Charles Bannerman

Jimmy was the oldest player in the Highland League even before "modern times" began. :015:

I was just dismayed at the @rse we... or rather I.... made of the "countries with one border" round! As for the ICT round, Dennis first to 100 caught just about everybody and for the international caps we were only thinking about current players. Apart from that, I had never heard of the rugby guy.

I'm free!!!

Overseas games? No problem for Caley Thistle! Ross County away... across the Kessock Ferry!

I'm very much with you on that one. This seems to be a phrase which "admin" people and politicians just seem to throw into monologues at random intervals. Also "rolling out" which was far as I am concerned means "imposing the latest silly idea on everybody". And... "while you sort it out, I'll go and shag the ball" Interesting indeed how meanings change. When the USA entered World War 2, Winston Churchill described Franklin D Roosevelt's reaction to his (Churchill's) joy with the words: "He thought I was gay".

DOUG RITCHIE, BREAKFAST VERDICT - PASS WITH HONOURS. :025: In the best educational traditions, it is good practice instantly to reward positive behaviour and as a result I told Doug that evidence of his honourable self denial this morning would be posted here within the hour. Rotary Clubs from throughout Inverness gathered for breakfast at MacRae and ****'s showroom to witness the launch of the Jaguar XF... and of more concern to ICT weightwatchers, for breakfast. However I can now confirm that Doug succumbed only to a bowl of cereal and a cup of tea (without sugar.) To start with, I thought he was perhaps trying to escape my scrutiny since he seemed to get to a table at the other end of the room with the bulk of a Jaguar XF in between us. But as I went up for my second plateful of bacon, sausage, beans and tomato, Doug called me over to advise me that he had restricted himself to the aformementioned cereal and tea (without sugar). And this was also confirmed by the gentleman sitting on his left, whom I have known for some time and whose integrity is guaranteed by the fact that he is also a Caley Thistle fan. So well done Doug.... only 53 days to go.

Hilarious but, er... perhaps we should remember that this is the place that actuallty WON while Inverness's bid was turfed out at the very first stage, thus spawning the most expensive wooden spoon in history (aka the Highland Year of Culture.)

:015: I think it was actually called The Gondolier.

Indeed it was and it was possibly underused as a result. There was a bit of daylight, though. The Caledonian Canal was finished in 1822 and the 1840s was the great decade of railway development, although it was a bit later than that before there was significant coverage in the Highlands. By then canals had outlived their usefulness. On the other hand, the canal was used for short distance trips within the Highlands. For instance the Glenurquhart shinty team which came to Inverness for the Great Game against Strathglass travelled by steamer from Drumnadrochit to Inverness.

No, you mean Grassa was in YOUR class. :015:

I don't know if SP is necessarily confusing General Wade (1720s and 30s) and Telford who built the Caledonian Canal which opened in the early 1820s. There was a long interval between them.

SP... first of all horses. I think there has been a long and continuing association between the Dunain area and horses. For instance horses are still kept in a field just before Dunain Park on the A82 and there are more in the fields between the A82 and the canal where I think they still hold showjumping events. General Wade... an interesting tale of the Jacobite era. I could argue that there were FIVE Jacobite rebellions, if you include the attempts to restore James II and VII in 1689-90. Then there was an abortive attempt in 1708 where a French fleet got no further than the Forth and didn't disembark its troops. It's thought this was just a feint by Louis XIV to distract Britain's attention from the War of the Spanish Succession. After that there was the "15" where sanctions against its supporters were remarkably lenient I've always thought, followed by the short lived 1719 rebellion which ended in a battle at Glenshiel. By now the Hanoverian government was getting a bit fed up with this ongoing hassle and decided to set up a network of roads and barracks throughout the Highlands to facilitate troop dispositions and troop movements in order to discourage further trouble. General Wade was put in charge and the network included Ruthven Barracks at Kingussie and the road over the Corrieyairick from Fort Augustus to Kincraig. Old Edinburgh Road, as it continues up Glendruidh and past Milton of Leys to Faillie etc, is also a Wade Road. (And Inverness has a Wade Road off Old Edinburgh Road in the Milton Crescent scheme.) Wade's assistant and then successor was William Caulfield. Finally there was the "45", French support for which it could equally be argued was an attempt to distract Britain from the War of the Austrian Succession. There was always a lot of self interest in French "support" for the Jacobite cause. (Self interest... not at all like the French, eh?! :015:) This, of course, brings to mind the third verse of what must be the most turgid national anthem in the world (not a patch on the French one which is magnifique!) which begins "Lord grant that Marshal Wade may by they mighty aid victory bring. Then like a torrent rush, rebellious Scots to crush..." One more comment on Wade. It's a bit of an irony that one of the biggest aids the Jacobites had in flitting about the Highlands both at the begining and the end of the 45 was Wade's Roads! Charles Edward Stuart also fled from Culloden initially to Ruthven.

