Padre Andrew

Aye, see you there. We didn't do the march to the ground in Kiev because of the trouble the night before; and glad we didn't, given what happened. Hopefully a Tbilisi march will happen. By reputation the locals are much friendlier than the Kiev ones.

You must have caught him on an off day. When we've eaten with him in foreign cities it's been much more up-market. Zagreb [i think] comes to mind. These cities have a habit of blurring after a few years; and a few beers.

That night is my most vivid memory of four nights in Kiev last time round, and the main reason we're not flying via Kiev. We're trying not to fly over Ukrainian air space, although that's difficult. I ended up in hospital for a wee while having been banjoed in the main square. The picture is of Les, one of the other Perth boys who got tanked by the numpties.

Half a tennis ball - fits any plughole in the world.

Saw Phill Jupitus as his poetry-reciting alter ego Porky the Poet tonight. Managed to get some good stand up into the routine, and as it was part of the Free Fringe it's just a collection at the end. Even got a signed copy of his book. Good guy.

"Tbilisi is generally a safe and secure environment..." ... but don't use the Metro or the buses. While we're on the subject, does "Don't engage in political behaviours" mean I've got to take my Yes badge off my bonnet?

"1944 - on the brink of defeat?" Bit of revisionism going on, I think. Or are they just crap at history?

Travelling with Mrs Padre. Stansted - Istanbul - Tbilisi, arriving 3 am Thursday.

It's supply and demand. If people didn't want to gawp at pics of the royals there'd be no market for them. Sadly, many people in these islands can't get enough royal pics and stories. Why Germans and Aussies want to, I've no idea.

This will be my hollybags. Nice restful time - four nights away, two of them travelling overnight.

We've been quoted 35 GEL ($16) for a taxi as we arrive at 3am. Will they take Euros? Don't have any dollars

Half an hour of clips looking for a story thread. Very disappointing.

BG, you're a plant. I've finally twigged. The clue's in the name: BG... GB.... Question is, are you Special Branch or MI5?

This. Missed getting official SSC tickets for the Dublin game because I didn't read past the guff about the friendly against NI. Don't want to miss out on this one. Nothing on the SFA website to say when we'll be informed. Any inside information?

They say the hardest step is the first one - admitting that you have a problem. That doesn't make the next steps easy, but you've proved you can do something difficult. One day at a time, as they say. Stay strong.

I respect him for having pulled himself up. A few years back he was demanding silly money from the BBC or ITV and I thought he was full of himself, but now I like him. He's witty, and not up himself.

Fine. About to head out for breakfast, then Church Parade at 10:50 in Parnell Square [north side]. Service at 11:00. See you all there.

In Belfast already. Shetland TA here too.

"Intimate, small rooms. Not many people at the one time. Generally thrown onto an available wall." So this is how the revolution starts...

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This. He's actually worth more to the YES campaign / SNP by remaining in post. He can hardly accuse anyone of anything because he knows what will be thrown back at him. He'll be a lame duck MP. If the pressure mounts and he does go, I foresee a targeted anti-SNP campaign at the by-election. Result: same as what we have, but with a new face who'd not tainted by this saga. It's not like the SNP need a 57th seat.

:-))

Don't know what any of that meant, but to get back to the original post, if Perth is close enough for you then Janet Eagleton does a nifty kilt. Her son Marcus does the sporrans (he's made two for me, and Janet has renovated one kilt). I've also bought a reserve kilt from them. If you're looking for a 'regular' tartan, then Edinburgh itself will have plenty on offer. If your name's a little unusual, then treat yourself - you get 50-100 years' wear out of a good one.

Simple solution, Flure: just take it out on the staff.