MARTIN - Clearly you will be having a busy time. I hope you enjoy yourself.
For my part, I will be going up to Perth to stay at the Scone Palace site on Saturday, and will then go on to Ullapool. Perth is approximately half way and towing a caravan at this time of year, for approx 400 miles where refuelling would be required, would probably mean either setting off or arriving in darkness. Better to break up the journey. In a car but without the caravan it would be no problem though still a tiring drive.
Enjoy a few football-less days everyone.
Sorry I've not had time to be posting this last week or so, but doing my best to keep reading everyone's posts. I couldn't not let this one pass by though, noticing FD is coming my way for an overnight at Scone (pronounced "Scoon" for the uninitiated) on Saturday. As it happens, we have a big family event on Saturday, with Mrs Powmill's cousin holding a book launch at The George Hotel in Perth during the afternoon. Lots of the family, us included, are involved in one way or another and we will be going on to a closer family evening at another cousin's house in Perth, to celebrate the occasion. That's the long way around, FD, to say I would have loved to have arranged to meet and greet you in the 'Fair City', but won't be able to. Next time you are breaking your journey at Perth if you let me know you will be there, it would be wonderful to have you around for a cup of tea and a wee biscuit, or to meet up somewhere convenient. Just shout up.
As it is, enjoy your stop at Scone. I don't know if stately homes are your thing, but the palace itslef is a good visit. You could always visit the (new) museum in Perth city centre to see the slab of rock more famous as the 'Stone of Destiny' over which all the kings and queens of Scotland have been crowned since at least Alexander 3rd in 1249 - but probably since the 5th or 6th century when the stone was bought over to Scotland from Ireland- well that is what the legends say, although science contradicts that. Apparently, geologically speaking, it is known that the stone was actually quarried in the the Scone area.
Anyways, enjoy your flying visit and safe journeys.
Ben Gannon-Doak as he likes to be called now, in the Scotland Squad for tonight's qualifying game.
The forwards are Che Adams (Torino) Keiron Bowie (Hibs) Lyndon Dykes (Birmingham) George Hirst (Ipswich) and that makes me mad!
Conway should have been in the team, as I can't see any of those front players getting a goal.
Having watched (should that say "endured"?) last night's performance against Greece I have to say that I think Scotland missed exactly the kind of player Conway is. Even as the momentum miraculously appeared to be heading Scotland's way, they were still failing to get to grips with the game and had their unfortunate keeper not made a schoolboy error to allow Dykes the easiest goal of his entire playing career, Greece still looked in control and an equaliser looked likely. (That said, credit to Dykes for following through to be at the keeper's feet as he attempted to keep the ball in play and how/why on earth did that Greek defender there not stick with Dykes to support his keeper?...)
@powmillnaemore - I have actually been to Perth quite a few times over the years, but haven't stopped off there for maybe 15 years. I think that the Camping & Caravanning Club site which is next to the racecourse has a different "way in" now. I used to have to take a turn off the A9 before getting to Perth itself (as if intending to go to Dundee) but I think there is a new turn off north of Perth. I will find out tomorrow!
I have stayed at the Scone Palace site several times and enjoyed visiting Perth a lot. I have been to the Palace and seen the site where the "stone" used to be on the little "hill" in the grounds. The palace is one of the grandest - like Castle Howard or Chatsworth House - there is so much to see inside. But so far as concerns Perth I know when to take an Inch rather than a mile. I used to go up, sometimes stopping at a site in the borders/lowlands like Moffat before going further north, and have also stayed at Dingwall (one of my favourites) and at Poolewe and at places like Aberfeldy and Ballinluig. In fact I have been up to Dingwall so much that my "Scottish team" is Ross County (whose ground is literally next to the campsite). Sadly, after flirting with the relegation play-offs one time too many last season, The Staggies have started this season as though the target is another relegation. Hopefully things are starting to improve at Victoria Park (the northern version) after last week's 2-0 win at home against Raith Rovers.
Although I am taking the caravan this time, in recent years I have usually just driven up and stay at the house owned by my wife and her sister near Ullapool, and use the house as a base from which to tour the Far North and the North West Highlands. The house was only acquired about 15 years ago. This time I will stay in the caravan which will be parked at the house rather than staying IN the house. To be honest, I like the freedom to come and go as I wish, and I also like the fixed bed in the caravan as much as the bed in my house and, for me, being in a caravan is no hardship and I'd certainly prefer that to an hotel!
@Martin - I wasn't trying to be harsh. Maybe having a bit of craic with Jarkko whom I've met quite a few times on his visits to the UK to see Boro over the years (and earlier this year we went together with our wives for a day out at Beamish Open Air Museum) but nothing more than craic and I'm sure he didn't take it badly. In fact during one of his visits, maybe a couple of years ago (was it after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, or before?) I remember telling him that Finland's security lay with NATO. At that time Finland was a neutral country like Sweden but equally at that time, nobody doubted the American commitment to the alliance. Things change.
Without diving too deeply into the situation in Ukraine, President Putin MIGHT wish he had a time machine to correct some decisions he made in February 2022. From a position where he says he was seeking to avoid an expansion of NATO to the Russian borders, in the last couple of years or so he has seen both Sweden and Finland put side their neutral positions in favour of NATO membership (serious operators in the snow and ice of the Arctic as well as on the Baltic Sea, to say nothing of Sweden's arms and aircraft capabilities and the fact that virtually all of Finland's male population will have done military service at some stage and many will still be "reservists" now). Finland has "history" with Russia and should not be messed with. As if that were not enough, Putin may now see that recent events have seen not only Poland increase its military expenditure massively, but Germany is inevitably re-arming itself after waking up. If there was anything a "good Russian" might wish for, German re-armament would NOT be it.
So, for the avoidance of doubt, no harm intended, Jarkko.
Tomorrow: "To the North and don't spare the huskies!"
As we wait for real football to start again Aiden Morris played 73 minutes for the US against Ecuador in a 1-1 draw, the US goal scored by ex Boro loanee Flo Balogun. Sylvan Nypann captained the Norway Under 21's in a defeat in Spain, played the full 90 minutes. Strelec played almost 90 minutes for Slovakia. I think that it is unlikely that Morris or Hansen will appear on Friday as they are playing in the US and Curacao on Tuesday night UK time, and Curacao has very few direct flights to Europe.
"To the North and don't spare the huskies!"
Reminds me of one of my favourite cryptic crossword clues: 'Amundsen's forwarding address(4)'
Answer: Mush
Have a great day Martin
Hansen played 45 minutes for Curacao in their 2-0 win over Steve Mclaren's Jamaica and are top of their group
@martin-bellamy Enjoy your special day. All the best. Up the Boro!
@lenmasterman - Thanks! I have never done cryptic crosswords, though my father did, but I like some of the answers.
I was listening to a Radio 4 programme some years ago whilst driving back to Teesside, where there was a discussion about crosswords and sudoku. One contributor said something along the lines of "You never get great solutions - nobody EVER said 4,3,9,8,1,5,2,6,7: what a GREAT line!"
These international breaks seem to last forever and a day, weekends just arent the same.
Anyway, not long to wait now until the return of Chuba, hasnt scored yet for Ipswich, isnt getting much pitch time, we all know what comes next dont we !
@presidentjump No thanks, returning players never work out, Chuba hasn’t really done much since leaving.
Come on BORO.