Canada Bob

I can tell you I'm gutted, hard to believe they could play that badly, spoke to a couple of the lads who went to the match and they said it looked like they were chucking the game, rather than looking to win it, especially in the first half, bad enough to lose at home but a deeper cut to lose to a second rate Yorkshire team, worse still for the lads who thought that even giving 10 points away they were on a good thing, what s sh*gger hey, it's cleaned me out tonight, no bet for me tomorrow, I'll be keeping me head down... The ONLY thing I can say to take the edge off it is, my gamble was just a billionth of "Gordon's Gamble", the pain is over for me, but Gordon has it to come when he comes unstuck...

Here's the latest on how far Gordon is dragging the country into the mire, I didn't know it was this bad... It's a few quid aint it... Makes that betting slip I just ripped up {backed Wigan to beat Castleford} look like nowt at all, just a billionth of Gordon's Gamble...

They played like cnuts, hard to believe, they were booed off the ground. To add to the misery, that's the first time they've lost the first 3 games of the season since 1985, FFS, and I had to be on um That cost me 2100 quid, just shows how easy it is to get carried away when you've won a few bets, back to square one now, wish I'd not taken me cell phone out with me today, damn...

QoS vs St Johnstone to Draw @ 3.20

Got a call from Jackie Edwards this morning saying that Wigan RLFC look a good bet at 1/2 to be in front at ht/ft for the game against Castleford tonight, he says "the lads on the field will have a vested interest in the game", take that how you like... I decided to take the easier money and managed to get 2/7 for the ft result, it don't sound like brilliant odds but if Wigan win it'll drop 600 quid into me pocket.

I see that yet another SIR has been found with his fingers in the till, to the tune of 8 BILLION $'s this time, FFS... Beggars belief... What's the count to date with these b*stards, one Lord or Sir after another, not to mention MP's. Poor old Lester hey, got banged up in jail for failing to remember some of his income, not only was he banged up but he has his Knighthood taken off him, how come nothing is being said about this lot, time the sword was place on their shoulders again, this time a lot faster...

I have to say that Vancouver has to be my favourite city in the world but I could never contemplate leaving Scotland forever. What makes Scotland Scotland though ? it's not the land, the lochs, or the rivers, you can find the same thing in many places, the thing that makes Scotland Scotland is the Heritage and the Culture, yet both things prevail, nay thrive in Nova Scotia, more so than many parts of Scotland. When was the last time you saw this many Pipe Bands ! Take Cape Breton a huge island approx 4,000 sq miles, the Northern part of Nova Scotia, it was "given" by Charles 1st to Robert Gordon of Lochinvar {Scottish enough for you} ? almost 400 years ago, since then droves of folks left old Scotland for {better lives} in New Scotland. The only thing that Charles the 1st didn't do was declare it to be part of Scotland. By the way, for those who think Canada is "way up North", Nova Scotia is at the same Latitude as the South of France, some 700 miles south of Inverness. One of the Legendary characters of Nova Scotia/Cape Breton was Michael MacDonald of South Uist who after landing in Cape Breton spent his first winter living under his upturned boat. This is the Scottish Heritage of Nova Scotia, something that Cape Bretoners still recall with pride. Like the legendary Michael MacDonald folks from Scotland would find Nova Scotia a home from home, those who make the move rarely go back, except for a holiday that is. Nova Scotia aint called "New Scotland" for nothing, the land is the same in fact it really is the same, Nova Scotia broke off Scotland millions of years ago, part of what's known geologically as "the Great Glen" is there for all to see in Cape Breton. The land is the same, 80% of the people are from the same stock, the culture is alive, thriving and promoted more in Nova Scotia than many parts of Scotland. You wouldn't feel less Scottish if you lived on Sanda, the only thing is, Nova Scotia drifted out further into the Atlantic. No loss of Heritage here... Pipe Bands I could go on all day about the benefits of living in Canada, I've lived in four Provinces, and enjoyed life in them all, but to me Atlantic Canada has something special about it, no matter where I roam I can't find a better place to live, nor a better a better people to live amongst. If any of you ever think about jumping ship, Canada is the place to head for, and if I can ever help you climb aboard just give me a shout.

