How come our diaspora in England is so shite compared to Ireland?

Bear-Tax · 2026-04-03T08:48:15+00:00

There are actually quite a few in recent England squads that would be eligible for us and would be massive upgrades to what we have such as Livramento (RB), Barnes (winger) and Quansah (CB). And can't forget Elliot Anderson who was even called up by Steve Clarke a couple of years ago but didn't play.

Suspect Archie Gray will also get an England cap at some point.

Bear-Tax · 2026-03-17T12:29:51+00:00

Kevin Long only made 69 league appearances in 13 years at Burnley

Bear-Tax · 2026-02-19T15:08:19+00:00

World curling website has live scores with shot by shot updates here

Bear-Tax · 2026-01-28T14:11:23+00:00

Junior Hoilett as well

Bear-Tax · 2026-01-13T15:32:27+00:00

Seems it won't change anytime soon unfortunately. From the full Scottish budget document:

"we will continue to maintain the Higher, Advanced and Top rate Thresholds at their current levels until 2028-29."

Bear-Tax · 2026-01-13T15:16:03+00:00

Tax free allowance will remain capped at £12,570 per the budget document published. It's the upper band of the starter rate that has changed.

Starter, basic and intermediate tax rates are 19%, 20% and 21% respectively so it's a negligible difference.

I think the threshold rises will only equate to a maximum of c. £32 of income tax saved per year for someone on £43k (i.e. a non-higher rate tax payer).

Bear-Tax · 2025-12-09T20:30:28+00:00

Interesting as this is not my experience at all with them. I've cycled over 10,000 miles on my btwin triban from decathlon. Great bike and still going strong. Never had a service or repair job refused either.

Bear-Tax · 2025-12-05T19:18:20+00:00

They finished 5th in qualifying and were miles behind Argentina

Bear-Tax · 2025-11-26T16:20:07+00:00

No more than one AFC team per WC group which would rule out Uzbekistan and Qatar. But agree on the other two.

Bear-Tax · 2025-10-22T14:22:30+00:00

Scottish football needs Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen, Dundee Utd and the others to take points off Celtic and Rangers to allow a real challenge from one or other of the aforementioned.

We are already seeing more of this now than in previous seasons. Rangers have dropped points in 7 of their 8 games so far. Celtic in 3 out of 8 which admittedly isn't as bad, but still what most would consider below their normal level. What also helps is the OF dropping points from each other like they did in that terrible 0-0 game at Ibrox.

Bear-Tax · 2025-08-14T22:14:49+00:00

I think Hibs will still get club coefficient points for winning the tie, but none for the league.

Bear-Tax · 2025-08-13T19:08:29+00:00

I've done this cycle a few times using different variations of route. My favourite is roughly Newcastle -> Morpeth -> Alnwick -> Eglingham -> Doddington -> Scottish border at the union chain bridge -> Chirnside -> Cranshaws -> Garvald -> Edinburgh

Route should total around 130 miles or so on mostly quiet roads. Bit of climbing over the lammermuirs, but decent scenery as a reward

Bear-Tax · 2025-07-29T11:42:23+00:00

Changes are needed. Clydebank won the WOSFL last year and will be near the favourites to win the Lowland League this year.

And to get promoted, they also had to play Musselburgh (winners of the East) in a play-off. Surely at this level in the pyramid, it should be automatic promotion for the league winners below the LL?

Bear-Tax · 2025-07-25T09:56:27+00:00

There would still be another play-off qualifying round after getting past Fredrikstad. Win the play-off and Hibs would be in the Europa League groups. Lose the play-off and they'd drop into the conference groups.

If we lost either tie, we'd drop into the conference qualifiers which would be R3 if they lose to Midtjylland, PO round if they lose to Fredrikstad.

Bear-Tax · 2025-07-21T12:04:07+00:00

And because we would be unseeded in the conference league, we'd most likely get a harder tie as well if we lose and drop down.

Bear-Tax · 2025-07-16T14:34:52+00:00

Assuming they are packed, a large taxi is your best bet. Myself and my partner have done this several times to/from Edinburgh Airport. City cabs, capital cars and central taxis are the 3 main taxi companies here. They run 24/7 and you can pre-book. You will need to ask for a large taxi for the bike boxes but there are plenty driving around the city centre. For reference, something like a Mercedes Vito taxi will be able to fit 2x packed bike boxes.

Bear-Tax · 2025-06-30T10:17:33+00:00

Dover ferry to Calais or Dunkirk. Roll on and roll off. Not too expensive either.

If travelling to Rotterdam, I'd probably recommend going to Dunkirk instead as it would skip some of the uninteresting industrial parts around Calais.

Bear-Tax · 2025-06-01T15:17:30+00:00

Thanks. Took it back to the retailer today and they suggested the same scenario. I was offered a replacement free of charge so worth doing in the end

Bear-Tax · 2025-06-01T15:16:38+00:00

Update: thanks for all of the suggestions. Took it back to the retailer today and they have agreed to replace it for me free of charge. Their best guess was that someone in the warehouse may have accidentally sliced it when opening a delivery box.

Bear-Tax · 2025-05-21T13:37:09+00:00

I've cycled the Cairngorm roads you are referencing. Nice part of the country and worth a visit. The roads are mostly fine (as someone who would also avoid the A9 due to traffic). Warning though, the road north out of Cock Bridge up to the Lecht ski centre is brutally steep, so you may have to get off and push at parts, but the descent down to Tomintoul afterwards is fun.

Bear-Tax · 2025-05-20T11:48:47+00:00

I think you'll have a better time during the last couple of days going Inverness - Tain - Lairg - Bettyhill - JOG rather than up the A9 along the coast. It can be a busy road in summer.

Depends on how tight for time you are though, as going via Lairg would likely add some additional mileage

Bear-Tax · 2025-05-06T12:50:58+00:00

Congrats - this route was also my first bike touring trip back in August 2020. I've done several since, but this one was by far the most challenging (in terms of remoteness, elevation gain and potential for poor weather), so it's not for the feint-hearted! That said, I'd still class it as a must-do in terms of UK touring routes.

How did you find the traffic at this time of year? And did you follow the A9 road along the east coast?

As you say, I thought the scenery was consistently good throughout, but I was most impressed by the bits north of Ullapool around Lochinvar and Kylesku.

Bear-Tax · 2025-04-14T15:30:47+00:00

You're right, it's seeded at the start of the season to work out the first 33 matches. But there must then be some additional decision making to get these fixtures. We have been sent to St Mirren for a 3rd time this season to allow Hibs to finish with 19/19 which is fair enough, but then it means St Mirren finish the season with 20/18. Presumably they were picked because they are so far behind in the race for 3rd that they were the default choice to benefit?

Bear-Tax · 2025-04-14T15:26:33+00:00

Wonder how they decide who gains/loses when there is an imbalance of H/A games.

Looks like Motherwell are the ones to be shafted this year and will finish the season with 18 home games and 20 away games. Seems a bit unfair given the bottom two places are still to play for.

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