Staying out of the shadows...

Playlist
Cloudland Blue Quartet – Ersatzreal Companion EPs Nos 1-3
Miles Davis – The Miles Davis Story (DVD)
Miles Davis - Panthalassa
Sparks – Introducing Sparks
Sparks – Number One in Heaven
Sparks – Li’l Beethoven
Sparks – Twenty (CD-R)
Sparks – Exotic Creatures of the Night
Various Composers – Dresden Classics
Grant Green – Sunday Mornin’
Black Mountain – In the Future

Up early despite yesterday’s excesses, and feeling AOK - Anne was suffering though, when she finally arose around 10:30 or so...

Two new releases were scheduled for today on Crispycat so there was some work to be done...

The first of three “Companion” EPs to my last song-based album, “Ersatzreal”...



...and the fourth of ten volumes of my thirty year anthology – we’re up to 1994, 18 years in...



Down to Corstorphine for breakfast at Il Cibo Caffee...



...then, along to Tesco for the ingredients for tonight’s birthday meal at Crispycat Towers for the Pennster, Count Brodski’s lovely girlfriend...



Back home Anne and Meg sunbathed in the garden...



...while I ran through some songs for no particular reason than to prove to myself that I’m not quite as crap as I seemed to be a couple of days ago...

I succeeded...

Then out for a wee cycle around the environs in the roasting weather, before compiling and burning a 2CD set for Penny comprising hit singles from each of her birthdays...

“Dr Who” tonight was one of the best episodes of the “new” era so far, even without the promised appearance of the Daleks...

After the episode I drove round to Castle Brodski and picked up our guests and we presented Penny with Anne's home made bouquet and the birthday hits CD...



A tasty meal was accompanied by the sound of Sparks (and the presence of Meg the Black Cat)...



...and rounded off with Penny's birthday cake...



We listened to Sparks for most of the night, during which Alan and Penny took a shot each on my bike as the darkness drew in...



At 3:30 am we finally called it a night as the sun was starting to come up – our guests headed off in a taxi and we were accompanied to bed by the sounds of birds singing in the trees outside...



Another good day...

Highlight of the Day : A visit from Brodski and the Pennster...

Running...

Playlist
Alice Cooper – Complete Discography on Shuffleplay

This afternoon and evening, the Executive Producer and your correspondent were guests of a large European Company at Musselburgh Races, a few miles outside of Edinburgh...

Initial drinks at All Bar One on Lothian Roiad were followed by a taxi ride to the track, where we received a champagne reception with some tasty canapés, followed by a lovely three course meal comprising a refreshing chicken salad, guinea fowl with potatoes and vegetables and a banana and toffee tart - all washed down with copious amounts of red wine...

Armed with tips for the six cases from our gambling chum Mr Spike, we proceeded to put bets on every race, winning three...

The last race had the largest field and we weren’t betting on the favourite – if our hoerse didn’t win we’d be down on the night, if he did, we'd come away quids in (not counting all the free food and drink of course)...

And in Lochiel duly romped, ensuring a successful night...

Here’s the Loch after which the horse was presumably named...



We took public transport home, the journey from Musselburgh to Crispycat Towers lasting just over an hour soundtracked by Mr Cooper while Anne slept...

A good day...

Highlight of the Day : A night at the races...

Lazy good for nothing...

Playlist
Udo Lindenberg - Stark wie Zwei
2Raumwohnung - 36 Grad
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John -Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Kiss - Destroyer
Led Zeppelin - Physical Grafitti
Magazine - Secondhand Daylight
Don McLean - American Pie
Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell

Two German albums soundtracked my day today including the latest from Herr Udo Lindenberg...



I agree with Mr John Impossible Songs on his blog when he says "I wish I could do something worthwhile tonight"...

It was not to be though - as we watched three episodes of "My Name is Earl" and I played through some songs and sounded crap and had to stop...

Spent the remainder of the evening ripping classic 70's albums to the external hard drive for uploading to the jukebox..

Not a good day...

Highlight of the Day : Not going to the gym...

Chokin'...

Playlist
Sparks - Exotic Creatures of the Night
Black Mountain - In the Future
Donald Byrd - Off to the Races

I was supposed to be playing football again tonight for what would have been, I think, my first third week in a row stint since breaking my ankle in November 2005...

Alas, it wasn't to be, as the game was cancelled at the last minute due to a lack of numbers - which is weird considering we managed to get the numbers even when the games clashed with both the UEFA Cup Final and the Champions League Final...