Just had the pleasure of watching Billy Connolly's "Journey to the edge of the Earth", 'specially as the first episode profiled Nova Scotia {my neck of the woods these days}, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. Seems that Billy was surprised to see the Pipe Bands {more now in Canada now than in Scotland}, Highland Games, Highland Dancers, Gathering of the Clans, Nova Scotia {aka New Scotland} has it's own registered Tartan, not to mention the Halifax Tattoo that rivals the Edinburgh Tattoo. Nova Scotia / New Scotland I guess he didn't know that 80% of Nova Scotian's are within 3 generations of being Scottish. Almost made me homesick watching it, but I'll be back in May, when the snow has gone, grin. If you didn't see the program it'll be on the ITV catch up thing, well worth watching especially for folks looking for a better life, believe me, what you see in the program is what you get {a better life}. ITV catch up... Well done Billy, you did us proud...

See a few other older lads have popped up from the woodwork demanding DNA tests, claiming they are the father of Maisie. Probably DNA is the only test they could pass listening to some of them speak LOL, talk about many a true word spoken in jest, sigh...

Forgetting the age of the kids for a moment, the thing that shocks me is that they both came from "good families" check the link below to see for yourselves. Tell you what Alfies mother looks like a goer too, bonny woman that, it would be a hard choice between Alfies mother and the girls mother, I can see me and Clacher picking them up on a Friday night, we'd have to fight over who got who though. Looks like Alfies dad knows how to pick up a benefit book, having "8 kids of his own", how much tax do you think he pays in a year, or a lifetime. Next time you look at how much they've taken in tax out of your wages, at least you'll know where it's going. Benefit Breeders It looks to me as though all this was set up to get a pay off from the News of the World, like that so called kidnapping in Yorkshire, and the papers have fallen for it again. They'll have got a few quid already from selling the story, but that's just the start of it, looks like someone will be busy printing a few more benefit books out, at least their fekkin' job is secure. Clacher, you seen Nessie lately ? I'll be across next week to confirm what you saw, "Nessie, beamed up by Aliens" at least it's believable. It's a bit fekkin' much aint it, shelling out for these low lifes, lining the pockets of the Bankers and then to see MP's and Lords fiddle their expenses {over 500 quid a day, tax free}, it beggars fekkin' belief... Canada Bob.

Kinell, they made me sweat for that, if that's what Jackie Edwards thinks is hissing it I wouldn't want to be on when he thought it might be a close run thing. But, all's well that ands well, I think I'llgo have a lay down the now, I feel like I've run further than the lot of 'em... Canada Bob.

DAMN !!! Just when I thought me money was in the bag the Welsh defence falls asleep, I'll have to phone Shaun to find out WTF is going on, sigh, where's Gareth Edwards when you need him, or JPR Williams, they'd run england ragged... Canada Bob.

I just near dug meself in a bit too far, went round to Betfair to have some more on Wales, thinking I might get 4/6 or so, but they were 2/5, I'm not laying that with England just 1 point down at ht. Add to that, I'd be better not following up when I've had a few pints of Guinness, I've done me sums wroung, I had a monkey on St Mirren to draw, so I won 1200 quid off that, then lost 100 quid on Caley at 9/2, so before me bet on Wales I was up 1100 quid, not 1500 quid, sigh, it'll be 1500 hundred quid "if" Wales don't b*gger it up, but if they do I'll finish the day 900 quid down FFS... I guess the moral is, don't mix Guinness with Betting, sigh... Canada Bob.

Damn, Wales ant scored since you sent me the above, and england have scored 8, I'm getting a bit anxious now, even though Jackie Edwards {Shaun Edward's Dad} said they'd hiss it. I've 4 monkeys to one monkey on Wales... If Wales win I win 3 monkeys on the day, if they don't I lose a monkey, I did hundred quid in on Caley at 9/2 but I thought they'd do it at half time when they were 1 up, sigh, I wunt mind if they'd got beat when they had a full team on the field, but to be down to 10 men always makes you wonder "what would have been', if nowt else if gived the other team the motivation, and I think it gets at you when they are coming at you in waves and you're a man down... Hope yuv not jinxed me :thumb04: Canada Bob,

You were right Reef, you did stiffen Caley Don

Kinell, you got lucky there, what was it, final kick of the match Canada Bob.

