question the last bit by asking "How can you tell," but I ignore these people.  Little has been done in my ken, not helped by little stimulation in the world around us.  With a pretend PM pretending to PM, and two hopeless pretending replacements mouthing to the Tory gallery (Omitting the bit about selling off the NHS which almost all of their listeners require), and holiday season meaning everyone else is away leaves no interest for us.
I could inform you of the goings on at Dundee United, the 'Courier' podcast is indeed very good.  I could inform you of the trials and tribulations at the Heart of Midlothian, the 'Scarves around the Funnel' podcast is also good.  There again I could speak, again, of a trip to Sainsburys late last night for bread and exhaustion, but I will forego that.  
Today the torpor was interrupted by having to post the one year olds 1st birthday card, repost neighbours mail that came to us, and dump the rubbish bag.  Such excitement!  
This however, was at least accompanied by the arrival, again, of the Ambulance Helicopter.  The Big Orange One landed over the road, missing the parks occupants, and quickly gathered a crowd of onlookers.  These were not voyeurs seeking to watch the sick, merely folks interested in the sight of such a flying machine so close by them.  Indeed, a noisy flying machine at that.  


Such beasts often cross our airspace.  The Ambulance often accompanied by an even more noisy police one, usually late at night with glaring searchlight, and often the idle rich pass over in their private, possibly self piloted machines.  Depending on orders we also catch many Apache helicopters on army manoeuvres, as well as the even noisier Chinooks, those great big and very useful American built machines.  Of course we will not mention the 'escaping fuel' problem, one which caused over 400 US machines to be grounded will we?  No.  At least they do not have prestigious aircraft carriers that break down because someone forgot to 'grease the propeller shaft do they?  Tsk!


Friday 6 May 2022

Friday Frippary

The tingle in my toe indicates I sit around too much, similar tingles in my fingers indicate repetitive strain injury caused by too much time playing solitaire working on this laptop.  Therefore more walking and exercise is required, but this aches the knees, it doesn't do much for the back either.  However, this morning I crossed the park, wandered the long way, that is another five minutes, through the town, and limped home hungry for lunch.
This afternoon I returned the empty beer vinegar bottles to the recycling bins at the supermarket, with great difficulty.  For a start the bag appeared heavy for some reason, and the actual bins had not been emptied.  The lids were bursting open, bags crammed with bottles lay all around, beer bottles, wine bottles, spirits of many kind bottles, all stood to attention awaiting disposal in amongst the discarded plastic bags and broken chips of glass that always lies everywhere here.  At least people are trying to recycle and save the planet.  
Having added my bag to the flock I meandered towards the bank, took cash from the 'Hole in the Wall,' and marvelled at how easy this was.  In times past Scots banks were not keen on customers, after all, they had work to do, so they opened at 9:30, closed for an hour at lunchtime, and closed again to the public at 3:30. These are all ideal times for the man in the street to make use of a bank!  Today I just inserted the card, pressed numbers, pressed another couple of buttons and money appeared from the wall. This is great!  
I wonder who the card belonged to?
Anyway, I hobbled down the road passing many mum's returning the kids from the schools, crossed the park once again and amazingly sat on a bench to enjoy the warmth of the day!  It was heading towards 70ish degrees today.  Short sleeves abounded, women putting their noses in the air expecting all men to admire them, I look the other way to annoy them, all around the unexpected relief that summer might be nearing.  Ha!  I thought it was getting cloudy now, the weather man has promised rain tonight!  Typical.

 
 
Sadly the local elections turned out to be disappointing for us all.  While the Tories lost heavily it was clear they did not lose heavily enough.  Worse, many continued to vote for them, in spite of the mess they are leaving us.  Labour have done well in Scotland, but elsewhere they have gained many local seats but not enough to encourage hope in a general election.  Boris may yet try for an early general election if he thinks he will gain enough of a winning margin.  I doubt this however.  There again there was not sufficient displeasure amongst the faithful to call for his removal, but underneath the ground is shifting.
 
