Auld Enemy, No More?

69% of Scots will support England during the World Cup.

It that really true?

Where did they carry out this survey - Edinburgh's New Town?

Munchies Glenrothes Style

See if you are in Glenrothes at 4 am and you fancy an omlette?

WTF is Glenrothes anyway?

Scottish Anthem - na na na-na na na NA !

The use of Scotland the Brave as National Anthem at the Commonwealth Games (yes, them again!) has sparked off quite a debate about alternatives.

I have no problem with Scotland the Brave - at least it's a bit more happy than the dirge that is Flower of Scotland. In terms of sing-along-ability "na na na na na" just does not match say the Irish or Australian anthems, which appear to be among the best modern efforts.

Highland Cathedral is an absolutely fantastic piece of music - it drove everyone to tears when it was played as Chris Patten left the Governor's mansion in Hong Kong. An anthem shouldn't really get you greetin' though - and the small-minded will always point out that it was written by Germans.

I think I might actually agree with this punter about Deacon Blue!

Career problems? Have a Jobby!

Following on from the unfortunately named Dobber, I bring you the Jobby career site!

At least these poor buggers have worked out their mistake - and are now considering a new name.

Keep it I say!

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Say hi to Dobber

Say hi to Dobber

Thanks to the always excellent Hey Asda for pointing me in the direction of Dobber's My Space pages. Ain't he cute - shall we tell him?

Looking at this stuff dribbling out of this Dobber it's not exactly clear why Murdoch spent $580 million on this shite!

Having a fag in the rain

So, the Scottish smoking ban comes along at the same time as a period of wet and windy weather! Perhaps anyone who is up in Scotland can report back on whether the ban is holding? Are drinkers at the Horseshoe really stepping out into Drury Lane for a puff? How about the docks of Aberdeen? Post a comment and let us know.

After years of trying I quit 7 months ago - and I have to say that trips to non-smoking Ireland and New York definitely helped me see that it really was time to quit. While I'm by no means rabidly anti-smoking the ban seems to be me to be a wholly good thing.

In other news, staff unions are trying to ban the Royal Family from having a crafty fag at Balmoral.

An inquiry about inquiries

You canny fart within hearing distance of Holyrood without being besieged by MSPs anxious to set up an inquiry into noxious gas release. Politicians use calls for inquiries to fend off any ground swell in popular opinion, and our increasingly litigious and blame-led public can’t seem to grasp the fact that shit sometimes happens.

As tragic as Dunblane was, does anyone really think that an inquiry 10 years later will do anything but rake over cold and painful coals?

Scottish bowlers beat off insects to take Gold

I just canny help but post about the Commonwealth games. Scotland's latest gold medal comes in Bowls. Alex Marshall and Paul Foster not only had to beat the Auld Enemy but also a swarm of as yet unidentified insects which invaded the pitch. They were quickly hoovered-up by the authorities and the game resumed.

Also in bowls - Scotland's women took silver after losing to Australia (pictured) in the final.

I tell ye what - they'd have a fit at that outfit down the Kilmacolm Lawn Bowls Club.

Hearts sack Graham Rix

Just when I thought that Rangers had pretty much blown their chance of second place in the Scottish Premier League, Hearts go and make it a lot easier by sacking their manager! Three managers in one season - what a joke.

Great Greyhound Get-together

If you like Greyhounds then get yersel down to St Margaret’s Loch in Ed this weekend. The Greyhound Awareness League are having a right old shindig!

I found the wee gem in K9 magazine, which judging by its cover seems to promote naked dog cuddling. The nakedness, and an article on canine bloat have made K9 my current favourite magazine.

More Scottish Commonwealth Success

Quite a weekend of sport. I spent a lot of time watching the Commonwealth games - trying to ignore the fact that Rangers put in one of their worst performances of a dreadful season by failing to beat Hearts - we must now rely on the Jambos bottling it for Champions League hopes. Apparently some other mickey mouse football trophy also took place...

Anyway, back to Melbourne where Caitlin McClatchey won her second - and Scotland's fifth - gold medal. Some observations from the games:

• Sharon Davies appears to have had either too much botox or a bad nip/tuck.
• The Scottish swimmers with toned bodies, and suave media technique all seem to be thoroughly nice young people - a real advert for our nation. Now we just need a facility such as Loughborough, where they all seem to train, on Scottish soil and maybe we can build on this success.
• It was a nice touch to see the England and Scotland cycling teams showing such friendly rivalry after the team sprint. I think they were both just pleased to have edged out the Ozzies.
• And about the Ozzies - 42 'kin gold medals? How many shredded wheat to these guys have for brekkie??