A draw wouldnt be so bad considering we are gonna pump dundee utd! I picked up a deent bet on the St Mirren v Falkirk game, got 12/5 off Hills, nice pick up there, but GUTTED that Caley didn't win. I couldn't resist the 9/2 on offer, and when I saw they were up at half time I was ore the moon, but sick as a dog on me way home when I heard the results in the car, 1 bleedin 1. It only made it worse to hear Caley played the last 20 minutes with 10 men, damn, damn, damn, I'd have cleaned up if they'd hung on... I've a good bet on Wales to beat england now, if they don't I lose what I'll finish up losing on the day... Canada Bob.

Just incase there's 6 games played, I'll take St Johnstone @ 1.60

Canada Bob how is it the worst result for ICT, i would say it probaly the best as a falkirk win would be the worst and if we get anything from our game a draw would mean at least we would not go further behind falkirk and if we win we could actually catch up on them. The way I see if is, St Mirren and Falkirk know it's either one of them or Caley that'll be going down, and points are hard to come by for all of them. I think it could come down to a single point between the bottom two {whoever they are} so even a single point anytime between now and the end of the season is vital for a clubs survival. St Mirren and Falkirk could go at it like dog and cat on Saturday, or decided that a point each sets Caley further adrift, how many times have we seen that happen, even at International level, I fear they'll kick the ball about for 90 minutes on a gentleman's understanding, time will tell... Other than that, if it's not a draw then that helps Caley, so you won't feel bad losing a few quid if it don't end in a draw, but if it does, then you can drown your misery with a few pints... It's one of those times you hope you lose a bet, oddly enough you know what happens then... Canada Bob.

Looks like it to me, sigh... Anyway, my money is on St Mirren and Falkirk to draw, a draw will be the best result for both of them, and the worst for ICT, and they know it... Canada Bob.

I think the Government and the Banks would like us to think that the "credit crunch" was brought about by the average guy getting into too much debt, be great if they could make us believe that hey, they could wash their hands clean if we did swallow it, but... I don't think the average bloke was carrying too much debt, fair enough they were in debt, but that debt was actually good for the economy, we were all doing well {in employemt} when we were all spending. I don't think that we were over burdened with debt, most folks/families held more in assetts than they did in debt, but... The problem came when Banks began trading "debt" as though it was a commodity, the more they traded in debts the more money they seemed to be making. This greed drove the Banks to encourage "debt" so they'd have more of it to wallow in. All of a sudden every one of us was finding "Pre Approved Plastic" dropping through the letterbox, are there any of you that haven't had these "free money" cards from Banks you've never even traded with, drop through your door... Promoting debt has lead hundreds of thousands of folks in the UK into waters deeper than they could cope with, it was just a matter of time before they got into trouble. Folks were tempted into debt, that's easily done, what's a bigger temptation than "easy money", but the blame really is down to Government when they failed to restrain {by the Regulations already in place} the feeding frenzy of the Banks and speculators. Even though there was a head long gallop into debt by Millions of folks, at the end of the day 95% of them had more assetts than debt, the Banks had the opposite, they held more debts than assetts ! So it aint YOUR fault at all, it's down to the greedy b*stards and the Government who stood by while all this was happening. Here's the worst part, if these b*stards had pulled it off, they'd all be richer, we'd all be poorer, but now that it's ended in tears, they are all richer, while the nation is facing insolvency, a classic scam on a massive scale of, heads we win, tails you lose. I was talking to an owd bloke in the pub this afternoon, he said that not all that long ago what the Bankers have done would have been thought of as Treason, and looking at what they have done to the Nation, I have to agree with him... So, I'll no be taking the blame for this fiasco, neither should you... PS: Like Blackpool's written through rock...