And so, as a very poor substitute indeed, it was back to the gym...

As I lay on my back performing my 30th "reverse crunch" I thought how much I hate all exercise other than football...

Back home to a lovely tea from the fair hands of the lovely Anne - accompanied by an hour long "Coronation St", followed by "Reaper" and a hilarious "Big Bang Theory"...

Then, updated this and my "Albums of the Month" blog whilst listening to some cracking jazz from Mr Byrd...

Album of the month with two days left is the new one from Sparks...



Called Count Brodski and was advised his and Penny's trip to London to see Sparks perform "Number One in Heaven" had been a success - they're coming round on Saturday to celebrate Penny's birthday...

Alan and Penny that is, not Ron and Russell Mael...

Good times...

Highlight of the Day : Howard's peanut affliction in "Big Bang Theory"

Bursting...

Playlist
David Reilly - Anthology 1977-2007 Vols 1-10 (Shuffleplay)

Tomorrow, sister Pam is back off to London so, tonight she popped by with my mum for a visit to Crispycat Towers...



We were regaled with hilarious tales of their recent trip to Ibiza, including some which involve the sort of antics a 45 year old woman ought not to be getting up to whilst on holiday with her mum in a wheelchair...

A lovely chinese takeaway nourished us and was followed by a showing of the film "Bee Movie" which entertained, before the Little Britain impersonators made their way off into the night, leaving your correspondent and the Executive Producer to enjoy tonight's "Law & Order : Criminal Intent"...

Meanwhile, Meg the Black Cat continued to bemoan Queen of the South's failure to win the Scottish Cup...



Highlight of the Day : Funny stories from sister Pam

Cakes of fish...

Playlist
Asia – Phoenix
Battles – Mirrored
Biffy Clyro – Puzzle
Black Mountain – In the Future
Cloudland Blue Quartet - Ersatzreal
Eagles – Long Road Out of eden
Editors – The End Has A Start
Fripp & Eno – Beyond Even
Girls Aloud – Tangled Up
James – Hey Ma
Killers – Sawdust
LCD Sound System – Sound of Silver
My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade
Neal Morse – Sola Scriptura
Robert Fripp – At the End of Time
Sam Baker – Pretty World
Sigor Ros – Hvarf Heim
Sparks – Exotic Creatures of the Deep
The Whitest Boy Alive –Dreams
Udo Lindenberg – Stark wie Zwei

Back to the gym again tonight prior to Anne heading for her keep fit class with Lynn...

By 9pm we were ready to watch tonight’s double bill of “Coronation St” while we enjoyed Anne’s home made smoked haddock fish cakes with a zingy salad, followed by fresh strawberries...

Later on, a new to us series “Numb3rs” which was very promising indeed – created by Ridley Scott of “Bladerunner” and “Alien” fame...

Soundtracked today by my favourite newish albums of the last 6-9 months or so on shuffleplay...

Can you spot us in the pre-match crowd on Saturday?



Highlight of the Day : Anne’s homemade fishcakes...

Desperate but relaxed...

Playlist
Sparks – Exotic Creatures of the Deep
Jacques Loussier Trio – Play Bach No 1
Miles Davis Quintet – Best of 1965-68
Geisterfahrer – Fest der vielen Sinne

Up at 8 and read over all the press re the Cup Final – all fairly fair – wrote up the blog then off to the gym…

The rest of the day – a beautiful day I might add – was spent mostly in front of the TV…

We had to stay in, in case we were needed to go and pick up my mum and sister Pam from the airport this afternoon (in the event, we weren’t)…

In the early afternoon, we watched two episodes of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” from one of the DVD sets Anne gave me for my birthday…

Then I spent some time listening to some jazz whilst reading Friday’s paper – then, as Anne sunbathed in the garden, I tried to play and sing some Beatles songs (as you do)…



Later on we watched two episodes of “Desperate Housewives” - to get ourselves up to date on that – then “Coronation St” and “Grand Designs Abroad” then two more episodes of “Desperate Housewives” on E4 so we’re now bang up to date but all Housewived out…

Ended the day with an hour long broadcast of Genesis live in Rome – not bad at all…

All in all – probably a bit of a wasted day…

Highlight of the Day : Relaxing

Almost...

Playlist

Various – Party Bus Disc 3

Sparks - Exotic Creatures Of The Deep

Up later than I’d have liked but ready to roll at 10am...

