absent friend

I thought this was Livi's day of reckoning.

Donald, sorry mun, we have gone off at a tangent but it is that CB winding up the Scottish Liberals - That was Johnny's banner!

McLean won only because all the voters were not present at the LaScala or JB would have won by a mile and yes, Russell was there to take over in 1964. The rest is recent history. Is Johnny part of your family tree or is it just the name being the same? It would be ironic if my SNP/Braveheart/Liberal hero shared your gene pool!

Interesting points there. These are days I just remember. Would this have been the 1959 election? But, unless I've misunderstand what you've said, was Johnny Bannerman not a Liberal? I remember my mother met him once. Unless of course you mean that, even though he was a Liberal, he had a lot of genuine Scottish national (small "n") sentiments. As far as I recollect the first time the SNP fielded a candidate it was a wee wifie called Athole Cameron in 64 or 66 who polled a very small amount. Charles, I feel sure it would have been 1959 and he may well have been under the Liberal banner but my memory is the 'Braveheart' presentation he gave. It was wonderful theatre, the oratory was not, as now, someone else's words spun to suit the listener but straight from the heart. I remember McLean had invited questions and a wheelchair bound young fellow, a doctors son from Old Edinburgh Road called Jimmy, started to ask a question and due to his condition was a slower speaker. McLean cut him off by stating "We have no time for you" and all Hell broke out from the audience and the meeting finished on a sour note. Johnny Bannerman was therefore a favourite before he started and as stated, milked us dry! .

One of the things I am grateful for is my Inverness heritage with regard to politics. My first move was to West Lothian where their mining background had left such a politically divided society and this was a real eye opener for me. I then landed in Edinburgh, very different! I feel that we in Inverness were lucky in that we had Independents standing in different Wards and therefore we were quite used to our elected councillor 'stealing' issues from other parties, if they were correct to support, a stance I still applaud. I do however admit to a love affair with the Nats when I was very young but I was not on my own! We had all come from Neil McLean's, Con, dull address in the Empire to Johnny Bannerman, in the LaScala, on the eve of polling. Now Johnny Bannerman stood under the banner of THE real SNP candidate - that's old SNP - not the new hyped up one, where he entertained us with oratory so colourful that even now I can feel it embrace my senses. The content was not as important as the 'follow me' battle call. The sound system broke down and he immediately turned it to his advantage - 'That will be the McLean camp trying to silence me but they are not on!!' Off came his kilt jacket, to loud cheers and his presentation was racked up a notch. How could a young laddie not fall in love with all he stood for? .

My favourite story regarding Highland Park was being there on a Friday NOT standing in line for a dram and was approached to find out the reason. I explained I did not like taking water in my dram and without it, it was too strong for me. Off goes my guy to come back with a bottle of 7up, rescued a dram for me and there I was in love with the world. We discussed my enjoyment of HP, of Orkney and their way of life and whilst I was flying down to Wick for a weekend party that afternoon, I was looking forward to returning on Monday. As I was about to leave HP for the plane, a young lad came up to me and said I could not leave without signing out, an unknown requirement at that time. I was instructed on where to 'sign-out' and when I arrived there instead of signing anything, was presented with a clinking bag "for the weekend" Never, never, was a party so enjoyed - a weekend of Highland Park fun! Just as well there were no customs at Wick airfield although I feel that with their superior taste in the good things in life, I would have been able to 'bribe' my way down the aircraft steps! A beautiful dram made by wonderful people, with their way of life somehow woven into the taste. .

HT:2-0 FT:4-0 1st Scorer ICT:Rooney 1st Scorer Opp:Barr Crowd 941

I love the stupidity of the, mainly, Labour spokespeople - 'He does not speak for Scotland, I do! Nobody wanted him released! 'But the Radio Scotland phone in had a majority for his release' 'There are many who cannot use phones or emails and they are all against it!' ... 'I represent ***** area as a councillor and nobody in my area wanted him released!' 'Nobody?' 'Not one person' I think we have the message spokespeople - we cannot think for ourselves - you have to do it for us! ... In an interview from the States it was stated that not one paper, coast to coast in America yesterday. had this on their front page. We then have Jakie McConnell, telling us how this is the biggest thing in America and EVERYONE is so upset with KM. 'Subo' made more waves in the US than this!! .

Don, how does the potential income stack up? In your opinion:- Will the attendance numbers be up or down on the season prior to our promotion? Is the 'per head' take still the same as then? This will be ticket price/corporate etc income? I would imagine the players income could be higher than back then but in this hard times maybe not! Would the ?350k not be within the figures in the accounts and therefore if we lose the case we become another ?350k worse off, in the balance sheet as well as in the bank? I am hoping your opinion will be -Up, Up, Up, Income similar, ?350k set aside outwith accounts.

