Gerbil0154

For reasons unknown to me, the common expression in Glasgow for this condition is "You have egg on your chin"

Speaking as a Scot who currently resides in Southern Ireland, I have discussed this topic on many occasions over a pint of the black stuff. The majority of the Scots I discuss this with, think it is totally wrong that any Scottish MP votes on purely English matters. We objected for years that we got lumbered with the Poll tax etc, even before the rest of the United Kingdom, based on the votes of Mrs Thatchers English MP's. It is hypocritical in the extreme to think that the current situation is acceptable. My personal reason for wishing independence from England is that I am sick and tired of being branded a Subsidy Junkie by those in the south. Ireland does OK on its own. Norway is a rich country on the back of its Oil. We in Scotland are told we survive on handouts from Westminster. I'd love that put to the test sometime in my lifetime. I really like the English, (except for your jingoistic football commentators). Quick to make friends and have a laugh and a joke. I have many English friends I fish with. The English have given some fantastic things to the world. Give us back our country sometime soon please.

Though I never met him, I felt I knew him from the forums. Words are so inadequate at a time like this. Like so many others I hope he's sitting at some heavenly pool casting a line.

I used to go once a month to a Country and Western night in a little scottish village called Bridge of Weir. Hated the mock gun fights but the company and the live bands were great and, since it was in the local bowling club, the drink was reasonably priced. My best mate Jim's father in law, Bill, used to help organise it. When Bill died I was attending the funeral and was told it was to be a country and western service in Paisley crematorium. I must admit I definately thought that it was going to be very strange. We had 2 lines of gunfighters firing a volley over the coffin on the way in, and when the American Trilogy was played as the coffin was lowered on the lift, there was not a dry eye in the house. The confedarate flag which had draped the coffin was folded and passed to his widow Jean. It was moving and very appropriate when you knew the man involved. The only thing I know is that when I go I want "For a dancer" by Jackson Browne played. Since I told my daughter this, she cant listen to it any more without filling up.

Words are useless. I cant begin to imagine your hurt. I'm sure all on this great site would do all in their power to relieve your pain. I know I would. All thats possible is to say a prayer and send you every ounce of sympathy. Gerbil

I understand and symathise. I loved the Morris stories I was fortunate enought to read. There is a saying that your never dead as long as someone remembers you, so by my reckoning Morris will live forever.

Survey Done One drawback with this forum is that we're all Mad Will this not skew your result

For any of you guys interested in seing Eric in concert he is touring here at the moment. I'm seing him here in Ireland shortly and again in Glasgow on the 1st September. A list of his dates and venues is on his website http://ericbogle.net/concerts/index.htm

As a neutral Scot watching the world cup, I think a bunch of good players were let down by your management. 1. 4-5-1 Whats that all about. No wonder Rooney got frustrated. He was left alone up front with the full expectations of England on his shoulders. 2. 5 midfielders were getting in one anothers way leaving no room for anything except short passes, unlikely to worry anyone with a semblance of a defence. 3. Theo Walcot. You get to the last section game and dont even give him a run out in the second half. That immediately said that he wasnt going to play this world cup. England basically went to Germany with a smaller squad than other nations. 4. You were unlucky to lose Michael Owen in the first game. If the squad had been a bit better balanced, (again lack of forethought), it may not have been as bad as it turned out. No plan "B" was apparent. 5. Its just as well that Sven is no more. I would suggest that he might have a problem trying to get the best out of a premiership forward who scored double figures last season, only to find that he was passed over for an Arsenal reserve who didn't even figure in his own club side. I could go on but that would look like I was trying to rub salt into wounds. I am not. England have all the elements for have a great side, but require a level of ruthlessness and foresight at management level to drop poorly performing players and build a team spirit that ignores the jingoistic press and TV commentry as to who should play. I am definately not crowing. How could I. I am a Scotland fan who was supporting Poland this world cup. I am sick of the taste of humble pie. lol

Even an uncouth Scot like me appreciated that the man was a legend. Good blunt opionated cricketer. Would have done well on this forum I think.

A blue spokeshave. I dont know what that says about me lol

As an former referee, I was taught that shielding the ball was allowed and was defined as having the ball under your control. ie the ball is within playing distance of you. (you dont have to play the ball, just be able to if you wanted) The best exponent of this art was Kenny Dalgliesh. If you place your body between the ball and the player, and the ball is not within playing distance of you, then that is obstruction and a free kick. I've lost count of the number of full backs who get away with obstruction.