A relaxed journey to Glasgow found us arriving at our chosen parking spot at 11 am – just outside Crosshill Station, from where we purchased a return ticket and headed in to Glasgow Central...

Breakfast of scrambled egg pannini (bacon for Anne) and some lovely coffee at Bar Ten opposite The Lighthouse in Mitchell Lane...

Then, some shopping to pass the time...

Of course for me that meant FOPP and Missing and I procured the new Sparks album in the former...

We met up again at Central Station earlier than we’d planned...

...and headed back out to Crosshill and walked from there to Hampden, arriving at the stadium around an hour before kick off...

A brilliant atmosphere amongst the 15,000 Queens fans and the team managed to hold their own against Glasgow Rangers for just over half an hour (with a couple of close things) before a dodgy free-kick award (I’m biased, obviously) produced a wonder strike from Kris Boyd to make it 1-0...

Shortly thereafter, we had a stonewall penalty decision waved away as Whittaker pushed O’Connor to the ground (I’m biased, obviously) and then, just as Anne was about to say, “if they can keep it to 1-0 at half time we still have a chance”, two horrendous defensive errors let in Beasley for Rangers’ second – it seemed a rout might now be in prospect...

On the stroke of half time d’Archeville escaped an offside trap but, thankfully tried in vain to chip the keeper and was way off target...

We were in the sixth row back from the front and almost level with the pitch just to the right of the goal so it was a view of the game to which we weren’t used – to add to this, the sun was in our faces and on our heads – I spent much of the game trying to protect my baldy bonce with my match programme...

The start of the second half was a revelation as Queens at last played the way we knew they could...

Unbelievably they penetrated Rangers’ defence in 50 minutes as O’Conner sailed past Cuellar to the goal line and sent back a precision cross which Tosh slotted home easily with his pelvis to score what might have turned out to be a consolation goal...

But, just three minutes later, Queens were level, Big Jim Thompson rising above three Rangers’ defenders to connect with Bob Harris’ inch perfect free kick and send an unstoppable header past Alexander – it was Aberdeen all over again as we went absolutely crazy...

It was so satisfying to chant “You’re not singing anymore” to the stunned and silent Rangers’ fans, who’d already seen their season’s end collapse in the course of the last ten days, with the loss of both the UEFA Cup and the Scottish Premier League...

For twenty minutes, it seemed we might possibly actually win the game, or at least go to extra time/penalties...

Alas it wasn’t to be, as Boyd headed home from a corner with 18 minutes to go to put the Gers ahead again...

There was one last glimmer of hope in injury time as we won a free kick on the edge of the box – unfortunately the ball didn’t reach its target and, within a few seconds it was all over...

But how we cheered as our heroes stepped up for their medals...

What a game the Mighty Doonhamers had made of it...

We didn't hang about to see Rangers lift the cup, instead we left and beat the crowd as we walked back to Crosshill, wearing our scarves with pride...

Sparks on the way home and we arrived back at Crispycat Towers just after six for a quick turnaround...

Tonight we were out for a meal with Anne’s family and brother-in-law Keith and his partner Maureen’s chums for a “getting to know you” exercise before their wedding in a couple of weeks’ time...

Sister in law Jane and her husband Bobby drove Anne and me and Anne’s mum to join a group of twenty which filled the Bijoux Restaurant down at Leith Links...

The food was excellent and my pan-fried mackerel fillet followed by a delicious burger and some creamy cheesecake was just the job, having eaten nothing since my scrambled egg roll eight hours earlier – though of course I’d been nourished in the meantime by adrenalin...

After the meal and some excellent chat, particularly from “Professor John” re the relationship between science and religion, we all headed over to the Compass for a couple of drinks...

Then a lift back home in time to catch the highlights of the game (recorded for posterity on the same tape as the Aberdeen Semi)...

After trying to pause the tape at a point which showed us on screen, we finally hit the sack around 1am...

Quite a day...

Mon the Queens – the UEFA Cup now beckons...

Highlight of the Day : The 53rd minute at Hampden

Banging...

Playlist
Various – Classic Trance Nation
Sombre Reptiles – Songs of the Sombre Reptiles Vols 1-4
Various – Compilation Jukebox on Shuffleplay

A surreal day today caused by the after effect of last night’s excesses...

A nice lunch at Brown’s with chums Michelle and Kim and a lift home from Raymondo to a takeaway from the Bombay Feast accompanied by “Coronation St” a taped “Law & Order” and this week’s “Big Bang Theory”....