 
My day of excitement will end with the second leg of Inverness Caledonian v Partick Thistle tonight.  The play-off time is here again and always to be welcomed.  The first legs are not always so enjoyable, however, when the game is there to be won in the second leg it gets interesting.  These are good games to watch.  However, not all is good in Scottish football, last nght the blue bigots won through to the final of a European competition.  This is sad news to me.  The last thing we need is the sectarian pair getting more cash, they will waste it on themselves and continue to spurn Scottish football. This is not a good moment for Scotland.
 

Sunday 26 December 2021

Boxing Day 2021

 

The problem with having Christmas Day on Saturday is that many folk think Sunday is a Monday.  I am convinced some folks were half way to work this morning before remembering what the day was.  For many others the presence of family or friends, and maybe the weight of over indulgence proved too much for them as few indeed arrived at the Kirk this morning.  The teeming rain did not help either. 
However, we gathered, sung several songs badly, and without the technicians being available we had to read the words out off a book rather than view them on screen.  This has not happened for so long some among us had forgotten how to read!  It was clear we had all forgotten how to sing.
 
 
Soon enough I was back home, the shepherds and angels remaining behind while I indulged myself in roast potatoes, not black like yesterday, and a chicken concoction far too big for me.  However, with some effort I managed, and washed this down with Plum Vodka.  A bit strong with the cloves dear! 
Then Joy!  The Heart of Midlothian game against Ross County was available and I was able to shout abuse at the TV director for failing to do his job properly once again.  Why does he spend so much time looking at the back of players heads?  Just watch the game mate!  Surely this is the easiest job in TV, why make it hard?  Anyway, we won of course, so that provided more cheer.  Now, lying ahead of me are two more games on Now TV via SKY.  It is so hard deciding whether to watch here or go and watch from my bed...
 

Two days holiday now follow.  This is time for the wrapping paper, empty boxes, the ones without cats sitting in them, and other assorted rubbish, including that strange uncle that comes only at Christmas to be discarded, recycled or dumped.  Peace and quiet, unless the kids are still around, and a time for sleeping off excess now arrives.
I hope your Christmas has been a good one, Jesus is still here, no longer a baby but a King, talk to him, he will listen.  He even arranges a driver when the rain is falling, or at least he did for me today anyway.  
You do realise that this time next year will be a new year?  Jings!
 
 

Saturday 23 October 2021

Disappointment at Football and Cricket

 

The great day has come!
Today I was going to beat UEFA and their absurd rules to watch the Hearts play Dundee by the magic of VPN!
Opera was switched on, VPN selected, switched on, set to 'Americas,' and the Hearts PPV site found.
All good.
I 'clicked' the usual places, went through the process and ....hold on, why ask for money again?  Normally I click the right spot, the cash goes through, and we are in.  Today they wanted the details and an address!  ooer misus!  I do not have an address in the 'Americas.'
I had no choice but to use my address, the one that fits the card.
No go!  'Card not valid.'
Twice!
Not the VPN fault, but the magic payment card!
I expect to be questioned now by Lloyds Bank!
So, instead of the proper game I found myself watching cricket again.
How disappointing!
 
 
Dissapointing is the word.
Unfortunately, I found myself watching the end of the West Indies feeble stand against England.  Feeble is not the word.  They left England with a need to find 56 runs to win!  56!  I found myself asking "When did the West Indies turn into Scotland?"
Now I suspect money is at the root of this.  Not money in cricket, but money in football!  In times past West Indians were all for cricket, however, the number of Jamaicans, Trinidadians and others who have made it to play in Europe at the top level, earning vast sums while doing so, has turned attention away from cricket to football.  Thus the once mighty West Indies are crumblng on the cricket pitch.  
It did not take England long to win, though they lost three good wickets to excellent catches and fielding, but soon went over to the stand and swanked to their mates about how good they are.
O course England are good, their team is full of West Indians, Pakistanies, Indians and the occasional Australian, New Zealander or South African, not many Brexiteer classed English however...  
 

 

Saturday 16 October 2021

Grumbling...

 
Saturday afternoons are baneful.  Last season I could enjoy watching the Heart of Midlothian via PPV TV, but not now.  UEFA ban Scottish football being shown this way in England, why?  Who wishes to watch meaningless English games?  Overpaid, over publicised, over important, they are not worth the huge wages on offer.  Anyway, I want to see my team!  If I was in Scotland or Ireland I could see it, but not in England, why?  This is a disgrace!
This means while football is on I see nothing.  No games from anywhere in the world.  Not even Japan!  Tsk!  
Now, with a full game being shown later, at 6 pm, on BBC ALBA, I cannot even look at Twitter in case the score of that game, St Johnstone v Livingston, is revealed.  This is all very annoying, especially as we saw all the games last season. Bah!
 

