Padre Andrew

We're staying with a pal who's based in Prague for a while. He'll be looking for a ticket. I'll ask nearer the time

Asking them on to do that song was a pretty blatant dig at 'Call-me-Dave'. No complaints there, then.

The loss of Ian Bell will see the Herald tested. He provided balance to the other columns. Everyone acknowledges it will be difficult to replace him, but whatever they come up with will have to provide some kind of balance. Given the SNP’s standing in the polls it’s amazing to think there are no mainstream outlets other than the National and the Sunday Herald which write anything favourable. There must be a market out there for a pro-indy red top.

59? No age at all these days. Haven't seen an explanation yet. Will really miss his writing in the Saturday and Sunday Herald. RIP big fella.

Although that doesn't alter the outcome. Doh!

What they mean is, the Tories won partly because Labour didn't pick up its usual crop of Scottish seats - because the SNP took them.

Good video, thanks for that. Visiting France late 70s / early 80s to learn French, the Beatles were the music that linked me with youngsters from France, Germany and Flanders. Everyone knew the songs; sometimes they learned English through them. Sounds like teenagers in the old USSR had the same bug.

I thought this thread was going to be about some notion of Islamic fascism, equating ISIS or Al Qaeda with the Nazis. There are some areas of overlap: a determination to wipe out opposition, a complete hatred of the 'other', and all wrapped around a completely warped sense of identity.

Strange - I was just telling my youngest a couple of days ago about Mitchell/ Garnett. I was saying I've got his 1978 stage show on cassette and a lot of it is still topical - the racism, which he lampooned brilliantly - the sexism, the general ignorance. The creation of this character with Johnny Speight was superb.

Just about to leave Perth. What's to do in Paisley if it's called off?

Good piece in the New Statesman discussing why the Sun and other right-wing media are giving Corbyn both barrels at the moment: they're terrified he might actually win. Whether the military accept a left-wing unilateralist is another point, as Huddersfield notes. I don't think it will come to that (a Labour win in 2020). Too many Blairite careerists will see that as too unlikely and they'll fracture the party in trying to 'rescue' it.

Straight from the You-couldn't-make-it-up department. Then again, he's following in the footsteps of his beloved Tone. If Blair can be a peace ambassador and not fall off his chair with embarrassment, why can't Jungle Jim be a conflict resolver?

Been to Brazil twice. I was reading in the Rough Guide that any car in traffic is liable to be robbed. A motorbike pulls up, the guy riding pilion taps on the window with a pistol, and you hand over your laptop or whatever you're holding. Apparently they go for people they think will have laptops, tablets, etc. They follow from the airport.

How many going to this one?

Missing out on cash cow #2. No taxis in Faro after 11pm on Sunday. Long queues waiting to get out of town, phoning from the hotels was useless. Apparently the taxi drivers don't work Sunday nights.

See the picture above posted by kumnio. I didn't want to give it extra prominence by posting it again. It's disgusting.

Anyone harvesting Home End tickets in case the breathalyser means we don't get into the Scotland end?

Is that 'The Week' cover for real? Next time we can't afford to fight clean if that's what we're up against.

OK. But just supposing some people aren't on Twitter, what then?

Some guys I know are leaving this weekend. Can't see anything on the website about the tickets. You'd think they could let us know somehow what's going on.

Planet La-La still going strong, I see. Just for comparison, anyone know what the two teams' weekly wage bills are?

So your borders are Britain. Just a different nationalism.

Aqua Bar wasn't quite ready for the demand on Friday afternoon, and it didn't even look particularly busy. The staff were getting very stressed. I tried a wee trick I'd not tried before and handed out tartan badges to the three that were working around us. The smiles came out then and they were fine. It was a lot quicker when we moved down the road to a wee bar next to the synagogue. When they ran out of beer they just sent one of the staff members to the offy and she came back sorted.

Cable car had great views over the city, but the restaurants at the top of the funicular ride were much better. Great trip again - apart from the performance and result. How many times have we said that? Locals very friendly, and the place just had a good feel about it.

We'll be passing through London on the Saturday on the way home. See England are playing San Marino at 6 pm. Any advice on where to go / not to go?