Yes.. two mistakes in one post... after the THIRD goal on the FIFTH of January! (On average I'm right though since 3+5 = 4+4) :015:

Which you find all around the Islands, rather than in the Loo-vre! :015:

And where Paris has Notre Dame, Inverness has a disused skating rink and a mountain of dogcrap.

Just texted Laura to warn her I'll be checking with Gordy as to who ordered gammon sizzlers. I will also be monitoring dfr's plate on Thursday morning (whilst stuffing myself with large helpings of fried Jaguar). Any one of the FFF who would like to join me for a run at any time would be very welcome. I'm just back from a 4 miler just now. On the other hand Les could maybe instead try a run round the block with the "bad company" he was keeping at the Clach Club on Saturday night. I predict the "bad company" will probably beat me in our next race, since she was only 8 seconds behind me last time out.

I think this thread should be used to "denounce" members of the Fitness First Five who have been seen to be backsliding. For instance, Les Kidger was spotted at a dinner in the Clach Club on Saturday night. (And before anyone starts up with topical jokes about short rations at Grant Street, forget it... the "Cuisine du Ferry" is out of this world!) I will keep you all posted (which possibly means it's unlikely I'll see Doug Ritchie visiting my Rotary Club for breakfast for a while!)

.... given that a lot of Caley Thistle fans seemed to be expecting it a month ago today, on Junuary 4th, just after the fourth goal went in at home to Gretna!

Can't say I can see much overlap between Inverness and Baron Haussmann's wonderful design of Paris!

Found this.... Culcabock (Inverness), C?il na C?baig. This name appears to mean "the quiet spot of the kebbuck of cheese", but the original name was possibly C?l na Ceapaich, "the back of the tillage land". The name Capaig is found in Caputh, and this may be another origin of the name. Whilst checking that one out, I was also reminded that "Dalneigh" is a corruption of the Gaelic for "field of horses". The pronunciation of that is more accurately "Dalneich" and that was what older Invernessians, including my grandmother, used to use. The "field of horses" presumably relates to Dalneigh Farm on which the housing estate was built of of which the current Dalniegh Church manse (of "nicking the minister's apples" fame) was previously the farmhouse.

Can't say I'm all that impressed by that chipper in Glenurquhart Road.... soggy chips and a bit on ther dear side. If you want state of the art in this depaertment, go up to Hilton and see Mr. Michael Miller who will, for instance, provide a wonderful chicken supper for ?2.99.

So I see the legacy of Jim Farry still lives on in Scottish football!

Smith Avenue actually runs from Glenurquhart Road to the roundabout on Bruce Gardens wjhere it meets Maxwell Drive. You may be thinking of Ross Avenue (or maybe Harrowden Road or Perceval Road.) I haven't a clue about Culcabock apart from the likelihood that it's of Gaelic origin. There's a book about Gaelic placenames around Inverness by a BBC colleague of mine Roddy MacLean. As for the dualling of Laurel Avenue, that always was a mystery, but on the other hand it did have the beneficial effect of increasing the width of "No Man's Land" at the top end! :015:

It seems that most of the "fields" are in two groups in the Fairfield Road and Annfield Road areas. I think also that both areas were developed at roughly the same time - latish 19th century. Presumably they refer to the vicinity of fields which were in the area prior to development. Calufied Road is different. William Caulfield was General Wade's chief engineer and eventual successor in the constructiuon of military roads through the Highlands between the 15 and 45 Jacobite Rebellions. SMEE, a couple of things. Bill Smith is not the current provost, it's Bob Wynd (so presumably we'll eventually get a Wynd Wynd!). Also, Provost Smith Crescent was named after Provost William Smith of the late 60s and early 70s whose biggest achievement was possibly fronting the campaign to have Eden Court built. The immediate past provost is also William (Bill) Smith. We also have Smith Avenue, but that's been there since before them both - in fact I think it's 1930s. We of course have two ex Provosts by the name of Fraser... Ian C Fraser (Coffin John) and William A.E. Fraser (Billy Butcher). However we also have two Fraser Streets (both pre dating these gentlemen but where else but Inverness could that happen?!). One goes from Bank Street to the junction of Church Street and Queensgate (about 50 yards from Billy Butcher's shop) and the other is off Haugh Road near Chalkie's shop. Then there's Dalneigh where all the Saints go marching in.... St. Andrew, St. Valery (with that spelling it's clearly names after St. Valery en Caux where the 51st Highland Division was captured by Rommel in 1940), St. Mungo, St. Margaret, St. Fergus, St. Ninian, St John's. the other end of Dalneigh, in contrast, is all trees. Laurel Ave, Lilac Grove, Limetree Avenue, Hawthorn Drive, Rowan Road. Laurel Avenue!! When I used to cycle home to St. Andrew Drive as a kid, I always used to speed up at the Dalneigh Road - Laurel Avenue roundabout and take a hard look to my left in case I was going to get chased by the Kirkhams or the Finlays!

At least he keeps up the tradition of a ******** in the place at all times. (I'm preserving your anonymity "ilig"!) BTW Caley D quite rightly sings the praises of the Hilton Chippie (even though his brother does cook their excellent fare!)