Jah Lush

Snorky has raised a few good points about the England v Scotland games and I remember the regular invasions from north of the border very well. Literally London would be awash with pissed up Scots for four days at a time but '67 and '77 in particular stand out in the memory. '67 because they'd beaten what was then the world champions and a certain Jim Baxter had the game of his life taking the piss out of Alan Ball, and playing keepy uppy and obviously you could understand their euphoria after such a result and performance. In '77 they invaded the pitch at the end and took home bits of the wembley turf as sourvenirs and smashed the goalposts. Hooliganism was at it's worse around this time and thankfully we have moved on from those times. I'd only like to see us play Scotland in competitive games and not go back to the Home Internationals. I was at the Euro '96 match at Wembley when we beat Scotland 2-1 when Gazza scored that brilliant goal. I was behind the goal when Seaman saved the penalty. The atmosphere was amazing but it was the Scots who made the most noise and their supporters were brilliant. They never stopped singing and supporting their team throughout and from what I could tell from the whole time they were in London they behaved themselves unlike in the 70s when the violence spilled out onto the streets for days. Not that the England fans were beacons of pacifism I hasten to add.

I don't care much for shops like Celestial, there are already too many of their kind around the Lane and North Cross Road selling what I regard as useless tat but I guess there must be a market for them otherwise they wouldn't survive, so good luck to them. I'd like to be impartial and not take sides here and I'd really like to here Celestial's side of the story but being the inveterate wino that I am I feel a natural inclination to offer my support for the fine and worthy premises that is Green & Blue even though I am only a more recent convert to their highly salubrious drinking establishment.

Some real American weirdness from '78. Are we not men? Devo - Jocko Homo

I've still got that album MP.

Make Lady Mucca drink rats milk. Story & Petition

Come on the Keef, let's hear it, print and be damned with the consequences.

I've been trying to do that but it won't work for me either. Grrrr!!

A classic from '77. The Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop

I remember you mentioning that once before Sean. This is when they were very good indeed. The first two albums are classics. Roxy Music - Do the Strand

I asked my girlfriend to tell me something that would make me happy and sad at the same time. She said I've got a bigger dick than my dad. (From: Popbitch website)

One of my favourite songs from one of my favourite bands ever. The Velvet Underground - Waiting For The Man

Touched a nerve there haven't we Snorky. I forgot you won the InterToto Cup last year, you must have been over the moon about that. First bit of silverware since ooooh...let me think now...ummm...oh yes the Fairs Cup in 1969, oh! sorry didn't you win the Texaco Cup somewhere in between too? For your information I've been a long suffering Spurs supporter since the early 60s. True, we haven't won much of late and I didn't stop supporting them when they were relegated in '77. I have and will always support them through thick and thin and you're to be applauded for doing the same with Newcastle United.

err...no.

who's trophy cabinet was empty and barren

Good grief! Words fail me.

When have Newcastle ever been anything else? Apart from one season with Keegan. "I'd love it, just love it."

Tucking your shirt in your underpants is just so wrong. Think John Major (perish the thought) or Rik Mayall in Bottom and you'll see how ridiculous it looks.

This poem was sent to me from my nephew who until last year was serving in Iraq with the Royal Engineers. I just thought it is rather apt for this thread. ITS CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS HE LIVED ALL ALONE IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE I LOOKED ALL ABOUT A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE NO TINSEL NO PRESENTS NOT EVEN A TREE NO STOCKING BY THE MANTLE JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS WITH MEDALS AND BADGES AWARDS OF ALL KINDS A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT IT WAS DARK AND DREARY I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING SILENT ALONE CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER NOT HOW I PICTURED A LONE BRITISH SOLDIER WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ CURLED UP ON A PONCHO THE FLOOR FOR A BED I REALISED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT SOON ROUND THE WORLD THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY THEY ALL ENJOY FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY ALONE ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME THE VERY THOUGH BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE 'SANTA DON'T CRY THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM I DON'T ASK FOR MORE MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY. MY CORPS' THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP I COULDN'T CONTROL IT I CONTINUED TO WEEP I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS SO SILENT AND STILL AND WE BOTH SAT AND SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHTS CHILL I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOUR SO WILLING TO FIGHT THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE WHISPERED 'CARRY ON SANTA ITS CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE' ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT 'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT' THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN BY A PEACE KEEPING SOLDIER STATIONED OVERSEAS THE FOLLOWING IS HIS REQUEST I THINK IT IS REASONABLE. PLEASE WOULD YOU DO ME THE KIND FAVOUR OF SENDING THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN CHRISTMAS WILL BE COMING SOON AND SOME CREDIT IS DUE TO OUR BRITISH SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN FOR OUR BEING ABLE TO CELEBRATE THESE FESTIVITIES. LETS TRY IN THIS SMALL WAY TO PAY A TINY BIT BACK OF WHAT WE OWE!

And the stress has given him alopecia

Good idea. A flag made out of organic hemp that can be proudly flown from all the buggies on the Lane and the 4x4s during the school run.

I predicted this result...well 1-2 actually but wasn't far off was I. Most people when they're sacked get f**k all but McLaren walks away with two and a half million quid for failure. Nice work if you can get it. I wasn't confident about this match before last night but when I saw the formation we were going to deploy I knew we were doomed. We're playing home and we need a result and he plays one man up front on his own. Doesn't inspire confidence does it. Lampard & Gerrard can't play together, we've known that for ages. I thought it was Gerrard's worse performance in an England shirt but he wasn't the only one. We were rubbish throughout most of this tournament and got what we deserved. F**k all! Apart from McLaren that is, who has trousered a nice big fat cheque.

Oooh! Gotta put this up what with the footy tonight Fat Les - Vindaloo

I loved the Beta Band, got all their stuff so thanks for that Barry. This one's for Cerys, who is currently wasting her time on the telly - Catatonia - Lost Cat

Ahem! I have to admit to watching a bit of this recently and I too am rather amazed that the lovely Cerys is appearing in it. I was a big fan of Catatonia and saw them on several occasions. Poor girl must be going through some sort of mid-life crisis. It's very sad that her marriage has disintegrated and maybe she needs the money as she has two small children to bring up but I would have thought with her talent she should be doing better things than this. Frankly, I think she is playing the game on this show. Do a little flirting with someone and it keeps the viewers interests up and you'll probably stay in a bit longer. She's a lovely girl but probably a little fragile and vulnerable at the moment and just needs hug and maybe the reassurance that men still find her attractive as she approaches her 40s.

I hope you're right Citizen. A result like that would certainly have me leaping around the living room with joy. Unfortunately I have to work late tonight and will only get home in time for the second half but I still feel that it is potentially the biggest banana skin for us so far in the competition. Basically it's shit or bust so I'll be watching with fingers crossed and buttocks clenched from behind the sofa.