They're coming to take me away Ha Ha by Louis Napoleon XIV. The B side is the same track recorded backwards with even the label printed as a mirror image of the front label. Why do I have it, I have no idea

Speaking as a Scot, albeit living in Ireland, I have no problems with the England team. Like most of my countrymen I recognise that England have many good players who I'd love to see in a Scottish Jersey. Like most of my countrymen the thing I cant stand is the English Football commentators who feel you have a god given right to be world champions, and how every commentry we ever hear, even on the BRITISH broadcasting media, always harps back to 1966 and all that. I love football and believe as Pele said that its the beautiful game. I'd love to watch re-runs of games such as Man U winning in 1967 or Liverpools winning European games. Please, Please Please, no more re-runs of 1966 and all that. Like my fellow countrymen I dread that if England win it, we will be forced into endless re-runs for the next 40 YEARS. (Just like now) I wish England no ill and hope they have a good world cup, but I'm supporting Poland. Two of their players play for my club side and I work with a great many Poles. (Ireland is awash with them) I dont hate England and think most Scots also dont hate England. Its just that we would rather not listen to the constant crowing of your commentators. Good Luck anyway (Fingers crossed while I say it)

I thought that was MR T Mobile

The Fench went for one design for almost all of their Nuclear stations. They know how they work inside out and they get economies of scale in operating and building them. When Britain built its nuclear stations they changed the designs of every one during the build period so no two are the same. they all operate slightly differently and the changes were costly to incorporate at the late stages they were made in the name of "efficiency". No economies of scale and an industry run by committees. The french let engineers build and run their power stations. Britain lets committees of politicians do it. Nuff said

I am saddened by his passing and my thoughts and prayers are with his family. I don't post on the Forum too often but am an avid reader and was very aware of his posts. He was a great contributor and his comments were always worth reding.

Great post. I love history and you get to climb around it as part of your day to day job. I loved the link from Judy showing that there are very few of these left in the country. I'm at the other end of History being a Civil engineer building new roads, currently working in Ireland. Nearest I get to something as interesting as that, is if we turn up anything during the archaeological digs which are now a pre-cursor to all large projects. Found a few bronze age burial cists but nothing as spectacular as your find. I wish some of the rest of the posts on AN were as interesting, then again the variety is what makes AN so good. Thanks for the post. LOved it.

For me it has to be someone who combines great lyrics with good music. Jackson Browne, John Prine, Eric Bogle and Paul Simon all still do it for me. There are a lot of good bands and solo artists about just now. Thank goodness we have managed to reduce the number of fabricated pop bands dominating the charts. I wonder if this has something to do with the download phenomenon where it is harder for bands to hype their record sales by buying copies in the stores on which the chart returns were based. Then again maybe the public taste has come back towards good music.

Midges and Midges and Oh yeh Midges

My daughter bought me the Bob Dylan autobiog Chronicles Volume 1 and I'm enjoying it. Like a few others on here I'm also re-living my early reading with Thor Heyerdals Kon Tiki expidition which has some great moments of fun and friendship. (Pulling sharks onto a raft by their tails for fun soon lets you know who your friends are lol) Scandanavians are all mad

For me, and this site, you missed some of the most obvious 1. The sight of a fishing rod thumping when a large Ferox, (Interchangeable with any favoured species of fish), takes your bait. 2. The joy at the sight of the same fish safetly in the landing net. 3. Watching the careless flick of it's tail and its speedy exit as you release it back to the water. Then again this might just be my close season blues. Roll on the fishing season.

I'm a Civil Engineer currently working on a major new road in Ireland. I specialise in large structures. I was technical manager for a group of companies for 10 years and worked in the housing supply industry for a previous 15 years. I still do freelance housing design to keep my skills up to date. I cant wait to get back to Scotland in 2007 and devote a lot more time to my first love, Ferox fishing. Occasional weekend this year is all I'm going to manage Boo Hoo, Sob Snif

May the worst days in your future be as good as the best days in your past Heard this recently on TV as a new year greeting but cant remember by who

Well done! Its a very difficult thig to write a book of any kind, but when its involves personnal information the amount of thought into what to include and what to leave out must have required many meditation sessions over an open wine glass. I wish you every success. From the many and varied posts you have on this site I can tell you deserve it.