VASCO

That should, of course, have been 1993!

Some of you may remember this. Estonia 2003. Game on Wednesday, but many of us stayed on until Friday, heading home at the weekend. Loads of us sitting around having a beer in the old town square (before it was westernised), along with a load of schoolkiddies breaking up for summer. Guy on scooter started throwing newspapers all over the place. Lo and behold, there's a picture of Stevie Farmer, some wee guy from Bristol and me and my tadger! Female photographer had used a long lens to capture us, even though we were towards the back of the stand. I had been sitting legs akimbo. We were coming back to go to a wedding the following Friday, and we tried to keep it from my wife, but some dozy b@st@rd brought a copy of the paper to the wedding and proceeded to show the picture to everyone. It doesn't end there, as the next time we were in Tallinn the newspaper reproduce the photie.

How exactly can you check your Frequent Flyer points? I've had an Ivory card since 2001, and I've travelled to Japan (twice), Moscow (twice), Istanbul (four times) Ghana, Beijing and a dose of Aeroflot (part of Sky team) flights this summer, as well as numerous sorties to various European destinations.

I forgot to mention the visa aspect. You fill the form in online, print it, get a recent photograph taken and take all of this along with your passport to the office on Albion St/Road, opposite Easter Road. Go early in the morning, pay the money and the passport will be ready after 4 pm 7 days later. You can pay extra and get it sent to your home. That's what I did, as I didn't fancy a second trek through.

Just back from Confederations' Cup and stayed there over three consecutive weekends. Place is fantastic. Once you get to Pulkovo it's a fair jaunt into the city itself. If you are arriving late at night, get your hotel to book a taxi to pick you up (1000 roubles). At other times of the day get the bus from outside the arrivals hall (45 roubles) to Moskovskaya metro station and sort yourself out from there. The walk along Nevsky Prospekt is like being in Glasgow, with all of the people from Argyle Street, Sauchiehall Street, Buchanan Street all piled together with a crowd from Hampden. Absolutely mental, but exhilarating at same time. If you need more exact info, get in touch.

He's coming across on Friday 9th, arriving at Glasgow at 16:05 via Amsterdam. He'll stay at my house and go to the match on Saturday via Minnesota's. He's away to Frankfurt on Sunday at 13:25, again via Amsterdam. He'll be on his own, so nae kids nor father-in-law.

Take a wander into the Ambassador Hotel in Bur Dubai, where they sell good beer and show sport on the telly. From there buy some fresh pakora in the market on the way to crossing the creek by dhow to Deira, which is also worth a wander round.

Once again failed to get Champions' League final tickets, but I did, once again, get Europa League final tickets. That's 2007, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2017, with only one successful Champions' League final application - 2005.

Stay in Kenmare. Population 2175 - pubs 14.

I've seen Bayern Munich and Real Madrid win the World Cup - the World Club Cup! Theoretically it is possible for Chicago to do likewise.

Was the checking of the video shown on the screens in the ground a la rugby union, rugby league and cricket?

Just had all tickets confirmed, but a change of plan for transport between the cities. St Petersburg - Moscow - St Petersburg £90 by air. St Petersburg - Moscow - Kazan - St Petersburg £190 by air. The fast trains were too expensive.

JoeCraigFanClub is bang on. We stayed at the Ibis St Catherine in November when we were at the Estonia match. Choice of restaurants outstanding, within easy walking distance of Grand Place and pissing midget, as well as loads of really good pubs.

Just noticed that the Asian Championship, to be played in UAE in 2019 has expanded from 16 to 24 teams, with, you've guessed it, 6 groups of 4 teams, wth 4 best 3rd placed teams going through. Uuuggh!!!

48 teams is a load of pish, but not as big a load of pish as so many best 3rd placed teams from ........

Dogs not allowed in Polochar and take a few credit cards with you for the Politician. Dear hole! The Westford Inn has re-opened, getting rave reviews, but you need to book evidently, if you want a meal.

I've booked up for the Confederations Cup in Russia in June. Flying Glasgow-Paris-St Petersburg and returning St Petersburg-Amsterdam-Glasgow. Price could have been under £200 return, but I've opted for the 11:15 from Glasgow and 17:30 from St Petersburg, allowing me to stay in bed a little bit longer at both ends. Just over £250. Train from St Petersburg to Moscow takes 3 hours 55 minutes. I've ordered tickets for 8 matches. Final is in St Petersburg. As well as the matches in St Petersburg and Moscow, I'm going to a semi-final in Kazan. Totally binning Sochi, the fourth venue.

You mean The Men's Union!

I was a bit puzzled too. The night of the Holland match in Gothenburg in 1992 about half a dozen of us went to see Eric Faulkner's Bay City Rollers. We made up half the audience. He fronted the gig, with his missus also doing a lot of the singing. Talking about it in Bratislava, but it must have been the drink talking for most of them, as a few pulled out.

Houldsworth Street, up the side of McDonalds, is usually o.k., as is St Vincent Crescent.

Bit early to be on the sauce, is it not?

I've got two spare tickets for this Sunday's gig at the Hydro. Face value £35 (paid more via viagogo!).

Get to the return airport early enough on day of departure, and you can print them there.

At my table there was a guy from Dumfries, one from Livingston and a doctor from Aberdeen, who actually gave me a lift back to the Park Bar.

That took place at the Crowne Plaza last Friday evening. Run by GoldStar promotions and compered by Peter Martin. I had left by the time the question and answer took place, as the night had been a bit of a shambles. Late entry to the hall, followed by a heads and tails carry on, then an auction for a whole load of Pele stuff. I left at 10:40, not long after the end of the meal. I did, however, get a smashing picture taken with the great man.