Nothing happening today.  News is quiet being the weekend with only the death of Amess yesterday filling space.  Even Boris gave up his holiday for that, this did surprise me.  The leaders laid flowers today in ceremony.  I would not lay flowers, this appears to me to be a catholic thing, certainly an English thing which now has spread into Scotland.  People lay flowers and tributes to a dead person, usually one they do not know, often one who they may dislike in real life!  I can understand the emotions of the moment but laying such tributes is not my way.  Of course with Diana this became nonsensical, the nation ran out of flowers and a huge pile 20 feet high rotted away in Kensington Gardens.  A nation without God seeks something to follow, even something as shallow as Diana.
I suspect Monday will see statements in the House and tributes brought.  I hope Boris and the rest behave themselves.  I doubt however, that this will bring an increase in cash for Police, though better protection for MPs might be found.
 

 

Friday 9 July 2021

Rain, Football


I am not the suspicious, cynical type as you know, however, when I wake to bright skies and sunshine, the warm air penetrating even into this dim lair, I expect it all to go wrong.  I know not why, living in this nation possibly is the reason, cynicism grows when the weather changes from baking sun to storm downpour every half hour.  
Living at the edge of Europe, cast out into the Atlantic, we receive the joy of west winds bringing rain all the way from the Americas.  Just take note of the hurricane season in Florida and a few days or so later that same storm will be dying out somewhere over Edinburgh.
With the joy of an east wind in winter, beginning in the Arctic circle, wending its way through Siberia and Poland and ending coming up my trouser leg, it is not to be surprised we are the people we are.
Southern winds are the opposite of cold northern winds, from the south comes Saharan heat, usually bringing sand with it, though only the very southern reaches notice this.  They might notice the little red Ladybirds that often accompany such wind, and they certainly notice the warmish southern rain from the Bay of Biscay.  As if we needed that!
Today the sunshines and the BBC tell us that rain, from the south, will follow on later.  How nice of them.  The people who lived in Doggerland would have known such things long ago.   I bet a swift sniff of the air told them almost as accurately as the powerful computers at the weather man's house can tell us today what the weather would be.  I am convinced that amongst the Mammoth tusks, spears and cooking utensils discovered on Dogger Bank there are also many umbrellas to be found.  They were not daft then.
 
 
We have not even finished last years Euro 2020 as yet but tonight next seasons Scottish Football begins!  Kelty Hearts play Dundee United in the first Scottish League Cup game, this while last season has just finished!
In times past, we ended the season with the Scottish Cup Final, followed by the Scotland v England game.  That would usually be the end of April or early May.  There would follow all of June and most of July with no football whatsoever.  As a kid I hated this time!  Euro Championships were not shown at all, nor the World Cup shown until 1966, and the long wait for the season was too long for me then.  Today, I am tired of too much football without a break.  Covid meant Euro 2020 had to be put back a year, this means the next World Cup will be in 2022, next year!  This also means disruption as it is being held in Novemmber in Qatar and to avoid the heat it will be held in the dark!   Covid has not died, Bumbling Boris has failed to control the Johnson Variant, and all our football will be disrupted by the World Cup at that time.  What a shambles it will be.  Maybe we will get two weeks off next Spring before it all begins, but then that will be under LockDown again!
 

Telt ye!
Here I was, sitting here recovering after walking up the road, when I noticed it was raining.
This rain is coming straight down, stair rod fashion.
As I looked Twitter informed of a weather warning.
'Danger! Heavy Rain from, well, from Now until Then!' 
They could have warned me earlier.
Already the streets are swimming and the 'rush hour' is splashing its way slowly through the puddles.
Hee hee, I will not be out again today.

