The Mantis

Yeah I would normally do something like that but we've only got Sat/Sun in Madrid after arriving late on Friday so won't be pushing my luck with the missus . Monday morning we're off to Extremadura, over 3 hrs by train.

Seems like public sale always starts Monday before the game. They have this Madridista card at €30 which gets you... wait for it... 2 days earlier. Of course you can get hospitality tkts no bother weeks in advance if you want to pay €300 i was seriously considering just going to a lower league game.

Official website. Haven't got them yet, public sale starts Monday 10am but been keeping an eye on it, there won't be many left.

Claiming a bit of credit for stalking this pair though The pale one is a juvenile, so is the one above with the mackerel, you’re less likely to get good shots of an adult.

No gonnae claim a lot of credit here as you just pay £18 or so for a boat trip and make sure your camera is switched on

Never seen photos of Old Meadowbank Tam, cheers. My uncle took me there one Saturday morning to pick up his boots and we had a wee kick about on the park. Was maybe about 1968 so he might have played for Leith among his many clubs. My uncle mentioned above was a good mate of Tommy Gemmell after they met on holiday in Spain. Sadly he dropped dead 30 years ago on xmas day at the age of 46 so he was about the same age.

And The Cobbler

Started looking for Aonach Eagach photos in my collection and came up with one from Am Bathach in Kintail instead

Aye, cheers. Grabbed the first image then nipped back in for an edit without really looking.

Been along it 5 times when I was younger. Would need a new pair of lungs now though. Nice atmospheric shot.

My first ever Scotland match, 26/9/73.

Surely 'Rich Man's James Forrest' as he can afford a neck.

This guy is involved in a horrendous car crash and comes out of a coma 5 days later. The consultant explains to him what happened etc then says, “I have to break the news to you - your dick came off in the crash. However there is a bit of good news. We expect you will get compensation in the region of £30000. We can now offer a dick replacement at £3000 per inch. So if you had a 10 incher before, you could replace the whole lot. Or maybe you only had 5 inches before so you could keep half the money. You need to discuss it with your wife so the two of you are happy.” Next day the guy is back at the consultant. ”So, have you and your wife reached a decision?” ”Aye, we’re getting a feckin new kitchen.”

Off to Madrid in 2 weeks so taking in the Girona game. Shameless tourism but the lure of the Bernabeu once in a lifetime is too much. Have to take Mrs Mantis so it'll be the cheap () seats in the gods at €45.

Bump. A trip to Eigg a couple of years ago.

No, it doesn't, so I'll reserve the right to call your Cup the English Cup or the EFA Cup

Furryboots is this Mackie, and who’s playing?

You never missed much at the San Fergie anyway. The usual sending off and a dressing room door kicked in. What sort of crowd at Shields? Is Arca still there?

Yeah but, yeah but. It’s still The Scottish Cup

That's what people used to say back in the day.

I think wee Tam had a goal chalked off at 0-0.

Rob’s kinda limited to the phrase “what a save/shot/tackle/goal/effort that was!” Once you notice it, it gets on your tits.

Yeah I have one for landscapes and occasional portraits but I use a 7dii for all the rest. The 6D replaced a 5Dii as I couldn’t afford a 5Diii, and I got the 7Dii recently which replaced a 70D which was great, but the 7Diii was going for £800.

They might have waited till the guy in the background had finished his pish.

Rangers 2 Bayern Munich 0, April 1972. The Bayern team included Maier, Müller, Breitner, Schwarzenbeck, Beckenbauer and Hoeness, all of whom won the World Cup with West Germany two years later.