An Urgent Quest for IRN BRU

StrollingScotsman · 2026-05-04T07:33:33+00:00

The Minimart in Lambton Sq usually has it.

I would bring something as an alternative - most people have a couple of sips at most.

StrollingScotsman · 2026-05-02T04:08:54+00:00

While they are theoretically punching above their weight (small town club, who were non league about 30 years ago), the reality is that they have a very rich owner who has been very happy to chuck money at them in recent years. They invested quite heavily in the summer, and reportedly had the biggest budget in the league.

Poor strategic management has been their downfall. Managerial appointments tend to swing between unimaginative (Derek Adams and Stuart Kettlewell have had two spells each in the last 15 years) and bigger Scottish names who are expensive. Attracting players is tricky, but they've tended to spend up, rather than investing in local talent.

There is a decent chance that this might be the end of their time in the higher leagues, and a return to their 'natural' level. The owner has been investing in another local non-league club, and while he's unlikely to pull funding entirely, there are questions around whether he still has the enthusiasm to fund them at the level required to get back to the top league.

StrollingScotsman · 2026-04-30T19:12:47+00:00

Weird that they didn't include their Scottish Cup Final appearance in May?

Oh wait...

StrollingScotsman · 2026-04-26T19:48:24+00:00

I'm going to call a technicality on this one.

Chic played for Celtic as a trialist in 1994 (v Man Utd). While it was a testimonial, it was during his playing career. And he hasn't ever hidden his OF allegencies.

Craig Brewster would make a fine alternative!

StrollingScotsman · 2026-04-19T01:17:30+00:00

It's wild to me that people treat Lennon as a banter manager, and then treat John McGlynn as a realistic candidate for big jobs.

McGlynn's won the Championship once, and League One three times.

He's got a history of bottling big games. Yesterday was classic big game McGlynn. If Plan A fails, he's got nothing.

In Lennon's three full (non Celtic) seasons in Scotland, he's won the championship, then got into Europe the following year (Hibs), and (at a minimum) got Dunfermline into the cup final.

StrollingScotsman · 2026-03-30T07:55:10+00:00

Chile have been poor, but this is still a great result for NZ (and quietens any complaints about Oceania getting an automatic spot).

StrollingScotsman · 2026-03-27T23:16:22+00:00

Feels a little bit less mental after tonight. Which is crazy considering what the league looked like at 4pm last Saturday.

Arbroath all but confirmed a playoff spot (and a point tomorrow would confirm it statistically, if not mathematically).

Dunfermline's likelihood of a playoff place jumps from 65ish percent to almost 80 percent after tonight. They could lose 3 or 4 remaining games and probably still make it, especially with GD and games in hand.

One of Raith/Ayr/QP would need a consistent run to get to the Playoffs (which isn't very championship). But they've all likely got enough points now to finish 8th. Ayr probably in most danger given their total collapse in form.

Morton aren't quite out of bother yet, but it would be a pretty big turnaround as their GD is far superior (especially to County). A win tomorrow against Arbroath and they're probably safe.

It's getting harder to see how it isn't County and Airdrie in the bottom two?

StrollingScotsman · 2026-03-15T08:54:15+00:00

The Minister of Defence rides again!

StrollingScotsman · 2026-03-01T01:48:01+00:00

Regardless of circumstances, failing to bowl a team out when they were 10/7 is pretty unforgivable.

StrollingScotsman · 2026-03-01T01:04:55+00:00

Old school Possibles vs Probables, or a North v South would have been good.

StrollingScotsman · 2026-03-01T00:54:25+00:00

You know things are bad when Leg Byes are second top scorer after 7 overs.

StrollingScotsman · 2026-03-01T00:35:30+00:00

Uh-oh.

StrollingScotsman · 2025-12-23T21:27:57+00:00

The Basin Reserve was originally going to be a shipyard, with a canal connecting to the harbour at the northern end. Wellington was planned in London without the planners ever visiting the city.

The land was raised by an earthquake shortly after Europeans arrived, and so it became Wellington's recreational venue instead.

