Alex MacLeod

Correct Laurence...ye cannae teach yir granny tae suck eggs..........but you can point out to her which ones she's able to suck and which ones could be harmful to her freedom and health. You can also point out that its sometimes safer to clean up the ones she can suck before actually doing so.

Is this some of your nice Turkish people Laurence http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/news-listings/611-record-haul-of-cocaine-recovered-from-tug-intercepted-in-the-north-sea

Limited on street parking nearby if early enough

are: Ronnie Deila, John Hughes, Derek McInnes and Robbie Neilson

I've said it before and I'll say it again. As an Englishman living in Scotland for the last 40 years I have never encounted any anglophobia nor do I sense any in the changing political climate. That may, of course, be because I'm just such a nice person But why do folk in the rest of the UK not have the opportunity to vote for the SNP? We have it rammed down out throats that the SNP MPs will be working for improvements in the Westminster system and for progressive policies that will benefit folk throughout the UK. So if the SNP have something positive to offer voters in the rest of the UK, why are they not giving voters elsewhere in the UK the opportunity to vote for it? Voting for the SNP would surely be a good vehicle for those disilluisioned with the UK- wide parties and Westminster system to register a protest vote. Up until the referendum we were the independence party. Since then I dont think Nicola's popularity south of the border could have been predicted. Could the SNP install candidates to seats outside Scotland? How would that go down with the other countries of UK? Would it not be along the lines of 'Oh fekk the Jocks and invading again but with ballot papers instead of bayonets'? As I said above the big problem is the majority in UK are disillusioned by lack of left wing arguements. SNP continue to peddle left of centre politics so popularity is up.

Tend to agree with DD. The biggest problem in Britian is that we've lost the left wing slant and the duopoly are so similar that folk havent a clue whats best. I also think the LibDems done themselves no favours by siding with Tories. They would have looked better had they formed a vote by vote partnership and didn't have ministers on the cabinet. Dinnae fret too much about Charles. He's just a total wind up merchant who is more out of touch with whats good for us and whats working that Cameron is. One day he may wake up and produce some realistic counter arguements to the current debates.

Right then so, adding in that one, the SNP manifesto, in summary, becomes roughly as follows: - * "We actually quite like the English." At no time has SNP or its followers ever said they didn't like the English. We dont like the Westminster way of rule * "NHS Scotland is safe in our hands." Yep. We're even able to build state of the art hospitals within our budget. * "The oil is only a bonus." Oil price makes no odds to amount of revenue. Its company profit thats taxed in UK * "We want to throw out all nukes and depend on a nuclear alliance to defend us." Have you ever seen the mess a nuke can make against on islamic terrorist with a rifle and sword * "The crowdpleasing, giveaway policies we've suddenly claimed to espouse are not Marxist but just commendably "progressive". Nothing sudden, we've claimed it since day one * "Even though we've banged on only about independence until the day before yesterday, it ain't all that important any more (honest)." We actually stopped banging on after september last year. Its everyone else thats doing it now.

Hi Ender You know probably more than most others the standard of non league football in England is very good as your team Chorley have shown us You could say that if Chorley were playing north of the border they would probably be too good for league 1 But you may know different I say again I just feel for long suffering football supporters like Montrose who nobody seems to care about. In the league formerly called the Conference there are a lot of teams, who for many years graced the higher divisions, I would be gutted if I supported a team like Grimsby or Lincoln City. All with good support and important histories. But in Scotland the league to which there is a possibility Montrose will enter is not much better than the Sunday league outfits we all played for in our teens. Laurence I think you should make a point of getting out and watching some Highland League football. Or failing that get down to central belt and watch a Bo'ness Linlithgow match and then tell us its not much better than sunday league

The Iron Horse was one never missed. Also shows like Mission Impossible. Of kids tv I remember Watch with Mother at lunch time each day. The friday one would always be Tales of the Riverbank. Monday had Blue Peter and Friday Crackerjack. Those were all BBC cos that was the only channel we could get in Lochaber.

Scotland represents just 8.3% of the UK population. Remember that number 8.3% We have the following share of UK resources - - 32% Land area - 61% Sea area - 90% Surface fresh water - 65% North Sea natural gas production - 96.5% North Sea crude oil production - 47% Open cast coal production - 81% Coal reserves at sites not yet in production - 62% Timber production (green tonnes) - 46% Total forest area (hectares) - 92% Hydro electric production - 40% Wind, wave, solar production - 60% Fish Landings (total by Scottish vessels) - 55% Fish Landings (total from Scottish waters) - 30% Beef herd (breeding stock) - 20% Sheep herd (breeding flock) - 9% Dairy herd - 10% Pig herd - 15% Cereal holdings (hectares) - 20% potato holdings (hectares) All with 8.3% of the population! There are very few countries in the WORLD that rival Scotland's resources per head and in such rich diversity. We absolutely, unequivocally can be an extremely successful independent country. And thats why the fear factor is rife in Westminster

Typical of the sick Mail. If this hospital had been built from within budgets in Carlisle it would have been screamed from the top of the Beacons. No, instead lets decry those vile Scots for having the audacity to build something from public funds. Cost of this hospital £1 billion. Amount of taxes Scotland paid to UK treasury over what we recieved in Barnet since Cameron came to power £27 billion. The facts are that we are seeing better value and better use of funding north of border than is happening in England and the people in power dont like it. It makes them look very stupid and ill adviced.

