Dunfermline Don

We stayed near Ludwigsburg which was just north of Stuttgart. It was the capital of the region and there was a palace designed to be similar to Versallies in France. We also stumbled upon the resort where the Belgian team was based. The host of our Airbnb also invited us join him around his fire pit on the Friday night for beers and a BBQ, we chatted for hours about football and politics. I have to agree that the actual city of Stuttgart wasn’t as impressive as Munich or Koln but I have to say they were quite exceptional.

Anyone else on the Amsterdam to Newcastle ferry on Wednesday night? I think the atmosphere may be a little bit subdued compared with two weeks earlier!

It’s hard to believe that this time last year we were reaching almost 1978 levels of optimism about this tournament, expecting to at the very least be able to get out of the group. Being over here has been great, meeting other supporters from all over Europe. Visiting Munich, Koln & Stuttgart and being welcomed by the locals. Enjoying the beer and the food. Driving on the autobahn and having other Scots and Germans tooting and waving at the flags on our car. The only downside had been the performance of the football team.

Already been in the ground for an hour, don’t want to keep drinking or I will be off to the toilet throughout the game. Though this is the Hungary end of the stadium there are plenty of Scots here as well.

One of the joys of being over in Germany is not having to put up with cringeworthy TV coverage back home. Its was actually fun watching the build up to the English game on local TV here and seeing the presenter effortlessly change from German to English when interviewing some fans before the match and the Leeds fans that were interviewed trying to figure out if they were taking the piss out of them!

Drove from IJmuiden (Newcastle ferry) to Wurzburg yesterday. My biggest moan about the autobahn was lorries overtaking each other and making it difficult to get out into the 3rd lane to overtake due to all the Audis and BMWs flying by. Plenty of TA also travelling on the road as well. Onwards to our Airbnb outside of Munich today.

5pm Newcastle ferry tomorrow night then driving down to Munich for the Friday.

I might have renewed by now if there was an early bird offer or some other incentive to buy it sooner. Instead I am waiting till I get back from Germany and see how much money I have left. I don’t know if any others are doing the same or not.

Lots of Polish soldiers who escaped the Nazis were based in Scotland during the war. I know in Dunfermline they were barracked in the pavilion in the Glen and their experience from having experienced a Nazi attack was used to help set up defensive positions in the area to help with the defence of the dockyard at Rosyth in anticipation of any German attack.

A lot is always made of the fact that after the fall of France. Britain stood alone against the Nazis (well apart from the rest of the Empire and troops from occupied nations that sought refuge in the UK). I think that causes a lot of people to think that we did more than the USA or USSR despite them contributing far more in terms of numbers.

I got access to the UEFA ticket portal today. Unfortunately no Scotland tickets available but there were a few other matches with €200 tickets left if anyone is just looking to experience a matchday in Germany.

I saw similar polls showing the question asked in USA, France and Germany that had a slightly different response. From what I remember only the German one had USSR as their top answer

Thanks, I have emailed HVV as well to ask if a name can be amended. Hopefully it will also be too busy for any detailed checks to be done.

I managed to buy the Pro Rata Deutschland ticket for myself via PayPal (it wouldn’t accept credit card details) Then when I bought a separate one for my son (age 17) we have noticed that ticket is also showing in my name despite it being done through the HVV app on his phone (possibly as it was paid with my PayPal). Does anyone know if this will cause an issue when trying to use it in Germany?

I certainly wouldn’t describe myself as a royalist but at least his dad mentioned the fact that many nationalities took place in the landings and that troops were also involved in fighting in many other parts of the world at the time. I wonder if 1895 UK was as focused on the Napoleonic Wars as many in these islands still are with WW2.

Doing the rounds on social media at the moment so it must be true!

Sorry Neebs, we are on the Newcastle-Amsterdam next Wednesday. Quite a few TA on it and hopefully a bit too soon for English fans going over. I hope you enjoy your crossing regardless, remember it’s just a game and most genuine English fans that I know are just as passionate about their country as we are. It’s their media that over hypes everything.

It’s the same in my constituency. Dunfermline in West Fife now also includes the affluent areas of Dollar and Muchart in Clackmanan. It feels very much like lines being drawn on a map by people who have no knowledge of the local areas.

Aye, and you could leave your front door unlocked in those days! They only ever hurt their own kind and were always kind to their mother. Etc, etc, etc.

I don’t think anyone will win if there is another one!

Winning World Wars. Spitfires Love of The Royal Family (God bless them) Suspicion of anyone/thing foreign (unless they play for your team) Not learning foreign languages but expecting others to speak English (especially if abroad on holiday) Thinking England is an Island! Did I mention Spitfires?

Ditch the B teams rather than the non Scottish teams. I know not everyone appreciates them being in it, but for some fans it may be their only chance to see their team playing a competitive game outside of Scotland. Then again why look forward to a match in Ireland or N Ireland when you could be playing the bigot weans away instead!

I never thought that I would ever be glad to see Man Utd win a trophy. Still at least Haaland can now concentrate on what he is going to do while the Euros are on!

Apparently Gove is a Rangers fan, the QPR variety though. And as if last season wasn’t bad enough, he also claims to be an Aberdeen fan.