Scarlet Pimple

"Well. the horses are now all in the gates. and we are just waiting for the signal........There it is! THEY ARE OFFFF and the 96th running of the Inverness Caley Preakness is now well under way . Approaching the half way mark and Caley 1 is leading the bunched remaining horses who are closely following by three lengths with the jocky trying to hold him back .He's raring to go and watch what happens in the final straight 'cos if he keeps up this pace he will either drop dead or win by 6 lengths. The excitemenrt is mounting and the crowd are on their feet screaming for the blue clad jockey to whip the hoss. But he 's a class act and knows how to get the best out of a horse without hurting it and this horse is extraordinary and trained to the limit and is in superb condition plus he has a big heart and will always do his best no matter what. They'r turning now round Telford's Drift and he's still full of fight and the jockey is beginning his run to the finishing line. The crowd are all on their feet and going crazy, the noise is bedlam and still rising. It's a two horse race now with all the other hosses left in their dust. The second favorite is Falkir'k's Dream who has always been in contention right from the start and has proved to be a thoroughbred of real talent . Never started to flag but has been under the cosh from the get-go, withering from Caley1's blisterng , aggressivepace. He is undoubtedly now a real threat to our champion in the blue and red colors, though, and both horses are now neck and neck after a mighty effort from Falkirk's dream which has drawn him level but might just prove his undoing, But wait! Caley 1 has JUST CLICKED HIS PACE UP A NOTCH and is now leading by a length and seems to be unstoppable in his determination to win this mighty, prestigious cup. Quarter of a mile to go and, again, Falkirk's dream matches the pace of his frenetic adversary in what is turning out to be the race of the century for both horses and jockeys. Both sets of supporters in this mighty crowd are past cheering on their favorite but all are in unison in cheering for this fantastic display of grit and determination, pace and skill of the jockeys in putting on a show not seen hear at Hamden racecourse for at least fifty years. ' Who will now win. That is the question. 1/4 of a mile to go and the brilliant two are 50 lengths in front of the pack who simply did not have the heart and skill to match this terrible twosome who are unbelievably outstanding on their day in the sun. Now we are down to the run down the straight in front of the Stand and it's still neck and neck with Caley 1 shading it by a head. Whilst people are falling over the front stand rails andd ropping down on the people below, the hard-working jockeys are urging their steeds forward with everything they have. But now they know that both horses have each given so much energy and effort that these two have to battle their own kind to win this race and so the Jocks are simply holding the rains loosely and letting them go. As the crowd react in a fever pitch of excitement you can't even hear yourself think but with only a few yards to go there is a definite gap between the brave and bold horses and ittt's a WIN for Caley 1 by one length. What a race and what a worthy winner, But such a pity that either horse had to lose and that final spurt was all it took from one of the two utterly exhausted steeds to deliver the big prize. They say that no one remembers a loser but you will have to work very long and hard well into the future ,to convince anyone who was present at this "Blazing Saddles" tournament today, who saw this tremendous show of power, dedication, energy, skill and lovely colored tunics on the tiny Jockeys that this was a race where there was, and always will be, two mighty winners. .

Looking back to when I was a very young teenager and getting in to Telford Street and standing beneath the trees on the right side of the park as you enter for six pence, I can hardly credit the momentous changes and progress achieved by my team since then. Way back then I think T.V had just been invented and was presented in black and white on 12 or 14 inch screens !! Just being able to view the game on this absolutely stunning occasion is reward enough but when and if the cup is hoisted I will simply be riveted to the spot, standing in my living room in obeisance and unable to take my eyes off the T.V. And the joy will be so great all round that I simply cannot guarantee that a tear or two will not flow...so there. On that note can I go to the bathroom please? ......... For the 4th time today. :ictscarf:

Nice looking pub Scotty. Enjoy the game and the company. Looking good for a few folk now.