Enjoyed The Osmonds and Neil Diamond on Jonathon Ross, preceded by “QI” and “Have I Got News For You”...

To bed at 12:30 am looking forward to tomorrow’s cup final when the Mighty Queen of the South will try and ensure Rangers’ season ends with them having secured only the “Diddy” Cup, having lost the league yesterday and the UEFA Cup last week...

Highlight of the Day : Big Bang Theory

Return of the banned...

Playlist
Various – Rock & Pop Jukebox on Shuffleplay

Nothing much to report today, other than my ban from Tigerlily was temporarily lifted tonight as “The Man” entertained his underlings...

I could have taken a lift home from colleague Raymondo but foolishly decided to stay on...

Much Pink Champagne and Weissbier was consumed resulting in the inebriation of your correspondent...



I stotted out of the rubbish establishment at 10:15 after five hours of fun and made my way home, causing some consternation to the Executive Producer in that my journey took over an hour due to having to, or rather deciding to, walk to Haymarket and, there, having to wait an age on the relevant bus...

During this time my phone had run out of juice and I was out of contact...

The drunken idiot was soon snoring at Crispycat Towers with a beckoning hangover...

Highlight of the Day : Night out

Slip up...

Playlist
David Sylvian – Blemish
Madredeus – Electronico
Miles Davis – Kind of Blue

A bargain found at lunchtime in the form of Miles davis’ classic album “Kind of Blue” packaged together by those nice people at Sony/BMG with a two hour DVD “Story of Miles Davis” and then reduced by the even nicer people at FOPP to just £3...

No gym tonight – instead I was back to the football – six a side tonight and my old buddy Jim Park reappeared for the first time in a very long time - though I think he has been partaking of alternate games in the meantime...

Jim and I were on the same side and, luckily, we darks had an extra man – six v five...

After trailing early on, we eventually ran out winners by around two goals (it’s almost impossible to keep score in these games)...

I managed just one goal this week and squandered at least two further “one on ones” – while Jimbo had a cracker rebound off the post...

Back home for the second half of the Champions League Final...

Even at half time, 1-1 - from then on though, Chelsea were arguably the better team – more shots on goal etc and, in extra time they hit the bar...

It went to penalties and, after Ronaldo had arsed up his penalty with a stupid stop-start run up, it was left to captain John Terry to score Chelsea’s fifth and take the title...

Unfortunately, he slipped and his kick hit the post – Man U went on to win of course...



I did feel sorry for Terry but, all in all he’s a bit of a whinging, diving cheat so not to worry...

After the footie – two taped episodes of “The Big Bang Theory” entertained...

Highlight of the Day : Footie - playing and watching

Love/hate thing...

Playlist
Various – Rock & Pop Jukebox on Shuffleplay
Anthony & the Johnsons – Same
Pink Floyd – Echoes
Various – Hit Singles of 1973
Various Composers – Music for the Sun King

Gym again tonight – I am still fat though in case you’re worried I might be wasting away...

Back home, caught a quite dreadful programme on BBC2 regarding the awful vacuous lifestyle of the rich and empty-headed in Dubai...

It needed a Louis Theroux to add a little context to it...

When Anne switched to Gok Wan, it was time for me to make an exit...

Spent some time organising the almost 1,000 or so albums copied from Chris-with-a-Ch’s Mybook the other day...



Got caught by Anne listening to Anthony and the Johnsons – she reckons it’s awful but I love his voice (having at first hated it)...

A good series ender from “CSI” and another excellent “Law & Order : Criminal Intent”, first of a two-parter-Ruth-McCarter – nearing the end of that series too – aaargh!!!

A bit of champions League Final build up then bed – I’ll miss it as I’m footballing tomorrow...

Highlight of the Day : Lovely post gym chicken and ham and potato dish with more zingy salad

Rubbish giant bee...

Playlist
Cloudland Blue Quartet – Anotherhappyday
Cloudland Blue Quartet – Deeperdown
Cloudland Blue Quartet – Ersatzreal

Back to the gym tonight after two weeks away...

Felt fine despite having ripped my left heel to shreds earlier in the day by wearing new shoes for the second time – wore them the first time in February and the same thing happened – the bucket beckons...

Watched Saturday’s “Dr Who” – possibly the worst episode yet – a giant alien bee and Agatha Christie – utter nonsense...



Highlight of the Day : Post gym salmon with zingy salad courtesy of the Exec Producer (pictured)...