That'll be the hair, forehead, eyes and bit of nose seen here http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/scottish-cup-final-tickets-to-start-at-5-1-3756215

IMO this will be good for Montrose. Its a kick up the backside if they do go down and its a chance to re-group away from pressures of SPFL and show the fans what sort of drive and determination they really have to return. One of the big problems for the likes of Montrose is the fanbase and funding for the club. Like East Stirlingshire in Central belt, and to an extent Elgin in the North, they are competing with a number of other clubs for the same support. The support in the area tends to follow the team doing better. For a time that may have been Arbroath or Brechin. This season the eye catchers are Forfar and Brechin who could both make playoff/promotion to Championship. The Angus area north of Dundee is not highly populated and just isn't able to support four teams.

Who did they pay £3m for? From what I can see they paid just over £2m each for Wilson and Rantie. £400k for Ryan Fraser. Most of the squad came up with them from league 1. Their new owner has put a lot of cash into the club. The other thing to note is the vast difference in funding from TV in Championship compared to Scottish football.

And of course the red and black link

Tonight AFC Bournemouth could clinch automatic promotion to Premiership. In 08/09 season (remember that one) Bournemouth just managed to save themselves from relegation out of the English Leagues. Since then they've climbed all the way up to knocking at the door of Premiership. Not an easy achievement for the smaller teams in England. I also think this will be the first time ever they have made the top league in their history.

I'd have thought Falkirk would arrive at Hampden on the same roads Inverness will. M80, M73, M74, A728

I disagree with this. For a category A game at ICT, you are paying the same price for equivalent seats alongside the pitch in the main stand. And only 4 quid more than category B games. While the concession prices for the final are less than half the price for what you would pay for being alongside the pitch in Inverness. For a game at ICT I am not trying to convince a number of adults to come along for a day out who would not normally go to any football. Whose to say that if you lowered the prices to £20 for adults in the same stand, >33% extra would go to justify the decrease in price? This is bigger than an average league game, and priced more reasonably overall so can't see how people can complain. And i disagree, with that point you made in your latest post too. Every football team should be trying to convince people who don't usually go to football to attend your games. That is how you increase your support and get more money. If the people I refer to were able to go to football matches I doubt it would be ICT ones. These are adult men and women who normally work weekends and who dont actually earn a great deal for what they do. Personally it makes little odds to me because I cant go anyway. Its the missus who's trying to get a few colleagues along.

I disagree with this. For a category A game at ICT, you are paying the same price for equivalent seats alongside the pitch in the main stand. And only 4 quid more than category B games. While the concession prices for the final are less than half the price for what you would pay for being alongside the pitch in Inverness. For a game at ICT I am not trying to convince a number of adults to come along for a day out who would not normally go to any football.

Compared to the semi prices this hike is disgusting. The SFA are so out of touch is becoming beyond belief.

P&B rumours never come true

If we go as 3rd place entrants its 1st qualifying round 2nd/9th July. If we go as cup winners its 2nd qualifying round 16th/23rd July. The draw for the 1st and 2nd rounds will take place on 22nd June

Assuming its Buchanan St bus station you're coming into its about five minutes walk to Central train station and trains run about every ten to fifteen minutes. Further info here http://www.hampdenpark.co.uk/visitor-information/public-transport.html

Nicola Sturgeons manifesto launch statement:- At this election, we have the opportunity to shake up the out of touch Westminster system so that it serves Scotland better. A vote for the SNP on May 7th is a vote for MPs who will always stand up for Scotland's best interests. It is a vote to make Scotland's voice heard at Westminster more loudly than it has ever been heard before. And it is a vote for more progressive politics. The SNP will use our influence at Westminster to help deliver positive change for the benefit of ordinary people, not just in Scotland, but across the UK. We propose a real alternative to the pain of austerity, an end to unfair policies like the Bedroom Tax, a higher minimum wage and protection for our NHS and vital public services. Instead of even deeper Westminster spending cuts, we want to see more investment in our economy, to create more and better paid jobs. And we want the precious resources of our country to be invested in building a better future for our children, not on a and the statements after the new generation of nuclear weapons. The SNP will never put the Tories into power. Instead, if there is an anti-Tory majority after the election, we will offer to work with other parties to keep the Tories out. And we will then use our influence to demand that Labour delivers the real change that people want and need - instead of just being a carbon copy of the Tories. A vote for the SNP will make Scotland's voice heard - loudly and clearly. And it will help deliver new, better and more progressive politics at Westminster for everyone. My vow is to make Scotland stronger at Westminster. With your support, we can secure a better future for you, your family and Scotland. I see nothing in that statement that makes SNP dishonest, hypocritical, controlling, manipulative and opportunistic. Nor is there anything in the manifesto to suggest they are looking at another referendum in the near future. The pledge from conference and the statements after the referendum suggested that particular subject was being put to bed for the time being and that improving the way Scotland is seen by and treated by Westminster takes priority. Uk needs left of centre politics for true governance and the SNP are the only party that can open the eyes of the current crop of blue labour. The independence question is brought up now by everyone other than SNP. I believe one of the reasons for this is to deflect attention away from the possibility of an early referendum on EU membership. A membership that has been very good for rural Scotland and for trade in general.

I dont think the Lord Lyon of Scotland has jurisdiction as far south as Bury