HT:0-0 FT:1-2 1st Scorer ICT: Foran 1st Scorer Opp: Hart Crowd 4941

Being a non-smoker I admit that this subject is not very dear to my heart but I have read the comments and have one or two thoughts on the subject. Civil Liberties - if you are allowed to leave the stadium of your own free will at any time where is the problem relating to civil liberty? I accept that this may negate your re-entry but I don't think you are at liberty to dictate to the club, their terms for your re-entry. Films - are you allowed to exit and re-enter as and when you need a puff? Despite the foregoing I do feel that the club could accommodate the addicts and make their afternoon enjoyment that wee bit better. Maybe it is the only enjoyment they may experience that afternoon. Can't be difficult to use cloakroom tickets, steward manning one gate. If the re-entry demand means they lose part of the restart so be it, it will be similar to the pie Q problem. .

It is obvious from the postings on here that this issue is seen in a different light by contributers - a very healthy response. However, I do feel proud of the Executive and KM for their handling of this difficult issue. They, unlike Westminster, did not bow to the US pressure nor, I feel sure, the pressure from within Westminster but took stock of the situation, made up their own mind and KM delivered a superb speech, backing their actions. Right or wrong, a job well done.

I think you have given Scotty & Co a ready reference for the future. "Please watch the following video paying particular heed to the area - it is our site and therefore you are our guest, act accordingly!!"

You should also have a BOTH button at the voting section. 1) If the case was again to be heard, with all the legal costs, I feel sure it would be in the ?millions - paid for by the taxpayer. 1a) If he was found to be not proven/innocent the claim for compensation would be ?millions - paid for by the taxpayer. 2) The cost of keeping him secure must be very high. Paid for by the taxpayer. 3) The medical costs must be high - paid for by the taxpayer. 4) By the time any/all the above took place he would be already dead - and sent home - a waste of cash and energy. Send him home now - spend the money on the NHS/Education - we are all winners.

What the Feck are you talking about? You may aswell wrote in German because the only words that made sense was the swearing. Makes total sense to me! Maybe your lack of understanding says a lot about Dornoch schooling.

What was wrong with it? A previous system that they endeavored to delete, was only partially deleted but they thought they had totally erased it and therefore they assumed it was the new system/ my computer/ the other geek(s)/ the weather/the day of the week/the telephone system/my accent, that was at fault.

Here is one oldie that spent the last two days on my PC with remote geeks trying to install a new system. 'That's ok now sir, just carry on from here inserting your details' 1 hour later, many sweary words from me, I again phoned, this time another geek 'No that was wrong, now try this and then insert details' More sweary words and more repeat calls and two very sweaty days later and the job is done. Now that is because I am older?? On behalf of all the older guys - IT WAS THE YOUNG GEEKS FAULT!

HT: 1-0 FT: 2-0 1st Scorer ICT: Rooney 1st Scorer Opp: Jack Crowd 941

Could the difference since Pele days not so much be a player thing but a manager thing. Maybe the teams now are more tactically aware and are able, as on Saturday, to crowd out the better team and end up with a point and a lot of frustrated home fans. The training could also have changed from pie and pints to pasta and fitness. A player/team is only as good as the opposition allows them to be - I think we showed in the SPL over the years that this was the case, the press, however, blamed it all on lucky ICT. I do think we lack guile up front, not muscle and as the players strengths/knowledge/confidence emerge, maybe we will see some of this taking place.

How about the well paid professional that took his millions to Dundee instead of his first love, Aberdeen, because of the abuse that the chairman of Aberdeen receives from the 'fans' and he did not want to 'enjoy' this?? Of course the players hear it, of course they discuss it, of course they are friends of other potential targets that TB may have, of course they will encourage said friends to come and be verbally abused, of course it is not your fault for verbally abusing/encouraging the team - it is your right, of course ICT should be the finished article after a handful of games, of course Ayr played a sh.t tactical game and we should have strolled it. AYE, RIGHT!! Some of our players are on short term contracts and I am sure this will make Terry's job easier when a contract extension is discussed.

I take it this is still your sentiment regarding all the Irishmen that signed up to fight for the British King and Country and were accepted as a potent fighting force - oh, yes and they would have been Catholic as well!!

half time 2-0 full time 3-1 ICT Rooney Ayr Prunty crowd 2491

The motives are quite easy to understand, Highland council pension fund has money tied up in Tesco. It's about time there was a public enquiry on this matter. SOURCE Am I to understand, from the above, that none of the ?750 million is invested in Walmart either direct or via fund holdings? If this be the case I feel they should have a close look at their fund managers. Investing in Tesco returned a loss of circa 70% in the last 12 months, so if their stance was in defence of their holding it has cost them big time. Not the sort of argument that will win many debates, I'm afraid, but it looks good. "We won't let Asda in, Jimack and this will lose us another 70% in their part of the pension fund. You know it makes sense!" "Riteeenuf, Dan, super duper mun. You fair know your way around this investments" .

Well Kiltarlity, the cat is now very much out of the bag!! Is it a little blue pill for you Sir? Maybe a rather racy number will help with your problem Sir? You just like browsing Sir? You just wanted to follow the ICT team when they came in? Yes Sir, Mr Bannerman is here in a reporting capacity. .

Nairn County centre forward, Davie Johnstone, went straight into Aberdeen's first team, playing in Europe, if I remember correctly. He then got homesick and returned to Nairn before again joining the big boys, this time with Hearts.