In the bag...

Playlist
Brand X - The Plot Thins
Various - Chris' Mybook MP3s
Cloudland Blue Quartet - Ersatzreal Live

Up at 8 and, between then and Anne's arrival from the Land of Nod around midday, I spent four hours transferring Chris' Mybook contents, MP3-wise, onto my own external drive - listening to four hours worth of tracks I didn't already have...

I now have even more superfluous music and will need to go through and delete such delights as "The Best of Blue"...

Uptown to buy a suit for brother-in-law Keith's wedding in a couple of weeks' time...

Then to The GRV in Guthrie St where I was to play later tonight and where, this afternoon, the DJ booth was given over to some afficionados of Progressive Rock...

We enjoyed some lovely coffee and also visited the two art galleries upstairs...



Home to the colourful garden...



Some practising and then to Anne's mum's for tea...

I left early and drove back to the GRV and a quick soundcheck - ostensibly, I was the only person there tonight apart from other special guest Kim edgar, who knew they were playing and I opened proceedings with "Lights Out" and "The Angels' Kiss" from "Ersatzreal"...

Acoustic Idol this year was Lindsay Sugden with her group The Storm and other performers featured included Spamborskee, Broken Lights and Callum Haddow, the first of these being the most exciting and attention grabbing of the acts on show...



No awards for your correspondent, which is not surprising given my low profile these days on the "Edinburgh Acoustic Scene" but it was great to play a couple of songs...

Back home to Anne and a Harrison Ford movie, then bed - with Meg the Black Cat taking up residence in my guitar bag..



Highlight of the Day : Playing a couple of songs to an appreciative audience...

That's entertainment...

Playlist
Sparks – Twenty (CD-R)
Various – Holiday Hits 14
Various – Classic Trance Nation
Various – Hits May ’70 – ‘08

Up early and computing...

At 9, my latest appointment with the podiatrist...

Then, into town with Anne to the Engine Shed Café for breakfast....



Anne’s mum has three paintings in an exhibition there and they really are very good indeed, quite contrary to my mum-in-law’s opinion...

We split after parking the car in “the Saturday place” and I headed to the Oxfam shop, where I purchased a 3CD set of “Classic Trance Nation” – tasty...



Then to the Music Library to meet up with Dr Prog whom I’ve not seen for a few weeks due to holidays etc...

He borrowed a great big pile of stuff – he’s currently into folk music...

For my own sins, a 3CD set of music from the reign of Louis XIV (1661-1715) – also tasty...



Then to Beetlejuice, the little café which was once our record shop, for coffee/tea and chat about this, that and the next thing...




Took the Doc home and returned to find Anne had been texting me to bring something home for lunch – of course my mobile was, as usual, off...

So back down to Tesco...

I parked at nearby PC World and nipped in and bought an external DVD drive with some of my ill-gotten birthday money – the drive on the PC is, for want of a better expression, wonky and goosed...



After lunch, watched the opening moments of the FA Cup final (which Portsmouth went on to win 1-0 against underdogs, Cardiff City), before retiring upstairs to muck about with all the tracks I have saved onto DVDs which, for a long time before today, I couldn’t access...

Tonight we were off to Fife for Chris-with-a-ch’s birthday bash so I quickly compiled and burned a 2CD compilation of hits from his birthdays from 1970 to today...



By the time I’d finished, he’d arrived to pick us up and take us over to the Kingdom in his very fast car...

A quick drink at his flat, where we were entertained by a Utah Saints video (“Something Good ’08”) re “The Running Man” dance – which seemed to have me in it...



Then a taxi to a nearby establishment where we met up with another Dave, his wife Lorna, Ferret and his oldest chum Spender for more drinks...



It was a lovely evening when we arrived in Dunfermline via another cab to the Seven Kings, where we were joined by Dawn and the G...

After more drinks, we walked round to the Viceroy Indian Restaurant where the last two of our party turned up, Competitive Dave (so three Daves) and his fiancé Colleen...


Above L-R : G, Dawn, Ferret, Spender; Below L-R : Dave, Lorna, Colleen, Competitive Dave

We ordered far too much food and far too much drink and had a great time, leaving behind far too much uneaten food and a couple of hundred quid – which was pretty good considering what had been brought to the table...



Then, off out into the wild scenes of a Dunfermline Saturday night, firstly to “Café Continental”...





...from where Ferret and Spender kept disappearing over the road to neighbouring establishment looking for young ladies...