Legal for me too --for $4. Crazy. I can't get over it . Somebody up there must love me? My heart has been racing ever since the phone call came in. A wee tear slipped out after I put the phone down when the enormity of this momentous occasion really hit me but I quickly brushed it away so that Matilda, my beloved little girl cat wouldn't see it. She pretends that she thinks I'm a stiff upper lip kinda guy but I know that she really knows that I am just a big softie at heart. We play this stern game all the time but somehow she always ends up with what she really wants and that's her belly rubbed. Darned charmer. Settle back in Scarlet's high chair at 6.30 am on Saturday and enjoy the build up . Wait for the intermission for ads and dash to the microwave to get a cup of coffee then settle down for the main event with a wee toddy in my left hand, on account of the fact that in my right hand there will be another, different, toddy all purchased at great cost specially for the occasion. Out come the teams and Scar baby spills his drink on the chaise longue 'cos his hand is trembling so much that it's rhythm matches that of his heart. Settles down and prays to G..d that he is still alive by game end. Cheers guys--enjoy the moment. It's really great to be a child again isn't it.

I have a feeling that whoever wins the 2015 cup will have had to work very hard for the honour!

Hullo dear Canadian and U S chums.. After much work I have managed to oblige my Western Canadian T V friends to find me the channel , that's going to show the GAME on Saturday, So, finally I received a call today from my hard working Chinese Technician from Shaw Cablevision, the Western Canadian cable provider, to say that they have finally found a channel that is streaming the game . And are going to set this channel up for me today and check back on Saturday at 3.30 p,m (GMT) to make sure I am viewing it on my 52 " screen in full technicolour and in possible H.D. Now that's service with a smile eh? Wheeeeeee! I am ecstatic and jumping around in my living room punching the air as often as I can in a ridiculously childish show of emotion. I LOVE IT! Which I know you will not hold against me----- forever. I hope. The Shaw Cable Channel in Western Canada is in the green sports section ---GOL T.V. which I think is either 147 or 167 and probably is H D accessible. Gol T V states on their 2010 webpage that the channel is 151 but that surely must by now be out-of date.Total cost to me for the 3-4 days will be about $4---daylight robbery. GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!

As for O'Fere I think he may stay but for how long into the future? 2-3 years or he does well and likes the town. and stays on for a longer time. Just have to wait and see. My wife went for a coffee and a doughnut at Starbucks in London and it cost her $10Can. equivalent,. Here? About half that. She says that travel is expensive over your way--a double decker bus ride to the suburbs of London especially. Gasoline was double the cost in Scotland in 2006. Today she is off to the shops to compare prices and goods. I must admit I found Canadian prices to be less than those in Blighty back in 2006 when I was last over. Maybe gas prices have evened out recently though with the drop in the value of oil. Currently we are on $1.31 Can per liter ($6 per gallon)in Western Canada or equivalent to 3.18 pounds per gallon-- rough calculations. In Real Estate transactions here we seem to get hosed by often incompetent Realtors who put an advertisement online and just wait for calls. I tried selling my house myself but the Realtors drove their clients round the block so that they avoided seeing my sign and by and large they boycotted the sale. The buyer retains the bizarre idea that a "For sale by Owner " means a lack of professionalism because they, the buyers, don't know very much about the process themselves and so opt for the safety of selling with what they think is a professional Realtor. Then they have to keep phoning their Realtor for updates on the sale and to prod them into activity. Realtors are primarily after listings because the more homes they have listed the better chance THEY have for a sale. It's a rough business!! It's all about sales commissions and money, not the client. After any sale a client is easily forgotten.

But the substitute keeper didn't do too badly did he? Great experience for him too?

Hit them hard from the off. Don't let 'em settle. This will take the pressure off the back four and keep them fresh for the inevitable push back which must come to allow the opposition to score. Just a thought.

That was my main plan Hawkeye, but the second option will now be on the radar too. Thanks! S.P.

