Le Tout P'ti FC

Thank you. This kind of overly considerate driving does my head in. The wee town I live in has a very narrow and twisty main street. It's effectively a long series of Passing Places which has turned into a nightmare world of cars stopping and having a friendly "no after you my good neighbour" stand-off until one guiltily goes through first. Ned Flanders driving school. Grrr.

I love this photo. My first* ever view of Hampden was roughly from this very angle at the League Cup final in 1985. The slope of that roof opposite was incredible. I also stood here at the 1986 and 1987 Scottish Cup Finals. Strangely, apart from a QP v Aberdeen tie in late 90s, I can hardly think of another time I've ever been on the North Stand side since then, yet I've frequently been to East, West and South (dozens of times) since. All-in, probably hundreds of games at Hampden but none of them on that North side of the pitch. * My second view of Hampden was from the North Western corner** to watch Scotland 0 East Germany 0 in 1985. That game really stands out, I can still see floodlights in my mind's eye. Probably my first ever night time game. Floodlights are still amazing to me! ** Pretty much an identical view to watching Killie v Ayr and Killie v Hibs. #YellowDaffodils

Got an email about Christmas Jumper Day today. Haven't been inside my office for 260 days. Nonsense.

Rose Reilly is a superstar. I heard her speak at a Nutmeg Magazine event at Mono and she just wowed the room. Great stories.

Presale to their mailing list. Got an email today.

Novel feeling of buying a gig ticket today. Arab Strap at Barrowlands in September.

WFH until April if possible, PM tells England's workers.

Summer 2020: I hope the groundsman doesn't see me tapping this tent peg into the turf with my foot. Here's the director's finest Capri Sun, yours for £2.10. Summer 2019: Star Wars!

I love the details when you zoom in. Very few club colours, just the occasional flecks off the few red scarves. The bunnet seems to be on its way out here compared to those classic 1950s type terrace photos. Crowd demographic is overwhelmingly working aged man, as would be typical. The match ball seems to be a Minerva Supreme. But an orange ball on a day without snow? The grass looks like it has the consistency of a slab of marble. The photographer does seem to be getting awfae close to the action. Maybe a proto goal line assistant referee!

This is a cracking photo of Tommy Craig. It looks like Gayfield to me.

150 people allowed into next Brora Rangers match...

Remember that time Pat Nevin uses a hardback book as an impromptu microphone stand?

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart has won the Booker Prize. A book which I have bought, but which has never quite made it to the top of my reading pile. Have a week off work soon, will try to read it then. Any love for Shuggie Bain here? Ps. My favourite recent book was Motherwell by Deborah Orr.

Algebra.

Around the absolute mud bath of the Eildon Hills today. The conditions were abysmal but a good time was had.

Had the absolute pleasure of waking the wee boy up this morning, showing him the penalties, showing him the celebrations, showing him the SFA video of the Hampden lights flashing, and sending him off to school with a massive smile on his face. Can't wait for this summer to come around. And I have a strange feeling we'll qualify out of that group too.

Deutsche Bank suggesting that people who WFH post-pandemic should pay a 5% tax to subsidise the income of lower paid workers. Somebody earning £35k would pay £7 per day to WFH. They calculate that the average worker would be no worse off as the tax would offset other savings. Interesting concept, will never ever happen.

No.3 Rougvie. 8 November 1980. Celtic 0 Aberdeen 2. I'm guessing.

This.

Antimuon Niemi. Is he Finnish? No he's only 28.

Chic Brodie of Duntocher had his career ended in rather bizarre circumstances. This collision apparently caused career ending knee ligament damage. Rough.

Picked up a slab when I visited them a couple of weeks ago on my way to Inveraray. They've still got some up in their online shop.

Yes. My wee boy poured a Valinch at Bruichladdich and scribbled the name onto the label when he was about 4. He'll get it when he's 18. The fact that the label is totally illegible will mean he will have no choice other than to drink it, and hopefully share some with me. I think it was a sherry cask 15yo, from memory, but I've got a photo somewhere of the actual contents.

This is lovely. Much more drinkable than the ABV would suggest.

Did the PM just make up furlough extension on the hoof?