Looks to me as though these two could stitch us up if they decided on a draw ? A point each makes it that much harder for Caley to stay up, and they both know that. I'll be having a few quid on the draw, hoping to lose the money, but if they stitch Caley up then at least they'll be sponsoring a few pints to dull the pain...

Due to the tough economic times a barber decided he'd give free haircuts all week... One the first day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut, after the cut he puts his hand in his pocket to pay, and the barbers says... "Haircuts are free this week, it's my way of helping folks out in my community during these tough times"... The florist was impressed and taken aback as he left the shop. When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door. Later, a bus driver comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, "Haircuts are free this week, it's my way of helping folks out in my community during these tough times"... The bus driver is impressed and taken aback as he left the shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen bus passes waiting for him at his door. Later that day, a college professor comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, "Haircuts are free this week, it's my way of helping folks out in my community during these tough times"... The professor is impressed and taken aback as he left the shop. The next morning when the barber opens his shop, there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen different books, such as 'How to Improve Your Business' and 'Becoming More Successful.' Then, a politician comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies, "Haircuts are free this week, it's my way of helping folks out in my community during these tough times"... The politician is impressed and taken aback as he leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen politicians lined up waiting for a free haircut. In a light hearted way this just about describes the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the members of our Government.

Hello Rod... Canada is in a panic. Our Prime Minister has just decided to get rid of our annual surpluses of 13 Billion dollars , spend what we have in the Bank in the most gigantic bale-out package in history and run up our annual debts over the next five years to an astounding 85 BILLION DOLLARS. Hmmm, dint know that was going on Rod, what do they do, wait until I've left the country and then go mad, grin... That lot will take our kids the res of their life to pay off and by that time the financuial situation will have changed..interest rates will be up and the interest on that amount will not only add to our huge national debt but will well-nigh ensure that all futire annual returns will be in deficit as well. That's where the danger lays Rod, if Governments loose control of interest rates {and they will, it just a matter of time}, then everyone in debt will be knackered... I think the gobshytes in Government around the world don't know which way to turn so, it's down to "monkey see, monkey do" they are all betting on the same [low interest} horse, it's just a matter of which fence it will fall at. Plan B "print more money" aint much better either, because when the low interest game ends and Plan B comes into play, the folks who are in control of the money won't want devalued money, so if you want to borrow off them then it'll be their turn to set the rates, that's when they'll want 15% if yer lucky, we could easily see 30% in the next 2-3 years... pay off your debts as quickly as possible and , if by some miracle, that you can make reasonable to substantial savings each month and want to get a mortgage then get a variable rate one and stuff every penny that you can save every month into that mortgage.That will at least save you some interest. I'd be shy of taking a variable rate mortgage Rod, if you get stuck in a variable rate and they take a hike yer knackered... I'd be paying as much as I could off what I owe right now, if your bank will let you do that, don't just pocket the money that the lower interest rates have saved you, pay it off any debts you have that are carrying high interest rates, make hay while this {false} sun shines... Right now I am keeping what savings I have in the local Bank where deposits are guaranteed up to $100,000 by the Feds and am satisfied with a monthly compounding of Credit interest of 2.5% per annum. Have to admitt that I'm tempted by the 18% offered in Iceland, it's almost Hills odds that... I must admit with great reluctance that RBS shares at 12 pence per share (or less LOL) look like a very good buy if you are willing to take what I think is a minimal risk.... thinks,--I must talk to my stockbroker about this..... I guess if the worst came to the worst Rod at that price they are cheaper than Andrex, LOL...

Good post Bob. This is exactly what has been happening for the last 30-40 years. You have put it more elloquently than I could ever have managed! Thanks for the above, I guess there's a lot of people realising where we went wrong, but it's too late now, we just have to make the best of it right now. One of the concerns that I have is that folks will turn against middle of the road ideologies and turn to radical maybe even extremist groups. It's happened before, maybe not in the Untidy Kingdom, but it was stuff like this that brought Hitler and other despots to power. I hope we don't go down that route, but I fear that we may, folks who aren't able to think things through will again vote for the popular party, if that happens we'll sink even deeper into the shyte...