Justin's Blog

 Posts Tagged ‘Scotland’

I have had a wonderful week here in Edinburgh, Doing all the required things including see Hearts beat Aberdeen 3-0 with a couple of cracking goals from Rudi Skacel

I was able to attend my sister Anne’s 50th birthday party

And hang out with my folks and my brother.  And consume good beeer with great friends.

All of this in the greatest city in the world!

Doesn’t get much better than that.

Now it’s off to meet Jim in Dublin,

:: Justin ::

Tomorrow’s Superbowl will be won by a Scottish soccer player!

Picture explained.

Let’s just hope he does a better job than Dan Parks did for another big blue

:: Justin ::

To celebrate the birth of Robert Burns, Scotland’s bard, here’s a bit of poetry.

If you’ve never been to a Burns Supper, get it on your bucket list

ODE TO A HAGGIS

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great Chieftan o’ the Puddin-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang’s my arm

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
You pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o’need
While thro’ your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead

His knife see Rustic-labour dight,
An’ cut you up wi’ ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reeking, rich!

Then, horn for horn they stretch an’ strive,
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive
Bethankit hums

Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi’ perfect sconner,
Looks down wi’ sneering, scornfu’ view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither’d rash
His spindle-shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Thro’ bluidy flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He’ll mak it whissle;
An’ legs, an’ arms an’ heads will sned,
Like taps o’ thrissle

Ye pow’rs wha mak mankind your care,
An’ dish them out their bill o’fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu’ pray’r,
Gie her a Haggis!

:: Justin ::

We have played in South Morroco, we have played in the USA

But the greatest game in history in the game on (the day after) New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day is the tradional day for football (soccer) derbies (rivalry games) in Scotland.  For some reason (I would suspect alcohol consumption) they rarely seem to happen actually on New Year’s Day these days, but this one was pretty close.

It’s been a tough couple of months for my beloved Hearts, with off the field stories about financial problems and unpaid wages making all the headlines along with some pretty poor results.  The results have picked up over the last few weeks (though the finances don’t seem any better – we even lost Iona’s favourite: Eggert Johnson to English team Wolverhamption Wanderers – taking with himn the best accent and hair known to man).

Today though was the derby against cross-town rivals Hibernian.  It was a pretty dire first half (including Heart’s third missed penalty in the last month).  The second half started worse with Hibs having their best spell of the match, but then the fun really started.  Everyone’s favourite Australian – Ryan McGowan opened the scoring but Hearts gave it right back with an own goal 90 seconds later.  However goals from Andy Webster and the delicious Rudy Skacel in the last ten minutes put the world to rights and assured that this would indeed be a Happy New Year.

Picture of the day was Ian Black (who had previously been reported picking up part time work as a painter) showing off his t:shirt:

This has lead to two of my all time favourite Twitter hashtags: #illpaintthisplacemaroon and #playingforfreeandstillwinning.

Watch the goals here (with some interesting commentary)

:: Justin ::

As mentioned before, I am in Edinburgh for my parent’s Golden Wedding.  We had a lovely party yesterday at their house along with a fantastic lunch today at Fishers in the City when my nephew Matt is a chef.

All told a very good time – despite it being so startlingly cold!

:: Justin ::

I am on my way back to Edinburgh, Scotland where I will be for the next week, spending some time with my parents.

I’ll be available by just about all of the usual means, but if you can’t find me and need something urgently, be sure to call the office or jump on Live Help.

:: Justin ::

As we all get excited about the upcoming World Cup in South Africa, Scotland (who failed to qualify yet again) are starting the rebuilding process.

Tonight was new manager (and former Hearts player and manager) Craig Levein’s first game in charge and it went very well as we beat the Czech Republic 1-0 at Hampden.

What was quite remarkable was the number of players on the pitch from Hearts cup winning team of 2006:

For Scotland:

• Craig Gordon (now with Sunderland)
• Lee Wallace (still with Hearts)
• Andy Webster (now with Dundee United)
• Paul Hartley (now with Bristol City, but check out this photo of him on Wikipedia!)
• Christophe Berra (now with Wolverhampton Wanderers)

And for the Czech Republic

• Rudy Skacel (now with Larissa in Greece)

Just goes to prove what a special team that was.

:: Justin ::

It’s very strange how a flight either way across the Atlantic feels like I am going home!

A tremendous break for me, now it’s time to get back to changing the world.

Before I do though, a quick photographic recap: (you can click on the pictures to see bigger versions.

:: Justin ::

This morning started with heading off to church to St Martin’s, the church where I grew and Dad used to work.  Very nice to catch up with old friends and see some wonderful young kids running riot there!

Then off to Gorgie City Farm for the obligatory visit.  Sorry no picture of the red tractor, I was having too much fun talking to the pigs!

Then after lunch, Nick to his girls back to Milngavie and I headed off to see my friend Scott, his son Calum, and John (who I meet once a year at Tynecastle) to see Hearts play Hamilton.

A very nice 2-0 win (the result was better than the football, but the banter was fun!)

:: Justin ::

Had a tremendous day today, my brother Nick and his girls games through to visit and we spend a gorgeous afternoon in Edinburgh’s Botanics

After tea tonight we were able to watch Team MAX in the pre-season scrimmage from Suffield, Connecticut thanks to a live web stream.  It’s exciting to see the robot in action and see how the games develop.

:: Justin ::