Perth ICT--your comment could also be applied to Real Estate Agents in Canada whose commissions start at $15,000. One agent who once sold a home for me told me recently that he made $175,000 last year but has decided to retire due to illness. That's about 90,000 pounds at todays exchange rate. He's really professional though .

I like Williams but haven't heard his name too many times this season. Works hard..........

Bottom Line? : It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to see ICT in this unique Final and it will be a great day of football. I don't think Falkirk gives a jot about how good Caley Thistle is because this is a very special game and they will be upping their game greatly. Let the best team win and let it be a fabulous final. Anyone who can't be bothered to get off their chair, get a ticket and have a great, excitintg day out at Hampden Park are going to be the losers. My wife is on holiday in London otherwise I would be there myself. What I am doing to see it, however is to have contacted the Service Supervisor for the Western Canada Cable company, of which we are a customer and persuaded him to find a channel for me that runs a video of the game and he has been unable to locate one so-o-o----he then arranged for one of his good techs whom I know to call me and he promised to call me back Friday next, set up his own VPN service with me over the phone and allow me to access the video of the game online. What I must do now is to find out where I can access the BBC live game video(or any other live video) so I can download it onto my computer on the Saturday, 30 May.--can anyone assist me here please? Will the BBC video link be on our match day thread? Thank you, Nail biting S.P.--------------- P.S. no quicks left now, starting on finger tips.

What Iain doesn't tell you is that he then went back to reading Destinies in Motion until he again fell asleep to awake three hours later totally refreshed and thinking he was a wizard.

Niall--the young gent in your photo is the spitten image of Charlie Harpers' sidekick, Alan, in the very U.S.successful T V show called Two and a Half Men. The actor's name is Jon Cryer. The main star is Charlie Sheen earning $1,000,000 per episode prior to his going of his rocker and quitting the show. Very slick show.

Drepends on whether they want to risk another Meekings-Gate publicity. Methinks they will all be sick on that Thursday but will make a miraculous recovery by the Saturday to see Caley Thistle walk off the park with he cup held high and photograph all the delirious ICT fan hordes?

Wasn't Richard Brittain the former Captain. i.e a very good, hard working and skilled player as I recall? OOPS! what happened to him to be now in a state of releasedom.? Too old maybe? Or is it that he needed a good manager like John Hughes to get him going again with enthusiasm.?

Yep! that shifty Cftci, Kingsmills.

Ross P --put an "ST" in front of the R in wrong, then eliminate the "w" and that's it sorted.

Many a word spoken in jest, Wanderer......but:- The last thing we need to do is exhaust Josh emotionally before a VERY important match where he can be a key player. No matter what has happened he is a generally fine person who has contributed magnificently to the final outcomes of this season and it's the club's duty now not to throw him to the wolves but to protect him from the hairy hordes of vile-spewing robots. This game should be used to blood youngsters for short spells only - otherwise the large, hostile crowd may shatter their spirit and confidence , give berths to more experienced players who can relish the atmosphere, handle the racket and play with spirit and aplomb. At the slightest sign of deliberate physical aggression against any of our players who might be used in the FInal these players should be withdrawn from the field. Then Wild Willie Collum can do what he does best --issue yellow cards and, hopefully as many reds as he has in his pocket. How many yellows and reds do the refs carry anyway? Truth is , Guys, sorry but I don't know the answer because we don't know whether the above scenarios may take place or not and the hordes may simply retain a sullen silence in the face of being in the presence of a better team?

He's like Ciftci then? Got the talent but brawn over brains is what he likes to do. Correct? He gets hot flushes to his brain and all, and it's stop the player at all costs....?

How about a huge set of cards stating "We love Wily Willie (Collum)"

Well, I only saw the highlights Bauhaus. Can't be everywhere you know. In the Celtic semi, for example, he seemd to have been completely neutered as a hard man tackler. What's your opinion of him ?

I am giving you a "like" Laurence for revealing your human side. That' surely an enduring memory for you like it was in a similar situation for me. Never expected to even get the ball but scored when It did finally arrive. Whee!