Scarlet Pimple

Never in my life did I see anything like that at so young and innocent an age,. Charlie. Inverness was upright and proper in these days I can assure you and maybe that was why I turned out all right mate. Well, half decent, like.

Atlantic squalls imminent unless we 'ave Summer Footie soon.

Well, summer football might just bring short-lived torrential thunderstorms, occasional lightning, brighter conditions, no playing under expensive lights and bigger energy bills, probably no postponements , refs not getting chapped lips from blowing their whistle repeatedly, better visibility, no players' broken legs or ice related injuries, no need for scarves or overcoats and no need for old guys over 70 to wear long johns and, and... Let's have a vote --it's a no brainer. Look, this is Scotland and winter has always been the traditional time of year for football and if it aint broke why fix it.? And while we are examining the matter we should not consider such unnecessary things as goal-line videos, warmer and more relaxed spectators, a better match-day experience, less risk of old Johnnie and his older wife falling down and breaking their brittle legs on their first visit to Tulloch Stadium and, and...

Because they were ahead of their times and there was money in it, of course. Not to mention the fact that wee Scarlet got in for free "cos Mammy and Daddy were good friends with Mr Frank Taylor the owner and a real gentleman. And we all knew the very nice lady who was I/C the ticket kiosk who also just happened to live at the top of Dunain Road where we lived too. These mere co-incidences do happen in life don't you know? And Mr. Frank had a sophisticated desire to educate the young boy, which was very laudatory but this philanthropic attitude was regularly bypassed by an over-zealous mother who stymied all these attempts to achieve his goal. So my stunted development had to continue unabated until I was drafted into the RAF when a rare weekend visit to Hamburg in North Germany opened young Scarlet's eyes to the world of delicious reality. Or more accurately perhaps, to the reality of deliciousness. And thereby hangs a tale and it wasn't off the end of a donkey either. And I know that Bughtmaster will relish this Tale of Two Cities--Inverness and Hamburg.

I'd give you an A, IHE, for that last post you made , but you never give me a " like" so eat yer heart out, buddy. Methinks you Are An Attention - getter but not An Attention giver, "Aye."

SIGH!

I thought it was Lochend, IHE, but what that wee building on the rise represents is beyond me.

Go on Yogi--continue to speak out. You arte dead right. Summer football is the only way to bring back the fans.

Re 'Boosey", the name of the other boy, as I now recall, was John Holmes. If he was in Americcy nowadays, there is an outside chance that with a name like that he might be black. For the uninitiated, the " epithet comes from an association with the Deep South where, at one time, in New Orleans for example, the area was part of the French territories. ...thus " l'homme" equals man. The subsequent ' Louisiana Purchase" by the northern Americans, which ceded a huge (i.e colossal) tract of land to them from the French, changed that scenario somewhat. This purchase enriched the Northern U. S. immeasurably and was literally ( in my view anyway) a sell-out by the French...more out of desperation at their financial challenges and it got the Yankees off their backs.. However, he was more of the supporter, quieter type, not the mover and shaker that Willie was. I didn't dislike Willie who, for the most part, actually had quite an engaging personality. In those days, also, physical punishment was not frowned upon and Mr. "Boosey" once gave Willie a terrific crack on the back of his head with his hand that it was a wonder that he survived. He did and it seemed to make no difference to his outlook or behaviour...sigh. Me? I just fidgetted until the teacher got fed up looking at me and I was belted very hard . At least Willie and I had one thing in common--we were both rebels without a cause--just too much energy I suppose and boredom held sway too.

Well, the assembly is much smaller than I remember--that's what ageing does for you. In 1953 I was fifteen so almost certainly I was in that photo. Cor Blimey, that's an eerie thought. IHE, with your mystical powers , can you single me out please? I had hair in these days so that fact alone should make it easy for you, ,eh? One retains memories on a grander scale than they probably were on the day. But this particular view is a surprise to me.... probably due to the relative awe I had in these days for the fact that I was in "THE" Academy and watching men in long black gowns walking tall. Nope, they did not ride high in the saddle since this is auld Scotland we are looking at, not the high plains of Montana (the big sky country). Also Clint Eastwood was not even born at that date in time.

Scraps? Oh, you mean a coffee ground?