The rugby team defied their historical pedigree to narrowly beat Italy.

I also watched David Coulthard fail to do anything of any note in the Malaysian Grand Prix (other than break down), but then can you call any event where regular commercial breaks occur during the "action" a sport? The man does however have a museum.

Scotland doing well at Commonwealth Games

Forgot that Scotland get to compete as a nation at the big School Sports Day that's going on in Oz. It's been a good start for us with two gold medals in the swimming.

The Big England vs Scotland, Queally vs Hoy battle in the cycling was ironically won by an Australian - inspiration from Hoy indeed!

Scottish Blogs: Hey Asda

Hey Asda deserves the link love just for their "Blogs are pish" campaign, but I'm also strangely intrigued by Aloysius Munn and family:

"At 10.30am I did a jobby. It was quite a good consistency"

Glasgow is cold

This is the sort of thing that Flickr is brilliant at! Apparently it snowed in Glasgow over the weekend!

Brokeback Mountain - Glasgow version

Thanks to Tarquin for sending me this - the love that dare not speak its name.

Tried to find a web version to link to but couldn't so sorry to whoevers image this is.

Scotland v Ireland Rugby

What can I say about this Six Nations?, Other than the fact that the Scottish team have done us fucken proud.

There seems to be a ground-swell of opinion that makes us favourites for tomorrow's game against Ireland. Cue the glorious defeat.

Anyone got a spare chopper?

Scottish cyclist Marco Librizzi has hit a small snag in his attempt to win a cycling medal at the Commonwealth games - no bike!

Macaroon! Aires yer Macaroon!

I'm having a right old "Spangles" moment about some macaroon that I bought from the Jenners shop at Glasgow Airport a couple of weeks ago. Let's face it, there's plenty to get nostalgic about when a sweet is made up primarily of sugar.

It's not however the confectionery itself that I am reminiscing about, but its unique mode of distribution. My neighbour for example was a south-side manufacturer of the macaroon, and I worked some holidays in his warehouse. Macaroon manufacturing appeared to be to low-level Glasgow chancers what waste-disposal or construction was to New York mobsters.

Anyway normal distribution (newsagents, supermarkets etc.) was eschewed by makers of the macaroon in favour of the "wee boy network." Wee urchins would be given a box of macaroon and set loose to sell door-to-door, on street corners, or most memorably on the football terrace. I was offered such a run myself, but calculated that 5 evenings a week work would net me the equivalent of about tuppence in today's money and so turned the gig down.

I'm slightly disappointed that Jenners have got in on the act. The wee boys are probably now selling smack.

Scottish Sisters' Ketchup Phobia

A bizarre tale of two Orkney sisters and their battle with a fear of tomato ketchup.

The battle for Eilean-I-Vow

A curious strammash has developed within Clan MacFarlane - a small Lomond-side mob best known for being sheep thieves. The Clan are "at war" with an ex-pat Australian couple, also MacFarlanes, over the Loch Lomond island Eilean-I-Vow.

As the MacFarlane's row, the island is being used by neds who are littering the place with Buckie bottles and used condoms....which is kind of a metaphor for so many things Scottish!

The top 10 Scotch Whiskies

Scottish Field have listed what they believe are last year's top 10 whiskies. I look forward to tracking a few down! Where possible I've put an indicator price next to each so that you get a rough idea of how much each costs - and with one or two exceptions there are not too pricey.

Strathisla 37 year old - Duncan Taylor bottling (£100)

Glenmorangie Artisan Cask (£30)

Aberfeldy 12 year old (£25)

Talisker 175 (£53)
A celebration of 175 years of distilling on Skye.

Bunnahabhain 25 year old (£150?)
Only 400 bottles released so if you can find some it will be pricey - but Scottish Field also recommend the 18 year old (£50).

Auchentoshan 17 year old (£60)
Matured in Bordeau casks

Glenfarclas 50 year old (£450) [UPDATE: This price looks to be completely wrong, more like £2250]
One of my favourite malts, I unfortunately have to say that I think this might be worth every penny.

Benromach 55 year old (£2800)
Pointless even speculating about this one as I'll never even get to smell it!

Linkwood 30 year old (£75)

Ben Nevis 40 year old blend (£115)

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Whisky links