Then, on to “The Creepy Wee Pub” by which time your correspondent had reverted to Irn Bru in an ill-advised attempt to retain some modicum of dignity...

Then, onto yet another pub - but it was time for Anne and me to catch the last train home – so we said our goodbyes to the party and headed to the station...

A sleepy journey to Haymarket was followed by a taxi ride home, where Meg the Black cat was waiting to chastise us for being out too late...

Well done Meg...

An entertaining day...



Highlight of the Day : Party

Not neutral...

Playlist
Various – Compilations Jukebox
Grant Green – Sunday Morning

Yarroo!! Collected the Cup Final tickets from the Post Office – mission accomplished – all 15,000 allocated to Queen of the South are sold out – we didn’t get the better seats we’d wanted but we did get tickets...



Of course, the final is supposed to be played on a “neutral” ground – so how can that be if, out of 52,000 tickets, only 15,000 have been allocated to QoS?

Watched some “Coronation St” tonight but not all three episodes...

Some red wine was quaffed...

Some dishes were washed...

Some songs were rehearsed for Sunday night’s short performance at Acoustic Idols...

Oh yeah! Friday night action chez Crispycat...

Highlight of the Day : Cup Final tix secured

Forgetting...

Playlist
Various - Rock & Pop Jukebox Shuffleplay
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers - Mosaic
Hank Mobley - Reach Out
Don Cherry - Symphony for Improvisers

To FOPP at lunchtime where I bought three more £4 Blue Note titles - and forgot for the second day running to go to the Post office to pick up the Cup Final tickets - aaarghhhh!!!!

Anne was out tonight at the ballet with chum Debbie so I took the opportunity to listen to new jazz and to write up the blog re our German holiday...

Latest edition of The Wire also arrived...

So here's the scene at the computer...



Right shoulder very sore today post footie so didn't get along to the gym - a visit beckons tomorrow?

Sad news from England as Pam advised Maureen passed away today...

Highlight of the Day : More Blue Note CDs...

Back in the game (pt 346)...

Playlist
David Reilly - Anthology 1977-2007 Vol 3 (1990-93)

To the Infirmary this morning for my six month check up on the right shoulder op from last October...

The pain still present in my arm prompted a fresh X-Ray and the bad news is there's more calcium there already...

So I'm back in three month's time to see how it's going and there may have to be another op - but that's for the future...

Tonight, I returned to the fray re football and, despite being desperately overweight and unfit, managed the full 60 minutes and scored three of my teams four goals - unfortunately our opponents netted seven times...



Also on the footie agenda tonight was of course Rangers' attempt to win the UEFA Cup in Manchester against Zenit St Petersburg...

To be honest, Rangers stood little chance of winning, given that their entire campaign had been based on stoutfast defending, 0-0 draws and penalty shoot-outs - indeed, they'd only scored 5 goals prior to the final...

St Petersberg in contrast had thrashed the mighty Bayern Munich in the semi-finals and scored almost thirty goals in the tournament...

While it would have been good for Scotland for them to have won (as it would have been had Celtic overcome Porto in Seville in 2003), to be honest, asking a non Old Firm fan to support Rangers or Celtic in Europe is like asking a Scotland supporter to get behind England in the World Cup...

Although I do know of at least one Alloa fan and one Hamilton fan who might dispute that...

I got home from my game just as the second half was beginning - the first having gone to planwith 63% possession to the Russians and rangers defending like crazy without a single shot on goal...

After a shower and dinner, we had to set off to the airport to pick up sister Pam who's up to go on holiday with my mum...

We'd just got into the car when St Petersburg scored their first goal while the second, with almost the last kick of the game, came while we drove over to Loanhead..

And so it was 2-0 and the rioting in Manchester began - I suppose there's a chance Rangers will be banned from Europe but maybe not...

At my mum's, Pam advised her mother-in-law, Maureen, was at death's door, having finally succumbed to her long term cancer. It's likely she'll die tomorrow but she'd told Pam to go and enjoy her holiday....

After much moroseness and tales of woe, the mood lifted with a chat about Coronation St, during which Pam came out with two new words. She described gail Platt as "hobblet-faced" and advised that many of the cast were facing the "hatch"...

Of course she'd a had a few wines on the plane to try and lift her mood re Maureen's situation and what she'd had left behind...

Home at midnight and straight to bed...

Highlight of the Day : Hat trick hero (kind of)...