The only two boys in my class at the Academy who caused trouble were two over steroidal nutters whose sole reason for coming to school was , seemingly , to drive Boosey the music teacher to total distraction. The poor guy was the genuine article and he was driven to not only distraction but tears and I felt really sorry for him. The name of one of these boys was Willie (Allen I think)and he was the main culprit--there for the laughs only and a perfect little bugger from the Ferry. Oh yes and both were bright too but a musical career was never high on their agenda, not compared to banging desk lids anyway. I wonder if they ever looked back and have pangs of guilt at how they drove the poor guy nearly mental. For a detailed account of how a sane man was nearly turned into a quivering shadow,. for a reasonable sum of money, sent me a PM with a photo of a postal Order Postal to verify your solvency. Credit Reports will not be requested since you are an exalted member of this site. Warning--the hidden video will contain acidic inhumanity and will not be suitable for children under the age of 7 years whose names may be " Warbler" or "Spy" or " Moremore"

Good point Gordie--I came over the last time in August and nearly froze to death, got the flue and was miserable. That's one reason why I did not show up at the Innes that and the fact that I don't drink much at all.

Ach! Addendum:- absolutely. Actually, you guys are quite accurate and, additionally, app-friendly. Absentee-ism at this match will not be tolerated because it will be the antithesis of good form. Aye! C'mon. attend and help us to accrete more points. And, for good measure, work on your attention span which must not be allowed to slip. And, IHE, bring your pet Moose --in all his 7-point ANTLER glory. Good afternoon,

The second one is the front of the Central School isn't it?

And if the leagues go over to Summer football how will removing the grass and replacing it with this type of pitch be a good thing?

Scared off may be right. Just stopped myself in time from suggesting the beautiful lady's age--assuming that she was 12 when she started there. Now she enters the era when she gradually relies on her age to make an impression --- like, "you youngsters, don't you dare talk back to me like that. I remember when I was a your age........... complete as desired." The one thing that I find so appealing about old age is the look in a girl's eye when she walks past --you know, a combo of withering pity, a small flicker of interest when she is obviously thinking .."oh, well he might make an interesting gandpa", the toss of the head that instantly means "HE's got no chance anyway" and seeing the disbelief in my eyes realizing that she is obviously not interested in my good legs. Why "appealing"? --because it instantly brings me down from my throne in the sky to the crushing reality of my pathetic daily existence as an aging former blue-eyed boyo who once had the ability to turn on his OiRish blarney at will but have now just forgotten the words. Sigh! Only IHE has good legs now--I think,

So your great Aunt was a Duxess ? Dougie Danger. Wow. Clearly there was NUN like her.

Don't jump until you check your R I G G I N G , Rig!

I see you have had a reduction in gasoline prices in the U K but they are still not as low by far as the price here in Canada which is about $1 per liter compared to about $1.75 which would be your price converted to Canadian dollars. Long may it continue ..

And Aberdeen are getting much, much larger crowds than us. So,if that kind of interest from the Aberdonian fans continues then they are also likely to continue to be successful. Which will make our own continued success as being all the more remarkable won't it? Actually, our success in the face of our minimalistic crowd base is incredible. And a great tribute to the management and the new manager and , not to mention, the spirit of the players and the club. What teamwork is that?.. FANTASTIC. Nevertheless, if they were to win rather than Celtic, I would be quietly pleased. Not overjoyed but Q.P.

Nahh! Charles--I meant innocent and not wordly-wise.... Try Gunsmoke or the Rifleman next time out. Iain--well now, you retired at an early age eh? Being a paratrooper must have paid well in your day. I have an ageing friend still in Inverness who is 86. Reminiscing with him one day I asked him why he joined the paratroopers to which he replied."Och, they offered me more money." I answered ..."How much, George?" to which he responded "About a shilling a day....!" In Real Estate, huh? What's the average price of a new, 3200 square foot, 3 bedroom house on a 5,000 square foot lot in Belleville these days? Let me guess ...about $450,000? -- How close is that ? I have not been to the East except for landing at Toronto Airport on the way over here some 40 years ago so I just don't know the area at all . Have you ever been out West? I live in Maple Ridge,. British Columbia. : Lots to choose from here:- https://www.google.ca/search?q=maple+ridge+bc+pictures&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-SearchBox&ie=&oe=&rlz=&gfe_rd=cr&ei=kYS0VPmZOuns8we1qoGICQ&gws_rd=ssl Whether or not I know you or past connections is open to exploration. You ask me to phone or connect with your office in Ontario--golly, gosh, are you the owner/broker? Tell you what, I will send you a brief p.m. and we shall see what we shall see? Cheers.S.P.

Charlie you are awful; but I like you ...... Benny hill c. 1953 The references you mention are unknown to me. Maybe if you had mentioned Gunsmoke or The Rifleman I might have twigged it Regardless...."And your point is?" I think you misunderstand the meaning of the word "uncomplicated" as meaning asinine or vacuous but actually I meant "innocent" and/or "not particularly wordly-wise" as much as anything, Sigh! Dealing with the intelligentsia in the form of teachers is challenging these days. Yep! The times they are a-changin'.

Juanjo for sheer entertainment and skill. Pity he didn't stay the course..? And that bust up with Neil Lennon--priceless.