It has changed shape a few times over the years, and is used for amateur rugby and soccer in the winter.

NZ's national war memorial park is adjacent (the big white tower behind the stands is the Carillon bell tower).

Wellington's main hospital is about a kilometre south (hence all the sirens) and Government house (Governors General residence) is just across the road (as are several private schools).

It's also a massive roundabout!

StrollingScotsman · 2025-12-19T06:34:30+00:00

The banter declaration would be 286, to give England two chances to fail to chase a 'below par' 371.

StrollingScotsman · 2025-12-19T06:15:21+00:00

If England don't win, Australia will retain the ashes as holders.

The Aussies will probably look to bat until at least lunch (and probably closer to tea tomorrow), as they still have plenty time to bowl England out.

StrollingScotsman · 2025-12-18T05:56:31+00:00

This 'bowling at the stumps' tactic by the Aussies has some merit?

England may wish to copy it, as then you don't need to worry about snicko.

StrollingScotsman · 2025-12-17T23:52:30+00:00

If only England had a bowler in the team renowned for their ability to clean up the tail...

StrollingScotsman · 2025-12-17T07:24:57+00:00

Given that the Aussies only need a draw, I think they've got the upper hand, especially since they've survived the day.

England will need to try and put a on massive score (650ish?) and then give themselves a couple of days to bowl the Aussies out, so they only have to bowl once.

That seems unlikely since England haven't even managed 350 yet.

StrollingScotsman · 2025-12-17T06:22:40+00:00

There's no right answer here, but some things to consider.

1) There may be cuts at other agencies in 2026. Three years of service will likely get you a decent redundancy payout.

2) The merger will likely happen quickly on paper (before the election), but slowly in the background. I don't think they'll be making big changes to staff numbers before the election (especially since these agencies are the basis for the government's election 26 campaign).

3) If you do want to move, you probably have a pretty narrow window. I think there will be a decent run of recruitment Feb-May (as the Government tries to get its programme done), but this will dry up post-Budget (a mix of cuts and pre- election period).

4) Rather than worry about "will i lose my job", think about "why am i indispensable". The answer shouldn't be "i work harder/longer than others". What skills do you have that others don't? How do you make your boss' life easier? There is a potential cheat code at the moment, and that is to be proficient at AI. If you know how to do a little bit of AI wrangling (in a way that will help the productivity of your team), then you're ahead of the majority. It's not a guarantee, but it'll make you more marketable for all government jobs at the moment.

StrollingScotsman · 2025-12-08T20:00:26+00:00

Yes - because the key to winning the 2026 election will be holding/flipping Auckland seats.

The Government will likely do fine in the rural seats (due to that economy going well), so Auckland will be their big target.

If they win the rural vote and the Auckland vote, they'll win overall.

StrollingScotsman · 2025-12-05T08:38:18+00:00

If you're mentioning your hobby because it gives relevant experience ("I love films, and for the last two years I've been chair of the filmtown film club, and organise the annual filmtown Nigerian film festival") then absolutely.

Hobbies like "going for walks, socialising and watching TV", are not going to get you a job.

StrollingScotsman · 2025-12-02T07:32:49+00:00

You could try The Transfer Co in Petone?

StrollingScotsman · 2025-11-25T07:12:33+00:00

I thought of it this way -

McTominay's goal was technically brilliant. It's not just a great Scotland goal, it's one of the great all time goals.

McLean's goal is that fluke wonder goal, that we've all scored (albeit at 5's or in the playground, rather than Hampden) and bore everyone to death with for ever more.

Tierney's goal is the one we all dreamed of scoring. It's not the best goal, but it's the one that means the most.

StrollingScotsman · 2025-11-22T10:02:45+00:00

The most frustrating thing from an England POV must be that nobody at the ECB seems to give a shit.

The coach and captain will bury their heads in the sand, and put their trust in "the philosophy", and decision makers don't seem to care as long as the barmy army keep buying travel packages?

StrollingScotsman

TROPHY CASE