Saturday 19 June 2021

The Auld Enemy

 
It is quite normal for Scotland to go down to Wembley and win.  After all we have been doing that for almost 150 years and as we invented the game, developed it through 'scientific football,' and provided the best players the world has ever seen, though Pele, Eusebio and Maradonna were all right, if you like that sort of thing, it will come as no surprise to see us put the arrogant imperialists back in their box.  So, needing to win at Wembley last night was not something to worry us.  However, having displayed all the intellect of one of Boris Johnson's cabinet members, we threw away our chances of going through by losing badly to the Czech's a few days before.  Therefore, we needed at least a point and in the end hard work, team work, and individual brightness brought us a no score draw, and I think this was two points dropped.  
England, as the English press have it, were not very good.  Nothing is said re Scotland outplaying them?  England, the manager tells us, "Got the point that ensures qualification," which is true.  What manager Gareth Southgate did not mention was the vermin of the English press would have savaged him, a decent bloke, had he lost to what they consider an inferior product.  His team and tactics reveal a sensible man.
However, this is just England.  The game used to mean a great deal, not now.  From 1872 until 1972 the Scotland v England clash provided an outlet for national pride, now it means little.  Scotland has long lost interest in these games apart form the points. Certainly we wish to win, but for me Scotland require to develop a team that can take on European sides and win, beating a 'British' side like England means little.  Our loss to the Czechs showed we need to play a style that can beat such sides, power and strength against England means little.  The game against Croatia, who desparately need to win to avoid the wrath of their own fans, will reveal both our managers tactical ability as this level and our ability to play against such teams.
Forget England, Scotland requires to amend the league structure, change the way TV covers the game and how such cash is used, and develop young players who can make it at international level.  We need to get players once again who can get the ball down on the grass and beat the opposition, players like Bobby Walker, Tommy Walker, Jimmy Johnson and Jim Baxter.  We are way short of this today.
We also must ask, how do Wales do it?  No league of their own to speak off, players spread across many nations, yet they continue to play in all tournaments, qualifying more often than Scotland.  Having one man earning £600,000 a week in Spain cannot be the reason, he is only a part of that.  
Scotland must ask why Wales are better than us?
  

Monday 10 May 2021

Monday Mixture

Rubbish Day.
Early weather lousy when I am out.
Sun now shines when I am in.
Washing done, drying washing done, nothing else done.
War in Israel.
Everyone blaming the 'other side.' 
Boris planning to curtail votes for Labour by using ID cards when voting.
Boris planning to curtail Judicial reviews to stop people attacking him.
Boris tightening his grip Fascist like.
Boris to ban 'Conversion Therapy' thereby making criminals of Christians everywhere who will continue to pray for healing of gays.  This because 'Stonewall' advised the government.  'Stonewall' a lobby group with many friends in high places, each willing to follow similar fascist paths as Boris.
Good news!  St Johnstone to beat Hibernian in the Scottish Cup Final soon.
 

Banging and thumping indicates John the Handyman has come to fix something somewhere.  Soon fixed, he banged and thumped his way out again.
More banging, gentle this time, almost ignored, then I glimpse a van outside and realise it is an Amazon man.  
An Amazon man, from Eastern Europe, who knocks on a door because he is scared to ring the bell in case he catches a virus!  So many do this that I miss them!  
Of course this is not for me, it is for next door.  They work awkward hours and I take in their deliveries.  She gave me some Polish chocolates the other day for being nice, and very nice they are too!
More banging, this time downstairs as the neighbour has come home and wants me to know he is there.  He is on early shift with the Polis and leaves around 2:30 am.  
Recently I was watching football in the bedroom, as I usually do, and upset him as he tried to sleep down below.  He made banging noises, which I ignored thinking it his woman cleaning the room, and next day he played loud, bad music for a couple of hours.  However he never thought of knocking on the door to inform me that he was on earlies.  Some Polis?  How would I know his hours?  Should I change a ten year routine for him?   Usually I am considerate but that evening the Dunfermline PPV was loud I admit, but how do I know he is sleeping?
Anyway, the game was drawn and Raith Rovers won the second leg.
Right, now I'm off to upset someone else...
 

Saturday 1 May 2021

Usual Saturday

While I saw some of this today I really saw little else.
Unless you count two and a half football matches, and a few minutes of another...
Saturday, the season hotting up as it draws to a close.
 
Hullo...It's gone dark, where has the day gone...?